Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-31

Goth instant Of irregularities in connection
with the recent dead letter SALE Mr.. In
gals wrote, II have to inform you that
your complaint has been investigated and
that the evidence submitted and obtained
does not substantiate the belief that any
questionable methods were used in con-
nection with the sale SO far as the Post
Office Department and its employees are
concerned
Penny or Medal.
Inclosed in Mr.. Roeder's letter of COM
a small ring attached to it, the face and
reverse of the coin covered with gold
paint, which he claims the department
designated as a medal Mr.. Roeder
takes exception to the term medal as mis-
leading, and says the piece is nothing
more OF less than Canadian penny. and
should have been SO described.
Mr.. Roeder also complains that the
system of cataloguing the articles placed
upon sale was unfair and permitted the
practice of fraud.
He has as an exhibit a large manila
envelope purchased by him: Written
across the envelope appears this descrip-
ton Of the articles that We're in the
package: "WOmans tan leather gloves,
6k; woman's damaged silk shirt waist:
Is skeins embroidering floss; spOOls
silk
Many other packages containing articles
Of comparatively trifling value were SIM
ilarly labeled in the catalogue, Mr..
ROeder declares. Boxes containing goods
of much greater value were SO marked
as to deceive purchasers not familiar
with the procedure. he is confident.
He specifies packages marked from
61SS to 6192 in the catalogue. They are
simply described as BOX souvenir post
cards. AS a matter of fact. Mr.. Roeder
states, the five boxes SO marked had
10000 post cards in each They were
sold for less than s1OO. while Mr.. Roeder
claims he could have furnished a bonded
bid of 500.
In another box marked BOX of mis-
cellaneous brass articles and castings
there were more than 300 pounds of metal
In other boxes labeled Boxes electro
types (all metaD," he says there were be-
tween 400 and 500 pounds of metal.
Will Appeal to Pearre.
Mr.. Roeder has a marked copy of the
official catalogue which, he says, he will
submit to Representative Pearre of Mary
land, with other evidence as a basis for
congressional investigation of the
methods employed at the dead letter
sales.
Still another charge made is that the
police used more force than was neces-
sary during the sale at a 9Th street
auction room when there was a rush and
near-riot. 1t was said the police re-
serves were called out and one woman
was roughly handled.
dreds of people were standing in line on
the sidewalk In front of the auction
house. and deprived Of their legal right
to participate in the sale, it Is alleged
card. Notwithstanding the police and the
auctioneer announced that the place was
filled to its capacity.
Mr.. Roeder has a long list of witnesses
which he will use. he says. in bringing
about a thorough investigation Of the
methods complained Of AS now con-
Quoted, he states, the dead letter auction
sale has degenerated into a farce that
will bring scandal and discredit upon the
government.
"Some Prize Packages"
Referring to the comment that has
been made as to the element OF chance
in the dead letter sale, making it SAVIOR
Of a lottery. which has long been
special object of wrath to the depart
ment, p. v. De Graw, fourth assistant
postmaster general. said:
II have no doubt that the element Of
chance In the sales is temptation TO the
speculative temperament. But the sale,
it should be remembered. is distinguished
from a lottery or gift enterprise in this
respect; it always gives q bidder some
thing for his money.
There is a chance that the clerks in
asserting the articles for the sale and
Dataloguing them may overlook their
value. for many nice gifts are sent
through the mails and reach the dead let
ter ONCE It is the hope OF obtaining
one of these that tempts the bidder at
times. no doubt.
Still, as long as the department is
forced, by reason Of the operation of the
present statute, to dispose OF unclaimed
merchandise in this manner, there wall
remain the alleged Objectionable lottery
feature in these sales. Although the
method, in that it gives something for
the money paid, differs from the lottery
as confined by both statutes and court de-
purchased justly termed prizes and
others which do not fully meet the ex-
pectation Of the buyer"
Proceeds of Recent Sale.
The sum of $1O555.2O was realized in
the recent sale of unbelievable mail, or
an average price of $1.35 for each parcel.
There were 7,7S9 parcels disposed Of at
the sale.
AS compared with the sale of year
ago. at which S,7S4 parcels were disposed
of for ST., 1872 75. the sale this year shows
an increase averaging about cents for
each article.
1.-The interest of the general public in
these sales appears to increase from year
to year." says Mr.. De Graw. This year
1t was found necessary to have a detail
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