The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1886-09-17
Our Washington Letter
From Our Regular Correspondent.

Washington, SEPT. ii, 1856.
1t is said tho Mrs. Cleyeland, the Presi-
dents mother-ln-law, and the President
will return to Washington this week. The
White House has been put in perfect order
for their reception, and like renovated hat
looks ten times newer than when it was new
All the Cabinet officers, with one exception
are away from the city. During the torrid
summer Secretary Bayard &lone has trod
the burning deck whence all but him had
fled. Next to Secretary Bayard, Secretary
Lamar appears to be the most adhesive
Cabinet officer. Coming from Mississippi, he
is perhaps not aware that the climate of
Washington is either hot or unhealthful.
He frequently takes walk on the hottest
part of the afternoon, going to the post of
flee or to store in the most unobtrusive
and commonplace manner. Secretary La
mar, contrary to expectations, has proved
himself an energetic and painstaking Cab
met officer. He has mastered all the details
of the business of the Interior Department,
and done more good and substantial work
than any other Cabinet officer of the pres
ent Administration. Before his appoint
ment, it was known that he was IL brilliant
orator, thorough lawyer, and an accom-
plished scholar bnt it was not supposed
that he was capable O. the painstaking mast
cry of details, and the ability, or you may
call it genius, of tirelessly doing one thing
after another which characterizes the real
Craftsmanship of modern times.
Probably of all the Cabinet officers the
Secretaries of the War and Navy exercise,
the least personal supervision over their
particular departments. They are truants
from their places of business so often that
their pre- sent absence, although continued for
an unprecedently long time, occasions no
surprise.
There are other offices in Washington on
which although branches of certain depart
ments, are themselves more numerous in
their corps of employees than are the War,
Navy, or State Departments. among these
are the Pc nsion office, the Public Printing
Office, and the Bureau of Engraving and
Printing. This immense bureau employs
nine hundred persons, and under its pres
sent chief, Mr.. Graves its work is thorough
~ systematised. Take for instance the
measures employed to prevent theft by en-
ployes in this office, where all the paper
money of the United States is printed.
There is an admirably perfect system ef
checking and receipting, by which if any
sheet of Paper or sheet of money disappears
its loss is at once noticed, and it can be pre-
cisely located. Every piece of paper is
carefully receipted and counted in every
division through which it must pass before
it can become legal money. Every morn
ing blank pass is issued to each printer.
on which is entered the number of sheets
given him, and he is not allowed to leave
the department until all the sheets are ac-
counted for Every evening all the printed
money, the unfinished sheets, and all the
dies and plates are locked in an immense
vault with two large iron and steel doors
The two locks have different combinations.
which are known to two different persons.
These precautions are necessary, because
there are frequently millions Of dollars stor-
ed in the vaults, only needing the great seal
of the United States to become legal tender.
Perhaps your readers would like to know
the appearance of the new silver certificates
that are now b cling made at this Bureau
The denominations are !, 2, and 10 dollars.
The note is adorned with the portrait of
Martha Washington (this is the first time
that women has ever had her portal. ON
the paper money OF the United States.) The
81 bears the portrait of Gen. Grant