The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-11-30
VIOLATING POSTAL LAWS.
Federal Authorities Give the
Express Companies a
Warning.
How the Government Has Been De.
prived of Revenue by Messen.
gers on Trains.

The attention of the local Postoffice in
spectcrs has been recently called to the
practice of express messengers on trains
carrying unstamped letters from residents
of small interior towns to merchants in
San Francisco. These letters are generally
business orders.
AS case in point, it was discovered that
Petaluma traders were corresponding with
San Francisco merchants IN this way, and
so extensive has the practice been that the
Government has been deprived of consid-
cradle revenue which otherwise might
have come to it in exchange for postage
stamps. Postal Inspector Erwin consulted
the United States District Attorney, and,
as a result, notices have been sent out to
the various express companies to have the
practice discontinued.
The carving by messengers OF communl-
cations which should have gone through
the mails has been a custom OF long stand
ing. Assistant United States District At
torney Schlessinger said yesterday that it
is a plain violation of the postal laws. He
quoted section 675 OF the postal laws. 1t
relates particularly to express companies,
and reads as follows;
No person shall establish any private ex-
press for the conveyance OF Testers or packets,
or in any manner cause or provide for the con-
stated periods over any post route which is or
may be established by law, or from any city,
town or place to any other city, town or place
between which the mail IS regularly carried,
and every person so offending or aiding in as
sistfng therein, shall for each ofense be liable
10 penalty OF $3.50.
Mr.. Schlessinger recalled the fact that
back in the Iifties there was an Attorney
Generals opinion rendered bearing on this
very question. According to that opinion
- 70 a toll tod ~ h
cause the discontinuance OF routes and re-
suit in a Government business being as
sumed by private parties. Mr.. Schlessin-
ger said:
II private agencies can be established the in
come of the Government may be SO reduced
that economy might demand discontiHuance
OF the Postoffice, and thus the business which
ii is the right anG duty OF the Government to
conduct for the Interest OF all and on such
terms that all may avail themselves OF the ad-
vantage may be handed over TO individuals or
corporations who will conduct 1t with the sole
view Of making N oney and VINO may find 1t to
their profit to exclude localities or classes from
the benefits of the service. Bringing orders
from interior tow ms to San Francisco in I'M
stamped envelopes is plain violation OF Sec
ton 1882 of the Revised Statutes,
Section 1898, however, permits letters to be
carried by express companies provided they
have the Covenant nt stamps on. 1t says:
"All letters incldsed in stamped envelopes, 1t
the postage 1 o5 fhat Woad Be
chargeable thereon if the same were sent by
mail, may be sent, conveyed and delivered
otherwise than by mail, provided such envelope
shall be duly directed and properly sealed, so
that the letter eannot be taken therefrom
without defacing the envelope. and the date OF
the letter or of the transmission or receipt
thereof shall be written or stamped upon the
envelope"
There will not be any prosecutions"
said Mr. Erwin, "for past offenses in this
line" but if the notices he has sent out are
not needed he will see that the laws are
enforced.