The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1922-04-08
BUREAU OF
ENGRAVING TO
CLOSE TONIGHT
Divisions Engaged In the
Production Of Bank
Notes To Be Closed for
Indefinite Period-Will
Take Inventory and Re-
pair Machinery In Use
May Be Reorganized

-lV1dy Dc NSOF SdAHACO
Washington, April S.-Divisions of
the bureau of engraving and print
ing, engaged in the production OF
bank notes. bonds and postage
stamps. Will he closed tonight for an
indefinite period for the purpose OF
taking an inventory Of the plant
frcm which James l.. Wilmeth and
twcnty-eight chiefs, superintendents
and foremen were removed by presi-
IL initial order one week ago.
Decision to close at least the prin-
rjpal portions of the big plant, the
largc,t of i;s kind in the world, was
disclosed today as having followed a
conference late Yesterday between
Louis Jlill the newly appointed di-
rector. division chiefs OF the bureau
and treasury officials. The closing
is to be effected under an order is
sued by Secretary Mellon of the
treasury under which department the
bureau operates.
The purpose OF the closing orde%
Il, stated today by officials, is to en-
allie the taking of an inventory, the
repairing OF machinery in use almost
continuously since the entrance of
the United States into the world war,
and to allow the transfer department
Of the bureau to issue new steel
plates such as are used in printing
the nations paper currency. The in
vortory. it WAS said, will be under
D-tg nj
department of justice agents. Hints
also were given that during ;he clos
ing the bureau would be further re-
organized or "Hardingized. as one
official put it, Installation OF the new
steel plates. Il was said, for The pur-
pose OF preventing countelfei.ing of
the various bank notes and bonds
printed in the plant. as the old plates
had become so worn that it was
found thar prints taken from them
we're comparatively easy to counter
felt.
The bureau employs about 5000
persons. and it WAS estimated that
about 0oO of the total would he af-
lected by the closing. The total em-
plcves number about 1000 above the
rre-war personnel, and il was sug-
erstfd in some quarters that during
The suspension reduction to the pre-
war ,ovcl would be brought about.
Washington. April S.-Partial clos
ing of The bureau. Assistant Treas
urv Secretary Wadsworth declared.
was decided upon to enable quicker
and more accurate inven'ory of the
stock. The order. he said, affects
only the divisions using paper and
work Of the other divisions will con-
tinuc uninterrupted by the inventory.
Usually. Mr.. Wadsworth said, IN
ycntorv OF the bureaus stock have
lecn made while work was in prog
ress. hut the committee appointed by
I Secretary Mellon. of which Deputy
Assistant Treasurer TAFT is chair
man. recommended a cessation OF.
HE wurh of the paper division to
facilitate the count of the stock. The
Gilraren' processes through which the
paper is put. he said, made its count
difficult while those divisions were
running.
The committee appointed by Mr..
Mellon TO make the inventory con-
sists Of representatives OF The secre-
iarv of the treasury. the treasurer OF
the United States. the comptroller Oh
The currency, the federal board, the
postoffice department. and the di-
rector of the bureau of printing and
engraving. Work is done for these
different government agencies by the
bureau.
Inventory of the bureaus stock, Mr..
Wadsworth declared. will be COM
peted in a few days or week at
the outside. The partial shutdown.
he said would not affect the govern
ment s supply Of paper money,
stamps or government securities. as
the bureau keeps a large surplus
stock on hand. The shutdown, he
said. was somewhat similar to the
inventory of manufacturers plant
and the result would be the take
off on the books stock on hand and
in process for the coming year.