The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-01-29
FAC SMILE OF FRACTIONAL
51l5StEaszAReSSSEGTi11 9KTE9NXTSS&<.zEzszzEE11E1

able to treat the subject from the stand
point of the commercial mind, thoroughly
trained to the intricacies OF commerce and
the practical, everyday working out of de-
tails that seem unsolvable to the minds OF
men in a Government Department"
The post-check currency was evolved in
n natural way from Il wide experience
with the everyday working of the machin,
cry of commerce. Its various details have
been perfected by thorough study of con-
ditions and by conference with individual
merchants, manufacturers, and bankers
The new system is demanded by practi-
cally the entire press of the country, has
been indorsed repeatedly by commercial
organizations, and would seem to be en-
titled to trial by the Government in the
interests of the people. If Congress in,
augurates the post-check system it must
furnish means for carrying it on. Ad-
ministrative officers always cicerfully ad-
just themselves to such requirements. and
can be depended on to wisely and faith
fully administer the law.
A SAVING OF LABOR TO TIE PEOPLE.
What the post-check proposition inaugu.
rated and in practical operation would
mean to the people of the country in say
ing waste time and energy now consumed
in procuring money orders, may be gath
cred to some extent by a little reflection
on the magnitude of that business at the
present time 1t is estimated that 50,00O,-
600 money orders will be issued in the
United States during the present fiscal
year. As these orders average less than SIS
in amount, it is within the bounds of
strict conservatism to state that at least
100000 of them will each be for $3.50
or less. Many, indeed, are for a less sum
than Steven as low as % or 80 cents
each Assuming that the purchasers of
hox
spent an average Of half an hour in going
from their residences or places of business
to the post-ofIice, writing the applications,
waiting while the money orders are filled
out, signed and paid for, and then return
that 10 hours day for 300 days per an
mum constitutes n full working year of an
individual. the time consumed equals the
labor of 5000 men for one year. Here
is an absolute waste of the productive en-
orgies of 5000 people per annum, squan-
dered in the unproductive, unnecessary eff.
fort required to merely get possession of q
piece of paper available for making remit
lance of a small sum through the mail
There is, also, similar but less serious
waste of effort in collecting the orders
All this useless expenditure Of time would
be saved if each of these persons could
have drawn from his pocket a post-check
bill ready to be filed up with the name
of payee, made valid by afiixing a two.
cent postage stamp and canoeing the
same, and then safely entrusted to the
prompt and careful hands of the en-
ployees of the postal service. By as much
as the volume of post-checks shall exceed
that Of those small orders, will the saving
| of time to the people be multiplied.
A SAVING OF LABOR TO THE GOVERNMENT
| The foregoing statement shows how
much the people have to gain by the
| adoption of some simpler method than
| that which now prevails for accomplishing
what is, to very many of them, desirable
! object, many times every week The say.