The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1906-08-14
THUMB MARK IMPRESS
Chicago Investigation of Latest
- Business Signature.
BANKS ARE TAXING Up THE PLAN

Manufactures Also Test New Method
n Proof Against Forgery Of Pay
Heard In Commercial Circles-Old
Cross Mark May BE Doomed-Ordi-
nary Rubber Stamp Pad Used.
"Jehn Smith; his thumb:a That Ell
precision, according to information re:
Gently secured, is likely soon to sup
plant the antiquated term. John
Smith; his mark" says the Chicago
News
omeials Of the paymaster.s depart
ments 0f Steel and iron companies and
other large industries in Chicago, whers
many foreigners are employed. are
considering the installation Of a finger
print system Of pay checks. Instead of
making his mark on the pay roll the
employee, IL he cannot sign bis name,
leaves an impression Of his right thumb
az his receipt. Fred Neimeyer, paying
teller Of the Union Trust company, Is
also investigating the method as sub
stitute for tx" signatures Of depositcrs
who cannot write.
The Illinois Steel company, 1t is I'M
derstood, was the first large Chicago
concern to investigate the new method,
after the forgery Of several thousand
dollars worth Of their pay checks sew
erai months ago. When the employees
thumb mark is required on each pay
check, forgery, 1t is claimed, will be
made impossible.
"The means Of Identification of de-
positors by their thumb marks Will GER
tainly prove to be conclusive" said r.
F. Chaplin, secretary Of the Union Trust
company, and as the marks Of no two
persons thumbs are alike loss from
check forgeries will be greatly reduced.
In fact, any one could use his thumb
mark as his signature to a check with
safety. --..- ...
'SThe finger prints will be the best
Identification that we could have Of
depositor;" declared Mr.: Neimeyer Of
the same institution. Under the sys-
tenn now in use when q depositor who
cannot write wishes to make deposit
we can identity him only by his ap-
pearance and description we take.
We also ask him questions regarding
his family. But by the finger mark
test there Is little chance for mis-
take. Persons may be changed In ap-
pearance by sickness or other causes;
the lines ofathe thumb do not change"
"The system is being investigated"
said a paymaster Of one Of the large
IRON manufacturing companies, land
as far as we have gone 1t has proved
satisfactory. Many Of our employees
report that they have meyer received
their pay. They are so nearly alike in
appearance that the wrong man Is fire.
quently paid wages belonging to an
other, and in some cases we have cash
ed pay checks that have been stolen or
forged"
F. D. Raymond; treasurer Of the Chi
cago, Lake Shore and Eastern railway,
says that the railways will find the
finger print method of advantage in
paying track gangs where tive men are
illiterate.
while our road has not adopted the
new method" he said, yet it seems to
be practical. 1t surely gives a means
of Identification that cannot be sur
passed"
While thumb marks as a means of
Identification are in use In the police
department Of almost every city, here
tofore there has been no attempt to use
the scheme In commercial circles in the
United States. as far as is known.
In cases where employees are paid
by 1t, each man when he goes to work
leaves an impression of his right thumb
on a card with his name The card is
filed in the paymaster's Office. Receipts
for the pay checks are furnished, and
when the employee Is paid he also
makes an impression on the receipt