Daily Republican

MISTAKE IN MONEY ORDERS.

Nearly Two Millions of Dollars for Which No Owner can be Found.

"Is it true," inquired a reporter of Postmaster Pearson, of New York, "that there are nearly two millions of dollars in the United States sub treasury, representing accumulations from unpaid money orders for several years back?"

"Yes," replied the postmaster ; "I suppose that in round numbers they hold about that amount belonging to careless persons whom it is impossible for us to find."

"What do you propose to do with this money Mr. Pearson?"

"Congress will probably be asked at its next session to make some disposition of it."

"Why was this not done before?"

"Well, there is no legal limitation to the time when funds of this character may be accounted for. The postmaster cannot tell when the parties to a money order may correct fatal mistakes in the order and demand their money. You know we must always be prepared to pay on legal demand."

"Can you give me a general idea of the way in which such a large, unclaimed accumulation of money comes about?"

"Primarily it is due to a lack of knowledge concerning the operations of the law under which the money-order system is organized. Then a great many people who understand the provisions of this law are habitually careless in making out the order. For instance they may get the name of the payee wrong, or they may neglect to notify him by mail Then, again, the person to whom the money is sent may be a traveling man, who has left the town where the order is payable and who may never return again. No legal provision has been made for advertising for these people. The individual amounts which go to make up the large sums of unpaid money orders in this office are generally speaking, small, and no doubt have long been forgotten by the persons who were to receive them. All post-offices which do a fair share of money-order business have the same trouble to contend with, but some day or other Congress may definitely settle postal responsibility in the matter."