Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-05-19
NEW DISTINCTIVE PAPER.
Recommendation Made by . Committee APP
pointed to Consider the Subject.

Recommendation Made by . Committee Ap-
pointed to Consider the subject.
The treasury committee, composed Of Messrs.
Eldridge, Drummond, Morgan and Mills. APP
pointed 10 consider the advisapility Of discon-
tinuing the present distinctive feature Of paper
used by the government in printing United
States securities and employing some other
distinctive feature in its stead, also 10
consider the quality Of the paper furnished by
contractors and the quality of the materials
employed in the bureau of engraving and print
ing in preparing securities and the processes
through which the paper passes, has submitted
the result Of its investigations with recon-
mendations to the Secretary of the Treasury.
The committee finds that the present dis
tinctive feature Of the paper nov in use in the
treasury, consisting Of two silk threads running
iengthwise through each note, does not meet
the requirements and purposes for which it
was adopted. as II is easily countsrfeited and
When worn or soiled il 10 necessary TO use =
magnifying glass to discover the threads.
In place of this paper the committee
recommend q distinctive paper 10 be used for
the printing Of all United States notes, certif-
Gates, bonds and circulating notes for national
banks, described as obtaining two bands or
strips of localized red and glue silk Aber run
ming across the notes intermediate between the
portraits and the center vignettes. where the
most white surface is seen ON the majority Of
government notes, except that the silk thread
be eliminated"
MORE BLANK SPACE DEsrRABLA
In this connection the committee suggest
that the future designs for notes be SO arranged
as to allow more blank space upon both the
faces and backs Of the notes in order that the
hber can be READILY seen. This suggestion
II carried out, the committee thinks, will
do away with much engraving upon the notes,
which is declared confusing to the eye and takes
away that clear impression one gets in examin-
Ing well defined and clear cut engraving. So
important does the committee regard this feat
special designs be engraved for printing the
backs of such present issues are not now
adapted to show the localized fiber to advan-
tage.
The committee states that the bank note
paper now being furnished by Crane Co. is
OF superior quality and we'll adapted to the
uses for which il is designated.
The wetting down process used at the bureau
OF engraving and printing claimed the atten-
ton Of the committee for several days. and the
report says that there must necessarily
be some fluctuations in the condition OF
the paper by reason of atmospheric
changes. The committee recommends tina,
the paper be wet for as short time
as possible before ueing. The hurried arti-
fetal manner In which paper has been dried to
meet the uemanu TOT immaculate use, the COM
mittee nnds, accounts In great measure for
the bad wearing qualities of both ink
and paper, and the recommendation
is made that hereafter only the nat
ural process Of drying be employed. The
committee recommends that an appropriation
be made to ship from subtreasuries to Wash.
ington worn government money, SO that new,
clean money can always be in circulation. No
such appropriation has been made since 1883.
The committee thinks this will largely reduce
counterfeiting.
In concluding the committee says: "The
new methods herein suggested, while entailing
upon the bureau some additional cost and time
in Incorporation of the government securities,
would, We feel assured, result in ultimate saw
ing in cost by prolongng the life
of the notes, affording greater security
against counterfeiting, the impressions
will be better preserved and present
greater contrast between genuine and spurious
productions and generally enhancing the repu-
tation Of the government by supplying paper
currency Of unequaled excellence and purity
Secretary Foster has adopted the recommen-
dations Of the committee and immediate steps
will be taken to put them into effect