Show A PETTY RESTRICTION A curious freak in the postal laws or In the official was developed by the Chicago postmaster during the holiday clay rush of mailing parcels The postage post-age on printed matter is i 1 cent zaltel for two ounces on merchandise its I Is 1 cent an ounce A good many Chicago people sent books through the malls Hnfl in order to make plain that It was not merchandise and was entitled to go at the greater weight for the cent they wrote on the outside of the package the word Books The postmaster of the Windy City promptly ruled that the writing o this one word on the outside subjected the whole package to letter J postage I they hadnt in some war let the postoffico employees know that the package contained con-tained books they might have been charged double rales I was a harsh ruling on tho senders and If that Is the law the sooner it Is changed the better for certainly the customor has n right to what the law allows him and the right to designate what it Isle Is-le Is ending I is not always possible for the one who malls a book to call personally at the office and explain or unwrap it for inspection and n way surely ought to 1 be open by which his rights can be protected The Baltimore News says either the postmaster Is an S or the laws an ass and it urges amendments to the postal laws so that manuscripts can be posted at the book rote I is a suggestion worth considering but the evil Jcomplaincd of In Chicago would still remain There should bean be-an express ruling of tho department that a label or written designation on a package meant merely to explain the contents should not change the mal charge as It would stand without such label or designation The convenience con-venience of the public should be the object aimed at not petty annoyances or sharp catches Give the honest people peo-ple a show and If rogues attempt to abuse the privilege deal with them according to the penalties In the law set forth |