Evening journal., 1899-08-25

business. Tie chances OF error here,
as you will see, are large, unless the
system is made extremely simple. I'M
der the old rule of filing out the ad-
vice blank in duplicate as q separate
operation, it was a not uncommon
thing to have the amount differently
written on two slips, such mistake
as s25.42 on the order itself and $42.25
on the advice sheet being a fair sam
pie. other errors which crept I'm fire.
'Quently were variations in the name OF
the payee and the ofiioe of payment.
Then. too. we were continually get
ting into trouble with the marginal
numbers. A person unused TO busi-
ness methods. or to working in the
midst of noise and confusion, would
cut these numbers in svch way that
whereas the written text might call
for $40, vhe margin might call for only
40 cents. In all such cases we had
ito have a Hresome correspondence
with the postmaster at the Issuing Of
fee to straighten the accoHnts out.
A CHECK UPON FRAUD.
with the new form of order we
have dispensed with this marginal
nuisance. AS a check upon fraud or
mistake in handling such paper, how
ever. it is necessary to resort to either
an advice or device Banks use de-
vice; we find it more practicable to
use an advice. We have done away
with the danger Of differences between
the order and the advice in the three
essential points by having the blank
advice sheet bound in under the order
blank. so that, by slipping a piece of
carbon paper, between the two, we
make the advice an absolute fac-simile
of the order. itself, as to not only sub
ject matter, but handwriting. On the
order the amount is written in words
and then, on the same line, further to
the right, in figures again, These fg-
ures are carried by the carbon into
the corresponding spaces in the blank
beneath, but that part of the blank is
separated by a line OF perforation
from the letter of advice proper, and
is in form a receipt, which is torn of
and given by the postmaster to the
person who buys the order. The post
master files the application. which
being made out by the purchaser oi
the order, is the only voucher retained
| by the issuing Office. The purchaser
on getting his receipt, is supposed tC
look at the figures and see whether
they tally with the amount paid b.
him to the postmaster. If they do not
that is his time to complain. lie car
compare also his receipt with the or
der itself before sending the letts
away to the pnyee. The whole thinl
seems a very complete and yet a very
simple system Of checks and balances
A SIMPLE ARRANGEMENT.
"As l have said, the simplicity o.
this arrangement was desirable OF
account of the numbSr OF small offices
which now issue money orders. Thl
paying OFFICES give us almost no trou
BILE Not less than 95 per cent. of oui
money orders are paid at the large Of
fees, where experienced clerks act a
tellers. a man in such a position
needs about the same training as 4
teller at a bank including quioknes
of perception, when there is any sus
picious circumstance attaching to
transaction. Our losses. indeed, grow
steadily smaller as we continue to i'm
prove the system, and the people ant
the postmasters get more and more ac
lcustomed to it, 1t is not intended, o
course, to make this money-makinl
Feature for the Post Office Depart
ment, but it is OF interest to. note tina
we derived a profit of sf5O,OOO iron
the money order system last year, af
ter all expenses were paid. Our aim il
as fast as the profts accumulate, t
give the pubhc the benefit of them il
reduced rates for money orders. Il
this business, as in private enterprises
a large trade can be handled at les
proportional expense than a small one
and it would not be surprising il in
little while we were able to reduce tn
rate on S1OO from 80 cents, nov
harged, to 90 cents. One source Of ou
increased business which perhaps tn
public generally does not suspect
he extension of our system to Cubi
That island is now doing 4 business {
$50, 900 a week in our money orders
and this is on the increase. The reaso
doubtless is that banking facilities be
tween the two countries are so exper
lsiye." NtNTsH
Mr.. Metcalf is an enthusiast on thi
subject. to which he has given man
years of study. 1t is one of his idea