The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-03-29
The Treasury Department Thrown
Into CONSERVATION by New
Counterfeit.
Bogus Two-Dollar Silver Certi-
flcates Issued That Almost
Defy Detection.
Charge Of the Comptroller of
the Currency.

WASHINGTON, March 28.--A sensation has
peen caused at the treasury department. BY
the discovery Of u counterfeit two dollar
silver certificate 80 nearly perfect as to be
almost impossible Of detection. The paper
with silk threads through it is for the first
time almost a perfect imitation in tho
oounterfeit Just discovered. So far az is
now known it is only used in counterfeit-
ing certificates of the series Of 1886. II ia
estimated that there arc now nearly S10,-
WO,oOO of these notes in circulation and the
problem before the treasury department ia
how to get them back into the treasury and
| substitute new series without embarrass-
ment before any considerable quantity Of
the counterfeit notes gets into circula-
tion. This was the subject OF q
secret confer nee at the treasury depart
ment this afternoon between Secretary Fos-
ter and leading officials OF the bureau OF
engraving and printing. IL was practically
decided TO suspend the printing Of x2 silver
certlncates and institute n new series Of the
same denomination. These viii! contain
ylgnette Of Secretary Window and be
be engraved. 1t will take about two
months to prepare the plates, and in the
meantime the government will exert it's ut
most cndeavors to secure and destroy the
plates and other paraphernalia used in the
manufacture of the counterfeit.
The comptroller of currency received
telegram to-day from the examiner in
charge Of the American National bank OF
Kansas City saying that the entire amount
OF the capital of the bunk, 100000,
had been paid in and the bank would be
open for business Tuesday or Wednesday
next. The examiner says the bank has
VI. .OOO in the vault including $635, ,OO1
which had been taken from the bank by the
examiner and which has just been restored
by order of the comptroller of currency.
Comptroller Lacey to-day received the
official report of Examiner Hepburn re-
garding the Washington National bank of
New York, but refused to disclose it's con-
tents. He addressed a communication to
Hepburn suggesting that only two courses
are open II a receivership is to be avoided.
In the first place, the comptroller can levy
an assessment of 80 per cent upon the
capital stock, which would Reinforce
the assets Of the bank by $15O.O0O cash.
This could be done, however, only in case
the directors and larger stockholders
would agree to advance for the sharShold-
ers not prepared Tor immediate payment,
In case this amount is paid in the comp
troller would permit the bank to resume
business and the amounts due the deposit
ors and creditors would be Immediately
available. In case resumption is impracti-
cable the comptroller suggests that 1857 900
in addition to the immediate available as
sets already in hand would enable the bank
to pay creditors promptly in full, where
upon they could vote to 60 into voluntary
liquidation and close the affairs of the
bank themselves. This might be raised
upon the pledge of loans and discounts Of
the bank supplemented, if necessary, by
the personal guarantee of the lnrger share
holders. If one of these plans is not
adopted it will be his duty to appoint re-
ceiver and close the bank up in the usual
WAY.