New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-08-28
postmaster General Hitchcock
Adopts Plans to Avoid In
convenience to the
Business Public.
unTEL LETTERS EXPEDITED
New Law Does Not Close Post.
Offices, and Urgent Matter
Will Continue to Reach
It's Destination With
out Delay.

washington. Aug 27-Plans were
osrfected by Postmaster General Hitch
.ocs to-day under which the admin
,.,ratIon Of tho new law prohibiting
,bs delivery of mail on Sundays will
have no serious effect on the handling
Of important mail matter.
Holders of lock boxes at first and Sec
and class postoffices will have access 10
them as usual. although no mail de-
lrsries will be made by carriers in the
s,reet or at postoffice windows. Mail
,or hotel guests and newspapers will
~ delivered to them through their
lock boxes by simple arrangement of
having that mail sorted on the railway
mail cars before il reaches its des-
ttnstion. Such mail will be regarded
as transit matter" and will he dis
,ributed Immediately on its arrival,
thus practically insuring a speedier de-
livery TO the addresses than heretofore.
This distribution will require n min
mum of Sunday work. and the dis
ulbution Of other mail received on
Sunday will be made after midnight,
90 that il may be delivered by the car
riers on their first tour on Monday.
After all day conferences with the
experts Of his department Postmaster
General Hitchcock issued tonight
statement explanatory of his admin
!stration of the rev law. His assur-
ance is that there will he no embar-
rassment to the business public, and
through the arrangements he outlines
Urgent mail matter will reach its des-
tination promptly. orders necessary
10 carry Mr.. Hitchcock's plans into ef-
feet will be issued Immediately.
Explained by Mr.. Hitchcock.
The Postmaster Generals statement
blows
There appears to be some nlisapprehen-
sen as regards. the provision in the postal
81 relating 10 the delivery VI mail on
iIndays. This provision does not require
he closing Of postofficeS on Sundays
Fhich would be quite impossible, owing
70 the fact that the transit mali mas 10
b sorted and also the mail collected IN
cites for dispatch TO other destinations:
To stop the movement of this mail Wohid
mean a serious clogeing OF the whole sys-
km of mail transportation and conse-
quent inconvenience 10 the public.
At present most of the mail received on
Sunday for delivery by carrier MONDAY
rorning is worked after midnight on
Sunday. and therefore the law VIII ho'
affect this mail. IL will be deliVered az
promptly as hitherto. Mail received UP
y midnight or Saturday for lock boxes
viii he distributed TO the boxes and VIII
BE- available 10 box holders on sunday a.
usual
There is at present no street delivery o,
nal by letter carriers on Suhdaa, ar, T.,
therefore the law makes no change III
this regard In short. the only man thdl
will be affected under q reasonable con,
struction OF the new law Is that rece!Neu
a the postotfices on Sunday ana nlther!o
sorted on that day for nistrlpuuoh "
AS the purpose Of the law. which was
clearly enacted in the interest OF the en-
poyes, Is to reduce as far as practlcapIe
fhe amount of Sunday labor, the work OF
a.
nil be limited to certain classes or man
mat cannot be held until MONDAY MON. .Io
NJ without serious inconvenience 10 tne
s5dresses. This mail will ,include that
Tor newspapers and hotel guests. Ihe I
latter Is peculiarly transient in character
and should not be delayed. This mail
We the special delivery mail. VIII be
sorted ont at the Offices Of dispatch ana
on railway mall trains, in order. to SIN
plify me work OF distributing 1t IN the
pOsfoffces or Sunday . .,o
As practically all business houses are
row closed on Sunday. they do not OBJECT
10 the plan. which has been In force lot
year Of holding their mail until Mon, Mon,
day morning, realizing the benefit tnua
conferred on postal employees VINO arr
thereby relieved from Sunday labor;
In order 10 give the new provlsioIl aS
lberal a construction as possible, Post-
masters win be INSTRUCTED on appil1atGin nS,a IN
70 have their employees sort out ~ N
energsncv cases on Sunday letters OF
speclal Importance. This viii suppl,enIenTi IN
ihe present privilege Of having all hiaii
Continued on fifth page. sixth column.