Improvements in Blanks or Forms for the Transmission of Money.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Mar., 1898-Accepted, 18th June, 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Blanks or Forms for the Transmission of Money.
We, BERNARD GROSS, of No. 710, St. Lawrence Street, Montreal, Canada,
Optician, and LEWIS ALEXANDER HART, of No. 11, Place d'Armes, Montreal,
Canada, Notary, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained,
in and by the following statement:-
Our invention relates to improvements in messages for transmitting money.
The object of our invention is to provide a book having detachable blanks, to be
used in the transmitting of sums of money; the book being adapted to be sold
for the aggregate amount of tolls or fees which would have to be paid if each
series of blanks were purchased separately.
A further object is to provide a blank having detachable portions to be used
in the transmission of sums of money.
To these ends our invention consists in the improved arrangement of parts, as
hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
In the accompanying drawings, the figures show various forms for carrying
the hereinafter described system into operation.
The system herein described, while capable of use in various other connections,
is particularly applicable to the transmission of money in a manner such as
employed by the Post Office Department, and is intended for use in place of the
present money order system.
There are many disadvantages in the present system, and among them are the
following: The necessity of a personal visit to the Post Office, where it is necessary
to prepare a blank which, together with the money, is passed to the clerk in
charge, who returns the money order, which must then be placed in an envelope
and mailed to the person for which the order is intended. This causes a waste
of time in going to the Post Office, in filling up the blank, in waiting for the
return of the money order and the mailing of the order. In addition, it is
necessary that a letter be written, an envelope prepared and postage paid thereon,
and for security the letter must be registered.
Another objection, and an important one, is the fact that no receipt is given
to the sender either by the postmaster or the recipient.
By reason of these disadvantages the sender of money is deterred from using
the money order branch of the Post Office Department for his business, preferring
to mail the money in the letter or procure express money orders. This causes a
loss to the Government in a profitable line of business. A further disadvantage
lies in the loss of the order, with consequent inconvenience and sometimes loss.
To obviate these disadvantages together with many others not named, we have
provided the following system:
A suitable book is prepared, containing a stated number of detachable blanks,
the book being sold by the Post Office Authorities, for a sum equal to the amount
of fees received in the sale of the separate blanks.
These detachable blanks are formed in number of sections, each having some

page_text: particular part to play in the system. These sections are arranged preferably as
shown in the drawings and consist essentially of a receipt for the money given by
the postmaster to the sender; an advice to the head office of the receipt by the
postmaster of the amount sent; the money message proper; and, if desirable, a
blank or stamped post-card by which the sender can notify the recipient, of his
having deposited a specified amount of money, to be paid him by the postmaster,
in the city in which the recipient is located.
In the use of these blanks, the user, having the blank book, first fills up the
forms, stating the amount to be remitted, the name and address of the payee, and
other suitable information. The blank and amount of money is then taken to
the Post Office and handed to the post master who signs the sender's receipt. The
remaining portions are detached, and if the postal card is used, the card is mailed
to the payee's address. The receipt of the post master can be detached by the
user and placed with the bill, the amount of which is paid by the money message,
and would form a receipt for this amount.
Previous to signing the receipt for the money, the post master stamps each
portion of the blank with the numerical number. under which the transaction is
entered in his office, thus making the message of any effect only after the receipt
has been signed and the number given.
The post master thus sends the advice to the head office, and the message to the
paying office, the post master of which notifies the payee of its receipt or the
carrier calls on him and pays the amount of the message taking his receipt for
the amount on the back of the message.
In this manner a great saving of time and unnecessary trouble is obviated,
besides which all liability of loss either by accident in the mails or the dishonesty
of employees is eliminated. The advantage gained by having but one missive
containing the message passed through the mail, and that one being transmitted
as special mail from one post master to another, which can be readily traced,
is one which will commend itself to all persons transacting business by means of
the Post Office. The fact that but one person, the carrier, is responsible, makes it
an additional advantage to the user.
As the charges for the service vary in accordance with the amount sent, the
books are prepared to correspond with these amounts, the blanks designating the
maximum amount which can be sent on one message, the user purchasing books
containing blanks for the amounts he would most likely use.
It will be apparent that the post master can as readily make use of blank books
for the ordinary custom, and delivering the sender's receipt to the remitter. It
will also be apparent that these blanks can be disposed of in smaller quantities
than are contained in a book, and that the blanks would be transferable, thus
enabling business men to dispose of them if called upon, the blanks becoming of
value only after receiving the date, number and signature of the post master. To
attempt to counterfeit the message would be of no advantage to the counterfeiter
inasmuch as the instant the blank becomes of greater value than the cost value,
by receiving the date, number and signature, the message portion remains with
the Post Office Department, and if found in other hands would indicate a prima
facie evidence of fraud.
As shown in Figure 2, a check is placed on any dishonest practices on the part
of the Post Office employees, inasmuch as the head office, having received the
original advice from the receiving office, must receive the corresponding message
from the paying office, the message containing the receipt of the payee, together
with his address and the date of payment and signature of the post master who
has paid the amount of the message. Should this not be returned, the head office
would he enabled to know where the fault lies, and as the post master had given
the carrier receipt for the amount the carrier (the Post Office Department) would
be liable for the amount of the receipt, thus making the system one which must
necessarily result in greater care being exercised on the part of the carrier, which
is the Post Office Department.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:
1. A money transmitting blank comprising a receipt for the amount received,
given by the carrier; an advice to be sent to the main office of the carrier; and
the message to be sent by the receiving agent of the carrier to the paying agent,
said message containing the payee's receipt and address given upon payment of
the amount of said receipt, advice and message being detachably connected
together.
2. A money transmitting blank, comprising a receipt for the amount received,
given by the carrier; an advice to be sent to the main office of the carrier; and
the message to be sent by the receiving agent of the carrier to the paying agent,
said message containing the payee's receipt and address given upon payment of
the amount of said receipt, advice and message detachably connected together,
and separated only after the date, number and signature of the receiving agent
have been placed thereon.
3. A money transmitting blank, comprising a receipt for the amount received,
given by the carrier; an advice sent by the receiving officer to the main office
of the carrier; a notification card sent by the remitter to the payee; and a message
to be sent by the receiving agent to the paying agent, said message containing
the payee's receipt and address, given upon payment of the amount, said receipt,
advice, notification card and message detachably connected together.
4. A money transmitting blank, comprising a receipt for the amount received,
given by the carrier; an advice sent by the receiving officer to the main office
of the carrier; a notification card sent by the remitter to the payee; and a message
to be sent by the receiving agent to the paying agent, said message containing
the payee's receipt and address, given upon payment of the amount, said receipt,
advice, notification card and message being detachably connected together and
separated only after the date, number and signature of the receiving agent have
been placed thereon:
5. A money transmitting blank book, comprising a series of money transmitting
blanks, each formed of detachable sections, said blanks being adapted for trans-
mitting money in amounts within the limit named thereon, the commission due
on the entire series of blanks being payable when said book is purchased and prior
to the use of any of said blanks.
T1 this 21st day of March 1898.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.