Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1873-02-04
The Money Order System.

The Money Order System.
The payment of small sums Of mo-
ney to persons at a distance by means
Of orders on the postotfice at the
place Of payment has grown to be a
public convenience which needs en-
tension, in order that its usefulness
and beneficence may be nor fully
realized. Even in its present limited
operations, it has proved a source of
revenue to the Government, while
accommodating the people to an eX-
tent not generally known. If the
amount that could be ordered were
$500. instead of $50, these ~postoflice or
ders would take the place of bank
drafts all owe the country. In 1872,
2.573, $40 domestic money orders were
issued. aggregating in money s4S,5l5,-
$50, the fees of the postof1ice amount
ing to 1855 ,2S5. The total fees received
$35o,499 +; the expenditures S244, 500 /;
leaving a balance in favor of the
Postoffice Department of S105 ,573. The
cost of remittance, for orders not
exceeding $40, is 10 cents $50, Is so.
20 cents and for $50, Is cents.
Since October l, 1871, when the
money order system was extended by
convention between the United States
and Great Britain, the amount of mo-
news paid in the latter country on
orders issued in the United States was
$747, 426 IS and the amount paid in
the United States on orders issued in
Great Britain was 1884, $40 SO. The
fees received in the United States
were 500, 466, S., and the expenses &c.
S62 IS. The system has also been eX-
tended to the German Empire and
the Republic of Switzerland. Many
people, among whom are publishers
of books, newspapers, e~ngravings
and the like. and others who have oc-
casion to make small remittances, are
of the opinion that the system could
be more extensively used than at
present with benefit to the Govern
ment and people and that the fees
could be reduced without detriment
to the revenue. This opinion has
found expression in the eastern press,
which has recently initiated the move
ment for the purpose, and embodied
its desire in a petition or memorial to
Congress, as we find it in a late Chi
cago paper; and we copy it for the
consideration Of the public in this
section of the Union. The following
is the
CITIZENS PETITION.
To the Honorable United States Senate
and House Of Representatives in Con-
gr'eSs assembled:
The undersigned citizens of the
United States, deeply realizing the i'm
portance of improving the f~acilitit 8
and safety in transmitting small sums
of money through the mails, do re-
specially but most urgently solicit
YOUR attention and action in the
premises. From u experience and
information upon the subject. we DO
verify believe that many hundreds of
thousands of dollars are annually pur-
Joined from letters by officials who
have the handling of the United
States mails. 1t has become Il burden
and a source Of annoyance which we
are unwilling longer to endure. We
know that the remedy of the evil is
simple, and justice demands a prompt
adoption of a measure which will
remedy it in every Postot1iee through
out the United States. Millions of
dollars are transmitted in small sums
every year by people in moderate cir
cumstances for newspaper subscrip-
tons, books, small articles of mer-
chandise, and other purposes too
numerous to mention; a considerable
per cent. of which never reaches its
legitimate destination. A venue in
these cases is paid to the Govern
ment, and vet there is no equivalent
rendered. The postal money order
system, so far as it extends. is a safe
and convenient mode of transmitting
money through the mails, but the
tariff of eX penSes, on small sums, is
too high. The registry system is en-
pensive and unsafe. 1t is not what
the people require. We most urgently
ask your honorable body to speedily
take this subject under consideration,
and to extend the money order sys-
tenn to every PostOtfice in the United
States, with such a low rate of eX-
pense as shall be equitable and just
toward the people; and as in duty
bound will ever pray.
A copy Of the above petition will
lie on our table for signatures, and
will lie be forwarded to Congressman
Kendall as soon as a respectable num-
Der of names are attached thereto.
COLoRED CHILDREN IN THE PUBLIC
SCHoOLs.-The Board of Education of