Chapter XIII - Our Postal Business Page 03
SPECIAL DELIVERY
The purpose of what is known, in connection with the post office, as the "Special Delivery System", is to insure the delivery of any letter or package to the person, to whom it is addressed, as soon as it reaches his post office.
In addition to the regular post charge, a fee of 10 cents is added for special delivery. This is in the form of a special stamp, though when this cannot be had, the same amount in ordinary stamps may be attached.
In the case noted, the sender should write in line with the stamps, "special delivery."
Special delivery messages are delivered, not by ordinary carriers, but by special delivery messengers.
The special delivery letter is used when immediate knowledge is necessary. It saves a long telegram.
MONEY ORDERS
Money, in limited sums, may be sent through the post office. One advantage of sending money in this way is that it practically insures the sender against loss.
All post offices are not money order offices.
A post office money order may only be sent to those places where there are such offices.
At all post offices, authorized to send money orders, proper blanks can be had on which the sender can write his order.
Any sum may be sent by postal order, from one cent to one hundred dollars.
The fee is from three to thirty cents.
Read the blank carefully; it is simple, but be sure you understand it before filling out the order.
If in doubt, ask the clerk.
Having filled out the order, hand it to the clerk with the sum required, and the additional fee.
The clerk then prepares and hands out an order for the amount, on the postmaster of the town to which you are sending your letter, and this you enclose to your correspondent.
CASHING POST OFFICE ORDERS
The money order never contains the name of the sender; this the postmaster of the office from which it is sent supplies in a separate communication to the postmaster who is to pay.
No money passes from one office to the other.
A post office order is like a draft drawn by one postmaster on another. The one credits the sum, the other debits it.
The holder of an order will not get his money unless he is known to the paying postmaster or is identified.
Before paying an order the postmaster requires the holder to receipt it.
A post office money order, like a check or draft, may be transferred to another for collection.
Banks receive transferred money orders as if they were cash deposits.
The party to whom orders are transferred must go through the same forms at the office, where payment is made, as if he was the original payee.
ADVICE
It is not necessary to register letters containing checks. Never write "personal" on a business letter.
Always enclose a stamp for reply when writing to a stranger.
See that the addresses on your letters are distinctly legible.