The Washington herald., 1912-01-30
RALPH DECLARES
FOR POWER Press
director OF Bureau Says De-
mand for Currency Makes
Change Imperative.
.saooT OFFERS lEEwAY
Chairman Joint Committee on
Printing Tells Plate Printers to
Talk as Long as They Like"

tenure of ofiice. although realizing the
great value OF the power presses, he has
opposed their installation merely out OF
loyalty to his trade and the plate print
trs under his supervision. Joseph E.
Ralph, director Of the Bureau OF En-
craving and Printing. while on the wit
ness stand last night al the hearing on
the power press question before the Joint
Congressional Committee on Printing at
the Capitol said that the increasing de-
mand for currency makes the installation
of the power presses TO supplant hand
presses absolutely necessary.
| The director said emphatically that the
work done on power presses is not in
ferior in quality 20 that done on hand
Iresses, and submitted samples as evil
dence. He said that power press money
would be no easier TO counterfeit than
hand press money.
senator SmOot's Promise.
In an Introductory address. Senator
Smoot. chairman and author Of the bill
providing for the installation OF power
presses. invited all of the printers present
to speak
my Intention" said the Senator. is
to hear everybody who wants to be heard.
! You can talk as long as you desire. II
the entire matter cannot be discussed
adequately at this hearing. others will
be held. Testimony will be taken as long
as the subject requires, unless the COM
Inittee sees that there ist an inclination
TO delay the bill. Talk as long as you
desire. This is an important matter and
must be heard in detail. II Is important
not only TO the printer, but to the coun-
try at large"
Senator Smoot announced that amosE
those who had been invited and had
found II impossible to attend were Sec
retary Of the Treasury MacNeagh and
Samuel Gompers, president Of the Amer
lean Federation Of Labor. Mr.. Gompers
sent the legislative committee Of the
federation 10 represent him.
Senator Smoot suggested that Director
Ralph explain why the installation OF
the power presses was recommended.
Ralph on the stand.
''I want to say as emphatically as
possible at the beginning OF my re-
marks" began Mr. Ralph. that II
felt that the installation OF power
presses would work injury TO a single
plate printer ] should shirk this duty
tonight I am a friend OF the plate
printer. \ am a friend OF organized
labor. Instead OF being a calamity, the
installation of power presses would
prove a blessing"
| Mr.. Ralph then submitted specimens Of
currency which had been printed on pow
| er presses as evidence Of the efficiency
of the modern machines. He also sub
mitted q statement Of Mr.. Poole, the
printer who made the currency, to the
effect that the work was equal in quality
with that done on hand presses.
| jackson II. Ralston, attorney for the
| international Steel and Copper Plate
Printers Union. in the fight against the
power presses, objected. stating that Mr..
| Poole should be required to appear before
\ the committee and give his opinion on
the matter. Mr.. Ralph expressed his
willingness to subscribe TO the statement.
but Mr.. Ralston again protested. Mr..
RaIston was sustained. and Senator
Smoot announced that Mr.. Poole would
be requested 10 appear before the COM
mittee.
Wants Witnesses Sworn.
Mr.. Ralston then requested that an
oath be administered all witnesses.
Senator Smoot said that the committee
was not authorized to administer oaths,
| but that IL Mr.. Ralston insisted on such
procedure. a resolution making the
administration OF oaths possible would
| be introduced in the Senate.
| Mr.. Ralph said that the installation
| of power presses would save the gov
ernment annually between $780, 900 and
| s64S,970. according to the number OF
| subjects printed on each sheet of notes.
Mr. Ralph stated that the installation
of power presses would require a re-
! duction in the present force.
The present force is inadequate"
/ said Mr.. Ralph. We are now supposed
I to turn out 100000 sheets of money
/ a year. and the work is annually in
/ creasing. Because of the increased
amount of work and the Inadequate
! force, ii is necessary to work the plate
printers one hour overtime. This is
equivalent to the employment Of sixty
extra men
Mr. Ralph said that he had lust an
pointed sixty men on the temporary roll.
These men were appointed on the tenn
porary ROLL" said Mr.. Ralph. ito await
TIE outcome Of the Smoot bill. 1t would
be great injustice TO appoint men per-
manentIy; bring them here TO Washing
ton, and then discharge them by means
Of the installation OF the power presses"
Mr.. Ralph stated that there were SsS
plate printers at the bureau at present.
Call for Clean Money.
Mr.. smoot at this point said that he
had received many letters from banking
corporations and clearing houses re-
questing the issuance of more currency
complaining that the notes in circulation
are worn and dirty. He said he hoped
to see clean money in Utah some day.
10 you think that money printed ON
the power press is more easily counter
feited than that produced by the hand
pressss'' asked Senator Smoot
Decidedly no. answered the director
of the bureau
In answer 10 Attorney RaIston. Direc-
tor Ralph said the bureau had been print
ing revenue stamps on power presses for
year and a half. He referred his 'u,,ss-
ton to the engravers as to what, IL any.
changes had been necessary in the lines
OF the stampe.
Mr.. Ralston then read from a report Of
the Bureau of Engraving and Printing
statement OF Mr.. Ralph 10 the effect that
the plate would show a greater wear on
the power presses. but that this obstacle
could be overcome by broadening and
deepening the lines OF the plates The
object Of the attorney was to prove thai
the, fine work done on hand presses can
not be done on power presses.
Il firmly believe" said Mr.. Ralph. in
answer to an inquiry of Mr.. Ralston.
that the power press money IL equal IN
every particular to the hand press cur
rency''
Mr.. Raiston asked the director II he was
a practical printer or engraver, Mr.. Ralph
replying that he was not
You don't qualify az an r,n.-. -