Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1892-08-12
The LATEST DECISIONS REGARDING
POSTAL REGULATIONS.
MATTERS THAT THOSE HAVING BUSINESS

O02AA observation-disclosures
MATTERS THAT THOSE HAVING BUSINESS
WITH POST-OFFICEs SHOULD KNOW.
The United States official Postal Guide
for June and July is received. Among the
changes in Virginia the name of Burke s
Mill in Augusta is changed to Burketown.
New offices of Virna and Waycross are es-
tablished in Highland, and Hematite and
Ollie in Alleghany. Among the new rul-
ings Of the Post Office Department contain
ed in the Guide are the following:
A. Contractors and mail carriers have no
right to refuse to carry packages of mailable
matter which, on account of size and shape,
cannot be put into the mail pouch. It is their
duty to carry the mail, and every part thereof.
4S. Letters addressed to convict serving a
term of imprisonment, should be delivered to
the warden OF other officer in charge of the
prisoner. Letters addressed to a person inn
prisoned to await trial upon Indictment, or
pending Indictment, should be delivered &C
cording to the order of the person addressed,
at any time before conviction and sentence.
IS. When publishers Of newspapers and
periodicals persist in sending copies OF their
publications to given addresses, after having
been notified by the postmaster at the Office OF
address, as provided by section 500, Postal
Laws and Regulations, that the same are not
taken out Of the Office, the postmaster cannot
do otherwise than consign such COPIES to the
waste basket, after holding them for thirty
days.
"a. Postmasters are responsible for the acts
of their assistants and clerks, and may, there
fore, select them without regard to age, pro-
vided they are capable of performing the du-
ties devolving upon them. The Department
does not however, permit postmaster to re-
tain any one in the post Office who is discour-
teous to the public, or is habitually careless or
negligent in the performance of official duty.
IS. When postmaster provides his Office
with letter boxes at his own expense, it is I'M
derstood that he does so for the accommoda-
ton Of the patrons of the Office, and such boxes
are recognized by the Department as the prop
erty Of the postmaster, who, upon retiring
from office, may either remove the same or dis
pose of them to his successor upon such terms
as NAV be agreed upon. When a private in
dlvidual, however, by permission of the post
master, erects a box in the post Office for his
Individual use, the box becomes the property
of the Government and cannot be removed or
disposed Of except as directed by the Depart
ment.
81. Fixtures placed in post Office by the
postmaster thereof, are his Individual proper
ty, and are not, in terms, exempt from execu-
ton, but inasmuch as the Government has
placed the same in use for the convenience of
the public, and has accepted the rent therefor,
the effect Of Section 5457 r. s. (1455 P. L. &
r. of 1880 should be carefully considered.
SO. No person engaged in the prosecution of
claims against the Government can lawfully
hold the Office of postmaster, OF be employed
as assistant postmaster or clerk in post Office.
CO. When letter has been deposited at a
post Office for mailing, it. may be withdrawn by
the writer or sender, or in case of minor
child the parent or guardian duly authorized
to control the correspondence of the writer. as
provided in Section 531, Postal Laws and Reg
ulatiors of 1887; but. it the stamp thereon has
been Cancelled, such letter cannot be re-mailed
without payment of postage anew thereon.
81. Postmasters are only expected to exam
inc postal cards passing through their offices
for the pupose of ascertaining if they contain
any matter forbidden by the law to circulate
in the mails; and under no circumstances
must they make public any matter written Or
printed thereon.
g. A pension letter addressed to pension
er in care of his legally appointed guardian,
or to the guardian for the pensioner, should
be delivered to the guardian.
g. When female employe of post Office
changes her name by marriage, and remains
in the employ of the Office, she should take the
oath anew under her new name.
81. It has been decided by the Department
that postmaster cannot properly serve as a
member Of the Legislature of his State.
s.. Under the order of January 10Th, 1892,
postmasters are prohibited from furnishing
lists Of names of their patrons for any purpose
whatever. Should a postmaster be requested,
however, to furnish the name OF a public Of
fetal, minister, physician or other person
engaged in public business, the information
may be given, provided the postmaster has
come into possession of the same otherwise
than through the medium OF his relation to the
post Office and his duties connected Herewith.
CT. Under the provisions of Section 4S1,
Postal Laws and Regulations of 1887, post
masters are prohibited from closing their Off
ces at intervals during the day, for any pur-
pose whatever. The Office must be kept open
continuously during the hours Of business;
and if, for any cause, the postmaster is oblig-
ed to he absent, the office must be left in charge
of duly sworn assistant, as contemplated by
the provisions of Section 496.
g. Postmasters are forbidden to receive
,,,+;1o+ol ,,oc+ora c+omnS in navmant for
postage on matter deposited for mailing.
SO. The wife Of contractor OF sub-contrac-
tor for carrying the mails cannot be appoint
ed postmaster or assistant postmaster.
WHAT is A CIRCULAR?
AS the definition of what is circular
and entitled to the lesser rate Of postage, is
important to all business men we copy the
following letter defining it:
WASHINGTON, d. g., July 5th, 1892.
AS there seems to be some doubt in the
minds of postmasters as to what constitutes a
'scircular," the following definition is given
for their information and guidance:
A circular is printed letter which, accord
ing to internal evidence, is being sent in identi-
cal terms to several persons. A circular does
not lose it's character as such when the date,
the name of the addressee and of the sender
are written therein, nor by the correction OF
mere typographical errors. The date, if writ
ten, must be the date of the circular, and not
the date on which something is acknowledged
therein to have been received, OF at which
something is to be done, or is to occur.
The permission to correct typographical
errors does not include the right to change
prices in writing, OF make written alterations
in the text. Matter printed in circular form,
with blank spaces left for written insertions,
must when filled out in writing, be prepaid
at the letter rate of postage. A printed re-
ceipt, with the name Of the sender or receip-
tor written therein, or signed thereto, is not a
circular, but is first class matter.
MADISON DAVIS,