Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1901-10-19
TO CHECK THEFT
RESTRICT THE PRIVATE SALE or
PosTAGE STAMPS
They are Vow Used sn :vioiation OF she
Law--Congress should Take Action.

They are Vow Used tn violation OF fhe
Law~Conrress shouid Take Action.
During the recent conven tion of
the postmasters of West Virginia some
matters We're discussed in regard to
the details of management by the de-
partment of postal affairs through
the different postmasters
The observations ON this subject by
several West Virginia postmasters
have attracted 60 nsiderable attention
among postmasters throughout the
country, and have received attention
from higher Officials in the postofiice
department.
Henry A. Castle, auditor for the
treasury department. for the post
Office department. In his annual re
port recently issued makes pertinent
allusion to the subject and comments
upon 1T as follows:
1.-THE fact that this bureau is
charged with the duty of collecting
balances due from the bondsmen :of
delinquent postmasters and conduct
ing the varied forms of litigation in
cident thereto, rs set forth in subse
cuent pages Of this report, makes
pertinent suggestions looking to the
remedy of an existing evil. The in
creasing frequency of postoffice
buglaries lends color to the belief
that one OF the great temptations of
such burg!aries is the oonvertibility
of postage stamp there obtained into
ready cash. through their easy sale at
par for small discount by the
burglars and their agents The use of
stamps rs currency was not contem-
plated by the government when they
were authorized, their only proper
use being the prepayment of postage
on matter conveyed in the mails.
Postal regulations prohibit the ex-
which would not be the case if they
were to be used for CURRENCY. But
they are now employed in making
small remittances and their sale in
large or small amount is fiourishing
industry in many cities. A market
is thus created for amps obtained by
burglaries fiom rified postofiices;
their prompt conversion into cash is
assured and the chances for detection
are greatly reduced.
when a postoffi &c is robbed the
first impulse OF the postmaster is to
ask to be relieved from responsibility
for the loss of postage stamps. which
he can always claim occurred through
no negligence on his part.
within certain limits the post
office department has the discretion
to grant this relief. Outside that
limit congress must be appealed to
and the appeal is seldom made in
vain. If all resources for relief fail
and the postmaster is unable or I'M
willing to make good the loss, it be-
comes the duty of the auditor to enter
suit against his bondsmen for the
amount involved. Much of this loss
and trouble would be avoided il con-
gress should see fit TO enact law,
which has often been proposed, re-
stricting the private sale of postage
stamps to amounts not exceeding one
dollar.
Facilities for purchasing stamps Mt
postoffices and at stations, substa-
tions and authorized stamp agencies
in cities are now so abundant as to
preclude The necessityfor their sale ex-
cept in very small quantities for
personal accommodation bydrugeists,
etc.
The proposition to limit the sale
as suggested IS well worth the atten-
tion of the law making power Be-
sldes operating in the manner in
dicated to discourage burglaries. 1t
would also much more equitably adj
Just salaries of postmasters based
on the revenues of their respective
offices. I"