The New York herald., 1878-12-30
ANSWER.
BUSINESS CIRCULARS IN THE MAILS


To EDITOR THE HERALD:-
have noticed in the Complaint Book" acard from
Manufacturer" calling the attention of the Post
Office officials to the non-devery of business crcu-
lars and of course laying tho blame upon the Post
Office. He says:-
In many cases, to my personal knowledge, this
,ass OF mail matter never reaches its destination, in
, asequence of which our customers fail to get the
ID formation asked for Our business is injured and
III money paid for printing and postage IL thrown
away Letters addressed to the same parties arc de-
vored. which fact seems to prove that the
is not used in the handling of all classes OF mail
matter.
As clerk in the department which has control
such matter will state, for the information Of
Manufacturer" and business men in general. why
circulars fail to reach their destination the same as
letters. There appears to be wonderful deal ig
norance on the part Of business relative to the
postal law regulating the transmission Of circulars
and third class matter in general. The law provides
that circulars are transmissibe within the city for
unsealed envelopes and have writing on
them; otherwise they are liable to letter
rates. One or more circulars not exceeding
two ounces can be sent outside the city for
cent All third class matter, such packages OF
goods. samples or the like is charged at the rate of
cent a ounce, but they must De lett open for nspec
tion and contain no writing otherwise they will be
charged letter rates. These rules simple aud
easily observed, but owing TO ignorance of the law
desire to get the value of their money they are
'morc honorcd in the breach than In the Observance
which is oftentimes sealed and they expected to
be transmitted tor one cent postage, and too often
without cent at ALL Parcels are oftontimes sealed
If not sealed, they sometimes contain letter
written instructions hidden away in corner, where
the ynxeyed searcher is sure to ind IL out In such
cases, should there be number of circulars sent
by the same party, he Is notified that they held
postage; but scattered circulars held postage,
are sent to Washington. When state that tons
OF such matter pass daily through the New York
Oflice any sensible man will sec now impossible IL
would be to notify scndcrs of single circulars for to
do would take little army Of clerks. With regard
10 packages parcels articles of any value held for
postage, they mt sent to the searchcrs'
Office and the sender or sendee is notified the
OF their detention. The greatest Is used In this
respect. ana Ii the clerks find any package open to
doubt to the right oil OBTAINING IL at refer
1t to the Superintendent, Mr.. John Purdy, who in
some cases has to submit the parcel To Mr. Bakcslie
to the Assistant Postmaster or Postmaster him
acf. The name and address or the parties sending
the package IL on 10. and the name and address OF
Tho party to whom IL is forwarded, entered a
book. and IL taken out forwarded the same is
noted. that In twelve months tell what dis
position has been made Of each letter package held
tor postage. for the same rule applies 10 both. II
"Manufacturer' only drops in to the Scarchers De-
partment and examines the books-and he will not
require mandamiis to do sohe will see for himself
with what wonderful accuracy records kept OF
letters and packages, which held for postage or
other and he WILL I'm sure. be convinced that
when they fail in their delivery the fault does lie
with the Post Occ but is attributable 10 the gnor-
of the law carelessness of the sendcrs them
selves. A POST OFFICE CLERK.