The Washington times., 1911-02-14
CHAMBER TO GET
PRINTING REPORT
Action to Be Taken Tonight
on Power Presses-Mr.
Ryan's Views.

The special Chamber of Commerce
committee investigating the merits
of hand and power printing of money,
checks and bonds, will report tonight
to the Chamber. Much interest is
taken in the attitude the Chamber
may assume, while the plate printers
insist that the determination. as be-
tween hand and power printing, will
go far to determine the future of the
artistic engraving art in connection
with making Government securities.
THE effort to displace the hand roller
presses, headed by Reed Smoot, in the
| Bureau Of Engraving and Printing. and
to introduce power press printing, is a
most intesesting question" said p. ].
| Ryan, the Central Labor Union dele
gate to the Chamber of Commerce.
Stands on Merits.
MIR. Ryan is a plate printer. He says
| the hand press printer is right, and
stands on the merirs of the case, hav-
ing in view the interests of his art, the
protection of the people, and the bene-
fit that will accrue provided the hand
press system prevails.
Mr.. Smoot, as chairman of the Com
mittee on Printing, in a bill to revise
the printing laws provides for displace-
ment Of hand roller presses" he con-
tinued, Economy is the argument by
Mr.. Smoot, who is willing to sacrifice
the plate printers art and all the
safeguards now thrown around the
printing of our money for the success
of his project. He stands for the ultra
commercial good enough theory, and
says if the law is passed he will finally
save over $4,000 each year for the
Government and follows it up that not
a man or woman now employed in the
Bureau of Engraving and Printing will
lose his or her place. This seems to be
a contradiction in terms and the ques-
ton is asked, how he is going to save
money without discharge?
"Of course, the printer does not ap-
peal TO Congress because anyone is
TO lose his place, but puts forth this
argument only because it has been
forced upon him.
No Thought for Art.
THE Senator has no thought or care
for artistic printing, and when he is
informed upon high authority, name
ly, by such men as George p Foster,
chairman of the executive committee
of Plate Printers Local. No. ., and
S. Edward Beach, hand press and
power press expert that the standard
of printing and engraving will be ma
terially lowered and danger of coup-
terfelting increased, the argument is
but a trifle in his opinion.
Since the controversy has again
arisen. and in order to bolster up an
argument for the power presses, sorty
impressions were printed from a spe-
ciallc engraved plate, with great care
q n Nn6Qr hn % oil
cumstances. as specimens of power
ing to print these impressions from
hand work, selected. of course, by the
alongside of these choice specimens of
power work. then ask our experts to
tell the difference.
Not Fair Comparison.
This is not fair, for you cannot get
the general character of power-press
work from forty impressions printed
for the sole purpose of making the
argument hold water. Their case is
most desperate when they resort to
such tactics.
There is less Counterfeiting in this
country than in any other. The peo-
pie have more confidence in their Sc
curitv. because of the high character
of the hand print RS art. Do away
with the hand press and artistic en-
craving. and you open the doors TO
the counterfeiter.'