Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1847-01-28
TO POSTM ASTERS.

| am directed by the Postmaster Gppft
aIdhUi 6hedS and increasinng attempts to
violate the law, and defraud the revenue,
by writing OH the wrapper margin, or 9TH
err portion of the newspapers, mphlets,
and magazines sent by mail The cheap
postage system has removed every reason
aole excuse for violating or eyading the
law, and too much yIgilence cannot be ex-
ercised by postmasters to detect and pun
sh the offenders; and public sentiment,
when well informed, will not fail to sustain
you in the faithful discharge of this duty,
which is as imperative upon you as any
other. That frauds Of this kind may be
detected and traced to their origin, you
are particularly instructed to stamp, or
mark in writing. every iransicntlb BY which
is mean, all not regularly sent to subscrib-
ers) newspaper, pamphlet or magazine,
with the name of the Office and the a.
mount OF postage. The wrappers of all
such newspapers, pamphlets or magazines
when they have reached their destination.
should be carefully removed; and if upon
inspection, found TO contain any manu-
script or memorandum of Pny kind, either
written or stamped, or by marks and signs
made in any way, either upon any newspa-
per, printed circular, price current, PAM
phet, or magazine, on the wrapper in
which it is enclosed, by which information
shall be asked for or communicated, except
the name and address of the person to
whom it is directed, such newspaper print
ed circular, price current, pamphlet,
or magazine, with the wrapper in
which it is enclosed shall be charg-
ed with letter postage by weight.
1.-THE person to whom the newspaper,
printed circular, price current, pamphlet.
or magazine is directed, refuses to pay
such letter postage thereon the postmas-
ter will Immediately transmit the same to
the office from whence it was forwarded.
and request the postmaster thereof to
prosecute the sender for the penalty of
five dolI.rs, as prescribed by the 30th
section Of the act of 1915. Suits may be
brought either in district courts, or before
state magistrates having civil jurisdiction
in actions of debt for this amount, under
the respective state laws. The name of
the sender written or stamped either upon
the newspaper, printed circular, price
current, pamphlet, or magazine, or tho
wrapper in which it is enclosd, commune
Gates such information as subjects il to
letter postage, and the consequent penal
ties, if such postage is not paid at its place
of destination.
The diminution of the revenue of the
department under the cheap postage sys-
TEN, and the great and increasing demand
for additional mail facilities throughout
our country, whose territory now extends
TO the Pacific, render it absolutely neces-
sary, not only that every cent of lawful
revenue be collected and accounted for.
bu, that the utmost vigilance should be
exercised for the prevention of fraud, and
the sure and speedy infection oflhe pro-
per penalty upon the offender. This can
only be accomplished by the strictcs, at
tention of postmasters. who are the sworn
agents Of the department, and are bound
10 see the laws faithfully administered
W. ]. BROWN,
Cd Assistant Postmaster General.
Post Office Department. Dec. 3, 1916,