The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-02-17
,artment, for the benefit Of his advice

partment, for the benefit OF his advice
during Its labors. The laws revised
embrace all up to and including the
first session Of the Fifty-ffth Congress.
The report in brief follows: In numer-
GUS instances where penalties have been
recovered by civil process In the nature
Of actions for debt. provisions for crim!-
nal prosecutions have been substituted
as more eiiicaclous. Other changes are
reported having in view more proper
tlonate adjustment OF penalties to the
gravity or the offenses respectively de-
fined in which the present laws having
been adopted from time to time are
faulty. Occasional emendations have
been made In the verbiage OF the pres
ent laws designed to secure precision
and succinctness in the definitions OF
Offices. A provision has been inserted
inhibiting the maintenance OF private
postoffice and letter boxes. This is in
conformity" the commission says,
with the general policy OF this govern
ment and 1t Is further recommended by
considerations OF great weight. 1t being
found that in the larger cities these in
stitutions are made the instrumental
ties OF practices partaking OF fraud and
immortality. In Il recent instance at
New York they were employed as the
means by which two human lives were
sacrificed under circumstances OF grave
crimlnallty."
Another section forbids the unlawful
exercise OF the Office of postmaster or
other employment In the postal service.
to prevent L practice more or less com
mon. Section 3i7S revised statutes has
been amended to meet the question
whether United States protection can be
extended over depreciation ofTenses
against other property by reason OF Il
postoiiice located In the same building.
the provision added being with intent
to commit therein any offense defined
in this tide or TO steal or purlon any
money or other property OF the United
States" Sections 3S9O-9I-9.. 54G7. 1865.
1853 and $40 deal with Il large but sub
stantially the same class of mail deprc-
dations and have been embraced In one
section. an added provision giving . lib
eral elasticity to the penalties. Punish
mcnt for depredators on the mails In
transit who frequently heretofore have
found immunity through difficulty of
producing evidence rs To the particular
district in which the offense was COM
mitted, Is provided for in two new sec
tons, making 1t an offcnsc for an en-
ploye 10 fail TO deliver the mall or any
part or 1t 10 the required person and to
carry into any district any letter or
contents thereof unlawfully distracted
from the mall In any other district
knowing It TO have been so abstractcd.
Sections 39o2-2j inclusive and amenda-
tory acts prohibiting removal and reuse
OF stamps have been consolidated into Il
single section with maximum and
minimum penalty. Postmastcrs selling
stamps to persons outside OF their re-
spectlve Jurisdiction to increase their
compensation, are to be subject to
penal punishment. TO meet supreme
court rulings, in constituting the act OF
September &c. 1883. amendatory Of sec
ton 1898. as TO Obscurity, 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 Is
prohibited In n new section with GER
tain discretion as to aduissibiiity vest
cd In the postmaster general. The Ian
guaSe of section 1853, respecting misap-
preparation OF postal funds or property
Is so ampliiied that It's protection may
be extended to money or property
which shall have come into the por-as-
sion or under the control of any officer
or cmploye OF the postof,lcc department
tn execution OF such office OF. employ
mcnt or under color or claim OF author
'ty ms such.