Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1922-04-07
PRESIDENT FIRES
BUREAU DIRECTOR.
Chief of Printing and Engraving
Department Dismissed.
ALSO 81 OTHER OFFICIALS
Hardlngs Executive Order Removes
Entire Staff and Names Their Sue
cessors, "For Good of Serv-
ice" 1t Is Explained.

washington, April 1.-What may
prove the biggest scandal in the his
tory OF the government departments
broke here when President Harding
by an executive order dismissed from
the service James L. Wilmeth, direc-
Tor OF the bureau of engraving and
printing and the entire executive staff
or that bureau, numbering thirty-two
in all.
The Presidents order came at 6 :45
p. M, Friday, and was followed by
the appointment of new officials to
fill vacancies.
Director Wilmeth was succeeded by
Louis A. Hill. Mr.. Hill left the White
House with orders Immediately to take
over the big government engraving
plant, with it's hundreds of millions
of dollars in paper money and gov
eminent bonds.
The transfer Of authority was eff
fected within half an hour after Mr..
Hill left the White House. Mr.. Will
meth, the dismissed director, was per-
mitted to take only personal papers
from his desk.
Came as Surprise.
The sweeping order of the President
came as a dramatic surprise, but it
was made only after a thorough in.
!vestigation on the part Of government
agents over a period of many months.
Frequent thefts are said to have
occurred recently at the bureau and
general ineficiency in it's conduct for
some time Is said to have brought
forth the executive order.
The appearance in many sections of
the country Of duplicate government
bonds and securities, which are said
not to be forgeries has kept the secret
service busy running down those re-
isponsible.
While no charges of criminality
against the dismissed executives have
yet been preferred, it was stated by
iofficials that experts will begin an
accounting of every item on the books.
Upon the result Of this investigation
will depend the future action of the
government. it was said.
White House Statement.
From the White House the follow
ing statement was issued regarding
the sensational developments:
1.-THE President issued an executive
order diSmissing long list of ex-
;ecutives in the bureau of engraving
and printing, and appointing new Of
;cialS to the vacancies.
"The order, which was signed at.
IS 40 p. M, was at once delivered tOi
the new director Of the bureau for
execution. 1t became effective from,
the moment Of signature by the Presi-
dent, constituting an instant severance
from the service of all officers dis
missed. Their successors will be APP
ipointed on the recommendation of
the new director.
'"The director Of the bureau, James
u. Wilmeth, is among those removed,
and Louis A. Hill, heretofore assistant
chief of the division Of engraving, is
named to succeed him.
"The bureau is one Of the largest in
personnel of the executive service of
the government, numbering about six
thousand employees. 1t operates the
greatest engraving plant in the world,
in which all paper money, bonds, GER
.tificates and securities OF the govern
:ment, and postage stamps are made.
For Good of Service.
"The Presidents order simply states
the action is taken for the good of the
service The only exceptions to the
rule of dismissal are in the cases of
persons eligible for retirement for age
these are retired as of this dcte.
"The order involves changes in the
executive heads of every division in
the bureau. The action was taken as
a preliminary to a complete readjust-
ment of the bureau to peace con-
;dtions. The action was taken as the
outcome of extended preliminary ex-
animation into the conduct of the
bureau"
Mr.. Wilmeth said that he was sun
able to account for the Presidents
sweeping action.
= 1T is complete surprise to me-"
said Mr.. Wilmeth. II don't think it
is fitting for me at this time to make
any statement whatever that might be
construed as a criticism of the Presi-
dents action
The dismissed director has been in
the government service for q years.