Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-04-04
FIRST OFFICIAL LIGHT
ON DRASTIC ACTION
Former Officials Fail to Cain
Audience at White
House.
40 CHARGES AGAINST An, ONE
tesolutiOHs offered bv DcmOcrnt, to
Probe Wholesale Changes Under
Executive Order.
LEY Associn,ed Press. |

10y i'T.SS.I
WASHINGTON. April a. RcorSan-
i2at!on of the Bureau Of Engraving
and Printing. through the executive
order issued last Friday by President
Harding, removing James l.: Wiimeth
i,s director. and twenty-eisht other
officials. was explained today Oh the
grounds OF efficiency" by Secretary
Mellon. No charges involving the
honesty OF any Of the dismissed bu-
rcau officials have been fled. the
Treasury, Secretary stated.
NJ. Melons explanation OF the
sweeping changes made in the ad-
minis;ra,ivo personnel Of the bureau
, was the first official light thrown on
the Presidents action. sInrc the an
rUunccmcnt OF the order at the White
House. Meanwhile. speculation has
hocn rife IN official circles over the
sudden removal OF the officials. and
| resolutions were introduced in both
! the Senate and House today seeking
10 elicit further Information from
thc President.
senator C'ara"ay. Democrat. NJ
;ansas. introduced n resolution call.
ing upon President Harding To in.
iorm ia" senate. IL not iucompn tiblc
| with tho public interest as to the
causes fur the action taken in th.
""rcau. and under what authority o:
Law the changes were made. I;ap.
rescn-ative Moore. Democrat. Vir-
eInia at ;hc same time. introduced
resolution for the appointment, OF
:, special House committee TO invcs-
uSate the changes.
wiImcth Calls On Harding.
Efforts to obtain parsonal cxpla-
nation for their dismissal were made
by Mir. Wilmcth and n delegation OF
former bureau officials. who called
at the White House. but without an.
pointmeut. and therefore. failed 70
see the President. who was golfinG
They left a memorandum. stating tht
object "f their visit and indicated
they would return any time Mr.
Harding would sec them. declaring
that they wanted To know WHY the,
were discharged and TO have tho on.
portnnity of meeting any charges
which might have heei! made. They
asserted that they wore at a loss &c
know why they were DISCHARGED.
Reorganization ot the bureau. a.
cordins to Secretary Mellon. came rs
l.
cations into the operation Of the
plant. following complaints as TO IN,
efficiency of it's operation. The sccm
ing ahruptness OF the change he OK.
piaincd by the uncXpcctcdness of the
announcement. although he recalled
| similar sudden changes in official 20.
sitiuns during the Mckinley admins.
tration.
Assistant Secretary of the rrcasur,
Nadsworth. Mr.. Mellon said. made =
number OF Investigations OF the hu,
rrau. as did other Treasury officials
while Director or tho Budget Dawes
brought y. Il. Barnes on from Chi.
"ago TO look into the efficiency of III,
output of the plant. Mr.. Barncs. n,
declared. was the proprietor of an
engraving establishment somcwhn
appr"achinG the magnitude OF tho
government plant and was considered
an expert on the subject.
Various InrestiEntfous.
, These various Investigations made
! from time to time. Mr.. Mellon con.
| iinucd. disclosed conditions in IN.
hureau warrantinS the changes
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