Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-25
AUSTRIA'S POST SYSTEM
SAVINGS BANK IDEA DEVELOPED
TO HIGH DEGREE.
The Postman as a Collector OF Trade
Debts - His Many
Duties.

Vienna Cor. London Standard
The postal systems of the world may be
divided into three principal greups-namely,
the Anglo-American. In force in Great
Britain her colonies and the United States;
the French. which most Latin countries
have adopted, such Italy Spain, South
America. Belgium and Egypt, and the Teu-
tone, which obtains In Germany, Austria
Hungary, Scandinavia, Russia. Roumanaa
and Servia. A fourth group might also
be added of the younger nations. which are
basing their adm nistratIons on the union
lines Japan is a good example of these
The most striking feature of the Austrian
system IS decentralization. All posts and
teiegraphs In the empire are under the su-
preme direction and control of the ministry
OF public works, which appoints the h CHER
officials, determines routes and subven-
tons etc. But there are ten distinc,
centers In various provinces which are al
most autonomous-nam ng their own subor-
CLIMATES, fixing salaries determining the
INES or communication. and doing all the
routine work Independently of the ministry
one or the principal distinctive branches
OF the Austrian posts is the parcel post
service, which was first introduced by Ger
many and Austria and later adopt ed by the
other two groups, under the influence of
the International Postal Union In 1874
o. kiios (about no pounds). with mini
mum rate Of 60 heilers (about I'd for
small parcels up to idfos-the union limit
all over Austria and between Austria and
Germany. The business done In the mar
Gel post department Ia very large and dur
Ing 1903 there were 5000 900 delivered un-
Insured and 100000 insured.
Money Order System.
The money order system is quite different
from the British. A sender fills up a print
ed form obtainabls at any post or tele-
graph office or tobacconist's since tobac-
conists in Austria are in a measure govern
nient servants, and sends 1t to the nearest
post office with the money, getting back a
receipt dated and stamped with the office
stamp The form is sent to the payee by
the local postman, who delivers it for Sig
nature, together with the cash. at the paw
ees own door. The latter has not to 80
ana fetch his money, but has IL brought
to him. The same applies TO express ana
Geographic money orders, and is a very
great convenience. The number of money
orders was thirty millions, and the value
.3eS millions This may seem comparative
iy small, but the reason is not far to SEEK
since most of the transmission of money
Is done through the Post Office Savings
Bank.
The Austrian Post Office Savings Bank
is an enormous concern. since in addition
to the usual savings bank business 1t has
a greatly developed check and clearing
About $500 people in Austria have regular
accounts on which payments can be made
out and in to any post office in the empire
Payments made by one customer to another
are erected by mere transfer of debit
and credit, and an immense amount Jf
cash payment Is thus saved. No fee Is
charged for transfer or for payments into
accounts, and only one-duarter per I,UB
up to 5000 kronen and one-eighth per l.HU
for bigger amounts. which is nominal. Tor
cashng checks The government offices are
large customers of the Sparkasse, ard a
considerable proportion CT salaries paid
out by 1t as well as taxes encashed Not
only taxes, but private debts are also paid
to government vremders in this way. as
for example, monthly gas bill or an an
nual telephone subscription.
Almost all the principal merchants and
manufacturers also find it advantage for
transacttng business all over the empire
and the system has been extended to the
larger offices IN the levant. such as Con-
stantinople, Smyrna Salonika, etc, where
a big exchange goes on. The amount OF
deposit is unlimited. and the amount paid
out on a single check Is fixed at
imum Of 10000 kronen, though, of course.
as many checks may be made out as the ac-
count VIII stand.
Collection of Debts.
Another of the multifarious duties dis
charged by the post office is the collection
of trade debts. A tailor. for example, in
Vienna. has to collect f10 from customer
in Innsbruck. He sends his bill to the
Vienna post office. which forwards 1t on
to Innsbruck, where the postman takes 1t
to the debtor and presents 1t for payment.
If it Is settled the amount Is forthwith cred
tied to Vienna and a Vienna postman de-
livers it to the tailor. If 1t is point blank
refused the tailor is notified OF the fact.
and in either case has to pay 10 hellers,
about a penny, collection fee. If he re-
ceives the money he has further to give
the ordinary change for money order. In
1903 some thirty-one millions was collected
In this way.
Although an Austrian official as soon as
he dons the uniform, considers himself as a
servant of the emperor rather than OF the
public 1t will be seen from what l have
written that the post office really serves
and takes much more trouble to serve It's
customers in Austria better than it does