Evening star., 1920-02-15
FIFTY YEARS AGO IN
THE STAR,

NAAASuiSs oHe Is TO produce
a currency note
Plain Notes to Beat As intricate and
Countsrse;t.r. elaborate as pos
sible and the.
other to to print It as simple as possf-
BILE and Of a distinctive design and
color hard to initiate exactly. The
latter method was proposed nfty years
ago by an Official Of the Treasury De-
partment in connection with an issue
OF the then shin plasters," or frac-
tional currency. as shown in the fol-
lowing, in The Star of February 7. 1870.
Tho Secretary OF the Treasury is
not little perplexed by the skill and
facility displayed by the counterfeit
ers In Initiating the national cur
rency. The swift and successful re-
production by them OF the new fifty
cont note suggests the importance of
devising some plan by which these
manufacturers OF bogus money may
be 'euchered'. Tho superintendent Of
tho note printing bureau has suE.
gested and the Secretary Is consider
Ing the following plan: To devise
plates with very few lines and the
piainest kind OF engraving SO that
tne merest novice can become famil-
far with their appearance in a very
brief space: to print tho notes from
these plates on nght-colored paper
OF . peculiar quality and then let
tho counterfeiters go to work. The
IDEA 10 that tho least variation in the
quality or appearance Of the naner
or In tho engraving, may then at
once Do discovered; and the moment a
counterfeit makes it's appearance all
notes OF the denomination thus inn
mltated can be called in at once,
issue another plate. This plan has
been successfully pursued BY the
Bank OF England for many years"
For some time after the civil war
the question Of restoration Of the
fran hise to
Gx-C0nfedefate men who had
Asks for Vote. ~. ao'S..es IN IN
movement troubled the federal au-
thorities. Washington then having
the vote, the matter was occasionally
an issue here in the District. In The
Star of February 8, 1870. 10 an item to
this effect:
This morning Charles wheatley.
BY his attorney, Mr.. A. G. Riddle,
filed q petition in the Circuit Court
Tor this District for a writ of manda-
Newman and Coakley. Judges Of cleo
ton for Georgetown. d. c., requiring
them to show cause why q peremp-
tory mandamus should not issue
commanding them to enter his name
on the list of qualifed voters Of that
city. and Judge Cartier directed the
writ to issue. The petitioner sets
forth that he, Wheatley, is q qualified
voter: that since the termination OF
the late war he has taken the oath
OF allegiance; that he was a private
Confederate States. and a. such was
embraced in the general pardon and
amnesty under the proclamation Of
the President Of July 4, 1858, and that
on the 2Sth OF January he made ap-
plication to have his name placed on
the list of voters and was refused;
that unless his name IL placed on the
list he will be deprived Of his polit-
ical and civil rights. etc"
-
The territorial movement continued
to develop In the District dfty years
,u ago. despite To-
The District's cal OPP o sitiou,'
Reorganization. us,e.i ] nature. IN
The Star Of February .. 1870. 10 the
following:
'.The committee appointed by Judge
Fisher to prepare . plan of govern
ment for this District. OF which Hon;
Of men of intelligence, all interested
in promoting the welfare Of the Ma
tional Capital, and will. We trust and
believe, present q plan for the gov
ernment Of this District which will
command. the approval Of . very great
the chairman, as we understand them.
are to prepare q plan giving to the
entire District . legislative assem-
bly,, which shall be clothed by Con-
gress with full power to legislate on
all rightful subjects not inconsistent
with the Constitution: this legislative
body thus organised to enact all gem
eral laws for the District, thus re-
lieving Congress Of the burdens OF at
tempting to legislate for the local
wants Of 10000 people: The pro,
raise the question of interference
with the municipalities Of Washing
ton and Georgetown, but II these TWO
corporations continue in existence
their authority over municipal mat
ters will be derived from the legis-
lature Of the District instead Of from
Congress There Is = general DISPOSE
tion on the part Of Congress-. % Tar
as our knowledge extends. TO grant 20
the people Of the District the prtvi-
lege of Regulating their domestic AZ
fairs in their own way, subject oniy
to the Constitution.
A letter appearing In Tho Star OF
February IL, 1870, and signed TAX
payer. II evidence
w,.rhl.. ~ of the trials to
which tho local pop
6oueenoloer. ulation was subject
ed nifty years ago:
.rhe question whether taxpayers
and housekeepers have any rights
which policemen and magistrates arc
bound to respect here no doubt has
often suggested itself to that un-
bappy class Of individuals: but yes
terday It was suggested 30 very
forcibly TO myself that am 1ain
"a nropound It for your THOUSANDS
Of city, readers for their sdifcation
and possible admonition. A few days
since, to make . sure thing certain.
called At the once Of . street COM
missioner and inquired whether "
NV premises to the street he could
h~va the aabea carted away. Ger