The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-08-20
REGISTERED NAIL.
How the Government Cares for Valu-
able Letters
From the Woshfnoton Star

From the WASHINGTON Star.
Millions of dollars pass daily through the
New York postoffice in the shape of regis
tered mail matter. There are several ways
of sending money through the mails. Per-
haps the best known is the money order
system. The postal note is comparatively
new, and is, therefore, not so familiar to
the average citizen. But when a man has
something valuable other than money, or
large sum of money he wishes to send
to a distant point, he avail lis himself of
the register system. This is very sim
ple He pays letter postage on the pack
age, and, in addition, fee OF 10 cents. 1t
NAV be jewelry or bonds, or even money
in large amounts, but off it goes under
the protection of the post Office depart
| ment.
Suppose q man, exclaimed a postoffice
department official, wanted to send So
600 to a distant place in this country and
looked around for the cheapest method.
Unless he IS a person with an extended
bank account he is apt to get 1000 in bills,
put them in an envelope and place on it a
registry stamp. Before he enJfusts the let
ter to the mails, perhaps he asks himself
what will be the result if this money should
happen to get lost. He makes some in
quiries, and ascertains that the government
would not be responsible. All That the gov
eminent engages to do is to exercise I'M
usual care in the Transmission of a regis
tered letter. There is no responsibility at
tached except in that one particular.
Special pouches are furnished which are
locked at one end of a through line, and
are not opened until the other end is
reached.
These are especially prepared bags, with
combination locks, and tho combination is
known only to two persons, namely, the
transmitter at one end aid the receiver at
the other. When the registered matter is
not placed in a through pouch receipt is
required and obtained from every man into
whose hands it comes. A registered letter
is put on the train at a small town, the
postmaster gets receipt from the postal
clerk. and the latter In turn from the post
master receiving 1t. "A receipt is required
from the person 20 whom IL is delivered, 50
that it Is comparatively easy task to trace
q register ed letter or package, and if one is
lost, to fix the guilt or blame upon the
proper person.
81 rather curious feature has sprang up
he continued. There are companies in ex-
istence waose business consists in insuring
registered matter. They have nothing to
do with its transportation. The govern
ment does that. But they insure the trust
worthiness of the government, its accuracy
and the integrity of its employees. They
take the risks which the government refu'e S
to take. Tney guarantee 10 man that his
package or letter which lie has intrusted
to the care of the mail shall reach its desti-
nation. II through any cause the package
is lost, then the insurance company pays
the loss. 1t may also be added that the
government catches the thief, and 1t is very
seldom that the theft Of registered matter
is a success.
80 you see when man has a large
amount OF money to send, IL he doubts the
reliability OF the government, or Is afraid
of the casualties Of the way, his fears may
be allayed by getting out an insurance poi
icy, which makes him safe, Whatever hap
pens The registry system, like the parcel
post, infringes somewhat on the business Of
The express companies, and on this account
their abortion by the government was OPP
posed. But it was thong to be service
required by the people, and, as tits cheaper,
OF couiss l. popular"