The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-08-28
New Law VIII Cause No
Embarrass m ent to
Business Public.
MEANS MINIMUM
OF SUNDAY WORK
Postmaster General Hitchcock
Issues Statement Explaining
His Administration Of Meas
ure-Proposed Changes Will
Result in Satisfactory Dis
tribution of Urgent Matter.

=
Washington. August 27.-Plans wer,
perfected oy Postmaster General Hitch-
.orA TO-DAY whereby the adm!nistra-
ton OF the new law prohibiting tho
oe'iFery OF mail on Sundays will have
no serious effect upon the handling OF
important mail matter Ho,ders of
lock- boxes at first and second-class
post-offioes Will have access TO them
as usual although no mail deliveries
VII DC MADE BY carriers on tho street
at post-of'ice windows. Mail for
Motel guests and Newspapers viii no
delivered to them through their lock-
uoNes Dy simple arrangement of hav-
ing that mail sorted on tho railway
man cars before it reaches its destina
tlon. such mail Will be regarded ns
transit matter and will be distribu-
tea immediately upon its arrival at tna
o'Hees OF destination. thus practically
insuring speedler delivery to the adj
dresses than heretotore has been tho
cast. This distribution Will REQUIRE n
minimum or sunday work. ana the dis
trioution OF other mail received on sun
day will be made after midu4sht of
sunday. so that it may be delivered by
he carriers on their first tour on Mon
After all-day conferences with tho
experts OF his department. Postmaster-
General Hitchcock tonight issued q
statement explanatory OF his admins
tration of the new law. His assurance
is that there VIII be no embarra ssnsnt
70 the business public ana that.
through the ARRANGEMENTS he outlines
urgent mail matter VIII reach its desti-
nation promptly Orders necessary TO
carry Mr. iiitchcocks plans into effect
viii be issued Immediately
Statement by Hitchrock
The Postmaster Generals statement
follows:
There appears to be some nisappre-
hension as regards the provision in the
postal bill relating to the delivery OF
mail on Sundays This provision does
not require the closing OF post-oftices
on sundays. which would he quite I'm
possible. OWNS TO tho fact ;hat tho
transit mail has to be sorted and also
the mail collected in cities for T. spatch
10 other destinations. To stop the
movement of this mail would mean a.
Serious clogging of the whole system
OF mail transportation and consequent
Inconvenience to the public
AT present most OF the mail received
on sunday for delivery h. carrier
Monday is worked after midnight on
sunday. and therefore the law win not
affect this mail 1t will be delivered
IS promptly as hitherto Mail received
up u lll4NulSNt on saturday Tor lock-
toxes Will be distributed to the boxes
and Will be available TO boxholders on
sunday as usual
There is at present no street deiiv-
cry OF mail by letter carriers on sun
day. and therefore the law makes no
change in this regard. In short, the
only mail that will be affected under
q reasonable construction of the new
law is that received at the post offices
on Sunday and hitherto sorted on that
day for distribution to lock boxes
''As the purpose OF the law, which
was clearly enacted in the interest of
employees. Is TO reduce as far as prac-
ticable the amount OF Sunday labor.
the work OF distributing Sunday mail
TO lock boxes will be limited TO Ger
tain classes of mail that cannot be held
until Monday morning without serious
Inconvenience to the addresses This
mail viii include that for newspapers
and hotel guests The latter is pecu-
liarly transient in character and should
not be delayed THIS mail. like the
special delivery mail will he sorted
out at the Offices OF dispatch and on
the railway mail trains, in order 10
simplify the work OF distributing il In
the pos offices on sunday
AS practically all business houses
are now closed on sunday they do not
ooject to the plan. which has been
g
mail until Monday. realizing the bene-
1T thus conferred ON postal employees
who are thereby relieved from sunday
labor.
Liberal Construction.
In order 10 give the new provision
as liberal a construction as possible.
postmasters Viii be Instructed on APP
Ilication to have their employees sort
out ina emergency cases on sunday.
Letters of special Importance This VIII
supplement thc present privilege OF
havins all mail delivered on sunday
that carries "a special delivery stamp.
BY inc propostd changes in the
method OF puttlns up man .n tho ofices
of origin and in its handling on the
railway mail trains it i- believed that
q satisfactory distribution can be made
in post-ofiices on Sundays With far
less work than is now required Thus
the Lave can be made ID confer great
.suehts On postal employees Without in
convenience. "a the uuhlc.
Mirority Leader Mann ~ the House.
enfhor or the provision prohibiting the
delivery TO the general public" OF
mail on Sundas discussed the subject
day with postal officials. He said
there was no intent on the part oe
Congress So 90 restrict the activities
OF the Post once Department as TO
inconvenience striousiy tne bIsines9
public
rit is ahsuia he declared for Eny-
body TO assume That Congress meant
go clo.e pos;-oinces as tight as q wedge
ON Sunda, we simply required thAt
there should De- no delivery 81 NAH