order, payment of the lesser amount may be made to the payee at once, provided he requests it. The postmaster must then write across the face of the money-order this memorandum: PAID $ AMOUNT OF ADVICE, IN COMPLIANCE WITH PAYEE'S REQUEST; and must send to the issuing postmaster for a second advice. Should the amount of the second advice agree with that of the money-order the postmaster will transmit to the Superintendent of the Money-Order System, in an envelope marked "Special," the paid money-order, together with both advices and a full statement of the case, that he may cause the balance due on the money-order to be paid to the payee. If the second advice agrees in amount with the first, no further action need be taken in the matter. Sec. 1025. Postmasters Paying Money-Orders must Provide against Delays.— It is the special duty of the postmaster to provide as far as possible against delay in the payment of money-orders on presentation, by making immediate application for funds (using Form No. 6036), whenever the amount of advices received indicates the need of assistance to enable him to pay the corresponding money-orders. He is authorized to defer payment only long enough to procure the requisite funds, and the delay, if he is prompt in making his application, should not exceed five days. Should a postmaster who has sufficient funds of the Department, whether arising from the issue of moneyorders or from postages, in his hands, refuse to pay money-orders drawn upon him when duly presented, such refusal will be deemed sufficient cause for his immediate removal. Sec. 1026. Paid Money-Orders to be Stamped and Recorded.-After payment of a money-order, the date of such payment must immediately be stamped upon the money-order and upon the advice, and likewise entered opposite the record thereof in the register of advices received, with the word PAID written opposite the entry, in the column headed "Remarks." Sec. 1027. Payment by Duplicate to be Noted.-When a money-order is paid by duplicate, the fact must be noted in the register of advices received, by writing opposite the entry of the advice, in the column of "Remarks," the words PAID BY DUPLICATE NO. — (adding the number and date of payment). The same should be written in red ink under the particulars of the original order in the weekly statement. Sec. 1028. Payment upon Power of Attorney or to Legal Representative.— Postmasters are prohibited from paying a money-order to a second person without the written indorsement to such second person by the payee on the back of the money-order, unless the payee has, by a duly executed power of attorney, designated and appointed some person to collect moneys due or to become due him, in which case the attorney should be required, before payment is made him, to file at the post-office of payment a certified copy of such power of attorney, or unless the payee has given a written order, addressed to the paying postmaster, which is to be filed with the latter, authorizing a second person to receive payment of and to receipt for any specific money-order or for all money-orders, payable by such postmaster to the payee. Money-orders paid upon a power of attorney, or upon a written order from the payee, should bear upon their face, written or stamped in red ink, the words PoWER OF ATTORNEY ON FILE, or WRITTEN ORDER ON FILE, as the case may be. Where money-orders are paid upon an indorsement, the utmost caution should be exercised, and before paying them the postmaster must be satisfied that the signature to the indorsement is genuine, and that the person presenting the money-order is the one named in the indorsement. The person presenting the money-order should be required, if unknown to the postmaster, to prove his identity. The name of the indorsee to whom a money-order is paid should be entered in the column of "Remarks" in the "register of advices received." In case of the death of the payee the money-order is to be paid to his "legal representative," whether executor or administrator, who should be required to satisfy the paying postmaster of his authority to act in such capacity, and to sign the receipt to the money-order as executor or administrator, as the case may be. A money-order payable to a firm, bank, or company which has ceased to exist, must be paid to the legal representative thereof. Sec. 1029. Money-Orders must be Correctly Receipted and Stamped.-Any money-order not correctly receipted, or not stamped with the date of payment, will be disallowed from the weekly account and returned for correction. Sec. 1030. Payment of Money-Order on Day of Issue.-The Department does not undertake to secure payment of a money-order on the day of its issue, but the postmaster at the post-office drawn upon may, if he has received the corresponding advice, make payment on that day. Sec. 1031. Department not Responsible after Payment of Money-Order.— After once paying a money-order, by whomsoever presented, provided the required information has been given by the party who presented it, the Department will not hold itself liable to any further claim, but in case of improper payment of a money-order, will endeavor to recover the amount for the owner. Sec. 1032. How Money-Orders more than a Year Old may be Paid.-Any money-order which is not presented for payment until after the expiration of one year from the date thereof, is declared "invalid and not payable" by section 1013, and the postmaster to whom such money order is presented must refuse payment of the same. In order to obtain payment of such invalid money-order, the holder will be required to forward the same, through the issuing or the paying postmaster, to the Superintendent of the Money-Order System of the Post-Office Department. (See Form No. 6003.) If the Department is satisfied that the money-order has not been paid, a duplicate will be issued payable to the remitter, payee, or indorsee, as may be requested in the application, and the same will be sent to the postmaster for delivery or payment, as the case may be. Sec. 1033. Examine Advices for Money-Orders over one Year Old.—The register of advices received should be carefully examined at least once a week, with a view to ascertain whether any of the unpaid advices entered therein have become invalid by reason of being more than one year old; and should it be found that any of them have become invalid for the reason stated, the several dates and numbers thereof in the register must be underscored in red ink, and the advices picked out at the close of the week and forwarded to the Department; the envelope containing the same being indorsed ADVICES OF INVALID ORDERS. Under the corresponding entries thereof in the register should be written, INVALID-ADVICE FORWARDED TO THE Department 187-. A strict compliance with this regulation is of the first importance. Sec. 1034. Payment of Amounts of Money-Orders Illegally Indorsed.—It is provided by law (section 1014) that more than one indorsement upon a money-order shall render the same invalid and not payable. Hence, the postmaster to whom a moneyorder, whether "original" or "duplicate," thus illegally indorsed is presented, must refuse payment of the same; and the holder thereof, to obtain payment of the moneyorder, is required to forward the same, with an application for renewal, to the Superintendent of the Money-Order System, and to furnish the statement, under oath or affirmation, of two responsible persons known to the postmaster (whose certificate shall be appended thereto) that the indorsement is genuine, and that the holder is the person named therein. (See Form No. 6003.) Upon his compliance with these requirements, a duplicate of the illegally indorsed money-order will be issued, as above. In all cases of lost or invalid money-orders, the owner of the money-order (whether remitter, payee, or indorsee) may make application, through either the issuing or the paying postmaster, for a duplicate; and it is the duty of the postmaster to whom such application shall be made to fill up and dispatch the proper forms therefor. The duplicate will be issued agreeably to the request contained in the postmaster's letter--i. e., to the remitter, payee, or indorsee-and made payable at the issuing or the paying post-office, as may be desired, and forwarded to the address specified by the applicant. Sec. 1035. Repayment of Money-Order to Applicant.-The postmaster issuing a money-order shall repay the amount of it upon application of the per son who obtained it, and the return of the order; but the fee paid for it shall not be returned. (R. S., § 4039.) Sec. 1036. Rules for Repaying Money-Orders.-A postmaster may repay a money-order issued at his own post-office, provided the money-order is presented to him for that purpose, and is less than one year old, and does not bear more than one indorsement; but the repayment must be made to the person who obtained the money-order, except in special cases. (See section 1038.) If the advice has gone forward to the post-office upon which the money-order was drawn, the postmaster will, by the first mail, dispatch a special advice (Form No. 6036) notifying that post-office of the repayment. If the advice has not gone forward, it is to be transmitted to the Superintendent of the Money-Order System, inclosed with the corresponding repaid money-order in the weekly account. The fee must not in any case be refunded. Sec. 1037. Repaid Money-Orders to be so Stamped.-The word REPAID (and the date) must be written or stamped on the face of every repaid money-order, and a corresponding entry made in the register of money-orders issued, against the particulars of the money-order and in the column headed "Remarks." occurs. Sec. 1038. Repaid Money-Orders to be Signed, by Whom.-Every moneyorder repaid must be signed by the remitter or person who procured it. But if he should be unable to make application for such repayment in person, it can be made to another party, in which case the remitter will fill up the indorsement upon the back with the name of the person to whom he wishes the payment made, and sign his own name thereto, substituting the word "remitter" for that of "payee," where the latter But postmasters will exercise the greatest caution in repaying a money-order to a second person. It may occasionally happen that a money-order is presented for payment at the post-office of issue by the payee. The issuing postmaster is at liberty to pay the money-order in such case, and treat it as "repaid," provided he is satisfied as to the identity of the payee, and that the latter has good reasons for presenting the order at his post-office. Across the face of the order should be written these words, viz: REPAID TO THE PAYEE, and a "special advice of repayment" should be forwarded to the post-office on which the money-order was drawn. Sec. 1039. Repayment by Duplicate.-When a money-order is repaid by duplicate, the fact must be noted in the register of money-orders issued, by writing opposite the entry of the original money-order, in the column of "Remarks," the words REPAID BY DUPLICATE No. — (adding the number and the date of repayment). Special notice must also be sent to the post-office on which the original money-order was drawn. In taking credit for such repayment in the summary of the weekly statement, the postmaster will enter the number of the original money-order, and also that of the duplicate, thus, "By money-order No. 1286 (repaid by duplicate 120), $19.25." Sec. 1040. Special Notice of Repayment, how Entered.-When a postmaster receives a special notice of the repayment of a money-order by the issuing postmaster, he will write the words REPAID AT (naming the place and date) opposite the entry in the register of advices received, and also upon the original advice, which, after having attached the special notice thereto, he will place on file. Sec. 1041. Postmasters Pay only Money-Orders on their Post-Offices.-No postmaster will be permitted to pay a money-order which is not drawn upon his postoffice. This, however, does not preclude the repayment of a money-order at the postoffice where it was drawn, as specified in section 1036. The postmaster at the postoffice drawn upon may also pay a money-order to the remitter thereof, but such payment should be made with great caution, as prescribed in section 1038. Sec. 1042. Notice to be Sent to Payee of Duplicate.-The postmaster who receives from the Department a duplicate payable by him must forthwith send notice to the payee of such duplicate to call for payment. In paying a duplicate order the postmaster is required to exercise the same precautions as in paying an original order. Sec. 1043. Postmaster-General may Stop Payment of Money-Orders, when. The Postmaster-General may, upon evidence satisfactory to him that any person is engaged in conducting any fraudulent lottery, gift-enterprise, or scheme for the distribution of money, or of any real or personal property, by lot, chance, or drawing of any kind, or in conducting any other scheme or device for obtaining money through the mails by means of false or fraudulent pretenses, representations, or promises, forbid the payment, by any postmaster, to any such person of any postal moneyorder drawn to his order or in his favor, and may provide by regulations for the return, to the remitter, of the sums named in such money-orders. But this shall not authorize any person to open any letter not addressed to himself. (R. S., § 4041.) Sec. 1044. Payment of Money-Orders to be Withheld, When.—(a) Payment of a money-order may be with heldby the paying postmaster, upon the receipt of a written request from the issuing postmaster or the remitter, for a sufficient time to enable the remitter to furnish the paying postmaster with proof that the money-order was procured by him through false representations, or other fraudulent action of the payee, who is furthermore alleged by him to be engaged in conducting a scheme or device for obtaining money through the mails by means of false or fraudulent pretenses, representations, or promises. The case, together with the proof furnished, must be referred to the Department, in order that the Postmaster-General may, under the authority given him by the preceding section, if the evidence is satisfactory to him, forbid the payment of the money-order, and direct the return of the amount thereof to the remitter upon application of the latter for a duplicate. (b) In cases in which payment of a money-order to the payee is not forbidden by the Postmaster-General under the conditions above mentioned, the payee is entitled to payment, "notwithstanding the protest of the remitter of the money-order; and the remitter of a money-order cannot forbid the payment of it by any notice to the postoffice at which it is made payable before it has been paid." The above quotation is from volume xiv, page 110, Official Opinions of the Attorneys-General of the United States. The possession of a money-order by the remitter, payee, or indorsee thereof is prima-facie evidence of ownership. (c) When a postmaster receives by mail a letter containing a money-order drawn upon him, purporting to be receipted on the face by the payee thereof, or to be made payable to such postmaster by the indorsement of the payee, with a request to transmit to the payee by mail, in money or by draft, the amount of the money-order, the postmaster should decline to comply with this request, and should notify the payee that he will, if the latter consents, forward to him a new money-order, drawn upon any money-order post-office which the payee may designate, for an amount equal to the money-order received, less the fee for the new money-order. If the payee declines, in a case of this kind, to give his consent to the issue of a new money-order, the postmaster will send back to him the receipted or indorsed money-order. (d) When a money-order is presented for payment, in which the only defect is that the name of the State in which the paying post-office is situated is erroneously given, the postmaster is at liberty to pay such money-order at his own risk, provided there is no other obstacle to payment, and that he has on hand the corresponding advice of the same number and date, which advice gives correctly the name of his post-office and of his State. After having paid a money-order of this description, the postmaster will write across the face thereof the following statement: THE CORRESPONDING ADVICE OF THIS MONEY-ORDER IS CORRECTLY DRAWN ON THIS POST-OFFICE, which statement he will duly sign and date. Sec. CHAPTER FOUR. ISSUE AND PAYMENT OF FOREIGN MONEY-ORDERS. 1045. Exchange of money-orders with Great Britain. 1046. International money-orders, how drawn. 1047. Form of application for international money. order. 1048. Issuing postmaster not to decide coin value of currency. 1049. Postmaster at New York decides coin value 1050. Lists of international money-orders. 1053. Repayment of international money-orders. 1055. Exchange of money-orders with Germany, Switzerland, and Italy. 1056. Fees for money-orders on Switzerland and Italy. Sec. 1057. Fees for money-orders on Germany. 1059. Interchange of money-orders with Canada. 1061. Postmasters not to decide value of currency 1062. Applications for Canadian money-orders. 1066. Repayment of Canadian money-orders. 1071. When gold and paper are at par. Sec. 1045. Exchange of Money-Orders with Great Britain.-The exchange of money-orders between the United States and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, is to be effected through the agency of two post-offices, termed "international exchange post-offices." The international exchange post-office on the part of the United States is New York, and that on the part of the United Kingdom is London. Sec. 1046. International Money-Orders, how Drawn.-Certain money-order post-offices in this country, designated for the purpose by the Postmaster-General, are authorized to issue money-orders on the postmaster at New York, payable to beneficiaries in the United Kingdom, and to pay money-orders issued by that postmaster for sums remitted by the Postal Department of the United Kingdom for payment to beneficiaries in the United States. Hence, a postmaster in either country cannot draw an international money-order for an amount deposited with him directly upon a postmaster in the other, but must draw the same upon the international exchange post-office of his own country. An international money-order must not be drawn for a larger sum than $50 in United States currency, and must not contain a fractional part of a cent. The fees for the issue of international money-orders are as follows, viz: On money-orders not exceeding $10, 25 cents; over $10 and not exceeding $20, 50 cents; over $20 and not exceeding $30, 75 cents; over $30 and not exceeding $40, $1; over $40 and not exceeding $50, $1.25. Postinasters are not permitted to receive in payment for international money-orders issued by them, or to pay for such moneyorders drawn upon them, any money that is not a legal tender, except national-bank notes. Sec. 1047. Form of Application for International Money-Order.-A special form of application (Form No. 6201) must be furnished to the applicant for an international money-order payable in Great Britain. On this form he must enter all the particulars of the amount, names, address, etc., and must state the full name and exact residence of the payee, giving the town or village, and county. From the items contained in such application, the issuing postmaster will fill up the international money-order and coupon, both of which he will, by the next outgoing mail, dispatch, without separating them, to the postmaster at New York. The corresponding certifi |