The Madisonian. (Virginia City, Mont.) 1873-1915, 1896-12-05

ago the Postofice Department drew from
the sub-treasury 4 lump sum of $780,
OOO, which was the balance to the credit
OF money order funds in excess of the de-
mands of current business. Last year a
check for SI19.244 was transferred to the
Fostoffice Departments balance in the
treasury here. the excess to the
credit of the money order fund in New
York. These two sums and the working
balance kept in New York represent what
the Government has made indirectly out
OF this business. Probably it's profits up
to the present date amount to $4,000, 900,
but no exact statement will ever be made.
There is a time limit of one year on the
money order Tor the postal order, as it is
now called, but there is no 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 cid;
1850 money orders, which had been due
tor more than a year. were duplicated by
tic department in 1895.
If the difference between the money
received and the money paid out by the
money order bureau was an indication of
the Governments indirect profit on the
business, here is the way last years ac-
count would stand:
Amount received ....... $156, 100, OS9.77
Amount paid ........... 1861 44, 46O.21
Profits on lost money or
GERS ABOUT ............ S364 ,629.56
Tnis would be in addition to the Gov
ernments net revenu of $661, O32.27
from fees on domestic money orders. But.
as l have said, there is a variation in the
balance from year to year, and the Gov
eminent does not make $3.50, GOO a year
through the destruction of me,ey orders.
Even if it did. this sum would not keen
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 Stamps.
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 new 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 freely
of this source of income in his report.
though he was disposed to say very little
about his calculations before the stamps
were 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,
Every one of the eighteen dependencies
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
revenue is wanted. The philatelists pro-
test, but their protests avail nothing.
Large amounts are made every year
by the Government through the destruc-
ton of stamps and stamped envclopes
which have not been used. How few take
the trouble to remove a stamp from q mis-
directed envelopes? There is a good margin
OF profit. too. in excess payments on
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
has received unearned. it would
be necessary to go over the records Of
Congress and get the list Of claims which
have been pronounced just by treasury
officials, and by Senators and members
who have investigated them. But those
are not profits yet. for Congress may
develop a conscience some day and pay
them.