The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-09

,..y,,.roV Aug, S-Whcn the Postotiice
...,r,.,i began last Spring its crusade
.,..,rriyatc letter box proprietors, the
,,s letter boxes maintained by news
...1Aa necessary adjunct TO their fer-
., rl,,rs was carefully investigated
,ra4 the department was able to ascer-
.,,n..ftu,e, it was without authority to
..qIr,t this outside branch OF the
.,sr-, business. The crusade against the
,, L.,,nr boxes had moral and legal
wears the Department was aware OF
,.,,, vnrh resulted from secret cores
,.I,.o 90. rducted through these letter
49,. ,,.i many appeals were made to it by
.......,.- and societies to take what meas
go. ~ could To- put stop to the prac-
..l. .,aror boxes were kept princi-
IN cspr stores and news stands
,.., rented to anyone. In
.y.,. r,.e- the correspondence was con-
l.,..l.a.!rr initials. fictitious names or such
.,,..., IL Love. constant" etc. The adj
r......- were given thus Constant. Box VI.
y \. l1nL treat The boxes were utilized
H., ,,u carrying on Legitimate correspou-
.....,. .yrh Young girls. married people who
,-r., nfIt.l to have their letters come to their
r,..,4. prruu.g goods men. bunco sharps.
I....s lsrEnalIers and others. who for one
,,...u.,r.r.o,h,r could not have their letters
,,.r,.-.r4 rl'huIr residences or places Of bust
ur-e.
.Iur, was another evil. similar to this in ef-
....... Sc, ,y"n more securely iutrenched
Mediterranean Of private letter box ss-
....-r,..r,. marcy eudcavored to make an
...r..II.nlrh 10y handling private mail as an ac-
,..-.,y', asa ElatIon houses. there were great
,,.... rn.f,aunnwspaper-i in different citios.par-
.....,., tho Np," York HurdH which not only
.,.fer,I pi,ato letter box establishments.
-, t,,N.. -
...,,.ir,exteud ;hs system to the detriment
.,,r.. ..o.! morals of the community. Cogni-
..,.,. was AIKEN Of his fact in connection with
a.. ,nr,r and lass injurious letter box
,r.,rla- u whilc way was found to crush
r,. .t,t'. fellows. the big ones escaped
1.1.frr,.apr was hue to a difference in the
r..,A,t ~ addressing the letters. Lover.
'.I-.>-". Mabel "Marguerlte", Romeo.
ard ..h,r- have been permitted to continue
..,tr ,,r,"spnndenco through the business Of
.,,ot ,hr NfrH without interference at the
h.,nlt - the Post Office authorities. when II
.1,y h.'em,'"I the same thing through the
sat. letter BOX establishment their mail
womb ln !nu At tn" Post Office until they
r.u.l ant lr,l"a their identity to the satisfac-
t,n ( Pos lls'er Van Colt
VI trvrl. .rruplns the Post Office DEPART
,r.n, may have entertained about enforcing
r,,.,.rs If the smaller letterbox systems. 1t is
said tia, the reason why NJ step was taken
,.a.ns. ,ho mai for Lover ct al. care the
E..1.r" was because under the ruling
made hy Assistant Attorney General Barrett.
tho InVartmrnt did not have the authority
20 stop this mail. 1t appears that mai!
-ogr IA the car, u the cigar stores was adj
.,,.sci merely Constant. Box 81. 4+4 Nine
tv.uiuth street" while mails sent to the
tame person by means Of the Herdlds bus
lrc~- ufilce wuul he addressed Constant
.arn New York Hrli. New York" 1t was the
,.u,o word Caro- which prevented action being
,.koH agairs' the NraR. as well as againstthe
ltr'n i~h engaged in the same disrcputable
business.
Asr,t.ol yfthe postal laws and regulations
provides that whenever. the Postmaster-Gen-
err becomes convinced that person is having
lD- mail sent to some other than his proper
business Or residence address for tho purpose
o.ayoing Identification, his mail may be held
Up bv tho postmaster and not delivered until
the addressed calls and proves his ider tity.
On this cause Mr.. Barrett wrot" an opinion
that the mail adressed to the private etter
boxes could he withheld. 1t was found that
New York and Philadelphia were afflicted with
Sch c-taU.I -hments to a greater degree than
any other cry. Accordingly Postmaster Van
Co.., On receipt OF the ruling of Mr.. Barrett and
the instructions from the Department. directed
q. N" letter carriers to make a record of the
Wli. delivered to private letter beX establish
n 'r.s with View Of aScertaning the names
fictitious or otherwise. under which the cor
respondents concealed their identity. After
week ug ten days Mr. Van Colt had a fairly
c"npIet" HIT # all the places and all the names
and ole morning all the mail addressed to these
~. a
ia pIa"" If tn" anNlousiy waited letters little
cards telling the addresses il he or she woult
"a, at tho city post flee and prove their iden
u'Y th' satisfaction Of Postmaster VanCott
tl"v would recev" their mail. Out OF tn,
thousands Concerned. very few appeared
some were travelling men who changed thel
at.r"~e"s g. frequently they had to have some
i.''' "h"'" their mail could be sent. Others
"rr" hraTder1 who did not trust their board
IE nous" mlstrcSses, or who frequentl!
chang! their abodes. Some who did not dar,
:" n' the mai! remain in the hands OF tn,
postal authorities. came forward and acknowI
"iE"I their Identity with Willie. Box 80. 9.
II" TX" street. and others. and carried OF
th'r caide0tine correspondence. Similar ac
ton vas takrn in Philadelphia. and in botl
'.'.'r The pos'nasters announced they hat
totally abolished the private letter DO,
Ss-'sm
hl' IN Philadelphia the proprietors have Sc
U. new scheme. similar to that OF the Herdd
N''lg"r ave tho letters addressed " Box 20
'' 4'"'iN Chestnut street. Philadelphia" bu
my ar" addressed to -. NJ. L.. care william
'"'1~, Np. +ii4 Chestnut street" Now tn
I'''' N'' he's no reason or right to interior
wan Nh" MAJ Of William Jones. or with an
"" s""t IN hi. care: so three such establish
h'"'' ha'" sprung up and are doing rushin
.H' N"r' The postmaster at Philadelphia
'"'' a. tn Post once Department last Wec
h" N''"g.In what he could do to stop tn
''" "'I,;ry which threatens to replace tn
~" lie was Instructed to write a letter t
,I' y .u1"meHt which will be- referred 10 NJ
"'.''', VINO val render another opinion on tn
'''''. h!4, Il is expected. will cover the pre-
." Afforded by the word care" There
l"' mat i"tters sent In such a manne
'.' So 3t'rosScd TO conceal the identity OF tn
.'."'-'" and his place Of residence and undo
.' '-'7 laws The Postmaster General has
'~' I'D 'n-' get the postmaster to hold up sue
IN ih' aldre5see calls for it and is ider
II is stated at the Post ONCE Depar
.'A 'H'' under the expected ruling it may /
'''r ID" Department to reach the ma
'-"' 10 anonymous correspondent
a" VA 'h' personal columns of the HP,'dh
nv i'.'9 "a Gp'p and OF her sheatS m nj in thin N