Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1896-01-30
REGISTERED NATTER
OUR POSTAL DEPARTMENT NOT LA
BILE IN CASE OF LOSS.

The Government Does Not Pay Indemnity.
The Business Is Decreasing-In Almost
All other Countries senders Are Recon-
pensed For Losses.
No wonder that the registry business
of the postofice department is steadily
diminishing The people are losing con-
fidence in the system as a means OF in
surance. Though the fee has been re-
duced from 10 to s cents, the number OF
letters and parcels registered during the
last fiscal year was less than II, 900, 600.
Four wears ago the number exceeded
$4,000, 600 annually. What Is wanted
is safety, and the system does not give
it.
When a mail car or postoffice Is rob-
bed, it is always the registered matter,
advertised on its face as valuable, that
is taken. In 1860 the postmaster gener-
al of the United States advocated the
abandonment of registration on the
ground that it was fruitful only OF
danger to what it was designed to pro-
tect."
The remedy is very simple. The gov
eminent ought to grant compensation
for registered letters lost or destroyed.
Nearly all foreign countries give such
insurance. In Great Britain, for exam
pie, the registration fee is only cents,
and if the letter is not safely delivered
to the addressee, an indemnity of $40 is
paid to the loser. A graduated series OF
fees is so arranged that the sender Of a
parcel can insure it up to $3.50, this
maximum guarantee requiring the pay
ment of 22 cents. The parcel must be
marked with its value.
1t is stated in the postal regulations
Of the United Kingdom, rather quaint
", that payment of such insurance will
be made by the postmaster general mot
in consequence of legal liability, but
voluntarily and as an act of grace.
Registration Of money or jewelry Is
compulsory; such articles are not per-
mitted to be sent in the ordinary mails
At the same time parcels addressed to
foreign parts cannot be registered,
though for India they may be insured.
The British government pays mp to $40
for the value of any ordinary unregister-
ed package that is lost in its mail serv-
ice. This applies only in the United
Kingdom, and it does not govern at all
if t parcel is improperly wrapped or
contains eggs, liquids or very fragile ar
ticles
Nearly all foreign countries insure
etters and packages up to $40 in their
domestic service without extra fee. On
the other hand, no indemnity is paid
even for registered mail matter by the
United States, Brazil, Bolivia, Para
quay, Uruguay, Chile, British India,
Japan and Kongo. These are the only
exceptions TO the general rule. The
third assistant postmaster general OF the
United States in two annual reports has
recommended to congress the granting
of an indemnity on registered letters
and packages not to exceed $40. This Is
sure to be done sooner or later.
Turning to the regulations of the In
ternational Postal union, one finds that
the sender of a registered package to a
foreign country is entitled to$l0 in case
of loss, unless the latter has been occa.
stoned by "force majeure "-meaning
war. This indemnity must be paid by
the government that dispatches the pack
age. However, that government may
recover the amount from the govern
ment in whose territory the loss was in
CURED.
The adoption by Uncle Sam of an in
demnity limited to $40 would increase
the confidence of the public at very lit
tie cost. During the last fiscal year 664
pieces Of registered matter were lost.
Surprising the maximum payment to be
granted in each instance, the entire ex-
pense of such insurance would be So, $40
for the twelvemonth. This is trifie
compared with the money gained that
would accrue to the government from
the increase in the registry business that
would follow the acceptance of the in
demnity plan. The latter would take
from the ordinary mails vast number
of money letters and would make the
transmission of such letters much more
safe.
The registry system practically pre-
vents dishonesty on the part of postal
employees. Every person who handles
a registered letter or package must give
a receipt for it, If it is lost, the postof-
fee department can put its hand, so to
speak, on the spot where it disappeared.
1t can go right to the individual who
had it when it vanished and can hold
him responsible If it is case of theft,
it is known exactly at what spot search
ought to be begun, and the missing
package or letter is very apt TO be re-
covered.
1t is considered most desirable that
valuable packages should be taken out
of the ordinary mails, where their pres
ence is constant temptation to postal
employees. Thefts by them involve
heavy expenses for detective work,
trials, etc. Thousands of people make a
regular practice of sending money in the
ordinary mails because they believe
that the chances of loss are increased by
registration. New York World.
Smart Boy.
Mr.. Arthur Roberts once had lad in