The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1908-12-03
STAMPS
May be Perforated For
Identification
Purposes
OTHER RULINGS MADE

Washington, Nov. 29.--In the an
nual report of the Postmaster Gen.
eral of the United States the follow
ing appears:
Representation having been made
by individuals, firms, and commercial
organizations of serious loss through
pilfering of postage stamps by those
having access to the supply on hand,
purchasers of stamps were author
lied by and order dated May 4, 190S
to perforate or puncture their stamps
with letters, numerals, or other marks
or devices, not exceeding one-thirty-
second of an inch In diameter, and
the whole space occupied by the iden-
tifying device not to exceed one
third of an inch square, for the pur-
pose of identification and protection
from theft, but not for advertising.
The policy of applying and enforc-
ing more strictly the statute prohibit
ing the transmission in the mails of
publications or other matter contain
ing obscene or suggestive illustrations
or advertisements has accomplished
highly beneficial results.
BY the act approved May 27, 1908,
making appropriations for the service
of the Postofflce Department, it is
provided:
That section 1898 of the Revised
Statutes of the United States be, and
the same is hereby, amended by add
ing thereto the following: "And the
term indecent within the intendment
of this section shall include matter
of character tending to incite ar
son, murder or assassination"
On June IL, 1908, a general circular
of instructions was issued to post
masters for their guidance in the en-
forcement of this provision. The
beneficial effects of this enactment
are already seen, although it has
been in force only about five months,
and there has been no indication that
the statute has worked injustice or
undue hardship upon any person or
interest.
On September 18, 1908, the follow
ing order was issued:
Postmasters are hereby directed to
confer with their local school auth
critics with the view of adopting the
most effective method of instructing
school children as to the organiza-
tion and operations of the postal SER
vice. These instructions should
cover such features of the service as
the delivery of the mails, the classifi-
cation of mail matter, the registry
and money-order systems, and par
ticularly the proper addressing of let
ters and the Importance of placing
return cards on envelopes. Postmas-
ters should arrange, if possible, to de-
liver personal talks to the pupils ON
these subjects and should give teach
ers access to the Postal Guide and
the Postal Laws and Regulations and
render them every assistance in Sc
curing necessary information.
NuMerous reasons presented them
selves showing the necessity for a
systematic education of the public in
the ordinary operations and require
ments of the postal service. The
thousands of pieces OF mail matter
received daily in the division of deac
letters present most vivid illustra-
tion of the necessity for having the
name and address of the sender ap-
pear on an envelope.
Many letters from postmasters and
school boards all over the country in
dicate the liveliest interest in the
subject, and l believe this campaign
of education will be beneficial to the
department and the public.