Evening star., 1924-01-31
CARTER DECLARED
QUALIFIED PRINTER
Legal Opinion Given Coolidge.
PreSsmen and Bookbind-
erS IndorSe Record.

George H Carter is legally qualified
to hold the office of public printer.
according TO legal opinion given to
President Coolidge today by the De-
nartment of Justice to whom the
President had referred petition
from Typographical Union 1O1 ask
ing for the removal of Mr.. Carter,
alleging that his appointment was
Illegal
Bascom Slemp, Secretary to the
President, made this known at the
White House following two separate
conferences with a delegation of the
Bookbinders' Union, No. 4, and the
Pressmen's Union, of this city, both
delegations indorsing Mr.. Carter's ad-
ministration of affairs at the govern
ment printing Office and giving as
surance that there is no opposition to
him by their unions.
Member of Union.
William I'll. McHugh, who headed
the Pressmens delegation, among
other things told Secretary Slemp
that Carter is n member of the Press
mems union, which he contended is
sufficient to qualify him to hold Of
f1ce.
The contention of Typographical
with Secretary Slemp several days
ago asking for Carter's removal set
forth that the latter was disqualified
because he was neither a practical
printer nor bookbinder as is stipu-
~
paintment of the public printer. Tres
adent Coolidge referred the matter to
the Department of Justice.
The bookbinders' delegation was
20 have been accompanied to the
White House by Senator Moses. chair
man of the Senate committee on
printing, but he was prevented from
joining them because of pressure of
business. The members of the dele
cation stated that there has been a
movement started on the part of a
minority of the printery personnel to
have Mr.. Carter removed. They said
also that the action on the part of
Typographical Union No. l01 in ask
ing fer the removal did not represent
the convictions of the majority of
the members of that union.
Leave Statement.
The statement of the bookbinders
left with Secretary Slemp, which the
latter will later place before the
President, follows, in full:
This committee with proper cre-
dentials, representing Local Union
No. 4, International Brotherhood of
BookblnderS. are here to request that
our union, composed very largely Of
employees of the government print
ing office, be placed in the right at
titude toward President Coolidge
1T has heen represented that Mr..
George Fl. Carter is not legally quail
Ned to fill the position of public
printer, because he is not "a practical
printer and versed in the art of book
binding" as required in section II
of the act of January II, 1895. We
wish it distinctly understood that SO
far as our union is concerned, there
Is no question as to his qualifications
under the law as 1t relates to book
binding; further. there is no opposi-
ton to him on the part of our union
either from a personal, legal or ex-
ecutiVe standpoint, and statements
70 the contrary are misrepresenta-
ttonS and unwarranted by facts
We consider him a man actuated
by high ideals, of a fair and unbiased
attitude toward the employees of the
office. having demonstrated his in
terest in their welfare by voluntarily
advancing the. pay of 1899 EMPLOYEES
whose rate of! pay is not fixed by law;
also by creating better working con-
ditions and bringing about a state
of morale THAI Is helpful TO both en-
plower and employe.
We desire that our attitude to-
ward Mr.. Carter be made known to
the President in the spirit of fairness
and justice to all concerned, and
with a hearty desire that all may
know that we have no part in at
tacks on our chief, the present public
printer
This was signed by the following,
who comprised the delegation which
came to the White House today:
Joseph 3. Fitzpatrick. George b.
Hedges and Charles +. Miller.