Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1841-12-27
CIRCULAR.
TO THE POSTMASTERS THROUGHOUT /
THE LIMITED STATES

lHEI UNITE Ia
The multiplied and increasing attempts to vio-
late tie law and deraud the revenue, Ivy writing
on the wrapper or margin of newspapers and PAM
phlets sent by mail enclosing memoranda or 9th
err things within them, understanding d0illng, or
prcking letters words, and 10y various other de.
vices with the view evade the payment OF legal
hostage force upon the Postmaster General the
necessity of directing me 10 cali the special aten
lion Of Postmustcrs TO The unnnching discharge Of
their duty in this particular.
The wrappers oil all transient papers and pam
phles which have reached their destination, should
bG removed and the pnpers examined. Those
used in the manner above alluded TO, as the vehi
cIes of communication, should he charged with
letter postage; il refused not taken out, they
should he returned to the office where first nlniled
and tic Postmaster, there, should invariably col
lnct the legn penalty of five dollars, Of the person
who commilled the offence. Such papers should
he stamped, when mailed, aud marked with the
rate OF postage.
The Postmaster General cannot bring himsefto
believe that public sentiment, when well informed.
will fail TO sustain you in the faithful dschag &C OF
this duty, as imperative upon you us any other.
BY tho law Of 1926, "nly memorandum" in wri
ting on newspaper or pamphlet, subjects ii to let
ter postage and in the opinion of the Department
any iCordS, hoWerer JriC other than The name ofthe
person addressed, constitute a "memOrnndum"wItli-
in the meaning of the law. The very great abuse
OF the lrankirg privilege, and the consequent loss
to the revenue ufthe Department, and its deipor-
Hlizng effect on the community, has also attracted
the attention Of the Postmaster General, and on tie
sub cct he cannot but report the language OF one Of
his predecessors:
sit might be presumed that the high character Of
officers entitled TO this privilege, would he guarnn
tee for its restriction within the limits Of the law
hut it is much to be lamened for the honor OF our
country, no less thun for The prosperity of the De-
pHrtment that such has not always been the case.
Letters TO others are frequently enclosed to persons
who are entitled TO the privilege of ranking, and
letters written by others are often sent under their
frank IN opposition to The express letter of the law.
There is cause to Npprehend that POstmaScrS
hnve in some instances, been guilty orths fraud
upou the revenue. This evil unless it shall fnd
remedy III the yigilat 60 operation OF PO>nIast-
crs " i the head u the Department, must lend to
pHra re all its operations. 1t is therefore cXpec
ted that you will watch with the utmost care, n
Eainsl this unlawful practice; and whenever you
have cause for suspicion, use all lawful means To
obtain evdenre against the offender. Let no effort
he RENTED, le. no dignity of station deter You ;
bat however exalted may he the rank of the officer
who shall violate the law in the abuse OF his frank
ing privilege, never fail to enforce the penalty by
le5 gal process, and report such case 10 the Depart
ment In ali lawful efforts to carry into effect The
provisions OF the law against such as shall incur its
penalties, you will be sustained 10y the Department.
but no Postmaster can expect to retain the conf
dence Ot the Department who shall waulonIy viO-
late his ranking privilege, or who knowingly
shall suffer it in others with impunity.'
The vast amount of service which lie mail Is
Establishment is compelled to periom by the exist
ing laws " ilhout any remuneration, and the many
additional mail facilities which the public voice
daily calls for, render it absolutely necessary not
only that every dollar of lawful revenue should be
collected and accounted for, but that frauds and
leaks fall kinds I've prevented
Your attention is also called to the instruction
relative to your duty in the transmission of money
to publishers of newspapers or acting as their a.
gent. Much misunderstanding appears TO exist
on this subject which il is desirable should be cor
rccted. AL that you may lawfully do is contain
ed in The following; and this is not strictly OBJ
served, the Postmaster General will be compelled
to withdraw the instruction entirely.
ga Postmaster may enclose money in letter
10 the publisher ola newspaper, TO pay the sub
seriplion of third person, aud frank the letter. if
written or signed by himself but if the letter be
signed by another person, the Postmaster cannot
frank it. But this is service not required OF him.
AM he may perform it as mutIer OF courtesy or
decline il, at his option. Such letters should con
THU only and relate solely to, The transmission of
money from individual subscribers TO publishers
of ne wspapers and not the collections Of agents or
others ;and they should not cover correspondence
on any other subject whatever; and IL is not prop
er for Posmaslers TO become the agent OF news
paper publishers or Others and use his frank III Tie
irnsacon of such business"
Should you be requested'to attend TO any news
paper business requiring The of your FRANK, re-
spectng which you have doubts, you should de-
cline it altogether.
lam instructed to add, in view of the numerous
applications on the subject, that, OF the claws In
slructons and Forms last published in 1892, and
the liable of Post Offices last published in 1887
no copies have for some time been on hand for
distribution but it is the intention Of the Postnias-
ter General to order new edition of both to be
published soon appropriations are made 10
meet the expense. am very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
pU. c. FULLER, Cd Assist. p. NJ. Gen.
Post Office Department, Dec. ID, le4l.