OCR Text |
Show v H DON'T DBPACP LBTTEn DOXCB. H If Too Do too Ara Ll.bl. to 8)1,000 HJ rins. HJ Among the United States statutes H relative to tbo poatofllce department la HJ no which provldei a penalty ot f 1,000 H DEO or two years' Imprlaonment for H s.iy defacement ot letter boiea, tays HJ the New York Mall and Ktprets. Tbo H law retted In a state ot Innocuous det- H uetude for years until It was brought H to tho attention ot Pottmatter Hicks HJ of Philadelphia recently, and ho has H been laying plans to enforce it. In a H recont trip through the city be dlscov- HJ ercd mat tho mall receptacles every-. where were In a shabby condition, din- H gy with dirt and marred with match H scratches innumerable. On his return, H to the postofflco he wrote to the pott- H master-general at Washington atklng H that ho bs allowed to make a contract HJ for repainting the receptacles. Word H came from Washington to go ahead HJ with the work, and tbo contract has H already been lot and the work com- H menced. It will take about forty days H .to give tho 3,250 lotter boxes and 300 H packago receptacles their new coau, HJ but as tho work progresses special of- H fleers In cltlien'a clothes are stationed . yM along tbo route to watch for pcoplo who daro to dlsflguro the new paint coats, and a placard has been hung on each of tbe posts quoting tbe statuto In question and calling the attention ot tbo publlo to It. The principal offenders offen-ders against tho itatute are smokera, who utlllte Undo Sam's property for match scratcbers. Tbe paint used Is a silvery gray and has been tpeotally prepared. It contains pboiphettu In large quantities, which It la hoped will make tho boxes to contplcuous at night that people will have no difficulty In finding them. Should tba paint prove a shining light It will very likely b adopted all ovsr the country. |