The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1892-02-16
CONTRABAND COIN.
OF DOLLARS USED IN
PAYMENT OF HONEST LABOR.
A Recent Act of Congress That VII! lie
Beneficial to Il Large Class of People.
Uncle Sans Prohibition.

Though it may not be generally known, it is
nevertheless fact, that if there is anything
pertaining to this government upon which
watchful eyes are always kept it is the securl-
ties of the government from the postage stamp
to the government bond.
The people who do this watching are, prob
ably, the least known, but no doubt are
the best informed in relation to their business
Of any people in the world. Who they are !;
where they are, or what they arc doing Is a
subject on which the public knows compare
lively little.
They comprise the secret service division OF
the treasury department.
This whole country is literally covered with
agents of this secret service. The chiefs
office is in tie treasury department. at wash
ington, D. c. Many people who have visited
the treasury will remember the specimens
which are there on exhibition, OF the imita-
tions or counterfeits of the securities OF the
government. 1t is for these counterfeits that
the secret service is on the constant watch, ana
how we'll the officers accomplish their work Is
shown by the records of the several courts.
were over four hundred people arrested
in the United States for counterfeting. AS
previously stated, the whole country is COW
cred by these officers from Maine to Cali.
forn;a and from Lake Superior to the Cuff OF
Mexico. TIE territory is divided into dis
tricts the headquarters of ono being here in
Atlanta.
Each district is in charge Of a capable officer
who is in constant communication With the
chief at Washington, who in return keeps
every district informed OF everything that he
deems necessary for the interest OF the DIVISION
There is no government department that Is
run so quietly as the secret service bureau 1t
is secret service in every sense of the word.
Noone knows how many detectives are em-
ployed in the work OF tracing the counterfeit
ers but an active search for the light coin
makers and passers is constantly kept up.
Nowadays the ''passers' go IN pairs. one
carries the bag, from which he hands coins to
the other to pass, ono at a time. Inc reason
of this is that in case the "shover" is arrested,
but one bad coin will be found upon him. The
counterfeit makers also work in gangs. The
manufacturers have chief, by whom the com
is given out to middle mon, who sell 1T to the
showers" When the chief is caught one of
his associates takes command and tho manu-
facture goes on.
The discovery of plant is always great
find for the detectives. To trace plant, how
ever, Is most difficult, and requires much skllI
and patience 80
The counterfeiter's path is not strcwn with
roses when he falls into the clutches of the
secret service, and, though they belong to
desperate class of criminals, and would, many
of them, sooner commit murder than serve y
long term in the penitentiary, they are
usually taken by strategy, and without loss OF
life.
It is due to tie untring work and vigilance
of the secret service that our securities are
counterfeited to such small extent.
Our government laws are very strict in re-
lation to initiating any of the government
securities, or in using anything III likeness OF
simiNtude thereof or any part thereof Many
reputable firms in this section have been
violating this law for years. innoceaty y, no
doubt by issuing ''scrip' or checks to
their employees in lieu of lawful currency OF
the United States government
In some instances this has been great Bone
fl to the employer, but it has never been
learned where it has ever benefited the en-
ploye. On the contrary it is considered an
injury to him. Manufacturing establish
ments, mills. lumber companies, railroad
companies and others have Tor years been
issuing this scrip to their employees.
The writer has known of instances where
large mills have been i'll business for twenty
eight years and never once paid their employees
in cash during that period. But they are
doing SO now, for one OF the secret service
agents saw one day a small girl making pur-
chase with q tfty-cent check, and inquired
into the matter. then visited the office of the
company who issued the checks, informed
them that they were violating the law, took
possession of every check to be found and at
at once stopped the CUSTOM winch had peen III
This same officer now has in his possession
letter from the treasurer OF one of the mills,
written in September last, stating I'VE paid
off Monday for the first time III cash, and you
don't know how pleased we are at the change"
Every corporation, firm or individual, who
NAV DO using any scrip OF time
check among their employees or patrons
are violating the law and arc liable to the PEN
atty prescribed
Ever since the war hundreds of manufacture
,,;oc =, OH o,,t tl,a
country have been operating their business
and paying their labor in board or metal
cheeks with the amount for which they were
redeomab.e at the company's store and the
firm name stamped thereon. They were ex-
changed for merchandise at this store. for
which exorbitant prices were charged, recciv-
ing in reality about 10 per cent, and often less,
of the market value of their labor.
1t was morally wrong. but what could be
done? There was no law against it, In many
sections of Alabama, North and South Caro-
lima and other states such system was made
an issue in local politics, but invariably the
CORPORATION succeeded in gaining the victory
Through the agency of the secret service di-
vision of the treasury department. the matter
was brought before congress. and on February
10 1891. am act was signed by the president Of
the United States containing the following
sections:
causes or procures to be made or VINO brings into
who shall have in possession with intent to sell,
give away, or III any other manner use the same,
5ny business or professional card notice, placard,
token device, print, impression, or any other
thine whatsoever, whether of metal or its COM
nound or of any other substance whatsoever.
IN likeness or similitude, as to design. color, or
the Inscription thereon, of any OF the CONS OF the
United States or of any foreign government, that
have been or hereafter may be issued as money,
either under the authority of the United States or
under the authority of any foreign government
shall unon conviction thereof, be punished by 4
tinn not to exceed one hundred dollars.
Sec g. That all counterfeits Of any OF the Obl1-
pations or other securities OF the United
States or of any foreign government, or counter
feirs of any of the coins of the United states, or
of any foreign government and all material or
apnoratus fitted or intended to DC used or that
shall have been used, i'll the making or any OF
such counterfeit obligations or other securities or
coins hereinbefore mentioned, that shall be found
in the possession of any person without authority
from the secretary of the treasury or other proper
otrar to have the same, shall be taken possession
of by any authorized agent OF the treasury de,
nartisent and forfeited to the United States, ana
djSposed of i'll any manner the secretary Oh tAo
treasury may direct.
Another section makes it a special violation
of the law to use checks, scrips, etc, made OF
either board or meta! in imitation OF, or TO IN
any manner represent or take the pace OF
United States currency, such as are used by
corporations, ETC. Thousands and thousands
Of dollars of these have been seized in the
south in the past few weeks, ana their use