The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-07-07
WASHINGTON LETTER.
oncio Sam to indemnify the Sender Of
Lost Letters = In Line at Last.
Jerry simpsons Big District.
Especial correspondence.l

NoW ProVlulnB indemnity TO the amount
OF $40 for lost registered mail goes into
effect July /. 1t is the belief of the
postmaster general that the new law
Will bring to his department q great
deal of profitable business.
The postoffice department. bids for
business like my tradesman or carrier.
VI late years the express companies
nave been cutting into Uncle Sam's
postal order business and cutting down
his registration trade. Last year there
was n decrease in registration fee re-
ceipts at San Francisco of nearly per
cent, Mt Cincinnati of about per cent,
at Detroit of more than 8 per cent, at
Louisville Of more than per cent, at
Minneapolis of more than 10 per cent,
ut Portland, Or, of more than per
cent and ut st. Paul of per cent.
Uncle Sam Behind the Times.
at other large offices there was an
increase, but it was not in proportion
to tho increase in other branches Of
postal business. At New York, for ex-
ample, the increase was less than per
cent and ut st. Louis only per cent.
Altogether the paid registrations fell
off nearly 6 per cent.
Tho causes Of this decline in the pop
ularity Of the registry service are the
competition of the express companies
and tho fact that they indemnify the
shipper in case of loss, while the post
office department does not.
Tho United States is tho only great
country in the world which runs it's
registry business OH this plan. Great
Britain pays $50 or less, according to
the loss, and for an extra fee guarantees
indemnity up to $3.50. Franco pays So
to $40; Austria, Belgium, Holland,
Portugal, Roumania, Bulgaria, Spain,
Germany, Luxembourg, Egypt and Hal
ii. about $40 each, and Colombia, Costa
Rica, Denmark, the Dominican Repub-
lie, Greece. Italy, Norway, Persia, Rus
sia, Servia, Siam. Sweden, Switzerland
and Turkey, sums ranging from $22
to Sl3.4 The United States is classed
with such benighted countries as the
Kongo Free State and Bolivia.
The registry business brought to the
postofiice last year 1870, 1888. SO. a large
part Of this was profit, because there was
no risk to the government and the cler-
ical expense Of handling the matter was
comparatively small.
Department Really Self Sustaining.
Nearly 1920, 00O,O 900 stamps, postal
cards, etc, were issued last year, which
means probably 1000, 600, 900 pieces of
mail sent through the postoffice. If To-
900, 600 pieces Of registered mail yielded
500. 600 revenue, or nearly II per cent
OF the total revenue of the postal service,
the registry service must be very profit
able. Small wonder that the postmaster
general, with his $S,OOO,O 900 annual
deficit staring him in the face, has
wanted for many years to make q bid
for public patronage in tho matter of
registered mail. Uncle Sam has not
monopoly of the money and valuables
transportation as he has of the letter
business.
A great part of the business of the
postoffice is handling government maiI.
III TACT II the postal service stood OH it's
own legs-if the service the department
renders to other government Offices was
charged against them-the postal bust
ness would be- self sustaining and we
might have cent letter postage. AS it
IS, about one-tifth of the business of the
registration office last year was done for
the departments.
Trainload Of Gold as Mail.
The registered mail is put to strange
uses. a few years ago trainload of
gold was brought from San Francisco
to New York as Registered mail"
If every piece of first class mail mat
ter lost last year had been worth $40,
the department., under the new law.
would have had to pay only So, $40 in
demnlty. Tho increase in the general
receipts Of the postal service last year
was per cent. If the registration bust
ness had increased in the proportion of
other branches of the service, the gov
eminent would have received 500. 600
more than it did. If the granting of an
indemnity will bring back the registra-
tlon business which the government
has lost and give normal increase. it
will be worth about $94, 900 ii year net
But II there was no profit in it tho
postoflico department. could afford to do
this justice TO the people who send mon
ey by mail. Last year more than SILL
OoO was realized by the dead letter Of
flee on money and valuables lost in the
mail for which no owner could be
found. This fund would have paid all
the claims made by people who suffered
losses and complained about them, and
have left $5, 900 baiance.
Jerry Simpsons Large District.
Jerry Simpson represents the largest
congressional district in the United
States in point of population. Jerry
would not mind if it was little smaller
as to territory and population both, for
then he could manage it more easily.
There arc SO counties in his district.
winch goes by title as ''the Big Sey.