Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-04-08
THE REGISTRY SYSTEM.
A Branch of the Postal Service Which
Escapes General Attention.

The registry system of the postal SER
vice has made such a satisfactory advance
in various respects during the past few
years that one or two features of this
great public convenience and security Will
be found OF interest" remarked a postal
official to a Star man today.
LAS familiar as Washingtonians are with
large transactions in money, the registry
system, as applied to government work and
government cash usually escapes atten-
ton. The two great departments which
call most heavily upon the system to in
sure the safe delivery of the money and
articles representing a money value,
postage stamps, etc, are the Treasury and
the Post Office Departments. The former
utilities the registered mails in the ship
ment of gold and silver coin and bullion
to all parts of the possessions of the United
States to advantage, and at a minimum or
cost of transportation. There is received
at the Washington city post office annual
ly approximately million pieces of mail
matter representing a money value of over
a billion and seven hundred millions OF
dollars.
The system derives no revenue from this
great business of the government of course
as 1t is the governments own transaction
and goes free, nor from the hundreds OF
thousands of other letters and packages
representing money value from the other
departments. How well this important
work is performed may be seen when il is
considered that the total yearly loss is
only few thousand dollars on all kinds
and classes of registered matter If the
system were paid for the transportation
of this valuable government matter at
rates equal to those paid by the govern
ment to private companies for transporting
its valuables, the credit side Of the ledger
transportation charges alone, and about
$4,000 more In registration fees 1t is the
cost of handling and transporting this
enormous quantity of free registered and
TOW nr,I 80
matter unentitled to go at the pound rate
that knocks such big holes in the postal
revenues, Increases the deficit and which
appears to be unconsidered by Congress
Wnen the question of appropriations comes
up for action.
THE completeness of the system, the
thoroughness with which Its many details
are managed. and its popularity with the
people may be realized when II is remem-
bered that the patrons of the mails PAID
into the treasury last year in trifiing eight
cent payments an aggregate of sl.4o0oo0
on 1I,tOoOO0 pieces, which was an increase
or $111O0o In these little fees alone and an
increase Of over 100000 pieces handled
Last year the system handled over 100
w W pieces or free registered matter, and
the increase in registrations last year over
the preceding year was 4O4 per cent a
strong testimonial of the efficiency of the
service.
partially insures against loss to the sender
in that it will refund, upon proof of loss,
the sum of $40. 1t is proposed that this
sum be increased to $780, maximum and
such an increase, ii is believed by many
would inure to the advantage of the sys-
tenn and the security of the public. Wheth.
er the government should act as an insurer
of funds ii transmits for others is an
abstract question. 1t is thought by some
postal experts that once the public fullv
understood that the government is an in.
Surer to the maximum stated that the reg
iStered mails would be patronized to a
much greater extent than at present This
view would tend to be corroborated by the
practice obtaining in the money order sys-
tenn The maximum amount of a single
money order is 500, but more than one
money order may be purchased upon the
paying office. But no matter what NAV be
the maximum and the minimum amounts
OF money orders purchased, the holders
thereof know that IL the sums do not get
INTO the hands of the right payees as irf
the case of a wrong fraudulent pay
ment, the money will eventually fall into
proper hands, as postmasters are held per-
sonally responsible for wrong payments.
1T is this feeling of security on the part
of the public which has had much to do
with the popularity of the system with
the public as II amounts to substantial i'm
surance as to safe delivery. An increase
in the maximum limit of loss which the
government will refund in the registry
system, 1t is thought In official quarters,
will produce an additional feeling of Sc.
curity on the part of the public. hence. the
recommendation to Congress that such an
act be passed