Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-12
Governments Paper Money.

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The paper money Of the government is
brought in iron-bound chests locked and
sealed from the bureau OF engraving and
printing to the cash room OF the Treas
ury, and there delivered upon receipt to
Mr.. James A. Sample. chief OF the divi-
sion of issue, in sheets of four bills each.
They are complete with signature and
numbers, except for the seal, which Is
printed upon them with power presses in
a small apartment under the cash room.
These presses are worked by two people,
usually a man pressman and woman
feeder or assistant. When the seal has
been imprinted upon the bills they are
counted automatically, bound In packages
Of equal numbers by bands of paper,
marked signed by the persons who have
handled Them and passed into the adjofn-
ing room, where the sheets are cut, the
bills are recounted and inspected. SO that
the imperfect ones may be thrown out
They, are then bound into packages Of
equal amounts and taken to the drying
vault, where they lie upon the shelves for
several weeks until the ink has become
perfectly dry. Every safeguard that In
genuity can contrive Is placed around
these transactions and the chief Of divi-
sion can tell which of his hundred or
more subordinates have touched the differ
ent bills in the vaults. He knows who
received them, who printed the seal, who
wrapped and cut them; for every package
is numbered and its history is recorded in
an enormous book.
Only Two Thefts.
The combination of checks is SO COM
plete that Mr. Sample would know within
twenty minutes If single bill were miss
ing but he has had occasion to test this
knowledge but twice within fifteen years.
Only two attempts have ever been made
to steal the money OF the government
while it Is in this stage of Its history.
On one occasion many years ago
pressman passing a pile of notes upon
the table of his neighbor slipped the top
sheet under his blouse without being OBJ
served and carried 1t with him into the
lavatory, where he was successful in con-
cealing 1t. The theft was discovered
within five minutes. and 1t was clearly APP
parent that he alone could be guilty. al
though the evidence was purely circum-
stantial No one saw him take the money.
Therefore he was not arrested and was
never publicly charged with the crime.
But he was dismissed from the service
and he knew the reason why. The bills
were never recovered. He probably de-
stroyed Them as they did not appear in
circulation.
On another occasion eight or ten years
ago a colored messenger whose business
was to haul the money about on a cart
slipped a loose sheet into his pocket I'M
observed while passing between the print
ing and the counting rooms. This theft
was also unseen, but the responsibility
was fastened upon him. The pile of notes
was complete when 1t left the printer, for
il was counted and registered automatical-
~ in the press. When 1t reached the
counting room one sheet was missing and
the package had not been out Of the pos
session of the colored messenger in the
meantime Therefore he alone was re-
sponsible, and, as he could not offer any
satisfactory explanation. he, too, was dis
missed from the service. but he was not
prosecuted. because there was no direct
proof Of his guilt.
To Preserve Timber Supply.