Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-04-10
MAIL DESTINED TO
GERMANY WILL Be
REFUSED IN OTTAWA
POSTMASTER J. M. DOUGHERTY
ECElvES FIRST ORDER SINCE
UNITED STATES HAS BEEN AT
WAR WITH PRUSslANc.

James ]. Dougherty, postmaster of
the Ottawa office, received the follow
ing circular, or the Daily Bulletin is
sued at Washington, which will be of
interest to the citizens in this city:
Office OF Postmaster General.
Washington, April 7. 1917
Order No. 2l1.
Ordered that, during the continu
ance OF hostilties between the United
States and Germany, no letters, pack
ages, or other mail matter originating
within the United States or its posses
sions and destined for Germany or
addressed to any post office, port. or
other place within the jurisdiction OF
ierman, or to any person residing
within the jurisdiction Of Germany,
shall be dispatched from the United
State to their said destination; pro-
vided, however. that nothing herein
.horize the seizure or detention OF any
ioieign closed transit mails for Ger
many originating in other foreign
countries or originating in Germany
ana destined for any other foreign
country (nor her colony or dependen-
cy) while in transit over territory OF
he United States, which closed mails
mould be returned by the United
states exchange Office first receiving
mem to the county when received ac-
Jompanied by Bulletin of Verifica-
ton stating that the United States
annot act as intermediary for the
.orwarding of such mails.
That for the purpose OF executing
this order postmasters at post offices
=. the United States and its posses
sions are hereby instructed to send to
he Division OF Dead Letters, Post Of
ice Department, Washington, ID. c.,
for return to the senders or other ap
propriate disposal. all mail matter pro-
nibited dispatch as above indicated.
This order is hereby made to in
chde all mail matter destined for
Germany now remaining in the Unit
ed States and its possessions, and that
which may be mailed or received here.
after.
of the foregoing to be taken at their
Offices and until otherwise instructed
refuse to accept for mailing any mail
matter destined for delivery in Ger
many.
In view of the fact that under exist
ing conditions mail for Austria, Hun
gary, Luxembourg, Bulgaria and Tur-
key requires transit through Germany
to which country mail service from
the United States is now suspended,
mail for those countries will be treat
ed, until otherwise ordered, in the
manner herein prescribed for mail
destined for Germany; but mail from
those countries received in the United
States will be dispatched to destina-
ticn. A. 5. Burleson,
Postmaster General,
The postmaster heretofore could ab-
sent himself from the Office for two
DAYS. but now he must have permit
from the authorities at Washington
if he desires to be away more than
that length of time.
The Bulletin also stated that all EN-
ployes of Uncle Sam who are on leave
of absence must return at once. The
postmaster will be allowed thirty days
vacation and employees fifteen days
with pay, but longer vacation must
be had through petition, and without
pay.
The postmaster general had the fol
lowing to say in this regard
Owing to the many unusual duties
which of necessity will be imposed on
the posal service because OF the ex-
istence of state Of war with Ger
many, it is imperative that the depart
ment utilize to the fullest extent the
services of it's experienced employees.
1t has heretofore been the practice
not only to grant employees leave OF
absence with pay, as authorized by
! law, but leave of absence without pay
when the service would not be ser
iously impaired However, owing to
the emergency which now contronts
! us it becomes necessary to cancel all
| leaves Of absence except those grant
ed to employees with pay; those to EN-
ployes on military duty, and those to
employees absent on account OF SICK
ness. All other employees on leave
without pay are hereby directed to re
port to their respective posts OF duty
Immediately.
Hereafter leave of absence will moi
be granted except for the purposes
mentioned above and all regulation
in conflict with this order are hereby
roscinded until further notice
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