The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1895-09-21

The Eeroarkabis JourDcyfnc> OF = light
weight $50 coldpiec<-

The Repoarkabie yourDcyfncs OF q Light
weight SEQ Goldpiec<-
Some weeks ago. in perfc ru,soce Of
his duty, Public Printer Benedics ex-
pressed a quantity Of waste gold leaf TO
the Philadelphia mint. with the request
that its value be returned to him in gold
coin He did not advertise the gold leaf
for sale. as be might have done, but
preferred TO deal with Uncle Sam di-
rect In a few days he received by
express from the mint for the waste
gold leaf several bags Of gold coin. the
value Of which was 81 ,619.54 He &C
knowledged its receipt and at once sent
1t to the treasury department to be
placed to the credit Of the miscellaneous
receipts Of the treasury.
The gold coin contained in the bags
received from the mint was taken out
by the treasurer and counted and
weighed. as the law prescribes. Out Of
the $l.cl9. 81 one $50 goldpiece, accord
ing to the treasury scales, was exactly
sl.25 light Treasurer Morgan wrote
the public printer to that effect and re-
quested that he at once forward 81. rs
TO make good the shortage Of the $50
goldpiece
The public printer did not propose to
pay the $l.25 out Of his own pocket
so he wrote TO Superintendent Town
send Of the Philadelphia mint inform
ing him that one $50 goldpiece was
short ST. % and to please forward that
amount This was done In his letter
containing the sl.25 shortage Superin-
tendent Townsend expressed regret that
the public printer had not returned the
original $50 goldpiece.
Mr.. Benedict on receiving the 81. %
sent it to the treasury department and
got receipt for it This, he thought
would close the transaction But il
didn't The treasury officials, il seems.
were not satisfied. Several days after
ward the public printer received the
$50 goldpiece stamped across its face
, light 81. 25." with the request that be
return to the department SIS. 75, so a.
to make his account balance. the de
partment having received sl.25 Thii
} was a surprise to the public printer, bu
as he was dealing with government Off
cials he thought he could stand tn,
t racket if they could he sent the igh
Q $50 goldpiece to the Philadelphia mint
Q with the request that they FORWARD
r Treasurer Morgan a certified draft TO
= $1s.75
After a lapse Of nearly a week he re
= ceived a communication from Superin
a tendent Townsend stating that he ha'
weighed the disputed coin, and that b
. found a shortage Of but 81 and request
c ed the public printer to return to hir
S the % cents he had paid out in excess.
: A demand was made on the treasur
s for 25 cents 1t was received. and i
turn Public Printer Benedict forwarde
= il to the mint
@ This ended the transaction, but tn
= question arises, Who made good th
n shortage in the $50 goldpiecef Did th
+ superintendent Of the mint at Philade
" phia make the shortage good out Of b
l. own pocket. or was it charged to II
# government; And, again, if the officia
t. of the mint weigh the gold coin, as ii
le law requires. how is il possible for
t light coin to get out. and must not SOM
j. thing be wrong with the scales used
N the treasury department! The treasul
n officials stamped the coin $l.25 hgh
d The mint people'say it is but 81 hgh
v Had this matter occurred with priva
os individuals instead Of government of
d cials the private individual would l
ie doubt have had to pocket the loss
e. Washington Post