The evening times., 1899-08-03

During the past two or three days sew
eral persons have been distributing
among the residents of the southeastern
the impression to the unsuspecting house
wife that the Postoffice Department has
issued an order requiring every house
holder to purchase a letterbox. In many
instances the innocent housewife has been
imposed upon to the extent of so cents, the
sum required for the letter-b box, which is
manufactured by 1.-The United States Stand
ard Letter-Box and Plate Company.
Important Notice" is the heading OF
the circular, which states that the order
has been reafirmed directing postmasters.
postal clerks. and carriers to recommend
and urge upon householders the use Of
mail despositories." Then follows gar
bled extracts from the postal laws and
regulations which convey the idea that
the Postoffice Department has issued a
general order requiring every householder
in every city where there is free delivery
to provide a letter box for the reception Of
mail
But it is the following that really fright
ems many persons into giving up so cents.
or what change they may have, as the
agent, it is said, never refuses to accept
anything offered:
Postmasters will observe the following rules
/. Every householder must, for his own conve-
nience and advantage, and at his own expense,
provide a suitable box. 2. PostmasteTs are IN
structed 10 give information about the boxes
and encourage householders 10 put them up. In
trlrh fna of hpyaC will
the safety and speed of the mail. all clerks
and carriers are ordered 10 recommend and ia
cilitate their adoption.-(Order OF the Postmaster
General, 80; L. ). Official Postal Guide, p s9i.)
Notice-Every householder will now be pro-
vided with mail-receiving box which will be
leased by the United States Standard Letter Box
and Plate Company, at the nominal rate of 10
cents per year. Ii is not rented for one year
only 10 cents, but is put up for term OF five
years for so cents. Ii will be your property
during that time, and you may take it with you
from one house TO another whenever you move.
The circular concludes with the an
nouncement that the headquarters of the
U. S. Standard Letter Box and Plate Com
pany is in Boston, and that w. B. Hackett
is its president
The agents are supplied with printed re-
ceipts, which are given in return for the
80 cents, with the promise that the box
will be delivered in ten days, and II is said
that often the box never comes.
A. w Machen, Superintendent of the
Free Delivery Division of the Postoffice De-
partment when asked about the matter,
said this morning that il was a swindling
scheme, but that the department could do
nothing, as the men who operate the game
do not claim 10 be agents of the Postoffice
Department, nor does the circular state on
its face that il is issued by the department.
Whenever the matter has been brought 10
the attention Of the officials the department
publishes a notice in the city where the
agents of the letter-box company are can
yassing to the effect that no one is required
by the Postoffice Department 10 purchase q
letter box. When the agent fails 10 send the
box, Mr.. Machen said a case of false pre-
lenses could be made out, but that it would
be for the local and not the Federal au-
thorities 10 prosecute. The boxes, he added,
cost about cents each TO manufacture.