Evening star., 1924-03-24
BILL TO PUT KIRBY
BACK AS DIRECTOR
Temporary Appointment Ad-
ministration Plan, Finding
No Successor.

Unable 50 far to find director of the
bureau OF engraving and printing, the
administration has taken legislative
steps to restore temporarily Mai. Wal
lace W. Kirby of the Engineer Corps.
Senator WadsWorth, republican, of
New York, has introduced in the Sen
ate joint resolution which would aU-
thorize the President TO detail an Off
Ger of the Corps of Engineers as di-
rector Of the bureau. The resolution is
now before the Senate committee on
military affairs
Maj. Kirby WAS relieved from duty by
the War Department in accordance with
ruling by Controller General McCari,
which holds that under the law Army
oflcerS cannot serve in civilian posi-
tionS
The bureau has been operating NOM
inally under Assistant Twyrnan and Su-
per1ntendent of Work John J. Deviny,
although Maj. Kirby has at odd times
been able to advise with these officials
IN addition to his regular duties as head
of the engineer reproduction plant AT
Washington barracks.
Service for Few Months.
The administration plans. it was
| learned today. to keep Mai. kirby
temporarily at the bureau provided
Senator Wadsworth's joint resolution
Is enacted. 1t would not be the in
tention, however, to make him a per
manent director of the bureau. Of
ficials have been experiencin SUCH
difficulty, however. in obtaining :.
man of sufficient ability to accept the
position at the salary stipulated that
sVFsh "a "a L -,
remain for several months longer
The bureau morale, which according
to officials has been seriously upset
for two years, is in need of Maj.
Kirby. The reorganization of the
plant which was begun by restoration
to their former places of fourteen
employees ousted with former Director
James l. Wilmeth is not yet COM
plete by any mescs. Whether any
further change IN personnel is an
but the genertl reorganization will
probably take. il was estimated. from
six to eight months
Employees of the bureau and official
representatives Of the unions there
have besieged the Treasury with re-
quests that Major Kirby be retained
as director If at all possible. Sec
retary Mellon and other Treasury
officials are known to be very favor
ably impressed with the way in which
ditions at the bureau before he was
recalled to his forma military post
Language May BE Modified.
Senator Wadsworth's resolution as
first introduced authorized the Presi-
dent to detail an officer of the Corps
of Engineers, United States Army,
possessing a thorough knowledge of
engraving and reproduction processes.
to duty as director of the bureau of en-
craving and printing
This definite language of the bill,
it was understood today. may be
somewhat modified by the military
affairs committee in order to make
it more of a temporary nature. The
intent of the legislation. it was un
derstood, was simply 10 relieve the
present situation and not to make
the director of the bureau permanent
~ in the future an Army officer.
Another feature of the resolution
provides that the President may de-
tail "one or more such officers as
asst StantS." and further provides that
the provisions of the national de
fenSe act referring 10 the duty with
troops should not apply 20 such Of
ficers.
The Army is understood to be glad
of he opportunity which would be
provided OF detailing officers TO the
bureau for experience in the prepa-
ration and printing of maps Such
experience. il is believed. would be of
great value to the Army as q whole
in military activity.