National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-01-13
PRINTING AND ENGRAVING BUREAu.
A Refutation of the Charges Made by MI
Cloyer.

n lteiutntlOn OF the thHrges NhAuc Dy Nirs
Glover.
Colonel o. II. Irish. the chief Of the Bureau
of Engraving and Printing, has addressed q
letter to Hon. J. d. c. Atkins, chairman of the
Committee on Appropriations, replying to and
refuting the charges of extravaganza in the
management Of the bureau made by the Hon.
j. NJ. Glover, chairman Of tho Committee on
Expenditures in the Treasury Department.
Colonel Irish refers to the rigid examination
made of the affairs of the Bureau by q
committee appointed by the Secretary Of
the Treasury just prior to sthc induction
into office of Mr.. Mcpherson as chief and him.
self as assistant chief in May l. 1871, and
shows that tho reforms suggested by that com.
mittee In its report were adopted and carried
ont by Mr.. Mcpherson aud himself rs rapidly
as circumstances would admit; that the force
was reduced to the number actually needed TO
perform the work that the employees were
graded and classified according to merit, and
promotions have boon since made only upon
the grounds of superior skin, accuracy, and
fidelity; that piece rates were ex-
tended from the plate. printers to all
employees whose work rendered 1t practica-
bic SO that each employee is paid for
the work actually performed that in the pur-
chase Of materials and stores proposals were
asked for and the order made upon tho lowest
bidder, thus giving the Government the ad
vantage of the competition, and that in the
issue of these materials suporiutendents and
others were made responsible, 50 that only the
amounts needed for current work could be
Withdrawn. lie refers TO the consolidation of
divisions, by which the expense of supervision,
clerical work, and unsliled labor was greatly
reduced, and the establishment of n system of
reports which securcs individual responsibility;
in word, tho establishment of the Bureau
upon the business basis which It now occupies.
lie expresses his nstonishmeut at reading in
tho uewspapCrs1he charges made by Mr. Glover,
and refers to the fact that the only attempts
made by Mr. Glover or his experts at an eX-
animation of the accounts of tho Bureau have
been ms to the affairs occurring under former
administrations with which the present man
agement has 10 concern. He refers to the
charge made by Mr. Glover that the Bureau is
now printing national bank notes in violation
Of law and quotes from tho act Of March 81,
1875, the following proviso:
Pr0uidsd That the national ban; notes shall be
printed under the direction Of the Secretary Of the
Treasury and upon the distinctive or especial paper
which has been or may hereafter be adopted by
him for printing United States notes.
He gives history of the printing of nation
al bank notes from the time when the con-
{ tracts were first made with the New York bank
note companies in 1863 down to the final with
drawal of the work from private establish
ments, and the order for its execution in the
Bureau in September last, and shows the say
T ing to the Government through the efforts Of
the Bureau at every step, and that the work is
now being performed in the Bureau at a less
price than was offered by any bank note COM
pany, which is but natural, as the Government
now saves the profit which private firm
would be compelled to make. He denies spe-
, cifcally the charge that only One.siXth of this
(, work has been charged for at the estimated
rate, the greater portions being secretly
/ charged at much higher rate, and explains
that the accounts for each class of work done
by the Bureau are rendered separately and
are passed upon by the First Auditor and
Comptroller and are finally settled by the Reg
lister by warrant and counter warrant
The charge made by Mr.. Glover that In 1878
, there was ucedlessy expended in printing the
national bank notes $4,000 he proves to be
absurd by showing that there was appropri-
atcd for that purpose for that year but $780,,
900 that the Bureau delivered to the Comp
trollcr of the Currency during that year
2,39075O sheets of perfect notes, which had
, passed through :he processes of three plate
printings one surface printing, and two sets
Q of numbers, besides trimming for which work
1t received the sum of Sl3O, ,S2733, and adds
that practical men will find it difficult tC
: understand how $780, 900 of this amount could
have been needcssly or eXtravaganty expend
T. cd From this he is forced TO tho conclusion
a that at all the charges made by Mr., Glover, Sc
far as they relate to the Bureau since May
1877, are the result of u misapprehcnsion o
facts consequent IN want of thorough ex-
animation of the subject.
= As to the charge of excessive prices paid for
Z paper lie shows that the present management
= of the Bureau made every effort to reduce the
cost of paper; that when it was discovered
that Il large supply was already on hand the
mills were stopped, and only opened to make
comparatively small quantity for printing the
: 4 per cent coupon bonds; that committees
ii 4
! | Vestgatc this matter of u distinctive paper
one of which still has under consideration the
proposals submitted under advertisement o.
October last.
He then continues as follows:
: With the expenditures prior to May l, 1877
S the present administration of the Treasury
4 Department or of the Bureau has 10 concern
!, The facts relative TO every item enumerated
by the Hon. Mr.. Glover We're developed by
the present Secretary of the Treasury through
the committee of officers appointed by him
though they did not indulge in conjecture rs
l. to the amount. The Hon. Mr.. Glover has no
y elected Il single fact indicating a misnanage
!, ment of the affairs of the Bureau which hat
:, not already been discovered, reported upol
@ and reformed. These reforms have already re
suited in very large reduction in the annua
expenditures in every branch Of the service
Yet the Hon. Mr. Glover suggests that upor
the strength of his discoveries the appropria
!
= withstanding the relation Of the work of tn,
s Bureau TO the financial system of the Govern
4 mont respecting the collection of the revenue
S the refunding of the public debt, and for thu
/ Issuing of the money obligations of the Gov
ernment, and notwithstanding the further fac
that the bodest relormcr has never venture,
to suggest such u large reduction in the appro
priations for this Bureau as has been made II
its actual expenditures since its reorganizl
ton.
Early in the last session another COMMITTEES
of the House, namely, the Committee on Bank
ing and Currency, We're instructed to cXamin
and report upon Il bill to abolish the Bureau
The following extract from their report, unan
imOusly cOncurred in, shows their estimate O
a reorganization Of the Bureau, which til
e chairman of the Committee on Expenditure
in the Treasury Department has entirely IL
nOrcd:
This committee deem II only proper to report +
the House that from personal aud careful invest
II CATION and from othcrmiOrNGtiUn saluNry reform
and improvements have been inuugrratcd by IA
present chief Of the BureNu--IIon. Edward Ne
PherSon-nnd that under his careful and Cnicien
management the public may rest In the belief th}
y no eNrayng0uce will be permitted that no crronC
Il Gus or fraudulent issue need be feared, and tht
" economy and safety is assured.
= The committee, after stating In detail tn
II reasons for their conclusions, closed their re