New-York tribune., 1906-05-03
eRIgvANcE AeAINsr PosroEElcE.

To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: 1 believe you have a column in your paper
in which tortured fellow citizens can unburden
their souls or hearts or whatever parts may feel
the weight Of woe.
My special trial is the customs" Now while It
is the fashion to investigate all manner Of private
frauds, would IT be base treason to call for some
elucidation for the public benefit Of the rights in
vested in customs officers supposed to be serving
the government? I could write a volume on the
subject. but will cOnfne myself to nv latest
grievance-the customs department of the Post
office. Some time ago received card recurring
me to call at the New York Postoffice for parcel
from France. called and found that the man in
charge Of said parcel had gone home. Because the
printed card did not state the hours of service
had made the journey in vain. Obliged at once 10
start for the South l unable to call at the
Postohice again for some weeks and in the mean
time had received another card, requesting me to
call for three parcels from England. This card
Informed me Of the hours OF service by means OF
rubber stamp. ! went down 20 the Postoflce at
the proper time. and stood in line for half an
hour, only to be Informed that my parcels had
been returned to the senders as the time limit for
keeping them was thirty days. ] have only the
clerks word for this, there is no indication on
the card Of any time limit The parcel from France
was an article of winter adOrmment that had been
paid for in Paris. and wherever Il may be now It
is dead loss to me. The packages from England
were books. exempt by age from duty and so
dealers In the Old World. The last package l re-
ceved from him brought direct to the house,
and now these. without any warning. have been.
am told. shipped across the water again. to their
damage and TO my expense
What fuss should make IL a foreign govern
ment practised such needless tyranny on its sub
jectsl II the government does not wish to allow
private individuals the liberty TO purchase in the
markets Of the world things that cannot be GOT
here. II would be better TO lay down the despotic
law at once than 10 torment its citizens individ-
ually Myancestors fought for liberty OF this cOln
try, and feel that have right 10 protest when
liberty Is denied me. AGNES r. MATTHEW
No. III West 6sth street, New York city.
Postmaster Wilcox said yesterday with regard TO
the above complaint:
II is rule of the department to return 10 the
sender piece of mall that remains uncalled FOR
under the conditions mentioned by Miss Nathevs
All packages from Europe are subject 20 detention
by the customs officers In the PostOhlce. The ad-
oressee must then call and open the package IN the
presence OF the inspectors. But we can't possibly
hold parcels for longer than thirty days.
II, as the Tribune correspondent says, packages
nave been delivered AZ her home. Il was an over
sisnt. The mere statement the outside or
pacchsse that II contains nothing dutiable Is NOT
hutAe4eht uiless certified 20 by q foreign govern
AS Tor the Inconvenience OF calling az the
Fostothce for packages, II Is the same as IL they
ca4Ile py express or freight, which would Fe01ire
visit 20 the Public Stores