Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-02-16
Report Of the Commission Regard
ing United States Statutes.
POSTAL LAWS ARE REVISED.
Portion Covering Onsnses Against the
Expectations on the Nails IL sub
united ne special Report.


the commission ON the codlncatlon of
the United States criminal and penal
laws IN about completed and the por-
ton Of II covering orcnsca against the
postal laws has been submitted ne "a
special report to Congress. The post
master general has communicated
with both houses OF Congress asking
report ON this subject. pointing out .ia
urgent needs. The commission pays
special tribute to Acting Assistant At
torncy General Barrett of the postoiiicc
department for the benefit Of his advice
during It's laborr. The laws revised
embrace all up to and including the
firrt session Of the 55th Congress.
The report. In brief. followri
In numerous instances where penal
ties have been recovered by civii pro-
cess In the nature of actions for debt.
provisions for criminal prosecutions
have been substituted nA morc cfiica-
ciouH. Other changes arr reported hav-
ing In View "a more Sroportionntc nd.
JuHtncnt 81 penalties 60 the gravity OF
the oficnscs respectively defined, In
which the present laws having been
adopted from time 10 time are faulty.
a provision has been Inserted inhihit-
Ing the maintenance Of private post
Offices ana letter boxes.
This IL In conformity" the commits.
sion says. with the general policy of
this government and II II further
recommended by considerations of
great weight. u being found that In the
larger cities these institutions remained
the inatrumcntaliticn % practices par
taking OF fraud and immortality. In a
recent instance nt Now York they were
aaHl.l
man lives were sacrificed under clrcum-
stances Of grave criminnlity."
Another section f0rhida the unlawful
exercise OF the Office Of postmaster OF
other cmployc In the postal service to
prevent practice morn or less com
mon. Section ai's. Revised Statutes. has
been amended 10 meet the question
whether United States protection can
be extended over depreciation orcnscs
against other property by reason OF a
pontofiico location Ia the same build
ing, tn. provision added being with
intent 90 commit therein any offcnre
| defined In this title .or 20 steal or rur-
loin any money or other property OF
the United states"
sections ssso.si.ss. sieT.ss-sg.7o dea,
with large but substantially the same
class of mail d-prcdationA and have
been embraced In one section. nm added
provision giving n liberal elasticity
TO the penalties. Punishment for deprc-
inii0nH on the mails IN transit who FREE
qucntly heretofore have found lmmu-
nifty through difficulty or securing evil
dence nH to the particular In which the
offcnte was committed. Il provided for
IN two now sections, making II an of
Tense for an omployc TO fail TO deliver
the mail or any part of u 10 the re-
quir,d person and 10 carry Into any dis
trict any letter or contents thereof un-
lawfully distracted from the mail In
any other district knowing II to have
been M distracted.
Portinastera selling stamps 60 per-
sons outside of their respective Jurla-
dlction To Increase their compensation
are TO be subject 60 penal punishment.
SECTIONS agg..gs inclusive and amcndn-
tory acts prohibiting removal and reuse
OF STAMPS have been consolidated into
u single section with maximum and
minimum penalty. To meet Supreme
court rulings In constructing the act
OF September 20. isSs, nmcndatory Of
section 1888. as To obHoanlty. etc. these
have been revised with an addition Of
the words Indecent. filthy or vulgar"
The postal transmission OF poisonous.
Infectious and explosive matter also
IN prohibited In n new section with n
certain discretion aH TO the admissible
ity vested In the postmaster general.
The language respecting minappro-
priation of postal funds or property n
80 ampiined that It's protection may be
extended To money or property which
shall have come into the possession or
under the control 81 any officer or cm-
ployc OF the poutoflic. department In
execution OF such office OF employment
or under color or claim OF authority
aH such.