The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-07-01
A LIGHT-wEIGHT GOLD PIECE.
Public Printer Benedict's Novel Ex-
perience with the Philadelphia Mint


Some weeks ago. in performance Of his
duty, Public Printer Benedict expressed
quantity of waste gold leaf to the Phila-
delphia mint with the request that its value
be returned to him in gold coin. He did
not advertise the gold leaf for sale, as he
might have done, but preferred TO deal with
Uncle Sam direct In a few days he re-
ceiVed by express from the mint for the
waste gold leaf several bags of gold coin,
the value of which was Sl,6l9.54. He ac-
knowledged its receipt and at once sent it
to the Treasury Department to be placed
TO the credit OF the miscellaneous receipts
of the treasury
The gold coin contained in the bags re-
ceived from the mint was taken out by the
Treasurer. counted and weighed, as the law
prescribes. Out of the 81 619.54 one $40 gold
piece, according to the Treasury scales,
was exactly Sis light. Treasurer Morgan
requested that he at once forward Sl.25 to
make good the shortage Of the $40 gold
piece.
The Public Printer did not propose to nav
the S1.25 out of his own pocket so he wrote
to Superintendent Townsend of the Phila-
delphia mint, informing him that one $50
gold piece was short S1.25 and to please
forward that amount. This was done. In
his letter containing the $1.25 shortage
Superintendent Townsend expressed regret
that the Public Printer had not returned
the original $40 gold piece
Mr. Benedict, on receiving the $1.25, sent
IL TO the Treasury Department and got a
receipt for It, This he Thought would close
-
ury officials, it seems, were not satisfied
Several days afterward the Public Printer
received the twenty-dollar gold piece
stamped across its face light 81 25" with
the request that he return to the depart
ment $3.50, so as to make his account bal
ance, the department having received 81 %
rms was surprise to the Public Printer
but, as he was dealing with government
officials, he thought he could stand the
racket If they could. He sent the light
twenty dollar gc:d piece to the Philadel-
phfa mint, with the request that they for
ward Treasurer Morgan certified draft
for the $3.50. After a lapse of nearly a
week he received a communication from
Superintendent Townsend stating that he
had weighed the disputed coin, and that he
found a shortage of but 81, and requested
the Public Printer TO return TO him the
70 cents he had paid out in excess.
a demand was made on the treasury
for the % cents. 1t was received and in
turn Public Printer Benedict forwarded it
to the mint
This ended the transaction, but the cues
ton now arises. Who made good the short
age in the twenty-dollar gold piece? Did
the superintendent OF the mint at Philadel-
phia make the shortage good out of his own
pocket, or was il charged up to the gov
eminent? And again, if the officials of
the mint weigh the gold coin, as the law
requires, how is it possible for a light coin
to get out, and must not something be
wrong with the scales used by the Treas
stamped the coin ST. light. The mint peo-
pie say it was but 81 light. Had this mat
ter occurred with private individuals in
stead of with government officials the pri-
vate individuals would no doubt have had
to pocket the loss.