Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1922-04-07
FIRES DIRECTOR
OF BIG BUREAU
President Dismisses Chief ana
Division Heads of Engrav-
ing Department.
FOR GOOD OF THE SERVICE"
Executive Order Removes Thirty Two
Officials and Names Their Success
sors-May Prove Biggest Scan-
dial in Governments History.

Washington, April 3.-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, dlrec-
tor of the bureau of engraving ana
printing and the entire executive stair
of that bureau, numbering thirty-tWo
in all.
The Presidents order came at 40
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 et-
fected within half an hour after Mr..
Hill left the White House. Mr.. Viii
meth, the dismissed director, was per-
mitted to take only personal papers
from his desk.
The sweeping order of the President
came as dramatic surprise, but 1t
was made only after 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 bureaN ana
general inefficiency 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-
sponsible
While no charges OF criminality
against the dismissed executives have
yet been preferred, it was stated by
officials 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.
From the White House the follow
ing statement was issued regarding
the sensational developments:
'The President issued an executive
order dismissing a long list of ex-
ecutives in the bureau of engraving
and printing, and appointing new Of
Gals to the vacancies.
'The order, which was signed at
6 AS p. m., was at once delivered to
the new director of the bureau for
execution. 1t became effective from
the moment of signature by the Presi-
lent, constituting an instant severance
from the service of all officers dis
missed Their successors will be ap-
pointed on the recommendation Of
the new director.
1.-THE director of the bureau, James
L. Wilmeth, is among those removed,
and Louis A. Hill, heretofore assistant
chief of the division of engraving, is
named to succeed him.
1.-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.
''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 date.
'HThe order involves changes in the
executive heads Of every division in
the bureau The action was taken as
preliminary to a complete readjust-
ment of the bureau to peace con-
ditions. The action was taken as the
outcome of extended preliminary ex-
ANIMATION into the conduct of the
bureau"
Mr. Wilmeth said that he was "un-
able to account" for the Presidents
sweeping action.