Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1877-11-28
Treasury Bureau Of Engraving and
Printing.

The report of Mr.. MCPHERSON, chief OF the
Bureau Of Engraving and Printing of the
Treasury Department, has been submitted
to Secretary Sherman, covering the opera
lions of the bureau for the fiscal year ending
June 80, 1877. The appropriations for the
fiscal year were S23 Cos IS for salaries, and
s813 coo for labor and other expenses; total,
1856 O65.4s. The net expenditure was $780,
$3.50, leaving ap unexpendIi balance June
3Oth last of $50, al 50. About Se5, 900 of this
balance accrued by the discharge in April
last on the report of a committee, of $50 su-
perfuOus employees, whose monthly pay
was s32, 5OO. This occurred before the present
officers took charge, May list last. Toe num-
Der of employees during the year ranged
from 1888, the highest, il December last,
down TO 414, in May last. During the first
six months of the fiscal year the number of
enI number is 479.
The number of perfect sheets OF securities
delivered Is .359 ,3j9, representing value of
SOS ,4lf ,G45. The number Of sheets of Gus
toms, cigar and special tax stamps delivered
was 4SO,72O. or 1.1s1, 40 stamps.
During the year no counterfeit has appear.
cd Oh any of The work engraved and eXeca
ted by the bureau.
REORGANIZATION.
since the 30th of June last, the close OF the
fiscal year TO which this report refers, the
bureau has been recognized in every part.
Material changes in the processes have been
made, with large reduction of expenditure.
supplies are purchased from the lowest bid
examinations have been abolished, and, at
the same time, remarkable accuracy in
VOL has been secured. Sundry divisions
have been consolidated, and a more simple
organization made. Expenses of superln-
tendence have been reduced. Toe bureau
has been graded so as to assimilate 1t, as far
tenn of promotion solely by merit estab-
lished. A careful system OF daily reports
and checks has been established, so that the
work Of each emplOye becomes known and
standing EfficiQnFV
On the first OF October, pay by the piece was
substituted in several of the divisions in
act making appropriation for the present
fiscal year provides that the labor in the bu-
reau may he done by the day, piece or con
tract, "the pay for such labor TO the fixed by
the Secretary OF the Treasury at rates not
exceeding the rates usually paid for such
work." This provision of law largely limits
the discretion of the Secretary as to rates.
The scale adopted is such that all the en-
ployes doing what is rated as good days
work will earn an amount equal TO what
they received on the per diem system, whilst
the specially apt or industrious have
chance to earn An additional sum. Lost error
In these rates or In any other respect in the
matter of reorganization may have been
committed, and in order that IL may be as
certained and corrected, an independent tri-
bunal has been created, which consists OF all
the superintendents of divisions, the &C
couniant, and the superintendent of orders;
with right OF representation secured to all
the interests in the bureau. Ii is believed that
the employees are now as comfortably pro-
vided for as they can be in the rooms Occu-
pied; that they are impartially treated i'm the
distribution of work; that they are justly
paid for what they do; and that they are as
literally paid as existing law permits
FIRE-PROoF BUILDING NEEDED FOR
THE BUREAU.
The chief asks for an appropriation suffi-
cient 10 erect fre-proof building for the
purposes OF the bureau and such other me-
chanical branches of service as require bet
ter accommodation; and makes an argument
TO show how the investment can be made to
pay Interest on cost.
CHEAPER THAN THE BANK NOTE COMPA-
In addition to the saving OF 5000 900, this
fiscal year, Of the labor and expense appro.
prtatiOn OF the bureau, the government will
pay this bureau for the execution OF the
printing OF internal revenue stamps for
cigars, liquors, snuff and tobacco, during the
present fiscal year, So, S41 80 less than II paid
the New York bank note companies last
year for the same work, and it will pay this
bureau this year for the printing of backs OF
$40 2543o less than 1t paid the Columbian
bank note company for the same work last
Mr.. Mcpherson takes occasion to thank the
employees for their faithful service. The
work Of the bureau requires accurate checks
and safeguards, but the degree OF strlctness
has be en- applied equally to all.
GOOD MORAL CHARACTER OF THE b.
REAU.
In closing his report the chief says: al
may add further that In the desire to make
the bureau good business establishment, ia
accordance with the instructions contained
in your letter OF June 18th, last, one OF the
prime requisites TO q designation for service,
additional to efficiency, Is good moral char
acter. In view Of criticisms made In past
years, attention was early given to this sub
ject, with the purpose that there should be no
just ground for them in the future. AS
precautionary measure, the male superin-
iendents in charge of the large di visions COM
posed exclusively of ladies, were relieved,
and female superintendents substituted, and
lady superintendent OF orders was charged
with the daily care Of the lady employees.
Not only is good character made q condition
Of original designation, but proper deport-
meut il made a condition OF q permanent
designation, and OF every subsequent promo
ton, whether OF men or women. AS q result,
not Q single act OF even incivility of em-
ployes toward each other, has been reported;
and II il believed that q purer and better
force is not employed elsewhere, In any es-
tablishment, public or private"
TIE CLKRKS OF the Navy department
1l~xr -u<lh or