The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1902-04-29
A POSTAL CURRENCY UNIQUE PROPOSE
TON WHICH CONGRESS HAS
BEFORE IT.

A unique feature in Congressional
legislation is presented in the promo
ton of a postal currency. The sys-
tenn was devised, perfected and
patented by a private citizen, who
offers the result of his efforts TO the
government free of all cost. The
system has the approval of many
officials, and is Endorsed by a long
list of manufacturers and business
houses throughout the country. Pub.
fishers and farmers are especially in
terested, in that the new currency
promises an easy way for a man in
the country to promptly send remit
tanoe for his favOrite publication.
Under the present inoonvenient
money order system the individual
desiring to send a small sum of
money through the mail is met by
the necessity for a time killing Jour
ney to the postoffce to obtain safe
money. This sets up a barrier TO the
prompt transaction of business and
results in much loss from the fact
that many people never carry out
their original intention TO subscribe
or purchase. The need is for money
in the hands of the people that can
be safely and instantly sent by letter.
The provisions of the ''post check"
currency bill, now before Congress,
introduced in the Senate by Mr. Mo
MILAN, and in the House by Mr..
Gardner, of Michigan, provide for
printing the one, two and five dollar
bills in the future with blank spaces
on the face. These bills, of course,
pass from hand to hand before the
blanks are filed. When it is desired
TO send one in the mails the blanks
are filled in with the name of the
psyee, his city and State, a 2 cent
postage stamp is placed in another
blank space and cancelled with the
initials of the sender in ink, the
name of the sender is signed on the
back, and, presto his money has
suddenly ceased to exist as currency
and has been transformed into a
check on the United States Govern
ment, having all the safety of any
bank check, and ready for inolosure
in his letter. When the payee re-
oeives this check he treats 1t Just as
he would any other check-indorses
it, goes TO the nearest bank or post
office and deposits it or has it oashed.
The paid check finally reaches the
Treasury Department, when il is re
placed by a new one with the spaces
untitled. This keeps the circulation
at par. No change whatever is made
the financial policy of the govern
ment, the only change being in the
character of the printing on the bills
of five dollars and under.
The bill also provides for the issue
of $45, 600, 900 of fractional currency,
with blank spaces similar to the
larger denominations, in place of an
equal amount of money of larger de
nominations, presumably twenty and
fifty. dollar bills. The provision un-
der the new system for a continual
re issue insures clean money both in
tee fractional currency and in the
larger bills The government fee on
the five, ten, fifteen, twenty five and
ffty-cent pieces is to be one cent
each.
The main difficulty with the pres
ent money order system is that less
than half the postoffices in the coun
try are money order offices, and even
at these such evidences of money oar
only be obtained at the expenditure
of much time and trouble and during
certain specified hours. With a post
check note in his possession one has
but to fill in the blank spaces for the
purpose, a5baoh a postage stamp,
cancel it, inolose in an envelope,
place in a small box, and the transao
ton is finished.
UnquestiOnably the intent of the
postal authorities is to extend and
increase the usefulness and popular
ity of the rural free delivery service
The adoption of the post oheok notes
will afford a most convenient and
safe money for the agricultural Dom
munities, TO whom banks, with their
facilities and safeguar Is cannot bs
utilized with CONFERENCE.-The
Evening Star, Washington, D G
POULTRY RAISING.
--- We Cheerfully re-.