Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1920-12-02
METERED MAIL
NEXT NOVELTY
New Electric Device WIN Permit
Business Concerns to Can
} eel Their Own Output.
VALUABLE TO LARGE ft.AILERS
Will Save Several Hours in the Han
dlina of Rail ard VII Protect
Firms From Loss Of Stamps
Through Theits.

Washington "Mctrred mail" is to
he the next novelty in the rapidly de-
veinping postal system of the country,
remarks the Washington Herald. II
has received the Endorsement of con-
.gr"sS and the p0Stoftic department and
j. scheduled To make its appearance
" itlIin the next two months.
Mrtpred mail will he sealed, stamped
and cancelled by tie individual owner
OF meier. The mail then will be
taken tC the poSiUliice and placed inn
rIrtliaicly upon an cat going train with
cut necessity of remaining in tie post
office until handled in routine fashion.
Meterrd mail Is provided for In u
rider an an agricultural bill passed al
the last session of congress This
rider grants to first class mail matter
the registered permit privileges now
enjoyed by second class mail. Instead
of being required to stamp each letter
a firm now will have tie privilege OF
obtaining mailing permit. thus eX
pediting its mail.
Under the posiotiice plan. which soon
Will I've III thtSl. Ill HIS WIN I've iIIV w
lease postal meters that have been
authorized for use by the postal
authorities. The local postofice
authorities will register the meter and
will issue permit number to the
firm.
Meter Operated ty Electricity.
The meter will he. IL rather heavy
metallic box. about the size of II lunch
box. II will have TWO small doors
Which will be locked by the postal
authorities and securely sealed. A
firm will take the meter to the post.
office and buy II desired amount of
postage. The postal authorities will
adjust the meter so that il will STAMP
and cancel just SO many letters and
no more. The number of letters for
which advance postage has been paid
will he automatically registered on the
lower Of the two doors and the postal
authorities will keep record of the
amount of postage sold to each meter
owner so that an absolute check may
be kept.
The firm will keep the meter at It's
offices except when ii is necessary 10
buy more postage. The meter will he
operated by Il small electric motor. Tht
letters will be fed into the meter j
patches and will be sealed. stamped
and Cancelled at the rate of $50 Il min
ute. AS the letters are handled the
meter will automatically record the
number of cancelled letters on the up
ner door. The user will adjust the
me, hanism of the meter so that the
ttmv stamped on the letters will he
one hour in advance of the time of de-
livery of the letters ut the postoffice.
Help Large MaiIers.
The meter. II Is expected, will prove
Of great value TO large mailers In adj
dition to saving time and labor the
meter will enable large firms to OK
pedite their mail by at least several
hours. The meters will protect firms
from loss of stamps through thefts or
rareIesSness and will also give a mark
of distinction to the firms mail, all of
which will bear private permit mum
hr~. mark of big business. The
metcring of the mail also will lighter
The work of post0ffices and will lessen
the number OF postage stamps needed.
thereby making II possible. to reduce
government forces and expenses con-
Siderably.
Metered mail will not bear regular
postage stamps. but merely permit
number,