Delaware journal. [volume] (Wilmington [Del.]) 1827-1832, 1828-06-13
CIRCULAR TO POST MASTERS.
PosT OFFICE DEPARTMENT.
June 10th, 1928

June lOl1. 1919.
The Postmaster General has lately received, with
regret, frequent complaints of the miscarriage OF
newspapers forwarded in the mail. In many i'm
Stances the causes of these complaints are believed
to exist in the printing oifces--the papers have not
been carefully put up and plainly directed. But it
is feared, that, at some of the Post Offices there
may have been remissness in not having put new en-
velopes on newspaper packets. where the old ones
had become much worn and defaced, and sometimes
in having failed to give the proper direction to the
packets. To delay the delivery of a newspaper, is
made serious offence by the Post Office law. Too
much attention cannot be paid to this provision:
by neglect of it, any Postmaster will lose the con-
|fdence Of the Public and of the Department
When failures are complained OF, the Postmaster
lat whose Office the packets are mailed, is requested
to obtain statement from the printer, of the differ
ent packets forwarded by mail, and the number
Of papers IN each Occasionally. the packets de-
posted may be compared with this statement, and
any omission detected.
Posmasters who fail to adopt this suggestion, may
be Justly chargeabe with negligence, and held re-
sponsble for all failures.
Packets badly secured, or not plainly directed,
should always be returned to the printing Office.
Where the packet is large, Irvine should be used,
and the direction of the packet should be endors-
ed on one or of the papers enclosed.
! Where papers not taken out of the Office,
by the persons TO whom they are directed, immed-
ate notice should be given to the Printer, and, on
his failing to pay the postage, the papers may be
! sold for it. as provided in the Post Office law On
some publications it may be difficult to determine
whether newspaper or pamphlet postage should be
, charged. Some newspapers published in the
/ pamphlet form, as Niles Register; = others in
the quarto form, as the eAmerican Farmer" Where
a paper is published periodically, large sheet,
! in the common form of newspaper, it should be
so considered. Where the form is different. the
[subject matter must determine its character. If it
contain leading articles of intelligence, summary
of political events, what is generally termed
news and is published weekly or oftener, it should
be called newspaper. Advertisements are gene
rally contained newspapers, though seldom, if
lever in pamphlets.
In cases where strong doubt remains what char
actor to give the publication, it would be well to
charge the most favorable postage, until the de-
lcision of the Postmaster General shall be obtain
led.
/ When greater weight is franked than the law
authorizes, postage should be charged for the ex-
cess If the packet contain handbills, or other
lticles, which cannot be called newspapers
pamphlets, the excess should be charged by the
ounce as for letter postage But, if the excess con-
!, sist of newspapers or pamphlets, they should be
= charged as SUCH
Every thing sent in the mail, which does not
come under the denomination of newspaper or
pamphlets is subject, by law, to letter postage.
r, The POSTMASTER GENERAL enjons the utmost
vigilance and impartiay on all Postmasters in the
performance ofthese duties. And he hopes to wit
mess the beneficial results of their jealous efforts
by the public confidence reposed in the safety Of the
mail, and the fidelity Of its agents.
0 ~ Printers are respectfully requested to pub.
4 lish this Circular in their papers.
fl We understand that the Rev. AIva Woods, Proc
fessor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy in
if Brown University, has resigned his chair having
accepted the Presidency of Pennsylvania Universe
Ity, at Lexington, Ken.
The Managers of the WiAmington Orion Coloai.
otion Society, are requested to meet at the House Of
WILLARD HALL, on Monday evening next, at eight
vl o'clock. June Is.
: Jnarrien,
e. lime Sd, bv Rev. Thomas Love, Mr.. JOSEPH
J IT, GUESTIN to Miss MARIA WILKINSON.