Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-04-04
BUREAU "CLEANED"
To AID EFFICIENCY
MELLON DECLARES
No Charges of Dishonesty
Against Engraving Depart
ment Force. .

Washington. April 3.-Reorganiza
ton of the bureau of engraving ane
printing through the executive order
issued last Friday by President Hard
ing, removing James l.. Wilmeth, its
! director. and IS other officials, was
explained Monday on the grounds OF
efficiency" by Secretary Mellon. Nc
charges involving the honesty of any oil
the dismissed bureau officials have
been filed, the treasury secretary
stated.
Mr.. Melons explanation of the
sweeping changes made in the admin
istrative personnel of the bureau was
the first official light thrown upon the
presidents action, since the announce
ment of the order AT the White House
Meanwhile speculation has been rife in
official circles over the sudden removal
Of the officials and resolutions were
introduced in both the senate and house
seeking TO elicit further information
from the president.
Investigations Started
Senator taraway. democrat. of Ar
kansas. introduced a resolution calling
upon President Harding to inform the
senate. if not incompatible with the
public interest, as to the causes for
the changes in the bureau and under
what authority of law the changes were
made. Representative Moore, demo-
crat, of Virginia. at the same time
introduced a resolution for the ap-
pointment Of Il special house committee
to Investigate the changes.
Efforts to obtain a personal explana
tion of their dismissal were made by
Mr. Wilmeth and delegation of for
mer bureau officials who called at the
White House without appointment. and
therefore failed to see the president
who was solfing, They left memo
randum stating the object of their visit
and indicating they would return any
time Mr. Harding would see them, de-
claring they wanted to know why they
were discharged and to have the oppor-
tunity of meeting any charges which
might have been made. and knowing
who preferred them They asserted
they were at complete loss to know
why they were discharged
Complaints on Efficiency
Reorganization of the bureau heads
according to Secretary Mellon. came as
a elimination of q number of inyesti-
cations into the operation of the plant
following complaints as to the effici
ency of its operation.
These various Investigations made
from time to time. Mr.. Mellon con
timied. disclosed conditions in the bu-
reau warranting the changes. Waste
was found, he said. losses to the gov
nrnment running into large sums be-
cause of sheets of paper being spoiled
n the presses. lack of modern meth |
DDS for keeping plates. and other un
conditions.
Reports of these investigations were
made, he added. and it was thought
hat Louis A. Hin. the new director, |
vas the proper man to be put in charge
# the bureau.
Assignment of Justice department |
lgents to the bureau by Attorney Gen |
,ral Daugherty. Mr.. Mellon declared !
vas merely matter of precaution in |
.oing over the stock in the plant as |
here were no charges of irregularity |
II defalcations against any of the dis |
missed employees.
Checking Up Bureau
Treasury accountants have been put |
o work checking up the bureaus oper-
ltions. he declared, but such step
Ilways has been the custom when
hange in the dircctorship takes place
Nothing new was pending in the ;
'ureau, Mr.. Mellon stated. involving
he honesty of any former employe or
roup of former employees. He said
hat while the politics. of the former
fficials were known in general way.
n reality most of the employees of the
ureau could be said to have no politics,
S thew had no vote