Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-05-26
A NEW FORM OF POSTAL ORDER.
Some Postal Currency Ideas That Are TO Have
Government Attention.

and was the size of a common sheet of
note paper. 1t was merely a draft in
favor OF person whose name did not
appear in the money order itself. but
was sent to the postmaster in a sepa-
rate communication. For many years
after the establishment of the money
order system, which was about the
close of the Civil War, this was the
only form in which it existed. Gradu-
ally the express companies began to
take up the money order system, and
experience soon taught them to make
the money order more in the form of a
check showing the payee's name on the
face of it.
A government money order at that
time was not payable unless the name
signed to it was exactly the same as
appeared in the letter of advice to the
postmaster, and as a consequence a
great deal Of annoyance was found by
the names being different in the sigma
ture and in the letter. The Augusta
postoffice sent several suggestions on
this subject, and finally the depart
ment itself took up the question and
brought out the money order in the
present form, which was very much
like the express money order in COM
mon use At the end Of each small
coupons appeared showing the number
Of dollars and cents as we'll as being
written in the order itself, and the
name Of the payee of the order was
written in on the face Of it the same
as it would be on u bank check.
The present administration of the
postoffice department is under the di
rect supervision of Postmaster General
Smith and Fir% Assistant Postmaster
General Perry $. Heath, both of whom
are practical and progressive business
and newspaper men. 1t is safe to say,
with the possible exception of Post
master General Wanamaker's term,
IIItiS nave never bttll 81 many et-
vances made in the way of Kidding the
service Of formalities and introducing
good business ideas under the pres
ent administrations; and in no direction
does progressive business demand a
change but that these officers are quick
to perceive il and take advantage of it,
rot t,.pi
ideas free from any bureau obstruc-
ton.
Postmasters was held in Detroit, last
fall. considerable attention was paid
to the advantages which the change of
the money order system would bring
about. and the auditor of the treasury
in communication to that convention
stated that the present form Of money
order. while apparently correct, was
absolutely worthless as a means of au-
diting money order accounts, and that
there We're seven kinds of fraud which
could be carried out under it and the
coupons gave a great chance for errors
which escape detection.
Under the suggestion of the resolu-
ton which was passed, the superln-
tandent of the money order system,
Hon. James T. Metcalf, has produced a
form which he thinks will overcome
all objections to those now in use. and
which it is supposed will be introduced
about the first of July. Instead OF the
cumbersome sheet of three parts now
employed. he proposes to have the
money order the same size as bank
check. In filling out the order car
bon sheet is inserted and when the
name Of the payee and the amount is
written on the order ii is also written
on the duplicate the form Of which is
such as to make it the advice to be
sent to the paying postmaster. At
tached to the advice is receipt which
Is filed in and given to the sender with
the order.
The receipt is an entire innovation,
az none has ever before been given
with money order. 1t will undoubt-
edlv prevent one cause for great
ANNOYANCE which the postal service mas
found in all parts of the country, belnS
complaints which have arisen from de-
laws which were caused by the sender
himself. A very great many people,
unaccustomed to business and thinking
~ registered letter receipts, have taken
tbaea money orders which were to be
sant to the party to be paid as receipts
for the money deposited with the post
onca and would hold the money or
dars for a long time until the mistake
u,as discovered and very often the
money orders have been lost ana
dunlicate ones obtained through this
error on the part of the sender 1t is
believed that this new receipt attach
mont will entirely do away with these
aa,avs and misunderstanding.
rho convention of postmasters, this
-, o+ in Washington. in