The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-01-30
TEnprATIoN 70 MAIL CLERKS.
Money Sent to Cuba In wrappers That
Get Prayed, Exposing the Notes.

nVtl ~ " 49,
Get Prayed. Exposing the Notes
WASHINGTON, Jan. 2s.-Postmaster-Gen
eral Payne to-day received a letter from
N. c. Fosnes, Director-General OF fosts
for Cuba. calling attention to the great
carelessness displayed by business hrms
In the United States In the transmission
Of currency from this country to Cuba
In the registered mail. The letter follows:
SIR: The registered mail Ia being resu-
larly and largely used for the Transmission
OF currency from the United States 70 Cupa.
Only last week there was occasion TO eau
the attention OF a local addressee bank TO
the insecure manner in which three packages
from New York had been prepared for mall
ing. each containing $4,000 In currency
The edge OF the paper wrapper had been
worn through and fra yed. thus esposins
the contents to plain view.
Yesterday there was received In Havana
In transit 70 Cienfuegos registered parcel
No. e0.i47, Jan. 10. 1902. from the National
Bank OF Commerce. New York, bearing SEA
In postage and Weighing 23h pounds. The
edges were broken in several places and
through the opening protruded bills Of large
denomination. in plain sight OF a dozen clerks
That package may have contained a half
million dollars In currency. II was THOR
oughly wrapped and sealed again by the
Postmaster.
The normal risk in the mails OF such enor-
nous sums Is great enough and should not De
increased by the ocular revelation to clerks
had to be kept last night In n safe In the Ha-
vana Post Once. pra~ ctically In the CUSTODY
OF clerks who knew its. contents. ana to-nay
IL il on its way 20 CienfueRos. under registry
lock, in charge OF successive railway postal
clerks. who likely enough also learned us
contents from the clerks IN me na pas, 0race
possibly, outside, the safe by reason OF the
size OF the parcel.
cable care In preparation be .enjoined, on
senders OF such money packages; WITH
the liberal use OF strong paper ana tWIhe
It is certainly possible so TO wrap those PACK,
ages that they cannot break open in TRANSIT
and subject officials TO unwarranted stress oil
temptation.
Officers Of the National Bank Of Com
merce were not inclined TO discuss this COM
plant. Cashier W. c.. Duvall said hat the
package of money which was complained
of particularly had been sent by registered
mail by the bank at the order OF a CORE
spondent, and that IL was Ill good con-
dltion Then received by the Post once
here for shipment. How much money
there was In Il he would not say. Or late
a great many New York banks have been
using the registered mail to send money
particularly TO Cuba. The reason Tor
this was, as an officer Of a large trust COM
pany doing Cuban business said, that some
security companies have taken up the
business OF insuring packages Of money
sent to Cuba that wa when, before such
a thing as insurance at reasonable rates
on such packages would never have been
dreamed Of.
The reason why these companies care
to do this now" said this banker, is be-
cause they know that the Government Is
wise from experience, and ever since the
Cuban postal frauds has been putting al
sorts Of safeguards about the Cuban man
10 restore its reputation. Every ehort
is being made to prevent robbery and
scandal, and these companies have become
aware OF IL and ave taken advantage oil
il 10 do a new kind Of business at a profit
The superintendent OF the registry dlNis-
ion at the Post Office said that packages oil
money were often sent by the banks 10
Cuba, No package was received unless
il was properly lone up and sealed, but
frequently the edges Of packages became
frayed in handling. II the banks chose
10 send money that way there was nothing
10 prevent it, he said.