Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-05-20


much to be lamen,ed. for The bonor of ou
country, no less than for the prosperity OF th.
Department, that such has not always been tn.
case. Letters TO others are frequently enclosed
TO persons who are entitled 10 the privilege oil
ranking, and letters written by others are often
sent under their frank in opposition to the ex.
press Rtler Of the law. There is cause to an.
prehend that Postmsstefs have, in some in-
stances, been guilty Of this fraud upon the re-
venue. This evil, unless It SHALL find a remedy
IN the vigilant end energetic corporation Of
Postmasters with the head of the Department,
must tend to paralyze all its operations. Its
therefore expected tha: you will watch with the
utmost care against this unlawful practice; and
| whenever you have cause for suspicion, use all
lawful means 10 obtain evidence aeainstvhe
offender. Let no effort be RENTED, let no
dignity OF station deter you but, however ex.
allied may be The rank Of The officer who shall
violate The law in the abuse d his ranking
privileges, never fail TO enforce the penalty by
legal process and report each case 10 the De-
partment. In all lawful efforts TO carry into
Effect the provisions Of the law againsr such as
shall incur It's penalties, YOU will be sustained
by the Depai ,mtDt; but tao Posmase r can ex-
pect 10 reIain The confidence of the Department
who shall wantonly violate his frapking privi-
ege, or Who knowingly shall suffer it in others
with impunity.
In many instances Postniasters have injured
the revenue by extending, heir privilege BE.
yond the weight prescribed by law. Whence
yer a letter TO or from Postmaster exceeds
half an ounce IN weight, the Postmaster re-
ceiving or delivering it, is bound by the law
and ny his oath, 10 account f.r the excess. In
every ms, ance that shall come TO your know
ledge, OF Postmaster mailing letter free,
with the frank of Postmaster, or receiving
one free, in virtue Of his privilege, which shall
weigh more than half al ounce, you are to re-
port he fact 10 the Department, that the reme>
ny may may be promptly applied.
MANY parsons appear to b under the erro-
neous IMPRESSION, tina; printed sheets Of paper
are not chargeable with letter postage. You
will use diligence TO correct this error. Every
thing that goes in the mail is chargeabe with
lerer posi- age, except newspapers, pamphlets,
and legislative journals, which are rated as
pamphlets Proposals for publications, printed
circulars, special advertisements, and, Inderd,
every SPECIES Of handbills, are to be charged
with letter postage. Whenever such printed
articles come to your off (, without being en-
tered on the post bills and raed with letter
postage, il is expected tina. You will correct the
error, aud report TO the ID parment the Post
master who mailed them. Numbers OF hand
bills, printed proposals, and special advertise
mentS, haze sometimes been sent 20 Postmas-
ters TO be received and circulated under their
privilege Every such ca>e is rqulrsd'to be
reported to the Depar ;mfnt, thai such Post
master may be deprived Of he means of repeat
ing The abuse. In some insi stances, these arti.
chs have been headed With the name OF The
n. r with H. evident design oil reducing "'c
noslsye. Such siga il is YOUR duty 10 conn
r-ract. A .upplc nr.nt always Accompanies
he newspaper 10 which ii belongs, as par Oh
+ he same paper, and an extra newspaper Is
sheet. or part Of sheet, issued between the
regular times of publishing the paper, Tor inc
,urpose of an earlier annunciation OF interest,"
inc news You will not send nor deliver print
ed sheets or bills of any other character, as sup
plements or IS extra newspapers mere n"'
a,so been want Of sufficient care IN railing
letters. Many double, some triple, and even
ouadruple letters are rated as single. IL FH
or enoIoses bank no>e. i, Is double; II II en-
cI,scs three bank notes, It is qvadrup'e, ar'
sboud be rated accordingly IL may some-
time, be difficult % determine the proper rate
hut if the Letter has the appearance oil oe'ng
doub,r. YOU will b. careful to ma k It as such
and if the oerson receiving II shall qHesnoh Us
correctness, he can open IT IN the presence "
the Postmaster or his assistant. The want oi
ronrr attention TO these several points mas
b,sn highly ini.rious TO The Department. Ear'
case NAV seem little matter, scarceiV worthy
Of regard bur i, shudlth-ee remrmberrd mat
the whole revenue Of he Depar'men' Is made
nm of these little i'pms, ard 4 IS th'ir 'omoi
r.,;,n that gives life and energy to the "no'e
machine. is, at all times, the duly OF roS'
masters 70 adhere strictly 20 oo'h me ie'u' az
spirit Of the law, and especially al .n'1 ...a.''
when the, current engagements o, 'he Depa,'
meut already entered into greatly tx ecu '"'
amour, Of its ordinary revenue. ,,y
w I BARRY.