Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-06-08
Engraving and Printing Government
TaGnnS

Issues.
The House Committee on Banking and Cur
rency in their report, Just printed, upon the
Dill referred to them proposing the practical
destruction of the Bureau of Engraving and
Printing, give very conclusive reasons why the
Dill should not pass. The report sets forth a
history of the bureau. aud of its WORKINGS and
great national importance. The bureau is a
growth OF about fifteen years of experiment
careful study and effort. 1t has gathered by,
the agency of skilled wOrkmen, a large and
most valuable stock. consisting of viguetteS of
eminent Americans, of the coStlieSt a'phabess
and numerals, of great varieties of lathe work
and all the delicate machinery nece- sary to
the production of what is believed to be tie
hneSt bank-nOte engraving in the world
There have been gathered into it skilled men
OF special talent and fitness in their various
lines OF business, artisans worthy of the conf
denee and patronage OF the government some
of whom have patiently tOiled for pearly half
century to make themselves proficient
Under every administration and through
every form of diScOuragement this bureau has
been carefully watched and tested and inves-
tIgated, and, after full consideration, has been
maintained by Congress, chiefly for the Obyi-
GUS reason that, in matter of so much mo-
ment as the preparation of the government
securities, the government ought to be
equipped with an organization not only ade-
quate for ordinary purposes, but sufficient for
any public exigencY.
The committee say they see no reason for a
reversal of this policy; but upon the other
hand, find in an admitted improvement in the
organization of the bureau, and an existing
management to which no exception is taken.
an additional reason for maintaining it as it
is now organized, and, if possible, improving
IT, The committee deem it only proper to re-
port to the House that, from personal and
careful investigation, and from other infOrma-
hon. sanitary reforms and Improvements
have been inaugurated by the present chief
Of the bureau, Hon. Edward Mcpherson. and
that under his able, careful and efficient man.
agement, the public may rest in the belief
that no extravaganza will be permitted. that
no erroneous or fraudulent issue need be
feared, and that economy and safety are in
Sured.
Some defects in the past management which
have been corrected. are referred TO. Under
the present management, employees are. where
practicable, paid by the piece or according to
what they actually do; and there is no LONGER
any rCom for dTOneS or idlerS.
On the question of the abolition of this bu
Teau and the execution of this work by private
companies, the committee SAYS:
such an arrangement strikes yOur commit
zee q, involving the great objections of creating
z eater risks. of establishing an unnatural
'.dlICn between the government in a func-
non peculiarly its own, and commercial par
Ties having no other tie connecting them with
u. ard OF Sublecting the government TO the
dangers which would threaten 1t from com
hlnatI0nS between these various interests
should they cease to be competing as thew
naturally would when the motive for cOmbin
ing would be sufficient, the government WOnId
he, as 1t has already been, DOWerIpSS in tbp
hands OF monopoly. 1t was chiefly to extri-
cate the government from this periIOuS DOSi
ton that the first steps toward the creation of
the bureau We're taken: and i'm the light of
that experience it would be highly unWise to
anOrd the opportunity for its repetition
Should the government dispose of its valuable
machinery and material now i'm the bureau
as provided by the bill, it would be at a great
sdTiIttt, ana me government would place it.
sell at the mercy of parties and corporations
engaged In such work. The committee be-
Eeye II wisdom to retain and keep in working
order an establishment equal to aDy emer
Stncy which may be reasonably expected
and enable the government to be Independent
OF outside combinations
The question of safety is. of course all i'm
pOftant- and OyerShadOWS all other cOnSdera-
lions, and has received the careful cOnSidera
ton OF the committee. They are satisfied
trom actual examination, that the Organiza
ton Oh the bureau at present is so permeated
with checks as TO establish the greatest DOS
Sible security against loss. 1t was admitted in
argument by officers and counsel of the bank
note companies that nowhere in the world is
there a system OF checks so ample. so minute
and so perfect, as now exists in this bureau,
IL was also admitted that system of checks
of equal minuteneSS and perfection could not
be expected, and does not exist in private es-
tabliShmentS.'
There is no reason in the nature of the
work, the committee say, why absolute safety
cannot be obtained. This government and
nearly every other government in the world
have been able with absolute safety by their
own agents to make and issue their gold and
silver coin, and there is certainly no reason
based on analogy, and no teaching of ex-
perience, raising doubt as to the power to
reach TIE same result in the making and
issuing OF paper circulation. Nearly every
civilized nation in the world makes its own
issues of paper as We'll as coin, and it is noted
In this connection that the system adopted i'm
this country has been tried for many
years in all the. great countries of Europe,
and there is no reason why the United
States government, which excels them all in
the artistic finish of its work, should not be as
successful as they in protecting this msHu'ac-
ture from the enemies which constantly
threaten it.
The people of Washington who are so deeply
interested in having this great industry re-
tanned here, will be glad to know that the
committee, after a thorough investigation of
the whole subject, 'are driven to the cor
cluSiOn that the bureau ought to be main
tanned as now organized. and should continue
to do the work of the government" and they
accordingly report the bill for its abolition
back with the recommendation that ii do NOT
pass