Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-02-28
UNCLE SAM is SAFE
Increase in the Volume of Money
Order Business Done
Annually.
HOW THE CASH Is HANDLED
But STA Lost Last Year-Savings
Banks for
Many.

There are few cities in the class
with Rock Island whose postoffices
do the money order business that is
done here. The heads of the depart
ment have repeatedly commented up
ON this fact and the efficient manner
In which the business is looked after
locally has been the subject of official
compliments from time To time. But
great as is the volume of money
handled annually here by means of
money orders and often as have Rock
Island people made use of the system,
there are still probably some things
about this method of transmitting
cash and the uses to which il is put
that they do not know.
Orders are issued payable in any
part of the United States, Canada and
the American possessions for 500
and i'm England for $50, but not above
that amount. However, one may pur-
chase n number of orders payable to
the same person at the same place
and in this way large sums are often
sent. An order may he transferred
once but not oftener. for il is not
the business of the government to
ments. If an order is kept over one
year from the end of the month dur
ing which il is issued it will not he
hOnored upon presentation. How
ever. il will be traced back and paid
by warrant i'm n few days if it is do
nestle. II foreign more time will he
taken. for il will be necessary to
communicate with the government by
which or upon which it is drawn for
authority to cash it.
Loss Comparatively Nothing.
The safeneSS of the system may he
judged by the fact that. while there
was about 81 100000 handled daily i'm
the United States i'm this way there
was but STA lost during the year
1900. 1t is entirely useless to regis
ter letter containing n money or
der. The government has contracted
for the safe delivery of the money
where it is wanted and there il no
occasion for worry on the part of
the sender.
Many persons use money orders as
substitute for a savings bank, es-
pecially those who are distrustful of
banks. They can by this means de
post 500 for over year for the sum
of 30 cents and at this rate the
amount may he made as large as is
required. In some of the larger cities
there are thousands of dollars kept in
this manner. the practice being gen
orally followed by foreigners. Thus
the government really maintains
postal savings bank.
E-sa,a
Travellers in foreign countries often
buy Il number of money orders pay
able To themselves before going
abroad and thus they are freed from
the responsibility of carrying money
and of getting it exchanged to the
currency of another country. Actors
often make a practice of buying mon
ey orders payable to themselves i'm
New York City while they are out ON
the road and when they end the sea
son they have something with which
to tide over the dull season. Even
men who start out to travel in side |
door sleepers often buy orders pay
able to themselves at the place for |
which they are headed and the order |
is very easily hidden in some part of
the clothing or shoes.
And only TO think there was once a |
strong opposition TO the Introduction
of the money order system on the |
part of the government on the |
ground that the sending of money |
could he more easily and cheaply |
done by private companies!