National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-03-14

retary, on tile lst OF May, 1871 appointed
Hon. EDwAnD MCPHERSON ns chief Of the
Bureau and Colonel o. H. IRISH rs assistant
chief These gentlemen accepted their po-
stions with the full determination to con-
scientiously perform the duties devolving
upon them and, realizing that if the Bureau
was to enter actively into competition with
the bank-noto companies, it must he placed
upon thoroughly practical and business
basis, proceeded at once to reorganize 1T
with that end in view The details Of this
reorganization fell to the duty of Colonel
IRISH, the present chief, and how entelli-
gently and Systematically he carried them
out is seen in the present effective condi-
ton of the force.
When the work was entirely taken away
from the bans-note companies and given to
the Bureau, upon the Secretary being con-
vinccd that this action was for the best in
terests of the Government, it was natural
that those who had protited by this work
should feel aggrieved at their source of rev.
cnue being removed, and steps were at once
taken TO secure another Investigation
GLOVER, who had already received rowing
commission from the Democratic House TO
hunt through the Treasury Department
for evidence of fraud committed by Repub-
licnn officials, was induced to turn his at
tcntion TO the Bureau of Engraving and
Printing and as the FIRST step he secured
the suspension from duty of two Of the Off
cials upon the simple statement that there
was evidence in his possession of grave mis-
conduct on their part, and that their pres
ence in the Bureau would embarrass his in
vestigation. The REPUBLICAN did not
hesitate at the time to characterize this sus-
pension as unwarrantablc and unjust, and
we see no reason TO change that opinion
now. Mr.. GLOVER was given every facility
to prosecute his inquiries, and his experts
had free access to all the accounts and
records. After the most diligent scrutiny
they fliicd to find single act that re-
Elected upon the integrity of the present
management although Mr.. GLOVER adj
dressed u series of letters to the Hon Mr..
ATKINS, chairman of the Appropriations
Committee setting forth the most absurd
and ridiculous statements in regard to the
| figures furnished him from the Bureau as to
the cost of work. Every appropriation
asked for by the Bureau was granted and
| it may now be accepted that the Bureau is
4 fixed institution, and will not probably
be subjected to the annoyance of frequent
and unjust attacks as heretofore.
The Bureau of Engraving and Printing is
I m 10 l,o oc
the Government. II is idle to say that pri-
vate establishments can do the work of en-
craving and printing as cheaply as the Gov
ernment itself, and il is an insult TO COM
mon sense to assert that the safety is as
great when the work is divided among
three or four parties as when it is per-
formed under the direct supervision of Gov
ernment officials, by Government employees,
and in a Government building. The work
of engraving and printing the paper money
and securities of the Government should be
executed by the Government just MS much
as the coming of its metallic currency; and
the Bureau of Engraving and Printing is
to-day in better condition to properly
perform that work than ever before
1t has the most skillGul and artistic
engHvers in the profession it has
experienced and thoroughly competent
printers, examiners, and numberers
it has the most improved mechanical ap-
pliances for its various classes of work; it
has carefully organized corps of employees,
aud it has at its head man of more than
ordinary business capacity and of the strict
est integrity. We believe that it is now
placed upon sure foundation, and those
who have heretofore endeNvored to injure ii
might us we'll understand that so long rs il
is conducted as it is at present, upon strictly
business principles, it will be futile to seel;
to break down its usefulness,
When the new building that is now in
process of construction for the use of the
Bureau is completed the little work of en-
craving and printing that is now held by
private corporations will no doubt be given
to the Bureau, for it will then have even
greater facilities for properly and promptly
executing its work than now.