Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 270, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 November 1913 — Postoffice Clerks Will Lick Your Stamps Christmas. [ARTICLE]

Postoffice Clerks Will Lick Your Stamps Christmas.

Christmas gift givers this year will not he forced to lick their own stamps when they affix the proper postage to their parcels for mailing. The postoffiee department announced Monday that its postmasters and their assistants would attend to that duty if requested. The 'innovation was put in force in the interests of better mail service during the holiday rush and is expected to facilitate the movement of the vast crush of matter that will tax the resources of the department. Orders were issued to postmasters to affix postage when requested on mail of the second, third and fourth classes, the latter being parcel post matter. The stamps will be pre-canceled and the plan is expected to prevent the great waste of time experienced by postoffiee patrons while waiting in line to buy postage and mail their packages. “Under such authorization,” says Postmaster General Burlesan, “when a parcel is presented for mailing the clerk receiving it, after collecting the required postage, may endorse on the parcel the amount of the postage, which later will be affixed by an employe of the postoffice.” “The postmaster general believes his plan will result in a great saving in time to the department as well as to the people.