The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-07-19

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- &A&~ ate predecessor and
~ they have claimed
much attention not only from the public but
from the President and his Cabinet officers.
some have ended in dismissals Of the guilty
par,ies. some IN palliation. and others ID the
more Questionable and, we are sorry 20 say;
more common practice OF 'white-Washing
And vet we are led TO believe that still an
other scandal. more serious than any That has
nreceded il. Is destined 20 claim the attention
and affect the sensibilities Of the lovers OF law
and order.
TREASURY PLATES ABsTRAcfED.
More than year since the chairman Of the
Appropriation Committee Of the United States
Senate notified the Secretary Of the Treas
ury that he had good and sufficient reasons
20 fear that plates or copies OF plates from
which the currency Of the country could be
printed had been and were then IN danger Of
being surrepttiously extracted from the Bu-
reau Of Engraving aud Printing. 1his start
ling announcement was received by the
Secretary with fear and trembling.
The responsibility that rested upon HIM
rs the head Of that great Depart
mcnt seemed 10 assume a new phase
and present additional dangers. He could
not be held responsible for the handlcratt OF
the cOunterfeiter or for other wicked dOlngs
Of those without the Treasury Department,
but II plates OF copies of plates were being e1-
tracted he would certainly DO held personally
responsible. He Immediately commenced an
investigation IN person and was soon con-
vnced that such a thing was. at least. posi-
be The danger points OF the Bureau were
carefully brought to his attention. The
checks and guards 50 necessary to insure
protection that had wisely been pro-
vded were by some mysterious means
removed or greatly relaxed. Secretary
Window was very much perturbed as ne saw
that Senator Allison. chairman of the Senate
Appropriations Committee, was seriously IN
earnest. He summoned the chief Of the Bureau
Of Engraving and Printing and advised him
OF the information received, at the same time
demanding why the proper safeguards had
been relaxed. The logic of tho bureau chief
uyercame the SecretaTys fears Mr. Win
dom was grayely informed that there was no
foundation whatever for Senator Allison's APP
pre ensions: that never before in the his
tory Of the Bureau had the plates and dies
from which our currency was printed been
b. carefully guarded.
FURTHER INVESTIGATION.
However though his fears were allayed. it
Appears that the Secretary was not entirely
satisfied as he directed a secret service official
e. make an investigation. Ia a short time this
official reported that everything was all
right " and. so far as the Treasury officials
were concerned the matter was dropped
been misint0nned.
EXPERT COUNTERFTITs.
u s asserted by men familiar with all the
methods of the Bureau of Engraving and
Printing that plates, or copies of plates, have
been suuepttlOusly conveyed from the
Bureau, and that money has been printed
upon them. from plates, or copies OF plates.
thus secured money can be printed that will
SIMPLY DEFY the Government expert. The
money thus produced IS not counterfeit, but
1t IS spurious" The only portion of the
printing that is counterfeit is the red seal
which on the genuine bill is printed by the
Treasurer of the United States The seal is
done by surface printing and is of so little
consequence that no attention IS paid thereto
when an examination Is made IN detecting
counterfeit money.
SPURIOUS MONEY.
In April last. according TO prediction, some
Of the productions of this miniature indie
pendent bureau or annex made its appearance
IN the redemption division of the United
States Treasury. 1t is not known how many
th usands of dollars of this spurious money
las been received and redeemed. but one of
the lady counters threw out a - silver cortIh-
cafe that she pronounced counterfeit The
llll was submitted 10 all the severest tosts
known TO the Government experts, and finally,
after many days of investigation, II was de
cded 10 be counterfeit upon the ground that
It Was too well executed for genuine. What
d sad commentary upon the art skill and
workmanship of the greatest plate-printing
plant upon the globe.
On the 18th day of April. 1891. the chief en-
grayer of Bureau of Engraving and Printing
was cl0seted for two hours with the Treasurer
OF the United States examining this 81 silver
certificate, thrown out by the lady examiner.
with powerful maPnifying glass. After com
pairing the genuine with the alleged spurious
note, the expert said. there are no differ
ences."
AT ISSUE CALLED.
Two weeks later the chief engraver. for
some reason not yet explained reversed his
opinion deliberately expressed 10 his superior !
and IN published interview denounced the |
two-dQllar note a palpable counterfeit. And !
yet the Treasury Department regarded /
1t az so dangerous. as 50 correct /
an imitation of the genuine that the |
issue OF that note was called in and a /
new plate issued. Further comment Is |
scarcely necessary Besides the ~ note an
other Of the denomination Of rlO-a silver GER |
uheate also-nas reen discovered and pro- /
nounced counterfeit. or spurious, but II was /
an exact duplicate OF the genuine.
HOW THE MONEY Is PRODUCED.
Now there are but two ways Of producing |
spurious money in exact imitation Of Cover |
ment currency 80 accurately initiated that the |
great expert ongravers of the Treasury Will |
declare that there are no differences One
Is by printing from a genuine plate, and the
other IS by printing from the copy of "a gen
uine plate. The.S spurious silver certificate
and the $40 spurious silver certificate were
produced one way or the other. The Socre-
tary Of the Treasury owes 1t 70 the public. and
he certainly owes it TO himself, 10 give this
matter earnest and immediate attention But
- order an investigation by any party or
parties now employed in the Bureau. the
Treasury or the secret service Will IN all prob
ability result Just as ninety-nine ont of a
hundred such investigations result; that is, in
eonceahng instead Of exposing the wrong
doing
TRYING TO CONCEAL THE FACTS.
Il Isl claimed by some of the officials of the
Treasury that il il unwise and impolitic TO
acQuaint the public with the real facts in re-
gard u the spurious money; that 1t Is better
u make them believe that tho bills are coun-
terfeit and not dangerous cOunterfeits that Il
is better 10 create the impression that they are
quite easily detected. else the truth might
cause panic: that il is better to call IN that
issue and substitute a new two-dollar mote
NJ disturbing the fears Of the people.
, 4 he issuing Of the new note Is oil right.
Dut pending such issue let heroic
s'eps be taken 20 correct the evils
now existing in tho Bureau. that a
lSspeIluon may not occur. Re-estsblish the
ratc1s and guards 70 prevent fraud that were