Evening star., 1924-12-13
KIRBY NOT T0QU|T
| ARMY FOR BUREAU
Dictatorship of Engraving
and Printing Is to Be Va
cant Monday Night.

Maj. wallace w. Kirby has decide ed
he will not resign from the Army to
accept the position of director of the
Bureau of Engraving and Printing.
which becomes vacant Monday night.
This decision, revealed today for
the first time. eliminates one of the
possibilities in the situation at the
bureau, which finds itself on the eve
of having no official director. as the
special act OF Congress authorizing
Maj. Kirby to hold the position for
six months, expires Monday night.
II will go to the engineer reproduc-
lion plant at Washington Barracks
Tuesday morning" said Maj. Kirby
today, under the War Department
order assigning me back to duty
under the chief of engineers" Maj.
Kirby thus returns to the plant from
which he was borrowed to straighten
out the organization of the Govern
ments money and stamp factory.
Treasury officials are known to hold
the hope that in some manner Maj.
Kirby may be retained in order to
complete the reorganization plans
which were started under his juris-
dfctfon. His work has met with uni
versal commendation, and 1t Is known
he could have the position IL he
would leave the Army for It,
Congress has failed to make pro-
vision for extending the appointm ent
of Maj. Kirby at the bureau. and the
situation, in view of Maj. Kirbys de-
oision announced for the first time
today, becomes more complicated
1t is known that Maj. Kirby not
only will not resign from the Army
TO take a position as head of the bu-
reau, even should Congress increase
the salary of the director to 10000
under classification the position is
now rated as $s.oo0-but 1t is also
known that the major does not care
to continue to serve in the position
he has held for six months unless
he receives compensation more near
ly commensurate with the size Of the
Job. He has been receiving the pay
of major in the Army. less than the
pay received by his three assistants.
Problem for Congress.
Whether Congress will take up the
matter later and authorize not only the
appointment of Maj. Kirby as an Army
officer, but also allow the payment to
him of the salary of director, is
problem.
Treasury officials seem still to be
cl1nging to the hope that the bureau
will be able to get along on the re-
newed organization until 1t is learned
"hctHcf llieTe Will De a CndnCe OF get
ting Maj. Kirby back for time. 1t Is
known that those who hope the major
will be continued feel that there is
some precedent in the case of Brig.
Gen. Smedley Butler. whose leave Of
absence from the Marine Corps has
just been extended for another year by
President Coolidge in order that the
general may continue as director of
public safety in Philadelphia.
There Is much sentiment in Con-
gress, however, which opposes the as
siEnment of Army officers to duty in
other than strictly military tasks.
Any move to. have Maj. Kirby contin-
ued is sure to meet with opposition.
Treasury officials are believed to be
looking about for a director TO appoint
to the place if il eventually is deter
mined that Maj. Kirby will so. How
far officials have progressed in their
search for a director, however. is
known only to the officials themselves.