Evening star., 1934-03-04

wing Of the Treasury Building suffced. Soon,
however, it began gradually to do the work being
done by the bank note companies, and by 1874
the Government was inserting 90day clause
in its contracts, since it was found that the
work could be done much cheaper by the
Treasury, and from that time on the work was
taken over by the Government rapidly as
possible.
DY 1877 we find that unwise politics had
D been at work in the bureau. and that more
than half q thousand unnecessary employees
we're engaged there. This was at the beginning
of President Hayes administration. and a house
cleaning was ordered with the result that on
April Is the services Of 538 workers were sum-
marily dispensed with Nor we're the officials
overlooked, for Is days later the bureau was put
into the hands Of new officers, who proceeded
to reorganize that branch in every department.
The new set-up included the following ofh-
GERS: Chief of bureau Edward MCPHERSON; as
sistant chief, o. H. Irish; accountant, Thomas
J. Sullivan; engraving division superintendent.
George w. Casilear; printing division super
lntendent. Ward Morgan; examining division
superintendent, Annie E. Bealle; binding di-
vision T. p Sparks; numbering and separating
division superintendent, Annie r. Roe: wetting
division superintendent, Charles g. Evans;
superintendent of orders, Annie M. Hayes;
custodian Of dies, rolls, etc., John w. Kimball;
vault keeper, James w. Moore, and master ma
chinist, J. @. Iarman.
Irrespective Of who was To blame for the
employing of the unnecessary number of per-
sons mentioned, no doubt the wholesale dis.
charge worked a considerable hardship upon
many worthy and innocent people. This was
q period Of panics and failures, caused By
depression begun about 1873. and which was
q long way from normal IL years later, when
banks and brokers in New York went under.
carrying with them in the crash the barking
firm of Grant & Ward, at the head of when
was Gen. U. s. Grant
It was . very gloomy period, and only
those who lived through it and perhaps suf-
fered the sting Of poverty can realize what
it is to want for the necessaries of life and
maybe-and most likely too-some of these
let out Of the service In 1877 Though the
drastic course may have been thoroughly JUS
tifable) were among those who later needed
help most.
DY 1878 the space occupied by the Bureau
- of Engraving and Printing in the Treasury
Building had reached such proportions that
Congress finally agreed to render relief, and
accordingly, On June 20, appropriated $327,-
536 for the purchase of q site and for the
erecting thereon of q separate freproof build.
ing This was, according to the report OF
the Secretary Of the Treasury for that year.
progressing satisfactorily, and will probably
be completed during the Fall of 1879" which
only goes to show that the Government can
erect its buildings In q hurry when it wants to.
The Secretary, IN the same report, also
makes the interesting statement: 1T is as
sumed from the action of Congress at the
last session that 1t holds that the engraving
and printing Of the public securities can be
more cheaply, perfectly and safely done in
this bureau than in private establishments,
and the Secretary has, therefore directed that
all work Of this description, except certain
proprietary stamps, shall be done therein"
The report further states that 1.-The cost Of the
work is one-half the price previously paid" :"
Evidently the ground upon which the cid