Show DURING AN investigation OF THE OFFICE chief clerk of census bureau has taken chas A astl I 1 lings place washington fob 5 president roosevelt today temporarily suspended as public printer charles A stillings and appointed wm S rossitor tor temporarily to 1 the duties of that tho action as explained officially is to tho investigation now being made of the government printing office by congress mr ros alter is now chief clerk of the census bureau the following correspondence rela alvo to the change in the government printing office was made public by the president the first letter addressed to chairman landals of the house committee on printing was signed by tho the president the information you have given 1 me morning is important so that I 1 deem it best that there should bo a written record thereof I 1 had already begun some weeks ago an investigation in the government printing office under mr stillings abla investigation originating because of information which reached me as to the increased cost of printing to the de apartment part ment I 1 accordingly directed mr havenner of the department of commerce and labor to investigate and report upon this matter his report on its face was severely condemnatory of mr I 1 furnished mr stillings with a copy and requested an answer from him which I 1 have not yet received 1 I enclose you a copy of mr haven ners report and as soon as I 1 receive the answer I 1 shall also forward that to you for your information and will let you know what action I 1 have taken on the report you now inform me that your committee has discovered circumstances in connection with the printing office notably in connection with expenditures tures for furniture in the printing office and in the purchase nase of supplies which makes you feel that there Is great irregularity therein you also inform me that you believe that the present audit system of the printing bureau serves to shield these irregularities lari ties and that the persons in charge of this system exert an undue and improper influence not merely on the purchase 0 supplies for the government printing office but in the management of the office itself you also say that the subcommittee sub committee feels that it cannot make a satisfactory investigation of the office while mr and the persons in charge of the audit system are in the office and request that I 1 suspend mr pending investigation and also shall suspend the execution of the contract made under the audit system 1 I have accordingly temporarily suspended mr and shall put mr rossiter Ross lter in his place directing him to operate cooperate co in every way with your committee and to make an exhaustive report to me on the conditions in the office |