National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-09-24
PRINTING REVENUE STAMPS.

1t is not easy to conceive OF any sound
reason for giving out the printing of our
internal revenue stamps to private compa-
MES. That such a course was not contem-
plated by Congress when it made the sp-
preparation is beyond question. The Gov
eminent has a printing bureau especially
designed for the performance of this class
of work. 1t has been established at a very
great expense, and surrounded with all
the necessary safeguards to prevent 'coun-
terfeits and other frauds 1t is in pos
session of the machinery, dies, material,
skilled workmen and experienced assist
ants, all well trained to the business.
The work thus far has been accomplished
under the superintendent of Mr.. McCartee
with remarkable safety, excellence and dis
patch, and we believe also with good de-
gree Of economy. We have heard no valid
complaint against the utility, efficiency and
economy with which the business has been
transacted. Itappears to us that the change
proposed, which involves greater exposure
of dies and materials, hszarding millions of
property to perils Of transportation and
fraud, should not be percipitately made in
the absence of the Secretary of the Treasury
and the Commissioner of Internal Revenue,
unless there are advantages to be gained by
it which have not yet been made apparent to
the public eye.
The Government seems to have deter
mined, after much experience, that all
things considered, it is best fer it TO do its
own printing so far as possible. 1t has in
consequence expended the necessary funds
to acquire the best printing house and book
mandatory on this continent if not in the
world. 1t has also determined that the
only perfectly safe way of printing bonds,
notes, drafts, stamps, &C., is to manufac-
ture them on its own premises by its own
employees, and Immediately under the Wig
liant eyes of its own sworn officers. We
maintain that this is the only correct pol
icy. Even if it be little more expensive
in the first instance, the extraordinary safe
guards by which it is able in this way to
protect itself from imposition and fraud
more than compensates for any difference
in cost which may arise. In 1867 and 1868,
when tobacco and other revenue stamps
were largely counterfeited, we believe the
work was done in New York, and that it
was only when it was transferred to the
Government Printing Bureau that the spu-
rious issues ceased. There can be no posi-
tive safety in farming out this work. We
mean no imputation upon the honor Of the
contractors or the officials. We simply
mean that under this system it is both posi-
BILE and practicable to copy dies almost in
simultaneously, and carry away the impress
sion to be hardened and used in the interest
of fraud in some other locality. And we
believe that the risk of such an occurrence
is too great to run. With all the necessary
arrangements for doing the work now com
plete, it stands to reason that Government
can1do it with greater economy, is well as
safety, than these private companies, who
must go to great expense for these appl-
ances. If it cannot there must be some
thing radically wrong in the management,
which we do not believe.
But there is another consideration which
we insist should have some weight in the
of this matter, and that is
the number Of poor employees whom it
will throw upon the cold charities Of the
world Just at the commencement of the
severe weather. This city is exceptional
in the lack of varied employments for
those entirely dependent upon their own
labOrs. There are few opportunities here
for labor outside of Government establish
ments. Consequently, when our opera
tives are discharged from these their lot is
peculiarly oppressive. The work in the
printing bureau is unhealthy at best, and
very arduous Laboring in overheated
rooms, in atmospheres of poisonous acids
and colors, is not very attractive, and is
only accepted as derRier resort; but the
widows and orphans of both civil and mill
tary servants are frequently left with no
better resources to keep the wolf from |
the door. And now this is to be taken |
from them to crafty some feeling of |
jealousy perhaps, or unworthy rivalry, in |
which the real interests of the country hold |
NJ important part. We protest that we
can see no sense or reason in it, and hope |
it may not be done.