The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-04-12

will not redeem it's own stamps from in
dividuals as is the case in England. The
chief reason is that by keeping postage
stamps out Of circulation, as the equivalents
OF money, there is some kind Of a check
placed on these petty frauds. In England,
where, as has been said. stamps are bought
up to ten shillines, or about two dollars and
a half of our money, the use of the mails for
purposes OF fraud is simply rampant. I'm
fortunately, within ths last hve years this
class of stamp brokers has come into ex-
istence all over the union. They buy stamps
at q discount of from i've to tan per cent.
This has given rise to a species of petty
crime that was almost unknown a decade
ago that is the stealing Of stamps by office
boys who are inttusted with the mailing of
letters by their employers. When there
was no market for the stamps, there was no
object for their theft, but now there are
close to a half hundred boys doing time at
the various rsformntory institutions for the
crime.
Another fraud, / can hardly say on the
postofhcs, has obtained through the last
few years considerable proportions. 1t is
the taking of mail matter left on the top of
mail bofes in our straats under the idea
that it had been intruatsd to Uncla Sam.
Nothing is in the care of the postofdce de-
partment unless it is actually deposited IN
tbs recsptacles provided for that purpose.
It seems to be a general error OF the public
that when they cannot get a valuable par
Gel into a street. box, that thsy have legally
| mailed it when they have plaosd it on topof
the box. Yhers ia a regular rang of petty
thieves on tho west side, in the neiRhbor-
hood of Sixth, Seventh and Eighth avenues,
between Fourteenth and Thirty-thlrd
streets, the great retail dry goods district,
who make it their business to rob the con-
fding public who place articles Of value on
top OF the boxes provided for mail"
How is it," asked the reporter, s'that
Anthony Comstoek, who il a postal inspsc-
tor, seems to be able to oauae arrests. n
| postxl laws have bean violated in the ways
you have related, and you tell me your
hands are practically ticd?"
Anthony Comstock. it is true, as postal
inspector, can do no more, nor exercise any
more authority than 10 exercised by any
man who works under Mr.. James ia his
Office. Comstock is a postal inspector only
to help him in his work. In point of fact,
he is u state officer more than a federal
one, and tho very things you admire are
performed under the authority Of the state
rather than the federal government. MIR.
Comxtocl has made vain efforts to have
his powers enlarged by congress. During
tho last session he iEstigated q bill tending
to suppress pfiyRts postofflcos, which
opened tho door AZ widely for the use of tbs
mail for both immoral and fraudulent pur-
posss. The bill was promptly killed in
som rnittse, and poor Anthony was loft. OF
course this waa just, riRht and proper,
though it might not seem 40 vt 1rIt visw.
In this country and in England a mans
mail is considered sacred. No letter ad-
dressed to man, woman or child osn ba
opened by any postal official unless il
reaches the dsnd-lsttsr Office. In this
words of Sardou's play of Diplomacy,
For q citizen to open a letter not addressed
to him is, in the eyes Of ~society, an infa-
my, and in the eyes of the law a felony.'
cor course" continued the inspector
"this rule does not apply 10 minors il
school, nor to c~onvicts in prison, nor tt
people who have forfeited their civi
rights, sither Temporarily or permanently
IA great stumbling bloak in tho way o
catching tha men who advertise to ssnt
books of a lswd kind, is that the peopl
who send for them never get them, and ar
naturally not going to get themselves int
jail for their ron-delivery."
!, How about the lotteries?"
We'll, tho fact il, that for several year
? past the lotteries hAvs not bothered til
/ malta very much. Ihe lotteries have beo
. using tho sxpress companies as a means c
Y transporting their tisketa and circulars"
"1s there any msans" qRsrisd the re
porter, .of stepping the petit, fraud
0 None Whatever, as long as every let's
, must be delivered unopsnsd to any addrsl
4 and go long aa men would rather lose
4 quarter than aqueal about it,"