Show Postal Posa Notes Persons who receive objectionable objectionable items through the mails should bring them to the attention of their ter This is especially true of pornographic materials as itis it itis itis is otherwise impossible for the Postal Service to take effective effective tive action either abolition abolition abol abol- or control Since first class mail is protected protected pro pro- by law against being opened by anyone except the addressee or his agent or guardian most pornographic materials are sent first class This means that postmasters can do nothing until the person person per per- son who is authorized to open the mail is willing to make a complaint and to surrender the items in question as evidence evidence evi evi- dence of their having havin been handled by the Postal Service Much objectionable mail is received and destroyed by bythe the people who would like to complain complain com com- plain but who are reluctant to todo todo todo do so because they fear that possession of such mail willbe will willbe willbe be a reflection on the morality of the addressee says Postmaster Postmaster Post Post- master Peterson But postmasters know better than anyone else that most ads for obscene obscene ob ob- ob scene matter are unsolicited Names of unsuspecting recipients recipients cents are obtained from school yearbooks club rosters lists compiled by professional organizations organizations or or- and many other sources Everyone of either sex or any age is considered fair prey Sometimes those who complain complain com com- plain wonder whether their objects have been meaningful for they receive no report on action taken by the Post Office Office Of Of- fice Department or by the courts But they shouldn't be discouraged says Postmaster Peterson even though their individual problem seems to have been slighted Each month the Postal Inspection Service suppresses hundreds of illegal promotions and takes specific action against the violators of mailing laws and regulations For example during November 1964 arrests arrests ar are ar- ar rests were made prosecutions prosecutions were undertaken and 98 convictions were secured Answers to your questions about obscenity as it involves the mails can be obtained by calling your Postmaster |