Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1919-04-23
BRITAIN STARTED
WAR STAMP IDEA
Interesting Comparisons Between
Systems in America and
England.
BRITISH PRICE ALWAYS SAME
Stamp Is Dated When Purchased and
Is Due Exactly Five Years From
pate--War Savings Societies
Are Popular.

Washington-An interesting COM
parison between the systems of War
Savings stamps in Great Britain and
America is made by the savings divi-
sion of the United States treasury.
England had been selling War Saw
ings certificates for more than year
| before this attractive form of invest
ment was offered to the people of the
United States. This country has had
| the advantage of the Britons' expert
| ence In this field, and while the two
savings stamps are alike In most re-
| spects there are few interesting diff
| ferences.
The British War Savings stamp is
dated when purchased and Is due ex-
actly five years from that date. This
enables them to sell the certificates al
ways for the same-15s. Cd. ($3.S3).
The American War Savings stamps
are issued in annual series, and EACH
series has a uniform date of issuance
and of maturity. The present rate is
kept uniform by increasing the pur-
chase price one cent each month. This
means that all of the 1919 War Savings
stamps will mature in January, 1924,
while in three or four years British
War Savings stamps viii begin coming
up for redemption in varying amounts
each day.
The British System.
The British have devolved the sys-
TEN Of purchasing the regular sixpence
postage stamps, which are pasted on
card until 81 are obtained. Then the
card Is exchanged for War Savings
certificate. Americans, on the other
hand, can purchase a 25-cent Thrift
stamp, and thus gradually accumulate
the required 16 stamps necessary to
purchase a War Savings stamp, add
ing, of course, the necessary amount
according to the month, namely, II
cents for January or % cents for De-
cember.
War Savings societies, or associa-
tions as the British term them, are
very numerous in the British Isles.
Each person affiliated with the associ-
alton contributes either fixed sum or
any amount he can at regular inter-
walls, say, each week. Whenever the
secretary finds lbs. Sd. or more in the
treasury he Immediately purchases one
or more War Savings certificates for
his society, so that the certificates be-
gin to draw interest. As soon as a
number of persons have completed
their payments 1t is customary to draw
lots for the advantage of the earliest
dated certificates in the association
treasury. Thus, the lucky person may
obtain a certificate which has been
accommodating interest for weeks pos
sibly, while the last stamp drawn will,
of course, be only a few days old.
These associations, which are estab-
lished in churches, schools, shops and
factories, give interest and a bit of
competition to saving while the week
ly drawings add q touch of excite
ment.
Exempt From Taxation.
Both British Savings certificates and
American War Savings stamps are ex-
empt from taxation, and for this and
| other reasons there is a limitation to
the amount that may be held by one
individual. In the early war days in
England persons with income exceed
ing $500 were not permitted to buy
Savings stamps. This condition was
later changed so that anyone may hold
Savings certificates up to about $500
maturity value. In the United
States one individual may not hold
more than $1,000 of any one series. In
both countries there is no Limitation
preventing each member of family
from holding the prescribed limit.