The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1869-10-15
THE UNIONs&5 JOURNAL,

4 AN ONACAVt'~ QN
mission fse. they retired. The result b. . suit
against Spalding and Rspley, propristors Of tne
The theatre. and the case b now before the court
md win soon be tried. II attracts considerable
attention among the colorei people, as Il will
determine somewhat their status in this district.
The question seems to be, are public places OF
governed by the same rules that ap-
ply to hotels and common carriers; u 20. the
result is very evident, but IL upon the other
hand, amusements are considered rs Injuries
and not necessaries, the decision may be adverse
to the interests Of the oolorcd race. al
A package OF money, some llOO dollars re-
ceived at the Treasury few days since. has
miraculously disappeared and up to the present
time has not been heard from. Considering the
large numbers Of money packages received al
the present time ut the Treasury, daily, 1t Is re-
markable that instances like the above do not
oftener occur. but, TO the best Of my knowledge
there has not been single loss for year IN
the transmission Of money, and when It is taken
into consideration that large portion OF the
packages 20 through the hands Of messengers,
Il certainly speaks well for the honesty Of the
EMPLOYEES and the faithfulness with which this
branch Of the government is conducted.
A short time since New York hrm sent word
to the department that an amount OF money
that was sent TO them was $1,000 short. Gen.
Spinner, the United States Treasurer, telegraph
ell that he thought they must be mistaken, but
II upon investigation It should prove as they
said, he would pay the amount out OF his own
pocket. Spinner received word that the SlOOO
could not be found. The clerk who had made
up the package was sent for and questioned, and
s the party wss one Of the best clerks in the Of
Ace, the Treasurer still persisted that the New
York firm had made mistake, and he, there
fore telegraphed them to call in third party
and make new count and full search, and u
not found he would remit the amount missing
According to instructions, the firm called in
well-known banker who counted the amount
and made Il short $1,000, but whilst overhaul
ing some waste paper that came around thu
bundle, found the roll of bills, q package O
$1,000. This Is the nearest TO . loss that hayt
heard Of, except this late missing package. which
will undoubtedly turn up. The Redemption
Bureau Mt the present time Is one Of the mos
important branches Of the government, rs hun
dreis Of packages Of bills and curreacy are re
ceiyed daily for redemption. There are som'
60 to 20 ladies employed in this branch, who's
business Il il to count these packages Of none,
rs received from different parts Of the country
and il Is surprising to see with what rapidit,
the contents Of these packages, containing mu
tilated and ragged currency and dilapidatet
bill, are tested. II Is quite difficult for what i
called a good judge to detect a counterfeit wher
the currency comes In such q sad plight as ]
does to this bureau, but the ladies engaged OF
this work are experts, and in rapidly counting
they generally quickly detect spurious note
and Il Is sent up to be stamped counterfeit
IL Is not altogether by sense Of feeling that coun
terfcits are detected, and might say It Is not
safe guide; but the false notes are detected b!
sight, and Mt times the currency, or piece, sup
posed to be counterfeit, Is subjected to reyer
scrutiny before Judgment Is passed upon 1t. Tn
packages, rs received at the Treasury, are frs
counted. IL currency, whole, and then theyar
divided In halves, and another counts the right
and a third party the left parts Of the scrip.
If by carelessness the first party makes an!
mistakes by which the government loses thereby
she is obliged to make good such loss, to be de
Quoted from her monthly SALARY, and also II tn
counter passes counterfeit notes. l have knowl
Of some ladies employed upon this branch, los
ing from S25 to $40 dollars per month, which
considering that their salary is but 5000 pc
year, Is q serious item. In some rooms the Ia
dies form a protective Union" then, II an.
one Of their number meets with loss, each on
assessed to make up the amount. The new bill
and currency are much easier counted, but ys
this has its drawbacks. for the ink or colorin
used in the paper is poisonous and there has bee
some very serious effects resulting from the pois
ON being introduced into the system. occasion
ally, In passing to and from the Treasury, NEE
lady who is employed in that bureau who Ia
been employed in counting the new bills and oh
serving that her right hand was wrapped up, an
upon making inquiry learned that she had
some months since, slightly scratched her fnge
and withGs, thinking mkt &. had continual the fin,
these new bills, and Ia AZ soon the hand and for
ger oeca .s Was unable to use her right hand in
~ work. A young lady from your State was
seriously injured by the poison receievd In her
system by counting currency, and IL Is thought
extremely doubtful IL she ever RECEIVERS from the
effects Of il.
The scarcity Of small bills has been felt some
what in this city for some weeks past, and ut
present nothing less than twentles, and paid out
at the Treasury, except absolutely necessary in
the transaction of its business. II will be some
weeks and perhaps months yet, before there will
be a sufficient issue Of small bills such rs ones
and twos to meet the demands throughout the
The "slight unplcasantness" at the City Hall
in this city is something like the story In the
Ledger ''to be continued" and all parties seem
to be determined to fight IL out on this line II II
takes all winter. The democracy seems exceed-
ingly pleased at the state things and are rath-
or acting the part Of seconds to the different
wings Of the Republican party and urging them
on. The The Tax Collector Boswell who short
time since was denouncing the mayor, MIR.
Bowen, has thrown up the sponge and there
seems to be an amicSble settlement between the
two. Crane the instigator of the proceedings
against the mayor, holds on with bulldog tc-
nacity and two Of our daily papers devote
large portion Of their columns to testimony rs
given by the witnesses.
Our new postage stamps are the occasion OF
great deal Of difficulty, the trouble Is that they
aiopt Summers motto "to stick" too literally,
and frequently packages sent from the Post Of
ice department, are returned by reason Of this
fault, and of late, the department. burns these
packages returned. A large lot was received
from Harrisburg the other day and committed
to the flames. 1t is said that they make an ex-
cellent fire, and as there is so much glutenous
material used in their manufacture, 1t might be
well to heat up the post Office. department the
coming winter, with the sticky postal currency.
PREsTIss.
SUPREME JUDICIAL COURT.