The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-03-26
POST CHECK CURRENCY.
Comprehensive Statement Of the Present Status Of the Propo
SitOn.
By CAPT. HENRY A. CASTLE Auditor Department

amounts through the mails except the
money-order system; the postal note,
which was in use for 10 years, having been
abolished in 1894. The postal note, not
withstanding the fact that it offered no
security ard was not easily obtained, was
popular for small remittances, and many
millions of them were sent through the
mails during the time that they were in
existence. They were abolished because
they We're not payable to order and were
therefore n constant temptation to theft
on the part of the postal employees. Since
1894 the growth of mail transactions has
been stupendOus. During the fiscal year
1894 the number of pieces of mail matter
of all kinds mailed was nearly 5OOO.OO0,-
600, while for the fiscal year 1902 there
were more than 5000, O0OOOO pieces
mailed. During the same period the
gross revenue of the Department. which is
largely the result of the sale of postage
stamps and supplies, has grown from Sl5,-
OOO. coo in 1894 to more than $121 ,OOO,0 600
in 1902. The money order business during
the same period has grown from somewhat
over $13S,O00,OCO to more than 6,OOO,-
600"
The new provisions placed in the bill
at the suggestion of Mr.. Madden and MIR.
Castle were explained in special docu-
ment issued by the Committee. They
simplify the plan at MANY points; pro-
POstmasters. may redeem and cancel the
checks; give free postage and registry to
rcmittances Of cancelled checks as mutilated
currency to the United States Treasury for
redemption; specify that redeemed checks
in the hands of Postmasters shall be
treated as money and not as money order
vouchers, and make other important
changes.
A SUBSTANTIAL ENDORSEMENT.
On the general subject of the plan pro-
posed in the bill. the Committee uses this
mequivocal language: I'm practical OPP
GRAFTON your committee believes that tie
plan of issuing post check notes would be
simple, and, with helpful cooperation on
the part of the departmental officials,
would easily adapt itself to our govern
mental methods. 1t is believed that only
by rendering the ordinary paper currency
of small denominations capable of being
transformed into something similar to n
money order can a system of mail remit
tances be furnished which could be consid-
cred as perfectly accessible to all of our
people. To make the money itself, which
the intending remitter has at hand, thus
convertible, instead of making it necessary
for the remittcr to take the money and, by
making a journey of some length, secure
Il means of remittance, would not only
mean an ideal system, but would also
mean, in time saved to the people, mil
lions of dollars in the aggregate annually.
There are hundreds of things the farmer
wants to send money for to the store at
the County-seat. Instead of taking n
buggy. at expense of time worth perhaps
several dollars to him, to go to town to
get some trifing article, he would be able
to send the money down and get it back
by mail or through neighbor."
SITUATION WHEN THE SESSION CLOSED,
MARCH +.
The bill, as amended, was re-intrOduced
by Representative Washington Gardner,
of Michigan, and he and other members
friendly to the measure made every effort
to have the bill brought up and passed, but
this was found to be impossible.
In the Senate the amended bill was in
trodueed by Senator Albert J. Beveridge,
and the subcommittee of which he was
Chairman favored the bill, but, owing to
the congested condition of business in the
Senate, it was found impossible for him to
secure definite action.
Technically the bill dies with the ses-
sion, but practically it has advanced to
the stage of favorable House report"
and will no doubt be again promptly in
dorsed by the same Committee early in
the next session, and thus he placed in n
highly favorable position for early action
in that body.
This statement of facts sets forth an
unusual degree of success in q compare
lively short time, and this success has
been achieved through the hearty efforts
of the press throughout the country, the
representations from business houses and
the pressure from the people generally,
who demand this additional postal con-
venience. Persons familiar with the OBJ
stacles thrown in the way of new legisla-
ton by Congress will realize the great adj
vancement made toward the desired goal.
Valuable assistance is expected in the
coming session from Senator Beveridge
who is in a position, as Chairman of the
subcommittee which has this matter in
charge, to assist materially in putting the
post check bill through the Senate Mr.
Beverage is firmly of the opinion that the
project is one that offers great advantages
and cOnveniences to the public. 1T is
thoroughly right" lie said, 'and should be
enacted into law"
ALTERNATIVE PLANS AND SUGGESTIONS.
1t is conclusive testimonial to the
wide circulation of The National Tribune,
and to the intelligent interest taken by its
readers in public affairs, that since the
publication of my recent article on this
subject in its columns, have been deluged
with letters giving Endorsements, criticisms
or suggested notifications in bewildering
variety. If l cannot find time to answer
all these letters, or even to study out all
the intricate combinations proposed, my
esteemed correspondents must not at
tribute the failure to intentional discOur-
tesy. 1t is one of my daily drudgeries to
sign my name TO from 400 to 600 official
letters which l cannot pause to read. To
examine and pass upon the merits of
fraction of the postal schemes called to
my attention every week would render at
fentiOn TO any other business absolutely
impossible.
One plan suggested by an experienced
Postmaster may be given as sample:
'The Department to issue a card to sell
for one cent, print the name of the post
office that orders any on it. The party
wishing to send, say, so cents, buys card
and 80 cents worth of postage stamps
which he affiXes to the card and addresses
it to the party he wishes to send the
amount. The card is placed in an en-
velope and also addressed to the same
party. The party receiving the card Of
stamps takes it to any pOst-ofce and gets
his amount for it. The Postmaster receiv-
ing or cashing such cards with stamps
forwards them once a month to Wash
ngton and receives credit for them
Stamps to be cancelled only by the De
partment on their arrival in Washington"
This device, which is simple enough
from the Postmaster's standpoint, involves
labors and complications at the Auditors
Office in Washington, the National bureau
of concentration and accounting, which are
and complications which it is the special
intent and peculiar merit of the post check
system TO carefully avoid. To fully ex-
Ulain the comnlayifiac which xvn,,Il or;.o