Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 41, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 October 1908 — TO BENEFIT IGNORANCE [ARTICLE]

TO BENEFIT IGNORANCE

People Who Violate the Postal Laws Unknowingly Not To Be Punished.

Washington, Oct 23.—Postmaster General Meyer has amended the postal regulations regarding the enclosure of any matter of a higher class in mail paid for at a lower rate so as to Impose the penalty only upon those who “willfully” violate the regulations. Heretofore the department has imposed fines for such violations regardless whether the offense was committed wilfully or through ignorance. The fines aggregate approximately 800,000 a year, and ninety per cent of the cases have been found to be due to ignorance <rf the law. mostly the women aud children and the Ignorant, usually poor. There were I,GOO such eases in connection with the Jamestown exposition, all of the violations being committed by children.