Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1842-01-06
TO THE POSTMaSTERS THRO'
OUT TIE UNITED STATES.

i'K'IiF, multiplied and increasing attempts TO
violate the law aud deiraud the revenue,
by writing on the wrapper or margin of news.
papers aud pamphlets sent by mail, enclosing
"moranda or other things within them, I'M.
d"rscOrihg, do'iing. ar picking letters or
words, aud by various other devices, will, the
view to evade the payment Of legal postage,
Inrcc upon the Postmaster General The ne.
cessliy Of directing me To call the special at.
tentIon ot POsinnsters 10 The ubhinchIng
discharge Of their duty IN this particular.
| The wrappers of all transient papers aud
pamphlets which have reached their desiina.
tion, should be removed, and tho papers ex.
nmincd. Those used in the manner above
alluded to, as the vehicles Of communication,
should be charged on delivery, with letter
postage; # refused or not taken out, they
should be returned 10 the Office where first
mailed and the Postmaster, there, should in.
varlub'y collect the legal penalty of five dol
lars, of The person who committed the Of
fence. Such papers should be stamped when
mailed. md marked with the raie Of postage.
The Postmaster General cannot bring him.
self To believe, that public sentiment, when
we'll informed, will fail to sustain you in the
faithful discharge Of this duty, as imperative
upen you ns any other.
BY tie law of 1925 'any memorandum" in
writing Oh newspaper or pamphlet, subjects
II 10 letter postage; nLd in The opinion oi the
Department any words, however few, other
than the name Of the person addressed, con
slItute n "mcmorandum" within the meaning
of the law. The very great abuse of the
franking privilege, aud the consequent loss to
the revenue of The Department, aud its de-
moralizing effect on the community, has also
att tracted the attention of the Postmaster
General, and on this subject he cannot bu,
repeat the language ot one OF his predeces-
sors:
"t might be presumed that the high char
acter OF officers entitled TO this privilege,
would be guarantee for it's restriction with
in the limits Of the law but 1t is much TO be
lnmentcd for the honor Of our country no
less than for the prosperity Of the Depart
,Dent, that such h0s not always been the case.
Letters 10 others are frequently enclosed TO
persons who arc entitled to the privilege OF
franking, and letters written by others are
often cent under their frank, 10 opposition
to the express letter of the law. There is
cause to apprebcnd that Postmasters have, in
some instances, been guilty Of this fraud
upon the revenue. This evil, unless it shall
find remedy IN the yigllant and energetic
CO. operation OF PustInasters with the head Of
the Department, must tend to paralyze all it's
operations. it is therefore expected, that
you will watch with the utmost care, against
this unlawful practice and whenever you
have cause for suspicion, use all lawful means
to Obtain evidence against the offender. Let
no effort be RENTED, let no dignity cf s.a-
ton deter you; but however exalted may be
the rank Of the officer who shoil violate tho
law in the abuse of his franking privilege,
never fail TO enforce the penalty by legal pro.
cess, aud report each case to the Depart
ment. n all lawful efforts to carry in:o effect
| the provisions OF the law against such AZ shal II
incur its peDaliles,you will be sustained by the
7 Department but no Postmaster can expect
! to retain The confidence Of the Department
who shall wbntonlv violate his frnnklng prlvi-
lcgc, or who knowlngly shall suffer 1t in 9TH
era with impunhy."
Il The vast amount Of service which the mail
establishment is compelled to perform by the
existing laws without any remuneration, and
the many additional mail facilities which the
public voice calls for, render 1t absolutely
necessary not only that every dollar Of law
tul revenue shall be collected and accounted
for, but that frauds and leaks Of all kinds be
prevented.
A Your attention il also called to the instruc-
ton relative TO your duty in the transmission
of money to the publishers Of newspapers or
acting as their agent. Much msunder
ing appears to exist on thIs subject which it
is desirable should be corrected. an that
you may lawfully do is contained in the fol-
lowing and if tins is not strictly observed,
the Postmaster General will be compelled to
withdraw the instruction entirely.
"A Postmaster may enclose money in q
letter TO the publisher of newspaper, to pay
the subscriptions of Il third person, and 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
a service not required Of him, and he may
perform it as a matter of courtesy or decline
1t, at his option. Such letters should contain
only, and relate solely to, the transmission of,
money from individual subscribers 10 pub
fishers Of newspapers, and not the collections
of agents or others and they should not
cover correspondence on any other subject
whatever and il Is not proper for Postnas-
ter to bccome the agent Of newspaper pub
fishers or others, and use his frank IN the
transaction of such business"
Should you Le requested TO attend to any
newspaper business requiring the use of
your frank, respecting which you hnye doubts,
you should decline It altogether.
II am instructed to add, IN view Of the nu-
merous applications on the subject, that. of
the laws, Instructions and Forms" last pub
lished IN 1882. und the liable of Post OF.
fees" las, published in 1897, no copies have
for some time past becn on hand for dlsiribu-
tion but IT is tho intention OF the Postmns-
ter General To order n new edition o. both,
to be published as soon us appropriations are
made TO meet the expense.
| am, very respectfully,
II Your obcdIeni servant.
/ PI. e.. FULLER,