The times., 1897-08-12
DEPARTMENT Is ANNOYED
Regard the Action of the Bright
wood People as Combination To
Iojure the Present Postoffice-
Smallest Violation of the Law to
Be Promptly Acted Upon.

lhiS report IL TeCtiNcu the Gepdf Iiiltnt VIII
send an inspector TO the scene OF the trouble
If there is found Co be the slightest tech
nical violation OF the law arrests and
prosecution will follow.
The postal authorities are becoming rest
i've under the disturbed conditions at Bright
wood and the policy of the department is
TO protect its postmaster in the enjoyment
of all the fruits and profits of the office.
The department resents interfer with
the business OF postoffice when the 10
reference is tie result OF per sonal aninosi-
ties r local feuds.
If postmaster is incompetent or dis.
hoacst charges should be preferred against
him, ar d these charges viii always receive
careful and complete investigation by the
department But the department. believes
that when a postmaster has been duly ap-
pointed after due comparison with the
claims Of divers candidates that the de .
cision OF the department should be ac-
cepted by al the patrons of that office.
These local difficulties have a ten ndency 10
impair the service, aud this the department.
VIII always guard with care.
The BTightwood muddle has already been
a souTceof muchtrouble to the department
It has, said a prominent official, been a
tempest in teapot, and the department
desires the inai dent closed.
A high official OF the department told
reporter for The Times last night that
he thought the whole underlying motive
Of the fight which Brightwood had made
ON the new postoffice was that Mr.. Osborn,
OF Brightwood, had been defeated for tha
position, and that the patronage which fol-
lows a postoffice would be withdrawn FROM
the grocery store at Brightwood to that at
Brightwoed Park.
One of the inspectors told a reporter
for The Times yesterday that 1t was clear
that there was a combination among many
# the people of Brightwood to injure the
present postoffice and curtail as much as
possible tie emoluments of the present
postmaster. Knowing to moral certainty
that this Condition exists the department,
said the inspector, would search carefully
for the smallest violation OF the letter OF
the law.
Harrison J. Barrett. acting assistant
attorney general for the Postoffice De-
suned the depa rtment would do what was
within its power to protect its own
postmaster. II there was no law under
which the present condition could De
corrected q law would have TO be enacted
The vindictiy eness OF patrons of post
office often interfered with the postal
service The spite Of individuals should
not be allowed TO cripple a postoffice:
It was not just IL there was anything
wrong with the postmaster the department
would investigate the case.
Section 1929 OF the Revised Statutes OF
the United States makes it penal offense
for man to conduct or profess TO conduct
place bearing the sign of postoffice.
IN the case of Brigbtwood a man draws
out mail from the regular office and places
IL in letter boxes in his own store for dis-
tribution. The law may not mean literally
that he keeps the sign ''postoffice" dis
played, but he conducts place resembling
a postoffice. The maximum fine for vio
lation OF this statute is $500.
II any man in Brigbtwood regularly col
lects the Tnall and carries it over a post
route to the injury Of the revenue OF the
United States, is a crime. II anybody at
Brigbtwood enters into an agreement with
a postmaster TO deposit the mail OF Bright
wood at any other office with view TO
receiving a percentage OF the commission
accruing from the cancellation OF stamps, he
viii invade the law.
There are other statutes and postal regu-
lations which may be made to apply more
or less directly to the Bnghtwood diff
Guilty, and which the Postoffice Depart
Inent VIII invoke when the time is ripe.
There is a postal regulation which ap-
plies to free delivery offices, but which
may be applied to a fourth-class office
where the eNigency warrants it, This regu-
lation is that no standing order FROM an
addressee for the delivery of his mail to
any other person shall be recognized
Neither shall an order renewed day after
day for the transfer of mail matter be
recognized.
The department is especially watchful
that no private carrier OF United States
mail shall receive compensation, as this Is
absolutely prohibited under the law. Now
comes up the question as to what consti
tutes compensation.
The keeper Of the grocery store az Bright
wood who goes down to Brigbtwood Park
with q standing order from all the patrons
Of his store TO deliver their mail to him, and
who then takes this mail to his store,
distributes it In postoffice boxes and de-
hyers 1t TO people as they call for 1t, may
not receive any direct compensation for this
service, but If he profits by it in any way
it is held by the department to constitute
compensation. If it be shown that this
transfer OF mail from the regular post
office TO the grocery store at Brightwood
helps to sell goods at that store, or in
ereases the trade OF the voluntary carrier,
ii is probable that the department will con
strue this as compensation.
Another weapon which the department.
holds is that Mr. Shaw, who is part
owner In the Brightwood store, to which
the mail is transferred and wiois party
to the plan OF transferring the mail in
this irregular manner, is a postmaster at
Chillum, Nd, few miles from Bright
wood The department feels that It CT n
exert certain amount of pressure 20 bear
on Mr. Shaw, and il he should refuse to
let the postmaster at BriShtwood Park
enjoy the profits OF that office, Mr.. Shaw
would be removed as postmaster at Chill
lum, Md.
Jane Moseley to Colonial Beach.
The great day of the week for the Jane
Moseley is Friday, On which occasion the
g. a-.1f-. Er-