Evening star., 1925-01-18

The transmittal of millions of dol
lars to foreign countries without act
ually sending a penny out or the
United States constitutes one of the
interesting puzzles of the postal serv-
ice
During the past fiscal year nearly
S35,0O0.00O worth of money orders
were cashed by residents of other
lands, while the money was retained
within our own territorial connnes
In addition, our Government received
In the neighborhood of million dol
lars for the performance of this serv-
ice. Other postal administrations do
the same thing for their nationals
and something over s5,000.o00 in for
eign international money orders were
cashed in the United States.
Great Britain heads the list with
more than s13,5o0,000 received from
us while residents of that country
sent to our shores a little over one
million in return. Mexico is next with
$1,000 900, returning about s1,5OO,OOO
Japan received about s2,400,00o, send
ing back a little over a million
The Irish Free State was enriched
by $1,000 600, of which only $66,00C
represents that country's return con-
trtbution to our resources. Sweden
paving approximately 100000. Bull
garia received 341 warrants for to-
tai sum of $500, but only sent US
three for an aggregate of $3.50, not
a noteworthy contribution to the sup
ply of currency.
Canada, on the other hand, does 9
large business, but on a somewhat
different basis from the other coun-
tries named. Americans sent Cana
dians some $12, 500 600 and were the
recipients of some $10,000,o00. These
figures are not included In the
s35,000,000 first mentioned, Canada
being one of the % nations doing
business with US on what is referred
to as the domestic basis" the tota
for which was $16,000,000.
How 1t Is All Done.
1t all happens something like this
John in Dallas, Tex, wishes to send
$50 to the old folks in Milan, Italy
He steps into a post Office, fills out q
form, hands over the cash, and, pres
to! the old folks get the equivalent
in lire. Not one cent of that $50
crossed the Atlantic Ocean, and as foI
lire. it is so long since John saw one
he hardly knows what it looks like.
When John and other patrons OF
the international money order service
paid for their orders the postal en-
ployes issuing them also prepared
what are known as "advices." These
with descriptive lists, are sent to the
proper exchange office. There are
four of these exchange offices, locat-
ed, respectively, at New York, Sar
Francisco, Seattle and Laredo, Tex.
When the lists are received at these
places they are multiplied many
times by the carbon process and at
the close of the days business are
forwarded by the first outgoing mail
to the proper foreign exchange Of
fees. Under the terms of most of the
money order conventions duplicate
lists are sent by the following
steamer to guard against delays
caused by the possible loss of the
original list.
Had John been desirous Of sending
his $50 to France or Great Britain
the international money order itself
would have been handed to him fol
direct mailing to the payee. How
ever, he merely received a receipt
and the order itself was sent to the
New York exchange office. There 6
new order written in the language oi
| the foreign country was issued ant
mailed to the old folks, who present
| ed 1t at their local post oftice> ant