The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-05-15
MONEY ORDER BUSINESS
SERVICE At THE POSTOFFICE
Is A SUCCESS.
Form of the Orders to BE Changed
Great Increase Over the
Country.

The adoption of the plan Of issuing money
orders and registering letters until . o'clock
in the evening. which is an innovation by
Postmaster Hess, has proved far more salts
factory than was anticipated. The bust
ness in the evening has steadily increased.
and men employed during the day have
come in large numbers during the even
ing. 1t is expected there will be a material
increase in the money order business as the
result Of the recent action of banks in many
of the cities of the country. For some time
banks have made no charge for the collec-
ton of checks. but the use of a personal
check for purchases not to exceed s. has be-
come so general and the cost of collection
has become so large an item to the banks
that it is now the custom in many cities to
charge 10 cents for the collection of all such
small checks. This charge has tended to
discourage the use of checks for small pur-
chases. and money orders are being used
now instead.
The increase in the money order business
of the country has been so rapid as
to be almost beyond comprehension. Last
year the money order business amounted
to sos, oOo, 0OO, which was an increase of over
sic, OO, ZOO over the preceding year. For the
year ending June so next it is estimated that
INV " - tAtS
at least s25. 0OO. 900 and the total volume of
business will be at least $3.50. 100000. The
business for the last six months of 1898 was
&c., OO. 900 greater than that of the last six
months of the preceding year. and the de-
partment is confident that the same increase
will be maintained during the last six
months Of the fiscal year or the first six
months of the current year. To this Is added
$780, 0, which Is the estimate for the in
crease in business by reason Of the action
Of the banks, making the total
increase of SIS, 1000 X
The present form of money order has been
found unsatisfactory, and to meet the ire
mendous pressure of business a new form
of order has been devised and will be intro
duced some time about next September. The
commission, but it is cumbersome because
of the difficulties in cutting the edges OF the
orders. The department. has been on a
search for an order that combines the two
qualities Of simplicity and prevention OF
fraud. The present form does not CORE
spond in either size or shape to a bank
generally approved by offices to which it
has been sent for inspection, is of the same
size as a draft or bank check. TIL present
form is a cumbersome piece of paper which
is divided into three parts. Much trouble
has been caused with this form because
order, but would not I'LL out the letter of
advice until later. and then many of them
were sent to wrong Ofnces, causing delay and
great annoyance. The new plan is to have
the letter Of advice under the money order
and a sheet of carbon paper between. so
that when the money. order is dated and
filled out the letter of advice will also be
dated and filled in the proper place. At
tached to the advice is a receipt which is
filled out at the same time and which is
given to the remitter. Each order, letter
of advice and receipt Is numbered alike.
No receipt is given at the present time,
is desired the -remitter can take his receipt
TO an office and the date. person to whom
paid and full respecting the or
der can be at once secured. The design sug-
gested is that of the chief of the money
order division, Mr., Metcalf. All mechanical
the irregular edged knife now in use or
perforating machines, for the operation of
which the department does not have time.
1t is expected that the increase In money
order business and the adoption OF the new
design will lower the rates. The more bust
ness done by the division the cheaper 1t can
be done. The department feels confident
that there will be at least a reduction in
the rates for those of large denominations.
The printing of the new form Of orders
will cost but half Of the present form. The
government does not plan TO operate the
money order department for a profit, but
one is made nevertheless. After paying the
of 81, 2S0. 600 was turned into the treasury
as profit. It Is estimated that the time OF
the clerks handling the business of this di-
vision costs the government about S6Oo.ooO
a year, so that a net profit remains of $780,
coo. With the contemplated reduction in
sion of Congress will reduce the cost TO
the senderS.