Evening star., 1923-01-27

because of politics nor to make room
| for favorites of the new administra-
ton. While this was the common
impression throughout the country
at the time, the White House called
attention to the fact that more than
rs per cent of those dismissed were
republicans. This alone should cor
rect the public impression concerning
the implication of partisanship.
This, administration spokesman
made no attempt to hide or minimize
the administrator alarm when the
first report of conditions at the bu-
reau was received. However, after
long and exhaustive investigation,
the administration is now convinced
that what first suggested the ex-
| istence of a conspiracy to defraud the
government was only the result OF
Wholesale inefficiency on the part of
the employees handling the machines
that numbered the bonds
Inexperience Blamed.
Many hundreds of inexperienced
men and women had been put to work
at the bureau during the rush and tur-
moil during the war and 1t was due
almost entirely, the White House be-
ilieves, to their carelessness and crude
ness that the many Implications were
made.
It was tntimated that those officials
who were dismissed would have been
I
ness establishment for permitting
such repeated errors.
| Now that the White House Is con-
yinced that there was no conspiracy
in connection with the many dupli-
cations, the President Is not satisfied
vet that he was wrong in issuing that
summary order, calling for the dis
| missals Justice Will. however, be
done to such as deserve 1t. Those Will
I be restored to their old status II the
Il ar1N ton
concluded shows no direct contribu-
tory carelessness. 1t was stated with
much emphasis that the executive has
NO desire to do an injustice to any
! one.
| Few Due to Fraud.
| While the White House has for the
! first time made public brief ex-
planation Of its action, it was stated
| that the whole story will be made
public by the President as some tu-
| ture date. Every fact in come cIton
with the episode will then be given 10
the country. The White House feels
that publication of the facts will not
now cause any alarm, especially since
J there is absolutely no danger OF the
government being a loser financially
to any considerable length.
\ Although the White House is con-
vinced that the great majority OF the
| duplications was due to mechanical
| errors, there were some cases or
duplicatieus due to fraud and forgery.
! These were few. however.
Range From $50 to $4,000.
In making known that the White
House would reinstate practically all
! of the dismissed bureau officials. IL
! was made public for the first time
that the first information regarding
| the conditions at the bureau year
| ago came from the register of the
| Treasury. 1t was further stated that
| the administration feels that it did
! the best II knew how at the time to
get at the bottom of what 1t looked
upon as a most menacing and alarm
| ing condition.
Without going into details, the
White House stated that in one case
there were 400 Implications of $l0,-
, 600 bonds, which in itself was sufii-
| cient to cause apprehension. 1t was
| said further that the duplicated bonds
ranged in amounts from $50 to.s10,00O.
Following the announcement that
| the reinstatements would be made
probably within three or four days,
| this, White House spokesman would
not mention any individual empioye
! by name. He did make it very clear,
! however, that. while these dismissed
| officials would be restored to the rolls,
| 1t was very improba BILE that they
would be given their old official posi-
4 tions.