The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1896-10-29

money order Tor the postal order. as i. i.
now called, but there is 10 limit of time
on the issue of a duplicate. Therefore
the Postofice Department receives every
week for duplication postal notes and
money orders which are several years old.
1850 money orders, which lad been due
for more b a year. were duplicated by
the department in 1895.
If the difference between the money
received and the money paid out by tn.
money order bureau was an indication az
the Governments indirect profit on the
business, here is the way last years a-
count would stand:
Amount received .S1.I6 100 S9 =
Amount paid ........... 1JG.3A. 400
Profits on lost money or
ders about ........... S36i,G29.58
This would be in addition to the Gov.
ernment's net revenue Of S6G1 .03227
from fees on domestic money orders. But,
as have said, there is a variation in the
balance from year to year, and the Gov
does not make S36J.000 a year
through the destruction of m%aey orders.
Even if it did. this sum would not keep
the postal service of the United States
running much more than a day and a half.
1t costs nearly $4,000 an hour TO carry
Uncle Sans mails.
Money in Siam ps.
No one knows what the Government
makes in unused stamps every year, but
the profit must amount TO several thou
sand dollars. Not an inconsiderable
amount of this is due to stamp collectors,
and when the Columbian stamps were is.
sued the Postmaster General calculated
that the entire cost Of making rev designs
and engraving new plates. as we'll as the
additional expense of printing the larger
stamps, would be paid by collectors pur-
chases. The department was disappoint-
ed in this, but its receipts from collect
ors in the Columbian year are estimated
at more than a million dollars.
The Postmaster General spoke freel,
Of this source Of income in his report.
though he was disposed to say very little
about his calculations before the stamps
We're issued. He was afraid some incon-
siderate people might class the United
States with those small nations and de-
Tendencies which rely on the stamp col
lector as much as on the tax collector.
1''Ay OhC VI liz tl6htcFi b'pNhbShN'N
of France has a full individual issue OF
stamps Of thirteen denominations; and
in Siberia, Tonga, the Cook Islands and
other small countries the designs OF
stamps are changed whenever additional
rcvenue is wanted. The philatelists pro-
test. but their protests avail nothing.
Large mounts are made every year
By the Government through the destruc-
ton of stamps and stamped envelopes
which have not been used. How few take
the trouble TO remove a stamp from a mis-
directed envelopes? There Is Il good margin
of profit, too. in excess payments Oh
postal matter; for the Postotfice Depart
ment. while it always collects on under
paid mail, never refunds when there Is
too much postage paid.
TO reckon all the profits which the Gov,
ernInent has received unearned. it wonlh
be necessary TO go over the records o.
Congress and get the list of rlG.ns when
have been pronounced just ty treasury
officials. and by Senator's and members
who have investigated them. But those
are not profits yet, for Congress may
develop a conscience some day and pa!
them.