New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-12-30
TAMPERING WITH THE MAILS.

WA, I'M ANSWER TO A RESOLUTION OF THE
uousr OF REPRESENTATIVES, OF DEC. 10. 1873
puArIvk TO ALLOWING ANY CusToMHoUsE
OFFICER OR DETECTIVE 10 EXAMINE CoRRE-
rpoNpFNCy PASSING THROUGH THE NETWORK
AND BOSTON Posr-oFFICE. 4
Posr-OFFI DEIARTNENr,
WASHINGTON, Dec. IL, 1878.
For the purpose of protecting the customs
revenue from any frauds practiced through the mails,
pro y,sion has made in the postal
s,sded with Great Britain. Germany, and other Euro
pean countries for the evyng OF customs duties any
articles EXCHANGED in the mails with those countries
which properly chsrgeable with such duties; and
sAe mode Of procedure for collecting such duties on
articles Of manatter seized by the officers OF the Gus
tema rs prescribed by the POst0aice Regulations OF
sss.
TUE Department has instructed postmasters in all
70 adhere strictly the provisions OF section s. OF
she PeetO Regulations and insisted that seizures
and deenons of letters packets supposed to contain
dntab articles cannot be egahymade by postmasters
in every be performed, IL at all, by officers
Of the customs.
Transmit herewith copies of the recent correspond
between myself and the Secretary OF the Treasury
sespeetng the OF procedure IN cases OF SEIZURE
winch resulted in agreement to adhere to the In
sfructons contained in the SD regulation above re-
ferrei 10.
sso transmit herewith copies OF all the correspond
nce In relation 10 seizure and detention by the
Collector OF Customs at NewYork OF certain registered
package received by mail from Europe addressed to A.
tsn Iss diamonds. comprising letters and kilograms
the Postmaster and Special Agent OF tns Depsr
Of NewYork; the Secretary OF the treasury anu
che Postmaster General.
Inmetisieiy upon receipt OF kilograms from Bos-
ton advising of the seizure and detention at New,
York Of the above mentioned registered package,
called upon the Secretary Treasury and asked his
interference 70 prevent the detention Of the same IN
NewYof and after several conferences on the uyeot
srS mon me registered package in question
released by the Collector Of Customs at New-fork anu
tore u,der the United States laws Instruc-
rons ssned by the Secretary OF the Treasury 10
collectors Customs not 70 require postmasters 10
Deliver "a them any letter package addressed TO
person place where customs officer IS statloned
Tetng posmssters ITO forward all matter to destna-
before interference by customs officers
baVe state in conclusion, that section 81 OF the
Posi- Once Regulations has always been so construed
Wv Tine Department as not 70 interiors win the hgai
DUTY promptly transmitting all Dail-matter 10 the
s6eciient servant JSo. A. J. CREswELL
POstmasteTG General.
Hon James c. Blaine Speaker OF the House Of Repre-
etBtailNes.
seciiou 50. Chapter Of the fostOhce Regulations
islS, read. a. follows: -, .- -
poso and the has TO believe that
... so1 in which biz Office
esle q o, rece Of such , Or p'ess-s and the nsEs. o. as
saBeo esolsos SINE for the purpose o. allowing me customs
sn oaoer the Of the postmaster
e q we gs .aS bot letter. s I, Sdse nv dn c
the posioe and open the Pos,master'
pee, fraud. praeed through the nails
AFRAID WHAT nIR NEWSPAPERS WILL SAY.
The following is a letter from Mr.. Gsyor. Special
Agent Of the Post-oHioe Department TO the supern-
nDdeBt Of Foreign Mds
PosToFrIcE, NEw-YoRK, Aug. II, 1873
NJ pt A y.t,a l. 10,
James today To the Postmaster G eneral and
another from the Collector OF the the Secretary
Of the Treasury IN which the question To the right of
customs officers demand from posmssters that sealed
letters and packages other than samples patterns book
pokets and newspapers suspected TO contain dutable
articles shah be delivered to them for delivery TO the
parties addressed, for other disposition is brought 10
o direct There been n gcling fight tins
point going for years, and IL Is high time for de-
esiye engagement IN which the other party
yield with the best possible. We think here that
The Treasury people want the chestnus they should
those Of the Possofice IT, smPiy under the doabSSi
authority OF Treasury regulation, postmasters are 10
the breaking Of a SEAL or the taking" "embezze-
en OF letters either principals or accessories the
practice viii excite popular clamor both sides
81 the water. which will be anything but pleasant.
The suspected letters and packages can be OBJ
ssge psised Legally nom Post-oface custody
very easily. and / think that Is the only proper
method Of sectng TIE desrea enae pGso ner co 20
No doubt you will be consulted on this mattel
feel You will not bet the PostOfce be used ~
ils own disadvantage. Az any rate pray an you
10 have us furnished with clear definite and unmlstk
ssst,aT Resards 70 an Yours yery truly j GAYLoR
T. e.-ADother point" In the occurs to viz
shesas in view q s very decided of
selzures e g. the cases Of Phelps, Dodge Co. and
Pau Bosdrt would not De hSsy RO ins TO give
papers generally fire opportunity to sound their tour
toIns and utter their shreks over the esarism and
ether obnoxious "isms " OF the Republican party.
tKCRRTARY RICHARDSON UNDERTAKES TO INSTRUCT The
TREASURY DEfIRrMENT. WASHINGTON, D. ca
FIR Referring to the letter of the Department to You
NJ IA. 10th ult. upon the subjec. ri the detention Of
letters and packages surS-ostd to contain dutable
articles, have TO ~. chat after personal conference
CTreTtor at New-York upon the subject, II has been
thought best that notice should be sent from your
efpee 10 the Collector in writing, informing hin OF the
silva Of any such letters aud that when
The same have been opened III the proper manDer ana
svere 10 the Collector OF Customs for the purpose Of
the value rate and amount OF duties &c
and understand that such delivery Is moi
ment will therefore feel Obliged II you will give the
necessary orders " carry o1 sa Secretary
CUsToAHOUsE, NEwYoRK,
COLLECTORS OFFICE, sept. %, 1873.
sK: In pursuance OF instructions this dsy received
am ADVISED that ho has addressed you to the same
purpose respectfully request that you monty IN writ
Collector person whenever PACKAGES
nrr,ye nv mail suspected OF containing duiabe articles
NE gally imported. ,-.. -
Eools and other printed matter and samples OF
shandls4 inch will Of delivered to this Office
nv you for the payment OF duties thereon as proyied
nv Inc postal convention with Great Britain. VIII he
received and held for that purpose by the sorekeeper
q, The port. Other merchandise the importation OF
which through the mail is illegal viii, on notification
from YOU Of It's arrival be taken possession OF by the
,n.toms officer assigned to that duty IRON time TO Time
sId lodged IN the ninth Tor sezure) division OF TINS
ice 10 be dealt with according TO law Very respect
fuy your oDedlent servant, c. A. ARTHUR, Collector
T. l. James, esq, Postmaster. New-fork.
sur posrHAs1EK OBJECTS HAVING HIS DUTIES PRE-
sCgIBED BY The SECRETARY.
PosT-OFTICE DEPARTMENT.
WASHINGTON sept. go 1873.
sIR: The Postmaster OF NewIork has referred 10 Inc
for instructions your letter 70 him OF the Path Instant