New-York tribune., 1895-12-22

HOW HE SAVED THE BUREAU OF EN-
CRAVING AND PRINTING.


ONE WHO KNEW HIM WE'LL
To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: To the late Edward Mcpherson more than
TO any other man IS due the continued existence In
this city Of that large industrial establishment
called the Bureau OF Engraving anu Prnthg'
whore there constantly employed between
one and two thousand people. But for Mr. Nc
Pherson and the confidence in his ability ana IN
tegrity had by House OF Representatives that
was antagonistlc to him politically, this great
money printing establishment would have been as
mantled. Its valuable plant OF machinery ana It's
stock of engraved plates destroyed or scattered ana
It's force OF skilled employees and artists forced to
seek employment elsewhere from the private cor
poratons TO whom II was proposed TO transfer TINS
work. The Engraving and Printing Bureau is lhe
outgrowth of the War OF the Rebellion FROM
small beginnings in basement room OF the treas
ury Building 1t rapidly grew. Each successive ad-
mlnstration OF the Treasury found II more ana
more of a necessity as a means not only TO pre-
unauthorized issues OF Government securities
but also as a to save the Treasury from tLs
extortiorate prices for this work demanded py tne
two or three corporations in this country who up
10 the period of the controlled all the appl-
ances and all the skill requisite TO what is techni-
cally known "banknote' work This small
branch in the basement, under the administration OF
the Hon. George B. McCartee and the Hon. Henry
c. Jewell, developed into bureau these gentlemen
slccessively under the official term OF chef, being
directly responsible 10 the Secretary of the Treasury
This institution thus established and developed
grown immense proportions and occupying nearly
all the upper floor OF the Treasury Building and
giving employment to nearly 2.OOO employees. be-
came the object OF bitter attack, those attacks be-
ing made in every possible manner and reaching TO
every source of power-to Congress, TO President
and 10 Cabinet and other rgh officials These at
tacks were instigated by the engraving companies
whose business suffered in proportion corresponding
to the increase OF the Bureau. The total Invested
,,i.o al Ioft
but IL was shown that after payment Of enormous
salaries profits in excess OF this paid-up captal
were divided yearly. Ten years OF its existence
and ten years of this bitter attack gave TO the
Bureau a bad among public men. When
John Sherman was put In charge Of the Treasury
by President Hayes among the many problems con-
fronting him was the condition OF this Bureau. His
plans for the resumption of specie payment IN
voved the substitution OF minor silver coins for the
fractional currency then in use. The printing OF
this fractional currency furnished half the work OF
the Bureau.
But its printing must cease. And by brief order
to this effect Mr.. Sherman wrought great distress
TO more than hals ot the ls0 people at the time on
the rolls To reduce this force 10 this extent, TO
work justice to both the Government and TO its
employees Mr. Sherman called TO his aid three OF
his subordnates-E o. Graves Of the cash
room of the Treasury; q. 4. Chapman, or the
Internal Revenue Bureau, and Edward Wolcott'
of the office Of the Controller OF the Currency
They began a painstakng examination. and upon
their recommended tions reductions were gradually
made in the force Secretary Sherman soon saw
that he had in this connection need Of other help
than this committee could give HIM The problems
presented by this committee. as the result OF It's
investigations were many. Without request on the
part of Mr. Mcpherson. who was ignorant CT the
task involved, Mr. Sherman rendered him the po-
stIon OF Chief of the Bureau, which, after some de-
Law he reluctantly accepted.
Coming thus into the control OF a sadly demoral-
lied force-depleted in many drectiors-wlth men
who were strangers him and to their respective
tasks in charge of many branches of work, Mr
McPherson's burden was a heavy one 1t was
the occasion Of fresh series OF attacks by the
competing private concerns to them there was now now
every promise of success. inasmuch as there was
now for the first time for twenty years a Demo,
cratic Congr%ess: % Cs ne heean new inyestgations
and in their efforts before this committee the com
pan!es were represented by the best legal ana IN
nuential attorneys then appearing before the com
nlittees of Congress. No less man than eN-Sec
advocate; he aided by persuasive EIilott r.
Shepard, and by Gardiner q. Hubbard Other vel well
maid and expensive attorneys aided in other ways
The desire of these people was to demolsh the
Bureau to destroy the hated destroyer OF theh
Between this array OF talent and of capital s ana
their success. John Sherman placed Edward NJ MS.
great riches is writ. And Mr. MCPHERSON hal
Whom he had served as a fellow member and as a
clerk for nearly twenty years II was soon MAJ nr
end Mr. McPherson began a study OF the history
of the Bureau, and the details CT its managenent
that amazing in It's horogghness ls maS'eT9
OF figures and OF every detail was wonderful 10
his amazement. and to the surprise VI u. ~ nnj
the committee OF subordnates. Graves, Wocot' anu
CHAPMAN inspired by motives that were then anu
az ths facts based conclusions and recommendations
to the that the Bureau was an & t eoaS
of The Government required was few emboss.ng
presses an the basement OF the treasury praiien y.
renort % bv three men then in high repute the at
taeEing attorneys made fresh assault The ciss dagS
ANALYSTS of the erroneous statements OF his apie au
versaries by Mr. McPherson the apsoiute Ia,.n az
his Integrity and in nus ability gave tnat tS
nause That committee was headed by A. IL buck-
ner of Missouri ana Titn M mn, NSw %Sl York. William A.
Phillips OF Kansas, aaa others whose ha'Nes '"
The contests before this committee between those
representing the private concerns on ,ne one ata ,h
Rmrean on he other, at times seemed unequal but
in the end to the qualification OF Mr.. Mcpherson
and ar secretary Sherman, the committee refused to
nurove the 1an OF the proposed dissolution OF the
bureau This was not Hnuonioi arenmnts that
committee unanimously urged that FOR the d Purp1Se si
of Bureau building be & efeSIe nnp needed was
and its construction thereon tiie aou,. %, DE-
al once appropriated To the preparatlon oi ae
Pherson gave much thought He was In ms ana
many other details greatly alded pf ms assls'u. at
Pherson more than to any other one man Is due the
present admirable structure and the continued ex-
constant employment to upward OF 1000 people and
causing the disbursement among our merchants vi
not less than s2.OC00o0 a year ,,
I told Mr. Mcpherson once that when leisure
hrousst opportunty would endeavor to tel. In
nrinf tho true story OF this great achievement OF
his and go into details that time and space to-night
forbid Though too late for his mortal eyes. this
tribute 20 his ability, TO his unswerving integrity
90 urtten I'm the sole desire TO do justice TO one who
was alwavs lust: one who achieved much. but who
krew not how to boast: one whose periormance
ard more OF association with men as confidential
clerk and secretary have found ample proof OF the
adage that mo man is hero 10 his secretary.
Tl'era have been two exceptions. He was one. To
co - ~ one that he has worn the white flower OF
hlameless life" seems to mo n negative praise. or
few very few this can be said, hut OF Mr.. McPher-
son 7 can unreservedly say that he wore the red
flower OF a pralseworthy lfe. Peace TO his dust
i0"N' " - SAINT FL, w ClRRTDEN. o.