The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-12
TO HOLD UP PRIVATE MAIL.
TIE CRUSADE AGAINST PRIV1TE LET
LER BOXES RESNMED.

Waiting for II Complaint Against the sys-
tom as Conducted by the Herald -
Before Action Is Taken to suppress 1t
Tho Department to End tho Evil.
WAsHINGToS. Aug. 1.-THE post Office De-
pnrtment resumed its crusade to-day against
the prorrictors OF the private letter boxes, by
instructing Postmaster Hicks Of Philadelphia
to stop all mail going to them and requiring
tho addrcssees to call at the Post ONCE
and prove identity before turning their
mail over to them. No action has been
taken In the case OF any such establishments
which may exist in New York. nor in tho cnse
Of the private letter box system as conducted
by the Heroid The Department Is waiting
!ora complaint against the Herald from or
transmitted through. Postmaster Van Cott as
something must be had on which to base
action by the Department.
a letter waS received from Postmaster Hicks
to-day pointing out that the crusade against
the private letter-boX system in Philadelphia
Threatened TO prove failure because. al
though they had been able TO put stop to the
system Of having mail addressed to boxes" in
cigar stores and elsewhere. the mail was now
coming to names at numb ers where the de-
partment was satisfied the parties neither re-
sided nor did business. He said that several
Of these establishments were advertising in
their mail sent to the store or other place OF
business Of the advertiser could do 80 on the
payment of small sum. Many persons
took advantage Of this new scheme.
and large quantities OF mail were be-
ing sent to such establishments
Addressed to others than tho parties living
there doing business. Acting Assistant
Attorney General Barrett replied at once in
forming Mr.. Hicks that wherever he was
satisfied that mail was being sent to such
places intended for parties who used this
means of escaping identification. he was au-
thorized under the law to hold up their mail
until satisfied OF their identity. no matter how
such mail WAS addressed. 1t is expected that
the postmaster will at once proceed in these
cases and withhold the mail now going to'Wil-
liam Jones'" Dolly" and all others who re-
ceive their mail at the establishments referred
to.
The Post Office Department Ia in earnest in
this attempt to put an end to the private letter.
box systems. Several years ago a similar cru
SADIE was instituted. but having stopped the
practice for whilethe Department relaxed it's
vigilance. and they soon sprung w again
This time. however. the Department intends to
prosecute the case to the end and not only put
a stop to the business but compel the pro-
prietots to refrain from re engaging in it.
Postmaster Hicks. OF Philadelphia. deserves
much credit. according to the Post Office De-
partment officials. He was the first to call the
attention of the Department to tho renewed
existence of the evil and asked permission to
proceed against it. Postmaster Van Colt was
requested to cooperate as fat as New York
was concerned. and did so. He was 50 sue
cessful that. with the exception OF the private
letter boxes maintained by the Herald It is be-
lieved. New York is entirely free from this evil.
II has so far been assumed by the Departmnt
in the absence of positive evidence to the con-
trary. that all advertisers in newspapers.
advertise for legitimate purposes and the
Department of course does not wish
to withhold replies addressed to such advcrtis-
ers in tho care Of newspapers But there ap-
pears to be no doubt Of the authority OF the
Postmaster General to direct the Postmas-
ter at New York to discriminate in this matter
between the advertisers whose business Is
legitimate and the proprietors OF designation
houses or houses Of i'll repute who use the Her.
ais personal columns AMI the replies ad-
dressed to " Fidelity" Romeo" and Privacy
Assured" can be stopped by Postmaster Van
Cott and held until the addressee proves iden-
tity. without interfering with the answers
to advertisements for buggies. typewriters.
agents &c. sent care OF the Herald or any other
newspaper.