The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1857-01-28
New Fos'-oa'ee law ana decisions


~-KnatFaetiOns TO P'Ost-masssrs.
The following instractions Of the Post Master
General, under the late Law Of Congress, set
ties the controversy in regard to Post-mAsters
playing Clerks to Newspaper Publishers
Posr 0FFIcE DEPARTsESr,(
Washington, Jan. 8, 1851.
Sect. 4. 1t is no part Of the duty Of \ post
master to receive and deliver to subscribers any
other newspapers than those which come in the
mail, or to pat he address on newspapers sent 10
ol''bs, or 10 deliver them from furnished list: nor
should he do either, even through courtesy, unless
1t may be done without interfering with the le-
climate business Of his Office.
Jas. CANBELL, Post Master General.
This is equivalent to positive and total pro-
hibition Of any such service as writing names Oi
subscribers on papers pFesiOus to their delivery,
as it cannot be done without interfering with
the legitimate business Of the Office" While
the Postmaster is looking over and writing up
his long list of Tribunes, other customers are
waiting for their mails, else the Tribunes must
be laid by till next day and delivered after other
matter, which every one knows is never the
case. This decision is not only timely but emf
nently just. We hope our cotemporaries o.
the Press will give it a wide circulation.
Another decision Of considerable importance
to Post masters has just been called out by the
following correspondence ..-..
CLEVELAND, Post-ofIlce, Jan. TO- 1857.
Hon. Horatio King First Assistant, p. NJ
General;-Dcar Sir:-Under the late P. O. Law
and Decisions of the Department, requiring pre-
payment by stamps Of all transient printed
matter, including Lottery Circulars and Papers
l would respectfully ask
1st. Can the publishers of such papers by
rendering the money, throw upon the Ofiicers
of the p. o. Department, the labor Of affixins
stamps to said papers? .. ....---qs.
I'd. Does duty or courtesy require Of Post
masters the affixing Of stamps to letters and 9th
er mailable matter where the money is rendered
., E Respectfully g.,
j. w. GRAY, P. M.
Hon. Horatio King, First Assistant P. NJ. G
Washington, d..
q REPLY OF THE DEPARTMENT.
PosT OFFICE DEPARTMENT,l
Appointment Office,
..-..,-..e january 13, 1857
SIR-Your letter of the 10th inst. is received
In answer to your first inquiry, am instruc
ted by the Postmaster General to inform yor
that it is not the duty of Post master to plac'
Postage Stamps upon circulars and other tran
sient printed matter deposited for mailing in hi
Office. This must be done by the sender.
With regard to your second inquiry, have tt
state, that in directing Post masters to see tina
the provision Of the law is carried out, which
gives them the power to require them ''to place
| Postage Stamps upon prepaid letters upor
which such stamps may not have been place.
by the writer's" it was neither the intention moi
the expectation of the Post master General tha
it would throw upon the Post-masters the labo
of afixing Stamps to letters, where the writers
might, without inconvenience, have done it io
themselves. The main thing is for Post. MASTER
to keep themselves supplied with stamps, tina
all persons having occasion to use, may readily
obtain them. lam, respectfully, &c,
HORATTo KING, 1st A. 7. NJ. Gen.
| J. w. Gray, P. NJ, Cleveland.