The Washington times., 1922-04-12
CARA " AY
HITS
At HARDING
senator Charges Threats
Made Against Discharged
Bureaus Employees.

Further attacks on President
Harding for dismissing employees
of the Bureau of Engraving and
Printing were made in the Sem
ate today.
Sentaor Caraway declared "spe-
cies of blaekmail'' was being prac-
ticed upon James l.. Wilmeth and
his associates who were dis
charged. He said that real threats
have been made that If the dis
charged workers insist upon agi-
tating the issue they will be sub
jected to a strong counter at
tack.
MSkes Serious Charge.
Runners have been current about
the Senate" said Senator Caraway.
"that the new secret service inves'
tigation of the Bureau of Engrav-
Ing and printing is being made with
the express purpose Of getting some
thing on the dismissed employees. IL
does not matter very much what Is
found; something will be brought
in against their records, so that their
further be impaired.
THAT is to be their punishment
for making a public issue of their
summary treatment by President
Harding"
Stanley Defends Harding.
Senator Stanley Of Kentucky de-
ciared II was impossible for him to
believe that President Harding
would countenance this kind Of
blackmail." He said he would have
to be shown real proof OF Il.
Senator Caraway said that Presi-
sent Harding was evidently greatly
displeased with the conduct of the
Federal workers in disturbing his
peace of mind by agitating the
Bureau of Engraving and Printing
question. He said that the dismissed
workers called at the White House
while the President was enjoying
himself playing golf and that II
doubtless was "a crime" for them to
Interfere with his recreation In this
way.
Dismissal of the 500 employees OF
the Bureau OF Printing and Engrilv-
ing last July had no connection with
the recent wholesale dropping OF Bu-
reau workers recently, II was learned
today.
No Foundation for Charges.
Many of the 500 discharged en-
ployes preferred charges OF ''favorit-
ism and mismanagement" against
James l.. Wilmeth, former director
of the bureau, and a committee,
headed by G. r.. Crissinger, comptrol-
ler OF the currency, reported to the
Secretary of the Treasury that there
was no foundation for the charge 9
and asked that they not be given any
further consideration.
Efforts have been made to show
that the dismissed employees were In a
way responsible for the recent disntis-
sal of Wiimeth and other heads of
the bureau
Crfssinger declared in the report
that the reduction of employees was
a real one and not a pretended one
for the purpose of putting other more
favored employees in the places OF
those released"
other members of the COMMITTEES
were William T. Abbott, w. @. Platt
q. r. Jacobs, Charles Stevenson and
J. r.. Harper.
Cites Beginning.
In a letter, dated August 5. ad-
dressed to Controller Crissinger,
Henry Z. Davis, Washington attor-
ney retained by fifteen former em.
ployes of the bureau, preferred
charges against Wilmeth, which Mr..
Davis states today were based on
affidavits made by the dismissed
employees, dealing with irregularities
fn the BUREAU.
Director Wilmeth, II was charged,
I'm the letter, had collaborated with
department heads in securing rub
ing from the Treasury Department,
authorizing him to fire any emL
ploye who he though was an "agita-
tor or trouble maker" Wilmeth was
10 be the judge, and regardless of
the employees civil service status.
According to Davis Il was his
letter which initiated the movement
90 investigate the charges which
resulted In Wilmeth's dismissal.
"A number of employees of the
bureau dismissed last July, feeling
that they had been unjustly treated,
endeavored to get their cases heard,
and a committee headed by Comp
trol1er Crissinger was appointed for
the purpose, as Il was believed, of
giving the desired hearings, but
when the number desiring individual
hearings was disclosed It was found
imprscticable by the Treasury off,
ciais to deal with the matter in
this way" Davis said.
Among the specific charges made
against wiliueth, and filed with
Crissenger. state that he ordered
employees dropped, regardless of
term of service, whose records were
moor Involving inefficiancy indt-
tention TO duty. hardness. exces-
give loss of time, including aei-
tators and trouble makers"
IL was charged that by including
'agitators and trouble malera'
that II gave the Director a sword
ito let fall upon the victims Of his