The evening world., 1920-07-26
LAXPOSTAL LAWS
FURNISH A RAPID
ROAD TO WEALTH
Italian Lire Purchased at De
preciated Rate and Re-
deemed at Par.

On recent history of frenBied fnance
numberless schemes have been
evolved for getting rich quick, but
none has exceeded in point of inge-
nuity or prohtableness an operation
that has been successfully carried
out by a group of Italians, who have
unostemtatiously been reaptng a
financial harvest by the simple ex-
pedient of taking advantage OF tax
post office regulations.
There has been In force for num-
ber OF years an agreement between
various countries, including the
United States, Italy. France, Germany
and others, whereby these govern
menta0 contracted to honor at par or
at normal rate of exchange form of
ternattonal Reply Coupon" This
agreement was arrived at in pre-
war days, when there was little
thought that all foreign exchange
markets would be turned topsy- y-turvy
by a world wide war.
The form of international Reply
Coupon" which Is printed in Swift GER
/ land is identical in all countries. IL
is possible for a resident of any of the
countries above mentioned to pur-
: chase these coupons, send them ~
America and have them redeemed
! here at the pre-war rate OF exchange.
Strangely enough most people did
not seem to know that the coupon in
question was in existence. Thds lack
Of knowledge apparently was most
marked amongst the American bank
ing fraternity. Since knowledge OF
the plan has spread the Post Office
Department has been deluged with in
quirtes as to whether II Is really prac-
tiCaAe and valid.
! As far as can be aSoertained the
plan was first recognized as opera
tive by one Charles Pon2l of Bos-
ton, young man, who a few months
ago. It is said, was a clerk at small
salary for a house engaged in the
olive oil trade with Italy.
POnA soon organized the "Securi.
ties Exchange Company" and Offered
TO pay so per cent. return on money
invested with him for a similar mum.
Der OF days. And Ponzi' has beer
making good his promise, thanks u
lax Post Office regulations
The lngendus Ponzi. 1t is alleged
has been buying italian lire in this
country with exchange at 75 pei
cent. deprecated value, sending this
italian money abroad, and with it ha.
Ibeen buying reams of 'Lnternationa
Reply Coupons" which he has hat
redeemed here at the normal rate o.
exchange. And paradoxicdl as II may
seem, although the value of the Ital.
ian lire has deprecated only rs pei
cent. lPonM and numerous imitator,
have been making a gross profit o
nearly 200 per cent on the amount o.
money invested in these coupons.
Whereas Ponzi was rated as com
parat.vely insignificant and poorly
paid clerk a few months ago. he Is
now said 20 be many times a mil.
lionaire.
The Government is now endaavof
ing 10 iplook this new and easy rOaC
20 riches. The practice ef StIrchas
ing International Money Coupons ir
foreign countries finally has becom'
so widespread that the Post ono,
has adopted a new rcgulat on tina
permits the redemption of only ter
coupons at a time. Zach coupon ha.
value of FIVE cents in American
money. One desiring to redeem NOR
than ten coupons at a time must nov
make an affidavit setting forth wher'
and how the coupons we're acquired.