New-York tribune., 1911-01-08

rfTUIN the massive walls Of the
A Post onice Department at Wash
w ington sits Uncle Sam with his
weather eye open for those who
transgress his postal laws. From his point
of vantage nc searches out the individuals
or firms that mail prospectuscs OF fake
mines. oil stocks that lure with promises
of colossal dividends, lottery schemes SO
Neiled that they seem not TO he what they
are and any and everything OF all obscene
or vulgar nature.
As the censor OF public mails and morals
he strives TO protect the pocketbooks OF
his citizens from "gct-riCh quick schemers
and their minds and homes from question
able literature spread broadcast among
them by unscrupulous publishers. And he
accomplishes his purpose simply by refus-
ing TO let them peddle their wares through
the mails More than that to show that
he means what he says, he fines and I'M
prisons them for So doing
If a band Of sharpers discover a hole in
the ground form themselves into "copl-
pany" with a high sounding name. and
mail neatly printed pamphlets, telling just
why you should invest every cent you can
beg or borrow in their wonderful mine
rest assured your Uncle Sam will eventually
run them 10 earth and show that there is
nothing in their mime" but hole
or If n perverted publisher or his agent
malls a book, post card or a picture that
may be claSsed as immoral, the long arm
OF the government reaches out and stops
him, incidentally infiicting a fine of not
more than 5000 or Imprisonment not OK
ceeding Eve years, or both.
When Postmaster General Hitchcock
tNooped down on a nest Of fake promoters
and "get-rich-quick' concerns in New York
CITY several weeks ago he bore with him
hs the authority for his action the allega-
nion that tha accused men were making
fraudulent use Of the mails On that
xrouud, he further declared. Uncle sam
will drive from the country every wildcat
scheme 10 separate gullibe investors from
4beir money and that Investigations and
orosecutions will proceed with all possible
Nicor until the swindling Of the public
Abroueh the use Of the mails is brought TO
an end. Like the ancient Grecian philoso-
nber who declared he could move the whole
world II he had a place to stand on, the
.postal chief hopes TO move the world OF
bosus promoters because he has place
20 stand on-ther using Of the United
states mails TO defraud.
Rut the Postmaster General does not In
TEND simply 10 stand still on that point OF
leverage as was more or less the custom
An tho past The old method was TO deny
the use of the mails to a firm caught trans
acting illegal business. II failed to produce
results. for the firm simply moved its Of
fees elsewhere and began the same busi-
ness again under another name. The new
method is 10 clap the offenders into Jail and
prosecute them before the courts. and the
penalty for fraudulent use Of the mails is
"a fine of not more than $1,000 or imprison-
3ucnt not exceeding five years, or both.
Before an individual or a concern can De
arrested on such a charge, evidence on
which 10 base the accusation must be OBJ
iained. The securing OF this evidence is a
stupendous and intricate task. From the
office OF the Postmaster General, In the
hugo Postoffice Department Building, al
Washington, the wires and lines for the
dctection of criminals branch out all over
the country like threads from the centre OF
spiders web.
In all parts OF the country the depart
ment has its inspectors TO the number OF
Si5. whose regular duty is 10 inspect all
postoflces and rural free delivery routes
in the United States Their special duty
ts 10 proceed against promoters Of fake
and lottery schemes. In addition there are
the two hundred special agents and de-
,cctives of the Department Of Justice, un-
der the supervision Of Attorney General
Nyickersham.
Upon these inspectors the Postofilce De
partment relies principally for its evidence.
They investigate all cases in which it is
alleged that tho mails are being used to
defraud and report what facts they find to
Washington. If the facts presented by the
inspectors establish A prima facie case OF
fraud the person or concern involved IS
notified OF the pendency and nat,~e Of the
charges and has an opportunity 10 appear
before the Assistant Attorney General, r..
T Goodwin, and make answer TO the
charge. II upon the close Of the hearing
this orlcial Is Of the opinion that fraud
order should be issued he reports the case
20 the Postmaster General, who takes
prompt action in the matter.
According 10 the law. the evidence sub
snltted need he satisfactory TO the Post
master General only. This does not mean
that he proceeds upon mere suspicion or