The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-01-06
TO DEPUTY PoSTMAsTERs

Information has been recently furnished the de-
partmeni, from official, as well as other source
that vsrious devices daily resorted to, to cvade
even the present low rates OF postage, by an abuse
of the privilege Of Thanking; that letters are daily
put into the mails, having The frank Of individuals
publicly known TO be many miles distant from the
Office in which they placed; that blank envel-
opes, in large numbers are known 10 be in the pos
session Of individuals having no right to frank and
constantly used 10 evade the payment Of postage,
when the person Thanking is known to be at
distance from the place; that the letters of third
persons daily funked by those entitled to the
privilege; that under the pretence of srchangs, ed-
tors often receive newspapers free of postage for
subscribers: that newspapers published in one city,
purpor on their face to be published at several other
cities at the same time, that they may 90 free Of
postage within 30 miles Of each place where they
purport To be published; that correspondence Is
often kept up between individuals through the me-
dunn Of those entitled TO the privilege, and the let
ters received, not returned to the office to be
charged as required by law. . .... .
The 2Sth section of the act Of 1925 imposes
penalty Of ten dollars any person who irho shall
frank any letter letters, ethT than those rriaen BY
htssf by his order, the business Of his Office"
The Gath section Of the same law imposes the same
penalty any person ''lrho shall procure aid adj
rise or assist" in such violation of the post Office
laws and il is made hs especial duly Of postmasiers to
prosecute tor said offences" ...g ~ a...-.
Ibecomes my duty therefore 70 direct. tApt. ip all
ing frank on it, and is accompanied by such cir
cumstances clearly show that it is not the letter
of the individual whose frank il hears, the frank
is in effect false certifcate that the should
be charged with postage and the names of the par
ties thus violating the law, and the witnesses by
whom the offence can be proven, be reported to the
district attorney for prosecution in the federal
courts. Eh+
Should postage be in any case enormously charged
the same will be RENTED at the office where re-
ceived, upon the letter being opened and proving TO
be the letter Of person entitled to frank.
Newspapers sent to editors clearly intended for
the benefit Of subscribers should be rated with post
age as If directed to the subscriber.
In all cases newspapers passing though the mails
over 30 miles from the real place Of publication should
be charged with postage. .aa
As it is made your especial duty, by law, to
prosecute for such violations Of the law it is ex-
pected that you viii watch with the utmost care
against these unlawful practices; ''and whenever
you have for suspicion, use all lawful means
to obtain evidence against the offender. Let no
eart be RENTED, let no dignity Of station deter you;
but, however exalted may be the rank Of the officer
who shall violate the law, the abuse of the frank
ing privilege, never fail to enforce the penalty by
legal process, and report each case to the depart
ment." '..
c. JOHNSON,
Postmaster General