Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-03
[AF0[[ETTE'SERROR' 'ENGRAVER ON STAND
Attacks Newspapers at Ban Hand Pressmen Have Their
quet of Their Friends Day at Committee Hearing.
REBUKED BY POSTMASTER CANADIAN BILLS SHOWN
His Charges Termed Foolish Wick Effort Made Show That Work
ed and Untruthful. Power Presses Is Inferior.
DINERS SHOW MPAT1ENCE c0UNTERFEITMG FEARED
Much
Midnight, Despite Question by in
the Interruptions. the
Hand Pressmen Have Their
Day at Committee Hearing.
CANADIAN BILLS SHOWN
Effort Made to Show That Work Of
Power Presses Is Inferior.
C0UNTERFEITNG IS FEARED
Much Importance Attached te
Question by Both Sides in
the Controversy. =

With several Canadian bills printed on
power presses in evidence and the pres
entation OF expert engravers and plate
printers to testify that the power press
bills OF the Dominion are not as good.
from the printing standpoint, as United
States bills printed on hand presses, the
plate printers of the bureau of engray-
ing and printing began this morning the
presentation of evidence before the Son
ate committee on printing to convince Its
members that power presses should not
be substituted for hand presses in the
printing Of Uncle Sans currency, AZ
proposed In the Smoot printing bill.
Two punches of paper money, II has be-
come evident at the hearings, are to play
an important part in the decision OF the
committee on the power press hand press
controversy One bunch consists of If
teen one-dollar bills, five of which were
printed on a power press and the other
ten printed on hand press. The task o.
the plate printers, who are opposing the
use of the power presses for printing cur
rency. will be to pick out the five notes
printed on the power press and show
why it lis more poorly printed and more
easily counterfeited.
Even If they fail in that test they will
contend that thirty-five other notes were
printed on the power press at the same
time as the five in evidence and that the
five out of the forty do not show good
average Of the work of q power press.
The other bunch of paper money in
cludes bills Of different Canada denomi-
nations. admittedly printed on power
presses. 1t will be the task of those ad-
vocating the use of power presses to-show
that faults alleged against the Canadian
notes are not necessarily due to the use
OF power presses.
Question Of Counterfeiting.
Questions asked by Attorney J. Fl.
Ralston. who is counsel for the plate
printers union. indicated today that his
clients will claim that the designs of
plates used on power presses are made
coarser, with wider and deeper lines.
that this change will make Uncle Sans
paper money easier to counterfeit. To
uphold that contention, Attorney RaIston
y asking many questions regarding
changes in designs for liquor and TOBACCO
stamps made since they have been print
ed on power presses.
Fred Smiley, an enYraver I'm the bu-
reau. was the first witness produced this
morning for the plate printers. Attorney
RalstOn had him examine the fifty-cfgar
stamps and contrast the designs used
when hand presses were In vogue and the
designs used now. when power presses
are IN use. The witness pointed out the
designs in use now are simpler than those
used some years ago.
Director Ralph interrupted the witness
to say that the printing of the stamps
on power presses was begun in May, 1907.
and that the new design was not ADOPTED
until 1910. The witness said he had en-
graved the new design. and that he had
omitted some Of the detail used formerly.
did you receive instructions to widen
or deepen the hnes?' Director Ralph
None whatever Mr.. Smiley replied.
The new designs. he admitted, are cas-
Ter to reproduce because they are simpler.
THAT same principle would apply IL
power presses, wouldn't it?" Senator
Smoot asked.
Yes"
Power Press Work Better.
Another class Of tobacco stamps was
taken up, and the witness declared that
the power press work was better than
the hand press work, the designs being
different
Attorney Ralston then produced the
Canadian bills
would they look better?" he asked.
Il think they would" the witness said.
Director Ralph asked the witness IL he
ever received instructions to make the
lines in engravings deeper or wider, IN
order to favor the power presses.
Never" the witness replied.
do you know whether a plate you
are making is to be used on a power or
hand press?'
mo, sir
rs it not fact that we are trying to
raise the standard Of our engravinG?" ~
Mr.. Ralph continued.
Yes"
Attorney RaIston held out a Canadian
bill and an American bill. which he pro-
duced from his pocketbook.
Canadian Notes Easier to Make.
(which is easier to reproduce." he
asked the witness.
THE Canadian note.''
"Why3'
principally because Of the grayness."
rs the engraving as good?
mo"
will you compare the printing of tho
two notes?"
Il think the printing causes the gray
ness Of the Canadian note"
Marcus Baldwin, another engraver OF
the bureau, criticised the Canadian notes
because they were fiat and gray" Sena-
tor Smoot showed him fifteen notes. five
of which were printed by power press,
and asked If the witness found the same
defect In any or them.
"All are bright enough" the witness
said.
do you think the Canadian notes, with
the nueriyins tint, are easier to counter
feit?" Senator Smoot continued.
mo. SIR"
/. Did you ever hear of them being
counterfeited?'
mo, SIR
Michael F1aherty. plate printer in the
bureau. told the committee that the
power press stamps did not have as
much color as they would have IL print
When asked the general question IL the
power press printing was as good al the
hand press work in the bureau he said it
was not.
Bills Are Closely Examined
at Hearing on Power Presses
The fifteen dollar bills which are to play
such an important part In the investi-
CATION were the conspicuous features OF