The Delta independent., 1901-07-19
WITHOUT AN OWNER.
Two and q Half Millions in I'M
claimed Postal Orders.
Nysteriess Disappearance ef. Many
! Oraers That Have Been Trans-
1ieteA Through the Aails-A
Rich Aeeamalation.

"What becomes of all the money
orders which are never presented for
payment?" asked Washing ton busi-
ness man of . postal official. reports
the Washington Star. Every few
days we receive letters from our Gus
toners saying that they have for
ders have never reached our hands.
And this is true Of very large mail
order house in Warrington"
They disappear in various ways"
was the reply. 'Some are burned or
torn up instead Of the receipts and
this is particularly true Of interna-
tional money orders where the re-
ceipts are Of the same size of the or
der, only white in color. Some arc
sent in letters which are not /ad-
dressed At all or are Incorrectly ad-
dressed, and these. together with
Thousands Of other orders. find their
way to the dead letter ONCE. Ulti-
mately most of these letters hnd
their way back to the remitters or
duplicates are applied for.
THE British government utilixes as
. source of postal revenue all Of the
money in its hands which is not rsid
out to meet money orders upon pres
entation and derives about $4,000
annually therefrom. Our govern
ment does not attempt to derive any
profit from this source and the
money is turned into the treasury,
where it is hold in trust, as it were,
to meet these obligati tions. The gov
ernment has no desire to claim or
confiscate this money, and It will
pay its obligations In the form of .
money order At any time upon pres
entatiop upon satisfying itself in
the instance Of . long lapse of years
that there has been no previous pay
ment by duplicate or otherwise. In
Great Britain. believe, this money
becomes forfeited to the government
after certain number Of years. four.
I think. The British government evi-
IDENTIFY proceeds upon the theory that
II holder OF . money order or the
sender does not seek to cash the or
der within . reasonable time the gov
ernment can put IL to good advan-
tage by applying the amount to its
own use. Such practice undoubted-
ly facilitates the business of the gov
ernment's end Of the contract and il
strictly legal II authorized by law.
In nearly all money transactions
there 10 limitation upon the valid
ity Of any voucher which represents
cash ~ 70 It's presentation. Even .
note payable without date II barred
by the statute Of Limitations In the
various states.
There II to-day an secumulstien
Of over sS.soo.ooo In the treasury Of
these unclaimed money orders which
has been gradually plling up year att
er year during the IS yesfs the govs
eminent has been s,con6neting .
money order business. with sesch In
dividual order the govsTnment hos
made . special effort to effect pay
ment. to the payee or restore the
amount to the remitter. and. failing.
can do nought but keep the amount.
The fact that $4,000 duplicate orders
are annually issued would appear to
indicate that the American people are
extremely careless in the handling
of these money vouchers. Where the
originals 20 or how they are disposed
of would Ill . volume.
Inc BOvcIumeub ooB hBue0 0SsVUOss
00o, 900 in money orders, and has paid
every cent Of this great sum except
the $500. 900 / have mentioned. A
single order may he issued up to 500
In amount. and the average 10 about
$7.so, the smaller ofices issuing the
great bulk Of orders and the larger
oh,ces cashing os per cent. Of them.
Travelling men, sstors. circus men,
railroad employees and others. whose
business requires them to move from
place to place, are very fond Of buy
Ing orders payable to themselves.
They cannot spend an order as bill
and as no one but themselves or the
indorsees may secure the amount Of
the orders they are Just that much
ahead when they get into the next
town. making themselves their owp
bankers with the government as
depository. Sometimes an actor or Q
circus man will present . dosen or.
ders at the close Of the season which
he has bought from time to time. and
their amount represents savings
which otherwise would have bees
spent"