Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-09-08
CITY AND DISTRICT.
THE NEW POSTAL NOTES.



DR.. MacDouala Throws Light Upon
the Methods Of the New System.
YHE RELATION OF THE POSTAL NOTE TO THE MONEY
oRDER-How THEY CAN BE USED IN TRADR-THRIR
USE CUsRENCY-TH. UGLY COLOR ACCOUNTED
FOR, AND SOME REASONS WHY THEY WILL NOT BE
CoUNTERFEIrED.
Slips OF paper, or a dirty yellowish color, have
begun 10 make their appearance in the daily mail
OF business men and other citizens, and their
novelty attracts great deal of att .nton. Every
body knows that these are the new postal notes
During the three years which has elapsed since
their Introduction was frst sug gested there has
been good deal printed In the daily press about
the character and object OF these new notes Now
that the third OF September has arrived when their
issue was authorized by Congress, and they are
beginning TO come into the everyday affairs OF the
people, number OF questions have arisen of a
practical charactr, which proves that after all
that has been said and publ shed the nature OF
this new issue Is not thoroughly understood.
People viii be curious about new thing, and ask
agreat many questions, as the daily experience OF
the post Office officials demonstrate. During the
past few days since the sale of the postal notes be-
gan, every purchaser, as rule, has asked as many
questions as there Were cents represented by the
postal note purchased.
Al The same time the public will get money
order without exchanging a word, and vet posi-
bly, many know but little more about the system.
Inc one Is new, the other Is Old, which probably
accounts for the difference In The effect upon the
muscles OF the pubic tongue.
STRAIN UPON The PUBLIC TONGUE
IN order that the present rush OF work, so to
,peak, upon the public tongue might be relieved
somewhat. STAR reporter made call upon Dr.
Macdonald, the superintendent OF the money order
system. with the intention Of asking every posi-
Die question that might arise In connection with
these notes The doctor evidently did
not perceive the intention OF his
visitor at FIRST but when he began
NOW. Doctor, about those postal notes7" the ter
Tor OF the situation seemed TO Hash upon him In
an Instant, and he grew pale.
TOO MUCH TALKEE.
The fact Is, Dr. Macdonald has been talking M
postal notes pretty steadily for the past three
years, and now that the new system Is an accom-
Diished fact, he feels entitled to Il rest He first
suggested the system three Years ago, andsbas ex-
planned and expOunded it ia public and private ever
SINCE aid as he is modest man, like all inven-
tors, he would like his ministration on this SUBJ
y eca 10 come 10 a conclusion. The STAR man, how
ever convinced him that the present was an emer-
Gency which demanded his serious attention, and,
Unless he talked, the bottom would fall out of
tolngS generally.
WHAT THE POSTAL NOTE Is.
"Now," said the doctor In a decided tone and
With -lap-1n-a-two-mile-race expression in
his face, ii will tell you all about the postal note
In very few words The postal note Is simply a
1orm OF money orderS-of cheap money orders for
sum less than IS payable to bearer. 1t is not
issued In lieu OF the ordinary money order, but
cOncurreatly with money orders for sums less
Sneh 50 That IS 10 say,the public have the option
Oh purchasing from the postmaster at the office OF
issue a money order or q postal note for sums
under S. just as they prefer"
''lt man." continued the doctor, purchases a
money order he pay, a fee Of eight cents and the
foot ONCE department. assumes the responsibility
OF seelS that 1t Is paid to the proper person II he
Ouys postal note he pays a fee OF three cents
anu tlrh transmits 1t through the mail at his own
FISK The Chief difference between a money or
ger anu postal note Is that while one is made
payable 10 designated person the other is made
SAFETY OF THE POSTAL NOTES
iheh, III letter containing postal note Is
nned the thief can readily get it cashed?" inter.
rupted the reporter.
"Yes," said the doctor, ''the bearer of a postal
note Is paid the money. but the wrong person. es-
pecially II he had robbed the mills, would find
some difficulty about cashing the note perhaps
more than they would be ready to meet For In
stance, whoever sends the note can take a descrp-
uOn or ft-that is.the name of the Office from which
II was issued and the one where IL Is sent an the
amount. Then, the one who uses it has to S On
MS name at the bottom, and If the postmaster
not know him he can also be required TO sign the
note on the back in addition. 1t will not be 80
easy matter as you suppose. Besides, as rule,
the amounts will be so small as TO discourage the
running of any such risk
1.-THE primary design of the postal noten re-
sumed thesdoet0r after this digress!on rs to take
The place OF the fractional currency, which was
great public convenience. There has been d very
Experimentation newspaper publishers, deal
ers in ARTICLES OF merchandise OF small value and
others, for something that could be u ,ed in max
Ing small REMIT ,nces 0y mail Ordinary postage
stamps could not be redeemed. and coin was not
available, because IL Was neither safe nor conye.
01ent. The postal note meets this demand"
THEIR USE IN TRADE.
suppose merchant receives large quantity
OF these notes, must he take them to the post
of1ice himself?" asked the reporter
Certainly not" was the reply. s.These notes
az han ~
check Is The merchant gives them to his mes
ssnger or clerk, ana he can get them cashed at
assigning as In the case OF money order"
.,n Can't be pay them out again in trader" con-
.sIf the customer VIII receive them he can said
Che doctor, with smile. 'These notes are not
legal tender, and there is no obligation on the
have been refused at the United States Treasury.
because they had no facilities for cashin4
them There must be some one to take the pos
Tai notes to the post Office, either at the office
drawn upon or at the Office OF Issue. The notes
are payable only at the post office No doubt they
acquisition Of convenience whether they are taken
Or not"
NOT CIRCULATING MEDIUM
"lf they pass from hand to hand why Is not this
new issue really new paper currency7" suggested
The reporter. .,-.-..-
1.-THE reason why these notes will not become a
general circulating medium" said the doctor, sis
becaus' :, in the first place, they have only three
months 10 run, and note becomas invalid If not
paid before the expiration OF that time IL is
not then payable. But the amount of an invalid
pos tai mote can b. obtained by the holder py
Send'n IL through the postmaster at the Office OF
payment, or at the Office OF issue TO the DEPART
nent IN this city, where, upon the payment OF an
adj Onal lee OF three cents. cheek for the
amount OF the note payable to the holder will be
ISSUED This additional fee Will prevent their
being usfd as currency"
Another reason" continued the DOCTOR "why
the postal notes VIII not circulate "a currency is
because they can be issued for every possible sum
from 81 TO Sis9, and when the amount Is an odd
one IL would De Very incOnvHnient to use For
instance note OF $1.57, or 70 cents or any other
Odd sum- You see IL would be hard TO make
change"
'Then again." said the DOCTOR recording the
poinS on his fingers, las the notes are payable at
certain Office, the circulation Is confined 10 the
town or city where that ONCE IS and can't extend
beyond il 4"
THE UGLY COLOR EXPLAINED.
swell, DOCTOR" said the reporter going on on
another tack, "why dbl you have such an ugly
color?"
1.-THE object OF that color" was the reply ais to
make the note anti-photoyraphic. Brown and
canary color, with green On the back. forms COM
bination OF coiOrS that defes the camera They will
look better. however, after while, when the first
rush Is over aud the printers have a chance to I'M
Drove the work