The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1898-03-30

fraud even If such methods should be
much more expensive than others haV
ing less guarantees of protection
And the Committee OF Expenditures in
the Treasury Department of the Fiftieth
Congress said the committee cannot
agree that the mere question of economy
in printing the obligations and securities
of the Government merits consideration
in this connection. In their opinion there
is but one point in issue in considering
this bill. and that is the duty of the Gov
eminent TO afford the citizen the greatest
attainahle security against counterfeit
notes. and being satisfied that this secur-
ity can be obtained in greater degree by
using the hand-roller press exclusively,
they are unanimously of the opinion that
the steam press should be discarded
In the face, therefore, of the several
congressional reports. and in face of his
own statement that the highest class of
work cannot he done upon the steam
press, Mr.. Johnson proposes TO place the
backs of our currency upon the steam
press. lowering the grade of the engrav-
ing to meet the inferior method Of print
ing by doing away with all vignettes and
the high art exhibited upon the backs
of the currency, and he expects to gain
thereby-what? If he anticipates saving
money for the Government the committee
of the Forty-tEird Congress very prop.
erly called attention to the fact that
there were higher considerations involv
ed in the matter of printing government
securities than the question of chcapness,
and that the protection of the people
was the end to be subserved, rather than
the saving of a few dollars.
I think the public will be at n loss to
reconcile the various statements made
by Mr.. Johnson in his interview in the
Post. He says there will be no reduc-
at the present time. The fact is that
the physical force of the office is not suf-
fcient to supply all the needs of the de-
partment." If this be true, and | am not |
questioning it, why did Mr.. Johnson dis |
charge thirty plate printers, as he has |
within a few weeks, leaving the physical |
force insufficient TO meet his require |
ments? 1t could not have been because |
of any discovery that these printers were |
incompetent, for they have been employ /
ed too long and the opportunities for the |
detection of that fact, if it were fact. /
have been too many, to explain their
present taking off. He has apparently |
let the discharges cripple the force of
the office, and because of the condition
brought about by his action he POUNDS an
argument for the introduction of the
steam press. The logic of his position
will hardly be apparent to those who are
iio" Ndihi'S tAiC |
ment because of their recent discharge.
Mr. johnson also says that Treasury
certificates are now generally sent out
within thirty days after they are print
ed They are not given time to season,
and as a natural result do not stand the
service which they ordinarily should. To
thoroughly season a note ii should be
kept in storage either at the bureau or
The Treasury Department at least three
MONTHS 1t is stated very emphatically
hat Mr.. Johnson within a short period of
line has given as the reason for recent ! ,
discharges that the vaults were over
lowing with the products of work done
md there was no occasion for the SER
ices of the men discharged If this be
rue il cannot at the same time be true
hat the notes are not given time to sea- !
ION, for by his statement it would appear ,
hat there has been recently as much ,