New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-01-20
BAD BILLS ACCOUNTED FOR
THE BUREAU OF ENGRAVING AND PRINTING
AT FAULT.
KNIGHTS or LABOR VIGOROUSLY ATTACKING Mn.
oRAvEss PENNY WISE AND POUND YOoL-
ISL POLICY ~ USING STEAM PRESSES.
INSTEAD OF HAND ROLLERS. FOR


INSTEAD OF HAND ROLLERS, FOR
GOVERNMENT NOTES
Every one who has given attention to the One
and Two dollar silver certificates the issue Of
which was begun by the Government little over
Two years ago, must have observed the faded
appearance Of the notes that have been in actual
circulation for any considerable length Of time.
The enamel on the surface of the bills that pro-
tects the pictures and printed matter is almost
entirely worn of and owing to the broken condition
OF the fibre it is difficult TO read what is stated
on the front OF the note or even to discern the
conspicuous picture of General Hancock. which
adorns the two-dollar notes All the fine lines
so important in preventing and in the detection
OF counterfeits are entirely oblterated in many
instances, SO that to most people bill Of this
kind seems at first sight but poor imitation OF
Government obligation. This impression. In
fact is not weakened by comparing one of these
bills with an old-fashioned greenback or bank note
The contrast Is striking. silver certificate
that has been in ordinary ten months looks
more worn and indistinct than one of the Others
that has oeen in use almost as many years
MANY COMPLAINTS MADE.
1t is not surprising that this should have caused
n good deal of complaint and rcmonstrance. 1t
is alarming rs well as an annoyance since coun-
terfeting such bills is considered by bankers and
Others a comparatively easy task. The Knights
Of Labor at their General Assembly in Minneap-
oils last fall took up this subject and came to the
conclusion that the responsibility for this debased
condition Of the currency rested upon Mr.. Graves
the present head of the Bureau of Engraving ana
Printing. This gentleman is close 1rlend Oh
George Jones, the owner Of The New-YOrk Times
lie assistant to United States Treasurer wv
man during the last Presidential election and was
supposed TO be e Republican. After Mr. Cievelands
election was declared to be certain he came out
with the announcement that he had voted for the
Democratic candidate This pleased Mr.. Jones
and he urged the President to give Mr.. Graves
the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. Inc re-
quest was granted, as a stop TO the MugWumps;;
Among the reforms that Mr.. Graves haStened
to institute was one OF rather sweeping ana rdu-
zeal characteristic substitution OF steam presses
for hand roller pressed IN printing the government
notes and stamps, at least a large portion OF
them. This the Knights found to be the cause Oh
the bad bills.
DETECTING on THE SCORE OF ECONOMY.
They did not object to the mere introduction of
steam power; that in Keeping with the pro-
gressive character of the age, and OF their Order
but they declared against the use Of it for the
sake of economy when the result was the produc-
ton Of bills that in short time look more spurl-
Gus than genuine ones Hence resolution was
passed demanding that "all Government notes,
bonds, checks and stamps shall be printed in the
highest style OF the art OF plate printing, IRON
hand roller presses, so as to secure the Govern
ment and the public against loss by wear and by
person, committee appointed to represent the
order before Cogress, hereby directed to do all
that is practicable 10 give effect IN this resolution
In accordance with this declaration petition
has been presented 10 Congress by a committee OF
the Knights asking for an investigation into the
management Of the Bureau Of Engraving ana
Printing and this week two bills FOR this purpose
have been INTRODUCED one by Senator Blair in the
Senate and another by Representative Foran ID
the House The settlement IN favor of overhaul
ing Mr.. Graves's methods is so pronounced among
H. tatltr ofh hot ri
hers OF tho KNIGHTS committee feel cera that the
desired investigation will be ordered One OF
this portion of the country said Yesterday in ex-
planning the significance of the Knights action
in the matter
We do not care what power Mr. Graves EMPLOYS hsoai
prntuce good bills he cannot DO 10 with presses
as avery practical plata printer and banker knows and had
had been Of experience he never would
attempted TO do so. He Increased the
steam presses to nineteen and
ba, used them in order to meet
demand the bureau Now the use OF steam
presses this business is at best an experiment They have
been only by bankers ana brokers' who deal
securities but also by committee OF experts appointed
by Secretary Folger to investigate their merits Aer
thorough examination OF them Mr. Folger filed a
protest against their use upon Government WORK.
this protest file in the Treasury Department f
in spite OF This Mr. Graves, who not eren practca
mechanic much plate printer PUSHES right In and
adopts these presses by Who'll sale.
ANXIOUS TO MAKE A SHOW OF SAVING.
Whyi Oh TO showing for himself as economlcsf
Official Yes SIR for sake of saving few thousand
dollars that produced this inferior work. whhh
presents little II any difficulty countereters Is 1t not an
outrage upon people that he should be permitted
TO do such thngl
hy the New York stock Exchange Will not handle listed
that printed in the highest STYLE OF the
pripters art hand Yet here is the Govern
producing PEOPLES money bya cheap INFERIOR pro
that employed by corporations Congress
long ago security not economy was the hrs'
of
that on like Edmunds Hawley and f&"eh anu
Congressman Randall and Phelps who indotsed
this sentiment and again. Will not counto-
nance such a course as that adopted by MT ora'o~
These macht1 Is are an story Experiments have been
permitted year after the advocates claiming
they could do rougher grades OF work. snch as
stamps enough They not successful OUT lo una
chine made money. You SEQ. the owners OF he's
presses get a royalty 81 every 1000 impress
siouS and press prints from 1000 to 5000 day.
He then explained at lenrth how the steam
presses break the fibre of the paper making IL I'M
possibe for the enamel 70 be retained 10 protecV
the printed matter and added:
You must remember former Administrations the
,ted States Bureau surpassed In the character OF
the work It produced The highest award for bank hote
engraving wa, given the vienna Exposition in 1878 IL
no fanlt OF the employees the work las dsgeneraeu IL
simply the mistaken absurd policy oil Mt Graves
At present the cannot meet the demands o ''
Treasury and Internal Revenue Bureau The silver cor
thcaes and dollar notes are not being phe" AZ
all the country has been supplied with the'h
There 10 work at present for 800 men. while only io'
are employed No matter what the requirements Of inc "o'
mr. In, pubc NAV be no additional force OF plato
priners can employed This has causeh emoarrasnsn'
and delay which has enabled Mr. Graves 10 hastily hmse III
the usa presses consequent issue Of INFERIOR
work.
ROSE OOGHLAN SLOWS WITH AUGUSTUS FIIOO
Miss Coghlan's season at Walack's Theatre enoesi
last night and yesterday she signed Contract WIN
Augustus Pou to star for three years. The cohrac.
was signed at the Office OF Howe Humme and ADO
IIummel's applied on It as a witness MI
Pitou said to a reporter last night:
al am mucn pleased with tho arrangement nave
made with Miss Coghlan and Is she Tho coh'r"'