The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-12-07
THE CHRISTMAS RUSH ON
A DOMESTIC POsTOFFICE WITH THE
ARMY IN CHINA.
Facts About the Money Order Business
Between This and 9th
err Countries.

1.-THE United States government has COM
pleted arrangements for a domestic post
office TO accompany our army in China"
said Assistant Shideler last
night. This includes facilities for the
issuance and payment of money orders and
also for registering letters and packages.
So that now anybody who has a relative
or friend in the army over i'm China can
send a letter to him for a 2-cent stamp just
the same as if he were in New York or any
other place in this country. Rates of post
age in all other classes are Just the same
as those charged in the Uniteds States.
This applies to officers and private soldiers
alike-anybody actually belonging to the
army.
Just to satisfy my curiosity as to the
number Of packages sent out of the In
dianapolis postoffice addressed to persons in
foreign countries" continued Mr.. Shideler,
II made an examination Wednesday night.
1 found that one package was going to
Canada, four to Ireland. five to Italy, one
to Mexico. one to Switzerland, one to
China, one to Germany, one TO Syria, one
to Denmark and seven to the Philippine
islands. OF course these are all Christ
mas presents. and it is not likely that many
more will leave this port, as the time limit
~
is just about reached.
What is the favorite present sent to the
boys in the Philippines" repeated Mr..
Shideler. Why, "a macintosh. Nearly
every one of those seven packages / have
mentioned contained a macintosh, as I
could very readily learn by feeling the
bundle You see, the parents of the SOL
diers nave heard about the rainy season
In those islands and they want their boys
to keep good and dry"
MONEY ORDERS.
Zone of the most interesting departments
Of the postofice about the holiday season."
said Mr.. Shideler, "is that in which money
orders are issued and cashed. This is the
time of year when parents, relatives and
friends OF foreigners who are residing in
this country are remembered with Christ
mas presents. AS a rule. these gifts take
the form of money. which is sent in the
shape of money orders. We are now issu-
ing about fifty of these foreign orders ev-
cry day and the number will increase to
perhaps one hundred per day In the next
fifteen days. The largest per cent. of the
orders are British, and most of them are
destined for Ireland. This is an interesting
fact, as it tends to show the fidelity of ma
tives OF the Emerald isle TO those they left
behind them when they sailed for America.
Germany ranks second; Italy third. We is
sue money orders payable in Sweden. Hun
gary, Switzerland, Denmark, Austria,
Japan, France and about forty other for
eign countries.
"The sums called for by these orders are
paid In the money of the country in which
they are made payable. and our govern
ment gives a positive guaranty that the
money shall be paid to the right party or 1t
will be refunded to the sender.
I'm cases where money orders are being
sent to countries of which the languages
are very difficult, such, for instance, as the
Hebrew. Chinese, Syrian or Turkish Ian
guages, the person who takes out the
money order at the postoffice here is grant
ed permission to write specific directions
In his native language, and these directions
are attached to the official advice which is
sent by the postmaster to the country in
which the order is to be paid. The instruc-
tions are rigidly observed.
'These foreign orders may be purchased
for sums ranging from S. up to 500, and I
should estimate the amount sent out from
Indianapolis as Christmas presents at about
81 1000, certainly not less than that. The
fees for these orders are moderate, con-
sidering the distances to which they are
sent, the governments trouble concerning
their safe delivery and its absolute guar
anty Of payment to the right party.
AMOUNT COMING HERE.
"The amount of money that comes to In
dianapolis from foreign countries is not
| equal to one-tenth the sum that is sent out
from this city. Most of it comes from Eng
land. although a few parents living in Ger
many remember their children at the holi-
day season of the year.
"The Philippine islands, Hawaii and
Porto Rico have ceased to be foreign coun-
tries. and Cuba, although nominally for
eign, is treated as IL it were domestic in
the matter of forms. fees and correspond
eHce. The people of Alaska, too. are home
folks in the eyes of the Postal Depart
ment, and for all practical purposes Canada
and Mexico occupy the same position as
Maine and California in postal affairs"
Mr.. Shideler was asked as to the relative
amounts of money sent to and received
from Cuba, Porto Rico and the Philippines.
Now, 1 wish you had not asked me that
question" he replied, 'for at the risk of
being accused of ~partisanism, I am COM
PEELED to answer that more money is now
being sent to this country through post
Office orders from Cuba than from any
other country-not excepting even Great
Britain and Germany. The island of Porto
Rico takes second position i'm this matter.
We receive a great deal more money from
our new possessions than we send to them.
The soldiers in the Philippine islands are
constantly sending money home to their
parents, and. of course, remittances on ac-
count of trade help to swell the amount.
Through my observations along this line I
have become pretty firmly convinced of the
truth of the saying that trade follows the
flag"