New-York tribune., 1922-04-04
Explains
Waste Caused
Bureau Custer
r.oer, Scrutiny of Engrav-
W ;us Plant Disclosed In
aa;eiept Methods We're
ICED. Secretary Charges
"a Republicans in List
n. missed Officials Call at
White House TO Ask Rea-
sons for Summary Act

.syees OF the On,tea States nureau gu
.sr;ne and Printing. headed by the
-, director, James /. Wiimeth,
w. ~ 4. the White House to-day in AT
- % learn why they were dis
,s President Harding was out at
= ,.,se and so was his secretary,
$50 =. 4. Christian jr. The discharged
..,o,ees lett a memorandum to be
...n.ed 10 the President in which
~ ask the President to tell them
SSv TX they were discharged.
n. action Of the President III issu-
{. an executive order Friday evening
- -. ard making d clean sweep of
~.r+v.ninc executives at the govern
-sn. bureau has aroused widesrreed
.rner. The new order took effect
Il once.
a ,be drastic dism!ssals were pre-
a...J in tine Senate and House to-day.
s- !. me White House the policy OF
go which has been maintained in
...yd 70 the executive order since it
30 ssued. was adhered to.
The first official explanation OF the
smissals was offered tonight by
s.retsry of the Treasury Mellon, who
sJ .hev had been ordered on grounds
IseHciency" No charges involving
=. honesty Of any of the dismissed Of
sg.ls have been filed, the Secretary
''i,, 'pi,sorranization Of the bureau heads,
..s.rding TO Secretary Mellon, came as
elimination of number of investj-
s.t;ors into the operation Of the plant,
! ;nnoviue complaints as to the ef
s,isnev Of its operation. The seeming
,spptness # the change he explained
,@ tte unexpectedness of the announce
n.rt. although he recalled similar
,adden changes in official positions in
Ne Mckinley Administration.
Chicago Expert Called In
Assistant Secretary of the Treasury
tadsworth, Mr.. Mellon said. made 4
ssnber Of Investigations OF the bureau,
- did other Treasury officials, while
director Of the Budget Dawes brought
n Barnes on from Chicago to look
ir.a the efficiency OF the output OF the
nspt, Mr. Barnes, he declared, was
he proprietor of an engraving estab-
Hshment somewhat approaching the
magnitude Of the government plant and
yas considered an expert Of the sub
iect
These various Investigations. made
\ ,,om time to time. Mr.. Mellon CON
tfnued. disclosed conditions III the
~. Cl@ og-,
+ was found, he said losses to the gov
ernment running into large sums be
cause Of sheets Of paper being spoiled
4 N the new presses, lack Of p-to-date
81 methods for keping plates and other
y unsatisfactory conditions.
d Reports Of these Investigations were
ID made, he added. and it was thought
that Louis A. Hill. the new director,
b vas the appropriate man to be put in
81 charge Of the bureau.
No Irregularities Suspected
Assignment Of Department Of Justice
sgents to the bureau by Attorney Cen
tlal Daugherty, MIR Mellon declared,
yss merely matter Of precaution in
gong over the stock in the plant, as
t'ere were no specific charges OF iireg-
asrty or defalcation against any oI
ae dismissed employees. Treasury &C
colntants have been put TO worl,
tnecAlng UP the bureaus operations, he
I declared but such 4 step always had
oesn the custom when change in the
cSeetorship takes place.
Nothing was now pending in the bu-
itsu, Mr. Mellon stated, involving the
ienesty OF any group Of former en-
feyees and there was nothing point
fg to any Individual. He said that
Fnle the politics OF the former off,
aas were known in general way
reality most Of the employees OF the
'aFeau could be said to have no poll
's'i as they had TO vote.
Il Is of 80 Republicans
That politics alone Is responsible fo1
~ cut was generally denied !n Ad-
anstfation circles. In the delegation
osenarged executives which called
"1s White House we're eighteen Re
pqscahe, eight Democrats and thres
mo claim no party afaliation. Forme,
.a@Ior Wllmeth, in discussing the
49, WIN newspaper mon, d;sclaimec
=! knowledge OF any Irregularities al
n. ~ bureau and reiterated that II any
S wrong took place they did not
ha.ss said: 1-'' ''-' 'N0 y" N'''
We came 10 the White House TO
gc the purpose of requesting tn,
l,s'sehI 10 see us, in order that We
sse eIs inquire Of him the reason fol
/. summary dismissal from the sc>v.
s..n. "a view of tie Implication OF thu
1--we order and the White uous,
sasy saeat accompanying it. and tht
r, newspaper articles relative u
sy. usnllSsai from the bureau, which
sr,s,s '@sl reflection upon our char
s.s,o. suggesting either gross inef
.ss, or, what is worse, corruption
., ae o;a' KIND, We felt that as Ameri
n. ,...zehs r..s We have the right to know
ss,,. azure Of such charges and b,
ns;~at ataey were made. Furthermore
u 81, .a service employees, we felt tha
q. snts had been violated and tina
s II ILL., ',us'sions OF the civil service iav
Ssys..ae .eSpect 70 the dismissal OF EN-
~ Was totally disregarded in on
,s,sd 'eel that VIC have right t,
.rg rg'la b to be confronted with what
sss been said against Us, to tn
= q sisn ,ae opportunity may be giyeI
'sar our good names.
lsai ssel: va not come TO see the prcsi
IS. asor asVS'as is reappointment, but to in
4g ~. .SsS.uolican circles it was said TO
N Il, sr nar tHe departments are file
s,ept Wno are unfriendly to tn
Is az o1nnomlnistration and are loya
Atso. asJ nv regime OF Wilson and Mc
ga nia1Sh aa Shat some q these men i
sssleysn. sssle ys~ses have treated Eepubl;ca
3 as. es onss IN q high-handed way all
=. pslj,;"ea pslTjs,ea them without any caus
sbs ''cs. Other shake-ups are sal
sMs prospect, including q big OH
&rs.o ieau OF Internal Revenue.
4 ssor Carayav of A-I.o,-,, nv.