The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-10-21
NEWSPAPERS HEAPED HIGH.
Cannot Be Forwarded for Lack of
Sufficient Postage.

'T want to show you one of the trials
of postmasters life." said Deputy Post
master John E. Shideler. last evening, as
he opened the door of a room next to the
postmaster's private apartment, and bade
the reporter enter. The first thing that at
tracted attention on entering the room
was the vast quantity of newspapers it
contained These were wrapped, addressed
and stamped-apparently ready for mailing
and contained in eight bushel baskets.
each of which was heaped to overlooking
with papers.
Every package of newspapers in those
baskets is held for lack of the proper
amount of postage" continued Mr.. Shide-
Ter. THAT is just the accumulation of
the interval that has elapsed since carnival
week 1 guess the extra large editions that
were printed by the newspapers that week
got the minds of the people twisted. For
about the millionth time. 7 want to repeat
that newspaper postage Is one cent for
By that o I mean 1I that. if a wrapped news.
paper weighs anything above four ounces
and below eight, two cents in stamps must
be affixed TO 1t. 1t is simply astonishing
to discover how many people there are who
think that just any newspaper will go
through the mails for a one-cent stamp. A
certain local paper prints at the head of
its editorial department that a twelve-page
edition Will go for one cent, while paper
larger than that-on up to twenty-four
pages-requires two cents for mailing. The
public ought to bear in mind also that for
eign rates of postage are double those
which prevail in this country-that is to
say. for newspapers, one cent for each
two ounces or fraction. Foreign rates do
not, however. prevail in Canada or Mexico.
Letters, papers or packages may be mailed
to any point in either of those countries
at the regular domestic rates.
Many thoughtless people complain Of
cur strictness in holding packages which
are not provided with the proper amount
CT postage" said Mr.. Shideler, but it IS
because they do not understand the posi-
ton in which We are placed. Suppose that
1 should let one of these packages of news
papers go on its way without the neces-
other end of the line should detect the
error, as he would be almost bound to do.
Then what? Why, he would be perfectly
justified in reporting us to the department
a, Washington-and do not care to pursue
the subject any further
What becomes of all this short postage
stuff?' was asked Mr.. Shideler
Well" he replied, when the sender
has given us his name and address, we no.
tfy him of the lack of postage, and IL
he cares enough about the package to come
and supply the lack of stamps ii will be
forwarded without further delay. If how
ever, we do not know the senders adj
dress we mail a card to the party for whom
the package is intended. notifying him
that upon payment OF certain amount Of
postage due we will send it to him. All
this takes time and end OF trouble how
ever, and Is needless burden upon the
postmaster and his force of employees.
DO wish the public would learn the rates of
postage and pay better heed to them. Our
regular work is amply sufficient TO keep
US all busy without having useless burdens
heaped upon US"