The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1922-04-06
FIRES DIRECTOR
Of BIG BUREAU
President 0ismisses Chief and
Division Heads OF engrav-
ing Department.
FOR GOOD OF THE SERVICE"
Executive Order Removss Thirty-Two
Officials and Names Their Success
sors-May Prove Biggest Scan
daI 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, direc-
tor Of the bureau Of engraving ana
printing and the entire executive stan
of that bureau. numbering thirty-two
In all
The Presidents order came at 6:45
q. m. Friday and was followed
by the appointment Of new officials
to MI vacancies.
Director Wilmeth was succeeded by
Louis A. HIN. Mr. Hill left the White
House with orders Immediately To take
over the big government engraving
plant. with its hundreds OF millions
OF dollars in paper money and gov
ernment bonds.
The transfer Of authority was ef'
fected within half an hour after Mr..
Hill left the White House. MIR. VIII
meth. the dismissed director. was per
mltted to take only personal papers
from his desk.
Came As q Surprise.
The sweeping order of the President
came as dramatic surprise, but II
was made only after thorough In
vestigntion 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 lnefiiciency In Its conduct for
some time ls 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. II 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, II was said
White House Statement
/ From the White House the follow
ing statement was issued .egarding
the sensational Developments
THE President issued an executive
order diSmissing n long list Of eX-
eculives in the bureau OF engraving
/ and printing. and appointing new Of
bcials To the vacancies.
THE order. which was signed at
o :I5 p. m. was at once delivered to
| the new director of the bureau for
execution IL 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 viii be ap-
pointed on the recommendation OF
the new director.
THE director of the bureau. James
L. Wimeth. Is among those removed.
and Louis A. Hlll, 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. II 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 date
"The order involves changes In the
executive heads of every division In
the bureau. The action was taken as
a preliminary 10 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.
ut is a complete surprise TO me-"
said MIR. Wilmeth. ~ don't think II
In fitting for me at this time TO make
any statement whatever that might be
construed as criticism OF the Presl-
dents action"
The dismissed director has been In