The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-01-01
TIlE ROANOKE TIMES, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY !. 1876
REGISTERED MATTER
OUR POSTAL DEPARTMENT. NOT LA
BILE IN CASE OF LOSS.

Tho Government Docs Not Pay Indemnity.
Tho Business Is Dccrcasing-In Almost
All Other Countries Sentlers Arc RECON-
pensed For Losses.
No wonder that the registry business
of the postoffico department is steadily
diminishing! The people are losing con-
fidence in the system rs n means of in
surance. Though tho fee has been re-
duced from 10 to cents, the number of
letters and parcels registered during tho
last fiscal year was less than 1, 600, 600.
Four years ago tho number exceeded
$4,000, 900 annually. What is wanted
is safety, and the system does not give
it.
When mail car or postof1ice is rob-
bed, it is always the registered matter,
advertised OH its face as valuable, that
is taken. In 1860 the postmaster gener-
al of the United States advocated tho
abandonment of registration on the
ground that it was fruitful only of
danger to what it was designed to pro-
tect'
Tho 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 fec is only cents,
and if tho letter is not safely delivered
to tho 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 go cents. The parcel must be
marked with its value.
1t is stated i'll tho postal regulations
OF the United Kingdom, rather quaint
]y, that payment of such insurance will
be made by the postmaster general mot
i'll consequence of legal liability, but
voluntarily and as an net 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 up to $40
for the valuo 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 ut all
if the 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 i'll 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
tho sender of registered package to d
foreign country is entitled to $40 in case
of loss, unless the latter has been occa.
stoned by force majeure" meaning
war. This indemnity must be paid by
tho government that dispatches the pack
age. However, that government may
recover tho amount from tho govern
mcnt il whose territory the loss was in
Cured.
The adoption by Uncle Sam of an in
dcmnity Limited to $40 would increase
the confidence of the public at very lit
tic cost. Daring tho last fiscal year 654
pieces of registered matter were lost.
Surprising the maximum payment to DO
granted in each instance, the entire OK.
pcnse of such insurance would be So, SAT
for the twclvcmonth. This is q trifle
compared with the money gained that
would accrue TO the government from
tho increase i'll the registry business that
would follow tho acceptance of the in
dennity plan. Tho latter would take
from tho ordinary mails vast number
of money letters and would make tho
transmission of such letters much moro
safe.
The registry system practically pre-
vents dishonesty OH tho part of postal
employees. Every person who handles
registered letter or package must give
a receipt for it. If it is lost, the postof
flee department cain put its hand, so to
speak, Oh 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 a constant temptation to postal