Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-04-29

Reading Matter on Every Page
WASHINGTON CITY;
wEDNESDAY-...-... April %, 1874
Seven Hours, and the Treasury Note
Printing.

Two matters Of interest to a large number Of
people In Washington were discussed and acted
upon in the House yesterday. The first WAS
the amendment by Mr.. Kellogg to the sppro-
pristiOn bill, putting the whole sum Of printing
notes, bonds, and other securities OF the United
States in one item AZ 81 ,125 900. The appropri-
alton bill this year had provision dividing the
appropriation into two items, and giving the
New York bank note companies the larger
snare, or s625 900, for merely printing the
backs Of the notes, while only $500 900 was ap-
propriated for the much larger portion of the
work executed here by the Bureau OF Engrsv.
ing and Printing, and which includes the print
ing Of the faces. the numbering, sealing, trim
ming, and all the varied work upon
the notes and bonds to prepare them
for use. An additional item of expense to the
government 20 be added to the large spproprIs-
ton of s62j, 600 20 the New York companies for
merely printing the back, was the sum of
$4,000 for eXPressage for bringing the I'M
finished notes and bonds here from the bank
note companies. At the same time, as shown
by Mr.. Kellogg, by making this separate aud
absolute appropriation TO the bank note CON-
panies, the government was deprived Of the
power to hold these companies to their con.
tracts, while the law, "a it now stands, makes it
the duty Of the Secretary Of the Treasury to en-
ter into contracts with these bank notes compa-
MES, and # they do not fulfill their contracts to
the satisfaction of the government then the
Secretary may terminate them on due no.
uee. Mr.. Randall, in the course of the
discussion, remarked that if the amend
ment was defeated il would hand tue gov
eminent over, bound hand and foot, to the
bank note companies. Mr.. Maynard also stated
phst he believed to be the unanimous opinion
Of the Committee on Banking and Currency,
that the House ought to be very careful not to
shape their legislation so as to throw themselves
irTetrieyably and absolutely into the power Of
the bank note companies TO dictate their own
terms. Mr.. Randall, following, said that to re-
strict the government in this way would clearly
be an act Of favOritism to these bank note CON-
pshies. He further said that if IL could be
shown that the government can print the bank
notes a chesply here, right under the super.
vision OF the Treasury on cisls, ss IN New York,
and with equal security, he was in favor of the
goVernmt Mt printing all this money instead OF
giving the printing to these bank note compa-
mics. Ii struck him that this was the only
legitimate and correct course for the
government TO pursue. He denied that there is
in the city Of New York that security In con-
nection with the printing Of the notes that
there can be here. Under q proper system il
will be impossible for any paper to be lost or
any notes distracted. The Treasury Depart
ment had, in this connection, q system Of thirty
eight different cheeks-a system which for S.
curity has never been eGualed, 50 tar as bis
observation went
These common sense views were quite evil
IDENTITY those entertained by the House, as the
amendment was adopted by the decisive vote
Of 152 10 50.
The other amendment referred to, was to
strike out the section requiring seven hours
labor with balf-hour intermission) for each
clerical working day. This amendment was
cOncUrred in without taking the ayes and nses;
80 the hours Of labor remain as they were.