New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-01-24

moval, or unknown residence Of ell parties IN
teres.ed. tone OF this goes to tse pockets OF
banker. or private persons, but all is kept BY
Government, with the names Of the RENTER AM
ii ndIvidus addressed and at any futare time il
ia paid over to heirs or other proper parties, on
due proof being made.
But the amount, Of which there is 40 exact
record shows what sums of money people are in
The habit Of sending by mail, and that in very
moderate sums: and from the vast distances and
hBctuatpg. uncertain currency in the United
States it is plain thar our people stand ia sill
greater need OF safe and convenient way Of re-
nittLg money through the POr-Ohice. AZ
method Of doing this, our postal authorities
recommend system Of registering letters. We
propose to see what this system Of registration
10 worth-whether it will probably NEE. our
wants, and how it works where it has for some
time been in operation. Our knowledge and
opinion of registering letters is necessarily based
on the English syst. IN, copy Of the same hAv-
ing been recommended TO us.
In British Post Office reports and exsmina-
tons before Parliamentary committees, We have
much testimony te the point. In the testimony
Of Augustus Gtdby, Esq, gentleman who hal
been in the Post. Office Department forsy-One
years cd Pail. Rep, l5'5, page 1917 he de-
clares the method of registration adopted in Ire
land useiess; and i. was abolished On his being
appointed Secretary of the General Post Ofhce
at Dublin. Under proper regulations, Mr.. Colby
admits it might have operated satisfactorily, but
it would cause great delay, particularly in the
country Offices. II the great delay in sorting
could be avoided, be wOuli approve the system.
He further stated as q fact within bis own
knowledge, that the number of letters lost during
the time OF registration was greater than
since II was abolished. Robert Wallace, Esq,
member Of the Post Office Committee 10 Para-
ment, gave it as his opinion that registration and
receipts did not afford security even to cash let
ters. Robert Smith, Esq, for a long period an
officer Of the Post Office Department, gave his
experience, which was, upon the whole, against
the practice. He objects to it on the ground of
the time Il consumes and the trouble 1t occasions.
L0sees ard thefts occur and some Of them un-
doubtedly for the very that the letters are
registered thus revealing their valuable charac-
was forged to receipt and in another, the con-
tents of registered letter was distracted and
the letter then delivered aud receipt taken.
More registered letters are lost than formerly
From September, 1887, to June, 1888, more let
tiers of that description had been lost than for
two years preceding that time.
In an official report from the Department
Fen uVte bp W
connected with the Post Office in l7il, that gen
tensn states that, though the system OF reglstra-
ton had been going on for many years, only about
60 cut Of every 400 letters, containing coin or
iewelry, and mailed at the London Post once
were registered. According to the testimony OF
Col Maberly there was enormous plumber and
robbery under the system; in fact, IL had thor
ouehly demoralized the department. Under the
Mol ey Order system, however these evils are al
most entirely corrected. Lord Lowsher, the
Postmaster. General, in a special report, made
Dec ,l6il, speaks Of il in the very highest terms
while he disparsges the system of registration.
He says:
Through the Money Order Office small sums
be RENTED with the greatest security indeed, for
this purpose it may be considered nearly perfect as
relates TO the interest Of the remitter if the order Is
lost or destroyed, stolen, there is no dhcuty on
the part Of the Post Office in issuing duplicates on
the necessary inquiries being satisfactorily ans weredi
while in case OF DEATH removal, there is no oolsc-
ton with the consent ofthe proper parties orepayng
the amount of the order With registration, this Is not
the Gaze; the property nrusted to the Post though
registered may be Lost plundered in ts progress by
the carelessness or dishonesty ofthose employed.
Supporting, however, tina. all the necessary precau'
tons are observed that every check has been care
fully maintained as the registration only secures the
cover Of the letter the contents are liable to absac
ten; against this crime, no checks will avail.
His Lordsbip goes on to say that if there should
be large number of registered letters, there
would be great delay in sorting; that extra
trains would become necessary on the principal
lines of railway, as passengers would not WILL
iDgly submit to the delay and this would result
in the most ruinous consequences as to expense,
and therefore tend greatly to retsrd the mail
service. A letter mailed in London registered,
and receipt given must pass through the hands
of sixteen persons before it starts on its journey
to the interior and il Is liable to pass the hands
of one hundred and twenty nine. He further
states that in London, where subdivision Of labor
il carried to its full extent, he does net see how
it can be imagined that receipt could give
any security. Considering the number of hands
every stamped letter leaving and arriving at London
must pass through-none Of whom can be identl-
fed as having dealt with the same-it may
readily be seen what little security is obtained
by procuring receipt. If a letter ia lost, all
the officers divide the responsibility between
them any one of them might have distracted it
in its progress, without the slightest danger Of