The times., 1897-09-18
.P0STMARKs MUST Be PLAIN
PoslmasterS Ordered to Clean
Their Cancellation Stamps.
ILLEGIBLE TYPE is BARRED
Fo rty-six Thousand Postmasters
without Proper Outfits IlleGi-
biIity of Stamps May Result In
Removal-R Reasons Set Forth by
the Postoffice Department.

The Postoffice Departments intends TO
have a legible postmark and back stamp
on every letter passing through the mails,
or it means To know the reason why. Out
OF 20, 900 postmasters it has been deter.
mined by the department that only $4,000
have a complete cancella tion kit.
Perry S. Heath, First Assistant Post
master General, on May 4 last sent cir
cular-letter to every postmaster calling
attention to the necessity for legibiity.
He said:
"Leeible postmarking of mail matter Is
of tile greatest Importance TO the public
as evidence before the courts, i'll business
Transactions conducted through the mails
anL in fixing the responsibility when mail
matter has been improperly handled By
posrmasters or other postal employees. The
frequency OF complaints ia regard to de
fective postmarking makes IL necessary
for the department TO adoptsevere measures
to remedy tile trouble. Illegible post
marking is generally due either TO careless
ness in the method OF handling the stamp
imDroper condition of linking pad, failure
TO keep the stau.p clean, improper adjust
ment Of type in stamp or failure to place
letters on ID rubber pad or some other
elastic surface wien postmarking them
Much of the postmarking, especially that
at the smaller offices. is a reflection upon
the postal service. The department con
siders failure in this respect serious mat.
ter, which must be remedied at once"
Later, Mr. Heath caused TO be sent 70
81 ri n4J1 lfTl-
uressions of postmarking and receiving
Stamps, and asking for information as 10
the quantity and character of the type.
TIE returns showed that COZ postmasters
had neither stamps nor type; that ,4O0
nSed stamps, the impressions from which
were iIeeible; that 800 were legible,
hut very poor, and that hut $4,000 stamp
ing outfits We're complete.
Then, to gain as much information as
possible about the posumarks Mr.. Heath
followed up his circular of May Ii 10y
one OH August %, which was as follows
.Pos.naStets are requested to secur-
| from the patrons of their several offices
envelopes showing Inegible or unsatis
factory postinarking or backstampins' and
| forwaro he same 10 this office, Division
| of Poslofflce Supplies with a statement
showing the name Of the office where tie
unsatisfactory postinaking or backstamp
| ing was done.
"Legible postmaking on every letter
passing through the mails is required
! Pos,lnasters have been given fair IOtice
end future failure of duty in this respe,t I
viii lie calle d to the attention OF the officer
la ring charge of appointments and re
1nuyuls."
The department has issued a circular
| of Instructions as to the use and care oi
stamps, and requesting postlnasters o.
send In reouis.tions for such outfits as they
require that their work of cancellation
may be properly done. Michael W Louis
| clhef of the Division of PostoffiCe Supplies
is busy in filling these acquisitions.
To help along the good work begun
| Postmaster General Gary means to adop1
| the best design for canceling stamp whicl
| can be invented. Yesterday lie ordere6
| thct Alex. Grant, assistant superintendent
Railway Mail Service: NJ. W. Louis, su
perintendeut division Of postoffice sup
plies, and w. II. Lamar, a clerk in tn
office of the First Assistant Postmaste
iieneral, be appointed a committee r.
the purpose Of examining new design
or improvements in the canceling STAN
now in use in the postal service. and t.
report TO the Postmaster General the
result Of their Investigations, with sue
recommendation as theymay deem prope
to make.