The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1914-10-24
POSTAL CLERKS MUST BE
CAREFUL.

Complaints from New Orleans an.
other cities have been reaching Post
master-general Burleson recently O
much damage to parcel post matter
With this in view, the Postmaster
general has issued the following in
|structions:
An Improvement is noted in the man
ner OF handling parcels, but as com
plants still reach the department thai
packages arrive at destination in q
damaged condition, the attention Of
postlnaslers and employees is directed
to the following instructions, which
were printed in the Daily Postal Bulle
tin for May rs, 1914:
Although cautionary notices and in
structions concerning the care and
handling of parcel post packages have
been issued from time to time, many
patrons of the postal service still com
plain that parcels are being received
III bad condition, and Investigations
show that in some instances the par.
GELS were not properly packed and in
others that the trouble was due to
careless and rough handling of the
mails. Postmasters, clerks, carriers,
railway postal clerks and all en-
pioyees Of the service are hereby warn
ed that they will be held to strict &C.
count for damage to the mails for
which they are responsible.
Clerks assigned to duty at the win
dows should be required to familiarize
themselves with amended Section Ala
of the Postal Laws and Regulations
(printed in the April, 1914, Supplement
to the Postal Guide), providing for the
proper packing Of mail matter, and in
structed to accept for mailing only
such parcels as are prepared in con-
formity with this section.
Bulky packages which can be trans
ported in mail bags must be hand
packed.
Packages which cannot be safely
handled in bags must be handled out
side.
Heavy packages, such as castings,
pieces of machinery, etc., must not be
placed in bags with other mail matter
which they are likely to damage on
account of their weight.
Fragile parcels must be kept sep
arate, so far as practicable, from other
mail and bags containing fragile par
cells must have Fragile" tags attached
to them
Articles of perishable nature must
not be accepted unless they are in
such condition at the time of mailing
as to reasonably assure their arrival
at destination and delivery in good
order. This is obligatory in order to
protect other mail matter and loss to
the owner.
Parcel post packages liable to
damage must not be thrown from NOV
ing trains, and must not be sent by
postmasters to trains which do not
stop at their stations.
All parcels must be promptly han
died and dispatched, and special care
must be used to prevent delay to per.
ishable articles.
Parcel post mail must not be thrown
from cars, wagons or trucks, but must
be lifted therefrom, and it must be
lifted into cars and wagons.
Parcel post mail must not be thrown
down chutes, embankments, etc., but
must be carried on trucks or otherwise
from place to place. 1t must be piled
in cars and wagons with care and so
that fragile parcels will not be under
meath other mail, and must not be sat
or stood upon.
Officers and employees are expected
to pay particular attention to the way
mail is handled and promptly report
of these instructions. EN-
ployees under the jurisdiction of the
postmaster who fail to use due care in
the handling of parcel post mail should
be disciplined by him and his action
made known to the other employees
through an official bulletin notice. Mail
and contractors and their
including employees of rail-
road companies, must handle mail with
proper care. Dereliction on the part
of an employee not under the direct
supervision of the postmaster should
be reported to the proper bureau Of
the department.