The daily morning journal and courier., 1906-02-15
POST CHECK CURRENCY.


 The demand for the post check as a means of sending money through the mails gains ground steadily, and the people, all of whom, whether in city or country, would be convenienced by it, are becoming more and more insistent for the innovation with each recurring congress.
 Under the post check system the re- hitter would be saved the trip to the post office, and would need but to take a one, two or five dollar bill from his pocketbook, fill in the blank spaces that would appear upon its face, put 8 two cent stamp in the space provided, as fee, and enclose the bill in his let ter,-thus making the ordinary curren- cy of commerce immediately contro- vertible into what is practically a check on the government, all without leaving his office or home. This places the means of remitting for merchan disc from his local merchant in the hands of the farmer or the city laborer HAlllOAl eh vain ttSSbhllbi eNllo cNAoO SANSS him better facilities for subscribing to his local paper or his favorite trade journal.
 The three elements necessary to a perfect system, simplicity, safety and convenience,-m in the post check in happy combination. It also solves the problem of furnishing the people clean money, through the frequent redemp- tion and reissue of currency which would follow.
 Tn people may well injuire why this convenience has not been given them. It fully meets their requirements; has been shown to be more than self-sus talning, has received the approval of postal officials, organizations of busi- ness men in large cities, farmers, boards of health, and was favoraby re- ported by the post office committee of the House of Representatives in the Fifty-seventh Congress. But 1t has ' had powerful opponents, actuated by purely selfish motives, as well as firm friends. The chief of the opposition has been Thomas c. Platt, one of the senators who is supposed to represent the great state of New York, but who 1 is president of an express company | and really looks after the interests of the express company trust in congress. ] He has gone so far as to state openly ] to the friends of, the bill that he is op- 1 posed to it because the post check would compete with the express money ' order. His able lieutenant in the fight i against the post check was Ellis H. Roberts, until recently treasurer of the 1 United States, an appointee of Platt's. These two were able to block the ef- forts of the friends of the bill until re- gently.
 The chairman of the post office com- mittee of the House, MT. Overstreet, has promised consideration of the bill by his committee at an early date, and the friends of the measure look for a favorable report The postmaster-gen- eral, who, more than any other incum- bent for many years, Is giving the needs of the service careful and con- 1 scientious study, has asked congress for legislation.
 For many reasons the people may feel encouraged to believe that the time is ripe for legislation which will give them this much-needed postal conven- fence. But they must make their wish es known to their national law-makers We urge our readers therefore to write the member of congress from this dis trict to do all in his power to have the post check currency bill promptly re- | tea and passed by the House at this ses- sion.
 A petition asking for the expulsion oi Senator T. c. PIatt of New York from the Senate, which had been filed with the Vice President was laid before the Senate to-day by that official The document is in due legal form, and Is signed by c. w. Post, of Washington D. C., and is similar in tenor to the one filed by him near the close of the last congress. Mir Post alleges that Platt should be deprived of his seat because as president of the United States Elk press company, he is an officer of a combination or trust consisting of all the principal express companies of the country, who cooperate to keep IF rates and thus restrict and hinder trade and commerce, in violation of the Sherman antitrust law. The petition Is supported by atiidavits of MT. Posts secretary, c. B. Dawson, and his broth. CT, to the effect that MT. Platt, in tho course of an Interview, announced tha' he would fight the post check bill pro posed by Mr. Post because post check! would tend to lessen his express com } pany's money order business, and tha he would oppose any other measure! that seemed against the interest of tht express companies, as what affected one affected all"
 , The petition was referred to the con- mittee on privileges and elections fol consideration. It is said to be Mir Posts intention to push his cast . against Senator Platt actively befor, , the committee,
 Washington Feb. 12 1906