Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-06-15

square, contains SAC, 900; if hundreds, S400,-
900. A few of these last be probably Sc
lects-S10, 600, 900 perhaps makes sufficient
armful-and with this haul he toddles away
content
Just such a robbery of the Treasury as
this might unquestionably be accomplished
at any time; but the point is, would it be
profitable to the thief? No sooner would
this greatest burglary of history be reported
than pretty nearly every person in the
civilized world would be looking out for
500 United States notes Of the numbers ad-
vertised as stolen. Too bad that he did not
take gold insteadl But after all, would
that be any better? ANY one who spent
much of it would be suspected when the
Treasury had been robbed. 1t might be
melted up to destroy Its identity altogether,
but how sell the bullion? To try to dispose
of it to the miuts or buyers of old gold in
any quantities would excite attention. If
it were attempted to take it abroad in boxes,
Its weight would occasion remark perhaps.
After all, it would seem better not to try to
rob the Treasury of Uncle Sam; there is not
money enough in the enterprise.
FLASH MONEY SUPPRESSED.
The business of making so-called flash"
money, which used to largely prevail, has
been almost put a stop to by the Secret
Service. This term applies to all limitations
of United States currency which are pro-
duced for advertising purposes. A few
wears ago business. colleges all over
the country were accustomed to
issue for themselves notes of vari-
Gus denominations resembling more or
less closely United States bills, bank notes
or greenbacks, which they used for con-
yenience in make-believe commercial trans
actions for the education of their pupils.
This has been done away with, because such
play currency was always apt to be passed
off for real upon ignorant people. The same
reason is accountable for the law which de-
clares that imitation money shall not be
made for any purpose.
The other day in Chicago a S. note was
passed upon a Chinaman which was, in
reality, only the advertisement of q cheap
eating house. with one-third of it engraved
in imitation of bank bill. On the remain
ing two-thirds was printed the bill of fare,
including: "Steak, 10 cents; chops, 10 cents;
ham and eggs, 10 cents; pie, cents, and
coffee, cents" There is really a great
deal of such fash currency circulating in
the South, where the negroes readily accept
anything that looks like bank note for
money.
"A
A verv curious sort of counterfeit not at
all crlminally intended came over to this
country from Germany the other day. 1t
was an excellent imitation of our silver
dollar in some white metal, but contained
within it three small knife blades and a
button hook, which could be pulled out and
used when desired. Altogether it was q
very novel and cunning little contrivance;
but the Secret Service ruthlessly seized the
entire importation of these curiosities, some
thousands of them in all. A compromise
was finally effected. however, the Govern
ment retaining the silver dollar cases and
permitting the importer to retain the knife
blades and button hooks.
There is no law against counterfeiting
Confederate notes-un fortunately, because
they are not inirequently sprung upon the
ignorant for United States money. The Sc
cret Service does not like the business of
making lockets and such things of silver
dollars, but the law does not declare posi-
lively against it, and it seems to be legal
now for anybody who has silver dollar to
do anything with it he likes. But heaps of
imitation silver dollars for paper weights
and for tops Of confectionery boxes to make
them look as if they were overfowing with
money, are not allowed. The collection of
such curiosities at the Treasury is astonish-
ing. RENE BACHE.