Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-18
FRAUD IN TIE MAILS
CARE TAKEN By POSTAL OFF,
GALS 10 PROTECT THE PUBLIC.

Es'The reason why postmasters in. large
cities exercise care In the renting Of letter.
boxes to patrons" said post Office official
to Star reporter. '.is because. unless the
applicants are known or Identified to the
postmasters they might rent boxes to per-
sons engaged In fraudulent occupations.
1.-The Post Office Department has ac-
complished great reforms within recent
years toward the stamping out Of fraudulent
concerns who used the malls to reach their
victims. but there Is one abuse which has
not yet been reached. mainly for lack of
suitable legislation, and that is the private
letter box. -
"Postmasters are required to cause the
applicant for q box in the city post office
to certify over his signature that the box
shall not be used for the promotion of any
fraudulent purpose or in pursuance Of an
Illegal business. They also require him to
furnish his address. business in which he
Ia engaged. IL any, as boxes are often rent
ed to persons not engaged in business, and
to ladies whose correspondence Is large, and
to give reference. 1t has not been found
that this rule Is oppressive or obnoxious to
any person who does not desire to use the
box for an improper purpose but 1t has
been found that 1t shuts out a great many
persons who wished box for inegitfmate
purposes. 1922 :
1.-The private letter box should be abol-
iShed, and the attention OF Congress ought
to be called to it's abuse in large cities. 1t
is often impossible to locate persons en-
gagged in conducting fraudulent and UNI
lawful correspondence through the mails.
For small sum these individuals can rent
a box in some store, usually cigar OF sta
tiers addressed to them. instead OF having
them addressed and delivered to their
places of residence from the city post
Office. -
Operations Of the Abuse. -.
''The private letter box system has so
many Objectionable features that they can
not be enumerated in brief. Bills have been
introduced in Congress which IL enacted
into law would effectually abolish such in
reference with the postal service. as we'll
as remove an evil which Is demoralizing in
its results and serves to promote CORE
spondence which could not otherwise be
successfully conducted through the mails.
"By the use Of these private letter boxes
persons of evil intent have been enabled
to get around in some instances the ari-
Gus laws which have been enacted by Con-
gress calculated to prevent the mails from
becoming the medium through Whlcn
fraudulent schemes may be conducted, as
this correspondence is forbidden and PEN
alties are imposed for offenses against the
law whenever the guilty parties have been
discovered and convicted.
1.-THE regulations concerning the delivery
Of mail authorize parents and guardians to
control the mail Of minor children when
ever in their judgment 1t Is necessary to
exercise this discretion. They also forbid
the delivery Of fictitious matter unless d.
rected for delivery at designated place
The object Of the regulations is to prevent
as far as possible immoral as well as I'M
lawful correspondence.
"As is frequently the case, however. such
correspondence is directed for delivery to q
certain street and number where private
letter boxes are rented. usually for small
sum per month. The names. business ana
the responsibility Of the renters Of these
boxes are unknown to. the storekeeper,
whose interest lies only in collecting this
additional income. The regulations of the
delivered which could not be obtained from
the post office through general delivery, to
say nothing of the other harmful effects
accruing
Identification Difficult.
SIT has been found impossible in many
instances for our inspectors to efficiently
connect the addresses Of letters directed
to such places where private letter boxes
are rented with crime against the postal
laws to secure their arrest and conviction.
You see, when letters are delivered by the
carriers to q street and number, and sub
seuuently deposited in these private letter
boxes, this mail matter is out of the juris-
diction of the service and identification Of
the addresses cannot be had.
"Such, however, Is not the case where
delivery is made by an officer of the de-
partment, as a postmaster. and from an
authorized place for the delivery OF malt
for as 1 have stated. postmasters have to
be strict in this respect, for we hold them
to an accountability If need be. One of the
sources Of revenue of the service Is the
rental of boxes in post Offices and<the pri-
vate letter-box system, in addition to its
other evils. offers a means of defrauding the
government out of certain amount OF
revenue each year. ?
"This, however. is but one Of the many
persistent efforts on the part of the Post
Office Department to protect the public,
with the comparatively limited means with
which it is empowered by law. from being
swindled by INSCRIPTIONS persons who
make a life study of methods to take money
from the unwary by fraudulent means
eratifying development Of these efforts on
the part Of our officials.