The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1841-12-25
TO THE POST MASTERS THROUGH
OUT THE UNITED STATES.

to violate the law and defraud the revenue,
by writing on the wrapper or margin of
news papers and pamphlets sent by mail,
enclosing memoranda or other things with
in them, underscorlng, dotting, or prick
ing letters or words, and by various other
devices. with the view to evade the pay
ment of legal postage, force upon the
Postmaster General the necessity of d.
recting me to call the special attention
of Postmasters to the unilinching dis
charge of their duty in this particular,
The wrappers of all transient papers
and pamphlets, which have reached their
destination, should be removed and the
papers examined. Those used in the
manner above alluded to, as the vehicles
of communication, should be charged, on
delivery, with letter postage; if refused or
not taken out, they should be returned to
the Office where first mailed and the Post
master there shoul, invariably collect the
legal penalty Olive dollars, Of the person
who committed the offence. Such papers
should be stamped, when mailed, and
marked with the rate of postage.
The Postmaster General cannot bring
himself to believe that public sentiment,
when well informed, will fail to sustain
you in the discharge of this duty, as i'm
peratve upon you as any other.
By the law of 1925 'any memoran-
dun" in writing on newspaper or PAM
phlet, subje cts 1t to letter postage; and
i'll the opinion OF the Department any
words, however few, other than the name
of the person addressed, constitute a
memorandum within the meaning of
the law. The very great abuse of the
ranking privilege and the consequent loss
to the revenue of the Department, and its
demoralizing effect on the community,
has also attracted the attention of the Post
master General, and on this bect he
cannot but repeat the language of one of
his predecessors,
at might be presumed that the high
character of officers entitled to this pri-
vilege would be a guarantee for its restric-
ton within the limits Of Il law; but it is
much to be lamented for the honor of
our country, no less than for the pros
perty of the Department, that such has
not always been the case. Letters to
Others are frequently enclosed to persons
who are entitled to the privilege of frank
ing, and letters written by others are Of
ten sent under their frank, in opposition
to the express letter of the law. There is
cause to apprehend that postmasters have
in some instances, been guilty of this
fraud upon the revenue. This evil, unless
it shall find remedy in the vigilant and
energetic corporation ofpostmasters with
the head Of the Department; must tend to
paralyz all its operations. 1t is therefore
expected that you will watch with the ut
most care against this unlawful practice;
and whenever you have cause for suspi-
cion, use all lawful means to obtain evil
dence against the offender. Let no effort
be RENTED, let no dignity of station deter
you; but however exalted may be the
rank OF the officer who shall violate the
law in the abuse of his frankng privilege,
never fail to enforce the penalty by legal
process, and report each case to the De-
partment.-In all lawful efforts to carry
into effect the provisions Of the law "a
gainss such as shall incur its penalties,you
will be sustained by the Department; but
no postmaster can expect to retain the
confidence of the Department who shall
wan:only violate his ranking privilege, or
who knowingly shall suffer it in others
with lmpunity."
The vast amount of service which the
mail establishment is compelled to perform
by the existing laws without any remu-
ncration, and the many additional mail fa-
cilities which the public voice daily calls
for, render it absolutely necessary not on
ly that every dollar of lawful revenue
shall be collected and accounted for, but
that frauds and leaks of all kinds lie pre-
vented.
Your attention is also called to the in
struction relative to your duty in the
transmission of money to the publishers
Of newspapers or acting as their agent
Much misunderstanding appears to exist
on this subject which it is desirable sh ould
be corrected all that you may lawfully
do is contained in the following; and if
this is not strictly observed, the Post
master General will be compelled to with
draw the instruction entirely.
"a postmaster may enclose money in a
letter to the publisher ola newspaper, to
pay the subscription of third Land
frank the letter, if written or signed by
himself; but if the letter be signed by ano-
Their person the postmaster cannot frank
it. But this is a service not required of
him, and he may perform it as matter OF
courtesy or decline it, at his option. -
Such letters should contain only, and re-
late solely to the transmission of money
from individual subscribers to publishers
of newspapers, and not to the collections
of agents or others and they should moi