Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-30
OATH IS DEMANDED
Witnesses at Money Printing
Hearing to Be Sworn.
RALPH is AN EXCEPTION
Director of Bureau Examined Pend.
ing Grant Of Power.
FAVORS USE OF PRESSES
Doesn't Believe Their Installation
Will Work Injury to a Single
Plate Printer.
is AN EXCEPTION
FAvoRs USE OF PRESSES

With power to administer oaths to all
witnesses. the Senate committee on print
ing will hold further hearings on the
project to substitute power presses fol
hand roller presses in the printing OF
paper money at the bureau Of engraving
and printing The next hearing will be
held Friday afternoon at $3.50 O'Clock
The dates for others have not been fixed.
The plate printers of the bureau are in
the fight in earnest, and Attorney Jack
son II. Ralston is representing them. He
will endeavor to combat every argument
presented to the committee in favor OF
power presses.
The first hearing on the question was
held last night in the room Of the Sem
ate committee on printing in the Capitol.
Attorney Ralston. for the plate printers,
insisted on the administration of oaths to
all witnesses: and. as the committee
yacked that power, the hearing did not
progress far.
To Ask for Power.
ask the Senate today to give the COM
mittee the power. Mr.. Ralston waived
his request as regards j. E. Ralph, di-
rector Of the bureau Of engraving and
printing, and Mr.. Ralph testified in ia
vor of the change from hand roller to
power presses.
At the outset Of the hearing. Senator
Smoot. acting chairman Of the Senate
committee on printing. gave full assur-
ances that full opportunity would be
given all parties in interest to be heard
on the question.
Our intention is to hear everybody
who wants to be heard" he announced.
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
committee sees that there Is an inclina-
ton to delay the bill. Talk as long as
you desire. This is an important mat
ter and must be heard in detail. 1t Is
important not only to the printers, but
to the country as WELL.
Doubts Injury to Printers.
At the very outset of his statement. Dr.
shirk his duty to argue in favor Of
power presses If he believed the substi-
tuition would work injury to a single
commended. the introduction of the power
presses will prove a blessing to the print
ers instead Of an injury.
Mr.. Ralph submitted specimens Of cur
rency printed by power presses to show
how efficient such presses are. When he
offered in evidence statement from Mr..
Poole. the printer who made the cur
rency, Attorney Ralston objected to the
evidence as hearsay. Senator Page,
turning to the attorney, wanted to Know
4 ~ - &Ann IN t><s r.
ed as an ordinary jury. and Mr.. RAJ
ston replied that he was only doing what
he thought best to protect the interests
Of his clients. The statement Of Mr.:
Poole was ruled out, but Mr.. Poole Will
be summoned later as a witness;
Mr.. Ralph went into the economies that
would be effected by the substitution Of
power presses for hand presses, estimat-
ing that for the fiscal year 1913 there
would be a saving of $64S.O0 AS the
bill proposes that only one-fifth of the
hand presses shall be replaced by power
presses many one year, Mr.. Ralph SAID
that of the bill passed this session the
saving next year would amount 10 ABOUT
one-fifth Of that amount.
Under cross-examination Mr.. Ralph
denied that the designs of currency would
have to be changed IL power presses
were used, and that the lines on the
paper money would be coarser. Mr.. Raj
ston asked Mr.. Ralph II he was prac-
teal printer or engraver and Mr.. Ralph
replied in the negative.
Doesn't Pose as Expert.
"You don't qualify as an expert. do
your Mr. Ralston persisted.
NO." Mr.. Ralph said; but speak
with as much authority as the average
printer at the bureau. / speak as a
man who has had eighteen years of ex-
perience in the printing and engraving
business
Director Ralph hesitated some time be-
fore answering Mr.. Ralston's query as
to what percentage of the 500 printers in
the bureau were inefficient. Then he said
about twenty Of re printers were In
efficient. When --orney Ralston pro-
duced a Canadian IL. as the product OF a
power press. Mr.. Ralph promptly de-
clared he would be ashamed to turn out
such work. and said the product Of power
presses in the bureau of engraving here
would be as good as the present United
States money.
William G.. Mckinney. superintendent OF
printing of the bureau, was called as
witness. but. as Attorney Ralston object
ed to his testifying without being put
under oath. ne was not heard. He will
appear later.