Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1904-08-22
POST
OFFICE
RULES
Changed So as to Allow Un-
stamped Parcels TO
Be Mailed

lations soon to be issued by Third AS
sistant PostmasterGeneral Madden
for the execution of a provision of the
postoffice appropriation bill designed
to facilitate the mailing Of large guam
titles of circulars, catalogues, cards,
calendars, samples of merchandise,
etc., practically identical in size,
weight, shape and general appear.
ance.. The provision of the bin re-
ferred to is es follows:
THAT hereafter, under such regula-
tions as the postmaster-general may
establish for the collection Of the law
full revenue and for facilitating the
handling of such matter in the mails
1t shall be unlawful to accept for
transmission in the mails quantities
of not less than 2000 Identical pieces
of third and fourth class matter with
out postage stamps affixed; provided
that postage shall be fully prepaid
thereon, at the rate required by law
for a single piece of such matter"
Every merchant who has had occa-
sion to send out even few thou.
sand circulars or catalogues appre-
ciates the tedious and expensive work
OF stamping each separate piece Of
matter. The government also finds 1t
costly business TO properly cancel
eacn stamp, for if the individual
pieces of mail matter differ materially
in shape and size from an ordinary
letter they cannot be run through the
automatic cancellng machines, but
must be laborio1usly hand-stamped.
The general scope of the regula,
tlons has been ascertained and can
be stated here.
Any person desiring to avail him
self of the privilege conferred by the
new law will be required to file an
application with the postmaster of
the city or town in which his business
Is located. After the approval of the
application by the postmaster the ap.
phcant is registered In a book pro
vided for that purpose, which consti-
tutes permanent record, obviating
the necessity for subsequent appllca.
tions.
Upon receipt of lot of mail mat.
ter, amounting to 2000 or more pieces
meeting the requirements of the law,
the postmaster will select a few
pieces at random, which he will open
and examine to determine their iden-
tical character He win then weigh
several pieces to ascertain the aver
age weight and rate OF postage per
piece, after which he will weigh
sufficient number to make a pound,
and from that basis will determine
the total amount of postage TO be
paid.
There is an important distinction
between the manner Of ascertaining
the amount of postage to be paid on
matter mailed under the new law and
on second-class mail matter (Which
goes at the pound rate) which all
merchants and others who may in.
tend to avail themselves of the new
statute should clearly understand.
The publishers rate is levied on
the total amount Of matter mailed
at the statutory rate per pound, with
out regard to the number of pieces re-
quired TO make a pound. Under the
new law, however, the rate per piece
on the entire lot OF matter offered for
mailing will be the same as II a single
piece had been mailed In other
words, a sample OF merchandise on
which the rate is one cent per ounce
will be chargeable at one cent for
each piece, although II may weigh
but half an ounce, or even less-that
is to say, the privilege of mailing mat
ter in bulk under the new law will
not result in any reduction to the to
tai amount Of postage to be paid.
Inasmuch as the new law involves
the opening OF a system OF accounts
not heretofore provided for and be
cause the total weight of any given
lot OF mail will afford no indication OF
the amount OF postage paid thereon,
10 will be necessary for the depart |
ment 10 take special measures TO pre-
vent the defrauding Of the revenues
by collusion between pOstmasters and
their patrons.
A very skillfully prepared system Of
Iorms and reports will be employed |
Tor this purpose, however and II Is
believed that without imposing any
restrictions upon the ex
scution OF the law II can be admins
cred with entire safety to the govern
nent.
OA@TOTEA.