The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-06-23


| vision and codifcation Of the laws relat-
| ing 20 the civil administration of the Post
| Office Department and the postal service
/ A revision and codifcation Of these laws
has been prepared by Harrison J. Barrett.
/ law clerk OF the department, and was
| submitted to the Committee on PostOffices
| and Post Roads OF the House of Repre-
| Sentatives at the last session, but the bill
| which was introduced embodying the work
of Mr.. Barrett though favorabIy reported.
was not taken up for consideration. This
Mr.. Loud, Chairman of the House COM
mittse on Postoffices and Post Roads, says
viii be done early in the short session.
The last revision of the postal laws,
/ both civil and criminal was made by the
act of June S. 1872, which revision was in
cOrporated, with slight changes. in the
Revised Statutes Numerous amendments
TO these laws and many additional proyis-
ions have been enacted by Congress.
I These amendments and subsequent stat
utes have been Incorporated in the pro-
posed revision, and where there has seem
ed to be a conflict between sections of the
Revised Statutes, or the original act, and
subsequent legislation, such alterations
have been made as TO reconcile the ap-
parent differences t'hanges have been
made IN the phraseOlogy of existing laws
for the sake Of cisaruess or uniformity.
In several instances different statutes re-
lating to the same subject have been con-
sClidated and proper notes have DSen in
serted in the margin, so that these va
riOUs statutes may be readily referred to
in the original. The marginal notes will
also Indicate where the original law, or
the amendments incorporated in the re-
of Of Da1s sod
Statutes or Of subsequent act. can be
found.
The laws relating to cff-ncss against the
postal service were revised by TIE Co umis-
sion constituted by Congress ID revise and
COGify tie criminal and penal laws OF the
United States. which revision was reported
10 Congress by the Attorney General IN
der date Of February -. 1888 Many of the
criminal provisions deal with civil. NIT rs,
and proper references ha--. Therefore,
been made in the proposed revizicn OF be
laws relating TO the civil admin STATION Of
/ the Postoffice Department and postal ser
vice.
In this proposed revision no Gadi, al
/ changes have been made IN existing laws,
As such departures. it is sad. would in
I volye long discussion. and should more
I properly be cousiderCJ in separate N as
ures. The principal charges made have
been for the purpose OF settling dispu ed
I questions and 10 harmonic various pro
| visions. ami the additional sections sug-
/ ges,ed are only such as experience has
/ shown to be essential to the more efhcie L
/ management Of the business affairs Of TIE
/ POstOfice Department and the postal SER
vice. Several obsolete and unnecessary
/ provisions Of law have been omitted.
/ One Of the changes proposed is to pro-
/ hibit the establishment or mai0rendnCe OF
/ a postoffce for the benefit OF aGy person or
I company under GER ain COnditO -s.
Il has been a common practice Of late
years for persons and concerns to secure
the establishment Of postoffiCes at their
respective places Of bushes, withstaUd-
ing that there is an existing Office within
I a reasonable distance, the object being TO
obtain their postage practically free of
charge at the expense OF the Government.
In other cases the establishment Of post
Offices is secured in small places by bust
/ ness concerns IOcatei in large cities, an
empioye being appointed postmaster. TO
which Offices matter is shipped for mailing.
This practice enables such conc rms to OBJ
tain their postage at a nominal figure.
) section is also introduced which au-
thorizes the Postmaster General TO sus-
pend any postmaster. for any cause that
| he may deem sufficient. for a term not ex-
| ecpdiug six months. 1t is often found nee
essary where a shortage or other iTregu-
laroty is discovered in the accounts Of a
postoffice. or for other cause 20 relieve the
postmaster from duty and transfer the Of
fee to the sureties on his official bond The
proposed section merely confirms this
practice.
It is provided that postofice inspector
or other agent may De placed in charge OF
any postoffice in which a vacancy exists
or during the suspension OF the postmas-
ter. This is authorized by present law. and
such additional provisions are included IN
IL.
OF the inspector and his sureties, and his
compensation while in charge of a post
Office
There is a section which authorizes
the Postmaster General to issue orders
forbidding the delivery. or forwarding to
any foreign country Of mail matter. orfgf-
mating in the United states addressed to
any person or concern conducting a lottery
or fraudulent enterprise, or who is en-
gagged in any business for the sale OF OBJ
scene literature, or articles or devices in
tended for indecent or immoral use The
provision relative to obscene matter Is
new. An extensive traffic is carried on in
obscene matter. such matter being circu-
lated in large quantities among the young.
and number Of concerns are known to be
dealing in articles and devices intended
for indecent and immoral use The mall
ing OF such matter is made criminal by
SeCllOn ooSS OF Ile Revised Statutes
amended By the act of September 70. 1855.
and prosecutions are Instituted whenever
proper evidence can be secured, but. not
withstanding, large guar titles Of obscene
matter and articles 70. indecent use pass
through the mails and II is believed that
? provision authorizing the Postmaster
General to direct the return to the writer's /
Of mail matter addressed to persons or
concerns engaged in this business. .,arked
fraudulent" toether with the authority
proposed to be vested in him by section
233. relative to the payment Of money or
ders to such persons or concerns. will re-
suit in reducing to the minimum the use
Of the mails for these improper purposes.
Section Sic Of the proposed code pro-
vices for payment for transportation OF
foreign mails The existing statute pro-
vides that United States steamships shall
receive on the mail transported any sum
not exceeding the sea and inland postage
and foreign steamships or sailing vessels
not exceeding sea postage. In view of the
provisions of the International Postal Con
vention relative to the TRANSFORMATION ~
the mails between the different countries
Of the union, and the present rates ~
postage, the term sea postage has no
meaning, and the section as proposed Is
merely to conform to the existing practice
Under the new code the Postmaster
General is authorized to fine foreign mail
contractors for delay, failure to perform
trips, and for damage to the mails while