Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-03-04


money order sYe3Rm.
The substitute was read.
Mr.. BLAKE. Mr.. Speaker the impor
tanos Of this bin TO the people, and the
great necessity thereis for . safe, prscica-
Die method whereby smsn sums Of money
can be transmitted from one section Of our
country 10 another, induces me to ask the
attention Of the House for short time in
the discussion Of its provisions. This bill
has been purposely made somewhat general
ia its character, upon the presumption
that II such o system be adopted, the arrange
meht Of its details might be safely left to
experience. II may be found advisable 10
confne The system Of 6rst IS Eas The case
In England, 70 limited number Of ofhoes
The practical results Of its operation ct
these Offices during o certain period would
furnish valuable information for subsequent
guidance.
This bill authorizes the Postmaster Gem
eFal 10 establish Q uniform money order
system at ell post Offices which he may
deem suitable tkerfor, designating them as
"money order Offices" the pOstmasters ct
such offices to Issue orders for payment at
any point where such money order Offices
are located, to any person who deposits
from one dollar to thirty dollars, and pays
the required fee: Eve cents for any sum
from one dollar TO ten dOllers, aud five cents
for every additional sum Of ten dollars, or
any less sum than ten dollars.
The bill forms q system by which money
can be sent through the msils..at very lit
tie expense, snd with perfect safety, max
ing not only convenient channel for busi-
ness men and others, who have occasion TO
remit money, but sffording the best and
cheapest facilities for cur soldiers TO for
ward money to their families and friends.
Mr.. Speaker, this system viii not only
be safe and convenient TO the people, but 1t
will be 8 source Of revenue TO the Govern
ment now so much needed to put down this
gigantic rebellion, to sustain the Oonstitu-
ton, and perserve the Union.
1t is fact, that no one can deny who
has taken the trouble to inform himself on
that subject that in our postal arrange.
ments We are far behind England; and
but for the crisis that is upon us, / should
urge radical reform in our whole system.
But now, when the nation is struggling for
life, it would not be wise 10 sgitate any
new and untried experiment that might
possibly involve the nation in debt in the
effort The English Government after
about twenty years trial Of the cheap post
age and money order system, with an in
cressing prosperity every year, until now
the Government receives from postage and
the issuing the money orders q clear reVe-
nue. Of S17, ,000, 900 annually; while we, IN
der our system, are 60 fer behind that Con.
L = ~ - AnEafanorT
Of nearly FIVE millions. Nov, here is a
difference of $22, ,00O, 900 between the Amer
ican and the English postal system, and
this vast difference cannot be without 3
cause. The cost Of transportation viii not
explain it, although the Government pays
/ 10 railroad companies and steamboat com
psnies vastly more than it ought to for car
ryinR the mails, yet our whole cost fOr
that purpose Is about six millions Of dol
tsrs; while the cost in England for carry
ing the mails Is about half as much The
| true reason for the result found between
the two systems is, that the English is far
in advance Of ours in simplicity, utility, and
cheapness; and ss We advance toward thai
| system England has adopted with 80 much
success, We shall find the same results fol-
low here as there. The establishment Of
the money order system is only one step
in the right direction; and 1t is hoped 9TH
ers win follow as soon as the condition Of
the country wiz admit. This system Of
banking on small scale Though the me
dun Of drafts or orders from one post Of
foe to another, has been adopted in several
European countries with great success. In
Germany a certain percentage is paid, and
the remittance is guaranteed by the Gov
srnnsnt In France WensEa orders 9S nis iS r.; f.
many years.
In Canada the same system has been in
operation for several years, and proved its
own utility and practicability. But in Eng
land the business ofremitting money through
the mails by means of money orders has
been reduced to the greatest simplicity and
to the least expense; and there, too, the sys-
TEN is Of the greatest utility to the people
and source of revenue to the Government.
The money order system of England was
first private enterprise, commenced in the
year 1892 by three officers of the postohice
department. who drew orders on certain post
masters, and they drew on them in return !;
their charges were high, and varied with the
amount to be remitted; the system had no
uniformity, simplicity convenience, or cheap
ness to commend il, and, as q consequence,
was Of little or no benefit to the people, and
small profit 10 the persons engaged in the
business. In 1888 the money order system
was adopted by the Government and made
branch of the postoffce department of Eng
land. In November, l840, the commissions
were reduced to threepence for sums not ex-
ceeding two pounds sterling, and sixpence
for all sums exceeding two pounds, but not
exceeding five pounds, H-.
Now, what is the result in a revenue point
OF view7 In 1888, the number of persons
employed in the money order business was 3;
in ls4l, 81; and now, ll2 clerkp, for 2, ,594
money order Offices; and in the Canadian
money order bureau for 225 similar Offices.
The salaries in. the London money order Of
fee in 1889 amounted to the sum OF Sc, ,I28;
and in 1854, to s92,sle. The number Of
money orders Issued in 1889 was lss, ,92I,
and the amount of money remitted for that
year was 81, 500, ,623; and in 1854 period
of about sixteen years after the adoption of
the system, the number of orders for that
year was 8, ,466, 244, and the amount Of mon
ey remitted through the mails was $52,3I2.-
JOY. Ine amount OF pfonts aIter paying all
expenses, to the English Government, de-
rived from this system, from 1850 to 1854,
was the sum Of $3.50, Pas; and now, from
the return Of the postmaster general Of Eng
land for the year 1850, it appears that the
revenue from the money order business for
that year amounted to about the sum of $l42-
$40. The English people, in a period Of
about sixteen years, RENTED through the
postoflce, in money orders, more than $780,
0O0, 900, without loss, at a commission Of
about half of one per cent, and with profit
to the Government. Ia Ht
Such has been the success OF the system,
that the people and Government of England
would now as soon think Of parting with
their post Office as their money order sys-
tenn. If the system but sustains itself for