Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 February 1893 — Letter-Carriers Must Not Talk. [ARTICLE]

Letter-Carriers Must Not Talk.

The man nowadays who wants to learn the address of a friend need never ask the letter-carrier who serves his friend’s mail. If he does he will receive scant satisfaction, for the letter-carrier is not allowed to tell, .even should he be inclined to oblige. “Do you know John Blank?” asked a stranger out in Tacony one day last week, as he met one of Uncle Sam’s custodians of the mail. The lettercarrier replied that he did. “Where does he live?” next asked the stranger. “I cannot tell you,” said the lettercarrier, as he moved on. “It’s against orders. ” The stranger looked incredulous, swore a little at what he considered a a lack of courtesy, and, after considerable trouble and inquiry, reached his destination. But the letter-carrier was only following out his instructions. Inquiry at the postoffice yesterday disclosed the fact that such an order really does exist. “No letter-carrier,” said an official of the department, “is permitted to give any information whatever about any person upon his route, either as to the place of residence, business, or any other matter. The rule is yery strictly enforced, and probably has some connection with the law prohibiting the dunning of a creditor by mall. The let-ter-carriers are not permitted to disclose the residence of a man any more than the clerks in the office are allowed to tell who rents the various boxes.”— Philadelphia ltecord.