1 
 
w 
 
 ■f — 
 
 University of California. 
 
 CfTT^^T OT'-' 
 
 / OEPT. 
 
 ■— I— ..■■i^i ,1.,^^. I 
 
^/ 
 
THE 
 
 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS 
 
 UxNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 
 
 PUBLISHKD IN ACCOHDAXCE WITH THE 
 
 ACT OF CONGRESS 
 
 APPEOTED MAECH 3,/i879/-' i Jj U 
 
 ^^im 
 
 COMPILED AND EDITED BY 
 
 
 ARTHUR H. BISSELL, 
 Law Ckrk of the Post-Office Department, 
 
 AND 
 
 THOMAS B. KIRBY, 
 Private Secretary to the Postmaster-General. 
 
 WASHINGTON: 
 
 GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. 
 1879. 
 
v\^' 
 
 s^^ 
 
 
 ORDER OF THE POSTMASTER-GENERAL. 
 
 Post-Office Depaetiment, 
 
 Washington^ D. C, July 1, 1S79. 
 The regulations herein contained are issued b}^ my authority and 
 have my official sanction. All former regulations and rulings in con- 
 flict, or at variance with those herein contained, are hereby abrogated. 
 All postmasters and other postal officers and employes are required to 
 return to the Post-Office Department all copies of former editions of 
 the Postal Lavrs and Regulations immediately upon the receipt of the 
 present volume. /3^0 6 
 
 M A- /c^ 
 
 Vofitmaiiter-Gencral. 
 
CALIb'<H;NI A 
 
 X 
 
 IMPORTANT. 
 
 The liiw.s aiul rej^iilatious lieiciii contaiut'd imi.st be carefully lead by 
 every postmaster and other person employed iu the postal service, as 
 no breach of the law or regulations will be excused on the plea of igno- 
 rance. 
 
 "When any law in this book is repealed or amended by Congress, or 
 any regulation is altered or abrogated by direction of the Postmaster- 
 General, through instructions issued by circular or in the United States 
 Official Postal Guide, the postmaster must make the necessary altera- 
 tion iu this book, and add a note referring to the date of the law or 
 order of the Postmaster-General by which the change was made. (See 
 page 353.) 
 
 In this volume the regulations follow immediately after the laws upon 
 which they are based. 
 
 The laws are printed in long-primer type. 
 
 The regulations, executive orders, decisions of the courts, and opin- 
 ions of the Attorney-General and of the Assistant Attorney-General 
 for the Post-Office Department are printed in brevier type. 
 
 The following must be signed by every i)ostmaster : 
 
 I have read these laws and regnlations, and I will take care that 
 all the persons employed under me shall ]:»e made acquainted with the 
 sections thereof atiectiug their respective duties. 
 
 Fo.st)ii>i.st€r at 
 dav of , IS . 
 
E K R A T A . 
 
 Page 34, section 5, for "June 19" read "June 17;" for "20 Stat., p. 201," read "20 
 Stat., p. 141." 
 
 Page 42, section 34, for "tlieir respective nse" read "the respective use." 
 
 Page 84, section 247, for " 19 Stat." read "18 Stat." 
 
 Page 90, section 276, for "end of each month" read "end of each •week." 
 
 Page 91, section 288, for "Return Letter Office" read "Dead Letter Office." 
 
 Page 101, section 361, for "addressed to box-holders" read "addressed to box num- 
 bers." 
 
 Page 107, section 414, for "Division Superintendents" read "their Division Super- 
 intendent." 
 
 Page 114, section 443, line 8, for "rf" read "c." 
 
 Page 11.5, section 449, line 2, strike out the word " only." 
 
 Page 117, section 462, for "see section 442" read "see section 472." 
 
 Page 143, change the foot-note to read as follows : 
 
 "By the act of June 12, 1879 (see page 354), the time is extended to one year." 
 
 Page 147, section 627, paragraph 4, line 2, for "of their depots" read "from their 
 depots." 
 
 Page 167, for" section 227" read "section 727." 
 
 Page 170, for "section .5.57" read "section 757." 
 
 Page 172, section 787, for "attendance book" read "record of arrivals and dei)art- 
 Tires." 
 
 Page 18.3, section 865, for "return-registry-receipt" read "registry-return-receipt." 
 
 Page 314, section 1247, for "(R. S. 5434" read " R. S. 5534"; section 1248, for "R. S. 
 5435" read "R. S. 5535." 
 
 Page 318, line 8, for "5265" read "5266." 
 
 Page 319, line 1, for "tables" read "topographer." 
 
 Page 320, add "American Rapid Telegraph Company, 41 Wall street, New York, 
 received and filed April 12, 1879." 
 
 Postmasters atid oilier posfal officers and cnq'loyes must male these corrections in the proper 
 places in the book as soon as they receive it. 
 
T ABLE 
 
 TITLES AXn CHAPTERS. 
 
 COXTAIXF.D IX THE 
 
 POSTAL LAWS AXD REGULATIOXS. 
 
 Pages. 
 
 SPECL\L INSTRUCTIOXS TO TOSTMASTERS 27-28 
 
 SUGGESTIONS TO THE PUBLIC 29-31 
 
 TITLE 1. 
 
 THE POST-OFFICE DEPARTMENT. 
 
 Chapter \. — Ougaxizatiox axd General Provisions 33-47 
 
 Sec. 1. Establishmeut of the Post-Office Department. 2. Assistant 
 Postmasters-Geueral. 3. AVho may act as Postmaster-Geueral. 4. 
 Assistant Attorney-General for the Post-Office Department. 5. Other 
 officers of the Post-Office Department. G. Special agents and their 
 salaries. 7. Acting special agents. 8. Special agents authorized 
 to administer oaths. 9. Superintendent of railway mail service. 
 10, Payment of special agents. 11. Bonds requirt-cl of special agents. 
 12. Assignment of si)ecial agents. 13. Authority and powers of special 
 agents. 14. Special agents' communications confidential. 15. Ju- 
 risdiction over offenses against the postal laws. 16, Preliminary 
 proceedings before whom. 17. When witness must give bond, 18. 
 Special agents, how related to Postmaster-General. 19. Resi- 
 dent foreign mail agencies. 20. Mail agents on ocean steamers. 
 21. Postal agencies in China and Japan. 22. Route agents, em- 
 ployment of. 23. Railway postal clerks. 24. Oath of office. 25. 
 "Who may aibninister oath. 26. Authority of Postmaster-General 
 to prescribe regulations. 27. Distribution of the business of the 
 Department. 28. Seal of the Post-Office Department. 29. Duties 
 of the Postmaster-General. 30, Property in charge of the Depart- 
 ment. 31, Postal arrangements with foreign countries. 32. Publi- 
 cation of postal conventions. 33. Blank agency at Wa.shington. 
 34. Foreign dead letters. 35. Orders, contracts, etc., to be truly 
 dated. 36. Form of bonds and contracts. 37. Copies of mail con- 
 tracts for the Auditor. 38. Orders to be certified to the Auditor. 
 39. Credits for payments by postmasters. 40. Fines, penalties, for- 
 feitures, etc., how remitted. 41. Discharge of imprisoned judg- 
 ment debtors. 42. Such discharge no bar to execution. 43, Postal 
 employes may not be interested in contracts. 44. Prescribed an- 
 nual reports of the Postmaster-General. 45. Annual reports of the 
 Auditor. 
 
6 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 Pages. 
 
 CAop^er 1.— Organization and General Provisions — Continued 33-47 
 
 Sec. 46. Annual estimates of tlie Postmaster-General. 47. Esti- 
 mates to be furnislied the Secretary of the Treasury. 48. Con- 
 tracts signed by the First Assistant. 49. Contracts signed by the 
 Second Assistant. 50. Contracts signed by the Third Assistant. 
 51. Omission to take oath not to affect liability, etc. 52. Suits and 
 prosecutions in State courts. 53. Disbursements for topographer's 
 office, how made. 54. No emj)loye to receive fees. 
 
 Chapter 2. — Accounts, Eevenues, and Deposits 47-54 
 
 Sec. 55. Manner of keeping accounts. 56. Miscellaneous and money- 
 order receipts. 57. Postal revenues to be accounted for. 58. Reve- 
 nues to be appropriated for postal service. 59. Payments, how made; 
 advances. 60. Transfer of debts to coutractoi's. 61. Suits to recover 
 wrongful and fraudulent payments. 62. Delivery of stolen money 
 to owner. 63. Disposal of tines, penalties, and forfeitures — of moi- 
 eties. 64. Accounts to be preserved two years. 65. Restrictions on 
 payments on account of postal service. 66. Postal revenues and 
 collectious to be paid into Treasury. 67. Deposits, how brought 
 into the Treasury. 68. Transfer of postal deposits. 69. Accounts of 
 postal deposits. 70. Entry of each deposit, transfer, and payment. 
 71. Public moneys in Ti-easnry subject to draft of Treasurer. 72. 
 Money to be safely kept by postmasters. 73. Custody of government 
 money in bauds of postmasters. 74. Frequent deposits of revenues. 
 75. No money to be paid directly into the Departmeut. 76. Post- 
 offices financially designated and classified. 77. Post-offices trans- 
 ferred from one class to another. 78. Postmasters to transfer their 
 deposits promptly. 79. Letter of trausmittal to state what. 80. 
 Postmasters may transfer funds free. 81. Postmasters to report 
 amounts paid mail messengers, etc. 82. Postmasters to report 
 cause of failure to deposit. 83. Want of funds not accepted as ex- 
 cuse. 84. Collection drafts must be paid. 85. Failure to deposit 
 cause for removal, unless. Sd. Postmasters to pay over balance at 
 end of quarter. 87. Postmasters at special post-offices to report 
 balance. 83. Postmasters at special post-officas to transmit receipts 
 promptly., 89. Payment to department must be in what. 90. No 
 allowance made for expenses for payments, etc. 91. Counterfeit 
 money to be replaced. 92. Postmasters at draft post-offices not to 
 pay drafts on other post-offices. 93. Postmasters not required to 
 redeem mutilated currency. 94. Postmasters to refuse mutilated 
 coins. 95. All funds to be kept in current money. 93. Postmasters 
 to sign certificates in person. 97. Postmasters not to receive for- 
 eign coin. 
 
 TITLE II. 
 
 POST-OFFICES AND POSTMASTERS. 
 
 Chapter 1 — Establishment of Post-Offices and Appointment of Post- 
 
 MASTKRS — Of Bonds and Sureties 55-58 
 
 Sec. 98. Establishment of post-offices. 99. Discontinuance of post- 
 offices. 100. Classification of ]>ostmaster8. 101. Appointment and 
 term of office of postmasters. 102. Ai)pointments issued from office 
 of First Assistant. 103. Postmasters' connuissions to be recorded 
 and countersigned. 104. Residence of postmasters. 105. Bonds of 
 ])(isf masters. 10t>. Application of payments after giving new bond. 
 107. Connuissions not issued to jiostinasters before ai)}»roval of 
 bonds. 
 
CONTENTS BY SECTIONS. ( 
 
 I'agc-B. 
 Chiptrr 1 — KsrAiu.isiiMi:M or rosr-Oi-KiCES am> Ai'I'OINT.mkxt ok Post- 
 
 MASTKKS — Ok 1{oN'I>S AND SlUKTIKS — Collt illllt'd 55-58 
 
 Skc. km. WIjo may In? apiMtiiitt^l postiiiastcr. WJ. Wlicii new Ixnnl 
 is reiiuiivd. IKt. Limit of time of sureties' liability. 111. Ke- 
 spousiliility of sureties upon postmaster's death. 112. Renewal of 
 boii<l. 113. Ai»plieatioii of sureties for release, to wlioni made. 114. 
 Cliaiiyinjj; name iif post-oHicc necessitates new bond. 115. Sureties 
 on bonds, how released. 
 Chapter 2 — Salaries ok Po.st.ma.stei{.s and Expkxditchks at Post- 
 
 Okfices 59-03 
 
 Sec. 116. Salaries of i>ostinasters at Presidential post-oHices. 117. 
 Salaries of fourth-(;lass postmasters. 118. Penalties for false returns, 
 unlawful sales of stamps. 119. Biennialreadjustment of salaries. 120. 
 Orders atieeting salaries to be re](ovted to auditor. 121. Allowance 
 for clerks at separatinjj post-oHlces. 122. Limit of salaries. 123. 
 Application for readjustment of salaries. 124. Allowances for clerks 
 and incidental expenses. 125. Allowances for extraordinary busi- 
 ness. 120. Allowances to be fixed by order. 127. Allowances can- 
 not exceed surplus revenues. 128. Keceipts rerjuired for i»ay of 
 clerks employed. 129. Extra allowances to first and second class 
 ]tost-otHces. 130. Appointment of clerks in post-offices. 131. Rostef 
 of clerks, their duties and salaries. 132. Salaries and expenses may 
 be deducted from receipts. 133. Vouchers for deductions to be sent 
 to the auditor. 134. No postmaster to retain more than his salary, 
 etc. 135. Compensation of postmasters pro tempore. 
 Chapter 3 — Postage-stamps, Stamped Envelopes, and Postal Cards .... 04-70 
 
 Sec. 130. Postajt;e-stamps for prepayment of postage. 137. Postage- 
 stam]»s, denominations of. 138. Stamped envelopes to be jirovided. 
 
 139. Stamped envelopes of how many kinds. 140. Postal cards to 
 be provided. 141. I'ostal cards for use in Postal T'nion correspond- 
 ence. 142. Exclusive issue of i)08tal cards by the department. 143. 
 Letter-sheet envelopes, double postal cards, etc. 144. Improve- 
 ments in stamps and envelopes. 145. Sale of stami>s at post-oflSces. 
 
 140. Postmasters to keep a supply of stamps. 147. Requisitions for 
 stamps, etc., how to be made. 148. Rec^uisitions, when to be made. 
 149. Requisitions for special-request envelopes. 150. Postmasters 
 not sujqdied with stanqis until conmiissioued. 1.51. Postmasters to 
 count sujjplies when received. 152. Damaged supjdies, how to be 
 treated. 153. Mistakes in printing special-request envelopes. 154. 
 Postmaster to charge himself with stamps, etc. 155. No quarterly 
 returns, no stam])s. 150. Postage-due stamps, newspajier and period- 
 ical stamps. 157. Moneys received for sale of stanqis, how jyaid 
 over. 158. Stamps for unpaid postage to be used, etc. 159. News- 
 paper and periodical stamps, how used. 100. When supplies ex- 
 hausted how to proceed. 101. I'ostmasters to report postage col- 
 lected from publishers. 162. Monthly report of supplies by post- 
 nuisters at Presidential oftices. 103. Postmasters to turn over 
 supplies to successor. 164. Discontinued post-offices, disposition of 
 snx)plie8. 165. No percentage to postmasters for sale of stamps, etc. 
 106. Rates governing sale of stamps, etc. 167. AflSdavit by post- 
 masters claiming credit for stamps destroyed. 168. No credit to be 
 allowed where office is robbed of stamps. 169. Exchange of i)Ost- 
 age-stamps prohibited. 170. Postage on si)oiled stamped envelopes, 
 when refunded, etc. 171 . Postal cards when spoiled to be redeemed. 
 
8 POSTAL LAWS AXD REGULATIOXS, 
 
 Pages. 
 
 C7iflj><e>- 3— Postage-Stamps, Stamped Exvelopes, &c— Coatiuued 64-70 
 
 Sec. 172. Stamps, etc., redeemed to be seut to department with letter. 
 
 173. Postmasters lield to strict accountability for stamps. 174. 
 
 Stamped envelopes, etc., to be sold at cost. 175. Postage-stamps 
 
 sold at discount to designated agents. 
 
 Chapter 4— Classification of Domestic Mail Matter axd Rates of 
 
 Postage Thereox 71-85 
 
 Sec. 176. Mail matter divided into four classes. 177. First-class mat- 
 ter defined. 178. Postage on first-class matter. 179. Soldiers', 
 sailors', and marines' unpaid letters forwarded. 180. Prepayment 
 required on otticers' letters. 181. Postage on delivered postal cards 
 re-posted. 182. Other than first-class matter must be open to exam- 
 ination. 183. Sealed packages, etc., to pay letter-rates. 184. Sec- 
 ond-class matter defined. 185. Essential characteristics of second- 
 class matter. 186. A known office of publication defined. 187. 
 Advertising sheets defined. 188. Decision upon doubtful publica- 
 tions. 189. Postmaster's entry of second-class publications. 190. 
 Postage on second-class matter. 191. Weighing of second-class 
 matter. 192. Manner of prepaying second-class matter. 193. Reg- 
 ular subscribers defined. 194. Evidence of subscription-list may 
 be required. 195. Sample copies at second-class rates. 196. Ad- 
 mission of new publications to second-class rates. 197. Penalty for 
 submitting false evidence as to a publication. 198. Postmasters to 
 report the submission of false evidence. 199. Entry of second-class 
 publications. 200. News-agents applying for second-class rates. 
 201. Evidence required of news-agents. 202. News-agents defined. 
 203. Sample copies defined. 204. Extra numbers not sample copies. 
 205. Sample copies to be mailed separately. 206. Supplements ad- 
 mitted as second-class matter. 207. Definition of supplements. 
 208. Hand-bills and posters not supplements. 209. Prohibited ad- 
 vertisements in second-class matter. 210. Examination of second- 
 class matter. 211. Detention of suspected second-class matter. 
 212. Foreign publications admitted as second-class matter. 213. 
 Examination of foreign publications. 214. Infringement of copy- 
 right by foreign puldication. 215. Third-class matter and postage 
 thereon. 216. Proof-sbeets defined. 217. Circulars defined. 218. 
 Postage on circulars mailed in bulk for postmasters to distribute. 
 219. Printed matter defined. 220. Manifolding and type-writing 
 not printing. 221, Fourth-class matter defined. 222. Unmailable 
 matter. 223. Precautions against injury to the mails. 224. Post- 
 mastei's responsible for admission of improper matter. 225. Ob- 
 scene matter prohibited in the mails. 226. Lottery-circulars pro- 
 hibited in the mails. 227. Lottery advertisements in second-class 
 matter. 228. Postmasters responsible for admission of obscene 
 matter to the mails. 229. Postage on fourth-class matter. 230. 
 Treatmentof unmailable matter reaching its destination. 231. Per- 
 missil>le additions to other than first-class matter. 232. Personal 
 con-espondence negatively defined. 233. Letter-postage charged on 
 prohibited writing or printing. 234. Form of bills accompanying 
 ;second-class matter. 235. Newspapers to be wrapped and suffi- 
 ciently dried. 236. Manner of ])resentiug second-class matter for 
 mailing. 237. Manner of presenting third-class matter for mailing. 
 238. What a package of third-class matter may contain. 239. Free 
 county publications. 240. Postage on second-class matter at free- 
 deliverv offices. 
 
CONTENTS liV SECTIONS. 
 
 r;i::.». 
 
 Chapter 4— Ci.assiiica iikn ok 1><)Mi>ii( Mail Maih:!: ani> Uatks or 
 
 I'OSTA<JK TlIKKKON — Coiiti lined .. 71-H5 
 
 Skc. 241. SecdiHl-c'liiss lUiittfi- at tici'-ilclivrrv ol'liccs, how .sci)aratf<l. 
 242. Free comity publicatious must be mailed by themselves. • 243. 
 Publications with othccs in two counties free in neither. 244. 
 Sample t(>iii«> nl' licf ((ninty jiublieaticuis subject to postajj^e. 24J!>. 
 Congressional documents free ot'i>ostaj>e. 246. Conj^ressional Record 
 and extracts therefrom free. 247. Seeds anil Rejtorts from Aj;ri- 
 cultural Department free. 24.-^. Kemailin<f of Couffressional docu- 
 ments after one delivery. 249. Letters etc., on <j;overnment business 
 free. 250. Penalty envelopes f(U- otlicial matter. 251. Extension of 
 two precedinfi; sections. 
 
 Chapter 5 — Ship and Stkam hoat Lettkhs 8G-S7 
 
 Sec. 252. Letters on vessels to and from foreign i)orts. 25:5. Letters 
 on inlaiul steamboats. 254. Payment for ship letters. 255. Double 
 postajje on ship letters. 256. Definition of ship letters. 2.57. Man- 
 ner of collectin<j ship fees. 258. Rating up postage on ship letters. 
 259. No fee on foreign-addressed letters. 2G0. No fees to passengers 
 or sailors. 261. Letters on mail steamboats, how disposed of. 262. 
 Account of shii» and steamboat letters to be kept. 263. No fees to 
 mail vessels. 264. Printed ship matter, how to be treated. 
 
 Chapter 6 — Dkliveky of Ordinary Mail-matter ; Withdrawal by 
 
 Sender krom Post-Office of Matter before its Dispatch 88-92 
 
 Sec. 265. Opening of mails ; placing matter on delivery. 266. Post- 
 masters may remove wrappers of packages. 267. Double postage 
 on unpaid uiatter. 268. Matter cannot be delivered uutil postage 
 due is paid. 269. Weight of matter determined at post-otlice of nuiil- 
 ing. 270. Postage-due stamps for jusufficicntly paid matter. 271, 
 Penalty for failing to affix postage-due stamps. 272. Time of aflix- 
 ing postage-due stamps. 273. Treatment of undelivered matter 
 •with postage-due stamps thereon. 274. Postage-due stamps on for- 
 warded matter, how refunded. 275. "What persons are entitled to 
 receive mail-matter. 276. Letters addressed to fictitious persons. 
 277. Proof of identity required in doul)tful cases, 278. Letters 
 opened through mistake. 279. Mail-matter addressed to other 
 post-offices, not to be delivered ; exceptions. 280. Mail-matter ad- 
 dressed in care of another. 281. Letters from the Pension Office, 
 282, I'nder no pretext are letters in the mail to be opened. 283, 
 Mail-matter to be delivered according to official designation. 284. 
 Mail-matter addressed to minors. 285. Mail-matter addressed to 
 deceased persons. 286. Mail-matter to be delivered to as-siguees, 
 etc. 287. Mail-matter addressed to defunct firms or corporations. 
 288. Postmaster to require appointment of receiver. 289. Decision 
 of disputed claims to mail-matter. 290. Injunction of courts to bo 
 respected. 291. Withdrawal of letters from mailing post-office. 
 292. Proof of identity of letter required. 293. When to refuse ap- 
 l»licatiou for withdrawal. 294. Mail-nuitter beyond mailing post- 
 office cannot be withdrawn. 
 
 Chapter 7. — Letter-boxes ix Post-Offices 92-94 
 
 Sec. 295. Postmasters may erect boxes at their own expense. 296. 
 Lock-boxes, etc., for box-holders at their expense. 297. Finends of 
 owners of box to use the same, when. 298. Postmasters to keep a list 
 of box-holders. 299. Failure of ])ostmaster to make report of box 
 rents. 300. Rent of boxes to be prepaid. 301. Payment for boxes 
 must be quarterly. 
 
10 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 Pages. 
 
 Chapter 1 — Lettrr-boxes ix Post-Offices — Continued 92-94 
 
 Sec. 302. Box to be restricted to use of one family, etc. 303. Retiring 
 postmaster to leave record of box receipts with successor. 304. 
 Postmaster shoiild refuse to rent box for improper purposes. 305. 
 Rent for private boxes. 306. Postmasters not to disclose names of 
 box-holders. 
 
 Chapter 8. — Carriers, Free Delivery axd Braxch Offices axd Street 
 
 Mailixg Boxes 94-101 
 
 Sec. 307. Letter-carrier post-offices. 308. Districting of cities. 309. 
 Classification of carriers. 310. Salaries of carriers. 311. Auxiliary 
 carriers. 312. Appointments and promotions. 313. Public build- 
 ings described. 314. Number of carriers limited. 315. Letter-car- 
 rier's bonds. 31(j. Applications for the carrier system. 317. How 
 carriers are appointed. 318. Qualifications for appointment. 319. 
 Form of application for appointment. 320. Return of oaths and 
 bonds. 321. Appointments of substitutes. 322. Postmasters may 
 fill temporary vacancies. 323. Emploj'meut of additional carriers. 
 324. Duties of caiTiers generally. 325. Leave of absence ■without 
 pay. 32fx Penalty for absence without leave. 327. Carriers to be 
 uniformed. Penalty for wearing unlawfully. 32^*. The uniform pre- 
 scribed for carriers. 329. Carriers supply their own uniforms. 330. 
 Behavior required of carriers. 331. Carriers not to contract del)ts 
 on the route. 332. Carriers not to solicit contributions, etc. 333. 
 Establishment of street mailing boxes. 334. Penalty for injuring 
 street mailing boxes. 335. Carriers must report injuries to street 
 mailing boxes. 336. Establishment of branch post-offices. 337. No 
 carrier's fee permitted. 338. The general delivery to lie discour- 
 aged. 339. Accounts required at carrier post-offices. 340. Post- 
 masters' reports of operations. 341. Postmasters' reports of ex- 
 penses. 342. Rules for delivery of matter. 343. Matter not to be 
 delivered at unoccupied premises. 344. Mail matter not to be deliv- 
 ered in the streets. 345. Transient or to be called for letters, how 
 treated. 346. City directory to be used to ascertain addresses, when. 
 347. Carriers to receive letters for mailing. 348. What carriers may 
 not do. 349. Return of undelivered matter. 350. Holiday and even- 
 ing delivery. 351. Tests of carrieis' efficiency. 352. Prompt and 
 frequent deliveries required. 353. Limited sale of stamps by car- 
 riers. 354. Branch offices or postal stations. 355. Mails between 
 stations and the general post-office. 3.56. Advertised letters. 357. 
 Care of street mailing boxes. 3.58. Postmasters to inspect stations. 
 359. Carriers' daily return of property and mail. 360. Carriers 
 must not return deposited letters. 361. Delivery of registered let- 
 ters by carriers. 362. Postmasters to supervise carriers' service. 
 
 363. Arrest of persons found tampering with street mailing boxes. 
 
 364. "Cave Canem," beware of the dog. 365. Supplies for carrier 
 l)ost-offices. 366. Manner of keeping books. 
 
 Chapter 9.— DisTHinuTiox axd Dispatch of Ordixary Domestic Mail 
 
 Matter 102-10/ 
 
 Sec. 367. Postmasters to receive and dis]>atch mail matter. 368. 
 Time of closing the nuiil. 369. Preference given to letters over 
 other mail matter, when. 370. Penalty for unlawfully detaining 
 m?iil matter. 371. l^repaid matter to bo forward(!d if requested. 
 370. Erroneously delivered and re-directed inatter to be forwarded. 
 373. Letters mailed under cover to postmasters how treated. 
 
CONTENTS' BY SECTIONS. 11 
 
 J'agCH. 
 
 Chapter V — DisrinisriiuN and Disi-atcii ok (»i;i>i.nai;v Do.mksik Mail 
 
 Matter — Continued Hr2-l(i7 
 
 Sec. 374. Postmasters to rei-f ijtt lor coi»yri«;ht miittt-r. :57.">. I'ostajie- 
 stamps to be eanceled. I{7rt. Return-stami>s on jxistal cards 
 and letter-envelopes. 377. Manner of canceling stainiis. 378. 
 Treatment of matter bearing canceled or impro[M'r stamps. 379. 
 All mail matter other tlian second class to be ])ostmarked. 3'^0. 
 Imjiressions to be taken of the dated stamp. 3-'l. How to secure 
 U'tiible stam]>ini;:. 3H2. Treatment of tirst-class matter received in 
 liail order. 3H:{. Distribution and disjiatch of mails. 384. No 
 changes except in case of emergency. 385. Distribution of mails 
 by schemes. 38^). What States shouhl be distributed. 387. Mail 
 to be made up by States. 388. Local mail for railroad and steam- 
 boat lines. 389. Other than local mail sent to railroad and steam- 
 boat lines. 390. Making up local mail for railway lines. 391. Make 
 direct packages for horse routes. 392. Making up mail beyond la.st 
 post-office on stage-route. 39.5. Letters for delivery and for distri- 
 bution in separate packages. 394. Direct packages. 39.5. Letters 
 nnist not be plaied in jxiuch loose. 39r>. Facing slips to be used. 
 397. Checking errors. 398. Dispositiouofslijis received. 399. Ab- 
 sence of slips on packages or in sacks. 400. Slips and schemes fur- 
 nished. 401. Report of uuworked mail received. 402. Report of 
 all irregularities. 403. No through iiouches by mail trains. 404. 
 Changes in forwarding mails. 40.5. Hooks prohibited in handling 
 mail bags. 40r). Letters with stamps canceled not to lie returned. 
 407. Letters not to be placed under straps of pouches. 408. Printed 
 labels furnished to be returned. 409. Application tVu- printed labels. 
 410. Time of closing mails. 411. Pouches to be examined. 412. 
 Mails stojiping over night. 
 
 Chapter 10. — Superixtexdexts of Mails at Post-Offices of the First 
 
 AND Second Classes 107-1U8 
 
 Sec. 413. Ap])ointnient of superintendents of nuiils. 414. General 
 duties of superiuten.leuts of mails. 415. Record and report of 
 errors in distribution. 416. Examination of slips. 417. Postmas- 
 ters to be fu'.nished with the record. 
 
 Chapter 11. — Case Examixatiox of Post-Office Clerks 108-109 
 
 Sec. 418. Case examination of distributing clerks. 419. Nature of 
 case examinations. 420. Verbal examination of clerks. 421. Post- 
 masters' order-book. 422. Orders to be signed by clerks. 423. Slips 
 on which errors are noted to be compared with schemes. 424. 
 Reports at end of month to General Superintendent. 425. Incom- 
 petent clerks not to be continued, etc. 
 
 Chapter 12. — Receiving and Dispatching Mails at Catcher Post- 
 
 Offices 109-110 
 
 Sec. 426. Cranes and catcher pouches. 427. How to luepare pouches 
 and hang them on the crane. 428. Catcher pouches to be used for 
 no otlier purpose. 429. Only fifty pounds of mail allowed in catcher 
 pouches. 430. Special instructions to postmasters served by 
 catchers. 
 
 Chapter 13. — Disi'Osal of Unmailable, Undelivered, and Dead Mau. 
 
 Matter IIO-IJO 
 
 Sec. 431. Unmailable nuitter to be sent to the dead-letter otfice — ex- 
 ceptions. 432. Definition and classification of unmailable matter. 
 433. Definition and classification of dead matter. 434. Fii-st-class 
 matter not to be held unmailable on mere suspicion. 
 
12 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIOXS, 
 
 Pases 
 
 ■Chaphr 13.— Disposition of L'xdelivered, L'xmailable, ax.) Dead Mail 
 
 Matter — Continued 110-1-20 
 
 Sec. 435. Unmailable matter fioui railway offices, how treated. 436. 
 Unmailable matter inadvertently forwarded, how treated. 437. 
 Postmasters to return uumailable matter to senders. 43:^. Matter re- 
 turned to senders at other post-offices. 439. Held for postage matter 
 that cannot be returned to sender. 440. Disposition of destructive 
 unmailable matter. 441. Unmailable matter to be i)romptly sent to 
 dead-letter office. 442. How matter must be sent to the dead-letter 
 office. 443. How to make up and transmit returns of unmailable mat- 
 ter. 444. Advertisement of unclaimed and undelivered matter. 445. 
 Advertising- foreign letters. 446. Displaying lists of advertised 
 letters. 447. Pay for advertising letters. 44S. Charge on advertised 
 letters. 449. Advertisement of unclaimed matter. 450. Matter that 
 should not be advertised. 451. Form of the advertisement. 452. 
 Advertisements in newspapers. 453. Advertised matter to be so 
 marked. 454. Letters from dead-letter office to be advertised. 4.55. 
 Fictitious matter not to be advertised. 456. Request matter. 457. 
 Card matter. 458. Postage must be prepaid on card and request mat- 
 ter. 459. Unclaimed official matter to be treated as card matter. 
 460. Postmasters' letters to be treated as card letters. 461. Date of 
 arrival and ret-arn of card matter. 432. Collection of postage on 
 short-paid returned card matter. 463. Local letters not returned 
 to another post-office. 464. Disposition of hotel card matter. 
 
 465. Return of other than first class-card and re(]^uest matter. 
 
 466. Matter unclaimed after return to sender. 467. Disposition of 
 missent matter. 468. Authority of Postmaster-General to kill let- 
 ters. 469. Final disposition of unclaimed matter. 470. Undeliv- 
 ered matter to show reason for non-delivery. 471. Disposition of re- 
 fused second-class matter. 472. Disposition of other refused matter. 
 473. Return of "no unclaimed and refused matter." 474. State- 
 ments of unclaimed matter. 475. Disposition of refused unmaila- 
 ble matter. 476. Hotel matter without card or request. 477. All 
 hotel matter to be stamped. 478. Disposition of dead printed mat- 
 ter, 479. Dead foreign printed matter. 480. Dead domestic printed 
 matter. 481. Dead postal cards. 482. Return of dead matter. 
 483. Record of valuable dead letters. 484. Return of dead letters 
 containing money to owners. 433. Return of undelivered dead 
 m(mey-letters back to dead-letter office. 486. Returned dead money- 
 letters must be registered. 487. Other than money dead letters 
 need not be registered. 488. Valuable dead letters must not be 
 forwarded. 489. Dead letters not valuable may be forwarded. 
 
 ■Chapter 14. — Lost Letters axd Mail Depredations 120-121 
 
 Sec. 490. Postmasters to report lost mail-matter to chief special agent. 
 491. What fact such report umst state. 492. Postmasters to imme- 
 diately report robbery of post-office. 49.3. Cases of mail robbery to 
 be repf)rted at once. 494. Arrest of criminals to be reported to 
 United States district attorney. 495. Examination of persons ar- 
 rested. 496. Robbery of nuiils in vicinity of post-office. 497. Mon- 
 eys recovere<l from mail robbers. 
 
 Chapter 15. — Payment or Employes or the Railway Mail Seknice by 
 
 POST.MASTERS 122-123 
 
 Sec. 498. Record of arrivals and (b'partures to be examinrd daily. 
 499. Paj^ withheld for failure to sign record. 500. Prcliiiiiuary no- 
 tice to paying postmaster. 
 
CONTENTS HY SECTIONS. 1^ 
 
 Chapter !'». — Fa ymknt (.)!•• Emi-loyks of tiik Uaii.way Mail Skkvk k iiy 
 
 Postmasters — Coiitiuneil M'-VZ'.l 
 
 Sec. 501. Notice to .•Second A-;sist!Uit Postiiiastfr-Geiicral. ."(02. Ab- 
 sence for more than thirty days to he reported. hO'.\. Partial 
 susptMision of pay pendinij linal instructions. '>()A. The cause (»f 
 deduction of i>ay, etc., how noted. 50.j. No signature and advance; 
 sijjjnaturi', liow noted. 500. Keys and records nnist he turned in 
 before liiial setth-nient. GOT. Record of arrivals and departures to 
 he sent to division superintendent. 50h. No discretion to he used 
 in reporting faihu'es. ."lO.!. Instructions as to paying employees, 
 from whom received. 510. Payments to l)e mach- promptly at end 
 of month. 511. Distinction het ween suhstitnte and acting employ6. 
 512. Authority for paying acting employes. 513. Manner of paying 
 acting employes. 
 
 Chapter 16. — MiscKLL.A.XEOfS Provisions Respecting Dctiks of Post- 
 masters 121-12- 
 
 Sec. 514. Records at post-offices of property and snpplics. .")15. Jn- 
 Acntories of public propt-rty to be made in duplicate. 516. Dupli- 
 cates, how to be disposed of. 517. Postmasters not to receive 
 moneys from predecessors, nnless. 518. Assistants to be appointed. 
 .519. Oaths of otfice to be sent to department. 520. AVho to have 
 access to mail-matter in post-offices. 521. Mails not to be opened 
 in reach of unanthorized persons. .522. Postmasters must collect 
 and examine waste paper, etc. 523. No post-office to be located in 
 bar-room. 524. Loungers not to be permitted in post-office. .525. 
 Business hours at post-office?. 526. Transaction of other business 
 at fourth-class i)Ost-offices. 527. Changing site of post-office. 528. 
 Receiving-box for mail-matter at fourth-class post-offices. 529. 
 Place for mail-matter awaiting delivery and for stamps. .530. Sanc- 
 tity of seals invi(dable. .531. Postmasters not to give information 
 respecting mail-matter. .532. Postmasters powerless to remit fines 
 or overcharges on mail-matter. 533. Official correspondence ; re- 
 turn of official jiapers. 534. How postmasters should reply to of- 
 ficial correspondence. 535. Postal Guide supi)lied officially and to 
 be consulted. 53*>. Postmasters in doubt as to law to ask instruc- 
 tions. 537. Attention to be given to official printed circulars. 53^. 
 How postmasters are to address the Department. 539. Public docu- 
 ments and property to be turned over to successor. 540. Creden- 
 tials of special agents to be demanded. 541. Postmasters not to 
 act as lottery agents. 
 
 TITLE III. 
 
 TRANSPORTATION OF THE MAILS. 
 
 Chapter 1. — Dr.sicxATiox ok Post-roads over wiiicii the Mails may ijr 
 
 Carried 129-131 
 
 Sec. 542. What are post-roa<l8. 543. The Postmaster-General may es- 
 tablish service on post-roads. 544. All court-houses to be supplied 
 with juail. 545. Carrying the mail on canals. 546. Canyiug the 
 mail on plank-roads. 547. Carrying the mail on waters of the 
 United States. 548. Extending innil facilities to special post-offices. 
 549. Selecting i)ost-roads. 5.50. "When terminus of post-roads may 
 be changed. 551. Discontinuing service on ]>ost-roads. 552. Limit 
 of authority of Postmaster-General to establish post-roads. 553. 
 Penalty for obstructing the mails. 554. Delaying mail at a ferry : 
 peualtj'. 
 
14 POSTAL LAWS AND REGILATIONS. 
 
 Pages 
 
 Chapter 2. — Carriage of the Mails a Goverxmext Moxopoly. — Un- 
 lawful Carriage of Mail-matter outside of^the Mails. — Seizure 
 
 AND Detentions of Unlawful Matter in the Mails 131-134 
 
 Sec. 555. Prohibitiou of private expresses. 556. Private carriers for- 
 bidden at carrier post-offices. .5.57. Penalty for carrying persons 
 acting as express. 558. Penalty for sending letters by private ex- 
 press. 5.59. Penalty for carrying letters ont of the mail. 560. Pen- 
 alty for carrying letters on board a mail- vessel. 561. Foreign letters 
 only to be received from a post-office. 562. Vessels to deliver all let- 
 ters at post-office. 563. Special agents to search vessels for letters. 
 564. Seizing and detaining letters. 565. Forfeiture of seizures to 
 the United States. 566. Letters seized may be returned to senders. 
 567. Letters conveyed without compensation. 568. Letters in 
 stamped envelopes — excepted. 569. Postmasters must report viola- 
 tions of law. 570. Searches authorized. 571. Newspai)ers may be 
 carried out of the mail. .572. Such papers deposited in j)Ost-offices 
 must be paid. 
 Chapter 3. — Advertisejients, Prijposals, and Contracts for Carrying 
 
 the Mail 13.5-148 
 
 Sec. 573. Advertisement of general mail-lettings. 574. Division of 
 the United States into contract sections. .575. Advertisement of 
 routes omitted in general letting. 576. Notice of intention to change 
 terms of contract. 577. Miscellaneous mail-lettings defined. 578. 
 Advertisement of miscellaneous mail-lettings. 579. Rates to be 
 paid for advertisements. 580. Proposals for carrying the mail; how 
 delivered and opened. 581. Proposals to be accompanied by bonds 
 approved by postmasters. 582. Sureties on bidders' bonds must 
 qualify. 583. Amount of bond stated in advertisement. 584. Quali- 
 fication of sureties on more than one bond. 585, Bids to be accom- 
 jianied by a certified check or draft. 586. Time of returning drafts 
 to unsuccessful bidders. 587. Penalty for illegal approval of bonds 
 l)y postmasters. 588. All projjosals to be recorded and filed. 589. 
 Combinations to prevent bids ; penalty. 590. Caution to post- 
 masters signing bidders' bonds. 591. What are legal bids. 592. 
 Bidders must inform themselves as to the character of the service. 
 593. Special instructions to biddei's. 594. Alterations and modifi- 
 cation of bids destroy their validity. 595. Bidders must be of le- 
 gal age. .596. Bids which cannot )je received. 597. Bids which 
 may be rejected. 598. Biddersnot released from bonds until service 
 is commenced. 599. Persons who may not be interested in mail con- 
 tracts. 600. Bidders may not assign or transfer their bids. 601. 
 Contracts in name of United States and awarded to the lowest 
 bidder. 602. New sureties on contracts may be rerxuired or ac- 
 cepted. 603. In case of bidder failing, contract with other persons 
 authorized. 604. In case of failing contractor, contracts with other 
 persons authorized. 605. Temporary contracts authorized not to 
 exceed last contract price. 606. Penalty for makiug straw bids. 
 607. Contracts made without adv(irtisement. 608. ]\Iail apartnu^nts 
 to be furnished on mail steamboats. 609. Contracts to be executed 
 in duplicate. 610. Term of contracts. 611. Time of executing con- 
 tracts. 612. Payment on contracts. 613. Causes for which con- 
 tracts may be anunllcd. 614. Contractors to carry all mails and 
 care for mail-bags. 615. Special agents and i)()stal sujjplies to be 
 carried free. 61f). When ])()stmasters may employ ti'uqxuary 
 service. 
 
CONTENTS I5V SKf'l'IONS. lij 
 
 Pages. 
 Chapter '.I. — Advki; i i>KMr,.\ is, I'ltDi'osAi.s, a.\i> ('<)\ti!A( is i oi: < aukvinc; 
 
 TiiK Mail — ContimaMl i:J5-l4S 
 
 Skc. ()17. After cimtiacts li;i\f fX|tiiril itn.^linastfrs in;i.\ not jiay 
 for service, Old. Iiitreii.se of coiniieiisiitiini for iiieicartetl service. 
 (519. Increase of coini>eii.siitioii fur increased ci-ierity. CriO. Deternii- 
 iiatiun of coiiii»ensati()n for increased celerity. 021. Decreased 
 compensation tor decreased service. G22. Changt'S of sch(;d- 
 ule ; time of arrival and (lepartnre. G23. Contracts cannot l>e as- 
 signed or transferred. (3'i4. Contracts not to be sublet without 
 consent of the I'ostmaster-Geueral. G25. Subcontracts permissible 
 with consent of the Postinjistor-General. G26. Regulations under 
 which subcontracts may be made. <)27. Mail-messenger service, 
 62S. Mail-carriers to receive mail for delivery at next i)pst-oflfice. 
 Chapter 4. — ADJCsr.MKxr ok Compensation' to Railroads i-ou Carry- 
 ing TIIK Mails..., 149-152 
 
 Sec. 6'29. Conditions of railway service and rates of pay for same. 
 6:50. Refusal to provide post-otitice cars. iVM. Dimensions of, and 
 additional pay for, post-office cars. 632. Cars to be furnished as re- 
 quired by the Postmaster-General. 633. Mails, how and when to 
 be weighed. 634. Railroad companies to give notice of their readi- 
 ness for weighing. 635. Compensation of railroads reduced ten 
 per centum. 636. Compensation of railroads reduced five per 
 centum more. 637. Congress may fix compensation to be paid land- 
 grant railroads. 638. Congress does fix compensation to be paid 
 said roads. 639. When railroad companies must deliver mails to 
 post-offices. 640. Mails not to be carried beyond termini of routes 
 without authority. 641. Knowledge of si^ecitic reiiuiremcnts of ser- 
 vice, how obtained. 642. Postiuaster-General to decide what trains 
 shall carry the mail. 643. Railway company must carry mails ou 
 any train. 644. Must carry supplies and special agents. 645. 
 When mail may be carried on railway routes by horse express. 646. 
 Railway companies to report receipts and expenses. 647. Commu- 
 nications aftectiug i>ay of railroads, how addressed. 64S. Auditor to 
 furnish instructions respecting finaucial agent. 
 
 Chapter 5. — Foreign' Mail Service 1.33-154 
 
 Sec. 649. Transportation of domestic mails through foreign countries. 
 
 650. Transportation of foreign mails through the United States. 
 
 651. Foreign mails in transit to be treated as domestic. 652. Con- 
 tracts for carrying foreign mails. 653. How foreign mails may be 
 carried. 6.54. Limit of compensation for carrying foreign, mails. 
 655. Foreign mail contractors may be fined. 656. Foreign mail 
 contracts may be terminated by Congress. 
 
 Chapter 6. — Inspection' an'd Verieicatiox of Service Rendered by 
 
 C.\RRiERs 01" the Mail— Of Fixes axd Deductk)N-s 154-1.57 
 
 Sec. 657. Record of arrivals and dei>artures of the mails. 658. How 
 postmasters should report arrivals and departures of the mail. 659. 
 Special reports when required. 600. Disposition of regular and 
 special reports. 661. Duplicate reports to be preserved in post- 
 offices. 662. Delivery of mail to post-offices on star routes. 663. 
 Postmasters to report delinquent mail-carriers. 664. Certain delin- 
 quencies to be specially reporti'd. (i65. De<luctions for contractors' 
 failures, fines for their delin(|Uencies. i^^ia. When postmasters must 
 notify contractors of failures. 6o7. Contractors to make specific 
 excuses for each deUnciuency. 6C^. Causes for which forfeitures 
 must occur. 669. Causes for which fines will be imposed. 670. 
 Deductions and fines upon railroad companies. 
 
16 POSTAL LAWS AND EEGULATIONS. 
 
 Pages. 
 
 Chapter 7. — Mail Equipmexts 157-16-i 
 
 Sj:c. 671. Term mail-bags iucludes what. 682. Every mail-route mnst 
 be supplied witli mail-bags. 673. Applications for mail-bags must 
 state what. 674. Applications for supplies to Second Assistaut 
 Postmaster-General. 675. liepair of mail-bags by j)ostmasters, etc. 
 676. Mail-bag in transit becoming iinsound. 677. "What mutilation 
 of a mail-bag may be allowed. 678. Sacks containing public docu- 
 ments. 679. Damaged mail-bags at post-offices which are mail-bag 
 depositories. 680. Surplus mail-bags not to accumulate. 681. 
 Equal exchange or reciprocal return of locked pouches. 682. Reg- 
 ister of outgoing and incoming mails to "be kept. 683. Names of 
 depositories for mail-bags and locks. 684. Account of depositing 
 post-offices t(5 be rendered. 685. Surplus Stock to be kept apart 
 from the current stock. 686. Legitimate use of mail-bags restricted 
 to what. 687. Canvas sacks may be taken by publishers, when. 
 688. Waste or abuse of mail-bags to be prevented. 689. Mail-bags 
 not to be purchased by postmasters. 690. Mail-catchers, how fur- 
 nished, 691. Applications for mail-bags, etc., to state reasons. 
 69'2. Mail locks and keys, by wlioiu furnished. 693. Care of mail- 
 keys ; penalty for loss. 694. Mail-keys to have a specific number. 
 695. Exchange of mail-keys bj^ railway-mail employes. 696. Re- 
 ceipts to be always taken for mail-keys. 697. Repairing mail-locks 
 and keys forbidden. 698. Defective keys to be rejjorted to the 
 department. 699. Brass locks not to be sent to iron-lock post- 
 offices. 700. Proiier course when defective key will not open mail- 
 lock. 701. Proper course when defective lock cannot be opened. 
 702. Fastening-strap never to be cut. 703. Economy in the use of 
 mail-locks. 704. Unlawful use of mail-bags to be reported to the 
 department. 705. How to address connuunications on mail equip- 
 ments. 
 
 TITLE IV. 
 
 THE RAILWAY MAIL SERVICE. 
 
 Chapter 1. — Orgaxizatk )X axd Gexeral Pkovisioxs 1(T3-164 
 
 Sec. 706. The General Superintendent of Railway Mail Service. 707. 
 Division Sui)erintendents. 508. Offices: post-offices for distributing 
 mail in transit. 709. Employes of railway mail service. 710. Ap- 
 pointment of employ6s. 711. Uniform for employds. 712. Division 
 superintendents not to reconunend aiqiointments. 713. Assignment 
 of chief head clerks. 
 
 Chapter 2. — Instructioxs to Employes Haxdlixg Ordixary Mail 
 
 Matter 165-173 
 
 Sec. 714. Employes to carry instructions with them. 715. Employes 
 to report errors discovered in the Postal Guide. 716. Employes to 
 be examined in the postal laws, etc. 717. One employ6 to have 
 charge of office. 718. Accountal)ility of employe in charge of office. 
 719. Assistants to obey emi)loy6 in charge. 720. Receiving mail at 
 car; canceled stamps to be refused. 721. Cancellation of postage- 
 stamps. 722. Postmarking stamps not to be used iov cancellation. 
 723. Receiving and delivering second-class mail at cars. 724. Mail 
 to be made up by States. 725. Separate nuiil for delivery and mail 
 for distribution. 726. Direct i)ackages. 727. Letters must not be 
 placed in pouch loose. 728. Facing slii)s to be use 1. 729. Check- 
 ing errors. 730. Disposition of slips received. 731. Distribution 
 of mail by schemes. 
 
I'OXTKNTS BY SECTIONS. 17 
 
 Pages. 
 Chapter 2. — IxsTHrcrioN's to Kmpi.ovks Hanki.inc ()i:i>i\ai:y Maii.- 
 
 Mattek— CoiitiniiiMl 1(;.'-1T:! 
 
 Skc. 7'^2. <)i«'ii aiifl (listriliulc one jioiicli or s.ick at ii tiiiu-. 7:!:!. 
 Abst'iiccMif slijiM oil |»iick!i>(«'H i»r in sacks. ~'.\\. Saik to Itc tiirm-d 
 inside out. 7'M^>. Pouches to lie exaniinetl. 7:Ui. I'linted labels 
 to l)e retnnied. 7157. Trip i<'i»orts to l>e. tuiwardeil. 7'.\f^. \"\>i'\- 
 lance leqiiircd in jiuardinj; nniils. I'M). Waste paper ami twine 
 to be exaniineil. 740. Disjiosition of nnniailable matter fonn<l in 
 the mails. 741. I'lunailable matter foiwarded to Siijicrintendent. 
 74*2. Mailable matter tnrin'd in as unniailalde to he cdncked as 
 errors. 74:J. I'nmailable matter to be postmarked. 744. Soldiers' 
 and sailors' letters. 745. Cliange of .sehednles to be re]iorted. 746. 
 Lettoi\s outside of ponelies to he reported. 747. No employ6 to he 
 absent withojit leave. 748. In ease of disahility, pm)doyciuust son<l 
 certiticate. 749. Employt^s' record of arrivals and flejiartures. 7.')0. 
 Posting rec(u-d-book. 751. Partial duty to he noted on record. 752. 
 Employds paid for daily service. 7.53. Address of employes. 754. 
 IVriod of duty. 7.55. Employes must aceomjiany mails to and from 
 ]>ost-otilices. 756. Employds must examine olliees at the end of runs. 
 757. Keplies to otticial connnunicatious. 758. AVho may luxve access 
 tootlices. 759. Trij) permits to ride in offices. 700. All hut annual 
 permits to he taken up. 761. Permits not good for transjjortation. 
 762. Sale of ptKstage-stamjishy employes. 763. Em]doy6s on duty not 
 to traffic. 764. IMust not impart information to nnautliorized ])er- 
 sous. 765. Turning over jnoperty of department. 766. Forward- 
 ing of resignations. 767. No information to he given concerning 
 vacancies. 768. Intoxicating liquors jiroliiljited. 769. Mail in 
 transit not to he delivere<l. 770. Public property not to he nsed 
 for private pniiioses. 771. Exchange of pouches. 772. Mail must 
 not he delivered at places not ytost-offices. 773. List to be kept of 
 exchange ixjuelies. 774, Irregularities to he repoi'ted. 775. Mis- 
 sent nuitt-er to he so stamped. 770. Mutilation of ]»roperty prohib- 
 ited. 777. Employes mnsj examine order Tiook. 778. Second-class 
 and other matter outside of mail-hags. 779. Reading mail-matter 
 in transit forbidden. 780. Case examinations. 781. Examinations 
 <»f employes ou their instructions. 782. Prohationary appointees to 
 he examined monthly. 783. Employes on night lines. 784. Secur- 
 ing mail-locks and mail-keys. 785. Notify DiWsion SaperinteiideiU. 
 of changes needed in office. 786. Employes must assist special 
 agents. 787. Presence of special agents not to he rei)orted. 78S. 
 Accidents to mail trains to he rejjorted. 789. Hooks prohibited iu 
 handling mail-bags. 790. Courtesj' to public enjoined. 791. De- 
 livery of mails at catch stations. 792. Kules of railway companies 
 ohserved. 793. Ignorance of rules no excuse for violations. 
 Chapter 3. — Local A(iKXTs axd tiikir DtTiF.s 17:!-174 
 
 Sec. 794. Local agents under supervision of Superintendent Kailwav 
 Mail Service only. 795. Transfer and delivery of mails. 796. Vi"-i- 
 lance in guarding uuiils. 797. Sul»er^^sion of me.ssenger 8er\-ice. 
 798. Checking mails in transit. 799. Daily reports. 800. Exami- 
 nations of local mail agents. 801. Arrivals and dejtartures must 
 he recorded. 802. Handling registered matter. 803. Absence. 
 804. Courtesy enjoined. 805. Local agents governed by general 
 instructions to employes. 
 
 2r L 
 
18 POSTAL LAWS AX]) KEOULATIOXS. 
 
 Pnjje?. 
 
 TITLE V. 
 
 THE REGISTRY SYSTEM OF THE UNITED STATES. 
 
 Chnpfrr 1.— Rkckivixg, TitAxsMiTTiXii, and Dr.LivKiiixc Rr.(;isTEr,i:i> Do- 
 mestic Mail Mattek IT.VISS 
 
 Sec. 806. Reo-istry system iiutUorizccl. 807. Object of the registry 
 system. 808. Means employed to attain safety. 80i). Postmasters' 
 duty to eucourage registration. 810. What mail matter eau be 
 registered. 811. No registration on Sunday. 81-2. Limit of fee for 
 registration ; no fee on offirial matter. 813. Registration fee. 814. 
 Rules for sender of registered letters. 815. Rules for sender of third 
 and fourth class matter. 816. Postmasters must not addi-ess and 
 seal letters. 817. Registry of letters containing currency for re- 
 demption. 818. Special instructions for registering currency. 819. 
 Receiving mail matter for registration. 820. Numbering registered 
 matter and registei'ed package envelopes. 821. Matter becomes 
 registered after a receijit is given therefor. 822. Cancellation of 
 stamps, registry mark, and postmark. 823. Registered matter to 
 be kept secure. 824. Receipt to be taken ni)on delivery of regis- 
 tered matter. 825. The registry-return-receipt. 826. The registry- 
 bill. 827. Registered-package-envelope. 828. Preparing regis- 
 tered matter for dispatch. 829. Matter too large to go in regis- 
 tered-package-envelope. 830. Registered-package-receii)t. 831. 
 Disitatching a registered package. 832. Registered matter not to 
 be tied with ordinsiry mail matter. 833. Mail messengers and mail 
 carriers notto handle registered matter. 834. Certifying to proper 
 dispatch of registered matter. 835. Sending registered matter to 
 an office from distant j)ost-office. 836. Never send registered mat- 
 ter direct over railway mail routes. 837. Postmasters receiving reg- 
 istered })ackagcs for their j)ost-offices. 838. Postmasters receiving 
 registered packages in transit. 839. Recording registei-cd packages 
 in transit and returning receipts. 840. Continuous examination, 
 record, and system of receipts. 841. Record-of-registerctl-mattcr-in- 
 transit. 842. When registered packages should go in way pouches. 
 
 843. Registered packages must be sent by the most secure route. 
 
 844. Postmasters must observe the registry schemes. 845. Indors- 
 ing registered packages. 846. Checking return of package receipts 
 and bills. 847. Failure to retiirn registered-package-recciitt. 848. 
 Failure to return registry-bill. 849. Circular of iu([uiry returned 
 indorsed "not received." 850. Misdirected registered packages 
 in transit not to be opened. 851. Misdirected registered postage- 
 stamj) packages, etc. 852. Registered packages found in bad 
 order or damaged in transit. 853. Postmasters to receive registiued 
 matter from emjiloyds. 854. Rules for registered packages uniform 
 for all matter. 855. Registered postage-stamp i)ackages damaged 
 in transit. 856. Receiving registered matter at a ])ost-otirti(' for de- 
 livery. 857. Omissions on registry-bill and registry-return-receijit 
 to be sup]died. 858. Failure to send registry-bill or registry-returu- 
 receipt. 859. Treatment of registered letters arriving in bad 
 order. 8ij0. Registered letters found unseali'd. 861. No charge to 
 be made on the delivery of registered nuitter, 862. Rejjort to lie 
 nuide of deticieut postage or fee. 863. Registry-notices to be sent. 
 
('(>.\li:.N"rs i;V SKCTIONS. 19 
 
 Chaplir 1. — IvKCKlx i\(;, 'I'ltANsvi: i i i\(i, ami 1)i;i.i\ i:i:in'i. I>'i:(,isi i:i!i;i> I)u- 
 
 MKSTic Mail MAiTKit — Couliimnl 17r.-183 
 
 Skc. ti'M, A Vi(»x-IioltU'r to l>c iiiitifu'il ulicii n-yistfrnl nuitli'r arrives. 
 86.'). DolivtTy of ro^iisttircd letter or pjircol. ti Ji). Delivery otrej^iH- 
 tored matter liy carriers. H(57. Name of carrier delivering; registered 
 matter must ajipear. tiG'i. Utmost care roqiiired in delivery. Hiill. 
 Kesi»oiisil)ility for wroiijx delivery. ^70. Proper sij;iiature re(|iiireil. 
 H71. Kejfistry-retiirii-receilit to lie ii'iiiailcd to the sender. H72. Xo 
 postajie re([iiired on rej;istry-l)ills and re}i;istry-retnrn-reeeipts. nl'.l. 
 Rej>istered matter received for delivery to insane or dead persons. 
 b74. Attachment of rejiistered letters. H7.'). Frandnlent re<fistered 
 letters may he returned. 87(i. Undelivered rejristered matter to he 
 returned to mailinj;' ]>ost-ol1ice. 877. Refused reiiistered letters or 
 jiarcels. S7H. Orif^inal record to show leturn of a letter or parcel. 
 879. When returned re<j;istered matter eaimot he delivered to seud- 
 cr. 880. Soudiug rei^istered letters or parcids to the Dead-Letter 
 Office. 881. Forwarding registered letters or jtarcels. 882. Mis- 
 seut registered letters oi- ])nrcels received. 883. Writer cannot con- 
 trol registered letter after mailing. 884. Response to inquiries. 
 885. Tracers for stamj)e(l-envelo]»e or postal-card i)ackage8. 886. 
 Treatment ofxegistered matter found among ordinary mail matter. 
 887. Report to the Chief Special Agent lost or missing registered 
 matter. 888. Quarterly rt'ports to Third Assistant PostmasteT- 
 General. 889. No entry in account current of fees or postiige on 
 registered matter. , 890, Accounts of registeied matter. 891. Dis- 
 position of registered-package-envelopes which have heeii used. 
 892. Blanks used in registration. 893. Envelopes used in registry 
 husiness. 894. Registry supplies to he kept up. 895. I'ostmasters 
 to take special interest in success of registry sy.stem. 896. Post- 
 masters not to reprimand other postmastera, 897. Postmasters 
 in donht as to their duty. 
 
 Chnjilcr 2. — Re.speciixg Registerkd Letteijs ani> Pakcels Addkessko 
 
 TO, on OkktIxatixg ix, Foreigx Couxtkies 183-19 ) 
 
 Sec. 898. Registered correspondence for foreign countries. 899. Regis- 
 traticm fee to foreign countries. 900. Postmasters registering foreign 
 matter consult Postal Guide. 901. Registered packages misdirected 
 to foreign post -offices. 902. S^'uder may demand a regi-stry-return- 
 receipt from foreign countries. 903. Registry-return-receipts to 
 foreign countries. 904. Matter which cannot he registered to for- 
 eign countries. 905. Mark Forekjx on registered packages inclos- 
 ing foreign matter. 906. Registered matter from foreign countries. 
 907. Registry-retiiru-receiiJts of foreign origin. 908. Undelivered 
 foreign registered letters or parcels. 909. Foreign registry-retnrn- 
 receipts not sent to Dead-Letter Office. 910. Registered matter 
 supposed to he liable to customs duty. 911. Foreign registered mat- 
 ter specially held for delivery. 912. Forwarding registered matter 
 in the Universal Postal Union. 913. I'ostnuirk foreign registered 
 matter at exchange post-ofliees. 914. Don't write to foreign prist- 
 masters. 
 
 Cha})ter 3.— The Traxsmis.siox ok TnuouGii-REtiisTEUEO-rorciiEs 19i»-194 
 
 Sec. 915. Object of this' branch of tlie registry system. 916. ]Meaiis 
 used for carrying on the through-registered-pouch-service. 917. 
 Exchanges directed to be made invariably. 918. Sui)i)lies for 
 thi-ongh-r(>gistered-pi)uch-oflices, how used and kept. 919. Addi- 
 tional sn])plies. 
 
20 POSTAL LAWS A^;D ELOrLATIO^'S. 
 
 ragos. 
 Cliapler 3. — Traxsmission ok Tnuouciii-EEGisTERKD-i'OUcnES — Contiuued. 100-104 
 Sec. 920. Registered matter dis])atclie(l in throimli-registered-pouelies. 
 921. Prepar.itiou of matter for tlirongli-registered-pouclies. 922. 
 Signing tlie poucli-bill and copying. 923. Inspection before closing. 
 924. Labeling and locking. 92.5. Manner of indicating dispatch of 
 extra tlirongb-registered-poticbcs. 926. Object of the registry disk. 
 
 927. Extra througli-registered-poncbes, etc., to be promptly rctnmed. 
 
 928. Throngb-registered-poucli in bad order. 929. Checking con- 
 tents of throngb-registered-ponch. 930. Safety of registered locks 
 and keys. 931. Through-registered-ponches in transit, when to be 
 opened. 932. Discrepancy in contents of tlu'ongh-registered-poiich. 
 933. Record of delays to be kept. 934. Damaged registered locks 
 and keys. 93.5. Throng]i-registered-i)onch or blank must be deliv- 
 ered. 936. Non-delivery of through- registered -ponches. 937. 
 Throngh-registered-ponches, when to be taken into terminal post- 
 office. 938. Disposition of through-registered-pouches in bad order 
 in transit. 
 
 Chapter'^. — The Haxdlixct of Registered INIatteu by Railway ^Iail 
 
 Employes 104-196 
 
 Sec. 939. Registered packages between post-oftices and office to be 
 pouched. 940. Railway-mail-registry-books. 941. Record of regis- 
 tered matter ke^it. 942. Receiving registered matter at terminal 
 post-offices. 943. Receipt for registered matter. 944. Postmarking 
 and retiu'ning registered-package-receipts. 945. Registered matter 
 not to be delivered to employes of railroads. 946. Receipting for 
 I'egistered matter. 947. Illegible postmark on registered packages. 
 948. Examination of condition of registered packages. 949. Regis- 
 tered-package-receipts to be properly filled out. 950. Forward reg- 
 istered mail in a pouch. 951. Check return of registered-i)ackage- 
 receipt and forward duplicate. 952. Registered nuitterftu' through- 
 registered-iiouch-offices. 953. Registered matterfor delivery to con- 
 necting office. 9.54. Get receipt for registered matter and registry 
 books. 955. Turn over registry books when full to Division Super- 
 intendent. 
 
 TITLE VI. 
 
 THE M0^'1•:Y-0RDER SYSTEM OF THE I'NITED STATES. 
 
 ChaploX. Establishment and General Provisions 107-201 
 
 Sec. 9.56. Establishment of money-order systeuL 0.57. Object of the 
 monej'-order system. 958. Design of Congress in establishing the 
 money-order system. 9.59. Postmast«'rs to issue money orders. Re- 
 s]ionsibility therefor. 960. Issue of money orders by clerks. Post- 
 master's resp<uisibility. 961. Postnuistersto designate clerks to sign 
 money orders, wbcn. 9(52. Signature l>y clerks foi' postmasters and 
 by acting postmasters. 963. Classification ()f money-order post- 
 oftices. 9t)4. New bonds required when post-oflice is made money- 
 order otticc. 065. Books, circulars, and blanks furnished to money- 
 order offices. 966. Duty of retiring postmaster at money-order i)ost- 
 office. 967. Duty of iiH'onung postmasterat uioncy-order post-office. 
 968. Extra compensation forissuing and pa\ lug money orders. 969. 
 Payment Ibr statiimery andincidentals oiii of money-order proceeds. 
 070. Surplus money-oriler jn-oceeds, liow accnur.tcd Ibr. IJmit ol" 
 clerk liire. 071. Sjiecial permission reciuired foi- ail <'Xp( iiditures. 
 1)72. I'dst iiiastrrs 1o rccoiiiiiicnd iiioiic\ -order sxsteni to the nublie. 
 
fOXl'KNI'S I'.V SDCTIOXS, 21 
 
 (iKiptrr 1. — Ksr.\iij,isii.\ii;.N I and (!K\i;it.\L I'kovision.s— Contiimid l'.>7-20l 
 
 .Skc. i>7:?. rdstiiiastcrs must cDiiloiin strictly to rcjfulatioiis. '.t? 1. NO " 
 iiioncy-ordtT Imsiiii'ss oii Smidiiy. ilT'). Lcttr-rs on iiioiicy-ordcr 
 business to lie torwiirdrd si'));ir;it('Iy. i'Td. I'ostiuiistiT-fifiiciiil ni;iy 
 in.'ikc ("orcifiii money-order coil vi'iit ions. '.(77. I'oolvs (o In- l\i'|tt ;it 
 money-order ]»ost-ottiees. 
 Chaphr'i. — Issik of Domkstic Monky-Oudi'.ijs 'JOI-'JO? 
 
 Skc. 1*78. Hliink forms of niipiiciition to he supplied. i»7l». I'osf- 
 m.isters proliiidted fiinn tillinj;- up money-ordcn- npidieationa. 'JHO. 
 Printed forms to be furnished for money orders. 981. Money-order 
 advices. 982. No monej'^ order to be issued on credit. 983. Fees 
 niton money orders; no order for more than fifty doUar.s. 984. 
 FracI ional parts of a cent not to bo included. ;H5. Only three fifty- 
 dollar t)rders to one jterson for same payee. 9^(5. Issninj; money 
 onh-rs and transmitting advices. 937. Stamping money orders and 
 advices. 93H. Persons iirocuring money orders mn.st carefully 
 examine them. 989. Signature of postmaster on money orders 
 lunst be written. 990. When errors are made, uew orders must be 
 nnide out. 991. How to use blank money orders and advices. 992. 
 Omitted and defective blanks to be reported. 993. Postmasters 
 
 . responsible for loss of nmney-order forms. 994. How ])0stmasters 
 should make out advici-s. 995. "When second advices should be 
 issued. 996. Amount of order to l)e in writing. 997. Orders may 
 be drawn upon Avhat post-oflices. 998. Notice money-order offices 
 discontinued. 999. Postmastei's to instruct applicants on what 
 post-ollice to draw. 1000. Money orders to be recorded when issued. 
 1001. Report when !j$300 is drawn \\\nn\ other than first-class post- 
 offices. 1002. Advices to be checked to insuri; ettrrectness. 100;5. 
 Keissne of nutney orders ; new fee required. 1004. Rules for reis- , 
 suing mouey orders. 100.5. Issue of driplicate money orders. 1006. 
 Du])licate money orders issued only by superinteudeut. 1007. Duty 
 of postmasters applying for duplicate money order. 1008. Second 
 advice furnished when needed to get duplicate. 1009. Original 
 order may be jtaid before duplicate is issued. 1010. Duty of post- 
 master certifying to uou-paymeut of order. 1011. Postmasters can- 
 not issue duplicates. 1012. On what post-ofticcs duplicates can be 
 drawn. 
 ChajUer 3.^Pa ym ext ( n' Do.mf.stic Mon k v-Oiiders 207-213 
 
 Sec. 1013. Money-order good only one year from date. 1014. Only 
 one indcn-sement allowed on money-orders. 1015. Postmasters 
 unist have payees identified. 1016. Money-orders must not be i>aid 
 until advice is received. 1017. Advices examined ami filed as re- 
 ceived. 1018. Advices must be kept secret. 1019. Missent advices 
 to be remailed. 1020. Second advices to be entered when received. 
 1021. Precautions to be taken before paying orders. 1022. Orders 
 not properly issued to Ije refused payment. 1023. lni[uiry f(U' miss- 
 ing advice. 1024. Duty of postmaster when order does not agree 
 with advice. 1025. Postmasters must provide against delays in 
 paying orders. 1026. Paid orders to be stamped and recorded. 
 1027, Payment by duplicate to be note«l. 1028. Payment upon 
 power of attorney or to legal representative. 1029. Orders must 
 be correctly receipted and stamped. 1030. Payment of order on 
 day of issue. l();5l. Department not responsible after payment of 
 ordei-. 
 
22 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 Pages. 
 
 Chapter 3. — Payment of Domestic Moxey-Ouders — Contmned •207-2Vi 
 
 Sec. 1032. How ordei's more than a year old may be paid. 1033. 
 Advices to be examined for orders over a year old. 1034. Payment 
 of amount of money-orders illegally indorsed. 1035. Repajaneut 
 of money-order to applicant. 1036! Rules for repaying orders. 
 1037. Reiiaid orders to be so stamped. 103S. Repaid orders to be 
 signed by whom. 1039. Repayment by duiilicate. 1040. Special 
 notice of repayment, how entered. 1041. Postmasters to pay only 
 orders drawn on their post-ofitices, 1042. Notice to be sent to payee 
 of duxdicate. 1043. Postmaster-General may stop payment of 
 money orders, when. 1044. When postnmsters should withhold 
 payment of money-orders. 
 
 Cluipier i. — Issue axd Payment ok Foreign Money-Orders 214-221 
 
 Sec. 104.5. Exchange of money-orders with Great Britain. 104G. In- 
 ternational money-orders ; how drawn. 1047. Form of application 
 for international order. 1048. Issuing postmaster not to decide coin 
 value of currency. 1040. Postmaster at New York decides coin 
 value of currency. 1050. Lists of international postal orders. 
 1051. Payment of international money-orders. 10.52. Inquiry for 
 missing international money -orders. 1053. Repayment of interna- 
 tional money-orders. 1054. Issue of duplicate international money- 
 orders. 1055. Exchange of orders with Germany, Switzerland, and 
 Italy. 1056. Fees for orders on Switzerland and Italy. 1057. Fees 
 for orders on Germany. 1058. Special rules for orders on Germany, 
 Switzerland, and Italy. 10.59. Interchange of money-orders with 
 Canada. 1060. Issue of orders on Canada and Newfoundland; inland 
 offices. 1061. Postmasters not to decide value of currency in Ca- 
 nadian money. 1032. Applications for Canadian money-orders. 
 1063. Payment of Canadian money-orders. 1064. Daily reports of 
 pi'emium on gold to be tiled. 1065. Canadian money-orders to be 
 stamped on receipt. 1066. Rexiayment of Canadian money-orders. 
 1067. Invalid Canadian money-orders. 1068. Imjuiries about Ca- 
 nadian money-orders. 1069. Issue of duplicate Canadian money- 
 orders. 1070. General rules for international money-onlcr business. 
 1071. When gold and paper are at par. 
 
 Chapter 5. — Money-order Funds and Accounts 221-229 
 
 Sec. 1072. Trausferof money-order funds. 1073. Transfer by warrant 
 of money-order funds. 1074. What are money-order funds. 1075. 
 Postmastets' weekly reports of money-order funds. 1076. Embez- 
 zlement of money-order funds. Penalty; explanation. 1077. How 
 to write up the cash-book. 1078. Transferi-ing postage funds to 
 money-or*" er acconut. 1079. Entry of transferred funds in cash-ljook. 
 1080. The lixed reserve. 1081. Daily remittance of money-order 
 funds. 108k;. Receipts for daily remittances. 1083. No credit for 
 remittances until receipt is obtained. 1084. Daily reports of remit- 
 tances received. 1065. Postmasters nmst remit and deposit prompt- 
 ly. 1086. Unpaid advices less than two weeks old in weekly state- 
 ments. 1087. Money-order funds not subject to rules of postal funds. 
 1088. Weekly statements, how transmitted. 1089. Money-oi'der cash 
 must be ke))t separately. 1090. Weekly statements to be numbered 
 consecutively. 109L Make up weekly statements every Saturday. 
 1092. Statemejits of "no business." 1093. Weekly statements at 
 close of (piarter yeai'. 1094. Vouchers to ai'coni))aiiy weekly state- 
 ments. 
 
(•ONTi:X'l"S l!V SKCTIONS. 23 
 
 Ch(ipl(r7>. — M()\i;v-<)i:i)i;i; 1'inhs .\m> Accoinis — Cdiit iniicil -i'Jl-'^^ 
 
 Si;c. 109.'). Credits :ill()\veil "ii .New York. lOKs;. Diiifls ii^^'iiiiist 
 credits, liow made. 1()*J7. Specinl dratts lor eiiierjfeiicies. iK'.tH. 
 Drafts must always lie on forms furiiislied. l(Kti>. Speeial iiistnictioiis 
 alioiit remit taiiees. lUHt. I'ostiri.-isters may de]>nsif in national 
 liaiiks. when. llUl. I miinrtaiiir nf iHompt ly transniitt ini^ weekly 
 statemenls. 
 
 TiTi.i-: \'ii. 
 
 i;.\('iiAN(;i: of corkespondknx'k with roni:i(;.\ 
 
 COUNTKIES. 
 
 Chapter 1. — Tiik I'xivkh.sai, Postal rxiox ^I'l-^TS 
 
 Sec. 1102. The Convention of Paris, llli:'.. ]-Jej-nlatioiis of detail and 
 order under Paris Convention. 1104. l'osta{;i' au<l refristrati(Ui fee 
 to jiostal-uuiou countries. 110.'). The metrie system of weij^hts 
 used for foreijiu mails. llOfi. Countries aiul colonies of the Union. 
 
 1107. Paris Convention does ]U)t fjovern exchange with Canada. 
 
 1108. Pates of postage and conditions of prepayment. 1109. Mode 
 of prepayment. 1110. Franking of jxistal eorrcsjJoudeiH-e. 1111. 
 Postmarking, lll'i. Registration. 111:?. Coiulitions of form and 
 weight. 1114. Printed nuittcr deiined. 111."). Commercial papers 
 detined. IIIG. Articles excluded from reduced postage. 1117. Ar- 
 ticles excluded from postal-nnicm mails. IIIB. Special arrange- 
 ments with certain countries. 1119. luteruatioual postal card. 
 1120. Reforwarding. 1121. Articles not transmissible or limited 
 in weight to Italy. 1122. Addressing corresjiondencc to Ru.ssia. 
 1121?. Newspapers for Russia, restrictions. 1124. Letters of de- 
 clared value not almissihle to Union nuiils. 1125. List of excliaugc 
 l)ost-otitices. 
 
 Chapter 'i. — CoiniEspoxDicxcK ixdkr Si-kcial AinjAXiiK.MKNTs, axd wnit 
 
 COUXTKIES XOT IN THE I'XIYEKSAL POSTAL I'XIOX 274-2'S2 
 
 Sec. 1126. Special postal conventions and airangeinents. 1127. Pates 
 of postage when not fixed by convention. 112H. Rates, etc., for 
 non-Uniou countries by direct mails. 1129. List of principal non- 
 union countries. 1180. Rates to nou-Union countries on matter not 
 sent direct. 1131. Postal Guide to be consulted for foreign-postage 
 tiible. Ii:i2. Miscellaneous provisions and suggestions. 1133. 
 Treatment of dutiable articles. 1134. Dutiable printed matter in 
 foreign nuiils. 113.'). Discretional rendssion of duties on single 
 books. 113,1. Consuls may pay foreign postage on letters for the 
 United States. 1137. Retaliatory ])ostage on certain foreign mat- 
 ter. 1138. Letters brought by foreign \'essels to be deposited in 
 l)ost-ofTfice. 
 
 TITLE VIII. 
 
 Ari)iTiN(; I'O.^rAL accounts. 
 
 Chapter 1. — The Aidiioi; ok thk Tukasikv kok thk Post-Oii-ke De- 
 
 PAllTMEXT 2r3-2S6 
 
 Sec. 1139. Auditor, how appointed. 1140. Duties of Auditor gener- 
 ally stated. 1141. Divisions of Auditor's otliee. 1142. Tlie duties 
 of the Auditor as i)res<ribed by statute. 1143. Accounts of Post- 
 Ottice Department, how to be kept. 1144. To superintend collection 
 'of debts due the Department. 1145. Accounts of the uutney-order 
 Ijusiness. 
 
24 POSTAL LAWS AND KEGI'LATIOXS. 
 
 Paftcs. 
 
 CluqAer 1. — TuF. Aidit:)!; of tuf Tinc.vsriiV foi; tiif 1N)st-( )ffuf Df- 
 
 1>AUTMENT — Cuutiauod •^To-'SSe 
 
 Sec. 1145. Accounts of expciisiis i)ai(l liy po.stmu.sters to be wtatcd. 
 1147. Compromise of jmlgmeuts to l>c made, liow. 1148. Papers 
 required iu suits for deliuqucucies, i-tc. 1149. Oaths in settlement 
 with Auditor. 1150. Appeal to First Comi)troller from Auditor's 
 settlement. 
 
 Chapkr 2. — Postmasifks' QuAitTEKLV EKTiTtxs 286-289 
 
 Sec. 1151. Quarterly accounts of receipts. 1152. Quarterly accounts 
 to be sworn to. 1153. Neglect to render accounts ; penalty. 1154. 
 Time of forwarding ([uarterly returns. 1155. What composes the 
 (luartcrly return. 1156. Manner of nuiiling (quarterly return. 1157. 
 Transcripts must accompany account-current. 1158. Written ac- 
 counts will not Ite audited. 11.59. Quarterly returns to include but 
 one quarter. 1160. Printed labels for retui'us from Presidential 
 post-offices. 1161. Detailed statement from Presidential post-offices. 
 1162. Accounts of outgoing and incoming postmasters. 1163. Ac- 
 counts of deceased postmasters. 1164. Postmaster giving new bond. 
 Return not changed. 1165. Originals must be retained. 1166. Who 
 must sign account-current. 1167. Correction of errors in account. 
 1168. Record to be kept of receipts by postmasters. 1169. Duty of 
 postmaster when returns are lost in the mail. 1170. Unreasonable 
 delay in presenting claims. 1171. Allowance for advertising letters. 
 1172. Items not to be entered on the account-current. 1173. No 
 allowance for expenditures Avithout vouchers. 1174. No allowance 
 for administering oaths. 1175. Indorsement on back of account- 
 current. 1176. Blank forms, how prociired. 
 
 Chapkr 3. — Accounts Current and Transcript — Forms 2'^9-295 
 
 Sec. 1177. Forms for use at Presidential post-offices. 1178. Forms for 
 use at fourth-class post-offices. 
 
 Chapter 4.— The General Postal Account 296-298 
 
 Sfc. 1179. Postmasters to keep general account. ll^^O. Statement 
 to be sent quarterly to Auditor. 1181. Debit side of account. 
 1182. Credit side of account. 1183. Distinction between quarterly 
 and general account. 1184. General account to be sent separately 
 to Auditor. 118.5. Vouchers to be kept by postmasters. 1186. Post- 
 master and Auditor to compare accounts. 1187. Blanks for general 
 account. 1188. Fourth-class postmasters' general account. 1189. 
 All payment to be made for each quarter before transmitting ac- 
 counts. 1190. Forms of account for fourth-class post-offices. 
 
 Chapter 5. — Collection of Debts due the Department 299-:>0(/ 
 
 Sec. 1191. Collection by contractors' orders. 1192. Collectit)n by 
 drafts. 1193. Postmasters expected to honor drafts. 1194. Notifi- 
 cation to Auditor of payment of draft. 1195. Notification of non- 
 payment. 1196. Report of cause of failure to collect. 1197. Re- 
 sponsibility for uncollected drafts. 1198. Postmast«'rs may be re- 
 moved for neglect to collect. 1199. Suits upon collection-drafts. 
 1200. Colh^ction-drafts not issued for money-order funds. 
 
 Chapter 6.— Renewal of Lost Warrants or Drafts 300-301 
 
 Sec. 1201. Indemnity l)ond for duplicate warrant. 12(»2. Certilicatc 
 of non-payment. 1203. No bond re((uired for dui)]ic:ite draft. 1204. 
 Tenor, force, and cfifcct of dupliciite. 1205. Renewal of lost collec- 
 tion-draits. 
 
CON'I'KXTS nv -iHCTlONs. 25 
 
 I'a;;os. 
 
 Ciiiq>l(r7. — 1'U(><i:i".I)Im;s in Sins :i(»l-i{05 
 
 Sl'X". rifX). ("iniiil .111(1 (lisliict courts, jurisdiction uinlcr |»osi,il laws. 
 1'2()7. Attiiclnucnts iu postiil Huits. l"i(H. Ai)j>licatioii for warnint, 
 l>y whom iiud lunv luailc. 12:tl>. Issuinji warrant; duty of clerk 
 and marshal. 1210. Ownership of attached property — trial. l'2ll. 
 Proceeds of attached property to be invested. 1212. I'nlilication of 
 attachment. I'Jl:?. Holders of defendant's property to account tor 
 it. 1214. Diseharjjeof attachment, bond. 121."). Accrued rij^hts not 
 to he abridged. I21t>. Attachments dissolved in conformity with 
 State laws. 1217. What credits allowed in suits. 1218. Suits of 
 United States against individuals, what credits allowed. 1210. 
 .Tn<lgment at return term, unless. 1220. Interest on balance due 
 Tost-Ortice Department. 1221. Duties of United Stati-s attr)rneys. 
 1222. rroceedings in equity, when. 1223. Copies of post -ottice rcc- 
 ordsandof Auditor's statement of accounts. 1224. ('<>i>ies of state- 
 ments of demands by I'ost-Otlice Department. 122.'). IJcturn of 
 marshal to Auditor. 
 
 TITLE IX. 
 
 CKiMKs AND :\iisdi:mi:an()1{s agadsST the oi'EK'ATK )Ns <»i" the 
 
 rOST-OFFK'E DEl'AirniEXT :}r»7-31(J 
 
 Six. 122G. Forging postal money-orders. 1227. Forging or conntcr- 
 feitiug postage-stamps, dies, etc. 122-\ Forging or counterfeiting 
 foreign i>ostage-stanips. 1221). Injuring mail-matter iu street mail- 
 ing-box, etc. 12:50. Emijez/lement of letteis containing inclosures. 
 1231. Meaning of words ''intended to be conveyed by mail." 1232. 
 Penalty for detaining letters. 1233. Penalty for detaining, open- 
 ing, or destroying letters. 1'234. Penalty for intercepting or .secret- 
 ing letters. 1235. Stealing or fraudulently obtaining mail. Open- 
 ing valuable letters. 123(i. Receiving articles stolen frcun the mail. 
 1'237. Stealing, detaining, or destroying newsjiapers. 12.38. Rob- 
 bery of the mail. 1'23[>. Attempting to rob the mail. 1'240. De- 
 serting the mail. 12 H. Stealing post-otitiee property. 1242. Injur- 
 ing mail-bags, etc. 1243. Stealing or forging mail locks or keys. 
 1'244. Breaking into and entering post-ottice. 124.3. Counti-rfciting 
 bid, bond, etc. 1240. Sending lettei-s through the mail with intent 
 to defraud. 1247. Accessory to robbery of tlu* mail. 1'248. Acces- 
 sory to .ste.iling mail-nuitter. l"24',l. Willfully neglecting to deposit 
 postal revenues. 1250. Fraudulent receipts of postage. 1"251. 
 Painting upon vessel, etc., words " U. S. Mail." 1'25'2. Penalty for 
 using, washing, selling, canceled stamps. 1253. Aiding or abetting 
 in trading in obscene literature. 
 
 TITLE X. 
 
 POSTAL AND OTHER OFFICIAL TELEGRAMS :'.17-3-,'0 
 
 Sec. 1254. Telegraph companies granted right of way over public 
 domain. 12.55; Telegraph companies to take nniterial from puVdie. 
 lands. 1256. Telegraph companies nuiy not transfer above-granted 
 rights. 1'257. Priority of otticial tidegrams. 1258. United States 
 may purchase telegrai>li-lines. l'2.5ll. To secure rights telegraph 
 companies must accept obligations. 1260. Penalty for I'cfusal to 
 transmit dispatches at rates tixed. l"26l. Rates for official tele- 
 grams as fixed by the Postnuister-Gcneral. I'2(i2. Telegra]ih com- 
 panies subject to foregoing .sections. 
 
26 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIOXS. 
 
 TITLE XI. 
 
 EXECUTIVE ORDERS AFFECTING THE POSTAL ORGANIZATIOX. 
 
 PllgCS. 
 
 No. 1. Oriler of President Graut forbidding Federal offieers from liolding State 
 
 and mnnicipal offices 321-322 
 
 2. Explanation of the foregoing 322-323 
 
 3. Pr<'sident Hayes's civil-service order 323 
 
 TITLE XII. 
 
 OPINIONS OF THE ASSISTANT ATTORNEY-GENERAL FOR THE 
 POST-OFFICE DEPARTMENT. 
 
 No. 1. Local or drop letters ; tlieir character and rights 32.5-327 
 
 2. Delivery of lettei-s. Effect of injnuctious of State conrts .328-330 
 
 3. Mail-matter by express 330-331 
 
 4. Production of letters before a State court under process duces tecum. :?;U-333 
 
 5. Letter-1)oxes. Letters addi-essed to fictitious names, how disposed 
 
 of 333-335 
 
 0. Sureties upon contracts; their liability, how tested 33.5-330 
 
 7. Official envelopes; misuse of, by private individuals 33G-337 
 
 8. Payment of money orders to lictitious address ; validity of power 
 
 of attorney after decease of grantor 337-339 
 
 9. Fraudulent use of the mails 339-340 
 
 10. Advertising sheets; what constitutes a regular jjublication designed 
 
 primarily for ad verti sing purposes :H0-344 
 
 11. Delivery of letters to trustees of insolvent tirm 344-345 
 
 List of all opinions given by the Assistant Attorney-General for the Post- 
 
 Otlice-Departnient 34(V3.V2 
 
 TITLE XIII. 
 
 ADDENDA.— CHANGES IN POSTAL LAWS AND REGFLATIONS MADE 
 
 SINCE THE PIPLICATION O F THIS YOLFME :?53-3G8 
 
 REFERENCE INDEX TO THE REVISED STATUTES OF THE UNITED 
 STATES from sections of the Revised Statutes .and subsequent volumes 
 of the Statutes at Large to sections of the Postal Laws and Regulations.. 3(;9-375 
 
 ALPHABETICAL AND ANALYTICAL INDEX :!77- 12 ! 
 
 GLOSSARY OF POSTAL TECHNICALITIES 425- 134 
 
 APPENDIX.— An abstract of the Ibrmer postal laws of the United States, 
 showing the various changes in the classilication of mail-matter, domestic 
 I'ates of postage, and in the franking privilege from 17K) to March 3, 1^79.. 435-l."4 
 
SPECIAL IXSTUUCTIOXS TO POST:\r ASTERS. 
 
 I. All necessary hlaiiks ami iiosl-otliee siipi>Iies aiitlidrizcd liy the law ami re^riila- 
 t ions will l>e I'miiislietl tti iiostniasters ni)()U application to the First. Assistant I'ost- 
 niaJitei-Oeueral, IJlank Agency, nnless specially instiiicted in the re;;iilati<)ns to make 
 application for certain hlanks to another olHce. 
 
 '2. The Department Avill fnrnish postmasters with lilank forms for '" Pnhlishers" Tem- 
 jiorary I'ermit '" and "Formal Notice of Entry," under sections IIK) and 191( of tlie 
 I'ostal Laws and Rejiulations. Application for the same should he made to the First 
 Assistant Postmaster-General, lilank Aj^ency. 
 
 :?. In addressin<j communications to the Department never write on more than one- 
 suhject in a letter, and always address letters to the hnrean having charge of the snh- 
 ject-matter, as indicated in section 27. Xever address letters to the Postmaster-General 
 which are to he acted upon hy a hnrean otiicer. 
 
 4. Postmasters at free-delivery post-offices will he re(inire<l to pay special attention 
 to the requirements of section ^4."i. "When trial is made it should he done by card or 
 otherwise, and the letter [retained in the post-office subject to call at the general de- 
 livery. 
 
 5. Postmasters at "special post-offices" (see .section 76) must promptly notify the 
 Second Assistant Postmaster-General and the Superintendent of Railway Mail-Service 
 for their division (see section 707) when they change the point of sui)ply for Their 
 post-oflices. 
 
 fi. Postmasters and mail-carriers are exempted hy section 1021) of the Revised 
 Statutes from militia duty. They are not exempt from jury ami road duty, ami mu.st 
 olj^-y summons thereto, leaving their jiost-ottices in charge of a comjietent assistant as 
 prescribed hy section 518. 
 
 7, The new law and regulations for the classilication of mail-matter differ radically 
 from fonner laws and regulations, and must he carefullj- studied hy po.stmasters. 
 
 H. Matter which is in writing, or other matter containing a written inscription in the 
 nature of a personal correspondence, and matter which is sealed again.st inspection, 
 are, hy their nature and the intent of the law, lirst-dass matter. 
 
 9. Sec :>nd-class matter remains as defined hy the former law, except that sample 
 copies of second-class matter maynowhe sent at the])oniid rates, and that the i>ostage 
 is uniform Ibr all second-class jtublications at two cents per pound. 
 
 ll». Third-class matter includes all printed matter not embraced in the second-class. 
 I'articular attention should he given to the definition of printed matter, section 219. 
 Hooks and music are third-class matter, and so .are unmounted i-hromos; hut chnimos 
 mounted on cloth or pasteboard are fourth-class matter. 
 
 II. The new law admits of written inscriptions upon third-ci.iss matter no! in the 
 nature of persomil correspondence. See section 232. 
 
 12. Postnuisters should consider the presumption to be in favor of the admission of 
 all unsealed printed matter subject to inspection at third-class rates, and should not 
 rate it up on account of written in.scriptionstlu'reon unless the inscription is clearly in 
 the nature of a personal correspondence. 
 
 13. Foui'th-class matter includes everything not included in the other three classes, 
 which is not by law and regulations excluded from the mails. Many articles, which 
 under the old law were rated with letter-postage, as matter to which no specific rate 
 (jf postage was attached, belong now to the fourth class, and are subject to a postage 
 charge of one cent per ounce. Such are, for instance, drawings, plans, designs, origi- 
 luil paintinus in oil (U- water-cohu's. etc. 
 
 27 
 
28 POSTAL LAWS AND KKGl'LATIOXS. 
 
 14. Spciial attcutioii is calleil to the law ami logulations voqniving tlu' use of jxtst- 
 agc-diu- Niainps, sections 271-274, for the colleciion of postage on the delivery of all 
 iusiifliciently prepaid or unpaid matter. They are to be used upon ship and foreign 
 letters, soldier.s' and sailors' letters, as well as upon ordinary domestic letters, and 
 upon uiatter of the third and fourth-classes when it inadvertentlj' reaches its destina- 
 tion without full prepayment. They must never be piit upon matter which is for- 
 Avarded, returned to writer, or sent to the Deal-Letter Office, except at free-delivery 
 post-offices. 
 
 15. Postmasters are required to kee[) a complaint-book, in which all letters repiu'ted 
 to them as lost or missing are entered; and, after making examination in their post- 
 offices, they are reipiired to reptu't the loss, with all particulars, without delay, to the 
 Chief Special Agent of the Post-Office Department, Washington, D. C. These books 
 are not furnished by the Department, but must be provided by postinasters at their 
 own expense. 
 
 1(5. When complaint is made of delay in the receipt of letters beyond the time re- 
 quired l)y ordinary course of mail, as shown by the postmarks, postmasters should 
 procure the envelopes of such letters and send them, Avith a statement of the facts, 
 to the Division Superintendent of Railway Mail-Service. 
 
 17. Before approving applications for the estaldishment of new post-offices, i»ostnms- 
 ters should consult the Postal Guide and see that the name selected has not already 
 been given to a xjost-office or to a county in the same or an adjoining State. 
 
 IS. Complaints frequently arise on account of the inaccuracy of the letter-balanci-s 
 in use at post-offices. Postmasters are therefore instructed to have their letter-balances 
 tested and adjusted at least twice a year. For this purpose post-offices of the first and 
 second class, and all Special Agents of the Department, will be furnished with a set of 
 standard weights. Postmasters at other post-ofrtces wishing to test their letter-bal- 
 ances will make applicationto the nearest Special Agent or i)ostmastcr fui'nishedwith 
 stamlard weights. The standards will be sent Ijy nuiil, registered, to j)ostnnisters so 
 applying, and must be returned in the samemannerto the ijostmaster or Special Agt-nt 
 from whom they were received, as soon as the balances have been tested. When the 
 balances are found bj- the test to be out of order, postmasters should not attempt to 
 adjust them, but should report the facts to the First Assistant Postmaster-CJeneral, 
 Blank Agency, when they will be furnished with correct balances. 
 
 19. All questions submitted by the iiublic or arising in iiractice in regard to the con- 
 struction of iiostal laws and regulations should be decided by postmasters, in the 
 first instance, subject to appeal to the Postmaster-General. 
 
 20. Postmasters are notified that hereafter every number of the United Stat es OlHcial 
 Postal Guide will contain a list of the orders which have been issued during the pre- 
 ceding quarter against persons or firms engaged in conducting schemes for the pur- 
 liose of obtaining money through the mails under false pretenses; and wheiuiver any 
 of such persons or firms make application at any post-office for the payment of money- 
 orders, or for registered letters addressed to them, the postmaster at such post-o(fice 
 should imuKidiately report the case to the Postmaster-General. 
 
 21. Any printed circulars issued from the Post-Office Deiiartmcnt nuistbc treated as 
 official written letters ; postmasters should acknowledge their reeeij)t, enter their 
 substance opposite the proper section of the Postal Laws and Regulations, edition of 
 1879, and file the circulars in a book to be kept for that purpose. 
 
 22. Postmasters will hereafter preserve all waste-])aper and fwine at their post- 
 offices until enough is accumulated to fill a uniil-bag, when, after <'aroful examination 
 to see that no letters or packages are conceahul therein, they will disi)atch the same 
 by mail to the )>ostmaster at New York City, N. Y., by whom the same will be sold. 
 Duplicate statements of the anu)unt of waste-paper and twiiu! received and the price 
 for which it was sold Avill be sent (luarterly by the postmaster at New York to eacli 
 l»ostmast(!r of the fourth class, to be used as a basis for estimating his conqx-nsation. 
 One coi)y of this statement must in all cases accompa.iy the (quarterly account current 
 of each jiostmaster as a voucher. 
 
SUGGESTIONS TO 'I'lli: I'UBLltv ^^\'r 
 
 / 
 
 1. M;iil all lit Irrs, etc., ;is early as inaclicalilc especially w lien s: lit in lar^^e iiiiinljers, 
 as is lVe<nieiitly the ease, witli iie\vs|>ai>ers and eireiilais. The troiiljle of tiie post-ottice 
 is niiieh diminished if letters, wlien mailed in large niiinliers, are tied in hnmUes, with 
 the aildresses all in one direction. 
 
 *J. Make the address legible and comi»lete, giving the name <>f tho post-odico, county, 
 and State. The name of the street and number of the house should also be given on 
 letters addn-ssed to cities where letter-carriers are emplojed ; while the letter Atill 
 eventually reach its destination without a number, the omission is often a cause of 
 hesitation and (h-lay. In the case of letters for places in foreign countries, and espe- 
 cially in Canada, in which couutry there are many post-ofHces having the same names 
 as post-otlices in the United States and iu England, the name of tlie couutry as well 
 as the post-office should be given iu full. Letters addressed, for instance, merely to 
 "London," without adding "England," are frequently sent to London, Canada, and 
 r/tr versa, thereby causing delay, and often serious loss. Letters addressed tt) Burling- 
 t(m,X. S. (Nova Scotia), often go to Burlington, New York, on account of the reseni- 
 blaiu-e between S. and Y. when carelessly written. 
 
 '.i. Avoid using, as nnicli as possible, cheap envelopes, made of thin paper, esi)ecially 
 where more than one sheet of paper, or any other article than pa))er, is iiulosed. 
 Being often handled, and even iu the mail-bags subject to pressure, such enveloiies 
 not unfreiiuently split open, often giving cause of complaint against officials who are 
 entirely innocent in the matter. 
 
 4. Never .send money or any otluT article of value through the mail, except either by 
 means of a money-order or in a registered* letter. Any person who sends money or 
 jewelry in an unregistered letter not only runs a risk of losing his j)roperty, but ex- 
 poses to temptation every oni' through who.se hands his letter passes, and may be the 
 means of ultimately bringing some clerk or letter-carrier to ruin. 
 
 5. Provide, in cities Avhere letter-carriers are employed, letter-boxes at ]»laees of 
 business or juivate residences, thereby saving much delay iu the delivery of mail- 
 matter. 
 
 6. See that every letter contains the full name and ]iost-offic<' address of the writer, 
 with county and State, in order to secure the return of the letter, if the jiersou to whom 
 it is directed cainiot be fouiul. A much larger portion of the undelivered letters could 
 be returned if the names and addresses of the senders were always fully and plainly 
 written or printed inside or on the envelopes. Persons who have large correspondence 
 lind it most convenient to use "special recpiest envelopes," but those who only mail 
 an occasional letter can avoid much trouble by writing a request to " return if not 
 delivered," etc., on the envelope. 
 
 7. When di'opi)ing a letter, newspaper, etc., into a street mailing-box, or into the re- 
 ceptacle at a post-office, always .see that the packet falls into the box and does not 
 stick in its passage; observe, also, as a tiijality, whether the postage-stamps, remain 
 securely in their places. 
 
 8. Postage-stamps shouhl be placetl on the upjier riglit-liaud corner of the address 
 side of all mail-matter. 
 
 y. Postmasters are not obliged to accept in payment of postage-stamiis or staiiii>ed 
 envelopes, wx'appers, etc., any currency which maybe so mutilated as to be nueunvnt. 
 or the genuineness of which cannot be clearly ascertained. They are not obliged to 
 receive UKU'e than twenty-live cents iu copper or nickel coins. Tln'y are not ol)lig»'d 
 To affix stamps to letters, nor are they oldiged to make change excejjt as a matter of 
 courtesy. Neither should thev give credit for postage. 
 
 29 
 
30 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 10. Ill iisiii<;- postiil cards, be careful not to write or have auytliinj;' printed on llic side 
 to Ite used for tlie address, except the address ; also be careful not to paste, gum, or 
 attach anything to them. They are nniuailable as postal cards when these suggos- 
 tions are disregarded. 
 
 11. To insure a letter being forwarded in the mails, it imist have not less than three 
 cents in postage-stamps affixed. The word "Paid" indorsed on a letter is not regarded 
 at the post-office of delivery; letters so marked, and not having any stamp affixed, are 
 treated as unpaid. 
 
 12. Letters cannot be carried out of the mail except in postage-stamped-envelopes. 
 There is no objection to a person who is not acting as a common carrier carrying a 
 sealed letter, wlietlier in a stamped-envelope or not ; but to continue the practice, or 
 receive money for so doing, would subject the party to a penalty of one hundred and 
 tifty dollar's. Newspapers, magazines, and periodicals may be canied out of the mail 
 for sale or distribution to subscribers, l>nt if they are ])ut into a post-office for delivery 
 the postage must l)e paid thereon. 
 
 i:?. Mail-matter deposited in any receptacle erected by the Post-Office Department, 
 such as street mailing-boxes for the reception of mail-matter to be collected by letter- 
 carriers, or boxes in railroad depots for the reception of matter to be collected by 
 employes of the railway mail-service, cannot be reclaimed by any one under any 
 circumstances. On all such receptacles erected in railroad depots a notice should 
 be affixed that the same are not intended for the reception of matter for city delivery^ 
 Persons depositing letters therein, intended for city delivery, do so at their own risk 
 and cannot reclaim them except tluough the Dead-Letter Office. 
 
 14. A subscriber to a newspai)er or periodical who changes his residence and post- 
 office, should at once notify the publisher and have the publication sent to his new 
 address. 
 
 15. The delivering of letters is not controlled by any statutory provision, but by the 
 rules and regulations of the Post-Office Dei)artment ; and the object of the Depart- 
 ment is to insure and facilitate such delivery to the ]>erson for whom they are intended. 
 In the case of money-orders and registered letters, the parties applying for them, if 
 not known, should be required to prove their identity in the same manner as in bank- 
 ing institutimis, Avhere j)arties presenting di"afts, checks, etc., who are not known, 
 are required to prove their identity. In the case of advertised letters, parties apply- 
 ing should be questioned as to the place or places from whence they may be exj)ecting 
 correspondence. In the general delivery of a post-office, the postmaster should exer- 
 cise a sound discretion in the delivery of letters to persons claiming to be the persons 
 named in the address, and who may not be known to him. 
 
 1(5. Pu1)lishers and news agents posting second-class matter in (luautitics will facilitate 
 its distril)ution and often hasten its dispatch by sei)arating such matter by States and 
 Territories and the larger cities. 
 
 17. Hotel matter must be returned to the j)ost-office as soon as it is evident that it 
 will not be claimed. 
 
 18. Proprietors of hotels, officers of clubs and of boards of trade or exchanges, should 
 not hold unclaimed letters longer than ten days, excejtt at the recpiest of the person 
 addressed. When such letters are returned to the post-otHce they should be redirected 
 for forwarding, and in the absence of more detiuite information as to where the person 
 addressed may be found, the new address may be taken from the hotel register. 
 
 19. First-class matter n})on which one full rate of postag*' has been prepaid and all 
 other fully-prepaid matter may be forwarded froiu one i)ost-otifice to another at the rc([uest 
 of the party addr(!ss(!d; but matter of the second, third, and fourth class can only be 
 returned to the sender when the ])ostmaster at the post-office of its destination is fur- 
 nished with return ])ostage. A rcMiuest may be written or in-intcMl upon such matter 
 that the iiostmastcr will notify tlie sender of non-delivery and of the amount of jxist- 
 age which must be furwarded to insure its return. A rei|uest tt> return such matter 
 cannot be regarded. 
 
 / 
 
sr(;(;i;sri(».Ns 'in iiiK rri'.uc. 31 
 
 '-jO. All iiii|iiirirs. wlirtlnr (Voiii jinsliiiaslcrs or tin- piihlic, rchativc to lost or iiiis.siii<; 
 iii:iil-iii:it tcr of cvcrv description, liotli torcijrn .-hkI iloinrstic, ordiiiiiry iiiirt iT;;isterc<l, 
 slioiild Ik- iuldn-sscd to tin- ("liicf Special Ajjciit, I'ost-Otlicc Dciiaitiiicnt, Wasliiiij^toii, 
 1). ('., to wliom all losses or iircLCiilai'ltics should Itc rc[iortcd as soon as kiio\vlcd<;c is 
 had of tlu'ir occiirn'ucc. 
 
 '21. All inciiiirics or coniininiications relative to mail-matter which is known to have 
 lieen sent to the Dead-Letter Olliee should he adilressed to the Third Assistant I'ost- 
 master-(i<'neral. 
 
 ti'i. In hoth eases the letter ol' inipiirv must state to \vhoni and what post-olliee the 
 arti(de was addressed, and fjive the name and full address of the writer or send<!r, tin- 
 date and place of mailinj;;, and a brief descri]»tion of the contents. If it is known 
 when the missing matter was sent to the Dead-Letter Oftice, tbe djite and the reason 
 shonld be given. If registered, the number should also be furuished. 
 
 y;{.' If all losses are promptly reported it will be the means of correcting irregulari- 
 ties, and the interests of the public, as well as the otticiencv of tli<' postal service, will 
 be enhanced in a uu)st inijxntaut dt'gree. 
 
 24. Packages of third and fourth class matter, except single books, may weigh not 
 exceeding four pounds. 
 
 yr>. Packagi's of mutilated currency a(hlressed to the Treasurer of the I'uited States 
 for redetiiption may be registered fri'e of charge for registry, but the [lostage thereon 
 must be prepaid at letter rales. 
 
 2(). It is nnudi to be desired that the management of newly completed lines of rail- 
 road should consult the Post-Ottice l)ei>artmcut in regard to the names of stations; if 
 the names of stations in all causes correspond with those of the post-oftices in whose de- 
 livery thej* are, much confusion and annoyance will be saved to the Department and 
 the public. 
 
 27. Letters addressed to persons temporarily sojounung in a city where the free- 
 delivery system is in operation should be marked Tkaxsiext or Gkxeiial Dei.i\'kky, 
 if not addressed to a stivet and number, or some other designated place of delivery. 
 
TITLE I. 
 
 THE POST-OFFICE DEPARTMENT. 
 
 CHAPTER ONE. 
 
 ORGANIZATION AND GENERAL PROVISIONS. 
 
 Sec. 
 
 1. Estalilishmout of the Post-Office Department' 
 
 2. Assistant Postmasters Genei-al. 
 
 3. "Wild may act as Postmaster-General. 
 
 4. Assistant Attoniey-Geueral for thePost-Office 
 
 Department. 
 
 5. Other officers of the Post-Office Department. 
 
 6. Special Agents and their salaries. 
 
 7. Acting Special Agents. 
 
 8. Special Agents authorized to administer 
 
 oaths. 
 
 9. Supeiintendent of Railway Mail Service. 
 
 10. Payment of Special Agents. 
 
 11. Bonds required of Special Agents. 
 
 12. Assignment of Special Agents. 
 
 13. Authority and powers of Special Agents. 
 
 14. Special Agents' communications confidential. 
 
 15. Jurisdiction over oftenses against the postal 
 
 laws. 
 
 16. Pieliminary proceedings, hefore whom. 
 
 17. "When witness must give bond. 
 
 18. Special Agents ; how related to Postmaster. 
 
 General. 
 
 19. Kesident foreign-mail agencies. 
 
 20. Mail-agents on ocean steamers. 
 
 21. Postal agencies in China and Japan. 
 
 22. Route-agents, employment of. 
 
 23. Railway postal clerks. 
 
 24. Oath of office. 
 
 25. "Who may administer oath. 
 
 26. Autlioiity of Postmaster-General to prescribe 
 
 regulations. 
 
 27. Distribution of the business of the Depart- 
 
 ment. 
 
 Sec. 
 
 28. Seal of the Post-Office Department. 
 
 29. Duties of the Postma.ster-General. 
 
 30. Pn^perty in charge of the Department. 
 
 31. Postal arrangements with foreign countries. 
 
 32. Publication of Postal Conventions. 
 
 33. Blank agency at Washington. 
 
 34. Foreign de^id letters. 
 
 35. Orders, contracts, etc., to be truly dated. 
 
 36. Form of bonds and contracts. 
 
 37. Copies of mail contracts for the Auditor. 
 
 38. Orders to be certified to the Auditor. 
 
 39. Credits for payments by postmaster.s. 
 
 40. Fines, penalties, forfeitures, etc. ; how remit- 
 
 ted. 
 
 41. Di.scharge of imprisoned judgment debtors. 
 
 42. Such discharge no bar to execution. 
 
 43. Postal employes may not be interested in con- 
 
 tracts. 
 
 44. Prescribed annual reports of the Postmaster- 
 
 General. 
 
 45. Annual reports of the Auditor. 
 
 40. Annual estimates of the Po.stmaster-General. 
 
 47. Estimates to be furnished the Secretary of the 
 
 Treasury. 
 
 48. Contracts signed by the First Assistant. 
 
 49. Contracts signed by the Second Assistant. 
 
 50. Contracts signed by the Third Assistant. 
 
 51. Omission to take oath not to atfect liability, 
 
 etc. 
 
 52. Suits and prosecutions in State courts. 
 
 53. Disbuisements for Topographer's office ; how 
 
 made. 
 
 54. Xo employe to receive fees. 
 
 Sec. 1. Establishment of tlie Post-Office Department. — There shall he at 
 the seat of Government an Executive Department to be known as the 
 Post-Oflice Department, and a Postmaster-General, who shall be the 
 head thereof, and who shall be appointed by the President, by and with 
 the advice and consent of the Senate, and who may be removed in the 
 same manner ; and the term of the Postmaster-General shall be for and 
 during the term of the President by whom he is appointed, and for one 
 mouth thereafter, unless sooner removed. (R. S., § 388.) 
 
 Sec. 2. Assistant Postmasters-General. — There shall be in the Post-Office 
 3 P L 
 
34 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 Dei)artmeiit three Assistant Postmasters-General, who shall be appointed 
 by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, and 
 who may be removed in the same manner. (E. S., § 389.) 
 
 See. 3. Who may act as Postmaster-General. — In case of the death, res- 
 ignation, absence, or sickness of the head of any Department, the first 
 or sole assistant thereof shall, unless otherwise directed by the Presi- 
 dent,* perform the duties of such head until a successor is appointed, or 
 such absence or sickness shall cease. (E. S., § 177.) 
 
 Executive Mansiox, 
 
 Washington, October 1, 1878. 
 It is lierehy directed that the Second and Third Assistant Postmasters-Genei-al be, 
 and are hereby, respectively anthorized to act as Postmaster-General upon the condi- 
 tions following, to wit : 
 
 The Second Assistant Postmaster-General dnring the absence of the Postmaster- 
 General and the First Assistant Postmaster-General. 
 
 The Third Assistant Postmaster-General dnring the absence of the Postmaster- 
 General and of the First and Second Assistant Postmasters-General. 
 
 R. B. HAYES. 
 
 Sec. 4. Assistant Attorney-General for the Post-Office Department. — There 
 shall be employed in the Post-Office Department one ^Lssistaut Attor- 
 ney-General, who shall be appointed by the Postmaster-General. (E. 
 S.,''§390.) 
 
 Sec. 5. Other officers of the Post-Office Department. — The following- offi- 
 cers of the Post-Office Department, to be appointed by the Postmaster- 
 General, are appropriated for in the act of June 19, 1878 (20 Stat., 
 p. 201), in addition to the clerks of the several classes and other em- 
 ployes (see, also, E. S., § 393): 
 
 One Chief Clerk. 
 
 One Stenographer to the Postmaster- General. 
 
 One Law Clerk (office of Assistant Attoriiey-General for the Post- 
 Office Department). 
 
 One Topographer. 
 
 One Appointment Clerk. 
 ■ One Chief of Division of Mail Depredations. 
 
 One Chief of Special Agents. (Act March 3, 1879, 20 Stat., p. 35G). 
 
 One Disbursing Clerk and Superintendent of the Building. 
 
 Three Chief Clerks to the Assistant Postmasters- General. 
 
 One Superintendent of Blank Agency (office of First Assistant Post- 
 master-General). 
 
 One Superintendent of Free Delivery (office of First Assistant Post- 
 master-General). 
 
 One Chief of Division of Inspection (office of Second Assistant Post- 
 luaster-General). 
 
 One Chief of Division of Dead Letters (office of Third Assistant Post- 
 master-General). 
 
 As provided by section 179, Revised Statutes. 
 
TITLE I THE POST-OFFICE DEPARTMENT. 35 
 
 One Chief of Division of Postage-stamps (office of Third Assistant 
 Postniaster-dciu'rnl). 
 
 One Sn[)('rint('n(h'iit of Foreign Mails. 
 
 One Chief Clerk to the Superintendent of Foreign Mails. 
 
 One Snpcriuteudent of the ]\Ioney-Order System. 
 
 One Chief (Jlerk to the Superintendent of the Money-order System. 
 
 One Sui>erintendent of Railway Mail Service. (Act June 17, 1878, 20 
 Stat, p. 110). 
 
 Sec. 6. Special Agents and their salaries. — The Postmaster-General may 
 employ two special agents for the Pacific coast, and such number of 
 other special agents as the good of the service and safety of the juail 
 may require. (R. S., § 4017.) 
 
 Section 4017 of the Revised Statutes proviiloil that Special Agents slionld be entitled 
 to a salary at the rate of not more than $1,6(J0 a year each, and that each should be 
 allowed for traveling and incidental expenses while actually employed in the service 
 a sum not exceeding $h jier day. But by the act of June 17, 1878, 20 Stat., p. 140, 
 the following was enacted : 
 
 That hereafter the per diem pay of all special agents appointed under 
 section 4017, Revised Statutes, shall only be allowed for their actual 
 and necessary expenses not exceeding five dollars per diem when they 
 are actually engaged in traveling on the business of the department, ex- 
 cept such, not exceeding ten in number, as are appointed by the Post- 
 master-General to duty at such important i)oints as he may designate, 
 and nine assistant superintendents of railway mail service, who may be 
 detailed to act as superintendents of division of railway mail service, 
 who shall each receive a salary of two thousand five hundred dollars 
 per annum and no more. 
 
 By the act of March 3, 1879 (20 Stat., p. 356), the Superintendent of Railway Mail 
 Service and Chief of Special Agents are paid their actual expenses while traveling on 
 the business of the Department. 
 
 Sec. 7. Acting Special Agents. — The Postmaster-General may employ, 
 when the service requires it, the Assistant Postmasters-General and 
 superintendents in his Department as special agents ; and he may allow 
 them therefor not exceeding the amount exi^ended by them as necessary 
 traveling expenses while so employed. (R. S., § 4019.) 
 
 Sec. 8. Special Agents authorized to administer Oaths. — Any officer or clerk 
 of any of the Departments lawfully detailed to investigate frauds or 
 attempts to defraud on the Government, or any irregularity or miscon- 
 duct of any officer or agent of the United States, shall have authority 
 to administer an oath to any witness attending to testify or depose in 
 the course of such investigation. (R. S., § 1S3.) 
 
 Sec. 9. Superintendent of Railway Mail Service. — The Postmaster-Gen- 
 eral may appoint one agent only to superintend the postal railway serv- 
 ice, who shall be paid, out of the appropriation for the transportation of 
 the mail on railways, a salary at the rate of three thousaiul five hundred 
 dollars a year, and his actual expenses while traveling on the business 
 
36 POSTAL LAAVS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 of the department. (Act June 17, 1878, 20 Stat., p. 140 as amended 
 by act of March 3, 1879, § 1, 20 Stat., p. 356.) 
 
 See Title IV, The Bail way Mail Sendee. 
 
 Sec. 10. Payment of Special Agents. — The {Sixth) Auditor [of the Treas- 
 ury for the Post- Office Department] shall charge to the appropriation 
 for mail transportation the salary and per diem of the assistant super- 
 intendents of the postal railway service ; and to the appropriation for 
 the free-delivery system, the salary and per diem of the special agent 
 detailed for that service ; and the salary and per diem of the special 
 agents employed in the money-order service shall be paid out of the 
 proceeds of that service. (R. S., § 4020.) 
 
 Sec. 11. Bond required of Special Agents. — Whenever a special agent is 
 required to collect or disburse any i^ublic money, he shall, before entering 
 upon such duty, give bond in such sum and form, and with such security 
 as the Postmaster-General may approve. (R. S., § 4018.) 
 
 All Specical Agents are required to give bond, with two sureties, in the sum of five 
 thousaud dollars, wliicli must be filed before they enter upon tlieir duties. 
 
 Sec. 12. Assignments of Special Agents. — The Special Agents appointed 
 under section 6 embrace the force proper, who are attached to the office of the Post- 
 master-General, and those assigned to the office of the Superintendent of the Money- 
 order System, the Free-delivery Service, and the office of the Second Assistant Post- 
 master-General, as Assistant Superintendents of the Railway Mail Service. These lat- 
 ter officers receive their instructions from the various offices to which they are assigned, 
 and to whose appropriations their compensation and expenses are also chargeable. 
 The force proper of Special Agents receive their instructions from the Chief Special 
 Agent through whose office cases for investigation and reports of Special Agents upon 
 the same pass and are recorded. 
 
 Sec. 13. Authority and Powers of Special Agents. — All Special Agents are 
 
 intrusted with keys to the several mail locks in iise, and are, by virtue of their com- 
 missions, authorized to open and examine the mails whenever .and wherever they may 
 find it necessary to do so. They are also emjjowered to enter and examine any post- 
 office when the safety of the mails requires it, or the general interests of the service 
 demand such examination. And by virtue of their commissions, all contractors, post- 
 masters, and others in the service of this Department are bound to respect and obey 
 the authority thus conferred. 
 
 Sec. 14. Special Agent's Communications Confidential. — Official communi- 
 cations marked Confidential from the special agents of this Department will be held as 
 confidential. But no communication shoiild be so marked unless it relates solely to 
 business of the Dep.artment, and its interest, and is made in pursuance of confidential 
 instructions. The contents of such communication cannot be divulged except by the 
 pernnssion of the Postmaster-General. 
 
 Sec. 15. Jurisdiction over Offenses against the Postal Laws. — AVhen an 
 
 arrest is made for .an offense against the postal laws, the iirisoner should be put in 
 charge of the regular law officers of the United States as early as possibh?. If his 
 examination cannot conveniently be had before a Judge or Connuissioner of the United 
 States, he should be taken before the nearest justice of the peace, or other State au- 
 thority competent to examine and bind him over for trial. As justices of the peace 
 have in many cases declined to issue warrants or to enter upon examination, from a 
 doubt as to their jurisdiction, the special agent may remove such doubt by rcft^rring 
 them to the provisions of the law on this subject contained in the following section. 
 See also section 52. 
 
TITLE I THE TOST-OFFICE DEPARTMENT. 37 
 
 Sec. 16. Preliminary Proceedings before Whom. — I'or any crime or offon.so 
 against the riiitccl States, tlic ofVcndcr may, by any Ju.sti('<! or Judyc of 
 the United States, or l>y any coniini.s.sioner of a cirenit (;ourt to take l)ail, 
 or by any chancellor, judge of a supreme or superior court, chief or first 
 judge of {'ominon plea.s, mayor of a city, ju.stiee of the ])eace, or other 
 magistrate, of any State where he may be found, and agreeal)ly to the 
 u.sual mode of ])rocess against offenders in .such State, and at the expense 
 of the United States, be arrested and imprisoned, or bailed, as the case 
 may be, for trial before such court of the United States as by law has 
 cognizance of the offense. Copies of the process shall be returned as 
 speedily as may be into the clerk's ofiice of such court, together with 
 the recognizances of the witnesses for their appearance to testify in the 
 case. And where any offender or witness is committed in any district 
 other than that where the offense is to be tried, it shall be the duty of 
 the judge of the district where such offender or witness is imjirisoned, 
 seasonably to issue, and of the marshal to execute, a warrant for his 
 removal to the district where the trial is to be had. (E. S., § 1014.) 
 
 Sec. 17. When Witnesses must give Bond. — The recognizances of wit- 
 nesses tlit'iiiselvcs .shall be siifficieut, except iu cases wliere it is feared tliat they will 
 not attend the trial. Iu the latter case, sureties must be requii'ed. When au arrest 
 is made. Si)ecial Ageuts or jiostmasters are required to immediately inform the Chief 
 Special Agent, iu a special report, of all the facts iu relation thereto. This report 
 uuist show the name and official position of the party arrested (if au employe of the 
 Department), where, when, and by whom arrested, the offense, and the exact status of 
 the case at date of such report. They are also rec^nired to keep the Department fully 
 advised iu relation to the progress of trials of persons arrested for violatiou of the 
 postal laws in their respective districts. Special reports should be made, from time 
 to time, of the progress in each case to its final conclusiou, and the result. It is im- 
 portant that these instructions should be complied with so far as it is iiracticablo to 
 do so. 
 
 Sec. 18. Special Agents, how related to Postmaster-General. — Tlie Post- 
 master-General considers Special Ageuts of the Department a.s his re^jrcseutatives, 
 and, as such, all postmasters, contractors, and othei-s iu the service are subordinate to 
 them. They are responsible for their official acts only to him. In the discharge of 
 their duties they are required to act with the single purpose of advancing the inter- 
 ests of the i)ublic, and the efficiency and security of the Department. The element- 
 ary details of the postal service must receive their uiu'emitting attention, to the end 
 that the purpose for which the Post-Office establishment was created shall, as far as 
 they may be concerned, have a faithful aud complete fulfillment. Instructions for 
 their guidance are furnished them iu a separate volume. 
 
 Sec. 19. Resident Foreign Mail Agencies. — The Postmaster-General jnay 
 establish resident mail-agencies at the i)orts of Panama and Aspinwall 
 iu New Granada ; Havana in Cuba ; at Saint Thomas, and at such other 
 foreign ports at which United States mail-steamers touch to laiul and 
 receive mails, as niay, in his judgment, promote the efficiency of the for- 
 eign mail service ; and may pay the agents employed by him at such 
 ports, out of the appropriation for transportation of the mail, a reason- 
 able compensation for their services, and the necessary expenses for 
 office-rent, clerk-hire, office-furniture, and other incidentals to be allowed 
 him at each of such agencies. (K. S., § iU21.) 
 
38 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 Sec. 20. Mail Agents on Ocean Steamers. — The Postmaster-General may 
 appoiut an agent in charge of the mail on board of «ach of the mail- 
 steamers on the routes between San Francisco, Japan, and China; 
 between San Francisco and Honolulu, in the Hawaiian Islands ; and 
 between New York and Kio Janeiro, who shall be allowed, out of the 
 appropriation for transportation of the mail, an annual salary of two 
 thousand dollars each. (E. S., § 4022.) 
 
 Sec. 21. Postal Agencies in China and Japan. — The Postmaster-General 
 may establish, in connection with the mail steamship service to Japan 
 and China, a general postal agency at Shanghai, in China, or at Yoko- 
 hama, in Japan, with such branch agencies at any other ports in China 
 and Japan as he shall deem necessary for the prompt and efficient man- 
 agement of the postal service in those countries; and he may pay the 
 postal agents employed thereat a reasonable com[)ensation for their 
 services, in addition to the necessary expenses for rent, furniture, clerk- 
 hire, and incidental expenses. (R. S., § 4023.) 
 
 Sec. 22. Route Agents, Employment of. — The Postmaster-General may 
 employ as many route agents as may be necessary for the promi)t and 
 safe transportation of the mail, each of whom shall be paid out of the 
 ai)propriation for transportation of the mail, at the rate of not less than 
 nine hundred nor more than one thousand two hundred dollars a year 
 each. (R. S., § 4024.) 
 
 See Title IV, The Balhmij Mail- Service. 
 
 Sec. 23. Railway Postal Clerks. — The Postmaster-General may appoint 
 clerks for the purjjose of assortmg and distributing the mail in railway 
 post-offices, each of whom shall be paid out of the appropriation for trans- 
 portation of the mail, at the rate of not more than one thousand four 
 hundred dollars a year each to the head clerks, nor more than one thous- 
 and two hundred dollars a year each to the other clerks. (R. S., § 4025.) 
 
 See Title lY, The Railway Mail- Service. 
 
 Sec. 24. Oath of Office. — Before entering upon their duties, and before 
 they shall receive any salary, the Postmaster-General, and all persons 
 employed in the postal service, shall respectively take and subscribe 
 before some magistrate or other competent officer authorized to admin- 
 ister oaths by the laws of the United States, or of any State or Terri- 
 tory, the following oath or affirmation: "'I, A. B. do solemnly swear 
 (or affirm, as the case may be,) that I will faithfully perform all the duties 
 required of me and abstain from everything forbidden by the laws in 
 relation to the establishment of post-offices and post-roads within the 
 United States ; and that I will honestly and truly account for and pay 
 over any money belonging to the said United States which may come 
 into my possession or control; and I also further swear (or ailii'm) that 
 I will support the Constitution of the United State«; So help me God.'" 
 (Act of June 8, 1872, § 15, as amended by 18 Stat., p. 19; see also R. S., 
 § 391.) 
 
 Sec. 25. Who may Administer Oath. — And this oath or affirmation may 
 
TITLE I-^THE POST-OFFICE DEPARTMENT. 39 
 
 be taken before any officer civil or military, holding: a coinniission nnder 
 tbe United States, and sucli oflicer is lu'ieby antliorized to adiniiiisttT 
 and certify sneli oatli <n- allinuation. (IS Stat., p. 1!).) 
 
 A contractor for carrying; tlu' mail cannot draw pay from tlic DopartmcTit for serv- 
 ices rendered or work done ])nor to his takinjj the oatli. (11 Opin., ji. 4;H) 
 
 Sec. 26. Authority of Postmaster-General to Prescribe Regulations. — Tbe 
 bead of each I)ei)artinent is antliorized to presenile regnlatioiis, not in- 
 consistent Avitb biAV, for tbe government of bis Department, tbe condnct 
 of its officers and clerks, tbe distribution and performance of its busi- 
 ness, and tbe custody, use, and pn^scrvation of the records, papers, and 
 X)roperty appertainiu.n' to it. (li. S., § 101.) 
 
 Sec. 27. Distribution of the Business of the Department. — That tbe busi- 
 ness of the Department may be conveniently arranged and prepared for the tinal ac- 
 tion of the Postmaster-General, it is distributed among its several officers as follows: 
 
 TuK Office of the Postmasteu-Gexeral. — The duties of this office are under the 
 immediate supervision of the Chief Clehk of the Department, and relate to the mis- 
 cellaneous coiTespondence of the Department not specially connected with its other 
 offices ; the appointment of Department employes ; the recording of orders promulgat«Ml 
 by the Postmaster-General ; the tixing of rates for the transmission of government 
 telegrams ; the supervision of the advertising, and management of the general work of 
 the Department not otherwise assigned. To it is attached the office of the Tch'OGUA- 
 PiiER, charged with the duty of keeping up the maps in constant use in the Depart- 
 ment proper, with the preparation and publication of new and revised post-route maps, 
 with supplying maps to all branches of the postal service,* and with furnishing infor- 
 mation for the settlement of all governmental mileage and telegi-aph accounts ; the 
 office of the Superixtexdext .s:\d Disbursing Clerk, to which is assigned the super- 
 vision of all repairs, the care of the public property in and the furnishing of the De- 
 partmental building, and the dislmrscment of the salaries of the officers and employes 
 of the Department; the office of the Chief Special Agext, to which are referred all 
 cases of losses or irregularities in the mails, and all reported violations of the postal 
 law ; and the Divisiox of Special Agexts axd Mail Depredatioxs, to which are 
 referi-ed all accounts of Special Agents for salary, per diem, and allowance. 
 
 The Office of the First Assistaxt Postmaster-Gexeral. — To this office is 
 assigned the duty of preparing all cases for the establishment, discontinuance, and 
 change of name or site of post-offices, and for the appointment of all postmasters, and 
 employ6s of the railway mail service, and all correspondence incident thereto ; the 
 duty of readjusting the salaries of postmasters, and the consideration of allowances 
 for rent, fuel, and lights, clerk -hire, and miscellaneous expenditures; of receiving and 
 recording appointments, of receiving, entering, and tiling bonds and oaths of i)ostmas- 
 ters and issuing their commissions. This office is also charged with the correspond- 
 ence with postmasters and the public upon questions relating to the character and 
 classification of mail-matter and the rates of postage thereon, under the direct super- 
 vision of the Law Clerk of the Department. To it is attached the Divisiox of Free 
 Delivery, having in charge the preparation of cases for the inauguratiou of the 
 system in cities, the appointment of letter-carriers, and the regulation of allowances 
 for incidental expenses, as well as the general supervision of the free-delivery system 
 throughout the United States ; and also the Blank Agency, to -which is assigned the 
 
 *The Postmaster-General may authorize tbe sale of one or move of these maps to individuals at the 
 cost thereof; the proceeds to be applied as a further appropriation towards the preparation and ]iub!i- 
 catiou of post route maps (including the miscellaneous expenses of the Topographers ofKce). It is im- 
 pliedly understood that sales can only be made from suiidus copies, after the immediate wants ot tlio 
 Department are supplied; postmasters and others in the service being furnished with these maps only 
 in cases deemed needful by the Department. For tavilf of prices and other information, application 
 should be made to the Topographer of the Post-Office Department. 
 
40 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 duty of supi)lyiiig the j)ost-ofifices entitled thereto with blauks, wrapping-paper aud 
 twine, letter-balances, and canceling-stamps, aud the Department with stationery. 
 
 The Officii of the Second Assistant Postmaster-General. — To this office is 
 assigned the business of arranging the mail service of the United States, and placing 
 the same under contract, embracing all correspondence and proceedings resxiectiug 
 the fi-equeucy of trips, mode of conveyance, and times of departures and aiTivals on 
 all the routes ; the course of the mails between the dift'ereut sections of the country, 
 the points of mail distribution, and the regulations for the government of the domestic 
 mail service of the United States. It prepares the advertisements for mail proposals, 
 receives the bids and has charge of the annual and miscellaneous mail lettings, aud the 
 adjustment and execution of the contracts. All applications for mail service or change 
 of mail arrangements and for mail messengers should be sent to this office. All claims 
 should be submitted to it for transportation service. From this office all postmasters 
 at the end of routes receive the statement of mail arrangements j)rescribed for the 
 respective routes. It reports weekly to the Auditor all contracts executed and all 
 orders aft'ecting the accounts for mail transportation ; prepares the statistical exhibits 
 of the mail service and the reports to Congress of the mail lettings, giving a statement 
 of each bid ; also, of the contracts made, the new service originated, the curtailments 
 ordered, and the additional allowances granted within the year. The rates of pay for 
 the transportatiou of the mails on raih-oad routes, according to the amount and char- 
 acter of the service, are adjusted by this office. It also directs the weighing of the 
 mails on the same, and authorizes new service on railroad routes. The issuing of 
 mail-locks and keys, mail-pouches and sacks, and the supervision of the construction 
 of mail-bag-catchers is also iu charge of this office. To it is attached the Dia'ision of 
 Inspection, to which is assigned the duty of receiving and inspecting the monthly 
 registers of arrivals and departures, reporting the performance of mail service ; also 
 special reports of failures or delinquencies on the part of mail contractors or their 
 agents, and of noting such failures or delinquencies, and preparing cases of fines or 
 deductions by reason thereof; of conducting the correspondence growing out of re- 
 ports of failures or delinquencies in the transportatiou of the mails ; of reporting to 
 the Auditor of the Treasiuy for the Post-Office Department, at the close of each quarter, 
 by certificate of inspection, the fact of performance or non-performance of contract or 
 recognized m.ail service, noting therein such fine or deduction as may have been ordered ; 
 of authorizing the pajTuent of all employes of the railway mail service ; also the pay- 
 ment of siich acting employes as may be employed by this office through the Super- 
 intendent of Railway Mail Service in cases of emergency, and of authorizing the 
 Auditor to credit postmasters with sums paid by them for such temporary service ; 
 and such other duties as may be necessary to secure a faithful iierformauce of the mail 
 service. All complaints against mail contractors or their agents, relating to failures 
 or other irregularities iu the transportation of the mails, whether made by postmastei-s 
 or others, should be promptly forwarded to the Second Assistant PoHtmaster-General, 
 marked " Division of Inspection." 
 
 The Office of the Third Assistant Postmaster-General.— This office is 
 charged with the duty of issuing drafts aud warx'auts in payment of balances re- 
 liorted bj' the Auditor to be due to mail-contractors or other persons ; the superintend- 
 ence of the collection of revenue at depository, draft, and depositing post-offices, and 
 the accounts between the Department and Treasurer aud Assistant Treasurers aud 
 specially designated depositories of the United States. It receives all accounts, 
 monthly or quarterly, of the depository or draft post-offices, and certificates of deposit 
 from depositing post-offices. This office is also charged with the duty of preparing in- 
 structions for the guidance of postmasters respecting registered matter, aud all coitc- 
 spondence connected with tlie Registry System of the United States. To it is 
 attaclied the Division of Postage Stamps and Stamped Envelopes and 1'ostal 
 Cards, having charge of the issuing of postage-stamps, stauiped-euvelopes, newspaper- 
 wrappers, aud postal-cards, aud the supplying of postmasters with euvelopes for their 
 
TITLE I Tin: POST-OFFICE DEPARTMENT. 41 
 
 official iiso, and rfgistcrod-padkago-envolopes and seals; the Division ok Dkad Let- 
 TKRS (M) (lcsi<riiat.'d in the law Imt more properly called TiiK Retuun Lktteii Office), 
 havinj,' assi<;n((l to it the examination and retnrn to the writcrH of und(divere«l mail- 
 matter and all correspondence n-latin^ thereto. The agencies havin;; the snpervisiou 
 of the manufactnre of i»osta;;e-.stamps, stamped-envelopes, and postal-cards are also 
 nnder the direction of this otiice. 
 
 Ofkici: of the SurEuiXTEXDEXT OF THE Money-Ordeu System.— The general 
 snpervision and contnd of the postal money-onh-r system thronglnnit the United 
 States and the snperintendence of the international mouey-order correspondence with 
 foreign co\intries is exercised hy this oQice. 
 
 Office of the SurEUixTENDENT of the Foreign Mails. — To this office are 
 assigned all foreign postal arrangements and correspondence connected with the for- 
 eign mail service and the snpervision of the ocean mail-steamship service. 
 
 Office of the Superintexdext of the Railway Mail Service. — To this office 
 are intrusted the distribution and dispatch of mails on all railroads and inland steam- 
 boat mail lines, the management of the postal-car service, and the general direction 
 of the mail service on railroads and inland steamboats after that service has been con- 
 tracted for or recognized under the law by the Postmaster-General, and the general 
 direction of the distribution and dispatch of mails from all post-offices. 
 
 Office of the Auditor of the Treasury for the Post-Office Department.— 
 This is a bureau of the Treasury, which for convenience is located in the General 
 Post-Office building, to which is assigned the duty of auditing the accounts of the 
 Post-Office Department, including those of postmasters, mail-contractors, and other 
 agents or employes of the Department. 
 
 Office of the Assistaxt Attokxey-General for the Post-Office Depart- 
 ment. — To this office are referred, when deemed advisable by the Postmaster-General 
 and the heads of the several offices of the Department, questions concerning the con- 
 struction of the laws and regulations which may arise in the administration of the 
 business of the Department. 
 
 Sec. 28. Seal of the Post-Office Department. — The Postmaster-General 
 shall keep the seal heretofore adopted for his I>epartiueut, which shall 
 be affixed to all commissions of postmasters and others, and used to 
 authenticate all transcripts and copies which may be required from his 
 Department. (R. S., § 395.) 
 
 Sec. 29. Duties of the Postmaster-General. — It shall be the duty of the 
 Postmaster-General : 
 
 First. To establish and discontinue post-offices. 
 
 Second. To instruct all persons in the postal service with reference to 
 their duties. 
 
 Third. To decide on the forms of all official papers. 
 
 Fourth. To prescribe the manner of keeping and stating accounts. 
 
 Fiftli. To enforce the prompt rendition of returns relative to accounts. 
 
 Sixth. To control, according to law, and subject to the settlement 
 of the {Sixth) Auditor [of tlie Treasury for the Post-Office Department j, 
 all expenses incident to the service of the Department. 
 
 Seventh. To superintend the disposal of the moneys of the Depai 
 ment. 
 
 Eighth. To direct the manner in which balances shall be paid over ; 
 issue warrants to cover money into the Treasury ; and to pay out the 
 same. 
 
 Ninth. To superintend generally the business of the Department, and 
 execute all laws relative to the postal service. (E. S., § 390.) 
 
42 POSTAL LAWS AND EEGULATIONS. 
 
 Possessing tlie power to (liscoutinue post-offices, the Postmaster-General may exer- 
 cise it, notwithstanding that the postmasters have been appointed by the President by 
 and with the advice and consent of the Senate, and under a statute which enacts that 
 the appointee shall hold his office for the term of four years, unless sooner removed by 
 the President. The office of postmaster at that place is in such case gone. (Ware vs. 
 The United States, 4 Wall., 617.) 
 
 The head of a Department has not a right to review the decision of his predecessor 
 allowing a credit, except to correct some error of calculation ; if he is of oiiinion that 
 the allowance was wrongful he must have a suit brought. (United States vs. Bank of 
 Metropolis, 15 Peters, 377.) 
 
 Where the Postmaster-General is authorized and required by act of Congress to 
 adjust a particular claim, nothing but a new authority emanating from Congress will 
 enable one of his successors to open his adjustment upon the ground that he adojited 
 an erroneous basis of settlement. (Chorpenning Case, 12 Opinions, 355.) 
 
 Sec. 30. Property in charge of the Department.. — The Postmaster-General 
 shall make out and keep, in j)roper books, full and comi^lete inventories 
 and accounts of all the property belonging to the United States in the 
 buildings, rooms, offices, and grounds occupied by him and under his 
 charge ; and shall add thereto, from time to time, an account of such, 
 property as may be procured subsequently to the taking of the same, 
 and also an account of the sale or disposal of any such property, and 
 to report the same to Congress during the first week of each annual 
 session. But this section shall not apply to the supplies of stationerj^ 
 and fuel. (E. S., § 397.) 
 
 Sec. 31. Postal Arrangements with Foreign Countries. — For the purpose of 
 making better jiostal arrangements with foreign countries, or to coun- 
 teract their adverse measures aiiecting our postal intercourse with them, 
 the Postmaster-General, by and with the advice and consent of the 
 President, may negotiate and conclude postal treaties or conventions, 
 and may reduce or increase the rates of postage on mail-matter con- 
 veyed between the United States and foreign countries. (R. S., § 398.) 
 
 Sec. 32. Publication of Postal Conventions. — The Postmaster-General shall 
 transmit a copy of each postal convention concluded with foreign gov- 
 ernments to the Secretary of State, who shall furnish a copy of the same 
 to the Congressional Printer for publication; and the printed proof- 
 sheets of all such conventions shall be revised at the Post-Office De- 
 partment. (R. S., § 399.) 
 
 Sec. 33. Blank Agency at Washington. — The Postmaster-General may 
 establish a blank agency for the Post-Office Department to be located at 
 Washington, District of Columbia. (R. S., § -400.) 
 
 Sec. 34. Foreign Dead Letters. — The actiou of the Post-Office Depart- 
 ment respecting foreign dead letters shall be subject to conventional 
 stipulations with their respective foreign administrations. (R. S., § 401.) 
 
 Sec. 35. Orders, Contracts, etc., to be truly Dated. — Every order, entry, or 
 memorandum whatever, on which any action is to be based, allowance 
 made, or money paid, and evcvj cou tract, paper, or obligation made by 
 or with the Post-Office Department, shall have its true date affixed to 
 it ; and every paper relating to contracts or allowances filed in the De- 
 
TITLE I THE rOST-OFFICE DEPARTMENT. 43 
 
 piirtmcnt sliall have the date when it was filed iii(h)r.sed upon it. (11. 
 S., § 402.) 
 
 Sec. 36. Form of Bonds and Contracts. — All bonds taken and contracts 
 entered into by the rost-Ollice Department shall be made to and with 
 the United States of America. (K. S., § 403.) 
 
 Postiiiaster-Goneral vs. Early, 12 Wheat. 49. 
 Dox rs. I'ostiuaster-General, 1 Petens, 318. 
 
 Sec. 37. Copies of Mail Contracts for the Auditor. — The Postmaster-Gen- 
 eral shall deliver to the (JSixth) Auditor [of the Treasury for the Post- 
 Office Department] within sixty days after the making of any contract 
 for earryiii<;- the mail, a duplicate copy thereof. (II. S., § 404.) 
 
 Sec. 38. iDrders to be Certified to the Auditor. — All orders and regulations 
 of the Postmaster-General which may originate a claim, or in any man- 
 ner affect the accounts of the postal ser%'ice, shall be certified to the 
 Auditor of the Treasury for the Post-Office Department. (R. S., § 405.) 
 
 Sec. 39. Credits for Payments by Postmasters. — Upon the certified quar- 
 terly statement by the {Sixth) Auditor [of the Treasury for the Post Office 
 Department] of the payments by postmasters on account of the postal 
 service, the Postmaster- General shall issue his warrant to the Treasurer 
 to carry the amount to the credit of the postal revenues and to the debit 
 of the proper appropriations upon the books of the Auditor. (R. S., § 
 40G.) 
 
 Sec. 40. Fines, Penalties, Forfeitures, etc., how Remitted. — In all cases of 
 fine, penalty, forfeiture, or disability, or alleged liability for any sum of 
 money by way of damages or otherwise, under any provision of law in 
 relation to the officers, employes, operations, or business of the postal 
 service, the Postmaster-General may prescribe such general rules and 
 modes of proceeding as shall appear to be expedient, for the government 
 of the {Sixth) Auditor [of the Treasury for the Post-Office Department] 
 in ascertaining the fact in each case in which the Auditor shall certify to 
 him that the interests of the department probably i-equire the exercise 
 of his powers over fines, penalties, forfeitures, and liabilities ; and upon 
 the fact being ascertained, the Auditor may, with the written consent 
 of the Postmaster-General, mitigate or remit such fine, penalty, or for- 
 feiture, remove such disability, or compromise, release, or discharge such 
 claim for such sum of money and damages, and on such terms as the 
 Auditor shall deem just and expedient. (R. S.. § 409.) 
 
 Sec. 41. Discharge of Imprisoned Judgment Debtors. — The Postmaster- 
 General may discharge from imprisonment any person confined in jail on 
 any judgment in a civil case, obtained in behalf of the Department, if it 
 be made to appear that the defendant has no property of any descrix)- 
 tion. (R. S., § 410.) 
 
 Sec. 42. Such Discharge no Bar to Execution. — The release i^rovided for 
 by the preceding section shall not bar a subsequent execution against 
 the property of the defendant on the same judgment. (R. S., § 411.) 
 
 Sec. 43, Postal Employes may not be Interested in Contracts. — Xo person 
 
44 POSTAL LAWS AND EEGULATIONS. 
 
 employed iu the Post-Oflfice Department sliall become interested in any 
 contract for carrying tlie mail, or act as agent, with or without compen- 
 sation, for any contractor or j^erson offering to become a contractor, 
 in any business before the Department ; and any i)erson so offending 
 shall be immediately dismissed from office, and shall be liable to pay so 
 much money as would have been realized from said contract, to be re- 
 covered in an action of debt, for the use of the Post-Office Department. 
 (R. S., §412.) 
 
 See section 599. 
 
 Sec. 44. Prescribed Annual Reports of the Postmaster-General. — The Post- 
 master-General shall make the following annual reports to Congress : 
 
 First. A report of all contracts for carrying the mail made ^^ithiu the 
 preceding year, giving in each case the name of the contractor ; the date 
 and duration of the contract ; the routes embraced therein, with the 
 length of each ; the time of arrival and departure at the ends of each 
 route ; the mode of transportation ; and the price to be paid, together 
 with a copy of the recorded abstracts of all proposals for carrying the 
 mail, as provided by section 588 [three thousand nine hundred and forty- 
 eight) [of the Revised Statutes]. 
 
 Second. A report of all laud and water mails established or ordered 
 within the preceding year, other than those let to contract at the annual 
 letting, giving in each case the route or water-course on which the mail 
 is established ; the name of the person emplo3^ed to transport it ; the 
 mode of transportation 5 the price to be paid ; and the duration of the 
 order or contract. 
 
 Third. A report of all allowances made to contractors within the pre- 
 ceding year above the sums originally stipulated in their respective 
 contracts, and the reasons for the same, and of all orders made whereby 
 additional exj)ense is incurred on any route beyond the original contract 
 price, giving in each case the route ; the name of the contractor ; the 
 original service pro.vided for \>j the contract ; the original price ; the 
 additional service required ; and the additional allowance therefor. 
 
 Fourth. A report of all curtailments of expenses effected within the 
 preceding year, giving in each case the same particulars as in the pre- 
 ceding report. 
 
 Fifth. A report of the finances of the Department for the preceding 
 year, showing the amount of balance due the Department at the begin- 
 mng of the year ; the amount of postage which accrued within the year ; 
 the amount of engagement and liabilities; and the amount actually 
 paid during the year for carrying the mail, showing how much of said 
 amount was for carrying the mail in preceding years. 
 . Sixth. A report of the fines imposed on, and the deductions from the 
 pay of contractors, made during the preceding year, stating the name of 
 the contractor; the nature of the delinquency; the route on which it 
 occurred; when the fine was imposed; and whether the fine or deduc- 
 tion has been remitted : and for what reason. 
 
TITLE I THE POST-OFFICE DEPARTMENT. 45 
 
 Seventh. A copy of each contract for carrying the mail between the 
 United States and toreijin countries, Avith a statement of the iinioniit of 
 postage derived under the same, so far as the returns of tlie Department 
 will enable it to be done. 
 
 Eighth. A rei)()it showing all contracts which have been made by the 
 Department, other than for carrying the mail, giving the name of the con- 
 tractor; the article or thing contracted for; the place where the article 
 was to be delivered or the thing jierformed; the amount paid therefor ; 
 and the date and duration of the contract. 
 
 Ninth. A report on the postal business and agencies in foreign coun- 
 tiies. 
 
 Tenth. A report of the amount expended in the Department for the 
 preceding fiscal year, including detailed statements of exi^enditures 
 made from the contingent fund. 
 
 And the Postmaster-General shall cause all of such reports to be 
 printed at the Public Printing Ofiice, either together or separately, and 
 in such numbers as may be required by the exigencies of the service or 
 by law. (R. S., § 413.) 
 
 Sec. 45. Annual Reports of the Auditor. — The annual reports of the Au- 
 ditor of the Treasury for the Post-Ottice Department to the Postmaster- 
 General shall show the financial condition of the Post-Oflace Depart- 
 ment at the close of each fiscal year, and be made a part of the Post- 
 master-General's annual report to Congress for that fiscal year. (Act 
 of July 12, 1876, § 4, 19 Stat., p. 80.) 
 
 Sec. 46. Annual Estimates of the Postmaster-General. — The Postmaster- 
 General shall submit to Congress at each annual session an estimate of 
 the amount that will be required for the ensuing fiscal year, under each 
 of the following heads: 
 
 First. Transportation of the mails. 
 
 Second. Compensation of postmasters. 
 
 Third. Comi)ensation of clerks in post-offices. 
 
 Fourth. Compensation of letter-carriers. 
 
 Fifth. Compensation of blank-agents and assistants. 
 
 Sixth. Mail depredations and special agents. 
 
 Seventh. Postage-stamiJs and envelopes. 
 
 Eighth. Ship, steamboat, and way letters. 
 
 Kinth. Dead letters. 
 
 Tenth. Mail-bags. 
 
 Eleventh. Mail locks, keys, and stamps. 
 
 Twelfth. Wrapping-paper. 
 
 Thirteenth. Office-furniture. 
 
 Fourteenth. Advertising. 
 
 Fifteenth. Balances to foreign countries. 
 
 Sixteenth. Pent, light, and fuel for post-offices. 
 
 Seventeenth. Stationery. 
 
 Eighteenth. Miscellaneous. 
 
46 POSTAL LAWS AND EEGULATIONS. 
 
 Siicli estimates shall show the sums paid imder each heail, and the 
 names of the persons to whom payments are made out of the miscel- 
 laneous fund ; but the names of persons employed in detecting depre- 
 dations on the mail, and of other contidential agents, need not be dis- 
 closed. (R. S., § 3G68.) 
 
 Hereafter, in making his estimates for railway mail service, the Post- 
 master-General shall separate the estimate for postal-car service from 
 the general estimates ; and in case any increase or diminution of service 
 by postal cars shall be made by him, the reasons therefor shall be given 
 in his annual report next succeeding such increase or diminution. (Act 
 of March 3, 1879, § 1, 20 Stat., p. 356.) 
 
 Sec. 47. Estimates to be furnished the Secretary of the Treasury. — The 
 Postmaster-General shall furnish a copy of his annual estimates to the 
 Secretary of the Treasury prior to the first of October in each year, 
 which shall be reported to Congress by the latter in his regular printed 
 estimates. (R. S., § 414, as amended by act March 3, 1875, § 3, 18 Stat., 
 p. 370.) 
 
 Sec. 48. Contracts signed by the First Assistant. — The bonds of all post- 
 masters may by the direction of the Postmaster-General be ai)proved 
 and accepted, and the approval and acceptance signed by the First 
 Assistant Postmaster-General in the name of the Postmaster- General ; 
 and all contracts for stationery, wrapping-paper, letter-balances, scales, 
 and street letter-boxes, for the use of the postal service may be signed 
 in like manner by the First Assistant Postmaster-General in the place 
 and stead of the Postmaster-General, and his signature shall be attested 
 by the seal of the Post-Offlce Department. (Act March 3, 1877, § 2, 19 
 Stat., p. 335.) 
 
 Sec. 49. Contracts signed by the Second Assistant. — The Second Assistant 
 Postmaster-General on the order of the Postmaster-General may sign 
 with his name, in the place and stead of the Postmaster-General and 
 attest his signature by the seal of the Post-OfQce Department, all con- 
 tracts made in the said Department for mail transportation and for sup- 
 plies of mail-bags, mail-catchers, mail-locks, and keys and all other arti- 
 cles necessary and incidental to mail-transportation. (Act March 3, 1877, 
 § 3, 19 Stat., p. 335.) 
 
 Sec. 50. Contracts signed by the Third Assistant. — The Third Assistant 
 Postmaster-General, when directed by the Postmaster-General, may also 
 sign, in his name, in the place and stead of the Postmaster-General, and 
 attest his signature by the seal of the Post-Ofi&ce Department, all con- 
 tracts for supplies of postage-stamps, stamped envelopes, newspaper- 
 wrappers, postal cards, registered-package envelopes, locks, seals, and 
 official envelopes for the use of postmasters, and return of dead letters, 
 that may be required for the postal service. (Act March 3, 1877, § 4, 10 
 Stat., p.* 335.) 
 
 Sec. 51. Omission to take Oath not to affect Liability, etc. — Every person 
 emi)loyed in the postal service shall be subject to all ijenalties and for- 
 
TITLE I THE POST-OFFICE DEPARTMENT. 47 
 
 feituies for violation of tlie laws relating? to such service whether he has 
 taken tlie oath of olVico or not. (II. S., § 38.32.) 
 
 Sec. 52. Suits and Prosecutions in State courts. — All causes of action aris- 
 ing under the postal laws may be sued, and all offenders a;,^iinst the 
 same may he prosecuted, before the justices of the peace, magistrates, 
 or other Judicial ccmrts of the several States and Territories having 
 competent jurisdiction by the laws thereof, to the trial of claims aud 
 demands of as great vahie, and of prosecutions where the punishments 
 are of as great extent ; and such justices, magistrates, or judiciary shall 
 take cognizance thereof, aud i)roceed to judgment and execution as iu 
 other cases. (R. S., § 3833.) 
 
 Sec. 53. Disbursements for the Topographer's Office, how made. — The dis- 
 bursements of the moneys appropriated for the preparation and publica- 
 tion of post-route maps shall be made by a regular bonded disbursiug- 
 officer of the Post-Offtce Department, according to the laws, rides, and 
 customs as recognized by the accounting-ofQcers of the Treasury Depart- 
 ment. The pay-rolls of the draughtsmen, clerks, messengers, and other 
 employees of the topographer's office, shall be regularly made out by the 
 chief of the topographer's office, examined and checked by the appoint- 
 ment-clerk of the Post-Office Department, and the payments thereof 
 made by a bonded disbursing-officer of the Post-Office Department. All 
 expenditures made by the chief of the topographer's office for the prep- 
 aration and publication of post-route maps shall be accounted for by 
 vouchers, accompanied by affidavit, and the moneys therefor shall be 
 disbursed by a disbursing-officer of the Post-Office Department; and all 
 of the above disbiu'sements shall be paid out of the appropriation for the 
 jireparation aud publication of i)ost-route maps. (Act of June 17, 1878, 
 § 2, 20 Stat., p. 143.) 
 
 Sec. 64. No Employ^ to Receive Fees. — Xo persou employed in the 
 postal ser\ice shall receive any fees or perquisites on account of the 
 duties to be performed by virtue of his appointment. (K. S., § 3858.) 
 
 CHAPTER TWO. 
 
 ACCOUNTS, REVENUES, AND DEPOSITS. 
 
 Sec. 
 
 55. Manner of keeping accounts. 
 
 56. Miscellaneous ami uioney-order receipts.. 
 67. Postal revenues to be accounted for. 
 
 Sec. 
 
 64. Accounts to be preserved tvro years. 
 
 65. Restrictions on pajTucnts on account of postal 
 
 service. 
 
 58. Revenues to be appropriated for postal serv'ice. ! 66. Postal revenues and coUectious to be paid into 
 
 59. Payments, liow made ; advances. I Treasury. 
 
 60. Transfer of debts to contractors. 67. Deposits, how brought into the Treasury. 
 01. Suits to recover -wrongful or fraudulent pay- 68. Transfer of postal deposits. 
 
 ments. I 69. Accounts of postal deposits. 
 
 62. Delivery of stolen money to owner. I 70. Entry of each deposit, transfer, and pa>nnent. 
 
 63. Disposal of fines, penalties, aud forfeitures ; of 71. Public moneys iu Treasury subject to diiift of 
 
 moieties. 1 Treasurer. 
 
48 
 
 POSTAL LAWS AND EEGULATIONS. 
 
 Sec. 
 
 72. Money to be safely kept by postmasters. 
 
 73. Custody of government money in hands of po.st- 
 
 masters. 
 
 74. Frequent deposits of revenues. 
 
 75. No money to be paid directly into the Depart- 
 
 ment. 
 
 76. Post-offices financially designated and classi, 
 
 fled. • 
 
 77. Post-offlces transferred from one class to an. 
 
 other. 
 
 78. Postmasters to transfer their deposits promptly. 
 
 79. Letter of transmittal, to state what. 
 SO. Postmasters may transfer funds free. 
 
 81. Postmasters to report amounts paid mail-mes- 
 
 sengers, etc. 
 
 82. Postmasters to report cause of failure to de- 
 
 posit. 
 
 83. Want of funds not accepted as excuse. 
 
 84. Collection-drafts must be paid. 
 
 Sec. 
 
 85. Failure to deposit cause for removal, unless. 
 
 86. Postmasters to pay over balance at end ot 
 
 quarter. 
 
 87. Postmasters at special post-offices to report 
 
 balance. 
 
 88. Postmasters at special post-offices to transmit 
 
 receipts promptly. 
 
 89. Payments to Department must be in what. 
 
 90. 'No allowance made for expenses for payments, 
 
 etc. 
 
 91. Counterfeit money to be replaced. 
 
 92. Postmasters at di'aft post-offices not to pay 
 
 drafts on other post-offices. 
 
 93. Postmasters not required to redeem mutilated 
 
 cun-ency. 
 
 94. Postmasters to refuse mutilated coins. 
 
 95. All funds to be kept in current money. 
 
 96. Postmasters to sign certificates in person. 
 
 97. Postmasters not to receive foreign coin. 
 
 Sec. 55. Manner of Keeping Accounts. — The accounts of the postal service 
 shall be kept in such a mauiier as to exhibit separately the amouut of 
 revenue derived from the following sources respectively : 
 
 First. Letter-postage. 
 
 Second. Book, newspaper, and pamphlet postage. 
 
 Third. Eegistered letters. 
 
 rourth. Box-rents and branch offices. 
 
 Fifth. Postage-stamj)s and envelopes. 
 
 Sixth. Dead letters. 
 
 Seventh. Fines and penalties. 
 
 Eighth. Revenue from money-order business. 
 ^ Ninth. Miscellaneous. 
 
 And they shall exhibit separately the amount of expenditure made for 
 each of the following objects respectively: 
 
 First. Transportation of the mail. 
 
 Second. Compensation of postmasters. 
 
 Third. Comiiensation of letter-carriers; 
 
 Fourth. Compensation of clerks for i)ost-offices. 
 
 Fifth. Compensation of blank-agents and assistants. 
 
 Sixth. Mail depredations and special agents. 
 
 Seventh. Postage-stamps and envelopes. 
 
 Eighth. Ship, steamboat, and way letters. 
 
 Ninth. Dead-letters. 
 
 Tenth. Mail-bags. 
 
 Eleventh. Mail locks and keys. 
 
 Twelfth. Post-marking and canceling stamps. 
 
 Thirteenth. Wrapping-i)aj)er. 
 
 Fourteenth. Twine. 
 
 Fifteenth . Letter-balances. 
 
 Sixteenth. OfiQce-furniture. 
 
 Seventeenth. Advertising. 
 
 Eighteenth. Balances to foreign countries. 
 
TITLE I — TIIF. POST-OrJTCE DEPATiTMEXT. 49 
 
 Nineteenth. Rent, lijiilit, and fuel for post-offices. 
 
 Twentietli. Stationery. 
 
 Twenty-first. Miscellaneous. (K. S., § 4049.) 
 
 Sec. 56. Miscellaneous and Money-order Receipts. — Unclaimed money in 
 dead letters for which no owner can Ix? found; all monej' taken from the 
 mail by robbery, theft, or otherwise, whicli may come into tlie liands ot 
 any agent or employ^ of the United States, or any other i^erson whatever : 
 all fines and penalties imposed for any violation of the i)ostal laws, ex- 
 cei)t such part as may by law belong to the informer or party prosecnt- 
 ing for the same; and all money derived from the sale of waste paper 
 or other public property of the Post-Office Department, shall be depos- 
 ited in the Treasury, under the direction of the Postmaster-General, as 
 part of the postal revenue. And the Postmnster-General shall cause to 
 be placed to the credit of the Treasurer of the United States, for the 
 service of the Post -Office Department, the net proceeds of the money- 
 order business; and the receipts of the Post-Office Department derived 
 from this source during each quarter shall be entered by the {tSixtlt) 
 Auditor [of the Treasury for the Post-Office Department] in the ac- 
 counts of such Department, under the head of "revenue from money ^ 
 order business." (K. S., § 4050.) 
 
 Sec. 57. Postal Revenues to be Accounted for. — All postages, box-rents, 
 and other receipts at post-offices, shall be accounted for as part of the 
 postal revenues ; and each postmaster shall be charged with and held 
 accountable for any part of the same, accruing at his office, which he 
 has neglected to collect, the same as if h« had collected it. (K. S., 
 § 4051.) 
 
 Sec. 58. Revenues to be Appropriated for Postal Service. — The money re- 
 quired for the jiostal service in each year shall be appropriated by law 
 out of the revenues of the service. (R. S., § 4054.) 
 
 Sec. 59. Payments, how Made ; Advances. — All payments on account of 
 the postal service shall be made to persons to whom the same shall be 
 certified to be due by the {Sixth) Auditor [of the Treasury for the Post- 
 Office Dei)artraent]; but advances of necessary sums to defray ex- 
 penses may be made by the Postmaster-General to agents enq)loyed to 
 investigate mail depredations, examine post routes and offices, and on 
 other like services, to be charged to them by the Auditor, and to be 
 accounted for in the settlement of their accounts. (K. S., § 4055.) 
 
 Sec. 60. Transfer of Debts to Contractors. — The Postmaster-General may 
 transfer debts due to the Department from postmasters and others to 
 such contractors as have given bonds, with security, to refund any 
 money that may come into their hands over and above the amount 
 found due them on the settlement of their accounts ; but such transfers 
 shall only be in satisfaction of legal demands for which appropriations 
 have been made. (R. S., § 4050.) 
 
 Sec. 61. Suits to recover Wrongful or Fraudulent Payments. — In all cases 
 where money has been x>aid out of the funds of tlie Post-Office Dei)art- 
 
 4 P L 
 
50 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 meut under tlie pretense that service has been performed therefor, when, 
 in fact, such service has not been performed, or as additional allowance 
 for increased service actually rendered, when the additional allowance 
 exceeds the sum which, according to law, might rightfully' have been 
 allowed therefor, and in all other cases where money of the Department 
 has been paid to any person in consequence of fraudulent representa- 
 tions, or by the mistake, collusion, or misconduct of any ofScer or other 
 employe in the postal service, the Postmaster-General shall cause suit to 
 be brought to recover such wrong or fraudulent paj'ment or excess, with 
 interest thereon. (R. S., § 4057.) 
 
 Sec. 62. Delivery of Stolen Money to Owner. — Whenever the Postmaster- 
 General is satisfied that money or property stolen from the mail, or the 
 proceeds thereof, has been received at the Department, he may, upon 
 satisftictory evidence as to the owner, deliver the same to him. (R. S., 
 § 4058.) 
 
 Sec. 63. Disposal of Fines, Penalties, and Forfeitures ; Moieties. — All pen- 
 -alties and forfeitures imposed for any violation of law affecting thePost- 
 Oflfice Department for its revenue or property shall be recoverable, one- 
 half to the use of the person informing and prosecuting for the same, and 
 the other half to be paid into the Treasury for the use of the Post-Oflfice 
 Department, unless a different disposal is expressly prescribed. All 
 tines collected for violations of such laws shall be paid into the Treasury 
 for the use of the Post-Office Department. (R. S., § 4059.) 
 
 Sec. 64. Accounts to be Preserved Two Years. — The Postmaster-General 
 may dispose of any quarterly returns of mails sent or received, pre- 
 serving the accounts-current and all accompanying vouchers, and use 
 such portions of the proceeds as may be necessary to defray the cost of 
 separating and disposing of them; but the accounts shall be preserved 
 entire for at least two years. (R. S., § 4000.) 
 
 Sec. 65. Restrictions on Payments on Account of Postal Service. — Payments 
 ■of money out of the Treasury on account of the postal service shall be 
 in pursuance of appropriations made by law, by warrants of the Post- 
 master-General, registered and countersigned by the Auditor for the 
 Post-Office Department, and expressing on their fiice the appropriation 
 to which they should be charged. (R. S., § 3ij74.) 
 
 Sec. 66. Postal Revenues and Collections to be paid into Treasury. — The 
 postal revenues and all debts due to the Post-Office Department shall, 
 when collected, be paid into the Treasury of the United States, under the 
 direction of the Postmaster-General ; and the Treasurer, assistant treas- 
 urer, or designated depositary' receiving such paynient, shall give the 
 depositor duplicate receipts tlierefor. (R. S., § 407.) 
 
 Sec. 67. Deposits ; how Brought into the Treasury. — All deposits on ac- 
 count of the postal service shall be brought into the Treasury by war- 
 rants of the Postmaster-General, countersigned by tlie Auditor; and 
 no credit shall be allowed for any deposit until such warrant has been 
 issued. (R. S., § 408.) 
 
TITLE I THE rOST-OFFICE DEPARTMENT. 51 
 
 Sec. 68. Transfer of Postal Deposits. — Tlie Postmaster-General may trans- 
 fer money bel<)ii;;in;;- to tlie i)o>,tal service between the Treasnrer, assist- 
 ant treasurers, and designated depositaries, at his diseretion, and as tlni 
 safety of the public money and tUe conveuience of the service may re- 
 quire. (11. s., § r>(]n.) 
 
 Sec. 69. Accounts of Postal Deposits. — Every depositary sliall keep liis 
 account of the money paid to or deposited with him, belonging to tlie 
 Post-Offico Department, .separate and distinct from the account Icept by 
 him of other i>ublic moneys so paid or dei)osited. (R. S., § .'Jfil:!'.) 
 
 Sec. 70. Entry of each Deposit, Transfer, and Payment. — All persons 
 charged by law with the safe-keeping, transfer, and disltursement of the 
 public moneys, other than those connected with the Post-Oilk-e Depart- 
 ment, are required to keep an accnrate entry of each sum received and 
 of each payment or transfer. (11. S., § 3043.) 
 
 Sec. 71. Public moneys in Treasury subject to draft of Treasurer. — All 
 moneys paid into the Treasury of the United States shall be subject to 
 the draft of the Treasurer. And for the purpose of payments on the 
 public account the Treasnrer is anthorized to draw upon any of the de- 
 positaries, as he may think most conducive to the public interest and to 
 the convenience of the public creditors. Each depositary so drawn upon 
 shall make returns to the Treasury and Post-Office Departments of all 
 moneys receiv^ed and paid by him, at such times and in such forms as 
 shall be directed by the Secretary of the Treasury or the Postmaster- 
 General. (P. S., § 3644.) 
 
 Sec. 72. Money to be Safely Kept. — Postmasters shall keep safely, with- 
 out loaning, using, depositing in an unauthorized bank, or exchanging 
 for other funds, all the public money collected by them, or which may 
 come into their possession, until it is ordered l)y the Postmaster-General 
 to be transferred or paid out. (R. S., § 3846.) 
 
 Sec. 73. Custody of Government Money in hands of Postmasters. — Any 
 postmaster, having public money belonging to the Government, at an 
 ofhce within a county where there are no designated depositaries, treas- 
 urers of mints, or Treasurer or assistant treasurers of the United States, 
 may deposit the same, at his own risk and in his official capacity, in any 
 national bank in the town, city, or county where the said postmaster 
 resides ; but no authority or permission is or shall be given for the de- 
 mand or receipt by the postmaster, or any other jjerson, of interest, 
 directly or indirectly, on any deposit made as herein described ; and 
 evary postmaster who makes any such deposit shall report quarterly to 
 the Postmaster-General the name of the bank where such deposits have 
 been made, and also state the amount which may stand at the time to 
 his credit. (P. S., § 3S47.) 
 
 Sec. 74. Frequent Deposits of Revenues. — The postmaster at Washington, 
 and postmasters at cities where there is an assistant treasurer, shall de- 
 posit the postal revenues, and all money accruing at their office, with 
 such assistant treasurer, as often as once a week at least, and as much 
 oftener as the Postmaster-General may direct. (R. S., § 3848.) 
 
52 POSTAL LAWS AND KEGULATIOXS. 
 
 Sec. 75. "So money to be paid Directly into the Department. — Xo moneys 
 
 are to be paid directly iuto the Department, neither are any paid ont directly by it. The 
 proceeds of postage, or moneys received for postage-stamps, stamped-euvelopes, news- 
 paper-wrappers, or postal-cards sold, will, therefore, never be remitted by postmasters 
 to the Department, nor be paid to any of its officers or .agents, without duo authority 
 from the Postmaster-General. When money is sent to the Department in violation of 
 this regulation it will be returned at the risk of the person so sending it. 
 
 Sec. 76. Post-offices Financially Designated and Classified. — For couveni- 
 ence ia collecting and disbursing the revenues of the Post-Office Department, post- 
 offices are designated and classed as follows, viz : 
 
 1. Special post-offices. — Those post-offices not located on a regular mail-route, 
 but, which are supplied by a special carrier, whose compensation ie fixed at two-thirds 
 of the salary of the jiostmaster. See section 548. 
 
 2. Depositing post-officks. — Such as are directed to deposit, at some designated 
 pointii, their surplus funds, quarterly or oftener. 
 
 3. Depositokt and draft post-offices. — Those which are directed to retain their 
 own funds, the surplus funds of de^wsiting post-offices and funds received by collec- 
 tiou-drafte on hand to meet drafts drawn by the Third Assistant Postmaster-General, 
 and countersigned by the Auditor. 
 
 4. Collection post-offices. — Those which are required to pay over their net proceeds 
 quarterly to the mail carrier named in their special instructions, upon the production 
 by him, from time to time, of the proper orders and receipts sent to him by the Depart- 
 ment. No receipts other than the printed forms furnished to contractors by the De- 
 partment Avill be recognized. All manuscript receipts are illegal. Upon the pre- 
 sentation of the order to the j)Ostmaster by the contractor, or his agent named in the 
 order, the iiostmaster must pay over all money in his hands due to the United States 
 for that quarter, from whatever source derived (except money-order funds), whether 
 for drafts collected from postmasters and others, postage-.stamps, stamped envelopes, 
 newspaper- wrappers, postal cards, waste-paper, box-rents, or other emoluments of the 
 post-wMcft. The amount duo the mail-messenger, if employed, is also excepted from 
 this regulation. 
 
 Sec. 77. Post-offices transferred from one Class to Another. — Post-offices 
 
 are transferred, from time to time, from one to another of these classes, to meet the 
 necessities of the service. When such changes are made postmasters will be duly 
 notified. 
 
 Sec. 78. Postmasters to transfer their Deposits Promptly. — When a post- 
 master has been directed to deposit quarterly, he will, as soon as practicable after the 
 close of a quarter, not delaying more than fifteen days, deposit the whole amount due 
 by him to the Department (as shown by his general account) in such funds as are 
 receivable by law, taking an original and duplicate certificate for the same. The ori- 
 ginal nuist be transmitted in a letter addressed to the Third Assistant Postmaster- 
 (Jeueral, and the duplicate retained as a voucher. If it be not convenient for him to 
 attend to it in person, it is expected that he will embrace the first safe opportunity 
 for transferring the funds by private hands to the point designated, without incurring 
 expense or risk to the Di^partment. 
 
 Sec. 79. Letter of Transmittal should State what. — A' letter of transmittal 
 
 should ac*ouipany each deposit, giving full name of the postmaster, the name of his 
 post-office, county, and State, .and the quarter for which the amount is due. 
 
 Sec. 80. Postmasters may Transfer Funds free. — Postmasters desi ring to do 
 
 sft mny trasmit funds for d<'i>osit by registered letti^r, in official jxinalty-euvelopes fui- 
 iiishod by the D(q):irluient, ;ind omit th( fee for r(^gistratIou. See section 81"2. 
 
 Sec. 81. Postmasters to report Amounts paid Mail Messengers, etc. — Post- 
 masters at depositing post-offices who pay mail-messengers or special mail-carriers will 
 report the amount so paid each quarter to tlie Third Assistant Postuiaster-General, .and 
 deposit the balance, if auy, at the point dejsignated. 
 
TITLE I Tin: I'OST-OFFICE DEPARTMENT. :53 
 
 Sec. 82. Postmasters to report Cause of Failure to Deposit. — Postmaatej-s 
 
 ;it iiost-otlici's siK'fitiod by section 7H, fiiiling to deposit within a inoiitli after tlio elose 
 of a iinartcr, must rejiort tlie eanse of failure to tlie Third Assistant Postiiiaster-Ooueral, 
 or they will be treated as d<liii(|iifiit. 
 
 Sec. 83. Want of funds Not accepted as Excuse. — AViiut of funds will not 
 
 be accepted as au excuse for failing; to pay or to tlei>o8it. The postmaster is not per- 
 mitted to f^iv*' credit for i»ostajjes, which are regarded jis cash iu his hands. In like 
 manner, he is juohibited from using, loaninj;, investing, or exchanging moneys received 
 for iinstagcs, on i»ain nf criminal prosecution. 
 
 Sec. 84. Collection-drafts Must be Paid. — A postmaster cannot refuse to 
 
 ])ay a draft or collection-order because the contractor is indebted to him. nor because 
 there is an unsettled private account between them, nor upon any other i>retext; and 
 such refusal is made by the law (section 1249) prima-facie evidence of embezzlement, 
 
 subjecting him to punishment. 
 
 Sec. 85. Failure to deposit Cause for Removal, Unless. — A failure either to 
 
 deposit according to instructions, or to pay a draft when presented, or to pay over to 
 a contractor n})ou tlie production of the proper collection orders and receipts, will be 
 followed by the removal of the delinquent postmaster, unless satisfactory explanation 
 is made to the Postmaster-General. 
 
 Sec. 86. Postmasters to Pay over Balance at end of Quarter. — Postinaster.s 
 
 at collection post-t>rtices must be rtady to pay over the balance of postal funds due to 
 the United States at the end of each quarter after paying all othcers and employes of 
 the Post-Othce Department authorized by circular No. 3000, and will transnut the con- 
 tractor's receipt by the very first mail after payment is made. Such payments must 
 include the whole amount of money on hand (except money-order funds), whether 
 arising from the postages of the quarter or any preceding quarters, from s.ales of postage- 
 stamps, stamped-envelopes, newspaper-wrappers, or postal-cards, or from nmneys col- 
 lected by or deposited with the postmaster. The absence of the postmaster from his 
 post-oftice when the contractor presents the collection-order will not be accepted as a 
 good reason for non-payment. The receipts must never be put up with the quarterly 
 returns, but should be sent in a separ.ate envelope, addressed to the Auditor of the 
 Treasury for the Post-Office Department. 
 
 Sec. 87. Postmasters at Special Post-offices to report Balance. — Eveiy post- 
 master of a "special post-olhce" will report to the Postmaster-tienei'al, at the end of 
 each ([uarter, the balance in his hands over and above the sums due the carrier for 
 supplying his post-office with the mail, in order that the Department may make a 
 l)roi»er disposition of such balances. 
 
 Sec. 88. Postmasters at Special Post-offices to transmit Receipts promptly, — 
 
 Postmasters at "special post-offices," when under orders to pay their respective car- 
 riers, will not only pay i»romptly, but lose no time in transmitting to the Auditor of 
 the Treasury for the Post-Ofiice Department the receipts taken for their quarterly pay- 
 ments. 
 
 Sec. 89. Payments to Department must be in what. — All payments to the 
 
 Department, whether upon drafts or otherwise, nnist be in specie, United .States Treas- 
 ury notes, or notes of the national banks; and iKistmasters, in receiving payment of 
 postages or other dues to the Deitartuuuit, should always bear in mind that they are 
 bound to pay them over iu the legal currency of the L'nited States. 
 
 Sec. 90. No allowance made for Expenses for Payments, etc. — Xo allowance 
 will be made to any jiostmaster for expenses incurred in paying over moneys due by 
 him to the Department; neither will any allowance be made for expenses incurred iu 
 collecting moneys due the Department. 
 
 Sec. 91. Counterfeit money to be replaced. — Postmasters receiving coun- 
 terfeit money will be recpiircd to replace the same with genuine current funds. 
 
54 POSTAL LAWS AXD EEGULATIOXS. 
 
 Sec. 92. Postmasters at draft-offices not to pay for other post-offices. — Post- 
 masters at draft post-offices must not pay drafts drawu upon otlier post-offices. Credit 
 for sncli payments will not be allowed. 
 
 Sec. 93. Postmasters not Required to redeem Mutilated Currency.— Post- 
 masters are not recjuired by law to redeem, or accept in payment of post-office dues, 
 money-orders, stamps, or stamped-euvelopes, any currency wMch may be so mutilated 
 as to be nncurrent; nor is it any part of their duty to receive and transmit to the 
 Treasury, for redemption, mutilated cuiTency belonging to individuals, excej)t as reg- 
 ular mail-matter, forwarded in the usual manner at the risk of the owner. 
 
 Sec. 94. Postmasters to Refuse Mutilated Coins. — The Treasury Department 
 
 having declined to receive any coins which have been mutilated (perforated or abraded)» 
 postmasters should refuse all such coins, and thus avoid trouble and expense. 
 
 Sec. 95. All funds to be kept in Current Money. — The necessities of the 
 postal service are such that all funds received by postmasters must be kept in ciu'reut 
 and passable money, so as to be immediately available for paying the drafts of the 
 De-partment, money-orders, and expenses of the service. 
 
 Sec. 96. Postmasters to sign Certificates in Person. — Postmasters at depos- 
 itory post-offices must sign certificates of deposit in person, unless necessarily absent 
 or sick, in Avhich case they maj^ be signed as follows : 
 
 A B , P. M., 
 
 By C D , A><>iista)i( P. if. 
 
 Sec. 97. Postmasters not to Receive foreign Coins. — Foreign gold aud silver 
 
 coins are not a legal tender in the United States, and postmasters should not receive 
 them in payment of postal dues or stamps. 
 
TITLE II. 
 
 POST-OFFICES AND POSTMASTERS. 
 
 CHAPTER ONE. 
 
 ESTABLISHMENT OF POST-OFFICES AND APPOINTMENT OF POST- 
 MASTERS.— OF BONDS AND SURETIES. 
 
 Soc. I Sec. 
 
 98. E.st;il)lislim-nt of post-offioes. I 107. Commissions not i.s-titi'd to pD.stm.i.sters before 
 
 99. Discoutinu;nii'(^ of post-offices. , approval of bonds. 
 
 100. Classificatiou of i)ostniasti'rs. \ 108. Who may be appointed postmaster. 
 
 101. Appointment and tenure of office of postmas- j 109. "When new bond is required. 
 
 ters. j 110. Limit of time of suretie.s' liability. 
 
 102. Appointments issued from office of First As- ' 111. Responsibility of sureties upon postmaster's 
 
 sistaut. j death. 
 
 103. Postmasters" commissions to be recorded and I 112. Kenewal of bond. 
 
 countersigned. ' 113. Application of sureties for release, to whom 
 
 104. Residence of postmasters. I made. 
 
 105. Bonds of postmasters. j 114. Changingnameof post-office necessitates new 
 
 106. Application of payments after giving new bond. 
 
 bond. I 115. Sureties on bonds, how released. 
 
 Sec. 98. Establishment of Post-offices. — The Postmaster-General shall 
 establish po.st-offices at all such places on post-roads established by law 
 as he may deem expedient, and he shall promptly certify such establish- 
 ment to the (Sixth) Auditor [of the Treasury for the Post-Othce Depart- 
 ment.] And every person who, without authority from the Postmaster- 
 General, sets u}) or professes to keej) any office or place of business bear- 
 ing' the sign, name, or title of post-office, shall, for every such offense, be 
 liable to a penalty of not more than five hundred dollars. (R. S., § 
 3820.) See sections 16, 5iS. 
 
 Sec. 99. Discontinuance of Post-offices. — The Postmaster-General may 
 discontinue any post-office where the safety and security of the postal 
 service and revenues are endangered from any cause whatever, or where 
 the- efficiency of the service requires such discontinuance, and he shall 
 promptly certify such discontinuance to the [Sixth) Auditor [of the 
 Treasury for the Post-Office Department.] (R. S., § 3864.) 
 
 Sec. 100. Classification of Postmasters. — Postmasters shall be divided 
 into four classes, as follows : The first class shall embrace all those whose 
 annual salaries are three thousand dollars or more than three thousand 
 dollars ; the second class shall embrace all those whose annual salaries 
 are less than three thousand dollar.s, but not less than two thousand 
 dollars; the third class shall embrace all those whose annual salaries 
 are less than two thousand dollars, but not less than one thousand dol- 
 lars; the foiu'th class shall embrace all postmasters whose annual com- 
 pensation, exclusive of their commissious on the money -order business. 
 
 55 
 
56 POSTAL LAVvS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 of tbeir offices, aiuoimts to less thau one tlioiisaud dollars. (Act July 
 12, 1876, § 5, 19 Stat., p. 80.) 
 
 Sec. 101. Appointment and term of office of Postmasters. — Postmasters of 
 the first, second, and third classes sliall be appointed and may be re- 
 moved by the President by and with the advice and consent of the Sen- 
 ate, and shall hold their offices for four years unless sooner removed or 
 suspended according to law; and postmasters of the fourth-class shall 
 be appointed and may be removed by the Postmaster-General, by whom 
 all appointments and removals shall be notified to the Auditor (of the 
 Treasury) for the Post-Office Department. (Act July 12, 1876, § 6, 10 
 Stat., p. 80.) 
 
 Sec. 102. Appointments hy First Assistant Postmaster-General. — All ap- 
 iiointmcnts of postmasters are issued by ilirectiou of tlie Postmaster-General from tlie 
 office of the First Assistant Postmaster-Geueral. 
 
 Sec. 103. Postmasters' Commissions to be Recorded and Countersigned. — 
 Hereafter the commissions of all postmasters appointed by the President, 
 by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, shall be made out and 
 recorded in the Post-Office Department, and shall be under the seal of 
 said Department, and countersigned by the Postmaster-General, any 
 laws to the contrary notwithstanding : Provided, That the said seal 
 shall not be affixed to any such commission until after the same shall 
 have been signed by the President of the United States. (x^Lct March 
 18, 1874, § 1,^18 Stat., p. 23.) 
 
 Sec. 104. Residence of Postmasters. — Every postmaster shall reside with- 
 in the delivery of the office to which he is appointed. (R. S., § 3831.) 
 
 A x)ostraaster until the action of the Postmaster-Genei-al does not vacate his office 
 by remaining out of the neighborhood of the jjost-office. If he keep the post-office 
 by an assistant he is still responsible to the Department and to individuals. (2 
 McLean, 14.) 
 
 Sec. 105. Bonds of Postmasters. — Every postmaster, before entering upon 
 the duties of his office, shall give bond, with good and approved security, 
 and in such penalty as the Postmaster-General shall deem sufficient, 
 conditioned for the faithful discharge of all duties and trusts imiwsed 
 on him either by law or the rules and regulations of the Department ; 
 and where an office shall be designated as a money-order office, the bond 
 of the i)ostmaster shall contain an additional condition for the faithful 
 X^erformance of all duties and obligations in connection with the money- 
 order business. On the death, resignation, or removal of a postmaster, 
 his bond shall be delivered to the {iSixth) Auditor [of the Treasury for 
 the Post-Office Department.] The bond of any married Avomau who 
 may be appointed postmaster shall be binding upon her and her sureties, 
 and she shall be liable for misconduct in office as if she were sole. (R. 
 S., § 3834.) 
 
 The bond of a deputy postmaster takes effect and speaks from tlie time that it 
 reaches the Postnuister-Geueral, and not from the day of its date nor from the time 
 wluMi it is deposited in the post-ol'lice to be forwarded. (Boody vs. United States, 1 
 Wood &Min., 150.) 
 
 The bond does not constitute a binding contract until approved and accepted by 
 
TITLE II rOST-OFFICES AND TOSTMASTERS. 57 
 
 tlip Postiimstcr-Gencral. The n'('(i])tii)n and dt'ti'iitioii of an oflirial liond by tlie Post- 
 master-General ft»r a considorablo time without (dejection i8 a 8iirtieiout proof of itb 
 acceptance. (The I'ostma.ster-General v. Norvel, (iilpin, I). ('. R., 131.) 
 
 Sec. 106. Application of Payments after Giving new Bond. — AVliencvor any 
 ])(»stiii;istt'r is icijuircd t<> execute a new bund, all i)a\ iiient.s made by 
 him after the execution of such new bond may, if the Postmaster-Gen- 
 eral or tlie {Sixth) Auditor [of the Treasury for the Post-Odice Dei)art- 
 ment] deem it just, be applied first to di.scharge any balance which may 
 be due fi'om said i)ostmaster under his old bond. 
 
 Hereafter, Avhen a deficiency shall be discovered in the accounts of 
 any postmaster, who after the adjustment of his accounts fails to make 
 good such deficiency, it sliall be the duty of the {Siiih) .Vuditor of the 
 Treasury [for the Post Office] Department to notify the Postmaster-Gen- 
 eral of such failure, and upon receiving such notice the Postmaster- 
 General shall forthwith deposit a notice in the post-office at Washington, 
 District of Columbia, addressed to the sureties re.sjjectively upon the 
 bond of said postmaster, at the office where he or tliey may reside, if 
 known; but a failure to give or mail such notice shall not discharge 
 such surety or sureties upon such bond. (E. S., § 3835, as amended by 
 act of Feb. 4, 1879, 20 Stat., p. 281.) 
 
 Sec. 107. Commissions not issued to Postinasters before Approval of Bonds. — 
 
 Uitoii the appointment of a postmaster, he is furnished \vith a h'tter of appointment, 
 tlie blank form of the oath required, and a blank bond. The person designated for 
 appointment will execute the bond as directed, take the prescribed oath of otiice, and 
 transmit the bond antl oath to the First Assistant Postmaster-General. A commission 
 ■will be issued when the bond shall be aiiproved by the Postmaster-General, uj>on the 
 receipt of which, and not before, the new appointee is authorized to take charge of the 
 post-office. The bond must be signed, in the presence of suitable witnesses, by him- 
 self and at least two sureties, the sufficiency of each of whom, for the payment of the 
 sum inserted therein, must be shown by the certificate of the magistrate who admin- 
 ister.-^ the oath, Avhose signatures to the same must be attested by the clerk of a coirrt 
 of record in the county ov State where the magistrate resides. 
 
 Sec. 108. "Who may be appointed Postmaster. — Xo person can be appointed 
 
 postmaster who cannot legally execute a bond and take the prescribed oath of office. 
 Minors are, by law, incapable of holding the office of postmaster ; but the law provides 
 that married women may be appointed postmasters, and bonds executed by them, as 
 such officers, are declared to be valid. See section 105. 
 
 Sec. 109. "When new Bond is Required. — In case of the death, removal 
 
 from the State, insolvency, or any other disability of one or both of the sureties, the 
 postmaster must report the fact to the Depaitmeut, in order that a new bond may be 
 executed. 
 
 Sec. 110. Limit of time of Sureties' Liability. — TMieuever the office of any 
 postmaster becomes vacant, the Postmaster-General or the President 
 .shall supply such vacancy without delay, and the Postmaster-General 
 shall promptly notify the (Sixth) Auditor [of the Treasury for the Post- 
 Office Department] of the change ; and every postmaster and his sureties 
 shall be responsible under their bond for the safe-keeping of the i)ublic 
 property of the post-office, and the due performance of the duties thereof, 
 until the expiration of the commission, or until a successor has been didy 
 ai»pointed and qualified, and has taken possession of the office j except 
 
58 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 tliat in cases where there is a delay of sixty days in supplying" a vacancy, 
 the sureties may terminate tlieir respousibility by giving notice, iu Avrit- 
 ing, to the Postmaster-Greneral, such termination to take effect ten days 
 after sufficient time shall have elapsed to receive a reply from the Post- 
 master-General ; and the Postmaster-General may, when the exigencies 
 of the service require, place such office in charge of a special agent until 
 the vacancy can be regularly filled ; and when such special agent shall 
 have taken charge of such post-office, the liability of the sureties of the 
 postmaster shall cease. (R. S., § 383G.) 
 
 Sec. 111. Responsibility of sureties after Postmaster's death. — Whether the 
 aiipoiutmeiit be from the Presicleut or the Postmaster-General, in the event of death, 
 the respousibility of the sureties will coutiuue for the tidelity of the persou left in 
 charge of the post-office, until a successor is appointed and qualified, and has taken 
 possession of the j)ost-office: and thej- or any oue of them may perform the duties of 
 postmaster until a successor is appoiuted and takes possession. The person i^erforming 
 such duties must, befoi-e entering on the discharge thereof, take the required oath. 
 
 Sec. 112. Renewal of Bond. — Whenever any of the sureties of a post- 
 master notify the Postmaster-General of their desire to be released froiu 
 their suretyship, or when the Postmaster- General deems a new bond 
 necessary, he shall require the postmaster to execute such new bond with 
 security. When accepted by the Postmaster-General, the new bond 
 shall be as valid as the bond given upon the original appointment of such 
 postmaster, aud the sureties in the j)rior bond shall be released from 
 re^^ponsibility for all acts or defaults of the postmaster which may be 
 done or committed subsequent to the last day of the quarter in which 
 such new bond shall be executed and accepted. (R. S., § 3837.) 
 
 For the security of the sureties bound in the previous obligation, the date of the 
 acceptance should be Indorsed on the bond ; yet the sureties to the new bond are 
 bound by the acceptance in fact of their bond by the Postmaster-General, and this 
 acceptance may be shown as any other fact is required to be. (4 Opin., 187 ; vide 
 Bank of U. S. vs. Dandridge, 12AVheat., 64.) 
 
 Sec. 113. Application of Sureties for Release, to Whom made. — The office of 
 
 the First Assistaut Postmaster-General being charged with the duty of examining and 
 recording the bonds of postmasters, all applications of sureties to be released from their 
 lia1>ility as sureties should be addressed to the First Assistant Postmaster-General. 
 
 Sec. 114. Changing Name of post-office Necessitates new Bond. — AVhenthe 
 
 Postmaster-General shall change the name of a post-office without a change of post- 
 master, the postmaster will be required to execute a new bond, and will be recommis- 
 sioned. The order changing the name will take elTect on the first day of the quarter 
 next succeeding the date of such new bond; but if a change is made both in the post- 
 master and the name of the post-office, the name designated by the Postmaster-General 
 will be used from the date upon which the new postmaster enters upon the discharge 
 of his duties. 
 
 Sec. 115. Sureties on Bonds, how Released. — If on the settlement of the 
 account of any postmaster it shall appear that he is indebted to the 
 United States, and suit therefor shall not be instituted within three 
 years after the close of sui-h account, the sureties on his bond shall not 
 be liable for such iudebteduess. (K. S., § 3838.) 
 
TITLE II ro.ST-OFFICES AND POSTMASTERS. 
 
 59 
 
 OHAPTEl^ TWO. 
 
 SALARIES OF POSTMASTERS AND EXPENDITURES AT POST-OFFICES. 
 
 111). S.ilarirs of i>ostm;i»tei'« at I'rcsiilriiliiil imst- 
 i.lH.-c's. 
 
 117. S;il;iiir.'< of f«iiir(li-clas8 ixistiiia.stcis. 
 
 1 18. Pcn-iltii's for false rctiiin.s. Unlawful salrs of 
 
 .stamps. 
 ll!». Iticniiial rfatl,jti.stiiu'iit of salaries. 
 r_'0. OnliTs aft'i'i'tiii-i .salafics to Uv ifpoitt'tl to 
 
 Auditor. 
 iL'l. AUinvanci' foiileiUsat sfiiaiatinn post-ortieo.s. 
 \'2'2. Limit of .snlarios. 
 
 1"J3. Application for i'ea(l,iu.stmcnt of salaries. 
 li'4. Allowauci-sfonk'iks anil iuiidcutal cxiienst'S. 
 ]2'>. Allciwiucos for extraoriliuarv business. 
 IL'G. Allowano-s to he tixfil bv order. 
 
 Sec. 
 l-JT. 
 V'H. 
 129. 
 
 130. 
 131. 
 I.'i2. 
 
 133. 
 
 134. 
 
 13.j. 
 
 .Vllowanres cannot exceed snn)lus re venues. 
 
 Ueceipts rciiuired foi' ])ay of clerks emidoyed. 
 
 Extra allowances to first and second cla.>*s 
 post-otfice.s. 
 
 Al)))ointMieut of clerks in jiost-ollices. 
 
 Roster of clerks, flieir duties and .salaries. 
 
 Salaries and ex])enses inay be deducted from 
 rocciiits. 
 
 Voucliers for deductions to lie sent to tlie 
 Auditor. 
 
 Ko postmaster to retain mcire than iiis sala- 
 ries, etc. 
 
 Compensation of iinstmastcrs jjro tetiipure. 
 
 Sec. 116. Salaries of Postmasters at Presidential Post-Offices. — TLe resi)oct- 
 ive compensation of postmasters of tbe first, second, and third classes 
 shall bcanimal salaries, assiyiied ineven hundreds of dollars, and ])ayable 
 ill ([uarterly i)ayinents, to l)e ascertained and tixcd by the rostiiia.ster- 
 General from their respective quarterly returns to the Auditor fof the 
 TreasiiryJ for the Post-OfRce Department, or co]nes or duplicates tlicreot, 
 for four (luarters immediately preceding- tlie adjustment or readjustment, 
 l)y adding- to an amount of the box-rents of the office received or esti- 
 mated not exceeding- thirteen hundred and fifty dollars when the boxes 
 are supplied and owned by the ])ostiiiaster, and two-thirds of the box- 
 rents, and not to exceed one thousand dollars, when the boxes are not 
 supplied and owned by the postmaster, commis.sions on ail the other 
 postal revenues of the office to an amount not exceeding thirteen hun- 
 dred and fifty dollars, at the following rates, namely: On the first one 
 liundred dollars per quarter, sixty per centum; on all over one hundred 
 dollars and not over three hundred dollars per cpiarter, fifty per centum ; 
 on all over tliree hundred dollars and not over seven liundred dollars ]ier 
 (juarter, forty ]>er centum ; and thirty per centum on all revenues ex- 
 ceeding- .seven hundred dollars per quarter, but the aggregate of the said 
 commis.sions not to exceed thirteen hundred and fifty dollars; and at 
 all otfiees where the total revenues exceed, respectively, four thousand 
 dollars jier annum, there shall be added to the compeii.sation heieiiibc- 
 fore i)i-o\ided from box-rents and commissions a percentage of the gross 
 revenues at the following rates, namely : One jier centum on all sums 
 over four thousand dollars and not exceeding- ten thousand dollars : nine- 
 tenths of one per centum on all sums over ten thousand dollars and not 
 exceeding twenty thousand dollars; eight-tenths of one i>er centum on 
 all sums over twenty tliou.saiid dollars and not exceeding forty thon.sand 
 dollars; six-tenths of one per centum on all sums over fiu-ty thousand 
 dollars and not exceedhig- eighty thousand dollars; five-tenths of one 
 
60 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 per eeiitnm on all sums over eighty thousand dollars and not exceeding- 
 one hundred and sixty thousand dollars ; four-tenths of one per centum on 
 all sums over one hundred and sixty thousand dollars and not exceeding- 
 three hundred and twenty thousand dollars ; three-tenths of one per 
 centum on all sums over tliree hundred and twenty thousand dollars and 
 not exceeding- six hundred and forty thousand dollars ; two-tenths of 
 one per centum on all sums over six hundred and forty thousand <lollars 
 and not exceeding one million two hundred and eighty thousand dollars; 
 and one-tenth of one per centum on all sums exceeding one million two 
 hundred and eighty thousand dollars ; and in order to ascertain the 
 amount of the i)ostal receipts of each office, the Postmaster-General may 
 require postmasters to furnish duplicates of their quarterly returns to 
 the Auditor at such times and for such periods as he may deem neces- 
 sary in each case : Provided^ That at oflices where the letter-caiTier sys- 
 tem is now, or may hereafter be, established, the box-rents, in fixing the 
 compensation of the respective postmasters at such offices, shall be es- 
 timated at not less than one thousand dollars per annum ; but at all 
 such offices where the comi)eusation is now four thousand dollars, they 
 shall be estimated at an amount which, Avith the commissious and per- 
 centages hereby allowed, will make the salaries of the postmasters thereat 
 not less than three thousand dollars. (Act July 12, 1870, § 7, 11) Stat., 
 p. 80.) 
 
 Sec. 117. Salaries of Fourth-Class Postmasters. — Tlie compensation of post 
 masters of the fourth class shall be the whole of the box -rents collected 
 at their offices and commissions upon the amount of the canceled postage- 
 clue stamps, provided for in sec. 270, on amounts received frimi waste- 
 l)aper, dead newspapers, printed matter, and twine sold, and on postage- 
 stamps, stamped envelopes, postal cards, and news])aper and periodical 
 stami)s canceled on matter actually mailed at their offices, at the follow- 
 ing rate, namely : On the first one hundred dollars or less pei' <piarter, 
 sixty per centum ; on all over one luiudred dollars and not over three 
 liundred dollars per quarter, fifty per centum ; and on all over three hun- 
 dred dollars per quarter, forty per centum ; the same to be ascertained 
 and allowed by the Auditor in the settlement of the accounts of such 
 postmasters, upon their sworn (piarterly returns : Provided^ Tliat Avhen 
 the compensation of any postmaster of this class shall reach one thou- 
 sand dollars per annum, exclusive of commissions on money -order busi- 
 ness, and when the returns to the Auditor for four quarters shall sliow 
 him to be entitled to a compensation in excess of that auu)unt under the 
 [preceding] section {necen of the act of JuJy ficeJftJt, eighteen hundred 
 and serenty-siv,) the Auditor shall report such fact to the Postmaster- 
 General, who shall assign him to his i)ro])er class, and fix his salary as 
 provided by said section : Provided fiirthfr, Tliat in no case shall there 
 be allowed to any postmaster of this class a comi)ensation greater than 
 two hundred and fifty dollars in any one «iuarter, exclusive of money. 
 
TlTl.i; II I'OSr-OFFICKS AND I'OST.MAS'I-KI.'S. () L 
 
 onlcr (Mniiiiiissiniis. ( Act .liiiic 17, 1S7S, I'O Stat., j). I IL', ami ad of .Manli 
 .•5, 1.S71), § -J(), LM» Stat., p. :'.<il.) 
 
 Soe sections L'7(>--!74. 
 
 Sec. 118. Penalties for False Returns, Unlawful Sales of Stamps, etc. — In 
 any case wlicri* the Postnuistt'i-dcncral shall be satislied that a jtost- 
 niaster has made a false return of business, it shall be within his dis- 
 cretion to withhold comniissions ou such returns, and to allow any 
 compensation that under the ciicumstances he may deem reasonabh*: 
 ProrifJal, That the form of aitidavit to be made by ])ostmasters ui)on 
 their returns shall be such as may be prescribed by the Postnia.ster- 
 (reneral ; and any ])ostinaster who sliall make a false return to the Audi- 
 tor, for the i)uri)ose of fraudulently incieasiiii;- his compensation under 
 the jyroAisions of this or any other act, shall be deemed guilty of a mi.s- 
 demeanor, and, on conviction thei-eof, shall be fined in a sum not less 
 than fifty nor nu)re than tive hundred dolhu's, <n' imjuisoue*! for a term 
 not exceeding one year, orpnnished by both such tine and imprisonment, 
 in the discretion of the court; and no postmaster of any class, or other 
 person connected with the postal service, intrusted with the sale or cus- 
 tody of postage-stamps, stamped envelopes, or x)ostal cards, shall use 
 or dispose of them in the payment of debts or in the purchase of mer- 
 chandise or other salable articles, or pledge or hyi)othecate the same, or 
 sell or dis])ose of them except for cash, or sell or dispose of ])ostage- 
 stami)S or postal cards for any larger or less sum than the values indi- 
 cated on their faces, or sell or dispose of stamped envelopes for a larger 
 or less sum tlum is charged therefor by the Post-Ottice Department for 
 like quantities, or sell or dispose of postage-stamps, stamped en\'eloi>es, 
 or postal cards otherwise than as provided by laAV and the regulations 
 of tlie Post-Ottice De]>artnient ; and any postmaster, or other i»erson 
 connected with the postal service, who shall violate any of these pro- 
 visions shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and, on conviction 
 thereof, sludl be lined in any sum not less than tifty nor more than tive 
 hundred dollars, or be imprisoned for a term not exceeding one year. 
 (Act June 17, 1878, 20 Stat., 142.) 
 
 Sec. 119. Biennial Readjustment of Salaries. — The salaries of i)ostmasters 
 of the first, second, and third classes shall be readjusted by the l\)st- 
 master-Cieneral once in two years, and in special cases, on the applica- 
 tion of the postmaster, as much oftener as the Postmaster-General may 
 deem expedient. (Act July 12, 1870, § 9, V.) Stat., p. 82.) 
 
 Sec. 120. Orders affecting Salaries to be Reported to the Auditor. — The 
 Po.stmaster-(leneral shall make all orders assigning or changing the 
 salaries of iiostmasters in writing, and record them in his joiu-nal, and 
 notify the change to tlu' Auditor; and any change made in such salaries 
 shall not take effect until the tirst day of the (puirter next following sucli 
 order : Provided^ That in cases of not less than fifty per centum increase 
 or decrease in the luisiness of any post-ofiice, the Postmaster-General 
 may adjust the salary of the postmaster at such ottice to take effect from 
 
62 POSTAL LAWS AND REGl'LATIONS. 
 
 thelirst dayof tbe quarter or period the returns IbrAvliieb foriii the basis 
 of readjustnieiit.* (Act July 12, 1S7G, § 10, 10 Stat., p. 82.) 
 
 Sec. 121. Allowance for Clerks at Separating Post-Offices. — The Post- 
 inaster-Cleueral may designate offices at the intersection of mail routes 
 as distributing or separating offices ; and where any such office is of the 
 third or fourth class, he nmy make a reasonalde allowance to the post- 
 master for the necessary cost of clerical services arising from such duties. 
 (Act of July 12, 1876, § 11, 19 Stat., p. 82.) 
 
 Sec. 123. Limit of Salaries. — Xo salary of any postmaster (»»r76'>-f/</.srtc-f) 
 shall exceed the sum of four thousand dollars per annum, except in the 
 city of Xew York, which salary shall remain as now fixed by law [to wit, 
 $8,000]; and no salary of any postmaster where the appointment is now 
 presidential shall l)e reduced by the compensation herein established 
 until the next readjustment below the sum of one thousand dollars i»cr 
 annum. (Act of July 12, 1870, § 12, 10 Stat., p. 82. 
 
 Sec. 123. Applications for Readjustment of Salaries. — Ai)i)lications for spe- 
 cial reailjiKstiiieiit of salary must be made to the First Assistjuit Postniaster-Geiieral, 
 aud must stiite fully the facts iipou whieh such apjilicatiou is based, and if found to 
 come Avithiu the rule prescrihed by the law, an order will be made readjusting the 
 salary of the ])ostmastei-. 
 
 Sec. 124. Allowance for Clerks and Incidental Expenses. — The Postmaster- 
 General may allow to the postmaster at New York City, and to the post- 
 masters at offices of the tirst and second classes, out of the suri»lus 
 revenues of their respective offices, that is to say, the excess of l)ox- 
 rents and comnnssions over and above the salary assigned to the office, 
 a reasonable sum for the necessary cost of rent, fuel, lights, furidture, 
 stationary, printing, clerks, and necessary incidentals to be adjusted on 
 a satisfactory exhibit of the facts, and no such allowance shall be made 
 except u]X)n the order of the Postmaster-General. (R. S., § 3800.) 
 
 Sec. 125. Allowances for Extraordinary Business. — Whenever unusual 
 business accrues at any post-office, the Postmaster-General shall make 
 a special order allowing reasonable com])ensation for clerical service, 
 and a proportionate increase of salary to the postmaster during the time 
 of such extraordinary business. (E. S., § 3803.) 
 
 Sec. 126. Allowances to be Fixed by Order. — Expenditures for clerk-hire, 
 
 rent, fuel, and light, in the case of the post-office at New York city, and of post-offices 
 of tlie lirst and second classes, will be tixed by an order, and shall remain until other- 
 wise ordered ; and other items of expense for furnitiu'c, stationery, &c., under this 
 section, in the ease of the same class of post-offices, must be made only under s])ecial 
 authority from the Post master-(;i'uei;il. 
 
 Sec. 127. Allowances cannot Exceed Surplus Revenue. — Allowances for ex- 
 
 jienses at first and second class post-offices are made out of the surplus revenue of the 
 post-office, that is to say, the excess of l)ox-rents and commissions over and above the 
 salary assigned to the post-office. And in no case will an allowance l>e nuide in excess 
 of such surplus revenue. 
 
 *The language of this section to the proviso is the same as the first sentence of sec- 
 tion 38.56 of the Revised Statutes. The remainder of that section reads as follows: 
 "]5ut incases of an extraordinary increase or decrease in the business of any jiost- 
 office, the Postuuister-(ieneral may adjust the salary of the postmaster at such jiost- 
 ottice, to take el'tect from the lirst day of the (juarter or period the returns for whicli 
 form the basis of readjustment.'' 
 
TITLE II rOST-OFFICES AND TOSTMASTKUS. G3 
 
 Sec. 128. Keceipts Required for Pay of Clerks employed. — Ai)[»li(';iti()ii for 
 
 allnwiincc! lor cltTk-liin; at sriciratiii;^ post-olHinis must he, niaih; to tlu' First A.s.sist- 
 ant PoHtiiiastcr-Gonnral. Such allowance tnust not be uiulor.stool as an increase of 
 the salary of tlu^ postmaster, but as a C(»mpeusatiou for clerical services arisiuj; from 
 the duties of rtopanitinj^ the mails for other post-otlice.s. Tiu^ amount of sncli clerk-hiro 
 will not be allowed by the Auditor unless the receipt of the persr)n employed as such 
 clerk shall accompany the (juartcrly account-current. 
 
 Sec. 129. Extra Allowances to first and second class Post-Offices. — lieiit, 
 
 li<llits, fuel, and stationery are allowed only to post-oHiccs of tlu; first and second 
 class. 
 
 Sec. 130. Appointment of Clerks in Post-OfRces. — Except as provided in 
 
 section 41:?, all clerks and em[)loyes in post-ofHces are ai)pointed by and are under 
 the direct supervisiou of the postmaster, and all postmasters are held responsible for 
 the acts oi" their subordinates. 
 
 Sec. 131. Roster of Clerks ; their Duties and Salaries. — The power will be 
 
 exercised by the Postmaster-GeneBal to tix the number and grades of clerks and their 
 compensation in all post-otlrtces where an allowance for clerk-hire is nniile. The post- 
 master at each post-otitice of the first .and second class must submit to the Firs* Assist- 
 ant Postmaster-General for approval tlie jilan of the organization of his [tf>8t-ofHce, with 
 a list of all the clerks and other persons employed, showing their respective compensa- 
 tions and the duties performed by each. The approval by the First Assistant Post- 
 master-General of this roster will bo necessary before any allowance for clerk-hire will 
 be made fm- the ensuing fiscal year. After the roster of clerks and other persons em- 
 ployed has once been approved at the Department the number or compensation of 
 those employed must not be changed without authority from the Department, and 
 l»ostm.asters must report all removals and new appointments as soon as made to the 
 First Assistant Postmaster-General. The rosters must be submitted annually, on the 
 first day of Jannary. 
 
 Sec. 132. Salaries and Expenses may be Deducted from Receipts. — The sal- 
 ary of a postmaster, and such other expenses of the postal service author- 
 ized by law as may be incurred by him, and for which ai)propriations 
 have been made, may be deducted out of the receipts of his office, under 
 the direction of the Postmaster-General. (R. S., § .3801.) 
 
 Sec. 133. Vouchers for Deductions to be sent to the Auditor. — Vouchers for 
 all deductions made hy a postmaster out of the receipts of his office, on 
 account of the expenses of the postal service, shall be submitted for ex- 
 amination and settlement to the {Sijcth) Auditor [of the Treasury for the 
 Post-Office Department], and no such reduction shall be valid unless 
 found to be in conformity with law. (R. S., § 3862.) 
 
 Sec. 134. No Postmaster to Retain more than his Salary, etc. — Xo i)OSt- 
 master shall, under any pretense whatever, have, receive, or retain for 
 himself, in the aggregate, more than the amount of his salary and his 
 commission on the money-order business as hereinafter provided. (R. S. , 
 § 3857.) See section 0G8. 
 
 Sec. 135. Compensation of Postmasters pro tern. — Any person performing 
 the duties of postmaster, by authority of the President, at any post-office 
 where there is Ji vacancy for any cause, shall receive for the term for 
 which the duty is performed the same compensation to which he would 
 have been entitled if regularly appointed and confirmed as such post- 
 master ; and all services heretofore rendered in like cases shall be i)aid 
 for under this provision. (Act of March 3, 1870, § 31, 20 Stat., p. 302.) 
 
64 
 
 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 CHAPTER THREE. 
 POSTAGE-STAMPS, STAMPED ENVELOPES, AND POSTAL CARDS. 
 
 Sec. 
 136. 
 137. 
 138. 
 139. 
 140, 
 141. 
 
 142. 
 
 144. 
 145. 
 146. 
 147. 
 
 148. 
 149. 
 150. 
 
 151. 
 152. 
 1.53. 
 
 154. 
 
 1.55. 
 156. 
 
 158. 
 159. 
 
 Postage-stamps for prepayment of postage. 
 
 Postage-stamps, denominations of. 
 
 Stamped-euvelopes to he provided. 
 
 Stamped-envelopes, of how many liinds. 
 
 Postal-cards to be provided. 
 
 Postal-cards for use in Postal Union corre- 
 spondence. 
 
 Exclusive issue of postal-cards by the De- 
 paitment. 
 
 Letter-sheets, envelopes, double-postal-cards, 
 etc. 
 
 Improvements in stamps and envelopes. 
 
 Sale of stamps at post-offlces. 
 
 Postmasteis to keep a supply of stamps. 
 
 Eequisitions for stamp.s, etc. ; how to be 
 made. 
 
 Eequisitions, -when to be made. 
 
 Kequisitions for special-rcqnest-envelopes. 
 
 Postmasters not supplied with stamps until 
 commissioned. 
 
 Postmasters to count supplies when received. 
 
 Damaged supplies, how to be treated. 
 
 Mistakes in printing special-request-envel- 
 opes. 
 
 Postmaster to charge himself with stamps, 
 etc. 
 
 Ko quarterly returns, no stamps. 
 
 Postage-due-stamps ; newspaper and periodi- 
 cal-stamps. 
 
 Moneys received for sale of .stamps, how jiaid 
 over. 
 
 Postage-due-stamps, how used, etc. 
 
 Newspaper and periodical stamps, how used. 
 
 Sec. 
 
 160. "When supplies exhausted, how to proceed. 
 
 161. Postmasters to report postage collected from 
 
 publishei-s. 
 
 162. Monthly report of supplies by postmasters 
 
 at presidential „fflces. 
 
 163. Postmaster to turn over supplies to succes- 
 
 sor. 
 
 164. Discontinued post-office ; disposition of .sup. 
 
 plies. 
 
 165. No percentage to postmasters for sale of 
 
 stamps, etc. 
 
 166. Hates governing sale of stamps, etc. 
 
 167. Affidavit claiming credit for stamps de- 
 
 stroyed. 
 
 168. No credit allowed where post-office is robbed 
 
 of stamps. 
 
 169. Exchange of postage-stamps prohibited. 
 
 170. Postage on spoiled stamped envelopes, when 
 
 refunded, etc. 
 
 171. Postal cards, when spoiled, to be redeemed. 
 
 172. Stamps, etc., redeemed, to be sent to Depart- 
 
 ment with letter. 
 
 173. Postmasters held to strict accountability for 
 
 stamps. 
 
 174. Stamped envelopes, etc., to be .sold at cost. 
 
 175. Postage-stamps sold at discount to designated 
 
 agents. 
 
 S^p" For provisions respecting cancellation of 
 
 stamps, see Chapter nine, Title II. 
 i^^ For provisions respecting misuse of stamps, 
 
 see Title IX. 
 
 Sec. 136. Postage-stamps for Prepayment of Postage. — The Postmaster- 
 Geiieral shall prepare postage- stami)s of suitable denominations, which, 
 when attached to mail-matter, shall be evidence of the payment of the 
 postage thereon. (E. S., § 3914.) 
 
 Sec. 137. Postage-stamps, Denominations of — Of postage-stamps, three 
 kiuds, eacli consisting of various denominations, are provided, viz: Ordinary stamps, 
 wliicli arc used to prepay postage on ordinary mail-matter of the first, third, and 
 fourth classes; postage-dnc stamps, wlucli are used for the collection of unpaid post- 
 nge ; and newspaper and i)erio(lical stamps, which are used to pay jio.stage on second- 
 class matter. 
 
 Sec. 138. Stamped-envelopes to be Provided. — The Postmaster-General 
 shall provide suitable letter and newspaper envelopes, with such water- 
 marks or other guards against counterfeits as lie may deem expedient, 
 and with ])ostagc-stamps with sucli device and of such suitable denomi- 
 nations as he may direct impressed thereon; and such envelopes shall 
 be known as "stamped envelopes," and shall be sold, as nearly as may 
 be, at the cost of procuring them, with the addition of the value of the 
 postage-stamps impressed thereon ; but no stamped envelope furnished 
 
TITLE II rOST-OFFICES AND TOSTM ASTERS. 65 
 
 by tbc Government shall contain any litlio;4iai»liing or en;,'raving, nor 
 any printin.u' excei)t a printed request to return the letter to the writer. 
 Letters and papers inclosed in such stamped envelop«'s shall, if the 
 l)0sta^e-stamp is of a denomination suHicient to cover the ijostage 
 properly charj^^eable thereon, pass in the mail as i)repaid matter. [Th^ 
 Postmaster-Creneral shall cause to be prepared a special stamp or 
 stamped envelope, to be used only for otticial mail-matter, for each of 
 the Executive Departments; aiul said stamps and stamped envelopes 
 shall be supplied by the projier officer of said Departments to all per- 
 sons under its direction requiring the same for official use; and all 
 ap])ropriations for postage made prior to March third, eighteen hundred 
 and seventy-three, shall no longer be available for said purpose ; and all 
 stanq^s and stamped envelopes shall be sold or furnished to said several 
 Departnu'nts or clerks onlj' at the price for Avhich stamps and stauq)ed 
 envelopes of like value are sold at the several post-offices.] (K. S., § 3915.) 
 
 See sections 24:9-2r)l. 
 
 Sec. 139. Stamped-envelopes, of how many Kinds. — Of stamiied-envelopes, 
 
 two kinils, oacli consisting of various sizes, qualities, an<l denominatious, are provide<l, 
 viz: Ordinary, -wliich may be either plain or bear a blank request to return; aud 
 special-reciuest, wliicli bear a printed request for the return of unclaimc<l letters, with 
 the name and post-office address printed in full, aud which are furnished by the De- 
 partment without extra charge for such printing. 
 
 Sec. 140. Postal-cards to be Provided. — To facilitate letter correspond- 
 ence, and to ])rovi(le for the transmission in the mails, at a reduced rate 
 of postage, of messages, orders, notices, and other short communica- 
 tions, either printed or written in pencil or ink, the Postmaster-General 
 is authorized and directed to furnish and issue to the public, with post- 
 age-stamps impressed upon them, "postal cards," manufactured of good 
 stiff paper, of such quality, form, and size as he shall deem best adapted 
 for general use; which cards shall be used as a means of postal inter- 
 course, under rules and regulations to be prescribed by the Postnutster- 
 General, and when so used shall be transmitted through the mails at a 
 postage charge of one cent each, including the cost of their mauufac- 
 tm-e. (E. S., § 3910.) 
 
 Sec. 141. Postal-cards for use in Postal Union correspondence. — The Post- 
 master-General is hereby authorized to furnish and issue to the public 
 l)OStal cards with j)ostage-stamps impressed upon them, for circulation 
 in the mails exchanged with foreign countries under the provisions of 
 the Universal Postal Union Convention of June first, eighteen hundred 
 and seventy eight, at a postage charge of two cents each, including the 
 cost of their manufitcture. (Act of March 3, 1879, § 1, 20 Stat., p. 357.) 
 
 Sec. 142. Exclusive issue of Postal-cards by the Department. — Postal-cards 
 
 are issued exclusively by the Department. Cards issued by private parties, which con- 
 tain any written matter having the nature of personal correspondence other than the 
 address cannot be passed through the mails at less than letter postage, as they are not 
 "postal-cards'' within the meaning of the laAV. See sections 181, S",}?. 
 
 Sec. 143. Letter-sheet Envelopes, double Postal-cards, etc. — The Postmas- 
 ter-General is hereby authorized to take the necessary steps to introduce 
 5 p L 
 
66 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 and farnisli for public use a letter-sheet envelope, on which postage- 
 stamps of the denominations now in use on ordinary envelopes shall be 
 placed. And the Postmaster- General is also authorized to introduce 
 and furnish for public use a double postal card, on which shall be 
 placed two one-cent stamps, and said card to be so arranged for the 
 address that it may be forwarded and returned, said cards to be sold for 
 two cents apiece ; and also to introduce and furnish for public use a 
 double-letter envelope, on which stami)s of the denominations now in 
 use may be placed, and with the arrangement for the address similar to 
 the double postal card ; said letter-sheet and double postal card and 
 double envelope to be issued under such regulations as the Postmaster- 
 Greneral may prescribe. No money shall be paid for royalty or patent 
 on any of the articles named. (Act of March 3, 1879, § 32, 20 Stat., p. 
 362.) 
 
 Sec. 144. Improvements in Stamps and Envelopes. — The Postmaster-Gen- 
 eral may, from time to time, adopt such improvements in postage-stamps 
 and stamped envelopes as he may deem advisable ; and when any such 
 improvement is adopted it shall be subject to all the provisions herein 
 respecting postage-stamps or stamj^ed envelopes. (R. S., § 3017.) 
 
 Sec. 145. Sale of Stamps at Post-Offices. — Postage-stam])s and stamped 
 envelopes shall be furnished by the Postmaster-General to all postmas- 
 ters, and shall be kept for sale at all post-ofi&ces ; and each postmaster 
 shall be held accountable for all such stamps and envelopes furnished 
 to him. (R. S., § 3918.) 
 
 Sec. 146. Postmasters to keep a Supply of Stamps. — Stamps, stamped-en- 
 
 velopes, newspaper-wrappers, and postal-cards are furnished only to postmasters for 
 sale. Postmasters who fail to supplj' themselves from the Department must purchase 
 temporary supplies from the nearest post-offlces. They are not required to render to 
 the Department an account of such purchases. 
 
 Sec. 147. Requisitions for Stamps, etc., how to be Made. — Requisitions for 
 
 postage-stamps, stamped-envelopes, newspaper-wrappers, postal-cards, and official 
 penalty-envelopes are required to be made upon printed forms furnished by the First 
 Assistant Postmaster-General, Blank Agency. Care must he taken to iill out the blank 
 form with the name of the post-office, county, and State, the date of the order, the 
 number and amount of each of the several descriptions wanted, the numV)er and 
 amount of each on hand, together with the average monthly requiremeut. The re- 
 quisition must be signed by the postmaster liimself, unless he be sick or necessarily 
 absent, when it may be signed by the assistant or deputy, who will write the post- 
 master's name above his own. Requisitions when thus completed, must be forwarded 
 to the Third Assistant Postmaster-General. 
 
 Sec. 148. Requisitions, when to be Made. — Postmasters are expected to 
 
 keep themselves fully supplied with such stamps, stamped-envelopes, newsjiapcr- 
 wr.ippere, postal-cards, and official pen.alty-envelopes as are needed at their post- 
 offices, and generally to order in such (luautities as, on a careful estimate, maybe 
 deemed a sufficient supply for three montlis from the date of the order. They are not 
 required to make their requisitions at any particular period during the t^uarter, but 
 should order Avheuever tlieir supjtlics sire ;ib(>ut to become exhausted. 
 
 Sec. 149. Requisitions for Special-Request Envelopes. — Ro(]nisitions for 
 
 special-recpiest enveloi)es must be made by ])ostmasters immediately u]ion receiving 
 orders from parties wauting them, at whatever time in the quarter it may be, and if 
 
TITLE II POST-OFFICES AND POSTMASTERS. G7 
 
 possible shonUl always ho accompauiod hy a printed card showing the matter disireil 
 to be printed. No order is to be taken on eredit, except at the postrausti-r's own 
 risk, and in no case for less than five hundred of any specified deuouiiuation to bear 
 the same piintin^j. 
 
 Sec. 150. Postmasters not Supplied with Stamps until Commissioned. — No 
 
 postmaster will be supplied with srumjts, stamjied-euvtMopes, and jxistal-cards until 
 liis bond and oath of ottiee shall have ))eeu placed on file, and his commission duly 
 issued. 
 
 Sec. 151. Postmasters to Count Supplies when Received. — Upon receiving 
 .supplies of postage-stamps, stamped-euvclopes, newspaper-wrappers, or jiostal-cards, 
 postmasters are recpiired to open ami count them in the presence of a disinterested wit- 
 ness, to date and sign the receipt, and transmit the same to the Third Assistant Post- 
 master-General. In case of any deficiency, the attidavit of the jiostmaster and that of 
 the witness, stating the amount of such deficiency, with all the facts in the case, will 
 be necessary in order to obtain credit theiefor; and in every such case the wrapper, 
 label, and box, or wooden case in which the supplies were sent, should also be re- 
 turned and a record kept of the number, date, address, and all other marks on the 
 same. Receipts nntst be signed in the same manner as requisitions. 
 
 Sec. 152. Damaged Supplies, how to he Treated. — If any portion of a par- 
 cel be damaged, the i)0st master will sign the receipt fur the whole amount of the 
 l)arcel, and having written across the face of the receipt the number and amount of 
 stamps, envelopes, wrappers, or cards unfit for use, he will return the same, together 
 with the receipt, to the Third Assistant Postmaster-General, who will give credit for 
 the amount returned. But if the damage be total, the entire number should be re- 
 turned, with the receipt not signed, in order that others may be sent in their place. 
 The package must be registered, and the postmaster must also be able to prove the 
 act of mailing by a disinterested witness. Postmasters fiailing to register such pack- 
 ages will not receive credit for the amount alleged to have been returned, in case the 
 same fails to reach the Department. 
 
 Sec. 153. Mistakes in Printing Special-Request Envelopes. — Special-re- 
 quest envelopes, which may be refused by the parties ordering them, on account of 
 misprinting or other mistake, .should be returned registered to the Third Assistant 
 Postmaster-Geiieral. If the mistake has occurred through the fault of the Depart- 
 ment, credit for the full value of the envelopes will be given in the po.stmaster"s ac- 
 count, and the requisition will be refilled; if otherwise, credit for the postage value 
 only of the envelopes will be given, and the postmaster should forward a new and 
 con-ect requisition. In no case should a postmaster endeavor to dispose of special- 
 recpiest envelopes to any other party than the one for whose use they were ordered. 
 
 Sec. 154. Postmaster to Charge himself with Stamps, etc. — Every po.st- 
 master will, at the eud of each quarter, charge himself in his quarterly account-cur- 
 rent with the amount of such stamps, stamped-envelopes, newspaper-%vrappers. and 
 l)Ostal-cards as remained on hand at the close of the preceding quarter, or (if he has 
 entered into office during the quarter) with the amount of such articles received 
 from his predecessor, adding thereto the amounts received from the Department dur- 
 ing the quarter just ended, and deducting the amount then remaining on hand, 
 together with the amount of damaged stamps, enveloi)es, or cai"ds returned for credit. 
 The balance of the account thus stated will represent the amount sold, which must 
 be added on the debit side of the quarterly account-current to the amounts due from 
 other sources. 
 
 Sec. 155. No quarterly Returns, no Stamps. — Po.stmaster.s who have failed 
 to duly render their (quarterly returns to the Auditor will not be sui)i)lied with post- 
 age-stamps, stamped-envelojies, newspaper-wrappers, or postal-cards until the delin- 
 quency has been con-ected. 
 
 Sec. 156. Postage-due-stamps; newspaper and periodical -stamps. — The 
 
68 POSTAL LAWS AND EEGULATIONS. 
 
 postage-diie-stamps, the newspaper and periodical-stamps, and the special-reqnest en- 
 velopes, will all be accounted for in the same manner and together with the ordinary 
 stamps, stamped-envelopes, newspaper- wrappers, and postal-cards. 
 
 Sec. 157. Moneys received for sale of Stamps, how Paid over. — Postmasters 
 
 receiving postage-stamps, stamped-envelopes, newspaper- wrappers, and postal-cards 
 from the Department for sale, will pay over the money by them received for snch as 
 may be sold, together with other moneys that may be due the Department at the times 
 and in the manner required by their special instructions. Inclosing money to the De- 
 partment to pay for stamps, stamped-envelopes, newspaper-wrappers, and postal-cards 
 is prohibited. 
 
 Sec. 158. Postage-due-stamps, how used, etc. — Postage-dne-stamps are to 
 
 be us(m1 for matter of the first, third, and fourth classes which has passed through the 
 mails and arrived at destination with the postage partly or wholly unpaid. The gen- 
 eral manner of using these stamps, and the course to be pursued by postmasters, at 
 post-offices of free delivery only, for obtaining credit for such as may be attached to 
 matter of which no delivery can be made, is fully explained in sections 270-274. 
 
 Sec. 159. Newspaper and Periodical-stamps, how used. — Newspaper and 
 
 periodical-stamps are to be used only for the payment of postage on newspaper and 
 periodical pviblications, mailed from a known office of publication or news agency to 
 regular sulxscribers or news agents, known as second-class matter. All matter of this 
 kind intended to be mailed must be brought to the post-office of mailing, Avhere it 
 will be weighed in bulk, and the postage prepaid, according to the weight of the mat- 
 ter to be mailed, l)y the newspaper and periodical stamps. Ordinary postage-stamps 
 cannot be used for such matter, nor can the newsijaper and iieriodical stamps be iised 
 for any other purpose. After weighing the mail matter thus received, and immedi- 
 ately collecting the proper amount of postage thereon, the postmaster will give a re- 
 ceipt to the party mailing from a book of forms to be furnished by the Department. 
 The stamps will then be affixed to the stub of the receipt, and at once effectually can- 
 celed. Stamps so used must be accounted for as sold. The stub-books are to be kept 
 permanently in the post-office, ready to be produced whenever demanded by the De- 
 partment. The stamps attached thereto must never be removed, nor the books dis- 
 posed of otherwise than as directed by the Department. Postmastei's should never 
 neglect to attach to the stub-book the necessary amount to cover all iJostage collected 
 ou newspaper and periodical matter. Failure to attach stamps to the stub-book will 
 subject the oftending postmaster to the penalty provided by law for embezzlement. 
 
 Sec. 160. When supply Exhausted how to Proceed. — Should the supply 
 
 of newspaper and jjeriodical stamps at any time become exhausted, the postage on 
 newspaper and periodical matter should be collected in money, and the necessary 
 stamps afterwards attached when they are obtained from the Department. This 
 course should also be iiursued in the case of postmasters at whose post-offices such 
 uuitter is mailed for the first time. In either case, however, no delay should be made 
 in ordering a full sup]>ly of stamps. 
 
 Sec. 161. Postmasters to report Postage collected from Publishers, etc. — 
 
 Postmasters will be required to render promptly to the Third Assistant Postmaster- 
 Gener.al, at the close of each quarter, on lilanks furnished for the purpose, a statement 
 of postage collected from each publisher and news-agent during the whole quarter. 
 In rendering his first statement a new postnuister will state, separately, the amount 
 collected by himself and that collected by his predecessor in the same quarter, giving 
 the exiict date, also, when the change of postmasters took effect. 
 
 Sec. 162. Monthly reports by Postmasters at Presidential Post-Offices. — 
 
 Postmasters at x)ost-(>ffices of the first, second, and third classes are reiiuired to make 
 monthly reports to the Third Assistant Postnuister-General of the auumnts of postage* 
 stam])s, stamped-t^nvelopes, newsx)ai)er-wra)tp('rs, and postal-cards received from the 
 Department, the amount sold, and that remaiuing on hand at the close of the mouth. 
 
TITLE II POST-OFFICES AND POSTMASTERS. 69 
 
 Blanks for this lunposo will Ijc supplied by the First Assistant Postmaster-Geueral, 
 
 Blank A;x<""<>'. 
 
 Sec. 163. Postmaster to turn over Supplies to Successor. — Upon surrender- 
 ing a i)ost-()llieo to his siicit'ssor, tin; late postnnister, or his rt'prcscntative, will turn 
 over to such successor all the stamps, stamped envelopes, newspaper-wrai»i)ers, jiostal- 
 eanls, then on hand, take duplicate receipts for the same, and transmit the ori;(inaI 
 forthwith to the Auditor, that the account of the late postmaster may be credited ac- 
 cordiujfly. These stamps, envelopes, wrappers, and cards must not be sent to the 
 Department, but should be retained for sale by the postmaster, who will charjie him- 
 self with the amount in the quarterly account-current. In such receipt will also 
 be included all postajicc-due stamps that may, at free delivery post-offices only, be at- 
 tached to matter not delivered to the parties to whom the matter belongs. 
 
 Sec. 164. Discontinued post-ofl5ce, Disposition of Supplies. — If a post-office 
 
 lie (liseoutiuued, the postuiastev will deliver all stamiis, staniped-envelopes, news 
 l>aper-wrappers, and postal-cards to the postmaster to whom he is directed to deliver 
 the other post-office property, and will take duplicate receipts, one of which he will 
 transmit to the Auditor as above. 
 
 Sec. 165. No percentage to Postmasters for Sale of Stamps, etc. — The law 
 
 allows uo compensation to postmasters for the sale of postage-stamps, stamped-eu- 
 velopes, newspaper-wrappers, or postal-cards. 
 
 Sec. 166. Rules governing Sale of Stamps, etc. — Stamps, envelopes, ^Tap- 
 pers, and cards are to be sold only for cash at the prices stated in the receipt which is 
 sent with them to each post-office. In making sales of envelopes and wrappers post- 
 masters are expected to evince a due spirit of accommodation, but they are not re- 
 quired to lose the fraction of a cent iu selling small quantities ; and if a postmaster 
 cannot readily make change, the purchaser must tender the exact amount for the 
 number wanted. 
 
 Sec. 167. Affidavit claiming Credit for Stamps Destroyed. — ^Vlieuever a 
 postmaster claims credit for postage-stamps, stamped- envelopes, newspaper- wrappers, 
 or postal-cards alleged to have been lost iu the mails, burnt or otherwise destroyed, 
 his own affidavit, stating the circumstauces and amount of loss, together with all the 
 other proof which in the particular case he can produce, is required to be forwai'ded 
 to the Third Assistant Postmaster-Geueral. Ui)on the receiiit of such affidavit and 
 additional testimony, which should be sent with the least possible delay, the claim 
 will be duly considered. 
 
 Sec. 168. No credit allowed where Post-office is Robbed of Stamps. — Credit 
 
 will not be allowed in cases where post-offices have been robbed of stamps or stamped- 
 envelopes, newsjiaper-wrappers, or postal-cards. In an ojiiniou of a former Attorney- 
 General the following occurs : "If the stamps should be stolen or lost, and get into 
 the hands of those who may use them, and thus deprive the government of so much 
 revenue, the postmaster should be held for them. One who has the custody of public 
 uidney or property, and is paid for taking care of it, cannot get rid of his resi>onsi- 
 bility by showing a theft or accidental loss. He is an insurer of its safety against al 
 perils of that kind." 
 
 Sec. 169. Exchange of Postage-stamps Prohibited. — The exchange of post- 
 age-stamps or stamped-envelopes for those of other denominations to accommodate 
 private parties is prohibited. Postmasters will not be permitted to return to the De- 
 partment unserviceable stamps or stamped-euvelopes that may be acquiied in this 
 way. 
 
 Sec. 170. Postage on Spoiled Stamped-envelopes, etc., when Refunded. — The 
 
 amount of the postage only on stamped envelopes and newspaper-wrappers spoiled 
 in directing may be refunded iu stamps or stamiJed envelopes by a postmaster if satis- 
 fied that they have never been used, and that the misdirection occurred at the place 
 
70 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 ■where tlie rcflemptiou is claimed ; also, i>rovitlcd that such envelopes and wraiijpers 
 shall be jireseuted iu a whole condition. In no case is an envelope or wrapper to he 
 redeemed at the post-office to which it is directed, except iu the case of envelopes for 
 drop-letters, which are to be redeemed upon the foregoiug conditions. 
 
 Sec. 171. Postal-cards when Spoiled to be Redeemed. — Postmasters may 
 
 also redeem in stamps or stamped envelopes such postal-cards as have been spoiled iu 
 lirintiug or by other causes, and have never been used, at the rate of four cents iu 
 stamps or stamped-euvelopes for every five cards in whatever quantities presented. 
 
 Sec. 172. Stamps, etc., redeemed to be sent to Department with letter. — 
 Stamped-euvelopes, newspaper- wrappers, and postal-cards redeemed under the two 
 foregoing sections must be sent with a special letter to the Third Assistant Postmas- 
 ter-General, stating the number and amount. The package must be registered, and 
 the postmaster must be able to prove the act of mailing by a disinterested witness. 
 Postmasters failing to register such packages will not receive credit for the amount 
 alleged to have been returned, iu case the same fails to reach the Department. A 
 postmaster need not return sjioiled envelopes or wrappers to the Department oftener 
 than once in each quarter. 
 
 Sec. 173. Postmasters held to strict Accountability for Stamps, etc. — Post- 
 masters Avill be held to a strict accountability for all iiackages of i)ostage-stamps, 
 .stamped-euvelopes, newspaper-wrappers, and postal-cards passing through their 
 hands : and the value of any package that may be lost or stolen while in transit will be 
 charged to the postmaster through whose fault the loss or robbery occurred. Con- 
 cerning the treatment of registered packages of i)ostage-stami)8, stamped envelopes, 
 and j)ostal cards arriving at or in transit to post-offices reference is made to Title V, 
 Till' mgl^fri/ System of the United States. 
 
 Sec. 174. Stamped envelopes, etc., to be sold at cost. — Xo stami)ed envel- 
 opes or newspaper- wrappers shall be sold by the Post-Office Department 
 at less (ill addition to the legal postage) tlian the cost, including all 
 salaries, clerk hire, and other expenses connected there Avith.* (Act of 
 July 12, 1876, § 14, 19 Stat., p. b2.) 
 
 Sec. 175. Postage-stamps sold at Discount to designated Agents. — Postage- 
 stamjis and stamped envelopes may be sold at discount to certain desig- 
 nated agents, who will agree to sell again without discount, under rules 
 to be prescribed by the Postmaster- General ; but the quantities of each 
 sold to any one agent at one time shall not exceed one hundred dollars 
 in value, and the discount shall not exceed tive per centum on the face 
 value of the stamps, nor the same per centum on the current inice of the 
 envelopes when sold in less quantities. (R. S., § 3919.) 
 
 * Section 3920 R. S., not specifically repealed by section 174, is as follows: • 
 
 Postage-stamps shall not be sold for any larger sum than the value indicated ou 
 tlieir face, nor stauqicd envelopes for more th.an is charged therefor by the Post-Office 
 Department for like quantities. Any person connected with the postal service who 
 .sluUl violate this provision shall be punishable by a fine of not less than ten dollars 
 nor more than five hundred. 
 
TITLE II POST-OFFICES AND POSTMASTERS. 
 
 71 
 
 CHAPTER FOUR. 
 
 CLASSIFICATION OF DOMESTIC MAIL-MATTER AND RATES OF 
 
 POSTAGE THEREON. 
 
 Soo. 
 
 17(5. Mnil-niiittey divided into four classes. 
 
 177. First-tlas.s luiittei- detiiifd. 
 
 178. Po.stage on ftrst-class matter. 
 
 179. SoMiiTs', sailors', aud mariues' unpaid letters 
 
 forward I'd. 
 
 180. Prepayinciit required on officers' letters. 
 
 181. Posta-ic on delivered postal cards rei)osted. 
 
 182. Otlier tlian firstela.ss matter must be opeu to 
 
 examination. 
 
 183. Sealed packages, etc., to pay letter-rates. 
 
 184. Second-cla.ss matter defined. 
 
 185. Essential characteristics of second-class mat- 
 
 ter. 
 
 186. A known ofHce of publication defined. 
 
 187. Advertising-sheets defined. 
 
 188. Decision upon doubtful publications. 
 
 189. Postmaster's record of second-class publica- 
 
 tions. 
 
 190. Postage on .second-class matter. 
 
 191. "Weighing of second-class matter. 
 
 192. ^Manner of prepaying second-class matter. 
 
 193. Kegular subscribers defined. 
 
 194. Evidence of subscription -list may be required. 
 
 195. Sample copies at second-class rates. 
 
 196. Admission of new publications to second-class 
 
 rates. 
 
 197. Penalty for submitting false evidence as to a 
 
 publication. 
 
 198. Postmasters to report the submission of false 
 
 evidence. 
 
 199. Entry of second-class publications. 
 
 200. News-agents applying for second-class rates. 
 
 201. Evidence required of news-agents. 
 
 202. News-agents defined. 
 
 203. Samjjle copies defined. 
 
 204. Extra iiuiubers not sample copies. 
 
 205. Sample cojdes to be mailed .separately. 
 
 206. Supplements admitted as second-class matter. 
 
 207. Definition of supplements. 
 
 208. Handbill.s and posters not supplements. 
 
 209. E.Kamiuation of second-class matter. 
 
 210. Prohibited advertisements in second-class 
 
 matter. 
 
 211. Detention of suspected second-class matter. 
 
 212. Foreign publications admitted as second-class 
 
 matter. 
 
 213. Examination of foreign publication.s. 
 
 214. Infringement of copyright by foreign publica- 
 
 tion. 
 
 215. Third-class matter and postage thereon. 
 
 216. Proof-sheets defined. 
 
 217. Circulars defined. 
 
 218. Postage on circulars mailed in bulk for post- 
 
 masters to distribute. 
 
 vSec. 
 
 219. Printed matter defined. 
 
 220. Manifolding and type- writing not printing. 
 
 221. Fonrtli-class matter defined. 
 
 222. Unmailable matter. 
 
 223. Precautions against injury to the mails. 
 
 224. Postmasters responsible for admission of im- 
 
 l)roper matter. 
 
 225. Obscene matter prohibited in the mails. 
 
 226. Lottery-circulars iirohibited in tlie niail.s. 
 
 227. Lottery advertisements in second-class mat- 
 
 ter. 
 
 228. Postmasters responsible for admission of ob 
 
 scene matter in the mails. 
 
 229. Postage on fourth-class matter. 
 
 230. Treatment of unmailable matter reaching its 
 
 destination. 
 
 231. Permissible additions to other than first-class 
 
 matter. 
 
 232. Personal correspondence negatively defined. 
 
 233. Letter-postage and i)enalty for prohibited 
 
 writing or printing. 
 
 234. Form of bills accompanying second-class mat- 
 
 ter. 
 
 235. Newspapers to be wrapped and sufficiently 
 
 dried. 
 
 236. Manner of presenting second-class m.atter for 
 
 mailing. 
 
 237. Manner of presenting third-class matter for 
 
 mailing. 
 
 238. "What a jiackago of third-class matter may 
 
 contain. 
 
 239. Free county publications. 
 
 240. Postage on second-class matter at free-deliv- 
 
 ery offices. 
 
 241. Second-class matter at free-delivery offices, 
 
 how separated. 
 
 242. Free county publications must be mailed by 
 
 themselves. 
 
 243. Publications with offices in two counties free 
 
 in neitlier. 
 
 244. Sample copies of free county imblications sub- 
 
 ject to postage. 
 
 245. Congressional documents free of postage. 
 
 246. Congressional Record and extracts therefrom 
 
 free. 
 
 247. Steeds and Eeports from Agricultural Depart- 
 
 ment free. 
 
 248. Reraailing of Congressional documents after 
 
 cue delivery. 
 
 249. Letters, etc.. on government business free. 
 2.">0. Penalty-envelopes for otficial matter. 
 
 251. Extension of two preceding sections. 
 
 {^"For classification of matter addressed to for 
 eign countries, see Title VII. 
 
72 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 Sec. 176. Mail-matter Divided into four Classes. — Mail-matter sliall be 
 divided into four classes : 
 
 First. Written matter. 
 
 Second. Periodical publications. 
 
 Third. Miscellaneous printed matter. 
 
 Fourth. Merchandise. (Act March 3, 1879, § 7, 20 Stat., p. 353.) 
 
 Sec. 177. First-class Matter. — Mailable matter of the first class shall 
 embrace letters, postal cards, and all matter wholly or partially in writ- 
 ing, except as hereinafter provided. (Act March 3, 1871), § 8, 20 Stat., 
 p. 358.) 
 
 See sections 231 and 232. 
 
 Sec. 178. Postage on first-class Matter. — On mailable matter of the first 
 class, except postal cards and drop-letters, postage shall be prepaid at 
 the rate of three cents for each half ounce or fraction thereof; postal 
 cards shall be transmitted through the mails at a postage charge of one 
 cent each, including the cost of manufacture ; and drop-letters shall be 
 mailed at the rate of two cents per half ounce or fraction thereof, includ- 
 ing delivery at letter-carrier offices, and one cent for each half ounce or 
 fraction thereof where free delivery by carrier is not established. The 
 Postmaster-General may, however, provide, by regulation, for transmit- 
 ting unpaid and duly certified letters of soldiers, sailors, and marines in 
 the service of the United States to their destination, to be paid on de- 
 livery. (Act March 3, 1879, § 9, 20 Stat, p. 358.) 
 
 Sec. 179. Soldiers', sailors', and marines' unpaid Letters Forwarded. — Let- 
 ters written by uoii-commissioiied officers aud privates in the military service, or iu the 
 naval service (embracing the Marine Corps), on which the postage is not prepaid, must 
 be plainly marked on the outside, over the address, "Soldier's letter," " Sailor's let- 
 ter," or "Marine's letter" (as the case may be), and this certificate signed with his 
 official designation by a field or staff officer of the regiment to which the soldier be- 
 longs, or \)y the officer in command of his detachment or of the post, or by a surgeon 
 or chaplain at a hospital. In the Navy or Marine Corjis, the certificate must be signed 
 l)y the officer in command of the vessel, or bj- a chaplain or surgeon on board, or by the 
 officer commanding a detachment of marines on shore. All unpaid letters of soldiers, 
 sailors, or marines, duly certified, must be forwarded to their destination charged with 
 the amounts of postage due at single rates only, to be collected on delivery. 
 
 Sec. 180. Prepayment required on Ofiicers' Letters. — Letters written by 
 
 commission('<l officers in the military, naval, or marine service cannot be certified as 
 letters of soldiers, sailors, or marines. 
 
 Sec. 181. Postage on Delivered Postal-Cards Eeposted. — When a postal-card 
 
 has once been delivered to the person to whom it is addressed it loses its character as 
 a postal-card ; and if it is ofterod for mailing again it must be prepaid either .at letter 
 or third class r.ates, as indicated by the nature of the printing or writing thereon. 
 
 Sec. 182. Other than first-class Matter must be open to Examination. — The 
 Postmaster-General may prescribe, by regulation, the manner of wrap- 
 ping and securing for the mails all i)ackagos of matter not charged with 
 first-class postage, so that the contents of such packages may be easily 
 examined ; and no package the contents of which cannot be easily exam- 
 ined shall pass in the mails or bo delivered at less rate than for matter 
 of the first class. (Act of March 3, 1879, § 24, 20 Stat., p. 3G1.) 
 
TITLE II rOST-OFFICES AND POSTMASTERS. 73 
 
 Sec. 183. Sealed Packages, etc., to pay Letter Rates. — Wlieiievor any pack- 
 
 .a<^c offerod for iiiailiiij; to any point within the United States is sealed or otherwise 
 closed afjain.st inspection, or contains or bears writing which is not allowed hy law, sneh 
 l»aeka;je is subject to pitstage at letter rates, and is, in all respects, to bo treated as a 
 letter; i. e., if one full rate (3 cents) is paid, it is to be forwarded rated np with the 
 deficient postage ; if less than one full rate, it is to be treated as a short-iiaid letter. 
 See sections -JM, •J:V2, and '2:?:?. 
 
 Sec. 184. SecQnd-class Matter. — Mailable matter of the second class shall 
 embrace all newspapers and other jieriodical publications which are 
 issued at stated intervals, aiul as frecpiently as four times a year, and 
 are within the conditions named in the next succeeding section. (Act 
 March 3, 1870, § 10, 20 Stat., p, 350.) 
 
 Sec. 185. Essential characteristics of Second-class Matter. — Tlie conditions 
 upon which a imblicatiou shall be admitted to the second class are as 
 follows : 
 
 First. It must regularly be issued at stated intervals, as frequently as 
 four times a year, and bear a date of issue, and be numbered consecu- 
 tively. 
 
 Second. It must be issued from a known office of publication. 
 
 Third. It must be formed of printed paper sheets, without board, 
 cloth, leather, or other substantial binding, such as distinguish jiriuted 
 books for preservation fi'om periodical publications. 
 
 Fourth. It must be originated and published for the dissemination 
 of inforumtiou of a j)ublic character, or devoted to literature, the sci- 
 ences, arts, or some special industry, and ha^'ing a legitimate list of 
 subscribers : Provided, however, That nothing herein contained shaU be 
 so construed as to admit to the second-class rate regular publications 
 designed primarily for advertising i)urposes, or for fiee circulation, or 
 for circulation at nominal rates. (Act March 3, 1879, § 14, 20 Stat., 
 p. 350.) 
 
 Sec. 186. A Known Office of Publication defined. — A known office of pub- 
 lication is a j)ublic office for the transaction of the bnsiucss of the periodical, where 
 orders may be received for subscriptions and advertising during the usual business hours. 
 Publicatious issued without disclosing the office of publication must not be forwarded 
 unless prepaid at the rate of third-class matter. 
 
 Sec. 187. Advertising Sheets Defined. — " Eegular publications, designed 
 
 primarily for advertising purposes," within the intendment of section 185, are defined 
 to be — 
 
 First. Those owned and controlled by one or several individuals or biisiness con- 
 ceras, and conducted as an auxiliary, and essentially for the advancement of the main 
 business or calling of those who own or control them. 
 
 Second. Those which, having no genuine or paid-up subscriptions, insert advertise- 
 ments free, on the condition that the advertiser will pay for any number of jiapers 
 which are sent to persons whose names are given to the publisher. 
 
 Third. Those which do advertising only, and whose columns are filled with long edi- 
 torial puffs of firms or individuals who buy a certain number of copies for distribution. 
 
 Fourth. Pamphlets containing market quotations, and the business cards of various 
 business houses opposite the pages containing such quotations. 
 
 Sec. 188. Decision upon Doubtful Publications. — Whenever a postmaster 
 is in doubt as to the character of a publication ofi"ered for mailing as second-class mat- 
 
74 POSTAL LAWS AND EEGULATIONS. 
 
 ter, he will submit a copy of the same to the First Assistant Postmaster-Geueral, and 
 accompany it with a statement of such facts as he may be in possession of respecting 
 the publication and the reasons for his inability to decide as to its character. The 
 First Assistant Postinaster-Geueral will also decide any appeal from the decision of a 
 postmaster by publishers whose publications have been excluded from the second class 
 by the action of the postmaster. 
 
 Sec. 189. Postmaster's Record of Second-class Publications. — Postmasters 
 
 must keep a record of all the publications of the second class mailed at their post- 
 ofitices, and submit a duplicate thereof to the office of the Third Assistant Postmaster- 
 General, and must report on the first day of every month any changes made therein. 
 
 Sec. 190. Postage on Second-class Matter. — Publications of the second 
 class, except as provided in section 2.39, when sent by the publisher 
 thereof, and from the oflice of publication, including sample copies, or 
 when sent from a news agency to actual subscribers thereto, or to other 
 news agents, shall be entitled to transmission through the mails at two 
 cents a pound or fraction thereof, such postage to be prepaid, as now 
 provided by law. (Act of March 3, 1879, § 11, 20 Stat., p. 359.) See sec- 
 tion 192. 
 
 Sec. 191. Weighing of Second-class Matter. — Periodical publications on 
 their receipt at the i)ost-ofiice of mailing shall be weighed in bulk, and 
 postage paid thereon by a special adhesive stamp, to be devised and fur- 
 nished by the Postmaster-Geueral, which shall be affixed to sucli matter, 
 or to the sack containing the same, or upon a memorandum of such mail- 
 ing, or otherwise, as the Postmaster-General may, from time to time, pro- 
 vide by regulations. (Act of June 23, 1874, § 6, 18 Stat., p. 233.) 
 
 Sec. 192. Manner of Prepaying second-class Matter. — Publishers and news 
 
 agents must tender their newspapers and periodicals intended to be sent through the 
 mails at the post-office of mailing, so that they may be weighed in bulk. The postage 
 thereon must then be prepaid, according to the weight of the matter to be mailed, by 
 special adhesive stamps, known as newspaper and periodical stamps, which are fur- 
 nished by the Department to postmasters for that purpose. Unbound back numbers 
 of a regular second-class publication may be sent at the rate of two cents per pound. 
 See section 159. 
 
 Sec. 193. "Regular Subscribers" Defined. — A regular subscriber is a per- 
 son who has actually paid, or undertaken to pay, a subscription price for a newspaper, 
 magazine, or other periodical, or for whom such payment has been made, or under- 
 taken to be made, by some other person. But, in the latter case, such payment must 
 have been made or undertaken with the consent or at the request of the person to 
 whom such newspaper, magazine, or periodical is sent. Consent is to be implied in 
 the absence of objection by the party to whom the iniblication is sent. 
 
 Sec. 194. Evidence of Subscription-list may be Required. — If a postmaster 
 
 has reason to douljt that a jiuldication ottered for mailing as second class matter has a 
 legitimate list of subscribers, ho may require the piiblisher thereof to satisfy him that 
 it has, before permitting such publication to be mailed at the rates prescribed in sec- 
 tion 190. 
 
 Sec. 195. Sample copies at Second-class Rates. — By section 1S5 subscriber 
 
 ship is made one of the tests of the bona fide character of a publication. A publica 
 tion having no legitimate list of subscribers cannot bo admitted to the second class 
 except as provided in section 196. When once determined to be entitled to transmission 
 as second-class matter, the distinction in favor of subscribcrship in the circulation of 
 second-class matter, which was made uccessary by former laws, is by section 190 abau- 
 
TITLE II POST-OFFICES AXD POSTMASTERS. 75 
 
 douod, ami siuiiplo copies of secoiid-claMS im1)li(atir)ns may, wln-u sent from an oflfice 
 of piiblicatiou, or a news agency, be forwanlcd iu the mails at the same rates as to 
 
 subscrilxTS, to wit, at two cents per i)otMid or fraction tliercf)f. 
 
 Sec. 196. Admission of New Publications to Second-class Rates. — .V tem- 
 porary permit, in writing, shall he grante<l hy a postmaster to a pnhlication when the 
 first i.ssnc of the same shall he presented, accompanied hy an afllda\ it from the puh- 
 lisher thereof that the pnhlication is pnhlished for the pnrposes named in section 18.'>, 
 unless the postmaster shall he satistied from internal evidence fimushed l)y the, pnhli- 
 cation itself that it comes within the proviso of that section. When snch t<'mporary 
 permit shall he granted, the pnhlication shall he eiititled to pass m the mails at the 
 rate of two cents per pound or fraction thereof. Such temporary permit shall he re- 
 voked hy the postmaster in case the pnhlication shall have so change<l its character 
 as to make it no longer 1\ithin the conditions named in section 18.5. A duplicate of 
 snch tcmpoiary pennit shall he forwarded to the First Assistant Postmaster-General 
 whenever issued. 
 
 Sec. 197. Penalty for submitting false evidence as to a publication. — Any 
 person who shall submit, or cause to be submitted {for transportation hi 
 tlie mails) auy false evideuce to the postmaster relative to the character 
 of his |)ublicatiou, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon 
 conviction thereof in any court of competent jurisdiction, shall for every 
 such offense be punished by a ttne of not less than one hundred dollars 
 nor more than five hundred dollars. (Act of March 3, 1879, § 13, 20 
 Stat., p. 3o0.) 
 
 Sec. 198. Postmasters to report the Submission of false Evidence. — When- 
 ever a postmaster is of opinion that a pu1>Usher has submitted to him any false state- 
 ments respecting the character of his publication, either as to its office of publication, 
 or as to its list of subscribers, or as to auy other fact which the postmaster may have 
 deemed it his dut5' to ascertain, in order to determine whether the publication was 
 entitled to admission to the second class, he should report the case, with all the evi- 
 dence in his possession, to the First Assistant Postmaster-General and await his instruc- 
 tions. 
 
 Sec. 199. Entry of Second-class Publications. — After a publication has been 
 
 determined to he of the second class, the publisher thereof may, if he desire, formallj' 
 enter the same at the i^ost-office where mailed, and print upon each copy thereof the 
 
 words "'Entered at the post-office at as second-class matter." Publications so 
 
 entered, and having printed upon each copy the words of entry, may he exchanged at 
 second-class rates, with other second-class publications, and niaj' be regularly sent at 
 second-class rates, as complimentary, to customers, or business agents of the publicatioui 
 and to other persons solely in the interest of the publication itself or of its publish" 
 ers or employds as such. The formal entry will consist in a written notification of the 
 publisher's desu'e to the postmastei', who will forward a copy of such entry to the First 
 Assistant Postmaster-General. The unauthorized printing by a publisher of the words 
 of entry herein prescribed, or their equivalent, will render him liable to the penalty 
 prescribed in section 197. Postmasters should take pains to call the attention of imb- 
 lishers to this section and in\'ite them to enter their iiublications as herein set forth. 
 Sec. 200. News-agents Appl3ring for Second-class Rates must make and file 
 with the postmaster at their ])()st-olhce of mailing a statement signed by them showing 
 the names of the periodicals which they thus mail, the post-offices, respectively, to which 
 they are directed, and the number of such subscribers to each, with the dates to which 
 their respective subscriptions extend. On all packages of secoud-clags matter mailed 
 hy news-agents to news-dealers the word news-dealer must form part of the address. 
 
 Sec. 201. Evidence Required of News-agents. — In order to enable news- 
 agents to transmit matter of the second class at pound rates, which is not published 
 
76 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 Tvitliin tlie delivery of the j)ost-office of mailing, they must furnish evidence that the 
 periodical so oifered has been inspected and admitted to the second class by the post- 
 master at the post-office of publication. The most satisfactory evidence of such in- 
 spection and approval will be when, in some conspicuous portion of its title page or 
 cover, the periodical bears the printed words of entry prescribed in section 199. 
 
 Sec. 202. News-agents Defined. — Xo person is a news-agent within the 
 
 contemplation of the law by virtue of his acting simply as a local or traveling agent 
 for a publication. He must be engaged in business as a news-dealer or liookseller in 
 order to be entitled to send newspapers and periodicals at the pound rates. 
 
 Sec. 203. Sample Copies Defined. — Sample copies of publications of the 
 
 second class, which are entitled to transmission through the mails at two cents a 
 pound, are defined to be copies sent to persons not subscribers, fin- the purpose of in- 
 ducing them either to subscribe for or to advertise in the publication, or to agents, or 
 to persons desiring to become agents, or whom the publisher may wish to induce to 
 act as agents, to be used by them in procuring subscriptions and advertising. Any 
 number of copies of any number of diiferent editions of a second-class publication 
 may be sent at any one time as sample copies. The primary design of a publisher in 
 sending out sample cojiies is to increase the subscription-list and advertising patron- 
 age of his publication, and the law permits him to send such copies at the most favored 
 rates, in the expectation that the corrospondeuce resulting therefrom, and the in- 
 creased circulation of the publication to regular subscribers, will augment the postal 
 revenues. See section 195. 
 
 Sec. 204. Extra Numbers not Sample Copies. — Publishers will not be per- 
 mitted, however, to use the exceptional advantages given to them by the law so as to 
 defraud the Postal Department by mailing as sample copies extra numbers of their 
 publications ordered by advertisers, or by campaign committees, or by other persons, 
 to be sent to specified addresses, and iijyparently intended, from the nature of the con- 
 tents or of marked portions thereof, to serve the business, political, or personal inter- 
 ests of the i)erson or persons ordering the same. Such copies are third-class matter, 
 and must be prepaid by stamps at the rate of one cent for each two ounces or frac- 
 tional part thereof. 
 
 Sec. 205. Sample Copies to be Mailed Separately. — Sample copies of sec- 
 ond-class publications should be put up in single wrappers, and each package addressed 
 to a i^ersou or firm should be plainly marked, in printing or writing, sample COPY. 
 
 Sec. 206. Supplements Admitted as Second-class Matter. — Publishers of 
 matter of the second class may, without subjecting it to extra postage, 
 fold within their regular issues a supplement; but in all cases the 
 added matter must be germane to the publication which it supplements, 
 that is to say, matter supplied in order to complete that to which it is 
 added or supplemented, but omitted from the regular issue for want of 
 space, time, or greater convenience, which supplement must in every 
 case be issued with the publication. (Act of March 3, 1S79, § IG, 20 
 Stat., p. 350.) 
 
 Sec. 207. Definition of Supplements. — A supplement is held to be matter 
 
 projier to be inserted in the publication to Avhich it is added, but not inserted for 
 want of space, or want of time, or because it is more convenient regarding space or 
 time, or either, that it should be printed on a separate sheet. It is not indis])ensable 
 or necessary that the sheet should be printed at the otilice of the i>ublication to which 
 it is intended to be a supplement ; but if printed there or elsewhere, to be considered 
 or treated as a suiiplement, it must be printed with the intention and ])urpose only of 
 supplying an integral portion of the i)ublication to which it professes to be a supple- 
 ment, and not for another distinct and separate use. It should have direct relatiou 
 to the i)ubUcation supplemented, so tJiat without it the publication supplemented 
 would be incomplete. 
 
TITLE II rOST-OFFICES AND POSTMASTERS. 77 
 
 Sec. 208. Handbills and Posters not Supplements. — Tlie two ])r('ce(lin<; 
 
 scctidiis ciiiHiot hi', constnu'd to atlinit " liaiHlbills" oi- " posters " as Hiippk'iiR'nts. 
 Ifaii(U)ills and i)ost(^rs aro snlycct to tlio rate of postaj^c of one cent for each two 
 ounces or fraction thereof; and when sneh matter is inclosed in a newspa]>cr and sent 
 to reguhir subscribers it subjects the package to ])ostago at the higher rate of one 
 cent for each two ounces. Sh()uhl the package reacli the post-olHce of (hdivery with- 
 out any evi<h'nce of prepayment, doubh' tlie i)re))aid rate must be charged. 
 
 Sec. 209. Examination of Second-class Matter. — Matter of the second cla.ss 
 may he cxainincd at the fpo.st-joflice of mailing, ami if found to contain 
 matter which is .subject to a higher rate of postage, such matter shall 
 be charged witli postage at the rate to which the inclosed matter is sub- 
 ject: rrorided, That nothing herein contained shall be so construed as 
 to prohibit the insertion in periodicals of advertisements attached i)er- 
 manently to the same. (Act of Marcli 3, 1879, § 12, 20 Stat., p. 3o0.) 
 
 Sec. 210. Prohibited Advertisements in Second-class Matter. — Advertise- 
 ments in the form of separate sheets iu the body of periodical publications which are 
 inserted for convenience and are for the purpose of ))eing renu)ved and put to sepa- 
 rate use, are not " attached permanently " to such periodical within the meaning of 
 the preceding section, and when so inserted will subject the periodicals in which they 
 are found to the rate of one cent for each two ounces or fraction thereof; but this 
 must not be held to apply to bills, receipts, and orders for subscription to such period- 
 icals, which are permitted by the proviso to section 233. 
 
 Sec. 211. Detention of Suspected Second-class Matter. — ^TVlien the postmas- 
 ter at the post-office of mailing shall have reason to believe that any puhlislicr or news- 
 agent has violated the provisions of section 209 by depositing third-class matter in 
 any post-office, for transmission through the mails as matter of the second class, 
 ho may. at his discretion, retain the suspected matter, notifying the i)ublisher or 
 news agent at once of his acticni, and report the facts to the Postmaster-General. 
 If such third-class matter sh.all by inadvertence reach its destination, the postmaster 
 at the post-office of destination must collect the postage due thereon as prescribed l)y 
 law. 
 
 Sec. 212. Foreign Publications admitted as Second-class Matter. — Foreign 
 newspapers and other periodicals of the same general character as those 
 admitted to the second class in the United States, may, under the direc- 
 tion of the Postmaster-General, on application of the publishers there- 
 of or their agents, be transmitted through the mails at the same rates 
 as if published in the United States. jSTothing in this act shall be so 
 coibstrued as to allow the transmission througlt the mails of any pu1)li- 
 cation which violates any copyright granted by the United States. (Act 
 of March 3, 1879, §1.5, 2t) Stat., p. 359.) 
 
 Sec. 213. Examination of Foreign Publications. — Agents of foreign publi- 
 cations, who may desire to secure the benefits of the second-class rates of i)ostage for 
 the transmission of such publications in the domestic mails should make application 
 to the postmaster at the post-office where they desire the same to be mailed, and if 
 the postmaster is of opinion, after an examination of the publications sulmiitted, 
 that they are iu their essential features similar to domestic publications transmitted 
 in the mails at the second-class rates, he will, upon their complying with the pro- 
 visions of section 200, and filing an affidavit that the publications submitted come 
 ■within the first aiul second conditions of section 185, and tliat they have a legiti- 
 mate list of subscribers in the country where they are published, admit them to the 
 mails on the same terms as domestic publications. 
 
78 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 Sec. 214. Infringement of Copyright by Foreign Publications. — T^Tieuever 
 
 the owner of any copyright granted by the United States, or his authorized repre- 
 sentative, author, or publisher, shall niake complaint to a postmaster that any for- 
 eign publication admitted to the mails at the second-class rates is or has violated such 
 copyright, such postmaster will cause such owner or representative to submit to him 
 in writing the name of the publication thus offending, where the same is published, 
 who are the agents for the same, if there be agents in the United States, and to ac- 
 company such statement with a certified copy of the title or description furnished 
 such author or publisher by the Librarian of Congress. The postmaster will then for- 
 ward such statement and certified copy to the First Assistant Postmaster-General and 
 await his instructions. 
 
 Sec. 215. Third-class Matter and Postage thereon. — Mail-matter of the 
 third class shall embrace books, transient newspapers, and periodicals, 
 circulars, and other matter wholly in print (not included in section 184), 
 proof-sheets, corrected proof-sheets, and manuscript copy accompanjing 
 the same, and postage shall be paid at the rate of one cent for each two 
 ounces or fractional part thereof, and shall fully be prepaid by postage- 
 stamps afiixed to said matter. (Act of March 3, 1879, § 17, 20 Stat., p. 
 359.) 
 
 Sec. 216. Proof-sheets Defined. — The provisions of the preceding section 
 
 relative to "proof-sheets" should not be construed so as to limit the corrections to be 
 made to those of a typographical or merely verbal nature, such as the use of wrong 
 letters, nor to the exclusion of any new matter which the author may desire to insert 
 in order to put the intended publication iu the form in which he desires it to be pub- 
 lished. Any correction or change of words or sentences, or the insertion of entirely 
 new sentences, if made for that purpose, does not affect its character as a corrected 
 proof-sheet, nor subject it to a higher rate of postage. All marginal notes necessary 
 to the execution of the work are allowable ; but they should not extend beyond it and 
 embrace matter of the nature of jiersonal correspondence. 
 
 Sec. 217. Circulars Defined. — The term "circular" is defined to be a 
 printed letter, which, according to internal evidence, is being sent in 
 identical terms to several i^ersons. A cii'cular shall not lose its charac- 
 ter as such wlien the date and the name of the addressed and of the 
 sender shall be written therein, nor by the correction of mere typograph- 
 ical errors in writing. (Act of March 3, 1879, § 18, 20 Stat., p. 360.) 
 
 Sec. 218. Circulars mailed in bulk for Postmasters to Distribute. — When 
 
 circulars, handbills, advertising sheets, transient newspapers, or any other printed 
 matter of the third class, is sent in bulk from one post-olfice to another, with the in- 
 tention of having them distributed throughout the boxes, or general delivery of the 
 post-office to which they are addressed, or by letter-carriers, the bulk-package must 
 not exceed four pounds in weight, and nnist be fully prepaid at the rate of one cent 
 for each two ounces or fraction thereof, and the proper drop rate at the post-office of 
 destination must he affixed by the sender to each separate circular or package. 
 
 Sec. 219. Printed Matter Defined. — "Printed matter" within the intend- 
 ment of the law is defined to be the reproduction upon paper, l)y any 
 process except that of handwriting, of any words, letters, cliaracters, 
 figures, or images, or of any combination thereof, not having the char- 
 acter of an actual and personal correspondence. (Act of March 3, 1879, 
 § 19, 20 Stat., p. 3()0.) 
 
 Sec. 220. Manifolding and Type-writing not Printing. — No description of 
 
TITLE II — POST-OFFICES AND POSTMASTERS. 79 
 
 matter prepared by the "inauifoM process" or the "type-writer," can lie re^jarded as 
 a reproduction, and hence snch matter cannot be transinitteil in the mailn at the rate 
 for third-( lass matter. 
 
 Sec. 221. Fourth-class Matter. — Mailable matter of the fourth class shall 
 embrace all matter not embraced in the first, .second, or third cla.ss, 
 ■which is not in its form or nature liable to destroy, deface, or otherwise 
 damage the contents of the mail-bag", or harm the person of any one en- 
 gaged in the j^ostal service, and is not above the weight jtrovided by 
 law, whi(!h is hereby declared to be not exceeding four ]>onnds for each 
 package thereof, except in case of single books weighing in excess of 
 that amount, and for books and documents pnblished or circulated by 
 order of Congress, or official matter emanating from any of the Depart- 
 ments of the Government, or from the Smithsonian Institution, or which 
 is not declared non mailable under the provision of section [225] {thirty- 
 c'ujlit hundred and ninety-three of the Revised Statutes', as amended by the 
 aet of July 12, 1870), or matter appertaining to lotteries, gift concerts, or 
 fraudulent schemes or devices. (Act March 3, 1879, § 20, 20 Stat., p. 300.) 
 
 Sec. 222. Unmailable Matter. — Liquids, poisons, explosive and inflamma- 
 ble artieh's, fatty substances easily liqneti.able, live or dead animals (nut stutle<l), live 
 insects, and reptiles, fruits or vegetable matter liable to decomposition, comb honey, 
 pastes or confections, guano, and other substances exhaling a bad odor, arc regarded 
 as in themselves, either from their form or nature, within the inhibitions of the pre- 
 ceding section, and under no circumstances must they be admitted to the mails. 
 
 Sec. 223. Precautions against Injury to the Mails. — Other articles of the 
 fourth class which, unless properly secured, might destroy, deface, or otherwise dam- 
 age the contents of the mail-bag, or harm the person of any one engaged in the postal 
 service, may be transmitted in the mails when they conform to the following condi- 
 tions: 
 
 1st. They must be placed in a bag, box, or removable envelope made of papci", cloth, 
 or parchment. 
 
 2d. Such bag, box, or euA'clope must again be placed in a box or tube made of metal 
 or some hard wood, with sliding, clasp, or screw lid. 
 
 3d. In case of articles liable to break, the inside box, bag, or envelope must be sur- 
 rounded by sawdust, cotton, or spongy substance. 
 
 4th. In case of sharp-pointed instruments, the points must be capped or encased, so 
 that they may not by any means be liable to cut through their iuclosnre, and where 
 they have blades, such blades must be bound with wire, so that they shall remain 
 firmly attached to each other. 
 
 5th. The whole must be capable of easy inspection. Seeds, or other articles not 
 prohibited, which are liable, from their form or nature, to loss or damage, miless spe- 
 cially protected, may be put up in sealed envelopes, provided such envelopes are made 
 of material sutticieutly transparent to show the contents cleai'ly, without opening. 
 
 Sec. 224. Postmasters Responsible for Admission of Improper Matter. — Post- 
 masters will be expected to exercise the greatest care respecting the adnussion of arti- 
 cles of the fourth class to the mails. Whenever any article shall be otiered for mail- 
 ing which is not specially declared unmailable by the provisions of section 222, but 
 which postmasters may regard as liable to injure the mails or harm the persons of 
 those handling the same, even when complying with the conditions of the preceding 
 section, they will refuse to receive such article for mailing. 
 
 Sec. 225. Obscene Matter Prohibited in the Mails. — Everj' obscene, lewd, 
 or lascivious book, pamphlet, picture, paper, writing, print, or other 
 
80 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 publication of an indecent character, and every article or thing designed 
 or intended for the prevention of conception or procuring of abortion, 
 and every article or thing intended or adapted for any indecent or im- 
 moral use, and every written or printed card, circular, book, pami)hlet, 
 advertisement, or notice of any kind giving information directly or in- 
 directly, where, or how, or of whom, or by what means, any of the here- 
 inbefore mentioned matters, articles, or things may be obtained or made, 
 and eveiy letter upon the envelope of which, or postal card upon which, 
 indecent, lewd, obscene, or lascivious delineations, epithets, terms, or 
 language may be written or printed, are hereby declared to be uon-mail- 
 able matter, and shall not be conveyed in the mails, nor delivered from 
 any post-office nor by any letter-carrier ;' and any person who shall know- 
 ingly deposit, or cause to be deposited, for mailing or delivery, any- 
 thing declared by this section to be non-mailable matter, and any per- 
 son who shall knowingly take the same, or cause the same to be taken, 
 from the mails for the purpose of circulating or disposing of, or of aidiug 
 in the circulation or disposition of the same, shall be deemed guilty of a 
 misdemeanor, and shall for each and every offense be fined not less than 
 one hundred dollars nor more than five thousand dollars, or imiirisoned 
 at hard labor not less than one year nor more than ten years, or both, 
 at the discretion of the court. (E. S., § 3893, as amended by act of 
 July 12, 1876, 19 Stat., p. 90.) 
 
 Sec. 226. Lottery Circulars Prohibited in the Mails. — It shall not be law- 
 ful to convey by mail, nor to deposit in a post-of&ce to be sent by mail, 
 any letters or circulars concerning lotteries, so-called gift concerts, or 
 other similar enterprises offering prizes, or concerning schemes devised 
 and intended to deceive and defraud the public for the pur^jose of ob- 
 taining money under false pretenses ; and a penalty of not more than 
 five hundred dollars, nor less than one hundred dollars, with costs of 
 prosecution, is hereby imposed upon conviction, in any Federal courts, 
 of the violation of this section. (11. S., § 3891, as amended by act of 
 July 12, 1876, 19 Stat., p. 90.) 
 
 Sec. 227. Lottery Advertisements in Second-class Publications. — When a lot- 
 tery advcrtiseraeut is inserted in t-lie columns of .i regular issue of a nowspapoi', and 
 sent from the office of publication or a news agency to iona-fdc subscribers, such 
 paper cannot be excluded from the mails under the law in regard to lotteries; but a 
 part of such paper, or a supplement or extra thereof, or any other printed matter 
 evidently issued and offered for mailing for the purpose of circulating a lottery adver- 
 tisement, should be excluded from the mails. 
 
 Sec. 228. Postmasters Responsible for Admitting Obscene Matter to the 
 
 Mails. — Postmasters will be expected to rigidly exclude from the nuiils any and .all of 
 the articles (niuuierated in section 225, and the Department Avill hold them account- 
 able for any dereliction of <luty respecting the plain ])rovisions of that section. When- 
 ever a postmaster is in douT)t as to whether a publication, print, picture, i)amphlct, 
 book, or writing comes within the statute, he will sulunit the same to the First Assist- 
 ant Postmaster-dlcncral and await his instructions. 
 
 Sec. 229. Postage on Fourth-class Matter. — All matter of the fourth class 
 shall be subject to examination and to a jiostage charg'e at the rate of 
 
TITLE II POST-OFFICES AND POSTMASTERS. 81 
 
 owo cont an ounco or fraetioii thereof, to be prepaidby stamps affixed. — 
 (Act Marcli .'{, 1S7!), § l>1, l'O Stat., p. r;(;().) 
 
 Sec. 230. Treatment of Unmailable Matter Reaching its Destination. — If 
 any matter exchided from the mails [hy the preceding section of thin act], 
 except that d«H'hire(l iion-mailable by section [ti2~}] {thirftf rit/lit htm- 
 flred (Old ninrfi/thrce of the Rrrised Statutes as amended) sliall, by inad- 
 ^•ertence, reach the office of destination, the same shall be delivered in 
 accordance with its address : Prorided^ That the party addressed shall 
 fnrnish the name and address of the sender to the postmaster at the 
 office of delivery, who shall immediately report the facts to the Post- 
 Tuaster-General. If the i^erson addressed refuse to give the required 
 information, the postmaster shall hohl the package subject to the order 
 of the rostmaster-General. All matter declared non-mailable l)y ^qc- 
 Hon 2'2o [thirty-ei(/ht hundred and ninety-three of the Revised Statutes as 
 amended], which shall reach the office of delivery, shall be held by the 
 postmaster at the said office subject to the order of the Postmaster- 
 General. (Act of March 3, 1879, §. 21, 20 Stat., p. 3G0.) 
 
 See section 475. 
 
 Sec. 231. Permissible Additions to other than First-class Matter. — ^failable 
 matter of the second class shall contain no writing, print, mark or sign 
 thereon or therein, in addition to the original print, except as herein 
 provided, to wit, the name and address of the person to whom the mat- 
 ter shall be sent, and index figures of subscription book, either written 
 or printed, the printed title of the publication, the printed name and 
 address of the publisher or sender of the same, and written or printed 
 words or figures, or both, indicating the date on which the subscription 
 to such matter will end. Upon matter of the third class, or upon the 
 wrapper inclosing the same, the sender may write his own name or ad- 
 dress thereon, with the word "from" above and preceding the same, 
 and in either case may make simple marks intended to designate a word 
 or passage of the text to which it is desired to call attention. There 
 may be placed upon the cover or blank leaves of any book or of any 
 printed matter of the third class a simple manuscript dedication or in- 
 scription that does not partake of the nature of a personal correspond- 
 ence. Upon any package of matter of the fourth class the sender may 
 A\Tite or print liis own name and address, preceded by the word " from," 
 and there may also be written or printed the number and names of the 
 articles inclosed ; and the sender thereof may write or print upon or at- 
 tach to any such articles by tag or label, a mark, number, name, or let- 
 ter, for purpose of identification. (Act of March 3, 1879, § 22, 20 Stat., 
 p. 300.) 
 
 Sec. 232. Personal Correspondence Negatively Defined. — The character of 
 
 personal correspondence referred to in the preceding section cannot be ascribed to 
 tlie following, viz: 1st. To the signatnre of the sender or to the designation of his 
 name, of his profession, of his rank, of the place of origin, and of the date of dispatch. 
 2d. To a dedication or mark of respect ottered by the sender. 3d. To the figures or 
 signs merely intended to mark the passage of a text, in order to call attention to them. 
 
 6 r L 
 
82 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 4th. To the prices added upon the qiiotatious or prices cun-eut of exchange or mar- 
 kets, or in a book. 5th. To all printed commercial papers tilled out iu writing, such 
 as papers of legal procedure, deeds of nil kinds, way bills, or bills of lading, invoices, 
 and the various documebts of insurajice companies, circulars, handbills, &c. 6th. 
 To instructions or requests to postmasters to notify the sender in case of the non- 
 delivery of other than tirst-class matter, so that he may send postage lor its return. 
 See section 465. 
 
 Sec. 233. Letter-postage and Penalty for Prohibited "Writing or Printing. — 
 Matter of the second, tliLrd, or fourth class, coutaiuing anj writing or 
 printing other than indicated in [the preceding] section [231 and 232], or 
 made in the manner other than therein indicated shall not be delivered 
 except npon the payment of postage for matter of the first class, deduct- 
 ing therefrom any amount which may* have been prepaid by stamiis 
 affixed to such matter ; and any person who shall conceal or inclose any 
 matter of a higher class in that of a lower class, and deposit, or cause 
 the same to be deposited, for conveyance by mail, at a less rate than 
 would be charged for both such higher and lower class matter, shall, for 
 every such offense, be liable to a penalty of ten dollars : Provided, how- 
 ever, That nothing herein contained shall be so construed as to prevent 
 publishers of the second class and news-agents from inclosing, in their 
 publications, bills, receipts, and orders for subscription thereto; but 
 such bills, receipts, and orders shall be in such form as to convey no 
 other inforaiation than the name, location, and subscrii:)tiou price of the 
 publication or publications to which they refer. (Act of March 3, 1879 
 § 23, 20 Stat., p. 361.) 
 
 Sec. 234. Form of Bills Accompanying Second-class Matter. — Bills printed 
 or written iu substantially the following form are held by the Department to be 
 
 within the intendments of the preceding section : 
 
 New York, , 187 . 
 
 Office of 
 
 The Weekly, 
 
 37 Park Row. P. O. Box, 4295. 
 
 To the Weekly, Dr. 
 
 Subscription, jiostage included, |3.20 in advance. Terms cash. 
 
 Remittances should be made by pastal money order or draft on New York in name of 
 
 Received payment, 1879, for the Weekly. 
 
 No objection can be urged to a bill which includes the names of more than one pub. 
 lication, and their terms of subscription, provided they are all published by the same 
 individual or company, or sent by the same news-agent. The bill may include any 
 period of subscription or any number of shipments to a news-agent. 
 
 Sec. 235. Newspapers to be Wrapped and Sufficiently Dried. — Xo newspa- 
 pers sliall be received to be conveyed by mail unless they arc sufiiciently 
 dried and inclosed in proper wrai)pers. (K. S., § 3S83.) 
 
 Sec. 236. Manner of Presenting Second-class Matter for Mailing. — In mail- 
 ing publications of the second class they should in all cases be projjcrly dried, folded, 
 and addressed. It is certainly no part of the duty of a postmaster or liis assistants to 
 fold ni'wsi)apcrs so that they can be placed in tlie boxes, »fcc., for dc^livery; and in 
 case a publisher persists in sending tlu!m without being proi)erly folded, after being 
 notified to jiut them up so that they can be promjjtly assorted and delivered, the post- 
 master would be justified iu not distributing them with the regular mail. 
 
TITLE II rOST-OFFICES AND TOSTMASTERS. 83 
 
 Newspapers folded to the size of 9 by 12 inches are considered sndiciently folded 
 so that tiiey could be placed in the boxes of a jxist-oflficc! with little or no inconven- 
 ience. 
 
 Sec. 237. Manner of Presenting Third-class Matter for Mailing. — Printed 
 
 matti-r must be cither placed under l)an(l, upnn -.i roller, lietweeu boards, in a case 
 open at one side t)r at both ends, or in an unenclosed envelope, or simply closcid in such 
 a manner as not to conceal the nature of the packet, or, lastly, tied by a striii^j easy 
 to imfastcn. 
 
 Address cards, and all printed matter prescntinj^ the form and consistency of an un- 
 folded card. m;iy l»e forwarded without band, cnvelo[tc, fastening, or fold. 
 
 Sec. 238. What a Package of Third-class Matter May Contain. — A package 
 
 of third-class matter may contain any number of articles of that class. All legitimate 
 biudiufij, mountiiijf, or coveiing of a book, &c., or of a portion thereof, is permissible 
 whether such binding, etc., be loose or attached; as also rollers in the case of prints 
 or maps, nuirkers (whether of paper or otherwise), in the case of books, pens, or jten- 
 cils, in the case of poeketbooks, &c., and, in short, whatever is necessary for the safe 
 transmission of such articles, or usually appertains thereto; l)nt the binding, rollers, 
 pens, or pencils, &c., must not be sent as separate packages at third-class rates. 
 
 Sec. 239. Free County Publications. — Publications of the second class, 
 one copy to each actual subscriber residing in the county where the 
 same are printed, in whole or in part, and published, shall go free through 
 the mails ; but the same shall not be delivered at letter-carrier offices, 
 or distributed by carriers, unless postage is paid thereon at the rate pre- 
 scribed in section [100] : Provided, That the rate of postage on newspa- 
 pers (excepting M'eeklies) and periodicals not exceeding two ounces in 
 weight, when the same are deposited in a letter-caiTier office for deliv- 
 ery by its carriers, shall be uniform at one cent each ; periodicals weigh- 
 ing more than two ounces shall be subject, when delivered by such car- 
 riers, to a postage of two cents each, and these rates shall be prepaid by 
 stamps affixed. (Act of March 3, 1879, § 25, 20 Stat., p. «G1.) 
 
 Sec. 240. Postage on Second-class Matter at Free-Delivery Post-Offices. — 
 
 Mailable matter of the second class deposited in a letter-carrier post-oflfice for local 
 delivery shall be delivered through boxes or the general delivery ou prepayment of 
 postage at the rate of two cents jier pound, but when delivered by carriers the follow- 
 ing rates must be prepaid by postage-stamps affixed : on newspapers (except weeklies) 
 one cent each without regard to weight; on periodicals not exceeding two ounces in 
 weight, one cent each ; on periodicals exceeding two ounces in weight, two cents 
 each. The rate on weekly newspapers of the second class deposited by the publisher 
 in a letter-carrier post-office for local delivery is two cents per pound, whether the 
 same are delivered by carriers or through boxes or the general delivery. 
 
 Sec. 241. Second-class Matter at Free-Delivery Offices, how Separated. — Sec- 
 ond-class matter for city delivery, where the carrier system is established, should be 
 sepai"ately made up at the office of publication — that for delivery by the carriers of a 
 l)Ost-office being i)ut in one package or bundle — each article of mail-matter therein 
 jtroperly stamped, and that for delivery through the boxes of the post-office by itself. 
 If the separation is not made at the office of publication, each paper or periodical not 
 properly stamped must be placed in the boxes or at the general delivery for delivery 
 therefrom. 
 
 Sec. 242. Free County Publications must be Mailed by Themselves. — When 
 
 a publisher of a newspaper sends in the mails a i)ackage of his papers, a portion in- 
 tended for subscribers residing within the county in which the paper is printed (in 
 whole or in part) and published, and the remainder intended for subscribers residing 
 
84 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 ill another county, lie must pay postage on the entire package at the pound rates. 
 The iinblisher should make two jiackages, one for the subscribers residing in the 
 county and one for those out of the county, the former to go free under section 239. 
 
 Sec. 2i3. Publications with Offices in two Counties Free in Neither. — Xo 
 publication of the second class claiming more than one office of publication in diifereut 
 counties is entitled to pass in the mails free in either county, unless the publisher 
 elect which office he will regard as his office of publication. In that event the publi- 
 cation shall go free in that county only. The postmaster at the post-office thus selected 
 should notify the postmaster at the other post-office of such selection. The provisions 
 of this section are not applicable, however, to publications claiming or having more 
 than one office of publication which do not claim free county circulation. 
 
 Sec. 244. Sample Copies of Free County Publications Subject to Postage. — 
 Nothing in the act of March 3, 1879, can be so construed as to permit "sample copies" 
 of any publication to be mailed free in the county where the same is printed or pub- 
 lished ; they must be prepaid at the rate of two cents for each pound. 
 
 Sec. 245. Congressional Documents Free of Postage. — Senators, Eepresent- 
 atives, and Delegates in Congress, the Secretary of the Senate, and 
 Clerk of the House of Representatives, may send and receive through the 
 mail free, all public documents printed by order of Congress ; and the name 
 of each Senator, Eepresentative, Delegate, Secretary of the Senate, and 
 Clerk of the House shall be written thereon with the proper designation 
 of the office he holds, and the provisions of this section shall apply to 
 each of the persons named herein until the first Monday of December 
 following the expiration of their resiJective terms of office. (Act of March 
 3, 1879, § 1, 20 Stat., p. 356.) 
 
 Sec. 246. Congressional Record, and Extracts therefrom, Free. — The Con- 
 gressional Record, or any part thereof, or speeches or reports therein 
 contained, shall, under the frank of a member of Congress, or delegate, 
 to be written by himself, be carried in the mail free of postage under 
 such regulations as the Postmaster-General may prescribe. (Act March 
 3, 1875, § 5, 19 Stat, p. 343.) 
 
 Sec. 247. Seeds and Reports from Agricultural Department Free. — Seeds 
 transmitted by the Commissioner of Agriculture, or by any member of 
 Congress or delegate receiving seeds for distribution from said Depart- 
 ment, together with agricultural reports emanating from that Depart- 
 ment, and so transmitted, shall, under such regulations as the Postmas- 
 ter-General shall prescribe, pass through the mails free of charge. And 
 the pro\isions of this section shall apply to ex-members of Congress and 
 ex-delegates for the period of nine months after the expiration of their 
 terms as members and delegates. (Act of March 3, 1875, § 7, 19 Stat., 
 p. 313.) 
 
 Sec. 248. Remailing of Congressional Documents after one Delivery. — It is 
 
 competent for Senators and Representatives and other persons entitled to the franking 
 privilege to send, when properly franked niuler the provisions of the law, })ack.ages of 
 unaddressed free matter in bulk to any person by mail, to bo separately addressed and 
 remailed from another post-office. But such remailing can only be done once, unless 
 it becomes necessary to forward in order to reach the party addressed, in which case 
 the regulations relating to the forwarding of prepaid letters shall apply to the franked 
 package. Except in the case of free matter sent iu franked packages in bulk to a per- 
 
TITLE II POST-OFFICES AND POSTMASTERS. 85 
 
 soil hiinscl foil tit lod to tlic IViUikiii^liiivih^j^t', oach book, docMiinriit or iiiicka;^!' ciititlid 
 to b« scut free in the luuils must suparatcly bi-ar the frank of a Senator, Kciticsfiita- 
 tive, or other person vesteil with tht^ frankin}^ l>rivih'<ie. 
 
 Sec. 249. Letters, etc., on Government Business Free. — It .slialllic lawful to 
 ti'iiusniit thioii^li the mail, live of po.staj^c, any lettcr.s, packaj^^e.s, or other 
 matters relating' exclusively to the business of the Government of the 
 United States: Proridcd, That every such letter or package to entitle it 
 to pa-ss free shall bear over the words " Otticial business" an indor.se- 
 ment showing also the name of the Department, and, if from a bureau 
 or oflice, the names of the Department and bureau or office, as the case 
 may be, whence transmitted. And if any person shall make use of any 
 such official envelope to avoid the payment of postage on his private 
 letter, package, or other matter in the mail, the person so offending 
 shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and subject to a line of three 
 hundred dollars, to be prosecuted in any court of competent jurisdiction. 
 (Act of March 3, 1877, § 5, ll» Stat., ;«.->.) 
 
 Sec. 250. Penalty Envelopes for Official Matter. — For the purpose of carry- 
 ing this act into effect, it shall be the duty of each of the Executive I)e- 
 i:)artments of the United States to i^rovide for itself and its subordinate 
 offices the necessary envelopes ; and in addition to the indorsement des- 
 ignating the Department in which they are to be used, the penalty for 
 the unlawful use of these envelopes shall be stated thereon. (Act of 
 March 3, 1877, § G, 19 Stat, 335.) 
 
 Sec. 251. Extension of the two Preceding Sections. — The provisions of the 
 [two preceding] \jifth and sixth] sections \of the act entitled '"An act estah- 
 lisking jyost-routes, and for other pur])oses,^^ approved March third, eighteen 
 hundred and serenty-seven] for the transmission of official mail-matter, be, 
 and they are hereby, extended to all officers of the United States Gov- 
 ernment, and made applicable to all official mail-matter transmitted be- 
 tween any of the officers of the United States, or between any such officer 
 and either of the executive departments or officers of the government, 
 the envelopes of such matter in all cases to bear appropriate indorsements 
 containing the proper designation of the office from which the same is 
 transmitted, with a statement of the penalty for their misuse. And the 
 provisions of said fifth and sixth sections are hereb}' likewise extended 
 and made applicable to all official mail-matter sent from the Smithso- 
 nian Institution : Provided, That this act shall not extend or apply to 
 pensio)i-ageuts or other officers who receive a fixed allowance as com- 
 pensation for their services, including expenses for postage. (Act of 
 March 3, 1879, § 29, 20 Stat., p. 302.) 
 
 The jienalty-envelopos prescribed under this and the two preceding sections ninst 
 be furnished by the various Uepartmeuts at WasJiingtou to their subordinate olticers 
 throughout the country. Ofiicial penalty-labels to be affixed to mail matter may 
 also be furnished in lieu of or in addition to the official penalty-envelopes. The 
 etfect of these three .sections is to substitute for official postage-stamps and official 
 stamped-euvelopes furnished by thePost-Office Department, official penalty-eiivelopea 
 and official penalty-labels fiu'uished by each Department to its own subordinates. 
 
86 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 CHAPTER FIVE. 
 
 SHIP AND STEAMBOAT LETTERS. 
 
 Sec. > Sec. 
 
 252. Letters on res.scls to and from foreign ports. 259. No fee on foreifrn-addressed letters. 
 
 253. Letters on inland .steamboats. | 260. No fees to passengers or sailors. 
 'J54. Payment for sbip-letters. 
 
 255. Double postage on sbip-letters. 
 
 256. Definition of .sbip-letters. 
 
 257. Manner of collecting sbip-fees. 
 
 258. Eating up postage on sliip-letters. 
 
 261. Letters on mail-steamboats, bow disposed of. 
 
 262. Account of shii) and steamboat letters to be 
 kept. 
 
 263. No fees to mail-vessels. 
 
 264. Printed sbip-matter, bow to be treated. 
 
 Sec. 252. Letters on Vessels to and from Foreign Ports. — The master of any 
 vessel of the United States, bound from any port therein to any foreign 
 port, or from any foreign port to any port of the United States, shall, 
 before clearance, receive on board and securely convey all such mails as 
 the Post-Oftice Department, or any diplomatic or consular office of the 
 United States abroad, shall offer ; and he shall promptly' deliver the 
 same, on arriving at the port of destination, to the proper officer, for 
 which he shall receive two cents for every letter so delivered ; and upon 
 the entry of every such vessel returning from any foreign jiort, the mas- 
 ter thereof shall make oath or affirmation that he has promi)tly deliv- 
 ered all the mail iilaced on board said vessel before clearance from the 
 United States ; and if he shall fail to make such oath or affirmation, the 
 said vessel shall not be entitled to the privileges of a vessel of the United 
 States. (R. S., § 397G.) 
 
 Sec. 253. Letters on Inland Steamboats. — The master of any steamboat 
 passing between x)orts or i>laces in the United States, and arriving at 
 any such port or x)lace where there is a i^ost-office, shall deliver to the 
 postmaster, within three hours after his arrival, if in the day-time, and 
 if at night, within two hours after the next sunrise, all letters and pack- 
 ets brought by him, or within his power or control and not relating to 
 the cargo, addressed to or destined for such port or place, for which he 
 shall receive from the postmaster two cents for each letter or packet so 
 delivered, unless the same is carried under a contract for carrying the 
 mail ; and for every failure to so deliver such letters and packets, the 
 master or owner of said steamboat shall be liable to a penaltj' of one 
 hundred and fifty dollars. (R. S. § 3977.) 
 
 Sec. 254. Payment for Ship-Letters. — The Postmaster-General may i)ay 
 to the master or owner of any vessel not regularly employed in carrying 
 the mail two cents for each letter carried by such vessel between ports 
 or i^laces in the United States, or from any foreign port to any port in 
 the United Stat«'S ; but all such letters shall be deposited in the post- 
 office at the port of arrival. ( \i. S., § 3978.) 
 
 Sec. 255. Double Postag^e on Ship-Letters. — All letters conveyed by ves- 
 sels not regularly employed in carrying the mail shall, if for delivery 
 within the United States, be rated with double postage, to cover the fee 
 ])aid to the vessel. (11. S., § 3913.) 
 
 Sec. 256. Definition of Ship-Letters. — The terms ship-letters and jyackets 
 
TITLE II — POST-OFFICES AND TOSTMASTERS. 87 
 
 emlirat'f the lottcrs and ))iuk('fs lnoiij^ht into the United States from forcif^n ronntri«r4, 
 or tarrifd from (>n<i ])iirt in tlif (Initcd States to another, in any privatt; «liip or vessel 
 not re^jiilarly enii)h)yed in earryinj; the mail, and in the latter case over a route whero 
 the mail is not icniilaily carrird, hrforc sudi letters have hei-n mailed. 
 
 Sec. 257. Manner of Collecting Ship-Fees. — Tlie rate.s of jicstage are not 
 
 to be increased on letters tand packets carried in a }irivate ship or vessel, from one port, 
 in the United States to another, thonj^h a part of the voyaj^e be over a water declarcMl 
 to be a post-road. Thus, the Mississippi River, from New Orleans to the mouth, is a 
 post-road; yet letters carried by ship between New Orleans and any other sea-port in 
 the United States are subject to the usual ship-letter posta^L^e, But if the whole of the 
 water between any two i)orts be a post-road by law, then inland jtostajje will bo 
 eharfjed. It is the special duty of the postmaster at a port where vessels may enter 
 to see that this section is strictly observed and enforced. Every such postmaster will 
 obtain from the master of the ship or vessel a certificate specifying the number of let- 
 ters, with the name of the ship or vesstd, and place from wliich she last sailed; and 
 upon each letter which has not been before mailed, and which shall be dtdivered into 
 his post-office for mailing or delivery, he shall pay to the .said master or owner two 
 cents, and take his receipt therefor. 
 
 Sec. 258. Rating up Postage on Ship-Letters. — At the po.st-office where 
 
 «leposited such letters will be charged with double rates of postage, to be collected at 
 the office of delivery ; that is to say, six cents for the single Aveight if mailed, and four 
 cents the single weight if delivered at the post-office ; but if such letter has been pre- 
 jiaid by United States stamps at such doul)le rate of i)Ostage, no additional charge will 
 be made, and all United States postage stamps affixed thereto will be recognized to 
 the extent of their value as part payment. 
 
 Sec. 259. No Fee on Foreign-addressed Letters. — If such letter is addressed 
 
 to any jioint iu a foreign country, no fee will be allowed thereon by the postmaster to 
 the carrier. Such letters, however, should all be marked "Ship." 
 
 Sec. 260. No Fees to Passengers or Sailors. — If the letters be delivered into 
 the post-office by a passenger or sailor, and not In behalf of the nnister, nothing is to be 
 l>aid for them; they are, nevertheless, to be charged with double postage, and the 
 number entered in the account of ship-letters, with the name of the vessel in Avhich 
 they were brought. They will then be forwarded as other ship-letters, the postage to 
 be collected at the post-office of delivery. 
 
 Sec. 261. Letters on Mail-steamhoats, how Disposed of. — All letters placed 
 on a mail-steamboat, on which the mails are in charge of a route-agent, should go into 
 the hands of such agent ; and on these letters the master of the vessel is not entitled to 
 receive any compensation. None but letters on which at least one full rate of postage 
 has been paid should be received on such steamboat, and these shoiald be duly mailed. 
 But should any chance to be unpaid, they should be deposited by the route-agent in 
 the post-othce at the terminal point of his route, where the postmaster will treat them 
 in all res]>ects as other unpaid letters. 
 
 Sec. 262. Account of Ship and Steamboat Letters to be kept. — Letters 
 
 brought by steamboats should be marked "Steamboat" at the time of receiving them, 
 and postmasters will keep an account of both ship and steamboat lettere received, 
 stating the sums paid for them and the postage chargeable thereon. 
 
 Sec. 263. No Fees to Mail-Vessels. — No fees will be allowed to any vessel 
 
 or to any person on board any vessel which carries the mail, nor to any mail-carrier on 
 any mail-route by land or water. 
 
 Sec. 264. Printed Ship-Matter, how to be Treated. — Printed matter deliv- 
 ered to a postmaster by the master of a vessel arriving from a foreign port, and not 
 regularly engaged in carrying the mail, which is wholly unpaid, shall be forwarded 
 by such postmaster to its post-office of destination charged with double third-class 
 rates of dctjjiestic postage, to be collected on delivery. No fee, however, shall be paid 
 for such matter. 
 
88 
 
 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 CHAPTER SIX. 
 
 DELIVERY OF ORDINARY MAIL - MATTER— WITHDRAWAL BY 
 
 SENDER FROM POST-OFFICE 
 PATCH. 
 
 Sec. 
 
 265. Opening of mails ; placing matter on deliv- 
 
 ery. 
 
 266. Postmasters may remove wrappers of pack- 
 
 ages. 
 
 267. Double postage on unpaid matter. 
 
 268. Matter cannot be delivered until postage due 
 
 is paid. 
 
 269. Weight of matter determined at post-office of 
 
 mailing. 
 
 270. Postage-due stamps for iasufflciently-paid 
 
 matter. 
 
 271. Penalty for failing to affix postage-due 
 
 stamps. 
 
 272. Time of affixing postage-due .stamps. 
 
 273. Treatment of undelivered matter with post- 
 
 age-due stamps thereon. 
 
 274. Postage-due stamjjs on forwaided letters, 
 
 how refunded. 
 
 275. What persons are entitled to receive mail- 
 
 matter. 
 
 276. Letters addressed to fictitious persons. 
 
 277. Proof of identity required in doubtful cases. 
 
 278. Letters opened through mistake. 
 
 OF MATTER BEFORE ITS DIS- 
 
 Sec. 
 
 279. 
 
 280. 
 281. 
 282. 
 
 283. 
 
 284. 
 285. 
 286. 
 
 287. 
 
 288. 
 
 290. 
 291. 
 292. 
 293. 
 294. 
 
 ilail-matter addressed to other post-offices not 
 deliverable : exceiitions. 
 
 Mail-matter addressed in. care of another. 
 
 Letters from the Pension Office. 
 
 Under no pretext are letters in the mail to be 
 opened. 
 
 Mail-matter to be delivered according to offi- 
 cial designation. 
 
 Mail-matter addressed to minors. 
 
 Mail-matter addressed to deceased persons. 
 
 Mail-matter to be delivered to assignees, etc. 
 
 Mail-matter addressed to a defunct firm or 
 corjjoration. 
 
 Postmaster to require appointment of a re- 
 ceiver. 
 
 Decision of disputed claims to mail-matter. 
 
 Injunctions of courts to be respected. 
 
 "Withdrawal of letters from mailing post-office. 
 
 Proof of identity of letter required. 
 
 When to refuse application for withdrawal. 
 
 Mail-matter beyond mailLug post-office cannot 
 be withdrawn. 
 
 Sec. 265. Opening of Mails ; Placing Matter on Delivery. — Upon the arrival 
 
 of the mail at auy po.st-ofiftce, the mail sack.s and poiiehes, oi- the package.s iu a mail- 
 hag addressed to that post-office, and none other, should be opened. Every postmaster, 
 immediately npon the receipt of the mail, will, if possible, place the postmark of his 
 post-office upon every letter received in the mail, showing the date and the hour of 
 the day when the letters were received. He will then look over the letters or pack- 
 ages thus received to see if the postage thet'eon has been properly prepaid, noting on 
 each letter or parcel the amount, if auy, which is found to be due thereon, after which 
 he Avill i)lace the mail on delivery. 
 
 Sec. 266. Postmasters may Remove Wrappers of Packages. — Postmasters at 
 the office of delivery may remove the wrappers and envelopes from 
 mail-matter not charged Avith letter-postage, when it can be done witli- 
 ont destroying- them, for the pnrx)ose of ascertaining' whether there is 
 upon or connected with any such matter anything which would author- 
 ize or require the charge of a higher rate of postage thereon. (II. S., 
 § 3882.) 
 
 Sec. 267. Double Postage on Unpaid Matter. — If any mail-matter, on which 
 by law the postage is required to be prepaid at the mailing [post] office, 
 shall by inadvertence reach its destination without such prepayment, 
 double the prepaid rates shall be charged and collected on delivery. 
 (K. S., § 381>8.) 
 
 Sec. 268. Matter Cannot be Delivered until Postage Due is Paid. — ^N'o mail- 
 matter shall be delivered until the postage due thereon has been jjaid. 
 (K. S., § 3900.) 
 
TITLE II POST-OFFICES AND POSTMASTERS. 89 
 
 Sec. 269. Weight of Matter Determined at Post-Office of Mailing. — riiasiinich 
 
 as, tliroii^ih cviiporiitioii or otlu-r cause, inail-iiiiitter not iiilrc(|iMMitl,v Iosch \v<-i;rlit in 
 tiiinsit, so that ujiou its arrival at the post-oflice of di'stinatioii its \vci;;ht may not 
 oorri'siiond with that indicatc-d hy tht; itosta>,'c rattnl ui> at the iiost-ollicr of mailing, 
 liostuiasters am iustructod that the weight at time of mailing (h-ttnnincs tlio ratt; of 
 postage, and tliey should collect the postage marked due accordingly. 
 
 Sec. 270. Postage-due Stamps for Insufficiently-paid Matter. — All iiiail-inat- 
 terof the liist-clas.s upoinvliicli one full rate of ])0.stajL,^e lias been i)repaid 
 .shall be forwarded to its destinatiou, charged with the unpaid rate, to be 
 collected on delivery ; but i)o.stniasters, before delivering the same, or any 
 article of niail-niatter upon Mhicli prepayment in full has not been made, 
 shall affix, or cause to be affixed, and canceled, as ordinary stamps are 
 canceled, one or more stamps equivalent in value to the amount of post- 
 age due on such article of mail-matter, which stamp shall be of .such 
 special design and denomination as the Postmaster-General may pre- 
 scribe, and which shall in no case be sold by anj postmaster nor re- 
 ceived by him in prepayment of postage. That in lieu of the commis- 
 sion now allowed topo.straastersat [post] offices of the fourth class upon 
 the amount of unpaid letter-postage collected, such postmaster shall re- 
 ceive a commission upon the amount of such special stamps so canceled, 
 the same as now allowed upon postage stamps, stamped envelopes, postal 
 cards, and newspaper and periodical stamps canceled as postages on 
 matter actually mailed at their [post] offices : Provided, The Postmaster- 
 General may, in his discretion, prescribe instead such regulation therefor 
 at the [post] offices where free delivery is established as in his judg- 
 ment the good of the service may require. (Act March 3, 1879, § 26, 
 20 Stat, p. 301.) 
 
 Sec. 271. Penalty for Failing to affix Postage-due Stamps. — Any postmaster 
 or other person engaged in the postal service who shall collect, and fail 
 to account for, the postage due upon any article of mail-matter which he 
 may deliver, without having previously affixed and canceled such special 
 stamps, as hereinbefore provided, or wiio shall fail to affix such stamp, 
 shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and, on conviction thereof, 
 shall be punished by a fine of fifty doUars. (Act March 3, 1879, § 27, 
 20 Stat., p. 3(52.) 
 
 Sec. 272. Time of affixing Postage-due Stamps. — At all post-offices where 
 
 the free-delivery service lias not been established, postmasters will not affix f he postage- 
 due .stamps until the delivery of the matter lias been re.quested. At all free-delivery 
 post-offices, matter which has not been sufficiently prepaid will be rated up, and 
 postage-due stamps of the necessary denominations will be affixed as soon as the mat- 
 ter is received at the post-office, unless an order is on file for a letter to be forwarded? 
 jii -wliich case it will l)e forwarded without affixing the postage-dtie stainj). 
 
 Sec. 273. Treatment of Undelivered Matter with Postage-due Stamps thereon. 
 — After the postage-due stamps have been athxed at free-delivery post-offices, such mat- 
 ter as may be refused, unclaimed, or cannot be delivered must be treated as required 
 by the regulations. When sent to the Dead-Letter Office, credit must be claimed on 
 the dead-letter bill for '^postage-due stamps canceled on undelivered mail-matter." 
 When returned to writer or redirected to another post-office within the United States, 
 a numbered postage-due bill, stating amount due and name of person fiom whom it 
 is to be collected, must be attached to and sent with each letter. 
 
90 POSTAL LAWS AXD REGULATIONS. 
 
 Sec. 274. Postage-due Stamps on Forwarded Letters, how Refanded. — When 
 a returued or forwarded letter, with postage-due stamps atifixed and bill attached, is 
 received at any post-office from a free-delivery post-office, the receiving postmaster 
 must detach the bill and return it by next mail, with required amount of uncanceled 
 stamps inclosed, to the issuing postmaster. In case of failure to get a return of a bill 
 or stamps after a reasonable delay, postmasters at free-delivery post-offices may obtain 
 the proper credit and expose the delinquent receiving postmaster by making a dupli- 
 cate bill (from the stub of the original), which they will attach to and incorporate in 
 their regular dead-letter bill. This duplicate must be indorsed, in the blank space 
 at the end, Duplicate, Okigixal not returned, or Original returned wnTHOUT 
 STAMPS. In forwarding to foreign countries mail-matter on which postage-due stamps 
 have been canceled, the original bill, indorsed Foreign letter forwarded, must be 
 attached to and incorporated in the regular dead-letter bill. 
 
 Sec. 275, "What Persons are entitled to receive Mail-matter. — The persons 
 entitled to articles of mail-matter received by mail are those w^hose names are in the 
 address, aud the delivery should be either to the person addressed, or according to his 
 or her order. The order is in some cases implied, as where a person is in the habit of 
 receiving his mail through his son, clerk, or servant, and of recognizing the delivery 
 to him. Mail- matter addressed to a firm may be delivered to any member of the firm, 
 and, if addressed to several persons, may be handed to any one of them. 
 
 Sec. 276. Letters addressed to Fictitious Persons, etc. — Letters and pack- 
 ages addressed to fictitious persons or firms, to initials, or to no particular person or 
 firm, unless directed to be delivered at a designated place, as a post-office box, street 
 and number, or to the care of a certain person or firm, or other certain place of de- 
 livery, within the delivery of the post-office to which they are addressed, must be 
 returued at the end of each month to the Dead-Letter Office. 
 
 Sec. 277. Proof of Identity required in Douhtful Cases. — A postmaster 
 
 should, in all cases of doubt, require satisfactory proof of the identity of persons claim- 
 ing mail-matter addressed for delivery at the post-office. Great care must be especially 
 taken where such matter appears to be of value, and if the person calling for it be not 
 the person addressed, or a member of his immediate family, it is safest to require a 
 written order for its delivery. 
 
 Sec. 278. Letters "Opened through Mistake." — If there be two or more 
 persons of the same name, and a letter intended for one is delivered to another, and 
 returued by him, the postmaster will reseal the letter in the presence of the person 
 w^ho opened it, and request him to write upon it the words, opened by me through 
 mistake, and sign his name ; he will then replace the letter in the post-office. 
 
 Sec. 279. Mail-matter addressed to other Post-Offices not Deliverable. — Post- 
 masters cauuot deliver mail-matter which may be addressed to aud deliverable from 
 other post-offices, except in cases of matter addressed to a discontinued post-office 
 nearest the post-office where such matter is held for delivery. Exception to this rule 
 may be made in special cases, as when a letter arrives from a foreign country directed 
 to a post-office other than tha^ at the port of arrival, and the person addressed is about 
 to leave the country, or desires to answer at once by mail from that port. In such 
 cases the postmaster, on being satisfied of the identity of the applicant, may deliver 
 the letter. Exceptions may also ]»o made in the case of ambassadors .iiul other diplo- 
 matic representatives of foreign governments who may be temporarily residing else- 
 where than within the dcdivery of the post-office to which their eorresiHUideuce is 
 directed. In the exceptional cases above provided for, the postmaster who delivers 
 the letters shall report his action to the postmaster of the post-office to which thoy are 
 dire(;te<l. 
 
 Sec. 280. Mail-matter addressed in Care of Another. — Wliere mail-matter 
 reaches a post-office addressed to a person in care of another, it is the duty of the post- 
 master to deliver such matter to the person addressed, if so requested by him, rather 
 than to the person to whose care it was addressed. 
 
TITLE II POST-OFFICES AND TOSTMASTERS. 1)1 
 
 Sec. 281. Letters from the Pension Office. — It is not proinT U> deliver a 
 let tor fymn tlu' Pension Oilier to any ono othor than the person addressed, or to a mem- 
 ber of his or her family, or to a logal f^uardian of the pensioner, and nudor no circnm- 
 •stances is it jillowaltle to deliver sneh letters to an attorney, claim-ujient, or broker. 
 
 Sec. 282. Under no Pretext are Letters in the Mail to he opened. — A Icttfr 
 
 onee pl.aeed in tlie post-olliee is in tlif custody of the Dejiartnient for transmission and 
 delivery to the party aililressod. Neither postmasters nor otlieers of tiie law have any 
 anthority to open it under the pretext that there mij^ht be somethinj; improper or 
 even criminal in it, or that would aid in the detection, or furnish evidence for ti\,e con- 
 viction, of offenders a-jjainst the law. ' A. letter of a criminal must, therefore, be deliv- 
 ered to him unless he may otherwise direct. 
 
 Sec. 283. Mail-Matter to he delivered according to Official Designation. — 
 
 Mail-matter directed to a i)nblic oflicial by his title, or to an ofti(;er of a coiiioratioii, 
 or person holding a i)ositii)u therein having- an oflicial designation, should be delivered 
 to the i)erson actually holding the office or other position designated in the address, not- 
 withstanding the name of another i)erson may also appear therein, the ]»resumptive 
 intention of the sender being that the article of mail-matter shall reach the ofticcr, etc., 
 addn^ssed rather than the individual named. 
 
 Sec. 284. Mail-Matter addressed to Minors. — In the case of minor children 
 residing with their parents, and dependent upon them for maintenance and support, 
 such parents are entitled to control the correspondence of the aforesaid minors by di- 
 recting the disposition to be made of mail-matter addressed to them, and where such 
 minors reside temporarily away from their parents, the latter may delegate to another 
 the right to receive mail-nuitter aihlressed to such minors, but such person must show 
 to the postmaster written authority to receive the same before it can be delivered to 
 him. 
 
 Sec. 285. Mail-Matter addressed to Deceased Persons. — Mail-matter ad- 
 dresst?d to a deceased person must in the tirst instance be delivered to his legal repre- 
 sentatives. In case there are no legal representatives the letters should be delivered 
 to the widow, if there be one, unless there are other claimants for the same, in which 
 event the postmaster should report the case with all the facts to the First Assistant 
 Postmaster-General and await his instructions. 
 
 Sec. 286. Mail-Matter to he delivered to Assignees, etc. — Wlien the busi- 
 ness of a tirm has been placed in the hands of an assignee or receiver, its letters should 
 be delivered to the latter, on his presentation of proof of his api>ointment by a court 
 or other coinjietcut authority. 
 
 Sec. 287. Mail-Matter addressed to a Defunct Firm or Corporation. — Mail- 
 matter addressed to a tirm or corporation which has ceased to exist must be delivered 
 to the legal representatives. 
 
 Sec. 288. Postmaster to require Appointment of Receiver. — When a firm or 
 company dissolves partnership, and contention arises as to whom the umil-nuitter ad- 
 dressed to the former business firm or company, or its officials, shall be delivered, a 
 postmaster, l)eing forbidden by one party to deliver to another, should require the 
 appointment of a receiver, retaining all mail-matter until said receiver is appointed ; 
 and if no such receiver is appointed, or no agreement between the contending parties 
 is reached, before the expiration of thirty days from the date when delivery ceased, 
 the letters in dispute, and all that maj"^ arrive thereafter (until an agreement is made 
 or receiver appointed), shall be sent to the lletnrn-Lotter Office marked ix dispute. 
 
 Sec. 289. Decision of Disputed Claims to Mail-matter. — A postmaster is 
 
 not re([uired to decide disputes between members of a dissolved or existing firm as to 
 the delivery of its mail-matter. If the firm is not dissolved, he shouhl, if its mail has 
 habitually been delivered by carrier, continue such delivery, instructing the carrier 
 to hand the mail-matter to any of its members. If the delivery is through box or 
 general delivery, he will place the mail-matter therein to await the call of any author- 
 
92 
 
 POSTAL LAWS AND EEGULATIONS. 
 
 ized person. If the firm is dissolved, lie will be governed in his action by the pro- 
 visions of the preceding section. 
 
 Sec. 290. Injunction of Courts to be respected. — Where mail-matter may be 
 
 addressed to a firm which has ceased to exist, and having reached its destination 
 through the mails is claimed by different parties, and some of the claimants in order 
 to determine their rights in the premises subsequently institute a suit against the 
 others in the local courts, and obtain an order from the court enjoining the postmaster 
 from delivering the mail-matter to either party, the postmaster should respect the 
 order of the court by retaining the same and delivering it to the parties who shall be 
 finally*determined by the court to be legally entitled to it. 
 
 Sec. 291. Withdrawal of Letters from Mailing Post.oflB.ce. — To prevent 
 fraud the postmaster must not permit any letter put into his iiost-oflice for transmis- 
 sion by mail to be withdrawn by any person except the writer thereof, or, in case of a 
 minor child, the parent or guardian of the same ; and the utmost care must be taken to 
 ascertain that the i)erson applying for such letter is really the writer, parent, or 
 guardian. 
 
 Sec. 292. Proof of Identity of Letter required. — To enable him to know 
 
 that the person applying for the withdrawal of a letter is the writer, the postmaster 
 may require him, or his messenger, to exhibit to him the same superscription and seal 
 that are upon the letter. And if the postmaster is satisfied that the handwriting and 
 seal are the same, he will permit the letter to be withdrawn, taking a receipt, and 
 preserving it with the paper containing the superscription, and the order, if one were 
 sent. If the person applying for the letter is the parent or guardian of the minor, the 
 postmaster must require him to identify the particular letter by extrinsic evidence 
 satisfactory to the postmaster. 
 
 Sec. 293. When to refuse Application for Withdrawal. — Postmasters should 
 
 refuse all applications for the withdrawal of letters in cases where the necessary search 
 would involve the delay of a mail, or retard the regular work of the post-oflice. 
 
 Sec. 294. Mail-matter beyond Mailing Post-office cannot be withdrawn. — 
 After a letter, or any other article of mail-matter, has passed from the mailing post- 
 oflice, the delivery of it cannot be prevented or delayed by any one except upon the 
 order of the Postmaster-General, to whom direct application must be made by the 
 writer. 
 
 CHAPTER SEVEN. 
 
 LETTER-BOXES IN POST-OFFICES. 
 
 Sec. 
 
 295. Postmasters may erect boxes at their own ex- 
 pense. 
 
 290. Lock-boxes, etc., for box-holders at their ex- 
 I>en.se. 
 
 297. Friends of owners of box to tise the same, 
 
 when. 
 
 298. Postmasters to keep a list of box-holders. 
 
 299. Failure of postmaster to make report of box- 
 
 rents. 
 
 300. Rent of boxes to be prepaid. 
 
 Sec. 
 
 301. Payment for boxes must bo ijuartoily. 
 
 302. Box to be restricted to use of one family, etc _ 
 
 303. Postmaster to leave record of box-receipts 
 
 with successor. 
 
 304. Postmaster sliould refuse to rent box for im- 
 
 proper purposes. 
 
 305. Rcut for private boxes. 
 
 306. I'ostmasters not to disclose names of iiox- 
 
 holders. 
 
 Sec. 295. Postmasters may erect Boxes at their own Expense. — Any post- 
 master in other than a building owned by the United States may erect boxes in his 
 post-office at his own expen.se. These boxes are neither owned nor repaired by the 
 Dei)artment, but the revenues thereof must be reported quarterly to the Auditor of the 
 Treasury for the Post- Office Department. 
 
TITLE II POST-OFFICES AND POSTMASTERS. 93 
 
 Sec. 296. Lock-boxes, etc., for Box-holders at their Expense. — Po.stmastor.s 
 may allow box-holders avIio desire to do so to provide lock-boxes or 
 diaweis for their own ii.se, at their own expen.se, which lock-boxes or 
 drawers, upon their erection in nuy post-office, shall beconn; the prop- 
 erty of the United Stiites, and be snbject to the direction and control of 
 the Post-Onioe Department, and shall pay a rental at least eqnal to that 
 of other boxes in the same [i>ost] office, or, if there be no other boxe.s 
 in such [post] office, of boxes in other [post] offices of the same class, 
 wliieh rental shall be aircounted for as other box-rents. (R. S., § 40.52.) 
 
 Sec. 297. Friends of Owner of Box to use same, when. — Letters addres.sed 
 
 to the iVionds of the owner of a box stopping tiMupor.irily with him may also bo placed 
 ill the box, if directed to his caro or to the number of the box. Hat lettt^rs adrlresscd 
 to other ])er.sous residing in the same jdace, and living and doing busiue.ss separate 
 and ai)art from a box-holder, should not l)o ydaced in such box. 
 
 Sec. 298. Postmasters to keep a List of Box-holders. — Each postmaster 
 
 must keep a list of all box-holder.s, with the number of the box assigned to each, and 
 the time during which he has used it. This ILst will be examined by special agents, 
 and be delivered to his successor in office. The postmaster must state in his quarterly 
 returns the amount of box-rents collected in or on account of each qu.arter. 
 
 • Sec. 299. Failure of Postmasters to make Report of Box-rents. — The salaries 
 
 of postmasters are based ujiou a sworn statement of the operations of their post-offices 
 for the four quarters immediately preceding the adjustment or readjustment furnished 
 to the First Assistant Postmaster-General. Wheii the postmaster fails to make any 
 report, or reports a less amount of box-rents than that included in his salary, he is 
 ehargetl in the adjustment of his quarterly return, by the Auditor, with the full amount 
 of box-rents included in his quarterly salary. 
 
 Sec. 303. Rsat of Boxes to be prepaid. — Xo box at any post-office shall 
 be assij^ned to the use of any person until the rent thereof has been 
 p;wd for at least one quarter in advance, for which the postmaster shall 
 give a receipt. (R. S., § 3901.) 
 
 Sec. 301. Payment for Boxes must be Quarterly. — Postmasters must rent 
 
 the boxes and drawers ia their post-otfices for one quarter (three months) only, the 
 money to be paid in advance. The Department will insist upon a strict compliance 
 with this regulation. Boxes remaining unpaid for ten days from the expiration of a 
 quarter will be declared vacated. 
 
 Sec. 302. Box to be restricted to Use of one Family, etc. — A person renting 
 a post-office box is entitled to have the letters of his family put into it. Each box 
 must be restricted to the use of one family, firm, or corporation. 
 
 Sec. 303. Postmaster to leave Record of Box-receipts with Successor. — 
 
 When a postmaster retires from office he must leave in the hands of his successor a 
 record of receipts given for payment of box-rents. In the absence of this record, the 
 postmaster will require the parties claiming to have i)aid their box-rents to show their 
 receipts, or produce other satisfactory evidence of such payment. AVhen an individual 
 h(dds a receipt from the late postmaster for box-rent paid, it is the <luty of the uew 
 postmaster to furnish a box for the time specified in the receipt. 
 Sec. 304. Postmaster should refuse to rent Box for Improper Purpose. — A 
 
 postmaster should refuse to rent a box or drawer to any person whom he has reason to 
 fjuspeet would use the same for the promotion of any indecent or illegal purpose. 
 Whenever ho shall find that any person to whom he has rented a box or drawer is 
 using the same for the promotion of any such purpose, he should withhold its further 
 
94 
 
 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 nse from him, returning to him at the same time a proportionate amount of the rent 
 for the unexpired portion of the quarter. 
 
 Sec. 305. Rent for Private Boxes. — So long as i^ersons who own boxes in 
 post-offices permit them to remain, it is the duty of the postmaster to collect rent for 
 those that are used. 
 
 Sec. 306. Postmasters not to disclose Names of Boxholders. — Postmasters 
 
 are strictly prohibited from disclosing to any person the names of the persons owning 
 or renting boxes in their post-otfices. 
 
 CHAPTER EIGHT. 
 
 CASEIERS, FREE DELIVERY AND BRANCH OFFICES, AND STREET 
 
 MAILING-BOXES. 
 
 Sec. 
 
 307. Letter-carrier post-offices. 
 
 308. Districting of cities. 
 
 309. Classiflcation of carriers. 
 
 310. Salaries of carriers. 
 
 311. Auxiliary carriers. 
 
 312. Appointments and promotions. 
 
 313. Public liuildings described. 
 
 314. Number of carriers limited. 
 
 315. Letter-carriers' bonds. 
 
 316. Applications for the carrier system. 
 
 317. How carriers are appointed. 
 
 318. Qualifications for appointment. 
 
 319. Foi-m of application for appointment. 
 
 320. Return of oaths and bonds. 
 
 321. Appointment of substitutes. 
 
 322. Postmasters may fill temporary vacancies. 
 
 323. Employment of additional carriers. 
 
 324. Duties of caniers generally. 
 
 325. Leaves of absence without pay. 
 
 326. Penalty for absence without leave. 
 
 327. Carriers to be uniformed ; penalty for wearing 
 
 unlawfully. 
 
 328. The unifonn prescribed for carriers. 
 
 329. Carriers supplj' their own uniforms. 
 
 330. Behavior required of carrieis. 
 
 331. Carriers not to contract debts on their routes. 
 
 332. Carriers not to solicit contributions, etc. 
 
 333. Establislinient of street mailing-boxes. 
 
 334. Penalty for injuring street mailing-boxes. 
 
 335. Carriers must report iiyuries to street mail- 
 
 ing-boxes. 
 
 336. Establishment of branch post -office.s. 
 
 337. No carrier's fee jiennitted. 
 
 338. The general delivery to be disconrag(?d. 
 
 339. Accounts required at carrier post-offices. 
 
 340. Postmasters' rei)orts of operations. 
 
 341. Postmasters' repmfs of expenses. 
 
 Sec. 
 
 342. Rules for delivery of matter. 
 
 343. Matter not to be delivered at unoccupied 
 
 premises. 
 
 344. Mail-matter not to be delivered in the street. 
 
 345. Transient or to-be-called-for letters, hoyg 
 
 treated. 
 
 346. City Directory to be used to ascertain ad- 
 
 dresses, when. 
 
 347. Carriers to receive letters for mailing. 
 
 348. What carriers may not do. 
 
 349. Return of undelivered matter. 
 
 350. Holiday and evening delivery. 
 
 351. Test of carriers' efficiency. 
 
 352. Pr(!mpt and frequent deliveries required. 
 
 353. Limited sale of stamps by carriers. 
 
 354. Branch post-offices or postal stations. 
 
 355. Mails between stations and the general post- 
 
 office. 
 
 356. Advertised letters. 
 
 357. Care of street mailing-boxes. 
 
 358. Postmasters to inspect stations. 
 
 359. Carriers' daily return of property and mail. 
 
 360. Carriers inust uot return deposited letters. 
 
 361. Delivery of registered letters by carriers. 
 
 362. Postmasters to supervise carriers' service. 
 
 363. Arrest of persons found tampering with 
 
 street m.iiling-boxes. , 
 
 364. " Cave canciii," " Beware of the dog." 
 
 365. Supjdies for can-ier jiost-offices. 
 
 366. Manner of keeping books. 
 
 1^^ For jirovisions respecting postage on second- 
 class matter at carrier post-offiicea, see Title II, 
 Chapter Four. 
 
 1^^ For provisions for the collection of unpaid 
 postage at such post-offices, see Title II, Chap- 
 ten- Six. 
 
 Sec. 307. Letter-carrier Post-offices. — Letter-carriers shall be employed 
 for the free delivery of iiuiil-inatter as frequently as the public conve-. 
 nience may require, at every i)lace containing a population of fifty thou- 
 sand witliin the delivery of its post-oflice, and may be so employed at 
 every place containing a poi)ulation of not less than twenty thousand 
 
TITLE II POST-OFFICES AND POSTMASTERS. 05 
 
 witliiu its corporate limits, and at post-oflices wliicli produced a ^aoss 
 revenue for the preceding fiscal year of not less tlian twenty thousand 
 dollars: Prodded^ This act shall not affect the free delivery in towns 
 and cities wlierc it is now established. (Act of February LM, 1871>, § '>, 
 20 Stat., 1). ;517.) 
 
 Sec. 308. Districting of Cities. — Cities must be so districted as to secure 
 tin- full, o(iual. iiiul most :i(lviintii;j;t'<)us employment of the carriers, and the earliest 
 liracticalilc di'livt-ry and collection of the mails. 
 
 Sec. 309. Classification of Carriers. — For the more equitable compensa- 
 tion of letter-carriers there shall be in all cities whicli contain a popula- 
 tion of seventy-five thousand or more two classes of letter-carriers, to be 
 fixed by the Postmaster-General. (Act February 21, 1879, § 1, 20 Stat., 
 p. 317.) 
 
 Sec. 310. Salaries of Carriers. — The salaries of carriers of the first class, 
 ^vho shall have been in service at least one year, shall be one thousand 
 dollars per annum, and the salaries of the carriers of the second class 
 shall be ei'jht hundred dollars per annum. In all cities containing a 
 population of less than seventy-five thousand there shall be one class of 
 letter-carriers, who shall receive a salary of eight hundred and fifty dol- 
 lars per annum.* (Act February 21, 1879, § 2, 20 Stat., p. 317.) 
 
 Sec. 311. Auxiliary Carriers. — Upon the recommendation of the post, 
 master of any city, the Postmaster-General may establish a third grade 
 of letter-carriers known as auxiliaries, who shall be paid at the rate of 
 four hundred dollars per annum. (Act February 21, 1879, § 3, 20 Stat., 
 p. 317.) 
 
 Sec. 312. Appointments and Promotions. — Appointments of letter-carriers 
 in cities having two or more classes shall be made to the class having 
 the minimum rate of pay, and i)romotions from the lower grades in said 
 cities shall be made to the higher grades to fill vacancies, after one or 
 more years' services, on certificate of the postmaster to the efliciency 
 and faithfulness of the candidate during the preceding year: Provided^ 
 however^ That at no time shall the number of carriers in the first class, 
 receiving the maximum salary of one thousand dollars, be more than 
 two-thirds or less than one-half the whole number of carriers actually 
 in service in the city in whicli they are employed: Provided, further^ 
 That no boxes for the collection of mail-matter by carriers shall be placed 
 inside of any building except a imblic building or railroad station. (Act 
 Feb. 21, 1879, § 4, 20 Stat, p. 317.) 
 
 Sec. 313. Public Buildings Described. — Xo street mailing-box shall be 
 
 placed inside any building whicli is not at *11 hours open to the public and accessible 
 to the carriers. Postmasters may (subject to the above conditions) in their discretion 
 
 * Until an appropriation shall be made, in accordance with the provisions of section 
 310, the following regulation will remain in force: 
 
 The salaries of letter-carriers are lixed by the Postmaster-General at the time of 
 their appointment. Increased pay is granted to carriers, from time to time, when the 
 appropriation wnll justify it, on application of the postmaster to the First Assistant 
 Postmaster-CJeneral, setting forth the diligence, lidelity, and experience of the carrier 
 in whose behalf the application is made. 
 
96 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 place sncli boxes within the halls or corridors on the gronnd-floor of large hotels, and 
 in commercial exchanges, but are forbidden to jilace them within club-houses, private 
 residences, stores, or offices of business corporations. 
 
 Sec. 314. Number of Carriers Limited. — It shall be the duty of the Post- 
 master-General to carefully inquire into the number of carriers employed 
 in the several cities where the free delivery of mail-matter is established, 
 and to reduce the number of carriers, and the number of deliveries of 
 mails by such carriers for each day to the reasonable requirements o^ 
 the public service. (Act of March 3, 1877, 19 Stat., p. 384.) 
 
 Sec. 315. Letter-carriers' Bonds. — Every letter-carrier shall give bonds, 
 with sureties to be approved by the Postmaster-General, for the safe 
 custody and delivery of all mail-matter, and the faithful account and 
 payment of all money received by him. (E. S., § 3870.) 
 
 Sec. 316. Applications for the Carrier System. — Application for the estab- 
 lishment of the carrier system, or for additional carriers, must be made to the First 
 Assistant Postmaster-General, with the reasons therefor. 
 
 Sec. 317. How Carriers are Appointed. — Letter-carriers are appointed by 
 
 the Postmaster-General, on the nomination and recommendation of the local post, 
 master 
 
 Sec. 318. Qualifications for Appointment. — Persons nominated for appoint- 
 ment as letter-caiTiers must be over twenty-one years of age and under thirty-tive. 
 They must be intelligent, temperate, and physically titted for the service, and must 
 be able to read and write and understand the fundamental rules of arithmetic. 
 
 Sec. 319. Form of Application for Appointment. — A]>plications for the ap- 
 pointment of carriers must state the name in full (plainly written), age, previous occu- 
 pation, proposed time of commencing service, and the qualifications required in the 
 preceding section. 
 
 Sec. 320. Return of Oaths and Bonds. — Blank oaths and bonds sent with 
 the letter of appointment of carriers must be promptly and correctly executed, and 
 returned to the First Assistant Postmaster-General. 
 
 Sec. 321. Appointment of Substitutes. — Substitute letter-carriers are ap- 
 pointed when postmasters so advise, at a nominal salary of one dollar a year, and 
 receive the pro-rata pay of the carrier Avhose route they may be called upon to serve, 
 Avithout regard to the cause of the absence of the regular can-ier or his salaiy. Sul)- 
 stitutes appointed by the Department are paid out of the salary of the .ibsent carrier. 
 
 Sec. 322. Postmasters may Fill Temporary Vacancies. — Vacaniies occur- 
 ring bj' death, illness, or other unavoidable causes, may be filled temporarily by post- 
 masters, when the exigencies of the service demand it ; but a full statement of the facts 
 must be immediately forwarded to the First Assistant Postmaster-General. Carriers 
 must, however, in every instance, take the oath of office before entering on duty. 
 
 Sec. 323. Employment of Additional Carriers. — Additional letter-carriers 
 
 must not be euiploycd until ]tostmasters are notified of their appointment, and they 
 have qualifitMl by executing the oath and bond required by law. 
 
 Sec. 324. Duties of Carriers generally. — Carriers shall be employed in tliQ 
 
 delivery and collection of mail-matter, or, during the intervals between their trips, 
 may be employi^d in thi^ i)ost-olfico in siicli nianucr as the postmaster may direct. 
 
 Sec. 325. Leaves of Absence without Pay. — Postmasters may grant leave 
 
 of absence to carriers without i)ay in cases of illuess, disability niceived in the service, 
 or other urgent necessity, to continue only during the urgeiu'y of the case, provided 
 it shall in no instance exceed thirty days. For n longer time, application, setting 
 forth all the circuuwstaucea, must be made to the First Assistant Postmater-Gencral. 
 
TITLE II POST-OFFICES AND rOSTMASTERS. 97 
 
 Sec. 326. Penalty for Absence without Leave. — A carrier ab.sentiiiji- liiiii- 
 
 siilf witlioiift Icavo will torftiit Iii.s pay (liiriii'; tlie time of hucIi abHcncp, aii«I will 1m; 
 rt'juiiiiauiU'd by the imstiiiastcr, or ivportcd to the First Assistant rostniastir-ficncral 
 for roinoval, as tlu^ fircninstaiici's may n'(|uirr. 
 
 Sec. 327. Carriers' Uniform, and Penalty for Wearing it Unlawfully. — TLe 
 Postiiiaster-CTeneral may prescribe a uiiiforin dress to be worn by letter- 
 carriers, and any person not connected Avitli the letter-carrier branch of 
 the postal service who shall wear the nniform which may be prescribed 
 shall, for every such ofiense, be punishable by a fine of not more than 
 one hundred dollars, or by imprisonment for not more than six months, 
 or both. (K. S., § 38G7.) 
 
 Sec. 328. The Uniform prescribed for Carriers. — The Postmaster-General, 
 
 imdcr the preceding section, prescribes the following nniform dress, to be invariably 
 worn while on duty, viz : 
 
 FOR WLNTKR WEAR. 
 
 First. A single-breasted sack-coat of " cadet-gray," or, technically, " blue-mixed 
 cadet cloth," terminating two-thirds the distance from the top of the hip-bone to the 
 knee, Avith a pocket at each side, and one on left breast — all outside — with tlaps two 
 and three-fourths to three inches wide, with length to suit, say six and a half to seven 
 inches ; coat to be bound entirely around with good plain black alpaca binding one 
 inch wide, to be put over half edges, with tive brass bxrttous, with the design of the seal 
 of this Department (iiost -rider, with mail-bag across the saddle, Avith the letters P. O. D. 
 beneath), down the front, to button uj) to the neck, and one-half inch black braid, 
 round the sleeves two and a half inches from the bottom. 
 
 Second. Pants of same material and color, with fine black broadcloth stripe one 
 inch wide down the outside seam. 
 
 Third. A single-breasted vest of the same material and color, with seven oval brass 
 buttons (vest size), with the letters P. O. upon the face. 
 
 Fourth. Cap of the same material and color (Navy pattern), bound round with a fine 
 black-cloth band one and one-half inches wide, Avith small-size buttons at the sides, 
 of the same material and design as those on the vest, and glazed coA-er for wet 
 weather. 
 
 Fifth. A reversible cape (detached from the coat) reaching to the cuff of the coat. 
 sleeA'e when the ann is extended, of the same material and color on one side, and 
 gutta-percha cloth on the other side, Avith live buttons, the same as on the coat, down 
 the front, and bound entirely round Avith plain black al^mca binding one inch wide, 
 put half OA'er edges ; or an OA'ercoat of the same material and color, trimmed to cor- 
 respond with the coat, with five brass buttons, of the same size and design as the 
 coat button, down the front. It shall not be obligatory on the carriers to wear either, 
 but whencA'er additional covering is needed, the postmaster of each city will decide, 
 in accordance Avith the wishes of a majority of the carriers, Avhich they shall wear, as 
 both must not be avoiti in the same city. 
 
 FOR SUMMER AVEAR. 
 
 First. Coat, single-breasted, skeleton sack, of gray flannel, terminating two-third.s 
 the distance from the toj) of the hip-bone to the knee ; Avith lapels (medium roll) 
 made to button over the breast ; three pockets, outside, Avithout flaps, one on each 
 side, and one on left breast. Coat to be bound entirely round with plain black alpaca 
 binding one inch wide, put half over edges, and three buttons of present regulation 
 style down front. 
 
 Second. Pants, same material and color, with stripe of black alpaca binding one 
 inch wide doAvn the outside seam. 
 7 P L 
 
98 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 t 
 
 Third. Vest, same material and color, houiul same as coat, with collar cut to roll 
 same height as coat, and iive regulatiou huttons down front. 
 Fourth. Panama hat. 
 
 Sec. 329. Carriers Supply their own Uniforms. — Letter-carriers must pro- 
 cure the uniforms at their own expense, but the postmaster is expected to give his 
 personal attention to the matter, and aft'ord the "trade" an ojiportunity to furnish 
 them at the least expense to tlie carriers, consistent with a proper execution of the re- 
 quirements of tlie above section. 
 
 Sec. 330. Behavior required of Carriers. — Carriers must iu variably appear 
 
 on duty in their uniforms, and nnist wear tlicir satchels while on their rounds. TLcy 
 must be civil, pi'ompt, and faithful in the discharge of their duties. 
 
 Sec. 331. Carriers not to Contract Debts on their Routes. — Carriers who 
 borrow money on their routes, or otherwise contract debts, which they are unable to 
 pay, will render themselves liable to severe censure or dismissal from the service, ac- 
 cording to the aggravation of the case. 
 
 Sec. 332. Carriers not to Solicit Contributions, etc. — Letter-carriers are for- 
 bidden to solicit contriltutions of money, gifts, or presents, in person or through 
 others ; to issue addresses, comi)limentary cards, prints, publications, or any substi- 
 tute therefor, intended or calculated to induce the public to make them gifts or pres- 
 ents ; to sell tickets on their routes to theaters, concerts, balls, fairs, picnics, excur- 
 sions, or places of amusement or entertainment of any kind, or to deliver any matter 
 while on their routes, except such as may be intrusted to them in the regular course 
 of business. 
 
 Sec. 333. Establishment of Street Mailing-boxes. — The Postmaster-General 
 may establish, in places wliere letter-carriers are employed, and in other 
 I)laces where, in his judgment, the public convenience requires it, re- 
 ceiving-boxes for the deposit of mail-matter, and shall cause the matter 
 deposited therein to be collected as often as public convenience may 
 require. (R. S., §38G8.) See section 312. 
 
 Sec. 334. Penalty for Injuring Street Mailing-boxes. — Every person who 
 willfully and maliciously injures, tears down, or destroys any letter-box, 
 pillar-box, or other recei)tacle established by the Postmaster General 
 for the safe deposit of matter for the mail or for delivery, or who will- 
 fully and maliciously assaults any letter-carrier, when in uniform, while 
 engaged on his route in tlie discharge of his duty as a letter-carrier, and 
 every x^erson who willfully aids or assists therein, shall for every such 
 offense be punishable by a tine of not less than one hundred dollars, 
 and not more than one thousand, or by imprisonment for not less than 
 one year and not more than tliree, (K. S., §3S()0.) 
 
 Sec. 335. Carriers must report Injuries to Street Mailing-boxes. — Carriers 
 will report to the postmaster the commission of any of the offenses ])rovided against 
 in tlic preceding section which may come to their knowledge, who, if ho deems it of 
 sufficient importance, Avill confer with the United States attorney and take such steps 
 as he may advise. 
 
 Sec. 336. Establishment of Branch Post-offices. — The Postmaster-General, 
 wheh the public convenience reciuircs it, may cstabHsli within any post- 
 office delivery one or more branch ollices for the receipt and (Unlivery of 
 mail-matter and the sale of stamps and envelopes; and he shall prescribe 
 the rules and regulations for the government thereof. IJut no letter 
 shall be sent for delivery to any branch office contrary to the request of 
 the party to whom it is addressed. (K. S., 3871.) 
 
TITLE II rOST-OFFICES AND POSTMASTERS. f)9 
 
 Sec. 337. No Carriers' Fee permitted. — Xo extra postage or carrier-s' fee 
 sliall be charged or collected upon any mail-matter collected or deliv- 
 ered l»y ciirriers. (K. S., § ;{87;i) 
 
 Sec. 338. The general Delivery to be Discouraged. — i'ersons calling at the 
 
 stations for tlii-ir iiiiiils iiuist be reqiu'stcd to leave tluir adilress, and infornu-d that 
 their letters will he promptly sent to them by carrier, free of charge. But as inst.inces 
 may ocenr in which this rnle might work great inconvenience, the .snperintendtuit, 
 or, in his absence, the officer in charge, may in .such cases deliver lettere to the party 
 
 calling. • 
 
 Sec. 339. Accounts at Carrier Post-offices. — All exi)eu.ses of letter-carriers, 
 branch offices, and receiving-boxes, or incident thereto, shall be kept 
 and reported in a separate acconnt, and .shall be shown in comparison 
 with the i)roceeds from postage on local mail-matter at each office, and 
 the Postmaster-General shall be guided in the expenditures for this 
 branch of the service by the income derived therefrom. (K. S., § 3S74.) 
 
 Sec. 340. Postmasters' reports of Operations. — Postmasters must forward 
 a re])ort of the operations of the carrier system, as required by the preceding section, 
 as early after the close of each month as practicable, to the First Assistant Postmaster- 
 General. The blanks furnished for this purpose must be used. 
 
 Sec. 341. Postmasters' Reports of Expenses. — Postmasters \vill report 
 
 ([uartcrly to the Auditor of the Treasury for the Post-Office Department, and nu)nthly 
 to the First Assistant Postmaster-General, on blanks furnished by the Department, 
 the several items of expense enumerated in section 33^. The pay-roll of letter-carriers, 
 and the account of incidental expenses of the system, must be promptly transmitted to 
 the Auditor at the close of each quarter, accompanied by a voucher for eaih bill paid, 
 together with an affidavit that the expenditures were necessary, and the prices ])aid 
 reasonable. The carriers' pay-roll must state the names of the substitute carriers (other 
 than those appointed by the Department), or carriers emjiloyed temporarily, for whom 
 and how long they served, the necessity for their employment, and the amount paid 
 them, with a voucher for each payment. 
 
 Sec. 342. Rules for Delivery of Matter. — The mails must be assorted and 
 
 the carriers started on their first daily trip as early as practicable. Mail-matter 
 directed to box-numbers must be «lelivered through the boxes. Mail-matter directed 
 to street and number must be delivered by carriers, unless otherwise directed. Mail- 
 matter directed neither to a box-holder nor to a street and uuni1)er. nnist be delivered 
 by carrier if its address is known or can be ascertained from the city directory ; other- 
 wise, at the general delivery. 
 
 Sec. 343. Matter not to be Delivered at Unoccupied Premises. — Carriers 
 must not deliver letters in boxes or other receptacles at premises not occupied, in 
 whole or in part, by the persons to whom the letters are addressed, except by the 
 special order of the postmaster. 
 
 Sec. 344. Matter not to be Delivered in the Street. — A mail-carrier is for- 
 
 bid(U'n to deliver mail-matter in the streets, even to the owners, but nnist deliver all 
 matter at the houses to wliitdi it is addressed. 
 
 Sec. 345. Transient or ♦' to-be-called-for " letters, how treated. — Letters 
 having as a part of their address the words "transient," "to be called for," or other 
 words indicating that they are intended for transient pei'sous, mn.st be sent to the gen- 
 eral delivery, to be delivered on application after proper identification. Letters so 
 directed shall not be delivered by letter-cariiers unless on an order from the party 
 addressed. Other letters without street and number or box number, shall be consid- 
 ered as transient, and sent to the general delivery, unless addressed to some person 
 whose address is known to the distributingclerks or to the carriers. While trial search, 
 
100 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 by directory or otherwise, is being made, tbe letter shall be subject to inquiry and 
 delivery through the geueral delivery, and should not be delayed by taking it froni 
 the post-office. 
 
 Sec. 346. City Directory to be Used to Ascertain Addresses, when. — In cities 
 
 where a directory is published it must be used when necessary to ascertain the address 
 of persons to whom letters are directed (and it should also be used in the case of 
 transient newspapers and other matter of the third and fourth classes, where the error 
 in or omission of street addi'ess is evidently the result of iuadverteuce or ignorance) ; 
 but when circulars, j)riuted postal cards, or other matter (except letters) shall arrive 
 at any post-office in large quantities, which have apparently all been sent by the same 
 person or firm, and from which the street addresses have been purposely omitted, the 
 directory need not be used to supply such omission, and all of such cii'culars, etc., 
 which cannot be readily delivered through boxes or by carriers shall be sent to gen- 
 eral delivery to await call. 
 
 Sec. 347. Carriers to Receive Letters for Mailing. — Carriers are reqiiired, 
 
 while on their rouuds, to receive all letters prepaid by postage-stamps that may be 
 handed to them for mailing, but are strictly forbidden to delay their deliveries bj^ 
 waiting for STich letters, or to receive money to pay postage on letters handed them 
 for mailing. 
 
 Sec. 348. What Carriers may not do. — Carriers are forbiddeu to deliver 
 auy mailable matter which has not passed through the post-office or station with 
 which they are connected, or to exhibit any mail-matter intrusted to them (except on 
 the order of the postmaster or some one authorized to act for him) to persons other 
 than those addressed, or to deviate from their respective routes, or to carry letters in 
 their pockets, or to engage in any business not connected with this service dui-ing 
 their hours of business. 
 
 Sec. 349. Return of Undelivered Matter. — Every letter or package that 
 
 cannot be delivered shall be returned to the post-office or station by the carrier, who 
 shall write upon it the reason for its non-delivery, the initials of his name, and the 
 number of his district. 
 
 Sec. 350. Holiday and Evening Delivery. — The "windows in connection 
 with the carriers' department must be opened for the delivery of mail-matter diuiug 
 office-hours on Sundays, holidays, and in the evening after the last street delivery. 
 
 Sec. 351. Tests of Carriers' Efficiency. — The delivery and collection of 
 
 mail-matter must be tested at frequent and irregular intervals, and carriers must be 
 held to a strict accountability for any omissiou or neglect in these particulars. 
 
 Sec. 352. Prompt and Frequent Deliveries Required. — The mtmber of daily 
 delivery and collection trips by carriers must not be reduced without the authorization 
 of the Department. Letters must l)e frequently and promptly delivered by the car- 
 riers, so that citizens may have no inducement to call at the post-office. Citizens 
 supplied by carriers should be induced to provide receiving-boxes at their houses and 
 places of business. 
 
 Sec. 353. Limited Sale of Stamps by Carriers. — Postmastere must not re- 
 quire nor permit carriers to sell postage-stamps or stamped-envelopes, except in limited 
 quantities ; but under no circumstances must they delay their deliveries or collections 
 to make change. 
 
 Sec. 354. Branch Post-offices or Postal Stations. — Application for the estab- 
 
 lisluneut of branch jiosl -offices or postal stations must be nuide to the First Assistant 
 Postniaster-(;eueral, setting fcnih iu full tlu^ necessity ;uid expeuse tliereof. 
 
 Sec. 355. Mails between Stations and the General Post-Office. — The mails 
 from the post-office to the stations, and return, must be conveyed with the greatest 
 ])racticnble dis])atcli, and ))y the nutst expeditious routes. 
 
 Sec. 356. Advertised Letters. — The advertised list of letters must desig- 
 nate those remainiug at the post-office, and those remaining at each station. Such 
 
TITLE II I'().ST-OFFICE« AND TOSTMASTEKS. lOl 
 
 letters must bo iltiliverod wlioii ciilloil for, and tlio iiddressoes iiiforiucd tliut, if tlicy will 
 leave their address, their letters will iu future be promptly sent to them by earners, 
 fre(> of eluujic. 
 
 Sec. 357. Care of Street Mailing-Boxes. — Street mailing-boxes imist be 
 
 kept in repair, ami in a neat condition, and (irmly fastened to the post. A list nuist 
 1)0 kept in tin* ]U)st-ortice of their number aTid loeation. 
 
 Sec. 358. Postmasters to inspect Stations. — The .statioii.s must be fre- 
 
 (piently visited by the postmasti^r, or by some one designated by him, who shall .see 
 that these rogulatious are enforced, and that proper order and discipline are main- 
 tained. 
 
 Sec. 359. Carriers' Daily Return of Property and Mail. — After the last daily 
 delivery, the carriers nnist return their satchels, keys, and all the mail-matter they 
 cannot deliver to the i)ost-olhco or station with which they are connected. Carriers 
 must bo held to the strictest accountability for the keys to the street mailing-boxes 
 intrusted to them, the loss of Avhich will be regarded as a grave offense, and render 
 them liable to removal. 
 
 Sec. 360. Carriers must not return Deposited Letters. — Carriers are for- 
 bidden, under any circumstances, to return to any person whatever letters deposited 
 
 in the street mailing-boxes. 
 
 Sec. 361. Delivery of Registered Letters by Carriers. — Postmasters will 
 
 hand to the letter-cari-iers, for delivery, all registered letters (excepting those ad- 
 dressed to box-holders), requiring them first to sign their names in the last column of 
 the record-of-registered-matter-received-and-delivered. The carriers will, on the de- 
 livery of every such letter, require the i)orsou receiving it to sign the registry-return 
 receipt, and also a receiiit for the same in the carriers'-registry-delivery-book. Car- 
 riers must exercise the ntmost caution in the delivery of these letters to the party 
 addressed, or to some responsilile person whom they know to be authorized to receive 
 them. See also sections 866-870. 
 
 Sec. 362. Postmasters to supervise Carrier Service. — Postmasters will see 
 
 that the superintendents of carriers' stations, and the carriers and clerks connected 
 with this service, are informed of the highly responsible character of the duties re- 
 quired of them. They will issue, from time to time, such orders and instructions as 
 may he found necessary to carry out these regulations and to maintain proper order. 
 The carrier ilisobeying such orders will be reprimanded by the postmaster, or reported 
 for removal to the First Assistant Postmaster-General, as the case may require. 
 
 Sec. 363. Arrest of Persons found Tampering with Boxes. — Postmasters 
 
 will arrange with the police authorities of their several cities for the arrest of all 
 persons iu citizens' dress found tampering with or collecting from the street mailing- 
 boxes; also, of all persons wearing the carriers' uniform (including the carriers), 
 found tampering with or collecting from the boxes at other than the usual and regu- 
 lar colleetion rounds, of which the police authorities nnist be kept informed. 
 
 Sec. 364. "Cave Canem" — "Beware of the Dog." — Carriers are not re- 
 quired to run the risk of being bitten by dangerous dogs in delivering mail-matter. 
 Persons keeping such dogs must call at the post-otfice for their mail, or if they wish it 
 delivered at their houses, must satisfy the postmaster that it is safe for the carrier to 
 so deliver it. 
 
 Sec. 365. Supplies for Carrier Post-Offices. — Street mailing-boxes, blank- 
 books, blank-forms, and carriers' satchels will be furnished on application to the First 
 Assistant Postmaster-General ; and locks and keys for street mailing-boxes on applica- 
 tion to the Second Assistant Postmaster-General. All other letters relating to this 
 branch of the service must be addressed to the First Assistant Postmaster-General. 
 
 Sec. 366. Manner of Keeping Books. — IJlank books furnished for this 
 branch of the service must be conectly and neatly kept according to their design, 
 and bo at all times subject to examination by the Special Agents of this Department, 
 
102 
 
 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 CHAPTER NINE. 
 
 DISTRIBUTION AND DISPATCH OF ORDINARY DOMESTIC MAIL- 
 MATTER. 
 
 Sec. 
 
 367. Postmasters to receive and. dispatcli mail 
 
 matter. 
 
 368. Time of closing the mail. 
 
 369. Piefereuce given to letters over other mail- 
 
 matter, when. 
 
 370. Penalty for unlawfully detaining mail-matter. 
 
 371. Prepaid matter to be forwarded, if requested. 
 
 372. Erroneously delivered redirected matter to be 
 
 forwarded. 
 
 373. Letters mailed under cover to postmasters, 
 
 how treated. 
 
 374. Postmasters to receipt for copyright matter. 
 
 375. Postage-stamps to be canceled. 
 
 376. Eetum-stamps on return-postal-cards and let- 
 
 ter-enveloj)es. 
 
 377. Manner of canceling stamps. 
 
 378. Treatment of matter bearing canceled or im- 
 
 proper stamps. 
 
 379. All mail-matter other than second class to be 
 
 postmarked. 
 
 380. Impressions to be taken of the dated stamps. 
 
 381. How to secure legible stamping. 
 
 382. Treatment of first-class matter received in 
 
 bad order. 
 
 383. Distribution and dispatch of mails. 
 
 384. INo changes except in cases of emergency. 
 38.5, Distribution of mails by schemes. 
 
 386. What States should be distributed. 
 
 387. Mail to be ihade up by States. 
 
 388. Local mail for raih'oad and steamboat lines. 
 
 389. Other than local mail sent to railroad and 
 
 steamboat lines. 
 
 Sec. 
 
 390. Making up local mail for railway lines. 
 
 391. Make direct packages for horse routes. 
 
 392. Making up mail beyond last post-office on 
 
 stage route. 
 
 393. Letters for delivery and distribution in sepa- 
 
 rate packages. 
 
 394. Direct packages. 
 
 395. Letters must not be placed in pouch loose. 
 
 396. Facing slips to be used. 
 
 397. Checking errors. 
 
 398. Disposition of slips received. 
 
 399. Absence of slips on packages or in sacks. 
 
 400. Slips and schemes furnished. 
 
 401. Report of uuworked mail received. 
 
 402. Report of all irregularities. 
 
 403. No through pouches by mail trains. 
 
 404. Changes in forwarding mads. 
 
 405. Hooks prohibited in handling mail-bags. 
 
 406. Letters with stamps canceled not to be re- 
 
 turned. 
 
 407. Letters not to be placed under straps of 
 
 pouches. 
 
 408. Printed labels furnished to be returned. 
 
 409. Application for printed labels. 
 
 410. Time of closing mails. 
 411 Pouches to be examined. 
 412. Mails stopping overnight. 
 
 U^ For instructions as to the distribution and 
 dispatch of registered matter, see Title V- 
 
 |!y° Por instruction as to the dispatch of foreign 
 mails, see Title VII. 
 
 Sec. 367. Postmasters to Receive and Dispatch Mail-matter. — Every post- 
 master shall keep an [post] office in which one or more i)ersons shall be on 
 dnty during such hours of each day as the Postmaster-General may di- 
 rect, for the purpose of receiving, delivering, making up, and forwarding 
 all mail-matter received thereat. (K, S., § 3839.) 
 
 Sec. 368. Time of Closing the Mails, — All letters brought to any post- 
 oflice half an hour before the time for the departure of the mail shall be 
 forwarded therein ; but at [post] offices where, in tlie opinion of the Post- 
 master-General, iiKU'e time for making up the mail is recpiired, he may 
 prescribe accordingly, not e-\cecding one liour, (li. S., § 3840.) 
 
 Sec. 369. Preference given to Letters over other Mail-matter., — AVhen the 
 amount of mail-matter to be carried on any mail-route is so great as to 
 seriously retard the progress or endanger the security of the letter-mail, 
 or materially increase tlie cost of carriage at the ordinary rate of speed, 
 tlie Postmaster-General may provide for the separate carriage of the 
 letter-mail at the usual rate of speed ; but the other mail-matter shall 
 
TITLE II rOST-OFFICES AND TOSTMASTERS. 103 
 
 uot bo delayed any more than is absolutely necessary, liavin;;- due re- 
 gard to the cost of expedition and the means at his disposal for [affect- 
 in(j\ [elVectiu-J the sanu'. (K. S., § ;'.!l!»4.) 
 
 Sec. 370. Penalty for Unlawfully Detaining Mail-matter. — Any i)ostmaster 
 who shall unlawfully detain in his [post] office any letter or other mail- 
 matter, the postiufi" of which is not prohibited by law, with intent to 
 prevent the arrival and delivery of the same to the per.son to whom it 
 is addressed, shall be punishable by a fine of not more than five hun- 
 dred dollars, and by imprisonment for not more than six mouths, and 
 he shall be forcA er thereafter incapable of holding the ollice of post- 
 master. (K. S., § ;i89(K) 
 
 Sec. 371. Prepaid Matter to be Forwarded if Requested. — Prepaid letters 
 shall be forwarded from one post-oftice to another, at the request of the 
 l»arty addressed, without additional charge for postage. (R. S., § 3940.) 
 
 All letters upon which oue full rate of postage has beeu prepaid shall, and all other 
 fully prepaid matter may be forwarded at the request of the party addressed, without 
 additional cliarjie for ])ostao;p. 
 
 Sec. 372. Erroneously Delivered, Redirected Matter to be Forwarded. — When 
 
 auy article of mail-matter is taken from the post-otfice, or delivered by a carrier, the 
 connection of the ])ost-office has presumptively terminated. If, however, such matter 
 shall nave been erroneously delivered, or being addressed to the care of another per- 
 son shall be immediately returned by him redirected, it shall be the duty of the post- 
 master to forward or redeliver such matter without extra charge. 
 
 Sec. 373 Letters mailed under cover to Postmaster — how treated. — Inas- 
 much as by law all first-class matter on which one full rate of postage is prepaid must 
 be forwarded, it is the duty of a postmaster to forward such mail-matter which may 
 reach him under cover from any other post-office with or without request to mail the 
 same. Before forwarding such matter he should cancel the stamps and indorse iu 
 writing on the reverse side of such matter the following : " Rkceived at , rxDER 
 
 COVER FRO.^I THE POST-OFFICE AT . TO BE FORWARDED IX THE MAIL." 
 
 Sec. 374. Postmasters to Receipt for Copyright Matter. — The postmaster to 
 whom any \such] copyright book, title, or other article is delivered, shall, if 
 requested, give a receipt therefor ; and when so delivered he shall mail it 
 to its destination. (R. S., § 4901.) 
 
 Sec. 375. Postage-stamps to be Canceled. — Postage-stamps affixed to all 
 maU-matter or the stamjied envelopes iu which the same is inclosed 
 shall, Avhen deposited for mailing or delivery, be defaced by the post- 
 master at the mailing [i^ostj office, in such manner as the Postmaster- 
 General may direct ; and if any mail-matter shall be forwarded without 
 the stamps or envelopes being so defaced, the postmaster at the office of 
 delivery shall deface them, and report the deUnquent postmaster to the 
 Postmaster-General. (R. S., § 3921.) 
 
 Sec. 376. Return Stamps on Postal-cards and Letter-envelopes. — Should re- 
 turn postal cards and return letter envelopes be issued by the Department, the retitru 
 stamps must not be canceled until the matter is deposited in some post-office for re- 
 turn to the sender. See section 143. 
 
 Sec. 377. Manner of Canceling Stamps. — The cancellation or defacing 
 
 required by section 375 must be ettected by the use of black printing-ink, wherever that 
 material can be obtained; and where it cannot, the operation should be performed 
 
104 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 by making several heavy crosses or parallel lines upon each stamp, with a pen dippe.i 
 in good black writing-ink. The use of the office rating or postmarking stamp as a 
 canceling instrument is positively prohibited, inasmuch as the postmark, when im- 
 pressed on the postage-stamj), is usually indistinct, and the cancellation effected 
 therelty is imperfect. 
 
 See. 378. Treatment of Matter Bearing Canceled or Improper Stamps. — 
 When matter bearing previously-used stamps is deposited for mailing, and the post- 
 master can identify the mailing party without violating the seal of such matter, it is 
 his duty to bring the case to the notice of the United States district attorney, that 
 the offender may be prosecuted. If the person mailing such matter cannot be identi- 
 fied as above, then it should be treated as held for postage. Mail-matter bearing 
 stamps other than postage-stamps, or stamps cut from stamped envelopes, newspaper 
 wrappers, or from postal cards, should be treated as held for postage. Mutilated 
 stamps and fractional x>arts of postage-stamps and postage-due stamps cannot be 
 recognized in prepayment of postage. For exam^de, a letter or package to which one 
 two-cent stamp and the half of another two-cent stamp are affixed cannot be consid- 
 ered as having been iirepaid three cents, but only two cents ; and a letter or package 
 on which eighteen cents postage is chargeable cannot be prepaid in full by affixing a 
 six-cent stamp and the half of a twenty-four-cent stamp. 
 
 Sec. 379. All Mail-matter other than Second Class to be Postmarked. — All 
 mailable matter (except that of tlie second class) deposited in any post-office for mail- 
 ing or delivery must bear a postmark giving the name of the post-office and an abbre- 
 viation of the name of the State (and on first-class matter the date of deposit); and 
 all letters received from other offices or post-offices for delivery or for redistribution to 
 other offices or post-offices must be postmarked on the reverse side, ■with the date and, 
 when possible, the hour on which they are received. But in the case of packages of 
 letters from other offices or post-offices, received to be forwarded intact to the post- 
 offices of final destination, the facing-slips only will be postmarked at the post-offices 
 through which they pass. Missent matter of any class, received at any post-office, 
 must be postmarked Avith the date of receipt before the same is forwarded to its i^roper 
 destination. First-class post-offices may be exempted from the operations of this sec- 
 tion if upon evidence satisfactory to the Postmaster-General they shall show it to be 
 impracticable to comply with its provisions. 
 
 Sec. 380. Impressions to be taken of the Dated Stamp. — The figures of the 
 
 dated stamp must be carefully adjusted at the beginning of each day; and as soon as 
 this has been done, a clear impression must be made in a book specially provided for 
 the purjjose, so as to afford evidence of the coiTect discharge of this duty : special 
 care must be taken not to omit the Sunday impression of the stamp. If the stamp is 
 fitted with letters and figures indicating the hour at which any let-ter amves or in dis- 
 patched, care must be taken to change them punctually at the ai)pointed periods. If 
 this is not done, the postmaster maj' often be blamed for a delay which has not occurred 
 at his post-office. An impression must be made in the book provided of every dated 
 stamp used T)y the jiostmaster throughout the day, and each impression should be 
 taken iuunediately a change is made either in the date or hour. 
 
 Sec. 381. How to secure Legible Stamping. It is necessary, not only that 
 
 the impression of every official stamp should bo legible, but that it should be perfect 
 in every particular; so that each letter and figure of the stamp maybe quite clear. 
 To effect this, attention must be paid to the following points: The stamp must bo kept 
 perfectly clean, which may be done most effectually by brushing it with a brush slightly 
 wetted and dipped in powdered potash or soda. Typo which has been used must be 
 cleaned before it is replaced in the box. The stamp should bo held firndy in the hand 
 and struck upon the letter with a light sharp Idow; care being taken not to let the 
 stamp fall upon the inipression made at another post-office. It is in the power of any 
 person, by attention and [)ractice, to become a good and rapid 8tani]>or. 
 
 Sec. 382. Treatment of First-class Matter received in bad order — All mail- 
 
TITLE II I'OST-OFFICES AND POSTMASTERS. 105 
 
 matter of the first class deposited in or received at any i)ost-iit1iie unsealed or in a 
 mutilated or otlierwiee bad condition must be stamped or marked with the name of 
 the post-office, date, and the words •' Received unsealed" or "Received in bad order," 
 as the (iise may be, and bo resoaled before beiufj forwarded or delivered. 
 Sec. 383. Distribution and Dispatch of Mails.— In the distribution and 
 
 <lisiiat(h of in.iils. all i)()stmasters will be <;()venied by orders from the General 
 Superintendent of Rnilway Mail Service, or from the Division Superintendent of rail- 
 way mail service acting under him, excepting foreign mails outward from exchange 
 liost-ollices, which are under the control of the Suiierintendent of Foreign Mails. In 
 the absence of other instructions, every postmaster whose po.st-oflice is situated upon 
 a railroad, will mail all matter direct to the ears, unless it be addressed to post- 
 offices directly connected with his own by star or steamboat routes. Postmasters at 
 other post-offices will mail to the nearest post-office upon a railroad all matter which 
 cannot be sent direct to its destination by star or steamboat route. See section 707. 
 
 Sec. 384. No Changes except in Emergency. — i^o change in distribution 
 or dispatch must be made wdthout lirst obtaining such an order, except in cases of 
 enun-gency ; and in all such cases an immediate report, giving the reasons for such 
 change, nuist T>e made to the Superintendent of Railway Mail Service for the division 
 in which the post-office may be situated. 
 
 Sec. 385. Distribution of Mails by Schemes.— Postmasters will carefully 
 
 distribute and make up mails by the official schemes which may be furnished them, 
 and will conform to any changes that may be made in same by the Suiierintendent of 
 the Division, and will make up and exchange only such pouches as may be ordered by 
 him. But such post-offices may be excepted from the requirements of this section as 
 the General Su])eri7itendent may direct. 
 
 Sec. 386. What States should be Distributed.— A distribution or separa- 
 tion should be made of mail only for such States or portions of States as can be ad- 
 vanced or expedited by reason of such distribution. 
 
 Sec. 387. Mail to be made up by States. — All mail for States of which no 
 
 distribution is made must be made up "by States" (and facing-slips used, in accord- 
 ance with section 896); that is, letter and circular mail for each State must be made 
 up in packages, and newspaper mail in canvas sacks, by itself, and the name of the 
 State marked on the slip covering the package or tag attached to the sack. 
 
 Sec. 388. Local Mail for Railroad and Steamboat Lines. — Mail to be for- 
 warded to local post-offices on railroad or steamboat lines should Ite made up in pack- 
 ages, addressed to the proper railway or steamboat office, and containing only the local 
 mail 8U])])lied by that line, as given in the official schemes. 
 
 Sec. 389. Other than Local Mail Sent to Railroad and Steamboat Lines. — All 
 other mail, not local, sent to or via such lines, should bo nuide by States, if sitfflcient 
 to do so, and if not, then put all in one package, addressed with the name of the rail- 
 way (or steamboat) office in whose pouch it is forwarded, adding "State of ," to 
 
 indicate that it contains other than local. 
 
 Sec. 390. Making up Local Mail for Railway Lines. — Post-offices on railroad 
 lines, in making up local mail for such line, will make two packages, one for the train 
 going north or south, east or Avest, as the case may be, and, in addressing the pack- 
 ages, will add the direction in which it is intended to be sent. 
 
 Sec. 391. Make Direct Packages for Horse-routes. — In making up mail to 
 be forwarded by a horse or stage route, a direct package should be tied out for each 
 post-office, including the last one, on such route, so as to facilitate the handling of the 
 mail by the intermediate post-otlices. 
 
 Sec. 392. Making up Mail beyond last Post-office on Stage-route. — Mail 
 
 from a post-office on and to be forwarded by a horse or stage route and beyond the 
 last post-office on such route, should be made up " by States," as far as i)ossible, or if 
 
106 POSTAL LAWS AND EEGULATIONS. 
 
 uot sufficient to do so, then in one package, marking the name of such hist post-office 
 on the slip covering the same and adding the abbreviation "Dis.," to indicate that 
 the package is for distribution. 
 
 Sec. 393. Letters for Delivery and Distribution in Separate Packages. — Let- 
 ter and circular mail for delivery and mail for distribution at a post-office must alwaj^s 
 be made up in separate packages. 
 
 Sec. 394. Direct Packages. — Making a direct package is placing all let- 
 ters for one post-office in a package by themselves, with a plainly-addressed letter for 
 such post-office faced out on each side. 
 
 Sec. 395. Letters must not be placed in Pouch Loose. — Letter and circular 
 
 mail must always be properly " faced up " and tied in packages, and never placed in 
 the pouch loose. 
 
 Sec. 396. Facing-slips to be used. — Facing-slips must be placed upon aU 
 
 packages of letters and circulars, and in each canvas sack of newspapers, the same to 
 be securely tied on the package, or if newspapers, placed in the sack, and have on 
 each the address or destination of the package or sack, the post-mark, with date and 
 time of close or dispatch, and the name of the person making up the same. 
 
 Sec. 397. Checking Errors. — All errors found in the distribution of a 
 package of letters or in a sack of newspapers must be noted on the reverse side of the 
 slip covering or inside of the same, giving the name of the post-office and State, and 
 the county, when included in the superscription, adding thereto the name of the per- 
 son noting the errors, and postmark with date. 
 
 Sec. 398. Disposition of Slips received. — All slips received upon packages 
 of letter or circular mail or in sacks of newspaper mail must be preserved and for- 
 warded to the Division Superintendent. First and second class post-offices will for- 
 ward such slips daily, and all other post-offices at the end of each week. SUps ou 
 which errors are checked should be forwarded in sealed official penalty-envelopes. 
 
 Sec. 399. Absence of Slips on Packages or in Sacks. — If no slips are re- 
 ceived on the packages or in sacks, notify Division Superintendents, stating, if possible, 
 the office or post-office from which the mail was received, and if newspaper mail, 
 forward the label received on the sack. 
 
 Sec. 400. Slips and Schemes furnished. — Postmasters can obtain facing- 
 slips from the Superintendent Railway Mail Service in whose division their post-offices 
 are located ; also, official schemes of distribution, or any information relating to the 
 same. 
 
 Sec. 401. Report of Unworked Mail received. — Postmasters will report to 
 
 the Di\-ision Superintendent all mail sent to their post-offices which should have been 
 distributed and made up by railway mail employes, forwarding with report the slips 
 covering the same, or if newspaper mail, the labels received on the sacks. 
 
 Sec. 402. Report of all Irregularities. — They will also promptly report 
 
 to the Division Superintendent any and all irregularities in the receipt of mails for 
 or at their post-offices, and any other irregularity aflfecting the proper dispatch or for- 
 warding of nuiils which may be brought to their attention. 
 
 Sec. 403. No Through Pouches by Mail-trains Postmasters will not make 
 
 any through iioiiclics to l)e forwarded by mail-trains unless specially instructed to do 
 so. The mail sliould be jjroperly made up and placed in tlui pouch for the railway mail 
 employ^. 
 Sec. 404. Changes in Forwarding Mails. — Any changes which i)ostinasters 
 
 thiuk should be made in the for\var<liiig of mail from their post-othces should bo re- 
 ported to the Division Suix'rinteiident for att(>nti()u. 
 
 Sec. 405. Hooks prohibited in Handling Mail-bags. — The use of hooks in 
 
 liandling jjiail-bags is forbidden. 
 
TITLE II I'OS'I'-OFFICKS AND POSTMASTKKS. 1()7 
 
 Sec. 406. Letters with Stamps canceled not to be returned. — After cancel- 
 ing: the stiinips a jiostm.istcr iiiiisf not rctnrii the; letter to the jxji-son ninilin^ it for 
 liini to take to tlic train. It ninst he forwarded in the i)on(li, as railway mail eni- 
 ))loyt^s are jirohihited Ironi reeeivinjf it; and any person offering; Hneh letter to an 
 eni])li>y('- for iii.iillM,^ is niiilty oC a iriisili'nir;nior iindci- the law. See section Ti.Vi. 
 
 Sec. 407. Letters not to be placed under Strap of Pouches. — After ])()uches 
 
 are closed and dispatched from a post-ollieo lettei's must not Ini placed nnder the strap 
 or attached to the outside of the ])ouch. If this is done at the depot inform the mail 
 messenj;er, and have the practice discontinued. 
 
 Sec. 408. Printed Labels furnished to be Returned. — Printed wooden labels 
 
 for sacks of newspaper mail and i)rinted slide-labels for pouches must he taken oif 
 when the sacks or pouches are opened, and returned by first mail to the i)()st-o(hce or 
 lino from which they were received, the wooden lal>ols to be classed with newspaper 
 mail and the slide-labels as letter mail. Under no circumstances are auy of such labels 
 to be defaced or destroyed. 
 
 Sec. 409. Application for Printed Labels. — Postmasters will send to 
 
 Division .Superiuteudeut lists of such printed wooden or slide labels as may be needed 
 for vise at their post-offices. 
 
 Sec. 410. Time of Closing Mails. — Mails at first-class post-ofiices are to 
 
 he closed not more than one hour aud at all other offices not more than half an hour 
 before the schedule time of departure of trains, unless such departure is betweeu the 
 hours of 9 p. m. and 5 a. m., when they can be closed at 9 p. m. The jjost-office at 
 New York City is excepted from the requirement of this section. 
 
 Sec. 411. Pouches to be examined. — When a pouch or canvas is opened 
 
 it should be carefully examined to see that no mail is left therein. 
 
 Sec. 412. Mail stopping overnight — When the mail stops overnight 
 where there is a post-ofilice, it must he kept in the post-office, except at points where 
 otherwise ordered by the Departmeut. 
 
 CHAPTER TEN. 
 
 SUPERINTENDENTS OF MAILS AT POST-OFFICES OF THE FIRST AND 
 
 SECOND CLASS. 
 
 Sec. Sec. 
 
 413. Appointmeut of Superiutenilents of Mails. | 416. Examination of slips. 
 
 414. General duties of Superintendents of Mails. ; 417. Postmasters to be furnished witli tho record. 
 
 415. Kecord and report of errors in distribution. | 
 
 Sec. 413. Appointment of Superintendent of Mails. — The General Super- 
 intendent of the Railway Mail Servict; of the Post-Office Department shall designate 
 post-offices of the tirst and second classes at which clerks shall be appointed to super- 
 inteiul the distributicm of mails, and to bo known by the title of " Supeiintendeut of 
 Mails," who shall be appointed upon the nomination of said General Superiuteudeut 
 of Railway ilail Service, approved by the rostnKister-C4eneral. 
 
 Sec. 414. General Duties of Superintendents of Mails. — Where superin- 
 
 tendeuts of mails are designated, they will have entire charge of tho distribution and 
 dispatch of all mails at such post-offices. They will see that tho distribution of the 
 post-office is done in accordance with the latest official schemes ; that such schemes 
 are kept corrected to date, as per changes issued by Division Superintendents ; that 
 case examiuations of distributing clerks on the official schemes of distribution are 
 kept up. 
 
108 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 Sec. 415. Record and Report of Errors in Distribution. — Siiperiuteudeiits of 
 
 mails will keep a record of the errors made by each distributing clerk in a post. office 
 and report the same to the postmaster at the end of each month, or oftener, if he 
 desires. He Avill also report all case examinations had in like manner. 
 
 Sec. 416. Examination of Slips. — Superintendents of mails will examine 
 the slips on which errors in distribution hav^e been noted, returned to the post-office 
 by the Division Superintendent, and will, after making a record of the same, retiirn 
 them to the clerks by whom the distril)ution was made. 
 
 Sec. 417. Postmasters to be Furnished With the Record of Errors. — The 
 superintendent of mails must work in harmony with the other departments of the 
 post-office at which he is designated, and endeavor by every means to promote its effi- 
 ciency as Avell as that of the service. He will also keep the postmaster advised of the 
 record both of errors in distribution and of the result of case examinations, as well 
 as the general efficiency of each clerk under his supervision. 
 
 CHAPTER ELEVEN. 
 
 CASE EXAMINATION OF POST-OFFICE CLERKS. 
 
 Sec. I Sec. 
 
 418. Case ex.aminations of distributing clerks. 423. Slips witli errors noted to be compared wiMi 
 
 419. N.ature of case ex.aminations. schemes. 
 
 420. Verbal examination of clerks. 424. Monthly reports of case examinations. 
 
 421. Postmasters' order-hook. 425. Incompetent distributing clerks to he re- 
 
 422. Orders to be signed by clerks. I moved. 
 
 Sec. 418. Case Examinations of Distributing Clerks. — With the view of 
 having distributing clerks become familiar with schemes of distribution, and thereby 
 increase their knowledge of the distribution as well as the efficiency of the service, post- 
 masters at first and second class post-offices will require distributing clerks in their 
 post-offices to be examined from time to time on schemes of such States as are required 
 to be distributed at their post-offices. 
 
 Sec. 419. Nature of Case Examinations. — These examinations will consist 
 of the distribution, from memory, and into a case for that purpose, of cards, representing 
 the counties or post-offices of any State of which distribution is made, and in accord- 
 ance with the official schemes. After the cards have been distributed they nuist bo 
 examined l)y some person thoroughly acquainted with the distribution of such State. 
 
 Sec. 420. Verbal Examination of Clerks. — Clerks should also be sharply 
 
 questioned as to the proper routes to which mails are dispatched from their post-offices 
 after they are made up, and also respecting such orders relating to tlio making up and 
 dispatch of mails as may have, from time to time, been given them. 
 
 Sec. 421. Postmasters' Order-Book. — Postmasters at first and second class 
 
 post-offices will keep an order-book, in which all orders relating to the making up 
 and dispatch of mails at their post-offices, all official cluuiges in schemes which are 
 received from Division Supcriutcndont, are to be inserted by record or otherwise, and 
 require distributing clerks to ex.amine the s.ame daily. 
 
 Sec. 422. Orders to be Signed by Clerks. — Each order should be signed by 
 
 all the distri))nting chu'lvs .as an indication that it has been oxamini'd. 
 
 Sec. 423. Slips with Errors noted to be Compared with Schemes. — All slips 
 on which errors are noted which have been returned to the postmaster by the Division 
 Superintendent must be carefully compared with the schemes and orders by which the 
 distribution was made and a record kept of the same, the slips being returned to the 
 clerk making such distribution. 
 
TITLE II I'OST-OFFICES AND TOSTMASTERS. 
 
 10!) 
 
 Sec. 424. Monthly Reports of Case Examinations. — A report inu.st be made 
 
 at the end of «.':icli inontli to tlit; Gt-iienil SiipiTintciulcut of tlio Kaihvay Mail Service 
 for thi> iiit'orination of tlit^ Di'j>artiii('nt, of tin- result of all cii,si» cxaiiiiiiations ami the 
 record of errors of each dislril>unii;j;-c!crk in the iHi.st-ollice. 
 
 Sec. 425. Incompetent Distributing-clerks to be Removed. — \\'lien tlic rec- 
 ord of case examinations and errors made in the distribution and forwarding of the 
 mails by any clerk iu the post-office is l)elow what is required for the correct perform- 
 ance of such duties, snch clerk must not be continued in that position, but a more 
 competeut jiersou must be assigned to the i)lace. 
 
 CHAPTER TWELVE. 
 
 RECEIVING AND DISPATCHING MAILS AT CATCHER POST-OFFICES. 
 
 Sec. 
 
 426. Cranes aud catcher-pouches. 
 
 427. How to preiuire pouches and hang them on 
 
 the crane. 
 
 428. Catcher-pouches to he used for no other pur- 
 
 Ijose. 
 
 Sec. 
 
 429. Only fifty pounds of mail allowed in catcher- 
 
 pouches. 
 
 430. Special instructions to xwstmasters served hy 
 
 catchers. 
 
 Sec. 426. Cranes and Catcher-Pouchers. — For the piirijose of exchanging 
 
 mails at certain way aud flag .stations between the post-offices at these places and the 
 railway offices, without an abatement or loss of speed of the train, the Post-Office 
 Department has introduced the use of a "mail-catcher," causing the erection at each 
 of such stations of a " crane" on which the pouch to be exchanged by the postmasters 
 is to be hung, and has furnished a supply of canvas pouches with rings attached to 
 both top and bottom, and strap with buckle attached to the center; these pouches to 
 be used only in making such exchanges. 
 
 Sec. 427. How to Prepare Pouches and Hang them on the Crane. — 1st. The 
 
 pouch or mail-bag should be prepared iu the 
 following manner. If only a small mail is to 
 lie sent let it remain in the bottom of the 
 pouch, but if a large mail is to be sent di- 
 vide it, put part in the top, but most in the 
 bottom.. Buckle the strap around the center 
 of pouch M. In case the strap is gone, tie 
 the middle of the pouch, as seen iu the dia- 
 gram. It is worse than useless to haug up a 
 bag crammed full like a bag of grain. 
 
 2d. Haug the bottom of the pouch on the 
 upper iron S of the crane A, turn all directly 
 to the track, then lift lower arm B and place 
 the iron S iu the ring of the pouch, slip the 
 socket down the stem until there is sufficieut 
 strain on the jiouch to hold it from blowing 
 down. If a strong wind is blowing, tie the 
 pouch to the two irons S, by the rings, with 
 one strand of ordinary post-office twine. 
 Hang the pouch lock end down. 
 
 3d. \Yhen the service occurs in the night, or between suuset and snurise, haug a 
 light on or near the crane. This is important. 
 
 Sec. 428. Catcher-pouches to be Used for no other Purpose. — These canvas 
 
110 
 
 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 pouches were manufactured expressly and only for such exchanges, and must be used 
 for no other purj^ose. It is absolutely necessary that a prompt and regular exchange 
 of the same pouches be always kept up, and employes of the Railway Mail Service are 
 instructed to report to their Division Superintendent every case where a postmaster 
 fails to return to the railway office the pouch last given him. 
 
 Sec. 429. Only Fifty Pounds of Mail allowed in Catcher-pouches. — The catch- 
 ers are especially designed to take on the trains for distribution and dispatch letter- 
 mail, but paper and other mail may be inclosed to a maximum weight of fifty pounds. 
 If more than this weight is to be sent, as at post-offices where paper's are published, the 
 paper mail should be sacked and sent by local train to the nearest express stop, thence 
 placed in the mail-cars. 
 
 Sec. 430. Special Instructions to Postmasters Served hy Catchers. — Post- 
 masters at post-offices at which mail-trains do not stop, and which are supplied by 
 " catcher service," will carefully comply with the following instructions : 
 
 1st. See that none but "catcher "-pouches .are used. 
 
 2d. After the mail is placed in the pouch and locked, see that the x^ouch is seciu-ely 
 strapped or tied around the middle. 
 
 3d. See that the pouch is secui-ely suspended on the crane, with the lock downward, 
 not exceeding ten minutes before the schedule time of arrival of the train. 
 
 4th. If from any cause the pouch should not be caught by the train and a pouch is 
 put off, return the extra pouch to the next mail-train by securing it to the pouch 
 in which the mail is sent and strapping or tying the two pouches jiogether at the 
 middle as one pouch. 
 
 5th. Under no circumstances should "catcher "-pouches be sent out ui)on any stage 
 or horseback routes, or used for any other purpose tlian to exchange mails where trains 
 do not stop. 
 
 6th. Postmasters must not permit "catcher "-pouches to accumulate at their post- 
 offices, but must return them to the mail-trains at once. 
 
 7th. If the crane at your st.ation should get out of position or repair so as to inter- 
 fere witli the exchange of mails, report the fact at once to the Division Superintend- 
 ent, so that the attention of the railroad company can be called to the matter. 
 
 CHAPTER THIRTEEN. 
 
 DISPOSAL OF UNMAILABLE, UNDELIVERED, AND DEAD MAIL- 
 MATTER. 
 
 Sec. 
 
 431. Unmailable matter to be sent to the Dead- 
 
 Letter Office. 
 
 432. Defluition and cla.ssiflcation of uumailable 
 
 matter. 
 
 433. Definition and clasaiflcation of dead matter. 
 
 434. First-class matter not to be held unmailablo 
 
 on mere suspicion. 
 
 435. Unmailablo matter from r.ailw.ay offices, how 
 
 treated. 
 
 436. Uumailable matter inadvertently forwai'ded, 
 
 how treated. 
 
 437. Postmasters to return unmaihible matter to 
 
 senders. 
 
 438. Matter returned to senders at other post- 
 
 offices. 
 
 439. Held for postage matter tliat cannot bo re- 
 
 turned to sender. 
 
 Sec. 
 440. 
 441. 
 
 442. 
 
 443. 
 
 444. 
 
 445. 
 446. 
 44T. 
 448. 
 449. 
 450. 
 451. 
 4.^0 
 
 Disposition of destructive unniailabhi matter. 
 Send unmailablo matter promptly to Dead 
 
 Letter Office. 
 How matter must be sent to the Dead-Letter 
 
 Office. 
 How to make up and transmit returns of uu 
 
 mailable mattei'. 
 Advertisement of unclaimed and luidelivered 
 
 matter. 
 Advertising foreign letters. 
 Disj)layiug lists of advertised letters. 
 Pay for advortisbig letters. 
 Chai'go on advertised letters. 
 Advertisement of un<;laimed matter. 
 Matter th.at sho\rtd not bo advertised. 
 Form of the advertisement. 
 Advertisements iu newsiiapors. 
 
TITLE II POST-OFFICES AND POSTMASTERS. 
 
 Ill 
 
 Soc. I Sec. 
 
 453. Ailvortisod iiiiittcr to ho 8<) mavkoil. [ 470. 
 
 454. Letters from Dead- Letter Oflico to be adver- 
 
 tised. 471. 
 
 4.')5. yietitioua matter not to bo advertised. 472. 
 
 450. Keqiie.st matter. 473. 
 
 4.")7. Card matter. 474. 
 
 4."i8. Postasie must be prepaid on card and request 475. 
 
 ninKer. 470. 
 
 459. Unilainied orticial matter to bo treated a.s 477. 
 
 card matter. 478. 
 
 400. Postmasters' letters to be treated as card 479. 
 
 letters. i 480. 
 
 401. Date of arrival and return of card matter. 481. 
 
 402. Collection of postage on short-i)aid letumed 482. 
 
 card matter. 483. 
 
 463. Local letters not returned to another post- i 484. 
 
 oflice. ' 
 
 464. Disposition of hotel card matter. 485. 
 405. Return of other than first-class caid and re- 
 quest matter. 486. 
 
 466. Matter unclaimed after return to sender. 
 
 467. Di.sjjosition of mlssent matter. 487. 
 
 468. Authority of Postmaster-General to kill let- 
 
 ters. 488. 
 
 409. Final disposition of imclaimed matter. 489. 
 
 Undelivered matter to show reason for non- 
 delivery. 
 
 Disposition of refused sccond-i'lass matter. 
 
 Disposition of otlu-r refused matter. 
 
 Ketui-n of "no unclaiiiu'd and refused matter.' ' 
 
 Stiiteinents of uuelainie<l matter. 
 
 Disposition of rrfiiscd iiiiuiailable matter. 
 
 Hotel matter without card or n-iiurst. 
 
 All hotel matter to be stamiied. 
 
 Disposition of dead printed matter. 
 
 Dead foreign printed nuitter. 
 
 Dead domestic printed matter. 
 
 Dead postal cards. 
 
 Keturn of dead matter. 
 
 Record of valuable dead letters. 
 
 Retum of dead letters containing money to 
 ovraera. 
 
 Return of undelivered dead money letters back 
 to Dead-Letter Office. 
 
 Returned dead money letters must be regis- 
 tered. 
 
 Other than money dead letters need not be 
 registered. 
 
 Valuable dead letters must not be forwarded. 
 
 Dead letters not valuable mav be forwarded. 
 
 Sec. 431. Umnailable Matter to be Sent to the Dead-Letter Office. — All 
 clome.stic letters, deposited in any post-office for mailiug, on whit'li the 
 postage is wholly nupaid or paid less than one full rate as re(iuired 
 by law, except letters lawfully free, and duly certified letters of soldiers, 
 sailors, and marines in the service of the United States, shall be sent 
 by the postmaster to the Bead-Letter Office in Washington. But in 
 large cities and adjacent districts of dense population having- two or 
 more post-offices within a distance of three miles of each other, any 
 letter mailed at one of such [post] offices and addressed to a locality 
 Avithin the delivery of another of such [post] offices, which shall have 
 been inadvertently prepaid at the drop or local letter rate of postage 
 only, may be forwarded to its destination through the proper [post] 
 office, charged with the amount of the deficient postage, to be collected 
 on deUvery. {II. S., § 3937.) 
 
 Sec. 432. Definition and Classification of Unmailable Matter. — Unraailable 
 matter includes all matter which is by law, regulation, or treaty stipulation prohib- 
 ited from being transmitted through the mails ; or which, by reason of illegible, in- 
 correct, or insufttcient adtkess, it is found impossible to forward to destination. For 
 convenience it is divided into the following cla.sses : 
 
 (fl) Hchl for postage ; or that matter which is insntiiciently prepaid to entitle it to be 
 forwarded in the mails. This includes all domestic matter of the first class coming 
 under the j)rovisions of the preceding section, and all domestic matter of the third and 
 fourth classes which is not fully prepaid, and all insufficiently prepaid matter ad- 
 dressed to foreign countries not embraced in the Universal Postal Union, to which full 
 prepayment is obligatory. (For rates of ijostage and conditions of payment on mat- 
 ter addressed to foreign countries, see Foreign Postage Table in any recent muuber 
 of United States Postal Guide. See also T^tle YII.) 
 
 {b) Mii*iirected ; or that matter which is so incorrectly, insufficiently, or illegibly 
 addressed that it cannot be forwarded to the person for whom it is intended. 
 
 (c) Excess of iceight and size; or those packages of domestic third and fourth class 
 
112 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 matter weighing more than four pounds each, except single books exceeding that 
 weight, aud of foreign matter which are in excess of the weight or size fixed by treaty 
 stipulation as the maximum for such matter. (For regulations in regard to weight 
 and size of matter addressed to foreign countries, see any recent number United States 
 Postal Guide. See also Title VII.) 
 
 (d) Destructive matter; or that matter which, from its harmful nature, is forbidden 
 to be in the mails. (See also section 222 aud Eulings pubUshed quarterly in the United 
 States Postal Guide. ) 
 
 (e) Coin and jewelry; or that matter, to wit, coins, jewelry, or precious articles, 
 which is by treatj^ stipulation pi-ohibited from being sent in tlie mails to certain for- 
 eign countries. (See latest United States Postal Guide and Title VII.) 
 
 (/) Obscene; or that matter which is by section 225 prohibited from being sent in 
 the mails. 
 
 (</) Lottery ; or that matter which is by section 226 prohibited from being sent in the 
 mails. 
 
 (h) Mutilated; or that matter which is recovered from wrecke<:l or bui-ned mail cars 
 or vessels, or which has been so damaged by any means whatever that it cannot be 
 forwarded to its destination. This includes also all matter recovered from depredation 
 ou the mails. 
 
 Sec. 433. Definition and Classification of Dead Matter. — Dead matter is such 
 matter as, having reached the post-office of destination, is either unclaimed or refused 
 by the i^arty addressed; or which, from its nature, or because of indefinite or fictitious 
 address, cannot be delivered. For convenience it is divided into the following classes : 
 
 (i) Unclaimed, or that which is not called for by the j)arties addressed, or cannot be 
 delivered. 
 
 (k) lief used, or that which for any reason the parties addressed decline to receive. 
 
 (/) Obscene, or that which is by section 225 forbidden to be sent in the mails, and 
 which the postmaster at the mailing post-office has failed to intercept. 
 
 («t) Lotiery, or that which is by section 22(5 forbidden to be sent in the mails, because 
 it relates to lotteries, etc., and which the postmaster at the mailing post-office has 
 tailed to intercept. 
 
 (tt) Fictitious, or that which is addressed to fictitious or assumed names or to initials ; 
 or in any manner so that the jierson or persons for whom it ia intended cannot be 
 identified. (See section 276.) 
 
 (o) Hotel, or that which has been delivered at a hotel or public institution, or to a 
 consul, agent, or other public officer or individual who is in the habit of receiving 
 mail for transient persons, aud has been returned to the post-office by such consignee 
 as unclaimed. 
 
 {l>) Fraudulent, or that (registered nuxtter only) which the Postmaster-General has 
 specially ordered to be withheld from delivery and returned to the writer, because the 
 parties addressed are engaged in obtaining money under false pretenses by the use of 
 the mails. Mail-matter not registered must never bo treated as fraudulent. See 
 section 875. 
 
 Sec. 434. First-class Matter not to be Held Unmailable on mere Suspicion. — 
 
 Postmasters are specially warned that they have no right to detain first-class matter 
 upon the mere suspicion tliat it contains articles forbidden to be sent in the mails. 
 Neither will they, under any circumstances, be justified in breaking the seal of any 
 letter or itaclcago to ascertain whether or not unmailable matter is inclosed. , See 
 section 5:^U. 
 
 Sec. 435. Unmailable Matter from Railway Offices, how Treated. — Postmas- 
 ters receiving any articU* of unnuiilable matter from a railway oHice will ilispose of it 
 in the same manner as if it had been deposited in their own i)ost-ofiices for mailing. 
 
 Sec. 436. Unmailable Matter Inadvertently Forwarded, how Treated. — If 
 
 any matter which should have been detained as " held for postage," " i-xcess of weight 
 and size," "coin," or as "lottery" (see o, c, e, aud g, section 4:52), shall have, through 
 
TITLE II POST-OFFICES AND POSTMASTERS. 113 
 
 inadvertence, been forwrtnled from the post-oHiee of mailiii;;, it must notbe .stop]>ed in 
 transit. 8n«',li as bears a foreign .itlilress will be intercepted by the poNtinaster at the 
 exchange post-otHee and treated as hereinafter provided. (See section 443.) Miadi- 
 rected, destructive, and obscene matter (see h, d, and /, section 4:{2), and all matter 
 found h)08e in the mails, should, liowever, be detained by any i>ostmaster into whose 
 hands it may fall. 
 
 Sec. 437. Postmasters to Return Unmailable Matter to Senders. — It is tlie 
 
 duty of postmasters at whose post-oflices any mail-matter is detained as unmailable 
 under any of the classes enumerated in section A'\2 (except / and </), to make all reason- 
 able efforts to .ascertain the person mailing the s.arae, and, if such person can be fotnid, 
 to either require of him full prepayment of postage, if the matter is held for postage, 
 or else return to him the letter or package. But in returning mail to the senders, 
 postmastei-s are expected to use great care to avoid the possibility of wrong delivery, 
 and must only return matter to senders bej^ond the delivery of their post-offices, as 
 prescribed in the folloAving section. 
 
 Sec. 438. Matter Returned to Senders at Other Post-Offices. — TTuder no cir- 
 cumstances whatever is any one except a postmaster permitted to return any such 
 matter direct to the sender ; and postmasters must not do so if the sender lives beyond 
 the delivery of their post-offices, except in case of prepaid first-class matter which 
 bears the card or retpiest of the sender, and misdirected second-class matter ("nixes"). 
 These two classes should be appropriately indorsed, stamped on the back with the 
 name of the post-office and date, and immediately returned to the sender without 
 postage charge. D.^structive matter will be disposed of as provided in section 440. 
 
 Sec. 439. Held-for-Postage Matter that Cannot be Returned to Sender. — 
 
 When held-for-postage matter which cannot be returned to the persons inailing the 
 same, as provided for in the two preceding sections, is addressed to a person residing 
 within the delivery of the post-office where mailed, he shall be notified of its detention, 
 by circular or otherwise, and upon the payment of the amount of postage due, the neces- 
 sary stamps will be affixed and canceled, ami the matter delivered. If such matter 
 is not claimed within thirty days after notification as above, or is refused l)y the party 
 addressed, it sh.all be sent to tho Dead-Letter Office in the next regular return of ordi- 
 nary dead matter, classed as unclaimed or refused, as the case may be. AVhen such 
 matter is addressed to persons living beyond the delivery of the post-office where it 
 is detained, it must be sent to the Dead Letter Office. 
 
 Sec. 440. Disposition of Destructive Unmailable Matter. — Postmasters re- 
 ceiving any .article ()f destructive mail-matter from the hands of any railway mail 
 employ^, or finding it deposited in their own post-offices, must not send the same ito 
 the Dead-Letter Office, but will notify the person mailing such package, whether he 
 live within the delivery of their post-offices or not, that some other means than the 
 mail must be provided for its transportation. If tho mailing party is not known, then 
 the postmaster should notify the party addressed of the detention of the package, 
 that it cannot be transmitted in the mails, and that he must provide some other means 
 for its being forwarded at his own expense outside the mails. If, after this, such 
 packages are not disposed of within thirty days, the postmaster should report the 
 facts to the Third Assistant Postmaster-General, and await instructions from him. 
 
 Sec. 441. Send Unmailable Matter promptly to Dead-Letter Office. — TJu- 
 
 niailable matter must not be held over to be advertised. Post-offices of the first class 
 must make daily, and all other post-offices weekly, returns to the Dead-Letter Office 
 of all unmailable matter except destructive matter. Each return must include all 
 the matter of this class on hand at the time, except that addressed to persons within 
 the delivery of the post-office, who have been notified to jiay the postage thereon, as 
 reiinired in section VM). 
 
 Sec. 442. How Matter Must be Sent to the Dead-Letter Office. — Every 
 
 piece of mail-matter sent to the Dead-Letter Office, for whatever cause, must have 
 plainly written or stamped upon the address side the reason of its being sent there, as 
 
 Spl 
 
114 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 Unmailable, stating also wlietlier the matter is lield for postage, misdirected, in ex- 
 cess of proper weight or size, or containing coin or jewelry; or Unclaimed, giving 
 specific reason for failure to deliver the matter; or Refused; or Fictitious; or 
 Hotel ; and upon the reverse side it must bear the name of the post-office from which 
 sent, and the date of sending. Unmailahle matter must be sent to the Dead-Letter 
 Office in returns entirely separate from the dead matter. The return must be labeled 
 as prescribed in section 474, and addressed ^-Dead-Letter Office, WashbKjfmi, D. C," 
 and must be plainly indorsed " Return of uxmailable matter from" (here add the 
 name of the post-office). Held-for-postage, misdirected, and excess-of-weight matter may 
 be sent in the same return ; but when there is any considerable amount of third or 
 fourth class matter to be sent (say more than live or six pieces) the first-class matter 
 should be sent in one parcel or pouch, and the third and fourth class in another. 
 Whenever the amount of matter of either class is so gre: t that it cannot be easily 
 and securely tied into a parcel, it should be sent in a suitable pouch directed and in 
 dorsed as above stated. 
 
 Sec. 443. How to Make Up and Transmit Returns of Unmailable Matter. — 
 Each return of unmailable matter must be accompanied by a list made on Form 1522, 
 giving as nearly as possible the full name and address of each article. Valuable mat- 
 ter of the third and fourth class must be entered on a list separate from the first class. 
 Miscellaneous printed matter of no obvious value must be sent with the return, but 
 need not be entered on the list, except a memorandum showing the number of pieces 
 included. The matter must be further separated into the classes as indicated in a, h, 
 and d, section 432, and, in addition, the Held for Postage (a) must be subdivided into 
 that of domestic and foreign address. Each class and division must be arranged al- 
 phabetically and entered on the lists accordingly, and every piece of matter and its 
 entry on the list must be numbered to correspon i. Coin matter must be sent in special 
 returns to the Dead-Letter Office accompanied by a list made upon the same form and 
 in the same manner as lists of Held for Postage matter. Returns of this matter should 
 always be registered. Obscene and Lottery matter must also be sent in special returns 
 to the Dead-Letter Office accompanied by lists the same as coin matter. Mutilated and 
 damaged matter must also be sent specially to the Dead-Letter Office, and must be ac- 
 companied by a letter addressed to the Third Assistant Postmaster-General detailing 
 all the facts in the case and giving a full list of the articles. Lists must in every case 
 be inclosed with the matter to which they refer. They must not be sent in a separate 
 envelope or package. Postmasters must retain duplicates of all lists and statements 
 sent to the Dead-Letter Office for the purpose of reference in making searches for 
 missing matter. 
 
 Sec. 444. Advertisement of Unclaimed and Undelivered Matter. — The Post- 
 master-General may direct the publication of the list of non-delivered 
 letters at any post-oflftce by a written list posted in some public place, 
 or, when he shall deem it for the public interest, he may direct the pub- 
 lication of such list in the daily or weekly newspaper regularly pub- 
 lislied within the post-ofiftce deliver}' which has the largest circulation 
 within such delivery; and where no daily paper is published within the 
 post-office delivery, such list may be published in the daily newspaper 
 of any adjoining delivery having the largest circulation within the de- 
 livery of the post-oftice publishing the list; and in case of dis])ute as to 
 the circulation of competing newspapers, the postmaster shall receive 
 evidence and decide upon the fact. Such list shall be published as fre- 
 quently as the Postmaster-General may deem proper, but not ofteuer 
 than once a week. (11. S., § 39;30.) 
 
 A postmaster is m)t liable to suit by the publisher of a newspaper for refusing to 
 give to him the publication of the list of Icttera uncalled for, even though he acted 
 
 I 
 
TITLE II rOST OFFICES AND POSTMASTERS. 115 
 
 maliciously. A puhlic «liity is not euforcoablo 1)y a jirivato action, cxcopt when it has 
 l»('on specifically yiven by statute. (Foster vs. McKibhcii, 14 Penn. St. R., 168; also 
 Strong r«. Cainpboll, 11 liarb., V.vr>.) 
 
 In lTnite<l States ex rii vx. Smallwood, Judge Duiriel held that under the acts of 
 1"^4.T and If^fJ^ (containing substantially these provisions) the pnldicatiou was in the 
 discretion of the Postinaster-CIeneral, but wheu the discretion is once exercised and 
 l)ublication ordered, it must be through the columns of the paper liaving the largest 
 circulation within the delivery of the iiost-office. (Am. Law Times Reports, vol. '2, 
 109.:) 
 
 Sec. 445. Advertising Foreigji Letters. — The list of noii -delivered letters 
 addressed to foreigu-born i)ersoiis may be published in a newspaper 
 printed in the lan>xiia^e most used by them, which shall be selected in 
 the manner ])res('ribed in the ])receding section. (R. S., § 30.31.) 
 
 Sec. 446. Displaying Lists of Advertised Letters. — Every postmaster shall 
 \2)nsf] [display] in a conspicuous place in his office a copj" of each list of 
 non-delivered letters immediately after its publication. (K. S., § 3033.) 
 
 Sec. 447. Pay for Advertising Letters. — The compensation for publishing 
 the list of non-delivered letters shall in no case exceed one cent for each 
 letter so published. (K. S., § 3034.) 
 
 Sec. 448. Charge on Advertised Letters. — All letters published as non- 
 delivered shall be charged with one cent in addition to the regular post- 
 age, to be accounted for as part of the postal revenue. (R. S., § 3935.) 
 
 The charge provided for by this section is only to be made when compensation is 
 paid for advertising letters by virtue of an order of the Third Assistant Postmaster- 
 General in accordance with section 444. See also section 452. 
 
 Sec. 449. Advertisement of Unclaimed Matter. — At post-offices of the fourth 
 class unclaimed matter of the first class only, except "card" and "request" letters, 
 and all valuable matter of the third and fourth classes shall be advertised monthly, 
 and when practicable such advertising should take place upon the first day of the 
 month. At all other post-offices such matter shall be advertised weekly, and where 
 practicable such advertising should take place on Monday. 
 
 Sec. 450. Matter that should not be Advertised. — Each advertisement 
 
 should include all the matter indicated in the preceding section on hand at the time 
 of advertising, except such as is intended for persons who caU regularly at the post- 
 office, or where it is indorsed To be held until called for, Poste restante, or 
 words to that effect ; or where the postmaster has special reason to believe that it will 
 be called for, or where he has been requested by the party addressed to retain it. In 
 such cases it may be held for a period not exceeding two months, after which it should 
 be advertised. But whenever any matter is so held it must be plainly marked " Spe- 
 ciuUif held for (leJivcrj/." 
 
 Sec. 451. Form of the Advertisement. — The advertising of unclaimed 
 matter shall be effected by placing conspicuously in the post-office one or more printed 
 or manuscript lists of the names of the persons to whom such matter is addressed. 
 The names on such list or lists shall be arranged alphabetically, and where there is 
 any considerable number the names of the ladies and gentlemen shall be in separate 
 lists. The third and fourth class matter should always be advertised in a list sepa- 
 rate from the letters, with approjtriate headings. 
 
 Sec. 452. Advertisements in Newspapers. — If the publisher of any news- 
 paper desires to publish such advertised list gratuitously, it shall be the duty of post- 
 nuisters to furnish a copy for that purpose, and if more than one publisher desires to 
 do so a copy should be furnished to all simultaneously. No expense must be incurred 
 in the advertising of unclaimed matter, nor any fee charged upon delivery of the 
 same excejit by special permission from the Third Assistant Postmaster-GeneraL 
 
116 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 Sec. 453. Advertised Matter to be so Marked. — Every letter or parcel 
 advertised must have plainly written or stamped upon the address side the word Ad- 
 vertised together with the date of advertising. 
 
 Sec. 454. Letters from Dead-Letter Office to be Advertised. — Letters and 
 other matter returned from the Dead-Letter Office direct to the sender, should be 
 advertised, and, if not called for, be treated as ordinary unclaimed matter. 
 
 Sec. 455. Fictitious Matter not to be Advertised. — Fictitious matter should 
 
 uf)t be advertised, but should be sent to the Dead-Letter Office weekly from all post- 
 offices to which it is addressed. Such matter must not be detained at the mailing 
 post-office. This matter should be sent in returns entirely separate from other classes 
 of matter, and the packet should be plainly indorsed, Returx of fictitious matter. 
 Each return of this matter must be accompanied by a list giving the addresses of the 
 matter included in the return, and the number of pieces to each address. This list 
 may be made on Form 1522 by changing the word " unm-aUable" to "fictitious." 
 
 Sec. 458. Request Matter. — When the writer of any letter on which the 
 postage is prepaid sliall indorse upon the outside thereof his name and 
 address, such letter shall not be advertised, but after remaining" un- 
 called for at the office to which it is directed thirty days, or the time the 
 writer may direct, shall be returned to him without additional charge 
 for postage, and if not then delivered shall be treated as a dead letter. 
 (E. S., §3930.) 
 
 Sec. 457. Card Matter. — Whenever any unclaimed matter of the first 
 class bejirs the name and address of the sender or some designated i>lace to which it 
 can be returned, as post-office bos, street and number, etc., without a request that 
 the same be returned if not delivered, such matter will not be advertised, but must be 
 returned to the sender at the expiration of thirty days, or such other period as may 
 have been specified on the envelope, from the date of its arrival at the post-office of 
 destination. Under the present postal arrangements with Canada all nnclairaed re- 
 quest letters originating in either country are treated in the manner herein provided 
 fur domestic recjuest letters. 
 
 Sec. 458. Postage must be Prepaid on Card and Request Matter. — Xo letter 
 or other article of matter of the first class shall be returned to the sender, as provided 
 in the two preceding sections, unless at least one full rate of postage was originally 
 prepaid thereon. 
 
 Sec. 459. Unclaimed Official Matter to be Treated as Card Matter. — Un- 
 
 claiiiK'd letters and other matter originating in any of the Executive Departments of 
 the Goverunu^nt or inclosed in official penalty-envelopfls, and matter mailed iinder the 
 frank of Senators and Members or officers of Congress, is to be returned to the post- 
 office of origin under the provisions of section 4.57 the same as other card and rcqiie-st 
 nuxtter. If the post-office of origin cannot be ascertained it should be returned to 
 post-office, Washington, D. C. 
 
 Sec. 460. Postmasters' Letters to be Treated as Card Letters. — Letters writ- 
 ten by ])08tmaster8 upon official business should be treated as card letters, and if 
 unclaimed should be returned to the post-office of origin as indicated by the envelope. 
 If the post-office of origin cannot be determined, then they should be sent to the Dead- 
 Letter Office in the regular return of iiiicltiimrd mutter. 
 
 Sec. 461. Date of Arrival and Return of Card Matter. — Every unclaimed 
 
 card or reqiicit lett<^r must bear the stamj) of the i>ost-office indicating the date of its 
 arrival, and a i)ostm;nk showing the date of its return to the writer. 
 
 Sec. 462. Collection of Postage on Short-paid Returned Card Matter. — Uu- 
 
 cliiimed card aud rcqucut letters wliicli are short-paid, but upon which one full rate 
 of postage was prepaid when mailed, are to be returuod to the post-office of origin 
 
TITLE II rOST-OFFICES AND POSTMASTERS. 117 
 
 fir delivery to the writer, wlio avIII he required to ]»ny the iiiiiount orij;in:illy due. If 
 payment is refused, the mutter will be indorsed iis Kkkuskd and treated accordingly. 
 See section 442. 
 
 Sec. 463. Local Letters not Returned to Another Post-Office. — A request 
 
 npou a local or drop-letter for its return to the writer at some otiur post-otUce, if un- 
 claimed, cannot bo respected except in the case of such as may have been prepaid with 
 at least one full (three-eont) rate of postaj^e. 
 
 Sec. 464. Disposition of Hotel-card Letters. — Unclaimed letters bearing 
 
 the card of a hiitt'l, a school, or college, or other public institution which has evidently 
 been placed >ipon the envelope to serve as a mere advertisement, should not be returned 
 to the placj designated iu such card unless there is also a special re lujst that they be 
 so returned. 
 
 Sec. 4S5. Return of other than First-Class Card and Request Matter. — Un- 
 registered matter other than that of the tirst class cannot be returned free to the sender, 
 even if a request to that effect be written or printed thereon, except lirst-class rates 
 of postage be prepaid thereon. AVhen, therefore, matter of other than the first class 
 is deposited in a post-ofttce for mailing, bearing a request to return to the sender if 
 not delivered, it shall be the duty of the postmaster to retain it and notify the sender 
 at once, by return of matter or otherwise, and call his attention to this regulation. 
 Senders of matter other than first class are permitted and should be encouraged by 
 postmasters to write or print upon parcels sent by them the following notice or the 
 substance thereof to the postmaster at the post-oftice of delivery, to wit: If xot de- 
 
 LIVKRED WITHIN DAYS, THE POSTMASTER IS UEQUESTED TO NOTIFY THE SENDER, 
 
 SPECIFYING THE AMOUNT OF POSTAGE WHICH MUST BE REMITTED TO INSURE THE RE- 
 TURN OF THE PARCEL TO (giving the name and address of the sender). It is the 
 
 duty of postmasters receiving matter with this request written or printed thereon to 
 comply therewith as promptly as iu the case of first-class matter; and such matter 
 should be stamped as provided in section 461. 
 
 Sec. 466. Matter Unclaimed after Return to Sender. — TMien matter returned 
 
 to the sender under the provisions of the preceding sections is not claimed, it should be 
 treated in all respects as other ordinary unclaimed matter. 
 
 Sec. 437. Disposition of Missent Matter. — Postmasters at ^vliose post- 
 
 o liees letters which have evidently been misdirected may arrive should not forward 
 them to other post-ofifices for thie purpose of trial, on the supposition that they may 
 r jach the parties named in the address. If they know the proper direction to be given 
 the letters, they may forward them without additional postage, but otherwise they 
 should be sent to the Dead-Letter Office as misdirected matter, as directed in section 
 442. In either case the letter should be stamped Misdirected, and bear the name of 
 the post-office and the date of disposition. 
 
 Sec. 468. Authority of Postmaster-General to Kill Letters. — The Postmaster- 
 General may regulate the period during which undelivered letters shall 
 remain iu any post-oflQce and when they shall be returned to the Dead- 
 Letter Office; and he may make regidations for their return from the 
 Bead-Letter Office to the writers, when they cannot be delivered to the 
 parties addressed. (R. S., 3036.) 
 
 Sec. 489. Final Disposition of Unclaimed Matter. — Unclaimed matter at 
 
 post-otfices of the first, second, and third classes must be sent to the D. -ad-Letter Office 
 at the expiration of four weeks after the date of advertisement ; and at post-offiees of 
 the fourth class one month after advertisement. In this way post-otfices that advertise 
 weekly will make a return of dead letters to the D;^partraeut weekly, and at post-otfices 
 Avliere the advertisement is done monthly, the return will bo made monthly. 
 Sec. 470. Undelivered Matter to show Reason for Non-delivery. — Upon 
 
 every undelivered article of mail-nuittcr must appear the reason for non-delivery, such as 
 
118 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 Eemoved, Dkad, Refused, Firm dissolved, &c. The specific reasou slionkl always 
 be given, if possible, as the iuforiuation is often of great value to the writer; but when 
 that cannot be ascertained, it will be sufficient to mark them Uxclaimed. 
 
 Sec. 471. Disposition of Refused Second-class Matter. — Postmasters shall 
 notify the ijublisher of any newspaper, or otlier periodical, when any 
 subscriber shall refuse to take the same from the office or neglect to call 
 for it for the period of one month. (R. S., § 3885.) 
 
 Sec. 472. Disposition of other Refused Matter. — Refused matter should be 
 
 seut to the Dead-Letter Office with the unclaimed matter, and should be entered ou 
 the statement (Form 1523) under its appropriate head. A list giving the address of 
 each piece of matter should accomjtany the return. These lists should be made iu two 
 parts, one for the tirst-class matter and another for the third and fourth class. Re- 
 fused matter should not be lield in a post-office beyond the time for making the next 
 regular return of unclaimed matter. 
 
 Sec. 473. Return of No unclaimed and refused matter. — Whenever ithap- 
 
 jiens that there is no unclaimed or refused matter to be sent to the Dead-Letter Office 
 at the regular time for making the return of such matter, a statement (Form 1523), 
 properly headed and dated, and the words No matter to send noted thereon, should 
 be sent to the Dead-Letter Office. 
 
 Sec. 474. Statements of Unclaimed Matter. — Each return of unclaimed 
 
 matter must be accompanied by a statement made on Form 15'23 (suitable blanks, 
 printed on white paper for use at fourth-class post-offices, and on yellow for all others, 
 will be furnished upon application to the Superintendent of Blank Agency, Fost-Office 
 Department), and also by a copy of the advertised list. The matter which has been 
 delivered or otherwise disposed of since advertising should be indicated by having the 
 names marked off the list. Both statement and advertised list must always be in- 
 closed with the return, and not sent iu a separate envelope or package. Returns of 
 unclaimed matter should be addressed to the Dead-Letter Office, Washington, D. C, 
 
 and must be plainly indorsed Return of unclaimed matter from (here 
 
 insert the name of the post-office). For this purpose an official penalty-envelope will 
 be used as a label, either pasted or securely tied to the package. No postage will bo 
 required. 
 
 Sec. 475. Disposition of Unmailahle Matter Reaching Destination. — AATien 
 
 any matter classed as unmailable on account of its harmful nature has, through inad- 
 vertence, reached its destiuatiou and has been refused, after being treated as prescribed 
 in section 230, it should not be sent to the Dead-Letter Office, but must be detained, 
 and a statement giving a description of contents, name of the addressee, etc., be sent 
 to th(? Third Assistant Postmaster-General, who will issue instructions as to its final 
 disposition in each case. Obicene matter which, through inadvertence of the postmaster 
 at the mailing place, reaches the post-office of destin.ation, should be withheld from 
 delivery and at once seut to the Dead-Letter Ofliee, accompanied by a special letter of 
 advice addressed to the Third Assistant Postmaster-General. Lottery matter which 
 has, through the inadvertence of the postmaster at the mailing post-office, reached the 
 po.st-olfice of destination, sliould be withheld from delivery and sentto the Dead-Letter 
 Otfi<'e, with a letter of advice ;iddri'ssed to tlie Tliird Assistant Postmaster-General. 
 
 Sec. 476. Hotel Matter without Card or Request. — Hotel matter returned 
 
 to the ]»ost-office not redin^etiMl and bearing no "card" or "request" will be sent to 
 the Dead-Letter Office wtnOcly from all post-offices, with a complete list, giving the 
 full name and address of each article. The entries iu the list must be .arranged alpha- 
 betically, and the aiticles and entries numbered to corresjiond. The list may be 
 made <m Form 1.V22, changing the word nnmailnblv to hotel. Returns of this matter 
 must: be made s(>paiate from otlu^r classes of nuitter, and the words Return of hotel 
 matter iijdm (here add the name of the post-office) must be plainly indorsed 
 
TITLE II POST-OFFICES AND POSTMASTERS. 119 
 
 upon tlio outside of the packago. Wlieiuner hotel matter is returnetl to a ]»08t-office 
 redirectod by tlm ]>roprietor of a hotel or hy other consignee, and in good order, it 
 shall be the duty of the postuiaster to forward it accordingly without ))ontagi' charge 
 therefor: Provided, lie sliall have, at the tinus of its return, no contrary instructions 
 from the addressee: And 2)rovUh'd farther, That such new adilress is t<» any place to 
 which such matter might be forwarded under the i>rovisionH of secti(ui ;{71, or is to any 
 place iu a foreign country to which prepayment of postage* is optional. Hotel letters 
 bearing a special retpu'st for their return, and letters bearing tlie name and address «»r 
 the business card of the writer, are, of course, excepted fi'om the above n(iuiremeiits, 
 and will t)e ti'catfd as provided iu sections 4^>Ci and 457. 
 
 Sec. 477. All Hotel Matter to be Stamped. — Postmasters sliotild be careful 
 to stamp upon all hotel matter the date of the original delivery aud also the date of 
 its return to the ])ost-<>lHce. 
 
 Sec. 478. Disposition of Dead Printed Matter. — The Postma.ster-General 
 may provide, by regulations, for disposing of printed and mailable 
 matter wbicli may remain in any post-office, or in tlie Department, not 
 called for by the party addressed; but if the ptiblisher of any refused 
 or uncalled-for newspaper or other periodical shall pay the postage due 
 thereon, such newspaper or other periodical shall be excepted from the 
 operation of such regulations. (R. S., § 4061.) 
 
 Sec. 479. Dead Foreign Printed Matter. — All foreign printed matter 
 
 ■when unclaimed the usual time must be sent to the Dead-Letter Office as part of the 
 regular return, but no entry thereof need be made on the bill except of that upon 
 "which postage may be due. 
 
 Sec. 480. Dead Domestic Printed Matter. — Domestic miscellaneous printed 
 
 matter, without obvious value, including printed postal-cards, is not to be sent to the 
 Dead-Letter Office when unclaimed, except that upon which postage may be due, but 
 must be sold as waste-paper at the expiration of each quarter and the proceeds taken 
 np and accounted for as other postal revenue. 
 
 Sec. 481. Dead Postal Cards. — Unclaimed postal cards wholly written 
 will be sent to the Dead-Letter Office with the regular return at the expiration of 
 thirty days. Foreign postal cards must be tied in a package by themselves. 
 
 Sec. 482. Return of Dead Matter. — In making up the retiu'u all matter 
 
 sent should be securely wrapped and tied together in one package. At post-offices of 
 the tirst, second, and third classes the foreign matter shouhl be separated from the 
 domestic. "When the number of letters to be sent in a single return is large, they 
 should be tied up in packets of one hunderd each, and then the whole return should 
 be bound together in one parcel, or put into a suitable pouch properly addressed and 
 indorsed. If there be third or fourth class matter to accompany the return in sufficient 
 quantity to make it inconvenient to tie the whole in one parcel, a pouch must be used, 
 so that all the matter will be received together. 
 
 Sec. 483. Record of Valuable Dead Letters. — Dead letters containing 
 valuable inclosures shall be registered [recorded] in the Dead-Letter 
 Office ; and when they cannot be delivered to the party addressed nor 
 to the writer, the contents thereof shall be disposed of, and a careful 
 account shall be kept of the amount realized in each case, which shall 
 be subject to reclamation by either the party addresse<l or the sender 
 for four years from the registry [recording] thereof; and all other letters 
 of value or of importance to the party addressed or to the writer, and 
 which cannot be returned to either, shall be disposed of as the Post- 
 master-General may direct. (R. S., § 3038.] 
 
120 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIOXS. 
 
 Sec. 484. Return of Dead Letters Containing Money to Owners. — AMieii 
 (lea .1 letters coutaiuiQg money are sent from the Department to a postmaster for de- 
 livery to the owners, every effort must be made to discover the proper party to whom 
 they may be delivered, and to this end these letters are inclosed to the postmaster 
 open, that he may be enabled to identity the owner or claunant. The strictest se- 
 crecy must be maintained as to the contents. Under no circumstances whatever can a 
 postmaster, or any other person through whose hands such letters pass, be allowed to 
 make any exchange for other funds of the money originally contained therein. 
 
 Sec. 485. Return of Dead Money Letters back to Dead-Letter Office. — 
 
 When such letters cannot be delivered after holding them thirty days from the date 
 on which they were received, the postmaster will indorse the reason for non-delivery 
 on the circular which accompanies each, and return the whole to the Department 
 with duplicate lists (one of which will be verified and returned to the post-office) 
 giving the Department letter, number, and book. The package will be })lainly in- 
 dorsed Dkad registered matter from (here add name of i^ost-office) and be 
 
 addressed ^'■Dead-Letter Office, Washinyton, D. C." 
 
 Sec. 486. Returned Dead Money Letters must be Registered. — If a post- 
 master neglects to register packages containing such dead letters when returning 
 them to the Department, and they are lost, he will be held responsible for the value 
 of the contents. 
 
 Sec. 487. Other than Money Dead Letters need not be Registered. — Letters 
 
 containing articles of value other than money are not to be registered when returned 
 to the Department, unless they were received registered ; but thej^mnst be inclosed in 
 a sealed envelope or package and addressed to the '^Dead-Letter Office, Washingtony 
 D. C." No other kind of letters must be sent in the same package. 
 
 Sec. 433. Valuable Dead Letters must not be Forwarded. — Bead letters 
 containing money or other inclosnres, sent from the D3partment to a postmaster for 
 delivery to the owners, must never be forwarded to another post-office, but must be 
 returned to the Department with all the information obtainable as to the present 
 whereabouts of the writer or owner ; nor must they be retained by the postmaster 
 longer than one month, unless he has been speciallj' authorized by the Third Assistant 
 Postmaster-General to hold them for a longer period. 
 
 Sec. 489. Dead letters not Valuable may be Forwarded. — Dead letters 
 
 without valuable inclosures, when returned direct to writers (i. e., not under cover to 
 the postmaster), may be forwarded to another post-office for delivery, if necessary. 
 
 CHAPTER FOURTEEN. 
 
 LOST LETTERS AND MAIL DEPREDATIONS. 
 
 Sec. I Sec. 
 
 490. Postm.istors to rejtort lo.st niailiuattcr to 
 
 Cliiff Siifciiil A^ciit. 
 
 491. What fact such report must stato. 
 
 492. I'ontmaslris to iiiiiuediutcly report robbery o 
 
 post-oHicc. 
 493 Casi'H ol' inailrobbory to bo reported at nucc" 
 
 494. Arre.'st of criminals to be reported to Cuitod 
 
 States district attorney. 
 405. Examiuatiou of persoii.s arrested. 
 
 496. Robbery of mails iii viciuity of post-otlico. 
 
 497. Moneys recovered from miiil-robbers. 
 
 Sec. 490. Postmasters to report Lost Mail-Matter to Chief Special Agent. — 
 
 It is the duty i)t' in>stmast<'rs to rcpoi't pi-omptly to the Cliief Special Agent every com- 
 l)laint which is made to them or couu's to their knowledge of the loss in the mails of 
 letters or articles of valui^, whether registered or not. 
 
TITLE 11 POST-OFFICES AND POSTMASTERS. 121 
 
 Sec. 491. What Facts such Report must State. — In every case of loss by 
 
 mail the Chief .^^prcial A;^tMit ahouUl be iiiiiu«Hliatfly iiifonnfil of all the ciieiiinstances 
 cumiected with it, such ad the name of the po.st-oflice in which the letter was posteil 
 ami the date of mailinj^; whether by the writer liiiiiself or by another jiersou ; tho 
 names of the writer and the person addressed ; the amount and a description of the 
 inelosnre; the post-office to whicli addressed; and whether registered or unregistered, 
 and if registered the registry number, with any other particulars that may aid in 
 making a thonuigh investigation. 
 
 Sec. 492. Postmasters to immediately Report Robbery of Post-Office. — "NMien- 
 
 ever a post-otlice has been robbtvl the postmaster will immediately report all the facts 
 t(» the Chief Special Agent, and to the nearest resident Special Agent. This report 
 must state as fully Jis possible all the circumstances connected with the robbery, giv- 
 ing the date and extent of tho loss. He must be careful to state whether the loss con- 
 sists of stamjis, stamped-envelopes, postal-cards, letters (stolen or rifled), postal or 
 moncy-onh'r funds, or government property. If the lo.ss includes the mail-key the 
 number shouhl be given ; and if registered or ordinary mail-matter, he must be par- 
 ticular to state whether the same was rifled or taken from the post-office. He must 
 give all the information in his possession relating to each lost or rifled registered letter, 
 such as post-office where mailed, date of mailing, number of letter and registered- 
 package envelope, by whom written, to whom addressed, and contents. For the value 
 of registered or ordinarj' mail lost by robbery of post-offices postmasters will be held 
 re,sponsible if, upon investigation, it appears that due care was not taken to secure the 
 mail-matter from depredation. 
 
 Sec. 493. Cases of Mail-Robbery to be Reported at once. — Cases of mail- 
 
 rt)bbory should at once be reported to the Chief Special Agent, and information given 
 from time to time of any new facts which may be developed in regard to tlitMU. 
 
 Sec. 494. Report Arrest of Criminals to United States District Attorney. — 
 
 When a criminal is apprehended, the United States attorney for the district in which 
 the oftense was committed must be promptly informed of the facts, and his advice, 
 and, if possible, his personal attention, be obtained. If from any cause the services 
 of the district attorney cannot be had, and it shall become necessary to employ another 
 attorney, the compensation of such attorney must be agreed upon before engaging in 
 the case, subject to the approval of the Postmaster-General ; and it will only be paid 
 upon recommendation of the Special Agent who may have charge of the case. 
 
 Sec. 495. Examination of Persons Arrested. — Persons arrested for mail 
 depred.ations should be taken before a district or circuit judge, or a United States 
 commissioner, for examination or commitment. 
 
 Sec. 493. RDbbery of Mail in Vicinity of Post-Office. — If a postmaster lias 
 
 rv»ason to Ijelieve that a mail has been stolen, in whole or in part, in the vicinity of 
 his post-offi-e, he shall at once examine into the evidence, and if satisfietl that such 
 robbery or theft has actually occurred, he shall take immediate and energetic meas- 
 ureji for recovering the mail and for apprehending and prosecuting the ott'ender, anrl 
 shall notify the Chief Special Agent of the facts and of his action. 
 
 Sec. 497. Moneys Recovered from Mail Robbers. — All moneys recovered 
 
 from mail robbers, &c., will be forwarded at once through the office of the Chief 
 Special Agent to the Postmaster-General, who will, upon satisfactory evidence, return 
 t same to the owners. See section 62. 
 
122 
 
 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 CHAPTER FIFTEEN. 
 
 PAYMENT OF EMPLOYES OF THE RA.ILWAY MAIL SERVICE BY 
 
 POSTMASTERS. 
 
 Soc. 
 
 498. Eecoril of arrivals and departures to be ex- 
 
 amined daily. 
 
 499. Pay -withheld for failure to siffn record. 
 
 500. Preliminary notice to paying postmaster. 
 
 501. Notice to Second Assistant Postmaster-Gen- 
 
 eral. 
 
 502. Absences for more than thirty days to be re- 
 
 ported. 
 
 503. Partial suspension of pay pending final in- 
 
 structions. 
 
 504. The cause of deduction of pay, etc., how 
 
 noted. 
 
 505. "Ko signature" and "advance signature," 
 
 how noted. 
 
 Sec. 
 
 506. Keys and records must be tuined in before 
 
 final settlement. 
 
 507. Record of arrival and departures to be sent to 
 
 Division Superintendent. 
 
 508. No discretion to be used in reporting failures. 
 
 509. Instructions as to paying employ6s, from 
 
 whom received. 
 
 510. Payments to be made promptly at the end of 
 
 month. 
 
 511. Distinction between substitute and acting 
 
 employ6. 
 
 512. Authority for paying acting employes. 
 
 513. Manner of paying acting employes. 
 
 Sec. 493. Record of Arrivals and Departures to be Examined daily. — Post- 
 
 ma.sters will examiue the record of arrivals and departures daily, wlicu the same is 
 kept at their post-offices, and report to the Division Superintendent at once all failures 
 of employes to sign the same, and also all cases of advance signature. When the rec- 
 ord of arrivals and departures are kept avray from the post-office, they must be ex- 
 amined daily by some person designated by Division Snperintendent, and all cases 
 of failures to sign or of advance signature mnst be reported daily to him. 
 
 Sec. 499. Pay Withheld for Failure to Sign Record. — The paying post- 
 master shall withhold not exceeding one day's pay for each failure on part of an em- 
 ploye to record his arrival or departure, or to perform service, until the matter is 
 reported to the Division Superintendent and instructions received from Second Assist- 
 ant Postmaster-General. Whenever a failure to record or to perform service is reported 
 by a paying postmaster he shall consider such report as a preliminary notice and shall 
 ■withhold payment, as specified above, until specific instructious are received from the 
 Second Assistant Postmaster-General. 
 
 Sec. 599. Preliminary Notice to Paying Postmaster. — In case of death, 
 resignation, removal, suspension, or change of paying post-office of an employ^, the 
 Division Snperintendent will at once send a preliminary notice to the paying post- 
 ma^ster. 
 
 Sec. 501. Notice to Second Assistant Postmaster-General. — On receipt of 
 
 each report of failure by the Division Su])erintendent, he will at once report the same 
 to the Second Assistant Postmaster-General, through the General Snperintendent, and 
 at the same time will send a copy of said report to the paying postmaster as a prelim- 
 inary notice to him ( o withhold payment, as provided in section 499, until instructions 
 are received li(im the Second Assistant Postmaster-General. 
 
 Sec. 502. Absences more than 30 Days to be Reported. — When an eniploy6 
 
 has been absent from duty more than thirty consecutive days, on account of sickness 
 or other cause, the Division Superintendent will report the .same to the Second Assist- 
 ant Postmaster-General through the General Superintendent, and also send a prelim- 
 inary notice to the paying i)ostmaster. 
 
 Sec. 503. Partial Suspension of Pay, pending final Instructions. — In all 
 
 cases wlicrc preliminary UKticc h:is Ikmmi received from the Division SuiierinleMdcnt, 
 the p tying postmaster will withhold from the pay of thii employe a snilicient sum to 
 cover all stoppages, linos, a.ul forfeitures of which ho has been notified until final 
 
TITLE II POST-OFFICES AND POSTMASTERS. 123 
 
 instrncfioiiH in each case have boeii recoivod IVoiti tho Second Assistant. Postmaster- 
 Gciifral. 
 
 Sec. 504. The Cause of Deduction of Pay, etc., how Noted. — Tlie cause of 
 cvciy (Icductiou of pay, and tlu- authority for making tlio 8ainc, must always he noted 
 on pay-roll. 
 
 Sec. 505. "No Signature" and "Advance Signature," how Noted. — Wlien- 
 
 cver an employ^ fails to sign thu record, the postmaster will write the words No SIG- 
 NATUUK in the line whore the name should have been signed. In case of ADVANCE 
 SlcJNATl'Ki;, the same will ho noted on the sanm line with the signature. 
 
 Sec. 506. Keys and Records must be Turned in before final Settlement. — 
 
 On the resignation, transfer, suspension, or removal of an employ^, final settlmieut 
 •with such employ6 will bis deferred until tho paying postmaster has received from tho 
 Division Superinteuihint in whose division such employd last performed service a cer- 
 tificate That all mail-keys, records, and other property of the Department have becu 
 turned over to him. 
 
 Sec. 507. Record of Arrivals and Departures sent Division Superintendent 
 
 — At the end of each month postmasters will promptly forward the record of arrivals 
 and departures, duly certified, to the Division Superintendent for inspection; after 
 ■which they Avill be returned to the postmaster, who -will see that they are carefully 
 preserved. 
 
 Sec. 508. No Discretion to be used in Reporting Failures. — Xo discretion 
 
 should be exercised by a postmaster, or by any other person in charge of a record of 
 arrivals and departures, in reporting any failures on account of any peculiar circum- 
 stauces attending the case. The failure should be reported promjitly for reference to 
 the Department, for decision ui>on the merits of the case. 
 
 Sec. 509. Instructions as to Paying Employes, from whom Received. — All 
 
 instructions to postnmsters relative to paying employ6s in the railway mail service 
 must come from the Second Assistant Postmaster-General, Division of Inspection. 
 Any payments made to employes contrary to the regulations and his instructions .will 
 be disallowed to the paying postmaster. 
 
 Sec. 510. Payments to be made promptly at end of Month. — Postmasters 
 will be prepared to pay employes within three days after the expiration of the month 
 in which the service was performed, but no payments shall be made until the month 
 has expired, and no payment shall be made to employes after entry into service until 
 the paying postmaster has been advised that the oath of ofhce of such employ^ has 
 been received by the General Superintendent of Railway Mail Service. 
 
 Sec. 511. Distinction between Substitute and Acting Employes. — Post- 
 masters will observe the distinctiou between a substitute and an acting employ^. A 
 substitute is a person emplojed for or by a regular employe to perform his duties for 
 him during his temporary absence from duty. An acting employ^ is a person em- 
 ployed temporarily to fill a vacancy caused by the death, removal, resignation, etc., 
 of a regular employ^. All sums paid to a substitute employ^ must be receipted for 
 by the principal for or by whom the substitute was employed ; but sums paid to an 
 acting emi>loye must be receipted for by such acting employ^ himself. 
 
 Sec. 512. Authority for Paying Acting Employes. — Xo payment shall he. 
 
 made to acting enqdoy^s without specific authority from the Second Assistant Post- 
 master-General. 
 
 Sec. 513. Manner of Paying Acting Employees. — A receipt evidencing 
 payment to an acting employ^ must be taken on a separate blank form furnished by 
 the First Assistant Postmaster-General, Blank Agency. And those vouchers must be 
 forwarded direct to the Second Assistant Postmaster-General, Division of Inspection, 
 for necessary credit. The paying postmaster will also note on said receipts his authority 
 for making the payment. Acting employes should never be put upon the regular 
 pay-roll. 
 
124 
 
 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 CHAPTER SIXTEEN. 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS RESPECTING DUTIES OF POST- 
 MASTERS. 
 
 Sec. 
 514. 
 
 516. 
 517. 
 
 518. 
 519. 
 
 520. 
 
 521. 
 
 522. 
 
 523. 
 524. 
 525. 
 526. 
 
 527. 
 528. 
 
 Eecords at post-offices of property and sup- 
 plies. 
 
 Inventories of public property to be made in 
 duplicate. 
 
 Duplicate, how to be disposed of. 
 
 Postmasters not to receive moneys from pre- 
 decessors, unless. 
 
 Assistant to be appointed. 
 
 Oaths of ofKce to be sent to Department. 
 
 Who to have access to mail-matter in post- 
 offices. 
 
 Mail not to be opened in reach of unauthorized 
 persons. 
 
 Postmasters must collect and examine waste- 
 paper, etc. 
 
 No post-offlce to be located in bar-room. 
 
 Loungers not to be pennitt*d in post-office. 
 
 Business hours at post-offices. 
 
 Transaction of other business at fourth-class 
 post-offices. 
 
 Changing site of post-office. 
 
 Iteceiving-box for mail-matter at fourth-class 
 post-offices. 
 
 Sec. 
 
 529. Place for mail-matter awaiting delivery and 
 
 for stamps. 
 
 530. Sanctity of seals inviolable. 
 
 531. Postmasters not to give information respe<'t- 
 
 ing mail-matter. 
 
 532. Postmasters powerless to remit fines or over- 
 
 charges on mail-matter. 
 
 533. Official correspondence ; return of official 
 
 papers. 
 .534. How po.stma.sters should reply to official cor- 
 respondence. 
 
 535. Postal Guide supplied offlLcially and to be con - 
 
 suited. 
 
 536. Postmasters in doubt as to law to ask instruc- 
 
 tions. 
 
 537. Attention to be given to official printed cir- 
 
 culars. 
 
 538. How postmasters are to address the Depart- 
 
 ment. 
 
 539. Public documents and property to be turned 
 
 over to successor. 
 
 540. Credentials of special agenls to be demanded. 
 
 541. Postmasters not to act as lottery agents. 
 
 Sec. 514. Records at Post-Oifices of Property and Supplies. — Every Post- 
 master shall keep a record, in such form as the Postinaster-Greneral shall 
 direct, of all postage-stamps, envelopes, postal books, blanks, and prop- 
 erty received from his predecessor, or from the Department or any of its 
 agents ; of all receipts in money for postages and box-rents, and of all 
 other receipts on account of the postal service, and of any other transac- 
 tions which may be required by the Postmaster-General ; and these rec- 
 ords shall be i)reserved and delivered to his successor, and shall be at 
 all times subject to examination by any special agent of the Dei)artnient. 
 (R. S. § 3842.) 
 
 Sec. 515. Inventories of Public Property to be Made in Duplicate. — On 
 
 taking cliar<i;o of tlie ito.st-oflice, each iiostuiaster will make, iu duplicate, iuveutoriea 
 of the public property Ix^longing to it, as follows: 
 
 1. Of all po.stage-8taiiipa, stanipod-cuvclopes, newspaper- wrapper's, aud postal-cards, 
 and newspaper and periodical-stamps, and jtostago-due-stamps. 
 
 2. Of all Postal Guides, books of Postal Laws and Kegulations, circulars, orders, 
 rating-stamj)s, (itc. 
 
 3. Of all desks, cases, and other furniture or fixtures, books, maps, blanks, and 
 stationery allowed or furnished by tlie Department. 
 
 4. Of all locks, keys, and mail-bags. 
 
 Sec. 516. Duplicates, how to be Disposed of. — Tie will deliver one of these 
 
 duplicates, with his receipt thereon, to his predecessor, and transnut the other as fol- 
 lows: No. 1, to the Auditor of the Treasury for the Post-Oltice DopartuKMit ; Nos. 2 
 aud 3, to the First Assistant Postmaster-General ; and No. 4, to the Second Assistant 
 Postmaster-General. 
 
TITLE II — POST-OFFICES AND POSTMASTERS. 125 
 
 893. 517. Postnaster not toRscaive Money fronPreiecessor, nnless. — Eaeli 
 
 postiuKstcr, oil tiikiiij; cliiirjic of liis jxtst-olVKtc, will not rfcoivf from his ])rc.cloc«'.s.sor 
 any money VMilonjjinj^ to tlu* DepartmiMit, uuless specially instnictcd ho to do. Wht-n 
 tho acconnts of tin- outfioiu;j jiostmaster liavc hoc.n finally settled lie will be notified 
 by the Auditor, and directed in what manner aud to whom the balance dne the De- 
 j)artiiieiit shall be ])aid. 
 
 Sec. 518. Assistants to be Appointed. — Precantion sliould be taken by 
 
 each i)ostliiaHter to aiipoint an assistant, to prevent the ]K>st-otiice from beinj? left 
 without a duly qualified person to jierform its duties in case of the ueci^ssary absence, 
 the sickness, resijjnatioii. or death <if the postmaster. 
 
 Sec. 519. Oath of Office to be Sent to Department. — Eaoh postmaster will 
 
 forwanl the oaths of hi.s assistant, and of the clerks aud employes of his post-otHce 
 to tlie First Assistant rostniaster-(Tetieral before they ent(M' upon their duties. 
 
 Sec. 520. Who to have Access to Mail-matter in Post-office. — A postmaster 
 
 will suffer no person whatever, except his duly sworn assistant, clerks, letter-carriers, 
 aud Special Agents of the Post-Otfice Dnpartui'Mit to have access to the letters, newt- 
 papers, aud packets in his post-office, or to whatever constitutes a part of the mail, or 
 to the mail locks or keys. This prohibition extends to all pereons who ma}' be employed 
 on other duties than handling the mails. He should especially exclude mail contractors 
 and their drivers. 
 
 Ssc. 521. Miils not to bs Opens! in Rsioh of Unauthorized Persons. — Mails 
 must not be opened or ma le up by the postmaster or his assistants within the reach 
 of persons not authorized to handle them. The postmaster will, therefore, while dis- 
 charj^iug these duties, if a room be appropriated to the use of his jiost-office, exclude 
 from it all persons except his assistants regularly employed and sworn. 
 
 Sec. 522. Postmasters must Collect and Examine "Waste Paper, etc. — The 
 postmaster, or one of his assistants, before the post-otlice is swept or cleared, should 
 collect and examine the wa.st« paper which has accumulated therein, in order to 
 guard against the possibility of loss of letters or other mail-matter wliich may have 
 fallen on the floor or have been intermingled with eucli waste paper during the trans- 
 action of business. The observance of this rule is strictly enjoined upon all post- 
 masters. Postmasters should be careful to use, in mailing letters or packets, all 
 wrappiiig-pa]ier fit to be used again. 
 
 Sec. 523. No Post-office to be Located in Bar-room. — Xo post-oflBce shall 
 
 be located in a bar-room, or in any room directly connected therewith ; nor must any 
 mail be opened or any mail-matter delivered in any room in which liquor is sold at 
 retail, except such liquors are sold by a druggist for medicinal purposes only. 
 
 Sec. 524. Loungers not to be Permitted in Post-office. — A postma.ster must 
 
 not allow his post-otfice to become the resort for loungers or disorderly persons, and 
 whenever necessary he should invoke the aid of the civil authorities to enable him to 
 free his post-office from the same. He is also required to keep his post-office in such 
 a clean and orderly condition that it may be visited by women and children and others 
 without impropriety and embarrassment. 
 
 Sec. 525. Business Hours at Post-offices. — Each postmaster \nll keep his 
 post-office open for the dispatch of business every day, except Sunday, during the us al 
 hours of business in the place, and attend at such other hours as may be necessary to 
 receive and dispatch mails. When the mail arrives on Sunday, he will keep his post- 
 office open for one hour or more after the arrival aud assortment thereof, if the public 
 convenience reiinires it, for the delivery of the same only. If it be received during 
 the time of public worship, the opening of the post-office will be delayed until services 
 have closed. 
 
 Sec. 526. Transaction of other Business at Fourth-class Post-offices. — Post- 
 masters at post-offices of the fourth-class will be permitted to transact other business in 
 
126 POSTAL LAWS AND REGLXATIONS. 
 
 the same room in which the post-office is located, provided such other busluess is kept 
 separate and distinct from that of the post-office. 
 
 Sec. 527. Changing Site of Post-offices.— Xo postmaster should cliange 
 
 the site or location of his post-office without permission from the Department. In 
 making apjdication for such chau'^e, thi postmaster should state whether it involves 
 any additional expense for transportation of the mail and is approved by the patrons 
 of his post-office. The distance and direction of the proposed site from the present one 
 should be also stated. 
 
 Sec. 528. Receiving Box for Mail at Third and Fourth Class Post-offices. — 
 
 ^ „T,T,„„ -„,,^ A letter-box must be provided at third and fourth class post-offices, 
 and must be constructed in the post-office window or in tlie wall; 
 
 'AiifitTin-. 
 
 r 
 
 1 foot. 
 
 the aperture for the posting of letters must be horizontal, as 
 f«"'^i'"^»-) shown in the margin, and must measure six inches by an inch 
 
 and a half, and mast be easily accessible to the public. The 
 words "Letter-box" must be painted above the aperture. The 
 box must be at least two feet in depth from the lower edge of the 
 aperture, and not less than one foot wide and one foot from back 
 to front; and directly underneath the aperture, on the inside, 
 there shoulil be a ledge, about two inches in width, inclining up- 
 wards, as shown in the margin, to prevent pereons from seeing 
 the contents of the box, and also to prevent letters from being 
 drawn out of the box. The box should be shut by means of a 
 door forming the entire back or side of the box. The door must 
 always be securely locked, and the key kept in a safe place. 
 Sec. 529. Place for Mail-matter awaiting Delivery and for Stamps, etc. — 
 At fourth-class post-offices a pressor drawer must be provided to hold letters, &c., 
 awaiting delivery, and a separate drawer to hold official papers (including instruc- 
 tions), which should never be placed with the letters. A drawer must be provided in 
 which to keep postage stamps, and a box or till with a secure lock in which to place 
 official cash, which must be kept entirely separate from the postmaster's private 
 moneJ^ 
 Sec. 530. Sanctity of Seals Inviolable. — The several enactments of law 
 
 defining crimes and oftenses against the post-office establishment, to which reference 
 should be frequently made by Special Agents, admonish every person in the employ 
 of the Department that the law-making power intends to throw around the privity 
 of correspondence the solemn sanction of its protection. One of the highest obliga- 
 tions of tlie Department to the people is to preserve, by all the means in its power, the 
 absolute sanctity of a seal. The enactments referred to are entirely explicit. Special 
 Agents are reijuired to impress on postmasters and their subordinates, at all times, 
 that the Postmaster-General will visit with punishment to the full extent of the law 
 any violation of the law in this particular. 
 
 Sec. 531. Postmasters not to give Information respecting Mail-matter. — 
 
 Postmasters and all others in the service are forbidden to furnish information concern- 
 ing mail-matter received or delivered, except to the persons to whom it is addresse*! 
 or to their authorized agents. The messages on postal cards must not be read, except 
 Avhen necessary to facilitate their delivery, or for the purpose of determining whether 
 the same are unmaihible by reasimof the jiresenceof obscene words or i>ictures thereon, 
 nor made known to others. A disregard of tliis regulation will be consiilered a vio- 
 lation of official trust, and will render tin; oil'ender liable to removal. Postmasters 
 may, however, when the same can b(> done without interference with the regular l)nsi- 
 ness of the post-office, furnish to officers of the law, to aid them in discovering a fugitive 
 from criminal justice, information concerning tlie postmarks and addi'esses of letters, 
 but must not delay or refuse their delivery to the persons addressed. 
 
 Sec. 532. Postmasters Powerless to Remit Overcharges on Mail-matter. — 
 
TITLE II rOST-OFFICES AND POSTMASTERS. 127 
 
 A poHtniastor has no discretioiuiry powrr for tlio rpmiKsion of ju'iiiiltit^H or ov«»rcliiiigf'3 
 oil uuiil-iiiiitter. Uailcr siK'ciiil circuiustiinccH cases will uii(luul>t<Mlly occur iu which 
 the strict obscrvauco of a jjeueral nilo may inflict more or loss injustice upon indi- 
 viduals. In such cases tho postmaster should advise the party to appeal directly to 
 the First Assistant Postmaster-Gcnoral, ho, himself keeping, if possible, a reconl of 
 the facts, so that ho may verify or disprove the statement of the jiarty appealinjj. 
 The mail-matter upon whieli the appeal may he taken should remain in the jiossessiou 
 of the post-ollice nutil after the decision of the First Assistant Postmaster General, 
 thonj^h circumstances may present themselves where the nnitter should ijc delivered 
 pendinj; a decision. 
 
 Sec. 533. Official Correspondence, Return of Official Papers. — Applications 
 
 and imiuiries addressed to an otHcer of the Departmcmt become official papers, and 
 when a paper is referred to the postmaster for any purpose, it must on no account bo 
 rc'tained by him, but must bo carefully returned, as speiMlily .as possible, to^ijether with 
 the report that m.ay be required, to the ofticer from whom it has been received. Under 
 no circumstances may official papers bo allowed to pass into the hands of the public 
 without express instructions to that effect. 
 
 Sec. 534. How Postmasters should Reply to Official Correspondence. — Xo 
 
 official paper of any kind, whether reqniriug a reply or not, shonld be returnetl by the 
 postmaster without some observations denoting that it has been received; and such 
 observations should be written, if jjossible, directly following the connnunication to 
 which they refer, in order that the questions and answers, or observations or rejoin- 
 ders, may appear iu consecutive order, according to their dates, and so that the papera 
 may be read as the pages of a book. The postmaster must not fail to sign and date 
 the papers containing every observation or reply that he may make, and the name of 
 his post-office shonld also be added thereto. 
 
 Sec. 535. Postal Guide Supplied Officially and to be Consulted. — A copy of 
 
 the Uiuted States Postal Guide is officially supplied to every postmaster, and he must 
 consider the Guide .as an instruction, to be carefully perused and attended to by liim- 
 eelf and by his assistants, as Avell as a book of reference for the public. 
 
 Sec. 536. Postmasters in Doubt as to Law to Ask Instructions. — Whenever 
 
 a postmaster is in doubt as to any provision of the law or regulations, he should, be- 
 fore making a decision or taking any action, address the proper office of the Depart- 
 ment for instructions; and no expenditure of .any kind must be made without the con- 
 sent of the Department has been first obtained. 
 
 Sec. 537. Attention to be Given to Official Printed Circulars. — Postmasters 
 
 are required to give the same attention to instructions contained in jirinted circulars 
 sent from the different bureaus of the Department as to official manuscript letters. 
 
 Sec. 538. How Postmasters are to Address the Department. — p]very po.st- 
 
 master, iu addressing the Dep.artment, should write the name of his post-office, county, 
 and State at the head of his letter, and avoid writing upon more than one subject in 
 the same letter. Postmasters will be expected to obey this instruction to the letter. 
 Letters must be plainly addressed to the proper office of the Department. 
 
 Sec. 539. Public Documents and Property to be Turned over to Successor. — 
 
 All instructions, circulars, and orders received by a postmaster from anyotHcer of the 
 Department are to be filed in the post-office and turned over to his successor. In like 
 manner he will turn over to his successor, or, in the event of the discontinuance of 
 the post-office, deliver to the postmaster designated by the First Assistant Post- 
 master-General, as public property, all safes, desks, cases, and other furniture and fix- 
 tures, and all books, office records (such as duplicate pay-rolls, records of arrivals 
 and departures of mails, and of employes of the railway mail service), all maps, 
 blanks, stationery, copies of this book, and other articles which have either been 
 furnished to him as postmaster or have been charged and allowed at any time, and 
 which may remain on hand when the vacancy or discontinuance occurs. 
 
128 POSTAL LAWS AND BEGULATIOXS. 
 
 Sec. 540. Credentials of Speoial Agents to be Demindei — Postma.sters 
 slioald alwavs insist upon the exhibition of the credentials of persons representing 
 themselves vo be Si>eeial Agents of the Department unless personally known to them 
 to be snch- A Special Agent's credentials are always signed by the Postmaster-Gleneral 
 himself. 
 
 Sec. 541. Postmasters not to Act as Lottery Agents. — Xo postma.?ter shall 
 att as ageut for any lottery office, or under any color of purchase, or 
 othervrise vend lottery tickets ; uor shall he receive or send any lottery 
 scheme, circular, or ticket free of postage. For any \iolation of this 
 section the offender shall be liable to a x>^nalty of fifty dollars. (R. 
 S., § 3851.) 
 
TITLE III. 
 
 TRANSPORTATION OF THE MAIL. 
 
 CHAPTER ONE. 
 
 DESIGNATION OF P03T-E0ADS OVER WHICH THE MAIL MAY BE 
 
 CARRIED. 
 
 Sec. 
 
 542. TThat are post-roads. i i4<^. Extending mail facQities to special offices. 
 
 543. The Postmaatt- r-General maj establish serr- 549. Selectinz post-roads. 
 
 ic« on post-roads. I 550. When ttrrminas of post-roads may be changed- 
 
 514. All coort-hoases to be snpplied with maiL i 55L Discontinaing service on po.st-njads. 
 
 545. Carrying the mail on canals. 552. Limit of authority of Po6tmaster-<ieneral to 
 
 546. Carrying the mail on plank roails. estiblish post-roads. 
 
 517. Carrying the mail on wat»-r'< <i»' t)ir- Tnited 553. Penalty for obstructing the mails. 
 States. 554. Delaying mail at a Cerry ; penalty. 
 
 Sec. 542. What are Post-roads. — The follo\rmg are established post- 
 roads : 
 
 All the waters of the United States, during the time the mail is carried 
 thereon. 
 
 All railroads or parts of railroads which are now or hereafter may be 
 in operation. 
 
 All canals, during the time the mail is carried thereon. 
 
 All plank-roads, during the time the mail is carried thereon. 
 
 The road on which the mail is carried to supply any court-house which 
 may be without a mail, and the road on which the mail is carried under 
 contract made by the Postmaster-General for extending the line of i)osts 
 to supply mails to post-offices not on any established route, during the 
 time such mail is carried thereon. 
 
 All letter-carrier routes establLshed in any city or town for the collec- 
 tion and delivery of mail matters. (E. S., § 39G4.) 
 
 Sec. 543. The Postmaster-Greneral may Establish Service on Post-roads. — The 
 PostmH.ster-Geueral shall provide for canyingthe mail on all i>o.<t-roads 
 establishe<l by law, as often as he. having due regard to productiveness 
 and other circumstances, may think proper. fH. S.. § 30G.3.) 
 
 Sec. 544 AH Court-houses to be Supplied with Mail — The Postmaster- 
 General shall cause a mail to be carried from the nearest post-office on 
 any established iX)St-road to the court-house of any county in the United 
 States which is without a mail. (R. S., § 3066.) 
 
 Sec. 545. Carrying the Mail on Canals. — The Postmaster-General may 
 contract for carrying the mail on the navigable canals of the several 
 
 129 
 9 P L 
 
130 POSTAL LAWS AND EEGULATIOXS. 
 
 States, when, in his opinion, the public interest or convenience requires 
 it. (E. S., § 39G7.) 
 
 Sec. 546. Carrying the Mail on Plank-roads. — The Postmaster-General 
 may contract for carrying the mail on any plank-road in the Fnited 
 States, when the public interest or convenience requires it. (R. S., 
 § 39C8.) 
 
 Sec. 547. Carrying the Mail on Waters of the United States.— The Post- 
 master-General may cause the mail to be carried in any steamboat or 
 other vessel used as a packet on any of the waters of the United States. 
 (R. S., §3909.) 
 
 Ses. 543. Extending Mail Facilities to Special Post-Offices. — The Post- 
 master-General may enter into contracts for extending the line of posts 
 to supply mails to post-offices not on any established route, and, as a 
 compensation for carrying the mail under such contracts, may allow not 
 exceeding two-thirds of the salary i^aid to the postmaster at such special 
 [post] offices. (R. S., §3971.) 
 
 See " Special instructions to postmasters." 
 
 Sec. 549. Selecting Post-roads. — When there is more than one road be- 
 tween places designated by law for a post-road, the Postmaster-Gen- 
 eral may direct which shall be considered the post-road. (R. S., §3972.) 
 
 Sec. 550. When Terminus of Post-roads may be Changed. — The Postmas- 
 ter-General may change the terminus of post-roads connecting with or 
 intersecting railways when the service can be thereby improved. (R. S., 
 §3973.) 
 
 Sec. 551. Discontinuing Service on Post-roads. — Whenever, in the ojiin- 
 ion of the Postmaster-General, the postal service cannot be safely con- 
 tinued, the revenues collected, or the laws maintained on any post-road, 
 he may discontinue the service on such road or any x)art thereof until 
 the same can be safely restored. (R. S., § 3974.) 
 
 Sec. 552. Authority of Postmaster-General to Establish Post-roads. — The 
 Postmaster-General may, when he deems it advisable, contract for the 
 transportation of the mails to and from any post-oflfice ; but where such 
 service is performed over a route not established by law, he shall report 
 the same to Congress at its meeting next thereafter, and such service 
 shall cease at the end of the next session of Congress, unless such route 
 is established a post-route by Congress. (R, S., §3975.) 
 
 Sec. 553. Penalty for Obstructing the Mail. — Any person Avho shall know- 
 ingly and willfully obstruct or retard the passage of the mail, or any 
 carriage, horse, driver, or carrier carrying the same, shall, for every such 
 offense, ha punishable by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars. 
 (R. S., § 3995.) 
 
 The toinporary detent ion of the mail, eiiusod by tlie arrest of its carrier upon an in- 
 dictment for felony, does not come within the provisions of this section, but .i mail- 
 carrier on his route cauiiot bo detained by civil process. (IT. S. vs. Kirby, 7 "Wallace, 
 
 A city may prohibit l)y ordinance tlu>. passage of trains throu;j;h its limits at a rato 
 
TITLE III — TRANSPORTATION OF THE MAIL. 131 
 
 of speed not exceeding six niilos pciliunr, iind not coudict with tlii.s section. (.5 0pins. 
 554.) 
 
 Sec. 554. Dalaying Mail at a Ferry, Penalty. — Any ferryman wlio sli;ill 
 (lolay the i)a.ssiij^e of the ni:iil by willful neglect or refusal to tran.si)ort 
 the same across any ferry shall, for every ten minutes such mail may be 
 so delayed, be liable to a penalty of tea dollars. (R. S., § 3990.) 
 
 CHAPTER TWO. 
 
 CAKUIAGE OF THE MA.IL A GDVERNMETJT MONOPOLY— UNLAW- 
 FUL CARRIAGE OF MAIL-MATTER OUTSIDE OF THE MAILS.— 
 SEIZURE AND DETENTION OF UNLAWFUL MATTER IN THE 
 MAILS. 
 
 Sec. 
 
 555. Prohibition of privjitp exprcssps. 
 
 556. Private carriers forbidden at carrier post- 
 
 offices. 
 
 557. Penalty for carrying persons acting as express. 
 
 558. Penalty for sending letters bj- private express. 
 .559. Penalty for carrying letters out of the mail. 
 
 560. Penalty for carrying letters on board a mail 
 
 vessel. 
 
 561. Foreign letters only to be received from a 
 
 post-office. 
 502. Yesssls to deliver all letters at post-office. 
 
 Sec. 
 
 563. Special agents to searcli vessels for letters. 
 
 564. Seizing and detaining letters. 
 
 565. Forfeiture of seizures to the United States. 
 
 566. Letters seized may be returned to senders. 
 
 567. Letters conveyed without compensation. 
 
 568. Letters in stamped envelopes. 
 
 569. Postmasters must report violations of law. 
 
 570. Searches authorized. 
 
 571. Newspapers may be caiTied out of the maiL 
 
 572. Such pai)ers deposited in post-offices must be 
 
 paid. 
 
 Sec. 555. Prohibition of Private Expresses. — Xo person shall establish 
 any private express for the conveyance of letters or packets, or in any 
 manner cause or provide for the conveyance of the same by regular 
 trips or at stated periods, over any post-route which is or may be estab- 
 lished by law, or from any city, town, or place to any other city, town, 
 or place between which the mail is regularly carried ; and every person, 
 so oflending, or aiding or assisting therein, shall for each offense be 
 liable to a penalty of one hundred and fifty dollars. Provided, Nothing 
 herein contained shall be construed as prohibiting any person from 
 receiving and delivering to the nearest post-oftice or postal car mail- 
 matter properly stamped. (K. S., § 3983, as modified by act of March 3, 
 1879, § 1, 20 Stat., p. 35G.) 
 
 The term packet, as used in this and the following sections of the law, is restricted 
 to mailable matter of the first cla.ss. (Opiu. So. 14, Ass't Att'y-Geu. P. O. Dept. — 
 Spence.) 
 
 A person who intends to make the carrying of letters periodically for hire his regu- 
 lar business, or jtart of his business, in opposition to the public carriers, is legally 
 incapable of receiving authority to take letters out of the post-office for that purpose, 
 however sneh authority may be attenijited to be conferred. (9 Opins., 101.) 
 
 Sec. 558. Private Carriers Forbidden at Carrier Post-Offices. — Postmasters 
 
 at letter-carrier post-offices will under no circuinstauces deliver first-class mail-matter 
 to a private carrier, no matter what credentials he may present, whether it be a joint 
 order from all of his employers, or a separate order from each one, a permanent stand- 
 ing order, or an order renewed eveiy day. 
 
132 POSTAL LAWS AND EEGULATIOXS. 
 
 Sec. 557. Penalty for Carrying Persons Acting as Express. — The owner of 
 every stage-coach, railway-car, steamboat, or other vehicle or vessel, 
 which shall, with the knowledge of anj' owner, in whole or in part, or 
 with the knowledge or connivance of the driver, conductor, master, or 
 other person having charge of the same, convey any person acting or 
 employed as a i)rivate exi^ress for the conveyance of letters or packets, 
 and actually in possession of the same for the purpose of conveying 
 them, contrary to the spirit, true intent, and meaning of this title, shall, 
 for every such offense, be liable to a penalty of one hundred and fifty 
 dollars. (E. S., § 3983.) 
 
 Sec. 558. Penalty for Sending Letters by Private Express. — ^o i)ersou 
 shall transmit by private express or other unlawful means, or deliver to 
 any agent of such unlawful express, or deposit, or cause to be deposited, 
 at any appointed jilace, for the purpose of being transmitted, any letter 
 or i)acket ; and for every such offense the party offending shall be liable 
 to a penalty of lifty dollars. (K. S., § 3984.) 
 
 Sec. 559. Penalty for Carrying Letters out of the Mails. — Any person 
 concerned in carrying the mail, who shall collect, receive, or carry 
 any letter or packet, or cause or i)rocure the same to be done, con- 
 trary to law, shall, for every such offense, be punishable by a fine of not 
 more than fifty dollars. (R. S., § 3981.) No stage-coach, railway-car, 
 steamboat, or other vehicle or vessel which regularly jierforms trii^s at 
 stated periods on any post-route, or from any city, town, or place to any 
 other city, town, or place, between which the mail is regularly carried, 
 shall carry, otherwise than in the mail, any letters or packets, except 
 such as relate to some part of the cargo of such steamboat or other ves- 
 sel, or to some article carried at the same time by the same stage-coach, 
 railway-car, or other vehicle, except as i^rovided in section [558] [thnc 
 thousand nine hundred and ninety-three] ; and for every such offense the 
 owner of the stage-coach, railway-car, steamboat, or other vehicle or 
 vessel shall be liable to a i^enalty of one hundred dollars; and the 
 driver, conductor, master, or other person having charge thereof, and 
 not at the time owner of the whole or any part thereof, shall for every 
 such offense be liable to a penalty of fifty dollars. (R. S., § 3985.) 
 
 Sec. 560. Penalty for Carrying Letters on Board a Mail-Vessel. — Xo per- 
 son shall carry any letter or packet on board any vessel which carries 
 the mail otherwise than in such mail, except as provided in section [oG8J 
 [three thousand nine hundred and ninety -three], and for every such offense 
 the party offending shall be liable to a penalty of fifty dollars. (K. S., 
 §3980.) 
 
 Sec. 561. Foreign Letters only to be Received from a Post-Office. — Xo vessel 
 departing from the United states for any foreign port shall receive on 
 board or convey any letter or ])acket originating in the United States 
 which has not been regularly received from the post-oftice at the port of 
 departure, and which does not relate to the cargo of such vessel, except 
 as pro\'ided in section [508] [three thousand nine hund red and ninety 
 three]; and every collector, or other oflicer of the port empowered tj 
 
TITLE III — TRANSPORTATION OF THH MAII>. IJ.J 
 
 grant doarances, shall iciiiiirc IVoiii llic master of such vessel, as a. 
 eonditioii of clearaneo, au oath that he lias not received on board, has 
 not nnder his care or control, and will not receive or convey uny letter 
 or packet contrary to the provisions of this section. (II. S., § .'W-ST.) 
 
 Sec. 562. Vessels to Deliver all Letters at Post-Office. — No vessel aniving 
 Avithin any jjort or collection-district of the I'nited States shall be allowed 
 to make entry or break bulk until all letters on board are delivered at 
 the nearest ])ost-o(lice, and the master tliercof has sif^ned and sworn to 
 the following declaration, before the collector or other x)roper customs 
 officer : 
 
 "I, A. B., master of the , arriving from , and now lying 
 
 in the i)ort of , do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I have, to the 
 
 best of my knowledge and belief, delivered, at the post-office at , 
 
 every letter, and every bag, packet, or parcel of letter.s, which were on 
 board the said vessel during her last voyage, or which were in my pos- 
 session or under my power or control." 
 
 And any master who shall break bulk before he has delivered such 
 letters shall be liable to a penalty of not more than one hundred dollars, 
 recoverable, one-half to the officer making the seizure, ami the other to 
 the use of the United States. (R. S., § 3088.) 
 
 Sec. 563. Special Agents to Search Vessels for Letters. — Any special agent 
 of the Post-Office Department, when instructed by the Postmaster Gen- 
 eral to make examinations and seizures, and the collector or other customs 
 officer of any port, without special instructions, shall carefully search all 
 vessels for letters which may be on board or which have been conveyed 
 contrary to law. (R. S., § 3989.) 
 
 Sec. 564. Seizing and Detaining Letters. — Any special agent of the Post- 
 Office Department, collector, or other customs officer, or United States 
 marshal or his deputy, may at all times seize all letters and bags, packets 
 or parcels, containing letters which are being carried contrary to law on 
 board any vessel or on any post-route, and convey the same to the nearest 
 post-office, or may, by the direction of the Postmaster-General or Secre- 
 tary of the Treasury, detain them until two months after the final deter- 
 mination of all suits and proceedings which may, at any time within six 
 mouths after such seizure, be brought against any person for sending 
 or carrying such letters. (R. S., 3990.) 
 
 Sec. 565. Forfeiture of Seizures to the United States. — Every package or 
 parcel seized by any special agent of the Post-Office Department, col- 
 lector, or other customs officer, or United States marshal or his deputies, 
 in which any letter is unlawfully concealed, shall be forfeited to the 
 United States, and the same proceedings may be had to enforce the for- 
 feiture as are authorized in respect to goods, wares, and merchandise 
 forfeited for violation of the revenue laws ; and all laws for the benefit 
 and protection of customs oihcers making seizures for violating revenue 
 laws shall apply to officers making seizures for violating the j)ostal laws. 
 (R. S., § 3991.) 
 
 See Title xxxiv, chap. 10, Rev. Stat. 
 
134 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 Sec. 568. Letters Seized may be Returned to Senders. — All letters, packets, 
 or other matter which may be seized or detained for violation of law 
 shall be returned to the owner or sender of the same, or otherwise dis- 
 jiosed of as the Postmaster-General may direct. (E. S., § 3805.) 
 
 See. 567. Letters Conveyed Without Compensation. — Nothing herein con- 
 tained shall be construed to prohibit the conveyance or transmission ot 
 letters or packets by private hands without compensation, or by special 
 messenger employed for the particular occasion only. (E. S., § 3992.) 
 
 Sec. 568. Letters in Stamped Envelopes. — All letters inclosed in stamped 
 envelopes, if the postage-stamp is of a denomiuation sufficient to cover 
 the i)Ostage that would be chargeable thereon if the same were sent by 
 mail, may be sent, conveyed, and delivered otherwise than by mail, 
 provided such envelope shall be duly directed and properly sealed, so 
 that the letter cannot be taken therefrom without defaciug the envelope, 
 and the date of the letter or of the transmission or receipt thereof shall 
 be written or stamped upon the envelope. But the Postmaster-General 
 may suspend the operation of this section upon any mail-route where 
 the public interest may require such suspension. (E. S., § 3993.) 
 
 Sec. 569. Postmasters must Report Violations of Postal Monopoly. — When- 
 ever a. postmaster receives iuformatiou or lias good reason to believe that letters are 
 illegally brought to or seut from auy city, town, lauding, station, or place, near his 
 l>ost-office, whether by steamboat, railroad, private carrier for hire, or auy other mode 
 of couveyauce, or in any way in violation of the i)recediug section, he will give imme- 
 diate notice of such violation of law to the Postmaster-Geueral, with all the facts 
 concerning it in his possession. 
 
 Sec. 570. SaiTclies Authorized. — The Postmaster-General may, by a let- 
 ter of authorization under his liauil, to bs filed among the records of his 
 Department, empower any special agent or other officer of the Post- 
 Office Establishment to make searches for mailable matter transported 
 in violation of law; and the agent or officer so authorized may open and 
 search any car or vehicle passing, or having lately before passed, from 
 any place at which there is a post-offiee of the United States to any 
 other such place, or any box, package, or packet, being, or having lately 
 before been, in such car or vehicle, or any store or house, other than a 
 dwelling-house, used or occupied by any common carrier or trans])orta- 
 tlon company, in which such box, package, or packet may be contained, 
 whenever such agent or officer has reason to believe that mailable matter, 
 transported contrary to law, may therein be found. (E. S., § 402(3.) 
 
 Sec. 571. Newspapers may be Carried out of the Mail. — Contractors or 
 mail-carriers may convey out of the mail newspapers for sale or distri- 
 bution to subs(;rihers. (li. S.. § .'ISSS.) 
 
 Sec. 572. On such Papers Deposited in Post-Office Postage must be Paid. — 
 
 If newHi>apers which have been carried outside of the mail are placed in a. post-oHico 
 for delivery, postage must bo charged and collected. Contractors and otlicr persons 
 may also convey books, pamphlets, magazines, aiul newspapers (not intended for im- 
 mediate distril)ution), done up in packages as mfrchaudise, and addressed to somo 
 hona-Jldc news-agent or booksidler. 
 
TITLE III TKANSPOKTATION OF THE MAIL. 
 
 135 
 
 CHAPTER THREE. 
 
 ADVERTISEMENTS, PROPOSALS, AND CONTRACTS FOR CARRYING 
 
 THE MAIL. 
 
 S«c. ' Soc. 
 
 573. Advertispment of };«'"i'i:'l niaillittinKs. 603. 
 
 574. Divisiim of the United States into eontiact I 
 
 sections. ' ^O^- 
 
 575. Adveitisoment of routes omitted in general | 
 
 let tins?. _ ! 605. 
 
 576. Xotiie of intention to change terms of conj | 
 
 tract. 1 606. 
 
 577. iliscellaneous mail-lettinga defined. 607. 
 
 578. Advertisement of miscellauioiis mail-lettings. 608. 
 
 579. Rates to be paid for advertisements. 
 
 580. Proposals for carrying the mail; how deliv- 609. 
 
 ered and opened. 610. 
 
 581. Proposals to be accompanied by bonds ap- 611. 
 
 proved by postmasters. • I 612. 
 
 582. Sureties on bidders' bonds must qualify. ■ 613. 
 
 583. Amount of bond stated iu advertisement. [ 614. 
 
 584. Qualification of sureties ou more than one j 
 
 bond. 615. 
 
 585. Bids to be accompanied by a certified check I 
 
 or draft. 616. 
 
 588. Time of returning drafts to unsuccessful bid- ' 
 
 ders. ' G17. 
 
 587. Penalty f.)r illegal approval of bonds by post- 
 
 masters. 618. 
 
 588. All proposals to be recorded and filed. ' 
 
 589. Combinations to prevent bids, penalty. 619. 
 
 590. Caution to postmasters signing bidders' bonds. ! 
 .591. What are legal bids. ' ! 620. 
 
 592. Bidders must infonn themselves as to the 
 
 character of the service. | 621. 
 
 593. Special instructions to bidders. I 
 
 594. Alterations and modifications of bids destroy | 622. 
 
 their validity. | 
 
 595. Biiblers must be of legal age. 623. 
 
 596. Bids which cannot be received. G24. 
 
 597. Bids which may be rejected. 
 
 598. Bidders not released from bonds until service 625. 
 
 is commenced. 
 
 599. Persons who may not bo interested in mail 626. 
 
 contracts. 
 
 600. Bidders may not assign or transfer their bids. 627. 
 
 601. Contracts in name of United States and 628. 
 
 awarded to lowest bidder. 
 
 602. New sureties ou contracts may be required or 
 
 accepted. 
 
 In case of bidder failing contract with other 
 persons autliorized. 
 
 In case of failing contractor contracts with 
 other persons authorized. 
 
 Temporary cimtracts authorized, not to exceed 
 last contract price. 
 
 Penalty for making straw bids. 
 
 Contracts made without advertisement. 
 
 Mail apartments to be furnished on mail 
 steamboats. 
 
 Contracts to be executed in duplicate. 
 
 Tenn of contracts. 
 
 Time of executing contracts. 
 
 Payment on contract-s. 
 
 Causes for which contracts may be annulled. 
 
 Contractors to carry all mails and care for 
 mail-bags. 
 
 Special agents and postal supplies to be car- 
 ried free. 
 
 When postmasters may employ temporary 
 service. 
 
 After contracts have expired postmasters may 
 not pay for service. 
 
 Increase of compensation for increased serv- 
 ice. 
 
 Increase of compensation for increased ce- 
 lerity. 
 
 Determination of compensation for increased 
 celerity. 
 
 Decreased compens.atioii for decreased serv- 
 ice. 
 
 Changes of schedule; time of arrival and 
 departure. 
 
 Contracts cannot be assigned or transferred. 
 
 Contracts not to be sublet without consent of 
 the Postmaster-Creneral. 
 
 Subcontracts permissible with consent of the 
 Postmaster-General. 
 
 Eegulatious under which subcontracts m-iy 
 be made. 
 
 Miil-messenger service. 
 
 ilail-carriers to receive mail for delivery at 
 next post-oflice. 
 
 Sec. 573. Advertisemsat of General Mail-Lettings. — The Tostmaster- 
 Geueral shall cause iiLlvci-tisemeiit.s of all general mail-lettiugs of each 
 State and Territory to be conspicuously posted up in eachpost-ofiice in the 
 State and Territory embraced iu said advertisements for at least si.Kty 
 days before the time of such general letting ; and no other advertisement 
 of such letting shall be required; but this provision shall not apply to 
 
136 POSTAL LAWS AND EEGULATIONS. 
 
 any other than general mail-lettings. (Act March 3, 1879, § 1, 20 Stat., 
 p. 356.) See R. S., § 3941; see 19 Stat., 78, 383.) 
 
 See also section 578. 
 
 Sec. 574. Division of the Unite i States into Contract Sections. — The United 
 
 V states is dividocl iuto four coatract sections. A general letting for one of these sections 
 occurs every year, and contracts are made at snch general lettings for four consecu- 
 tive years, commencing on the first day of July. The sections and their current con- 
 tract terms are — 
 
 1. Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massschusetts Ehode Island. Connecticut. New- 
 York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, District of Columbia, Virginia, 
 
 and West Virginia ; current term, July 1, 1877, to Juno 30, 1381. 
 
 2. North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennes- 
 sse, Kentucky, Ohio, and Indiana; curi-ent term, July 1, 1876, to June 30, 1830. 
 
 3. Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, and Missouri ; cun-eut term, July 
 1, 1879, to June 30, 1883. 
 
 4. Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas, Indian Territory, Kansas, Nebraska, Dakota, 
 Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Idaho, AVashington, Ore- 
 gon, Nevadi, and California; current term, July 1, 1878, to June 30, 1882. 
 
 Sec. 575. Advertisement of Routes Omitted in General Letting. — ^Mien- 
 ever by reason of any error, omission, or other canse any route which 
 shonld properly be advertised for the regular letting^ is omitted, it .shall 
 be the duty of the Postmaster-General to advertise the same as soon as 
 the error or omission shall be discovered, and the proposals for such 
 route shall be opened as soon as possible after the other proposals in 
 the same contract section ; and the contract made under such supple- 
 mentary advertisement shall run, as nearly as possible, from the begin- 
 ning to the end of the regular contract term, and during the time 
 necessarily lost by reason of such error, omission, or other cause, the 
 Postmaster-General shall provide for the carrying of the mail on such 
 route at as low rate as possible, without advertising. (R. S., § 39G7.) 
 ^/ Sec. 576. Notice of Intention to Change Terms of Contract. — Wlienever it 
 becomes necessary to change the terms of an existing contract for carry- 
 ing tlie mail otherwise than as provided in (the preceding) section [018 
 and G19], notice thereof shall be given and proceedings had thereon the 
 same as at the letting of original contracts. (E. S., § 3958.) 
 
 Sec. 577. Miscellaneous Mail-Lettings Defined. — The lettings for service 
 
 upon new mail-routes established by Congress in any contract division of the l''nited 
 ^States during a contract term, and upon routes where the contractor, has failed or 
 abandoned his contract, are denominated miscellaneous mail-lettings. >. Such letting.s 
 are made under advertisement to cover the mail service on such routes until the 
 expiration of the contract terra, when the service, if continued, is embraced in the 
 general mail-letting. 
 
 Sec. 578. Advertisement of Miscellaneous Mail-Lettings. — Before maldng 
 any contract for iiihind mail traiisportutioii, other than by railroads and 
 steamboats, except for temporary service, as provided for in [sections 
 G83-005] [an act approirrl Auf/mt eleventh, eif/htcen hundred and screuty- 
 six, ameniator}/ of sub-sections tiro hundred and fortii-six and two hundred 
 and fifty-one of section twelve of an act approved Jane twenty-third, eight- 
 y can hundred and seventy-four] the Postmaster-General shall cause to be 
 published, in not exceeding ten newspapers published in the State or 
 
TITLE III TRANSPORTATION OF THE MAIL. lol 
 
 Territory in whidi such service is to be let, one of ^vliicli slmll lie piil)- 
 lislied at tlie seat of fi'overmiicnt of such State or Territory, once a week, 
 for si.K consecutive weeks, luccediii;;- the time of h!tti^;,^ a notice in <tis- 
 playecl typo, not to exceed six inches of space in ojie cijliiiiin of a news- 
 paper of tlic followinj;' purport: 
 
 MAIL LETTIXGS. 
 
 notice to contractors. 
 
 Post-Office Departjient, 
 
 Washington, T). C, , — , 18 — . 
 
 Proposals will be received at the Contract Ofiftce of this Department 
 
 until — a. m., of , , 18 — , for carrying the mails of the United 
 
 States upon the routes, and according to the schedule of arrival and 
 departure, specified by the Department, in the State (or Territory) of 
 
 , from , 18 — , to , 18 — . Lists of routes, with schedules of 
 
 arrivals and departures, instructions to bidders, with forms for con- 
 tracts and bonds, and all other necessary information, will be furnished 
 upon application to the Second Assistant Postmaster-General. 
 
 Postmaster-General. 
 
 and no other advertisement of niisccllaneous lettings shall be required : 
 l*rovi(Ie;J, That said contracts for mail letting shall not take place in less 
 than sixty days after the first publication. (Act May 17, 1878, § 1, 20 
 Stat., p. Gl.) 
 
 Sec. 579. Rates to be Paid for Advertisements. — Hereafter all advertise- 
 ments, notices, proposals for contracts, and all other forms of advertising 
 required by law for the Post-Office Department may be paid for at a 
 price not to exceed the commercial rates charged to private individuals 
 with the usual discounts, such rates to be ascertained from sworn state- 
 ments to be furnished to the Postmaster-General by the proprietors of 
 the newspapers proposing to so advertise. But the Postmaster-General 
 maj" secure lower terms at special rates, whenever the public interest 
 requires it. (Act May 17, 1878, § 4, 20 Stat., p. 01.) 
 
 Sec. 533. Proposals for CaTryin3^ the Mail, how Delivered and Opened. — 
 Proposals for carrying the mail shall be delivered sealed, and so kept 
 until the bidding is closed, and shall then be opened ami marked in the 
 presence of the Postmaster-General, and one of the Assistant Post- 
 masters-General, or of two of the Assistant Postmasters-General, or ot 
 any other two officers of the Department, to be designated by the Post- 
 master-General ; and any bidder may withdraw his bid at uny time 
 before twenty four hours previous to the time fixed for the opening of 
 proposals, by serving upon the Postmaster-General, or the Seconil Assist- 
 ant Postmaster-General, notice in writing of such withdrawal. (H. S., 
 § 3944.) 
 
 Sec. 681. Proposals Accompanied by Bonds Approved by Postmasters. — 
 
loo POSTAL LAWS AND EEGULATIONS. 
 
 Every proposal for carrying the mail shall be aceonipanied by the 
 boud of the bidder, with sureties approved by a postmaster, aad iu 
 causes where the amount of the bond exceeds five thousand dollars, by a 
 postmaster of the first, second, or third class, in a sum to be designated 
 by the Postmaster-General in the advertisement of each route; to which 
 bond a condition shall be annexed, that if the said bidder shall, within 
 such time after his bid is accepted as the Postmaster-General shall jjre- 
 scribe, enter into a contract with the United States of America, with 
 good and sufficient sureties, to be approved by the Postmaster-General, 
 to perform the service proposed in his said bid, and, further, that he 
 shall perform the said service according to his contract, then the said 
 obligation to be void, otherwise to be in full force and obligation in law; 
 and in case of failm^e of any bidder to enter into such contract to per- 
 form the service, or, having executed a contract, in case of failure to 
 perform the service, according to his contract, he and his sureties shall 
 be liable for the amount of said bond as liquidated damages, to be re- 
 covered in an action of debt on the said bond. [No proposal shall be 
 considered unless it shall be accompanied by such bond, and there shall 
 have been affixed to said proposal the oath of the bidder, taken before 
 an officer qualified to administer oaths, that he has the ability, pecuni- 
 arily, to fulfill his obligations, and that the bid is made in good faith, 
 and with the intention to enter into contract, and perform the service in 
 case his bid is accepted, i (R. S,, § 3945, as amended by act June 23, 
 1874, § 12, 18 Stat., p. 235.) 
 
 Sec. 582. Sureties on Bidders' Binds mnst ^la-lify. — Before the bond 
 of a bidder provided for in the aforesaid section is approved, there shall 
 be indorsed thereon the oaths of the sureties therein, taken before 
 an officer qualified to administer oaths, that they are owners of real 
 estate, wortli, in the aggregate, a sum double the amount of the said 
 bond, over and above all debts due and owing by them, and all judg- 
 ments, mortgages, and executions against them, after allowing all ex- 
 emptions of every character whatever. 4-Ccompauying said bond, and 
 as a part thereof, there shall be a series of interrogatories in print or 
 writing, to be i)rescribed by the Postmaster-General, and answered by 
 the sureties under oath, showing the amount of real estate owned by 
 them; a brief description thereof, and its probable value; where it is 
 situated; in what county and State the record evidence of their title 
 exists. And if any surety shall knowingly and willfully swear falsely 
 to any statement made under the provisions of this section, he shall be 
 deemed guilty of perjury, and, on conviction thereof, be punished as is 
 provided by law for co:ninission of the. crime of perjury. (R. S., § 3J40, 
 as amended by act August 11, 1S7(>, 19 Stat., p. 12!).) 
 
 See. 533. Amount of Bond Ra^nired Stated in Advertisement. — ^The amount 
 
 of hoiid rciiiiirud wiUi Ijiils, a-iul tliu pre.suut pay wlieix it cxceotLs (!jj,0l)j) live tliou- 
 siuid ilidlars, aro statml in tlii) a;lvortisoiu?.ufc undor tha approin-iato route. 
 
 Sec. 534. Qnalification of Sureties on More than One Band. — When the 
 
 Hami- iK-rsous arc suictics on more tliaii ouo bond siudi real estate uiu.st o(j[iial in value 
 
TITLE III — TRANSPORTATION OF TIIE MAIL. 139 
 
 not less than oin'-fouith tlic iijjjjrog.ato of all flic lioiidsoii which thoy aro sureties. A 
 inarritMl woman will not be accosted as surety, either on the IxmkI <if a bidder or con- 
 tractor. 
 
 Sec. 585. Bids to be Accompanied by a Certified Check or Draft. — TrcrcnftiT 
 all bidders upon every mail route lor the transportation of the mails upon 
 tUe same, where the annual compensation for the service on such route at 
 the time exceeds the sum of five thousand <lollars, shall aeconipany their 
 bids with acertitied cheek or draft, i)ayal)le to theorderof the Tostmaster- 
 General, upon some solvent national bank, which check or draft shall not 
 be less than live per centum on the amount of the annual pay on said route 
 at the time such bid is made, and, in case of new or modified service, not 
 less than five per centum of the amount of the bond of the bidder re- 
 quired to accompany his bid, if the amount of the said bond exceeds five 
 thousand dollars, fin case any bidder, on being- awarded any such contract, 
 shall fail to execute the same with j^ood and siitiiicient sureties, according;' 
 to the terms on which such bid was made and accepted, and enter upon 
 the performance of the service to the satisfaction of thePostmaster-Gen- 
 eral, such bidder shall, in addition to his liability on his bond accompany- 
 ing his bid, forfeit the amount so deposited to the United States, and the 
 same shall forthwith be paid into the Treasury for the use of the Post-Office 
 Department ; but if such contract shall be didy executed and the service 
 entered upon as aforesaid, said draft or check so deposited, and the 
 checks or drafts deposited by all other bidders, on the same route, shall 
 be returned to the respective bidde:s nuiking'such deposits?^ No pro- 
 posals for the transportation of the mails where the amount of the bond 
 required to accompany the same shall exceed five thousand dollars shall 
 be considered, unless accompanied with the check or draft herein re- 
 quired, together with the boiul required by a preceding section: Pro- 
 vided, That nothing in this act shall be construed or intended to affect 
 any penalties or fgi'feitures which may have heretofore accrued under 
 the jirovisions of the sections hereby amended. {11. S., § 3953, as amended 
 by act June 23, 1874, § 1L», IS Stat., p. 230.) 
 
 Sec. 588. Time of Returning Drafts to Unsuccessful Bidders. — The checks 
 or drafts reqnired to be deposited by the preceding section will be retained nntil after 
 the contract has been duly executed and the service commenced by the accepted bid- 
 der. Checks and drafts of unsuccessful bidders Avill be returned to tliem by mail on 
 the written recj^uest of the bidders, or delivered to any one ou their order. See sec- 
 tion 593. 
 
 Sec. 587. Penalty for Illegally Approving Bonds. — Anj' postmaster who 
 shall atiix his signature to the api)roval of any bond of a bidder, or 
 to the certificate of sufficiency of sureties in any contract before the 
 said bond or contract is signed by the bidder or contractor and his 
 sureties, or shall knowingly, or without the exercise of due diligence, 
 approve any bond of the biilder with insufficient sureties, or shall 
 knowingly make any false or fraudulent certificate, shall be forthwith 
 dismissed from office, and be thereafter disqualified from hohling the 
 office of postmaster, and shall also be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, 
 and, on conviction thereof, be punished by a fine not exceeding five 
 
M 
 
 140 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 tliousanil dollars, or by imprisonment not exceeding one year, or both 
 (E. S., § 3947, as amended by act June 23, 1874, § 12, 18 Stat., p. 235.) 
 
 Sec. 533. All Proposals to be Rsoordsi and Filed. — The Postmaster-Gen- 
 eral shall Lave recorded, in a boolc to be kept for that purpose, a true 
 and faitliM abstract of all proposals made to him for carrying- the mail, 
 giving- the name of the party offering, the terms of the offer, the sum to 
 be paid, and the time the contract is to continue ; and he shall put on 
 file and ])reserve the originals of all such proposals. (R. S., § 394:8.) 
 
 Sec. 589. Combinations to Prevent Bids, Penalty. — Xo contract for carry- 
 ing the mail shall be made with any person who has entered, or pro- 
 posed to enter, into any combination to prevent the making of any bid 
 for carrying the mail, or wlio has made any agreement, or given or per- 
 formed, or promised to give or perform, any consideration whatever to 
 induce any other person not to bid for auy such contract; and if any 
 person so offending is a contractor for carrying the mail, his contract 
 may be annulled ; and for the first offense the i)erson so offending shall 
 be disqualified to contract for carrying the mail for five years, and for 
 the second offense shall be forever disqualified. (E. S., § 39o0.) 
 
 See section 001. 
 
 Sec. 590. Caution to Postmasters Signing Bidders' Bonds. — Postmasters 
 are cautioned, under penalty of removal, not to sign the approval of the bond of any 
 hidder before the proposal is completed and the bond is signed by the bidder and his 
 sureties, and not until entirely satisfied of the sufficiency of the sureties. They are 
 also cautioned not to divulge to any one the amount of any proposal certified by them. 
 Doing so will be sufficicut cause for their removal. 
 
 Sec. 591. What are Legal Bids. — Bids that propose to transport the mails 
 
 with ''celerity, certainty, and security," having been decided to be the only legal 
 bids, are construed as providing for the entire mail, however large, .ind whatever 
 may be the mode of conveyance necessary to insure its "celerity, certainty, and se- 
 curity," and have the preference over all others, and no others are considered, except- 
 for steamboat routes. 
 
 Sec. 592. Bidders Must Inform Themselves as to Character of Service. — 
 
 The distances stated in the advertisements for mail proposals are given according to 
 the best information; but no increased pay will be allowed should they be greater 
 than advertised, if the points to be supplied are correctly stated. JJidders nuist 
 inform themselves on this point, and also in reference to the w^eight of the mail, 
 the condition of roads, hills, streams, etc., and all toll-bridges, ferries, or obstruc- 
 tions of any kind by which expense may be incurred. No claim for additional pay, 
 based on snch gronnds, can be considered; nor lor alleged mistakes or nusai)i)re- 
 hension as to the degree of service; nor for bridges destroyed, ferries discontinued, or 
 other obstructions increasing distance, occurring during the contract term. Post- 
 offices established during a contract term are to be visited without extra p.ny, if the 
 distance be not increased, and at pro rata pay for any increase of distance. 
 
 Sec. 593. Special Instructions to Bidders. — Bidders should first projiose 
 
 for service strictly according to tlu^ advertisement, and then, if they desire, sepa- 
 rately for different serviee; and if tiie regular bid be the lowest otJVred for the adver- 
 tised service, the other proj)ositions may be considered. 
 
 Tliere shonlil lie but one route bid for in a ]>ro])osal. Consolidated or combination 
 bids (''))roi)osing mw sum for two or more routes") cannot be considered. 
 
 The route, the service, the yearly pay, the name and residence of the bidder (that 
 
TITLE III — TIIANSPORTATION OF THE MAIL. 141 
 
 is, his iisiiiil i)i>.st-offico address), and tlw nami' of cuIi iiu'iuhcr of a firm where a coiii- 
 pany olVt-rs, Hhoiihl b(> dlHtiiictly stated. 
 
 Jiid(h'rs aro re(HK'^^ted to iimo, as far as practicable, the jJiinted |iri»ito-<als furnished 
 l)y the D<'i)artiiUMit, to write out in lull the sum of tlieir l>iils, and lo retain (;oi)ies of 
 them. 
 
 Sec. 594. Alterations and Modifications of Bids Prohibited. — Bids altcrod 
 
 in the route, the si-rviee, tlie yearly pay, the natm- of tlie hidiler, or auy mitcrial part 
 of the bond, by erasures or interlineations, shouhlnot be submitted ; and if so submit- 
 ted will not be considered in awardinj; the contracts. 
 
 A niodilieation of a bid in any of its es.seutial terms is tantamoujit to a new bid, 
 and cannot be received so as to interfere with regular competition. Making a new 
 bid in proper form is the only way to modify a previous one, and such jjrevious bid 
 must be withdrawn if it is desired that it shall not be considered. 
 
 No withdrawal of a bid will be allowed nnless the witlidrawal is received twenty- 
 four hours |)revious to the tinu' lixed for opeuini; the ])ro])Osals. 
 
 Sec. 595. Bidders Must be of Le^al Age. — Xo bidder will be accepted 
 
 ■who is nnder twenty-one years of a.oe^ or who is a married woman. 
 
 Sec. 596. Bids which Cannot be Received. — Bids received after the time 
 
 named in an advertisement will not bo considered. Neither can bids be considered 
 which are without the bond, oath, and certilicate required by section 581 and sec- 
 tion 5e2. 
 
 Sec. 597. Bids which may be Rejected. — The Postmaster-General re- 
 serves the ri,i;ht to reject all bids on any route whenever in his judgment the interests 
 of the service refjuire it. See sections .')S9 aiul 601. 
 
 Sec. 598. Bidders not Released from Bonds until Service is Commenced. — 
 Xo bidder for carrying;- the mails shall be released from his obligation 
 under his bid or proposal, notwithstanding an award made to a lower 
 bidder, until a contract for tlie designated service shall have been duly 
 executed by such lower bidder and his sureties, and accepted, and the 
 service entered upon by the contractor to the satisfaction of the Post- 
 master-General. (K. S., § 3952.) 
 
 Sec. 599. Persons who may not be Interested in Mail Contracts. — Xo post- 
 master, assistant postmaster, or clerk employed in any post-oflice shall 
 be a contractor or concerned in a contract for carrying the mail. (R. S., 
 § 3850.) 
 
 See section 43. 
 
 Postmasters are also liable to dismissal from office for acting as agents of contract- 
 ors or bidders, with or without compensation, in any business, matter, or thing re- 
 lating to the mail service. They are the trusted agents of the Department, and can- 
 not consistently act in both capacities. 
 
 Sec. 600. Bidders may not Assign or Transfer their Bids. — Bids or inter- 
 ests in bids cannot be transferred or assigned to o her parties. Bidders will, there- 
 fore, take notice that they will be expected to perform the service awarded to them 
 through the whole contract term. 
 
 Sec. 601. Contracts in Name of United States, and Awarded to Lowest Bidder. — 
 All contracts for carrying the uudl shaU be in the name of the United 
 States, and shall be awarded to the lowest biilder tendering suffi- 
 cient guarantees for faithfid performance, without other reference to 
 the mode of transportation than may be necessary to provide for the due 
 celerity, certainty, and security thereof; but the l*ostnmster-General 
 
142 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 shall not be bound to consider the bid of any person who has willfully 
 or negligently tailed to perform a former contract. (R. S., § 3049.) 
 
 Sec. 602. New Sureties on Contracts may be B,ec[uired or Accepted. — The 
 Postmaster-Greneral, whenever he may deem it consistent with the pub- 
 lic interest, may accept or require new surety upon any contract existing 
 or hereafter made for carrying the mails, in substitution for and release 
 of any existing surety. (R. S., § 3955, as amended by act of March 3, 
 1879, § 30, 20 Stat., p. 362.) 
 
 See. 603. Bidder Failing, Contract with other Persons Authorized. — 
 After any regular bidder whose bid has been accepted shall fail to 
 enter into contract for the transportation of the mails according to 
 his proposal, or, having entered into contract, shall fail to commence 
 the performance of the service stipulated in his or their contract, as 
 therein provided, the Postmaster-General shall proceed to contract 
 with the next lowest bidder or bidders in the oixler of their bids, for 
 the same service, who will enter into a contract for the performance 
 thereof, unless the Postmaster-G-eneral shall consider such bid or bids 
 too high, and in case each of said bids shall be considered too high, then 
 the Postmaster-General shall be authorized to enter into contract, at a 
 price less than that named in said bids, with any person, whether a bidder 
 or not, who will enter into contract to i>erform the service in accordance 
 with the terms and provisions prescribed for the execution of other con- 
 tracts for similar service; and in case no satisfactory contract can be thus 
 obtained, he shall readvertise such route. (R. S., § 3951, as amended by 
 act August 11, 1876, 19 Stat., p. 129.) 
 
 Sec. 601. Contractor failing, Contracts with Other Persons Authorized. — 
 And if auy bidder whose bid has been accei)ted, and who has entered 
 into a contract to perform the service according to his proposal, aud in 
 pursuance of his contract has entered upon the performance of the 
 service, to the satisfaction of the Postmaster-General, shall subsequent- 
 ly fail or refuse to perform the service according to liis contract, the 
 Postmaster-General shall proceed to contract with the next lowest 
 bidder for such service, under the advertisement thereof, (unless the 
 Postmaster-General shall consider such bid too high) who will enter 
 into contract and give bond, with sureties to be approved by the Post- 
 master-General, for the faithful performance thereof, in the same pen- 
 alty and with the same terms and conditions thereto annexed as were 
 stated and contained in the bond which accompanied his bid : and in case 
 said next lowest bidder shall decline to enter into contract for the per- 
 formance of sueli service, then the Postmaster-General may award the 
 service to, ami enter into contract witli, any person, whether a bidder on 
 said route or not, who will enter into contract to perform the service and 
 execute a bond of like tenor and effect as that required of bidders, in a 
 penalty to be prescribed, and with sureties to be approved by the Post- 
 master-Generid, for the i)erforman('o of the service contracted to be per- 
 formed at a price not exceeding that named in the bid of the said next 
 
TITLE III TRANSPORTATION OF THE MAIL. 143 
 
 lowest bidder; and if no contract can be secured at the price naiiiod in 
 said next lowest bid, then the Postmaster-Creneral shall jn-od'cd to secure 
 a contract, at a price not considered too hv^h, with any i>crson who will 
 execute such contract in accordance with the law ai)])licable thereto, 
 jiivin-x, in all cases, the in-cfcrence to the regular biddiu's on the list 
 whose bids do not exceed the price at which others will contract there- 
 for; and if no satisfactory contract can be thus secured the route shall 
 be readvortised. (Ibid.) 
 
 Sec. 605. Temporary Contracts Authorized at last Contract Price. — AVlien- 
 ever an accepted bidder shall fail to enter into contract, or a contractor 
 on any mail -route shall fail or refuse to perform the service on said 
 route accordinj;- to his contract, or when a new route shall be estab- 
 lished or new service required, or when, from any other cause, there 
 shall not be a contractor legally bound or required to perform such serv- 
 ice, the Postmaster-General may make a temporary contract for carry- 
 ing- the mail on such route, Avithout advertisement, for such period as 
 may be necessary, not in any case exceeding six months,* until the serv- 
 ice shall have commenced under a contract made according to law: 
 Proridal, Jtoiccvcr, That the Postmaster-General shall not employ tem- 
 porary service on any route at a higher price than that jiaid to the con- 
 tractor Avho shall have performed the service during the last preceding 
 contract term. "And in all cases of regular contracts hereafter made, 
 the contract may, in the discretion of the Postmaster-General, be con- 
 tinued in force beyond its express terms for a period not exceeding six 
 months, until a new contract with the same or other contractors shall 
 be made by the Postmaster-General." {Ibid.) 
 
 Sec. 693. Penalty for Making Straw Bids. — Any i^erson or i)ersons bid- 
 ding for the transportation of the mails upon any route which may be 
 advertised to be let, and receiving an aAvard of the contract for such 
 service, who shall wrongfully refuse or fail to enter into contract with 
 the Postmaster-General in due form to perform the service described in 
 his or their bid or proposal, or having entered into such contract shall 
 wrongfully refuse or fail to perform such service, shall, for any such fail- 
 ure or refusal, be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and be punished by 
 a fine of not more than five thousand dollars, and by imi)risonment for 
 not more than twelve months. And the failure or refusal of any such 
 l^erson or persons to enter into such contract in due form, or having en- 
 tered into such contract, the failure or refusal to perform such service 
 shall be j>>'N»rt facie evidence in all actions or prosecutions arising under 
 this section that such failure or refusal was wrongful. (K. !S., § ."JlK'ji, as 
 amended by act August 11, ISTO, 19 Stat., p. 129.) See 13 Opin., 473. 
 
 Sec. 607. Contracts made without Advertisement. — The Postmaster-Gen- 
 eral may enter into contracts for carrying the mail, with railroad com- 
 panies, without advertising for bids therefor. (R. S., § 3942.) AVhen 
 from any cause it may become necessary to make a new contract for 
 
 *A biU is pendins (May, 1879) in Congress to make the time one year. 
 
144 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 carrying the mails upon any water route between ports of tlie United 
 States, upon which mail service has previously been performed, the 
 Postmaster-General may contract with the owner or master of any steam- 
 ship, steamboat or other vessel plying upon the waters or between ports 
 of the United States, for carrying the mail upon said route for any length 
 of time not exceeding four years and without advertising for proposals 
 therefor whenever the public interest and convenience will thereby be 
 promoted ; but tlie price paid for such service shall in no case be greater 
 than the average price paid under the last preceding or then existing 
 regular contract upon the same route. And the Postmaster-General 
 may contract with the owners or masters of steamships, steamboats or 
 other vessels plying upon the waters or between ports of the United 
 States for carrying the mail^ upon such routes where no mail service 
 has previously been performed, without advertising for proposals there- 
 for; but no contract for such new service shall be for a longer time than 
 one" year. No contract for carrying the mails between the United States 
 and any foreign port shall be for a longer time than two years, unless 
 otherwise directed by Congress. (E. S., §§ 3943, 3956, 3970, as amended 
 by act May 17, 1878, § 5, 20 Stat., p. Gl.) 
 
 Sec. 608. Mail Apartments to be Furnished on Mail Steamboats. — On routes 
 where steamboat service is required, the contractor will be required to furnisb steam- 
 boats wliicli are safe, suitable, and satisfactory to the Postmaster-General. 
 
 As route-agents will be placed on each boat who will take entire charge of the 
 malls and all mail matter, the contractor will be required to fit up, on each boat em- 
 ployed in the service, a room suitable for an office, with a sleeping apartment attached, 
 for the exclusive use of the route-ageut, and to furnish first-class board to such agent 
 Avithout charge. 
 
 Sec. 609. Contracts to be Executed in Duplicate. — Each contractor is re- 
 quired to execute, with his sureties, contracts in dnplicate, both to be returned to the 
 Second Assistant Postmaster-General. A copy will be furnished to the contractor if 
 requested. 
 
 Sec. 610. Term of Contracts. — No contract for carrying the mails shall 
 be made for a longer term than four years. (R. S., §3950.) 
 See section G07. 
 Sec. 611. Time of Executing Contracts. — Contracts are to be executed 
 
 and filed in the Department by or before the day specified in the advertisement for 
 proposals, otherwise the accepted bidder will be considered as having failed, and the 
 Postmaster-General may proceed to contract for the service with other parties accord- 
 ing to law. 
 
 Sec. 612. Payment on Contracts, — No person whose bid for carrying the 
 mail is accepted shall receive any pay until he has executed his contract 
 according to law and the regidations of the Department. (R. S., § 3959.) 
 
 Payments will be made by collections from, or drafts on, postmasters or otherwise, 
 after the expiration of each ([uarter — say in November, February, May, and August, 
 provided that rciiuinMl evi(lcnci> of service lias b.'t^u received. 
 
 Sec. 613. Causes for which Contracts may be Annulled. — Tlie Postmaster- 
 General may annul a contract for repeated failures to run .agreeably to contract ; for 
 assigning the contract ; for violating the iiost-office laws, or disobeying the instruc- 
 tions of the Department; for refusing to discharge a carrier when required by the De- 
 
 jiartmcnt to do so; or for transporting persons or jiackagos conveying mailable matter 
 
 out of the mail. 
 
TITLE III — TRANSPORTATION OF THE ^rAI^. 145 
 
 Sec. 614. Contractors to Carry all Mails and Care for Mail-Bags. — (■mi- 
 
 trac-tors aif ifqiiind, in all <asi\s, to tarry tlio i-iitiru mail, iiiid arc not poriiiittfil to 
 l«"iiV(i b.ajjs ofiiowspaiuM's and paiiiphlots on tliBir routes. They inn.st fi'wn due atten- 
 tion to tiic preservation of niail-bafjs, and must not allow them to ho dra)^;;od about 
 or otlu'rwiso injured. 
 
 Sec. 615. Special Agents and Postal Supplies to be Carried Free. — On 
 
 routes wliere tln^ mode of eoMVeyance admits of it, tlie, si>efial aj^ents of the I'ost- 
 OlHco Dei)artnu'nt, al.so itost-ollicc blanks, mail-bag!4, locks and keys, are to l>c con- 
 veyed without extra char}j;e. 
 
 Sec. 616. When Postmasters may Employ Temporary Service. — When any 
 
 contractor fails to coninienco the .service .stipulated in his contract, or jibandon.s the 
 same, it is the duty of the postmaster at the head of the route (»'. e., the post-office 
 first named in the advertisement and contract) to employ temporary .service at the 
 lowest rate possible, but in no ease at a higher rate than that paid under tlie last pre- 
 ceding regular contract, and to report the facts to the Second Assistant Postmaster- 
 General innnediiitely. 
 
 Sec. 617. After Contracts Expire Postmasters may not Pay for Service. — 
 
 After the ex]iiration of a contract, ;ind until the Postmaster-General has decided upon 
 a new contract, or upon the expediency of discontinuing the post-ofHce, postmasters 
 cannot make any contract or ]iayment for service unless expressly .authorized to do 
 so by the Postmaster-General. 
 
 Sec. 618. Increase of Compensation for Increased Service. — Comi^ensation 
 for additional service in carrying" the mail sliall not be in excess of the 
 exact proportion which the original couii)ensation bears to the original 
 service, and when any such additional service is ordered the snni to 
 be allowed therefor shall be expressed in the order, and entered npon 
 the books of the Department ; and no compensation shall be paid for 
 additional rcgnlar service rendered before the issuing of such or<ler. (E. 
 S., § 39G0.) 
 
 Sec. 619. Increase of Compensation for Increased Celerity. — Xo extra allow- 
 ance shall be made for any increase of expedition in carrying the mail 
 unless thereby the employment of additional stock and carriers is made 
 necessary, and in such case the additional compensation shall bear no 
 greater proportion to the additional stock and carriers necessarily em- 
 ployed than the comiieusation in the original contract bears to the stock 
 and carriers necessarily employed in its execution. (Tv. S., § 3001.) 
 
 Sec. 620. Latermination of Compensation for Increased Celerity. — When 
 it becomes necessary to increase the speed on any route, the contractor will be re- 
 (luired to state, under oath, the number of horses and mcu re([uired to perform the 
 .service according to contract schedule and the number required to perform it with the 
 proposed increase of speed. 
 
 Sec. 621. Decreased Compensation for Decreased Service. — The Postmaster- 
 General may discontinue or curtail the service on any route, in whole or in part, in 
 order to place on the route superior service, or whenever the public interests, inhis.judg- 
 ment, shall retiuire such discontinuance or curtailment for any other c.iuse; he allow- 
 ing, as full indemnity to contractor, one mouth's extra pay on the amount of services 
 dispenseil with, and a 2»'o rafa compensation for the amount of services retained and 
 continued. 
 
 Sec. 622. Changes of Schedule-time of Arrival and Departure. — The Post- 
 master-General may change schedules of departures and arrivals in all cases, and par- 
 ticularly to make them conform to connections with railroads, without increase of pay, 
 10 P L 
 
146 POSTAL LAWS AXD EEGULATIONS. 
 
 provided the rumiing time be not abridged. But an application for schedule change 
 cannot be granted — 
 
 1. Without the assent of the postmasters at the ends of the route, except in case of 
 manifest necessity. 
 
 2. Unless agreed to by the contractor, except in cases where the propriety of the 
 change is clearly shown. 
 
 3. If more running-time is asked than is given in the contract schedules. 
 
 4. If it breaks connection with any other route. 
 
 5. If it puts the mail on a wrong day for the uewsi^apers cii"culated over the route. 
 
 6. If it prevents or lessens any other special accommodation to the public. 
 
 7. If it fails to show a good reason for the change. 
 
 Sec. 623. Contracts cannot be Assigned or Transferred. — Xo contractor for 
 transporting- the mail within or between the United States and any for- 
 eign country shall assign or transfer his contract, and all such assign- 
 ments or transfers shall be null and void. (R. S., § 39G3.) 
 
 Sec. 624. Contracts not Sublet without Consent of Postmaster-General. — 
 Hereafter no subletting or transfer of any mail contracts shall be per- 
 mitted without the consent in writing of the Postmaster-General ; and 
 whenever it shall come to the knowledge of the Postmaster-General 
 that any contractor has sublet or transferred his contract, except with 
 the consent of the Postmaster-General as aforesaid, the same shall be 
 considered as violated and the service may be again advertised as herein 
 provided for ; and the contractor and his securities shall be liable on 
 their bond to the United States for any damage resulting to the United 
 States in the premises. (Act May 17, 1878, § 2, 20 Stat., p. 61.) 
 
 It has been decided by the Attorney-General that the woi"d "transfer" in this sec- 
 tion only applies to the transfer of such an interest in the contract as may be neces 
 sary to secure the subcontractor as provided in the following section, and that this 
 section does not, therefore, repeal the preceding section, but aliects only the conflict- 
 ing portion of section thirty-seven hundred and thirty-seven of the Revised Statutes, 
 which i)rohibits the transfer of any interest in any contract. 
 
 Sec. 625. Subcontracts Permissible with Consent of Postmaster-General. — 
 When any person or persons b eiug under contract with the Government 
 of the United States for carrying the mails, shall lawfully sublet any 
 such contract, or lawfully employ any other person or persons to per- 
 form the service by such contractor agreed to be performed, or any part 
 thereof, he or they shall file in the oflice of the Second Assistant Post- 
 master-General a copy of his or their contract ; and thcn'eupon it shall 
 be the duty of the Second Assistant Postmaster-General to notify the 
 Auditor of the Treasury for the Post-0 ftice Department of the fact of 
 the filing in his office of such contract. Said notice shall embrace the 
 name or naiues of the original contractor or contractors, the number of 
 the route or routes, the name or names of the subcontractor or subcon- 
 tractors, and the amount agreed to be paid to the subcontractor or sub- 
 contractors. And upon the receipt of said notice by the Auditor of the 
 Treasury for the Post-Office Department, it shall be his duty to retain, 
 out of the amount due the original contractor or contractors, the amount 
 stated in said notice as agreed to be paid to the subcontractor or sub- 
 contractors, and shall pay said amount, upon the certificate of the Second 
 
TITLE III TRANSPORTATION OF THK MAIL. 147 
 
 Assistant rostinaster-General, to the subcontractor «tr si ilu^on tractors, 
 under tlic same rules and rcjiulations now ^ovcrniiiii- the ]»aymcnts made 
 to ori^^iiial ciuitrai-tors: rroriilcd, Tliat u[mmi satisfactory cvidcnci* that 
 the original coutnictor or contractors have paid off and discharged the 
 amount due under his or their contract to the subcontractor or subcon- 
 tractors, it sliall be the duty of the Second Assistant Postmastcrdcncral 
 to certify sucli fact to the Auditor of the Treasury for the I'ost-Ortice 
 Department ; and thereupon said Auditor shall settle with the original 
 contractor or contractors, under the same rules as are now i)rovided by 
 law for such settlements. (Act .Afay 17, 1878, § .'3, 20 Stat., p. (11.) 
 
 Sec. 626. Regulations under which Subcontracts may be Made. — (Jon- 
 tractors must ill ivU cast's secure the porinissinn of tlie Postmaster-General before mak- 
 inj; a siilicontract on any route. The application to sublet must be made separately 
 for each route, specifying the number and terminal ^loints thereof. 
 
 A subcontract nnist not embrace more than one route, and should speeifj* the 
 amount to be paid under it iu case the service shall be changed, and whether tiues 
 and deductions are to be deducted from pay of contractor or subcoutiactor. 
 
 The evidence of payineut of a snbccuitractor by a contractor, provided for in the 
 preceding section, must be the receipt of the subcontract(u-, attesteil by a postmasrer 
 at a terminus of the route sublet, on a form furnished by the Secoiul Assistant Post- 
 master-General. 
 
 A subcontractor, in order to avail himself of tlie benetits of the preceding section 
 and receive payment from the Post-Oftice Department direct, must file a copy of his 
 subcontract in the office of the Second Assistant Postmaster-General, furnishing there- 
 with his post-office address. No subcontractor can be paid by the Department for 
 service prior to the beginning of the quarter in which he tiles his contract, nor at a 
 greater rate than that named in the original contract, and to secure such payment the 
 subcontract must be tiled at least ten days before the end of the quarter. 
 
 The copy of subcontract tiled must be certified to l>e a true coi)y of the original by 
 a postmaster at one of the termini of the route therein sublet. 
 
 No subcontract can be recognized unless made with the original contractor. 
 
 Sec. 627. Mail-Messenger Service. — In connection with railroad and 
 
 steamboat routes, mail-messengers are designated to carry the mail to and from post- 
 offices not at the termini of routes when such post-offices ai-e more than eighty rods 
 (one-quarter of a mile) from the steamboat landing or railroad station. 
 
 (1) Whenever it is necessary to secure such service, the postmaster at the post-office 
 to be supplied is authorized, by special instructions iu each case, to advertise for sealed 
 proposals for five or ten days, with instructions to forward to the Second Assistant 
 Postmaster-General (unopened and iu one envelope) all proposals received, accompany- 
 ing them with a copy of the notice posted and a reijort of his action in the nuitter. 
 
 (2) The proposals are then opened by the Second Assistant Postmaster-General, and 
 the lowest bidder is designated by au order as mail-messenger (unless the postmaster 
 shall have reported that he is dishonest or incapable), and the postmaster is directed to 
 pay him quarterly. 
 
 (3) Mail-messengers are not required to execute a contract, and are not designated 
 for a definite period, but arc expected to serve at the compensation proposed at least 
 one year, or iiutil otherwise ordered by the Postmaster-General. 
 
 (4) Railroad and steamboat contractors are to have the service performed at all 
 post-offices not more than a quarter of a mile of their depots, stations, or landings, as 
 well as at the terminal post-offices of their routes. 
 
 (5) A postmaster cannot be allowed any compensation for this scr\ice performed by 
 himself. * 
 
148 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 (6) A niail-messeuger cannot he omployed Avitlioiit express authority from the Sec- 
 ond Assistant Postmaster-General. 
 
 (7) lie must he paid in full hy the postmaster before any payment is made to the 
 contra<'tor or before making deposit. 
 
 (8) He shonld be paid promptly at the close of every quarter out of any funds 
 in the hands of the postmaster belonging to the United States, except money-order 
 fnnds. 
 
 (9) If not paid, the reason shonld be stated by the postmaster. If paid, the receipt 
 should be transmitted at once to the Auditor. 
 
 (10) If the original has been sent and lost, the postmaster should forward the dupli- 
 cate, retaining an exact copy. 
 
 (11) The payment must be made and the receipts taken to correspond vrith the reg- 
 ular quarters, which end on the 31st of March, the 30th of June, the 30th. of Septem- 
 ber, and the 31st of December. 
 
 (12) Two receipts must be taken ("orignal" and "duplicate"). The original must 
 be sent by the first mail to the "Auditor of the Treasury for the Post-Olfice Depart- 
 ment." The duplicate should be retained until sent for. 
 
 (13) These receipts must be signed by the appointed mail-messenger himself, not by 
 an agent. 
 
 (14) If signed by a mark, they must be witnessed; if illegibly signed, the name 
 must be plainly written underneath. 
 
 (15) Deductions must be made for lost trips and noted on the face of the receipt. 
 
 (16) The postmaster's name, not the assistant's, should be written in the body of 
 the receipt. 
 
 (17) Altered receipts will not be credited. Blank receipts will be supplied by the 
 First Assistant Postmaster-General, Blank Agency. 
 
 (18) The receipt must never be inclosed with the quarterly returns or with othci- 
 papers. It should be sent in an envelope by itself. 
 
 (19) The name of the postmaster and of the post-office must be written plainly. 
 
 (20) Receipts must not be sent for amounts not actually paid. 
 
 (21) If the iJostmaster has not sufficient funds to pay the whole amount dtic, he 
 must pay what he has, send on the receipt for the amount paid, state the balance 
 claimed to Ije due, and apply for a draft on some other oftice to pay it. 
 
 (22) In making application for a draft a blank form must be used, which will be 
 finnished by the Auditor if requested. 
 
 (23) Drafts are not sent until applied for, nor for very small balances, except to 
 close an account. 
 
 (24) Advances made for this service will be refunded on application. 
 
 {2')) Payments for this service must be charged in the "general account," and not 
 in the " quarterly account-current." 
 
 (26) Mail-messengers must take the usual oath of office, and transmit it to the Sec- 
 ond Assistant Postmaster-General, Division of Inspection. See sections 24 and 25. 
 
 Sec. 628. Mail-carriers to receive Mail for Delivery at next Post-office. — 
 Every roiite-ageut, postal clerk, or other carrier of the mail sliall receive 
 auy mail-matter presented to him, if properly prepaid by stamps, and 
 deliver the same for mailing at the next post-office at which he arrives ; 
 but no fees shall be allowed him tlierefor. (R. S., § 3980.) 
 
 See Title IV, The Jiailicaij ^fail-^Scn'ice; see, also, section o.">5. 
 
 When any projierly-iirepaid mail-matter is presented to an emplovt? of the railway- 
 mail service, he compli(is with the ]>rovision8 of this section by depositing it in his 
 mail-car, as all postal cars and mail apartments in cars and steamboats have been 
 designated by the Postmastcr-Genenil as post-offices for the distribution of mail iu 
 trmiait. See sectioii 708. 
 
TirLi: III TRANSPORTATION OF THE MAIL 
 
 149 
 
 CHAPTER FOUR. 
 
 ADJUSTMENT OF COMPENSATION TO RAILROADS FOR CARRYING 
 
 THE MAILS. 
 
 Soc. 
 CUD. 
 
 Wl. 
 
 632. 
 
 633. 
 034. 
 
 g3:.. 
 
 030. 
 037. 
 03S. 
 
 Coiulitions of railway service ami rates of pay 
 
 lor same, 
 liefusal to provide ])ost-offico ear.s. 
 Uiniensioiia of ami additional pay for po.st- 
 
 oftiec ours. 
 Cars to be fimiislied as re(]iiired by tho Post- 
 
 master-Oeneral. 
 JIail.s, how aud wlien to be weisluMl. 
 llailroad eoin])auies to j^ive notice of their 
 
 readiness for weinhiuij. 
 Coniiiensatiou of railroads reduced teu per 
 
 centum. 
 Compensation of railroads reduced five per 
 
 centum more. 
 Congress may fix compensation to be paid 
 
 land-grant railroads. 
 Congress does fix compensation to be i)!iid 
 
 said roads. 
 
 0.)9. 
 
 040. 
 
 641. 
 
 042. 
 
 043. 
 
 644. 
 645. 
 
 040. 
 
 647. 
 
 048. 
 
 "When railroad eoiiipaiiie.s must deliver mails 
 to post-ortii'es. 
 
 !Mails not to be can-ied beyond termini of 
 routes without authority. 
 
 Knowledge of specific requiremouts of serv- 
 ice, how obtained. 
 
 Postmaster (Teneral to decide what ti'.iins 
 shall carry the mail. 
 
 Railway company must carry mails ou any 
 train. 
 
 Must carry .supplies and special agents. 
 
 AVhon mail may be carried on railway routes 
 by hoi'so express. 
 
 Eailwaj- compiuiies to report receipts and ex- 
 penses. 
 
 Communications aflfecting pay of railroads, 
 how addressed. 
 
 Auditor to furnish instructions respecting 
 financial agent. 
 
 Sec. 629. Conditions of Railway service and Rates of Pay for same.— The 
 rostiiia.ster-Goiieral is autliorized and directed to readjust the compen- 
 sation hereafter to be paid for the transportation of mails on railroad 
 routes upon the conditions and at the rates hereinafter mentioned: 
 
 First. That the mails shall be conveyed with due frequency and speed; 
 and that sntticient and suitable room, tixtures, and furniture, in a car or 
 apartment jiroperly lighted and warmed, shall be provided for route- 
 agents to accompany and distribute the mails. 
 
 Second. That the pay per mile per annum shall not exceed the follow- 
 ing- rates, namely : On routes carrying their whole length an average 
 weight of mails per day of two hundred pounds, fifty dollars; live hun- 
 dred pounds, seventy-live dollars ; one thousand jiouuds, one hundred 
 dollars; one thousand live hundred pounds, one hundred and twenty- 
 live dollars; two thousand pounds, one hundred and fifty d<»llars: three 
 thousand five hundred pounds, one hundred and seventy-five dollars ; 
 five thousand pounds, two hundred dollars, and twenty-five dollars ad- 
 ditional tor every additional two thousand pounds, the average Aveight 
 to be ascertained, in every case, by the actual weighing of the mails for 
 such a number of successive working-days, not less than thirty, at such 
 times, after June thirtieth, eighteen hundred and seventy-three, and not 
 less frequently than once in every four years, and the result to be state«l 
 and verified in such form and manner as the rostmaster-General uuiy 
 direct. (K. S., § 4002.) 
 
 Sec. 630. Refusals to Provide Post-office Cars. — In case any railroad com- 
 pany now furnishing railway post-office cars shall refuse to provide such 
 
150 POSTAL LAWS AXD EEGULATIONS. 
 
 cars, such company sliall not be entitled to any increase of comi)ensation 
 under the pro\isions of the next section. (R. S., § 4003.) 
 
 Sec. 631. Dimensions of and Additional Pay for Post-office Cars. — Addi- 
 tional pay nia}' be allowed for c\Try line comprising' a daily ti'ip each 
 way of railway post-office cars, at a rate not exceeding twenty-live dol- 
 lars per mile per annum for cars forty feet in length; and thirty dollars 
 2>er mile per annum for forty -five-foot cars; and forty dollars pet 
 mile per annum for fifty-foot cars ; and fifty dollars per mile per annum 
 for fifty-five to sixty -foot cars. (E. S., § 4004:) Provided, That the Post- 
 master-General may use such portion of the postal-car service appropri- 
 ation as may be spared from it to supply any deficiency that may arise 
 from insufficient appropriations in the item for railway transportation. 
 (Act of March 3, 1879, § 1, 20 Stat., p. 357.) 
 
 Sec. 632. Cars to be Furnished as Required by the Postmaster-General. — 
 All cars or parts of cars used for the railway mail service shall be of 
 such style, length, and character, and furnished in such maimer, as shall 
 be required by the Postmaster-General, and shall be constructed, fitted 
 up, maintained, heated, and lighted by and at the expense of the railroad 
 companies. (Act of March 3, 1870, § 4, 20 Stat., p. 358. See R. S., § 4005. ) 
 
 Sec. 633. Mails, How and When to be Weighed.— The Postmaster-Gen- 
 eral is hereby directed to have the mails weighed as often as now pro- 
 vided by law by the employes of the Post-Office Department, and have 
 the weights stated and verified to him by said employes, under such in- 
 structions as he may consider just to the Post-Office Department and 
 the railroad companies. (Act of March 3, 1875, § 1 ; 18 Stat., p. 342.) 
 
 Sec. 634. Railroad Companies to Give Notice of their Readiness for Weighing. 
 Tlie transportation of mails is autliorized on railroad routes "with the nndestandiug 
 tliat the rate of compensation shall be determined ujion returns showing the amount 
 and character of the service, to he made within twelve months from the date of its 
 commencement, or eai'lier if the Dei>artment so elect, and no payment Avill be made 
 except upon the basis of snch returns. The mails should not be weighed until the 
 service is fairly established on the route, and when the company is sat islied that this is 
 accomplished, the fact should be reported to the Second Assistant Postmaster-General, 
 wbo directs the weighing of mails. 
 
 Sec. 635. Compensation of Railroads Reduced Ten Per Centum. — The f*ost- 
 master-General is hereby authorized and directed to readjust the com- 
 ])ensation to be paid from and after the first day of July, eighteen hun- 
 dred and sevent3'-six, for transportation of mails on railroad-routes by 
 reducing the compensation to all railroad companies for the transporta- 
 tion of mails ten per centum per annum from the rates fixed and allowed 
 by [section 020J [the first .section of an act entitled "Aw act mahing appro- 
 ■priatioriii for the ner vice of the l*ost- Office Department for the fiscal year 
 ending June thirtieth, eighteen hundred and seventy four, and for other 
 purposes,^'' approved March third, eighteen hundred and seventy-three], for 
 the transportation of mails on the basis of the average weight. (Act of 
 Jidy 12, 1870, § 1, 10 Stat., ]). 7!).) 
 Tliis .act does not att'ect the coiiipeiisiitiou for railway postal cars, provided forinthe 
 ' act of March 3, 1873 (section G31, supra). Opin. Att'y-Gen. Taft, Oct. 7, 187G. 
 
TITLE III TRANSPORTATION OF THE MAIL. 151 
 
 This act was not iutfiulod to utlVct existing contracts. Oiiin. Att'y-Gen. Taft, Dec. 
 21, 187fi. 
 
 Sec. 636. Compensation of Railroads Reduced Five Per Centum More. — The 
 Postniiistcr-CJcnenil is licreby aiitlioiizcil and dircctcil to readjust tlie 
 compensation to be paid from and after the first day of July, ('i;fl)teeu 
 hundred and seventy-eiftht, for transportation of mails on railroad routes 
 by rediu'inu" the compensation to all railroad companies for the trans- 
 portation of mails five per centum per annum from the rates for the 
 transportation of mails, on the basis of the average weight fixed and 
 allowed by the [preceding section] [Jin-f ftcctinii of an act entitled ^^ An act 
 maldny aiipropriations for the service of the Post-Office Department for the 
 fiscal year ending June thirtieth, eighteen hundred and seventy seven, and 
 for other _p«>7>o.sY'.v," approved July ticelfth, eighteen hundred and seventy- 
 six]. (Act of June 17, 1878, § 1, 20 Stat., p. 112.) 
 
 Sec. 637. Congress may Fix Compensation to be Paid Land-Grant Railroads. — 
 All railway companies to which the United States have furnished aid by 
 grant of lands, right of way, or otherwise, shall carry the mail at such 
 T)rices as CongTess may by law provide; and, until such ])rice is fixed by 
 law, the Postmaster-General maj' fix the rate of compensation. (R. S., 
 § 4001.] 
 
 For riglils and oljligations of land-grant roads under this section, vide 13 Opins. , 
 445, 5;?G; 14 Opins., 428, 6G3, etc. 
 
 Sec. 638. Congress does Fix Compensation to be Paid said Railroads. — Rail- 
 road comi)anies whose railroad was constructed in whole or in part by a 
 land-grant made by Congress on the condition that the mails should be 
 transported over their road at such price as Congress should by laAv 
 direct, shall receive only eighty per centum of the compensation author- 
 ized by [this act] [section 6'So.] (Act of July 12, 187G, § 13, 19 Stat., p. 
 82.) 
 
 Sec. 639. When Railroad Companies must Deliver Mails to Post-Offices. — 
 Railroad companies are required to take the mails from and deliver them into the 
 terminal post-offices, and to all intermediate post-offices located not over eighty rods 
 from the line of road, and the distances from the terminal depots to the post-offices, 
 where railroad companies deliver the mails, are paid for by the Department as a part 
 of the length of the route. 
 
 Sec. 640. Mails not to he Carried beyond Termini without Authority. — 
 
 lu case railroads are extended or tiains run lieyond the termini of the route on which 
 the transportation of mails is duly authorized, the mails must not he carried beyond 
 the termini of the route until the additional service is ordered by the Second Assistant 
 Postuiaster-Cicneral. 
 
 Sec. 641. Knowledge of Specific Requirements of the Service, how Obtained. — 
 The rates of eorai>ensation are computed upon the average weight of mails per day 
 carried the whole length of the route ; but the rates fixed by law requir*' not only a 
 certain weight of mails, but also that the mails shall be carried with due frequency 
 and speed, and that suitable room, fixtures and furniture shall be provided in a car or 
 apartment of cur. properly lighted and wanned, for route-agents to accoiniiany and 
 distribute the nuiilsas accessories to the weight of mails, in order to entitle a company 
 to the maximum rates of pay. The specific re(]uiremeuts of the service, with regard 
 to these items, will be made known through the General Superinteudeut of the Kail- 
 
152 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 way-Mail Service. Tlie requiroineiit as to due frequency, and the size of tlie mail-car 
 or apartuient, are at all times to be determined by the Department. 
 
 Sec. 642. Postmaster-General to Decide what Trains shall Carry the Mail. — 
 The Postmaster-General shall, in all cases, decide upon what trains and 
 in what manner the mails shall be conveyed. (Act of March 3, 1879, § 3, 
 20 Stat., p. 358.) 
 
 Sec. 643. Railway Company must Carry Mails on any Train. — Every rail- 
 way company carrying" the mail shall carry on any trains which may run 
 over its road, and without extra charge therefor, all mailable matter 
 directed to be carried thereon, with the person in charge of the same. 
 (R. S., § 4000.) 
 
 Sec. 644. To Carry Supplies and Special Agents. — Eailroad Companies are 
 required to convey, without specific charoje therefor, all mail-bags, post-office blanks, 
 and stationery supplies. Also, to convey, free of charge, all duly-accredited Special 
 Agents of the Department, on the exhibition of their credentials. 
 
 Sec. 645. When Mail may be Carried on Railway Routes by Horse Express. — 
 If the Postmaster-General is unable to contract for carrying the mail on 
 any raihva}' route at a compensation not exceeding the maximum rates 
 herein provided, or for what he may deem a reasonable and fair compen- 
 sation, he may separate the letter-mail from the other mail, and contract, 
 either with or without advertising, for carrying such letter-mail by horse- 
 express or otherwise, at the greatest speed that can reasonably be ob- 
 tained, and for carrying the other mail in wagons, or otherwise, at a 
 slower rate of speed. (R. S., § 3999.) 
 
 Sec. 646. Railroad Companies Requested to Report Receipts and Expenses. — 
 The Postmaster-General shall request all railroad comi)anies transport- 
 ing the mails to furnish, under seal, such data relating to the operating, 
 receipts and expenditures of such roads as may, in his judgment, be 
 deemed necessary to enable him to ascertain the cost of mail transporta- 
 tion and the proper compensation to be paid for the same; and he shall, 
 in his annual report to Congress, make such recommendations, founded 
 on the information obtained under this section, as shall, in his opinion, 
 be just and equitable. (Act of March 3, 1S79, § 0, 20 Stat., p. 358.) 
 
 Sec. 647. Communications Affecting Pay of Railroads, How Addressed.— 
 All comnnuiications aft'eetiug the pay for carrying the mails, or so intended, must bo 
 made in writing at the time the service is rcndcied for which payment is desired, and 
 must be addressed to tlie St^eond Assistant Tostmaster-General. 
 
 Sec. 648. Auditor to Furnish Instructions Respecting Financial Agent 
 
 As boon as service is conuuenccd on a route, npi)licntion should benuule tothe Auditor 
 of the Treasury for the Post-Ofiice Department for instructions respecting the designa- 
 tion of a liuuucial agent to receive and receijit for auioiuits due for caiTyiug the mail. 
 
TITLE III TRANSrORTATION OF THi: MAIL. 153 
 
 CIIxVPTKli FIVE. 
 FOREIGN MAIL SERVICE. 
 
 SpC. Sec. 
 
 649. Tiniisiiortatioii of (Idiiicslic mails tliiough ! 053. ]Iow (oifi;.'ii iiiail.s may l)f» carrif«l. 
 
 l'orei;;ii ciiuntrivs. 054. Limit of I'uuiiK'UMUtiuii lor cairjiDg foreign 
 C.'iO. Tr!iiis|ioitatioii of foroign mails tbrongh tbc mails. 
 
 United Statrs. Co."). Foreign mail contrartrirs mn\ lie fiiu-il. 
 
 651. Foiiijiii mails in transit to bo treati-d as do- j 656. Foreign mail contracts may be teniiinated by 
 
 mestie. Congress. 
 
 652. Contracts for carrying foreign mails. 
 
 Sec. 649. Transportation of Domestic Mails Through Foreign Countries. — 
 The rostiiia.stt'r-Ck'iicral, after adverti.siiij;- for proposaLs, may enter into 
 contraets or make suitable arrangements for transportin.^- the mail 
 through any foreign country, between any two points in the United 
 States, and such tran.sportation shall be by the speediest, safest, and 
 most economical route ; and all contracts therefor may be revoked when- 
 ever any new road or canal shall be opened affording a speedier, more 
 economical, and equally safe transportation between the same points; 
 but in 3ase of the revocation of any such contract a fair indemnity shall 
 be awarded to the contractor. (II. S.. § 4000.) 
 
 Sec. 650. Transportation of Foreign Mails through the United States. — 
 The Postmaster-General may, by and witli the advice and consent of 
 the Presi<lent, make any arrangements which may be deemed just and 
 expedient for allowing the mails of Canada, or any other country ad- 
 joining the United States, to be transported over the territory of the 
 United States from one point in such country to any other point in the 
 same, at the expense of the country to which the mail behmgs, upon 
 obtaining a like privilege for the tran.sportation of the United States mail 
 through the country to which the privilege is granted ; but such i)rivilege 
 may at any time be annulled bj' the President or Congress from aiid 
 after one month succeeding the day on which notice of the act of the 
 President or Congress is given to the chief executive or head of the 
 Post-Office Department of the country whose imvilegeisto be annulled. 
 {11. S., § 4012.) 
 
 Sec. 651. Foreign Mails in Transit to be Treated as Domestic. — Every 
 foreign mail shall, while being transported across the territory of the 
 United States under the provisions of the preceding section, be deemed 
 and taken to be a mail of the United States, so far as to make any viola- 
 tion thereof, or depreciation thereon, or offense in respect thereto, or any 
 part thereof, an otten.se of the same grade, and punishable in the same 
 manner and to the same extent as though the said mail was a mail of the 
 United States; and in any indictment for any such offense the mail, or 
 any part thereof, may be alleged to be, and on the trial of any such in- 
 dictment it shall be deemed and held to be, a mail or i)art of a mail of 
 the United States. (II. S., § 4013.) 
 
 Sec. 652. Contracts for Carrying Foreign Mails. — The Postmaster-General 
 may, after advertising for proposals, enter into contracts for the trans- 
 portation of the mail between the United States and any foreign conn- 
 
154 
 
 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 try wlienever the public interests will thereby be promoted. (E. S., § 
 4007.) IS'o contract for carrying the mails between tlie United States 
 and any foreign port shall be for a longer time than two years unless 
 otherwise ordered by Congress. (Act May 17, 1878, § 5, 20 Stat., p. 62.) 
 
 See section G07. 
 
 Sec. 653. How Foreign Mails may be Carried. — The mail between the 
 United States and any foreign port, or between ports of the United 
 States touching at a foreign port, shall be transported in steamships : 
 but the Postmaster-General may have such transportation performed by 
 sailing-vessels when the service can be facilitated thereby-. (E. S., § 
 4008.) 
 
 Sec. 654. Limit of Compensation for Carrying Foreign Mails. — For trans- 
 porting the mail between the United States and any foreign port, or be- 
 tween x)orts of the United States touching at a foreign port, the Post- 
 master-General may allow as compensation, if by a United States 
 .steamship, any sum not exceeding the sea and United States iidand 
 postage, and if by a foreign steamship or by a sailing-vessel, any sum 
 not exceeding the sea postage, on the mail so transported. (E. S., § 
 4009.) 
 
 Sec. 655. Foreign Mail Contractors may be Fined. — The Postmaster-Gen- 
 eral may impose fines on contractors for transporting the mail, between 
 the United States and any foreign country, for any unreasonable or 
 unnecessary delay in the departure of such mail, or the performance of 
 the trip ; but the fine for any one default shall not exceed one-half the 
 contract price for the trip. (E. S., § 4010.) 
 
 Sec. 656. Foreign Mail Contracts maybe Terminated by Congress. — Every 
 contract for transporting the mail between the United States and any 
 foreign country shall contain, besides the usual stipulation for the right 
 of the Postmaster- General to discontinue the same, the further stipulation 
 that it may be terminated by Congress. (E. S., § 4011.) 
 
 CHAPTER SIX. 
 
 INSPECTION AND VERIFICATION OF SERVICE RENDERED BY 
 CARRIERS OF THE MAIL— OF FINES AND DEDUCTIONS. 
 
 Spc. 
 
 657. Eecortl of nnivals and depai-tuiTS of the 
 
 mail. 
 
 658. How postniastc-iH should report arrivals and 
 
 departures of the mail. 
 
 659. Special I'l'ijort-s, wlien required. 
 
 6C0. Dirtposition of regular and hjiecial reports. 
 
 661. Duplicate reports to bo jjreserved in post' 
 ollices. 
 
 602. Delivery of iimilto post-ofliees on star routes. 
 
 663. Postmasters to repoi"t delimiuent mail-car- 
 riers. 
 
 Sec. 
 
 (iC4. Certain delinquencies to be .specially reported. 
 
 GU5. Deductions for (joiitractors' failures; tines for 
 
 their delinquencies. 
 6C6. Wlicn postmasters must notify contractors of 
 
 failures. 
 667. Contractors to make apeciflc excuses for each 
 
 delinquency. 
 608. Causes for which forfeitures must occur. 
 009. Causes fiii- which lines will be iuipo.-^cd. 
 70. Deductions and lines u])on railroad (>onipanies- 
 
 Sec. 657. Record of Arrivals and Departures of the Mail. — The Postmas- 
 ter-General shall furnish to the ])(>stmastcrs at the termination ot each 
 route a schedule of the time of arrival and departure of the mail at their 
 
TITLE III — TRANSPORTATION OF THK MAIL. 155 
 
 [post-]offices, respectively, to be posted in a conspicuous place in the [post-] 
 oftice; and lie shall also fiivc thcni notice of any chanu'c in the arrival 
 and dei)artnre that nuiy be ordered; and he shall eausr to be kept and 
 returned to the Department, at short and regular intervals, registers, 
 showing the exact times of the arrivals and departures of the mail. (K. 
 S., § 3S41.) 
 Sec. 658. Postmasters' Report of Arrivals and Departures of the Mails. — 
 
 Postiua.sters at the end of ovcry i»iail-it>ut<>, and at sucli other iMi.st-oniccs as the 
 P(istina.sti'r-G(>ii('ral may direct, will he funiislitsd with hhiuk forms from the office 
 of the Second Assistant Postmaster-General, Division of Insi)ection, ni)on which they 
 will report the exact times of the arrival and departures of all the mails which are 
 opened at their post-offices, as recjuired in the precedin<j section. Particular care 
 shouhl be exercised in fdiing np the blank forms furnished, giving the name of the 
 post-oflice, county, and State; the number of the route, the names of the places 
 where it terminates, the schedule days and liours of arrival and departure, the name 
 of the contractor, the name of the carrier, and the mode of carrying the mail. The 
 reports should be fully dated, giving the day of the week, the month, and the year. 
 When there is a failure to amve or depart, write opposite to its date on the face of the 
 report the word Failure; when the arrival is so far behind- the schedule time as 
 to fjiil to connect with a depending mail or mails, write Failed to coxxect; and 
 Avben the arrival is after the schedule time, causing complaint, although not missing 
 connection, write Complaint. The cause of each failure must be noted npon the 
 back of the report; also whether the carrier makes every proper effijrt to arrive and 
 depart according to the schedule. "Whenever the mail is earned by any other person 
 than the contractor or his authorized agent or carrier, the fact is to be noted on the 
 reiJort. 
 
 Sec. 659. Special Reports, when Required. — In addition to the above, 
 
 special reports are to be uiude by any i)Ostmaster, whether at terminal or intermediate 
 l)ost-offices, when mails are received wet or in otherwise bad condition ; also of extraor- 
 dinary failures, interruptions, or abandonment of routes ; and from time to time of 
 all such information as may aid the Department in enforcing the strictest perform- 
 ance of duty on the part of contractors, and securing for the community the greatest 
 possible regularity, safety, and efficiency in the mail service. The special reports 
 should state the number, or, if the number is not known, the tennini of the route. 
 
 Sec. 660. Disposition of Regular and Special Reports. — The regular and 
 special reports must be forwarded to the Second Assistant Postmaster-General, Division 
 of Inspection, by the first mail .after the close of each month. In no case are they to bo 
 sent with the quarterly returns. A copy of each report sent to the Department should 
 be kept by the postmaster, that a duplicate may be promptly furnished if called for. 
 Neglect to forward reports, or duplicates thereof, promptly will bo considered sufficient 
 cause for the removal of a postmaster, as such neglect prevents the prompt payment 
 of contractors, and seriously obstructs the business of the Department. 
 
 Sec. 661. Duplicate Reports to be Preserved in Post-offices. — The dupli- 
 cates of the reports of the arrivals and departures of mails retained by postmasters 
 are a part of the public records of the Post-Office Department, and must be carefully 
 preserved with the other records of the post-office. In the event of a change of post- 
 masters they nnist be turned over to the incoming postmaster with the other records. 
 
 Sec. 662. Delivery of Mails to Way Post-offices on Star Routes. — When the 
 
 mail is carried in a vehicle drawn by horses, the driver will not bo required to leave his 
 team in order to deliver the mail to way post-offices, except where the can-ier remains 
 over night, when the mail must be deposited in the post-office by the carrier. In no 
 case should the mail be thrown npon the ground. Postmasters and carriers of the 
 mail must report to the Second Assistant Postmaster-General, Division of Inspec- 
 tion, any violations of this section bv either. 
 
156 POSTAL LAWS AND EEGULATIONS. 
 
 Sec. 663. Postmasters to Report Delinquent Mail-Carriers. — Postmasters 
 shall promi^tly report to the Postmaster-General every delinquency, 
 neglect, or malpractice of the contractors, their agents or carriers, which 
 may come to their knowledge. (R. S., § 3849.) 
 
 Sec. 664. Certain Delinquencies to be Specially Reported. — (1) Every in- 
 stance iu "wliich the mail is brought to a post-office by a person under the age of six- 
 teen years, or by a person who has not been duly sworn, must be reported, to the 
 Second Assistant Postmaster-General, Division of Insi)ection. 
 
 (2) If a mail-can-ier, having the mail in charge, become intoxicated, the postmaster 
 will instantly dismiss him, employ another at the expense of the contractor, and report 
 the facts to the Second Assistant Postmaster-General, Division of Insi^ection. 
 
 (3) Every instance in which the mail stopping over night at a place where there is 
 a post-office withoiit being kept in the post-office must be reported by the postmaster 
 to the Second Assistant Postmaster-General, Division of Inspection. 
 
 (4) If the mail arrive without a lock, the postmaster will ascertain where the fault 
 is, and report it to the Second Assistant Postmaster-General. 
 
 (5) He Avill also carefully observe how mails are carried by any steamers landing 
 near his j»ost-office, and will report every case in which he finds them exposed on deck, 
 or not secured in some proper place under lock and key; and in all cases he will see 
 that the mails, by whatever mode of conveyance they are sent from or received at his 
 post-office, are properly protected from the weather. 
 
 Sec. 665. Deductions for Contractors' Failures, Fines for Delinquencies. — 
 The Postmaster-General may make deductions from the pay of con- 
 tractors for failures to perform service according to contract, and impose 
 fines upon them for other delinquencies. He may deduct the price of 
 the trip in all cases where the trip is not performed ; and not exceeding- 
 three times the price if the failure be occasioned by the fault of the 
 contractor or carrier. (E. S., § 3902,) 
 
 Sec. 666. When Postmasters must Notify Contractors of Failures. — Failures 
 
 of mails to arrive at the ends of routes aud other points within contract time cannot 
 but be known iu all cases to contractors or their agents. No notice, therefore, is neces- 
 sary to be given to contractors of failui'es to arrive at any post-office on contract time, 
 as reported by iiostmasters to the Department; but when the failure is caused by the 
 neglect of a carrier employed by the contractor, the postmaster will notify the con- 
 tractor of the failure, aud require him to take measures to prevent its recurrence. 
 
 Sec. 667. Contractors to Make Specific Excuses for each Delinquency. — 
 
 Should a mail at any time fail to arrive at the end of a route, or at any intermediate 
 post-office, where the time of arrival is fixed, within the time si>ecified in the contract 
 or schedule, it will be expected of every coutractor immediately, by himself or agent, 
 to send his excuse to the Second Assist.ant Postmaster-General, Division of Inspectiou, 
 setting forth particularly the cause of the failure. A specific excuse is reqiiirtnl for 
 each dcliuquenciy of a coutractor, and general allegations will not be admitted. If bad 
 roads be alleged, a si>ecific rei)ort must be made of what portion of the road was so bad 
 as to obstruct the mails, and what was its peculiar condition; if high waters, it nuist 
 be shown what water-courses were impassable ; aud so of all other excuses. If part of 
 the trij) only was performed, tiie report must show what part, and give the distance 
 traveled. 
 
 Sec. 668. Causes for which Forfeitures must Occur In all cases there 
 
 will be a forfeiture of the \y.iy of the trip wlieu the tri^t is not run — of not more than 
 three times the pay of the trip when the trip is not run aud no sufficient excuse for the 
 failure Is furnished, aud a forfeiture of at least oue-fourth part of it when the running 
 or arrival is so far behind time as to lose the coiniectiou with a depending mail. These 
 forfeitures may bo inureaseil iuto penalties of higlicr amount, according to the uatiu-e 
 
TITLE III TRANSPORTATION OF THE MAIL. 
 
 157 
 
 or frp([noncy of the failnrps ami tlio inqiortancc of tlio mail. Whoiipvor it shall bi» 
 sati.sfaotorily shown that the contractors, their carrif-rs oraj^rnts, have, for f Ik* accom- 
 modation of passenjjers, left or put aside the mail, or any portion of it, or have failed 
 to deliver aniail at a post-ottiee immediately npon aiTival, thi-y shall forfeit not ex- 
 ceediiifi a (juarter's ])ay. 
 
 Sec. 689. Causes for which Fines will be Imposed. — Fines Avill l>o imposetl, 
 
 nnless the dr]in(|iieney lie sat iKfactorily exi)liiiiied in due time, for each of tlie follow- 
 ingeanses: Failinj; to take from or deliver at a ])ost-oHiee the mail or any part of it; for 
 8nfterin<;- it to he wet, injured, lost, or destroyed ; for eonvcyinf? it in a place or manner 
 that exposes it to deprcd.-ition, loss, or injury; for refusing, after demand, to convey 
 a mail hy any coach, railroad, ear, or steamboat, which the contractor regularly rnns, 
 or is concerned in running, on the route, beyond the specified number of trips in the 
 contract ; for not arriving at the time lixed by the schedule ; the penalty to be exacted 
 being eijual to a (jnarter's pay. 
 
 Sec. 670. Deductions and Fines upon Railroad Companies. — Tlie Postmas- 
 ter-General sliall deduct from the pay of the railroad companies, for 
 every failure to deliver a mail within its schedule time, not less than one- 
 half of the price of the trip, and ^\'here the trip is not i)erfonued, not less 
 thau the price of one trip, and not exceeding, in either case, the price of 
 three trii).s : Provided, however, That if the failure is caused by a connect- 
 ing' road, then only the connecting road shall be fined. And where such 
 failure is caused by unavoidable casualty, the Postmaster-General, in 
 his discretion, may remit the fine. And he may make deductions and 
 ijupose fines for other delinquencies. (Act March 3, 1S79, § 5, 20 Stat., 
 p. 358.) 
 
 Sec. 
 
 C71. Term "mail-lw^s" incliidps, -what. 
 
 672. Every mail-route must be supplied with mail- 
 bags. 
 
 C73. Applications for mail-bags must state, wliivt. 
 
 674. Applications for supplies to Second Assistant 
 Postmastci'-General. 
 
 075. Repairs of mail-bajrs by postmasters, etc. 
 
 676. Mail-bags in tnnisit becoming unsouud. 
 
 677. What mutilation of a mail-bag may be al- 
 
 lowed. 
 
 678. Sacks containing public documents. 
 
 671). Damaged mail-bags at post-olKces which are 
 mail-bag depositories. 
 
 680. Surplus mail-bags not to accumulate. 
 
 681. Equal exchange or reciprocal return of locked 
 
 pouches. 
 
 682. Eegister of outgoing and incoming mails to 
 
 be kept. 
 083. Xames of depositories for mail-bags and locks. 
 
 684. Account of depository iJost-oflices to be ren- 
 
 dered. 
 
 685. Surplus stock to be kept apart from the cur- 
 
 rent stock. 
 
 686. Legitimate use of mail-bags restricted, to 
 
 what. 
 
 687. Canvas sacks may be taken by publishers, 
 
 when. 
 
 CHAPTER SEVEN, 
 
 MAIL EaUIPMENTS. 
 
 I Sec. 
 
 688. Wa.ste or abu.se of mail-b.'igs to be prevented. 
 
 689. Mail-bags not to be purchased by postmas- 
 
 ters. 
 600. ilail-catcliers, how furni.shed. 
 
 691. Applications for maU- bags, etc., to state rea- 
 
 sons. 
 
 692. Mail-locks and keys by whom furnished. 
 
 093. C.ire of mail-keys, penalty for hiss. 
 
 094. Mail-keys to have a .specific number. 
 
 695. Exchange of mail-keys by railway mail em- 
 
 ployes. 
 
 696. Receipts to be always taken for mail-keys. 
 
 697. Repairing mail-locks and keys foi'bidden. 
 
 698. Defective keys to be reported to the Depart- 
 
 ment. 
 
 699. Brass locks not to be sent to iron-lock post- 
 
 offices. 
 
 700. Proper course when defective key will not 
 
 open mail-lock. 
 
 701. Proper course when defective lock cannot be 
 
 opened. 
 
 702. Fastening strap never to be cut. 
 
 703. Economy in the u.ie of mail-locks. 
 
 704. Unlawful use of mail-bags to be reported to 
 
 the Depaitmeut. 
 
 705. How to address communications on mail 
 
 i equipments. 
 
 Sec. 671. Term "Mail-bags" Includes, what. — The general term "?«<u7- 
 
158 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 bags" includes mail-pouches (used for every mode of conveyance excepting horse- 
 back) of five different sizes, the largest being No. 1; HORSE mail-bags (for horseback 
 service only) of three different sizes, the largest being No. 1; Ji ail-catcher pouches 
 (of one size only), designed exclusively for exchanges of mails on railways by catchers 
 and cranes; canvas mail-sacks (not locked, but tied with cord), designed for printed 
 matter only. 
 
 Sec. 672. Every Mail-route must be Supplied with Mail-bags. — Every mail- 
 route must always be duly j)rovided with suitable mail-bags and locks, in good and 
 safe condition. Postmasters, especially those at the ends of routes, must see to this, 
 and promptly make application for such as are needed. It is their duty to look con- 
 stantly to the condition of mail-bags in use, permitting none to be used which are too 
 much worn or otherwise unsafe, and to report any damage discovered to have been 
 done to them, whether through accident, negligence, or design, while in the custody 
 of carriers. 
 
 Sec. 673. Applications for Mail-bags must State, what. — Applications for 
 mail-bags sLionld explain why they are needed, and specify the number and size or 
 capacity of each, also tlie number of the route (or the terminal points thereof), and 
 especially the mode of conveyance thereon. 
 
 Sec. 674. Applications for Supplies to Second Assistant Postmaster-General. — 
 
 Postmasters must obtain requisite supplies of mail-bags by direct apiilication to the 
 office of the Second Assistant Postmaster-General, Division of Mail Equipments, and 
 not by withholding the return of such as were received with mail-matter from other 
 post-offices. Before old mail-bags in use become too much woru for safety, timely 
 application must be made for new ones by postmasters at the ends of the routes where 
 they are used, and the old bags must be sent to the nearest depository, on receipt of 
 new ones. 
 
 Sec. 675. Repairs of Mail-bags by Postmasters, etc. — When a mail-bag in 
 use becomes so damaged as to require slight repairs, and the postmaster at the end of 
 the route where it first arrives in that condition has not a good bag to substitute for 
 same, he must immediately have it repaired at a reasonable cost, charging the amount 
 paid therefor in his account of contingent expenses, and sending to the Auditor with 
 his quarterly returns a bill and receipt rendered by the mender of the bag as a proper 
 voucher for the allowance of the money so paid and charged by him. In having re- 
 pairs of mail-bags done, he should direct the person performing the work to siiecify in 
 his bill, whenever practicable, the number of each size of every kind of mail-bags 
 repaired, and the nature and price of the repairs done to each. 
 
 Sec. 676. Mail-bag in Transit becoming Unsound. — In case a mail-bag in 
 transit becomes too unsound to convey the mail with safety to the end of the route, 
 the postmaster first discovering its bad condition must have it repaired immediately, 
 even if he has no suitable mail-bag to substitute for it, and must therefore detain the 
 mail until the needful repairs can be done. Postmasters whose post-offices are not 
 mail-bag depositories should not have surplus mail-bags repaired, but such bags only 
 as are in deuiaiid for immediate use. 
 
 Sec. 677. What Mutilation of a Mail-bag may be allowed. — When a mail- 
 bag has !i damaged or detV(;tive lock upon it, which cannot be opened with the proper 
 key in good order, such lock should bo removed without further damage, where there are 
 a bag and l(»uk in good C(nidition to substitute for them, by iiliug or cutting asunder that 
 staple of the bag to which the lock is fastened. No other mutilation of a nuiil-b.ig is 
 admissible under such or any other circumstances whatever. When the staple is cut, 
 the nuiil-b.ag must not be used again until a new staple shall have been applied to it. 
 The fasteniug-strap of a mail-bag must never be cut, and must never be spliced nor 
 repaired in any way, but must be replaced, when necessary, Avith a now one. 
 
 Sec. 678. Sacks Containing Public Documents. — Postmasters, especially 
 
 those at the resident places of members of Congress (to whose iJost-ofUces canvas 
 
TITLE III TRANSPORTATION OF TIIH MAIL. 159 
 
 sacks coiitaiiiiiin imlilic ilotiimi'uts are sent Inmi Wasliinston, D. C), must see that all 
 .such sacks arc .■m|.tiril ami sent l>a<k to tlu- ixisl-ollicc in the hitter jihwc. 
 
 Sec. 679. Damaged Mail-bags at Mail-bag Depository Post-offices. — Post- 
 masters whose post-otliues are mail-ha;^ ih-positories arc not anthorized to have repairs 
 douo to mail-ha<;s eoUectetl in their i»ost-ortiies, hut are reriuired to torw.ard all dam- 
 aj^iMl m:iil-ha.iis to tlu> estahlislied rejiair-shops, under such special instructions as may 
 from time to time lu' received from tiie Second Assistant rostmaster-Cicneral. 
 
 Sec. 680. Surplus Mail-bags not to Accumulate. — Surplus mail-bags iiiiist 
 
 not he allowed to accumulate and fall into disuse iu any itost-oflice not a depository 
 for mail-haj^s. All such, whether iu good condition or not, must be forwarded to the 
 nearest mail-hai; depository. 
 
 Sec. 681. Equal Exchange or Reciprocal Return of locked Pouches. — The 
 
 use of locked pouches (for letter mails) must he controlled hy the rule of e<iual ex- 
 chan;;e or reciprocal return : therefore a separate locked ]ionch must not he made up 
 in any post-office directly for any other, with greater or less frequency than a separate 
 locked pouch is usually received directly therefrom, without special instructions from 
 the Department. Repeated failures to comply with this rule on the part of any post- 
 office must be reported to the Second Assistant Postmaster-General hy any postmaster 
 ■whose supplies of mail-bags may have materially been reduced thereby. The same 
 rule is not applicable to separate tied sacks of printed matter, which may be made np 
 and dispatched without regard to a corresponding return of printed matter; but all 
 such sacks (or a like number of them), received and emptied in post-offices not depos- 
 itories, are to be promptly returned, duly labeled, to the place whence they were re- 
 ceived, whether there shall be printed matter to send back in them or not. Any that 
 may be received from unknown sources, or from places where they are not needed, 
 must not be suffered to fall into disuse, but be forwarded Avitliout delay to the nearest 
 mail-bag depository. 
 
 Sec. 632. Register of Outgoing and Incoming Mails to be Kept. — In all 
 post-offices where many lot;k-poachus are sent and received daily, such a register of 
 the outgoing and incoming mails should be kept as will show the places to which 
 separate locked pouches are sent and from which they are received, as well as the 
 number sent to and received from each daily. Postmasters will give particular atten- 
 tion to keeping such registers, and will be guided by the same in correcting all dis- 
 parities iu their exchanges of locked pouches. 
 
 Sec. 683. Names of Depositories for Mail Bags and Locks. — The following 
 
 post-offices are depositories for mail bags aud locks, where mail bags and locks, new 
 and old, are collected aud distributed, under special iustrnctions from the Second As- 
 sistant Postmaster-General: Fortlatul aud Bangor, Maine; Concord, Xcw Hampslure ; 
 Rutland, Vermont: Boston, Massachnsetis ; Providence, Rhode Island ; Hartford and Xew 
 Haven, Connecticut; New York, Albany, and Buffalo, New York ; Trenton, Neiv Jersey; 
 rhiladelphia, Harrisbnryh, and Pittsbaryh, Pennsylvania ; Baltimore, Maryland; JVash- 
 inyton. District of Columbia; Richmond, Virginia; Wheeling, West Virginia; Rakigh, 
 North Carolina; Charleston aud Columbia, South Carolina; Atlanta and Savannah, Geor- 
 gia; Tallahassee, Florida; Mobile and Montgomery, Alabama; Jackson, Mississippi; New 
 Orleans, Louisiana; Little Rock, Arkansas ; Nashville and Memphis, Tennessee; Louisville, 
 Kentucky; Cincinnati and Cleveland, Ohio; Detroit, Michigan; Indiana])oHs, Indiana; 
 Springfield anjl Chicago, Illinois; Saint Louis, Missouri; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Des 
 Moines aud Dubuque, Iowa; Saint Paul, Minnesota; Galveston, Texas; San Francisco, 
 California; Portland, Oregon; Salt Lake City, Utah Territory; Lawrence, Kansas; and 
 Omaha, Nebraska. 
 
 Sec. 684. Accounts of Depository Post-offices to be Rendered. — It is the tluty 
 
 of every postmaster whose post-office is a depository for mail bags and locks to render 
 to the office of the Second Assistant Postmaster-General, Division of Mail Equipments, 
 an account at the end of everv month showiu}r the number of each kind of mail-locks 
 
160 POSTAL LAWS AXD EEGULATIONS, 
 
 and of eacli size of the several kinds of mail-bags on hand at the heginning of and 
 received during the month, of those furnished to other post-offices, of those in actual 
 use in his post-office, and of those remaining on hand not in use, but ready for distri- 
 btition. Blanks for this purpose will be furnished from time to time on application 
 to the Second Assistant Postmaster-General, Division of Mail E(inipments. 
 
 See. 685. Surplus Stock to be Kept apart from the Current Stock. — Each 
 postmaster at a depository for mail bags and locks must be cai'cful to keep apart from 
 the mail bags and locks required for current use of his post-office all sur[dus articles 
 of that kind, audio consider them as deposited for distribution in such manner as may 
 be directed by the Department. For all mail bags and locks so distributed he will 
 obtain receipts, whicii are to be transmitted immediately to the Department. He may 
 withdraw mail bags and locks from the surplus stock on deposit to snp})ly wants of 
 his own post-office, but not to supply other post-offices, without special instractions, 
 except in euiergencies admitting of no delay. For mail-bags so withdrawn from de- 
 posit, his certificate in the former case, and receipts in the latter, must be transmitted 
 to the Department, where, Avhen received, they will be entered to his credit. 
 
 Sec. 686. Legitimate Use of Mail-bags Restricted to what. — The legitimate 
 use of mail-bags is restricted to the transmission of mailable matter while under the 
 care, custody, and control of the Post-Office Department, through its postmasters and 
 other authorized agents. Their application to any other uses than those of this De- 
 partment is illegal and strictly forbidden. The stealing, purloining, converting from 
 proper use, or conveying away, to the detriment of tlie service, of any mail-bags, is an 
 offense by law, punishable with fine and imprisonment. See section 1241. 
 
 Sec. 687. Canvas Sacks may be Taken by Publishers, when. — ^Whenever, 
 in any post-office in tlie large towns and cities, there is an extreme necessity of ex- 
 tending to publishers the privilege of taking canvas sacks to their ]irinting-offices to be 
 there filled with i)rinted matter for the mails, the postmaster must keep an exact 
 account with ea«h publisher of the number of sacks talven from and returned to his 
 post-office on every occasion. Besides the account kept in the post-office for that pur- 
 jiose, pass-books should be used between the several printing-offices and the post- 
 office. No sacks should be delivered for any piiblislier, except on presentation of his 
 pass-book, in which he is to be debited with the number of sacks intrusted to him 
 and credited with the number i-eturned ; and for tlie due return of all sacks ao in- 
 trusted to liim each publislier shall be held responsible. 
 
 Sec. 688. Waste or Abuse of Mail-bags to be Prevented. — It is the duty 
 
 of postmasters and other agents of this Department to prevent, wlienever in their 
 power, any waste or abuse of mail-bags ; to reclaim them from improper hands ; and 
 to give information of every instance of theft or illegal usi? of mail-bags coming to 
 their knowh'dge. 
 
 Sec. 689. Mail-bags not to be Purchased by Postmasters. — Mail-bag.s of 
 
 every descrii>tiou are re([uired by law to be purcliasod by the Postmaster-General, 
 under contract male with the lowest bidder, after advertisement for proposals. Tliey 
 are not to ha piirclias^d by postnrastiu's or mail-contractors, and no allowance will be 
 made for mail-bags purchased by them without special instructions from the Depart- 
 ment. 
 Sec. 699. Mail-catchers, how Famished. — Mail-catchers (for use Avliere 
 
 they are allowed by tlu>. D.'pavtmunt) are fiiruished on ai)plication to the office of the 
 Second Assistant Postmaster-General, Division of Mail Eiiuipments. 
 
 Sec. 691. Application for Mail-bags, etc., to State Reasons. — Every applica- 
 tion for mail-bags and mail-catchers must state fully the reasons which makeanaddi- 
 ti(Mial supi»ly necessary. 
 
 Sec. 632. Miil Locks and Keys, by whom Famished.— Mail locks and keys 
 
 arc furnished from tho office of the Second Assistant Postmastcr-Goncral, Division of 
 
TITLE III— TRANSPORTATION OF TIIK MAIL. 101 
 
 Mail Ef|ni[)inp.nts. Applications for mail locks or keys must always assign the reasons 
 tliiTclor. 
 
 Sec. 693. Care of Mail-keys — Penalty for Loss. — The careful ii.se of inail- 
 
 locks anil the safe-keepiu}; of mail-keys are e.ssential to the integrity of the ]>ostJil 
 service. The mail-key must never bo exposed to public observation nor placed where 
 it may bo lost or stolen. It must not be siilfered to pass, even for a moment, into the 
 hands of any person not a sworn officer of the Post-Offieo Department. Tiie safe-keep- 
 ing of the mail-key is cue of the expressed conditions of the official bond of every 
 postmaster. The loss of a mail-key, as it may afford peculiar facilities for stealing 
 from the mails, is au act of carelessness likely to be more pernicious to the service than 
 almost any other a postmaster or agent of the Department can commit. It is therefore 
 deemed sufficient cause for removing the postmaster or agent so oftending, enforeiu"' 
 the penalty of the official bond of the former, and even in certain cases for discontinu- 
 ing the post-offiee. 
 
 Sec. 694. Mail-keys to have a Specific Number. — The inail-key.s bear, each 
 
 of them, a ditt'erent number stamped upon them. Every postmaster or eraploy6 to 
 whom such keys are intrusted will be charged therewith and held to a strict account 
 therefor. On the receipt of any such mail-key by a postmaster, he should make a 
 record, to be kept in his post-office, of the date of its receipt and of the number 
 stamped upon it. Whenever such or any other mail-key shall afterwards be referred to, 
 in any communication to the Department, its number must invari.ably be specified. 
 Every casualty whatever concerning a mail-key must bo proinjitly reported. 
 
 Sec. 695. Exchange of Mail-keys by Railway Mail Employes. — In all cases . 
 of an exchange of routes between employes of the Railway Mail Service, there must 
 also be an exchange of mail keys between them, so that every mail-key shall always 
 be retained in the particular office for which it was originally furnished by the Depart-; - 
 ment, and never be taken away for use elsewhere. 
 
 Sec. 696. Receipts to be always Taken for Mail-keys. — Xo mail-key shall 1 
 be transferred or exchanged except to a successor in office, nor be funushed nor loaned 
 without special instructions from the Department. No such key, not obtained directly • 
 from the Department or from a predecessor in office, shall 1)o kept or detained, but 
 promptly returned to the Department, with a full report of facts in relation to it. If ' 
 a mail-key be received from a discontinued post-office, or elsewhere, it nnist be sent 
 without delay to the Department by the postmaster receiving it, stating whea andT 
 from whom it was received by him. Whenever a retiring postmaster turns over a 
 mail-key, he must obtain and transmit to the Second Assistant Postmaster-General a 
 receipt for the same, specifying the number stamped upon it, in order that he may 
 receive due credit on the books of the Department, and he and his sureties be released 
 from all further responsibility therefor. 
 
 Sec. 697. Repairing Mail-locks and Keys Forbidden. — Xo attem])t shall be 
 
 made to have a mail-key or a mail-lock repaired ; nor to pry into the interualniechan- - 
 ism of any maildock. No damaged or defective mail-key shall be kept in post-offices, 
 but each one. as soon as it becomes damaged or defective, must be jiromptly returned ' 
 to the Department with an exjilanatory letter. With every application for a new 
 mail-key in lieu of one broken, the broken parts must be inclosed, and the- number of ' 
 the broken key stated. 
 
 Sec. 698. Defective Keys to be Reported to the Department. — \Mien a mail- 
 key is perceived to be much worn and becoming defective, timely notice should be 
 given of the fact, always stating the number of the key, so that a new one may be 
 furnished before the old one becomes entirely useless; the latter to be returned to the. 
 Department. Whenever extra keys are fnrnislie<I they should be kept in reserve for • 
 au emergency, and be locked up in a safe place in the post-office, accessible to the 
 postmaster and his assistant only. 
 
 Sec. 699. Brass Locks not to be Sent to Iron-Lock Post-offices. — lu those • 
 11 PL 
 
132 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 post-oftices where the use of the brass locks ami keys is allowed for through mails, it 
 will he deemed very reprehensible if sufficient care be not always taken to prevent 
 such locks being used, instead of iron locks, on bags dispatched to post-offices Avhere 
 their use is not alio wed, and where, of course, there is no key to open them. If, how- 
 ever, a bag secured with a brass lock be received at a post-office where there is no 
 brass key allowed, the lock should not be broken or tampered with, nor the bag be 
 mutilated ; but it should either be returned unopened to the post-office whence it came, 
 or be sent to some nearer post-office using the brass key, with the request to substi- 
 tute an iron lock for the brass one. But in either case, the postmaster at whose 
 post-office the irregularity occurred must be advised of it, and, i? there be a repeti- 
 tion of it, be reported to the Second Assistant Postmaster-General. 
 
 Sec. 700. Proper Course when Defective Key will not Open Mail-lock. — If 
 
 the only mail-key in a post-office be broken or so defective as not to open all the locks, 
 the bags should be passed, unopened, to the nearest post-office, with a request to the 
 postmaster to take out the letters, &c., for the post-office where the lock could not be 
 opened, and send them back by the mail-carrier outside the bag, in a sealed jiackage, 
 until another key be received from the Dejiartment. Iii such case auy mutilation of 
 the bag is inexcusable. ' 
 
 Sec. 701. Proper Course when Defective Lock cannot be Opened. — ^Mien a 
 
 postmaster cannot open a lock securing a bag, because of a defect in the lock, and not 
 of his key, he will then cut that staple of the bag to which the lock is attached, pro- 
 vided he has another bag and lock to substitute for them ; but if he has no other bag 
 and lock, he will pass the bag, unopened, to the next post-office, as in the case indi- 
 cated in the jireceding section. 
 
 Sec. 702. Fastening-Strap Never to be Cut. — The fastening-strap of a mail- 
 bag should nevet be cut ; but if ever done, the strap must not afterwards be spliced, 
 but a new one put on instead of the strap cut. When the staiJle is cut asunder, the 
 bag should have a new one apjslied before being used again. 
 
 Sec. 703. Economy in the Use of Mail-locks. — The mail-locks must be used 
 
 with care and economy. Care must also be taken to equalize the exchange of locked 
 pouches, and thereby secure to every post-office a return of the same number of lockt< 
 sent from it. If at any post-office (not a depository) locks from unknown sources 
 should accumulate in excess of its current wants, all such surplus locks must be for- 
 warded with an explanatory letter to the Department. 
 
 Sec. 704. Unlawful Use of Mail-bags to be Reported to the Department. — 
 
 It is the duty of postmasters and agents of the Department to reclaim and transmit to 
 the office of the Second Assistant Postmaster-General, Division of Mail Equipment, all 
 mail locks aud keys found to be in improper hands, or applied to any other than their 
 lawful use, and to see that the law (section 1241) is enforced in every case of its vio- 
 lation known to them, by exerting due diligence always in collecting and reporting 
 to the Diq>artment the facts and proofs to sustain a prosecution against the otfeuder. 
 Sec. 705. How to Address Communications on Mail Equipments. — All coui- 
 
 lunnications re(piired by this chapter to be sent to the Department nuist be addressed 
 to the Second Assistant Postmaster-General, Division of Mail E(iuipments. Such com- 
 munications must invarialdy give the name of the post-office, county, aud State from 
 which they are sent, and must not embrace any other subject. 
 
TITLE IV. 
 
 THE KAII.WAY MAIL SERVICE. 
 
 CHAPTER ONE. 
 
 0RGANI2ATION AND GENERAL PROVISIONS. 
 
 Sec, j Sec. 
 
 706. The General Snpcrintendeut of Railway Mail 710. Appointment of employes. 
 
 Service. | 711. TTnifomi for employes. 
 
 707. Division .Superintendents. I 712. Division Superintendents not to recoiuniend 
 
 708. "Offices" — post-offices for distributing mail appointjncnts. 
 
 in transit. 713. Assignment of Chief Head Clerks. 
 
 709. Employes of Railway Mail Service. | 
 
 Sec. 706. The General Superintendent of Railway Mail Service. — The 
 
 Postm.ister-Geiioral has vested the jienpral supervision of the distrihution ami dispatch 
 of mails at post-oftiees and iu transit upon railroad and steanihoat routes in the Gen- 
 eral Superintendent of Railway Mail Service, with headquarters at Washington, D. C, 
 and in the Superintendents under his directions. 
 
 Sec. 707. Division Superintendents. — For the puriwse of securing effi- 
 ciency in the dispatch and distribution of mails, the United States has heen divided 
 into nine divisions, each of which is in charjie of a .Superintendent, as follows: 
 
 First Divi.^iox.— Comprising the New England Staies.^Hcadquarters of Siiperiii' 
 tendent, Boston, Mass. 
 
 Second Division. — Comprising New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, 
 and the Eastern .Shore of Maryland.— Tifertrf^/Mrtrfers of SKpcrinteiidcnf, Xew York, X. Y. 
 
 Thiho Division. — Comprising Maryland (excluding the Eastern Shore), North Caro- 
 lina, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District o{ Co\umbia.-^Readquarters of Stiperin' 
 tendent, Richmond, Va. 
 
 Fourth Division. — Comprising South Carolina, Georgi.a, Florida, Alabama, Missis- 
 sippi, and Louisiana. — HeadquarUrs of Superintendent, Atlanta, Ga. 
 
 Fifth Division. — Comprising Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee. — Head- 
 quarters of Superintendent, Cincinnati, Ohio. 
 
 Sixth Division. — Comprising Wi.sconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota, and 
 Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and the Territories of Dakota and Wyoming. — Head- 
 quarters of Superintendent, Chicago, IU, 
 
 Seventh Division. — Comprising Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, Texas, Colorado, the 
 Indian Territory, and New Mexico. — Headquarters of Superintendent, Saint Louis, Mo. 
 
 Eighth Division. — Comprising California, Nevada, Oregon, and the Territories of 
 Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Utah, and Washington. — Headquarttrs of Su2icrln- 
 tendent, S<tn Francisco, Cal. 
 
 Ninth DmsioN. — Comprising the through mails via Buffalo, Suspension Bridge, 
 Toledo, and Detroit, the lines of the Lake Sliore and Michigan Sonthern Railroad, 
 and the Lower Peninsula nfSl'MAn'^^au.^ffeadquorter-i of Superintendent, t'h'rrlnnd, Ohio, 
 
 Sec. 708. "Offices" — Post-offices for Distributing Mail in Transit. — The 
 
 Postmaster-General has designated all railway postal care and mail apartments in caj-s 
 
 163 
 
164 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 and steamboats as i>ost-offices for the distribution of mail-matter iu transit. To distin- 
 guish these traveling post-offices from ordinary i)ost-offices, they are designated iu the 
 regulations as "Offices." 
 
 Sec. 709. Employes of Railway Mail Service. — In the Postal Eegnlations 
 
 the word "emidoyes" is used to designate all railway ijost-office clerks, route-agents, 
 and nuiil-route messengers. Local mail-agents retain their present designation. 
 
 Sec. 710. Appointment of Employes. — Appointments to the railway mail 
 ser\-ice are made upon the recommendation of the General Superintendent. All ap- 
 pointments are originally made for six months only, and at the expiration of that 
 time, if the record and final examination of the person temporarily appointed are satis- 
 factory, he receives a permauent appointment. All promotions are made upon the 
 recommendation of the General Superintendent, based upon the report of the Division 
 Superintendent as to good conduct, faithful service, and efficiency, and all such reports 
 must be accompanied by the employe's full record, including case examinations and 
 facing-slips. 
 
 Sec. 711. Uniform for Railway Mail Employes. — Postal clerks, ronte- 
 agents, and mail-route messengers shall not be required to wear uniform 
 other than a cap or badge. (Act of March 3, 1879, section 1, 20 Stat., 
 p. 357.) 
 
 The uniform cap required by this section of the law to be worn by employes is 
 regulation navy, three inches deep. If inch front, with black corded silk band ; cloth 
 to be full indigo dark navy blue ; lining of caji to be silesia, and oil-glazed cover; the 
 cap to bear upon its front the letters " E. M. S." in silver, surrounded by a gold wreath. 
 
 The Postmaster-General is satisfied that the adoption of a uniform for the railway 
 mail service has been productive of great good to the service by elevating its tone 
 and inspiring a feeling of manly pride in the corps, which has greatly increased its 
 efficiency. While the law forbids him to require any uniform to be worn other than 
 a cap or badge, and no distinction can be made between those who wear the entire 
 uniform and those who do not, he believes that the interests of the service will be pro- 
 moted and the safety of the mails increased if all the employes, of their own free will 
 and accord, continue to wear the entire uniform formerly required — a uniform which 
 any man should be proud to wear in view of the honorable record which the railway 
 mail service of the United States has made since its organization. 
 
 Sec. 712. Division Superintendents not to recommend Appointments. — Divi- 
 sion Superintendents must confine themselves in their recommendations for promo- 
 tions in the railway mail service to the fact as to whether, in their opinion, the person 
 recommended would make an efficient employ^, and must not recommend, directly or 
 indirectly, any person for appointment. 
 
 Sec. 713. Assignment of Chief Head Clerks. — Division Superintendents 
 
 may assign to duty (when necessary, subject to the approval of the General Superin- 
 tendent) ns chief liead clerks of railAvay mail service, such employes as in their judg- 
 ment are bijst qualilied to discharge the duties expected of them, and the duties of such 
 chief head clerks will ))e to make examination of the men under their charge; to see 
 that they perforuj all the duties required of them promptly and thoroughly ; to see that 
 the schemes furnished are kopt corrected, and that all orders issued by the Division 
 Superintendent are pronq»tly executed. All irregularities, insubordination, inefficien- 
 cies, and lax morality occurring on xoutes under their charge nuist be reported to their 
 Division Superintendent at once.. 
 
TITLE IV THE RAILWAY ^LVIL SERVICE. 
 
 163 
 
 CHAPTER TWO. 
 
 INSTRUCTIONS TO EMPLOYES HANDLING ORDINARY MAIL- 
 MATTER. 
 
 S.C. 
 
 7U. 
 715. 
 
 71G. 
 
 717. 
 718. 
 719. 
 720. 
 
 721. 
 722. 
 
 726. 
 
 729. 
 730. 
 731. 
 732. 
 
 733. 
 734. 
 735. 
 73e. 
 737. 
 738. 
 739. 
 740. 
 
 741. 
 
 742. 
 
 743. 
 744. 
 745. 
 746. 
 747. 
 748. 
 
 749. 
 750. 
 751. 
 752. 
 753. 
 754. 
 
 Kiniiloyea to carry instnu'tion.s with them. 
 
 Kiniiliiyds to rcjwrt errors discovered in the 
 I'ostiil (Jiiido. 
 
 Enijiloyes to bo oxaniiued in the postal laws 
 and regulations. 
 
 Oiw wnployo to have charge of Otlicc. 
 
 Accountability of employ^ in char-re of Office. 
 
 Assistants to obey enii>loy6 incharjje. 
 
 Receiving mail at cars; canceled stamps to be 
 refused. 
 
 Cancellation of postage-stamps. 
 
 Postmarking stamps not to be used for cancel- 
 lation. 
 
 Keceiving and delivering second-class mail at 
 cars. 
 
 Mail to be made up by States. 
 
 Separate mail for delivery and mail for distri- 
 bution. 
 
 Direct packages. 
 
 Letters must not be placed in pouch loose. 
 Facing-slips to bo used. 
 
 Checking errors. 
 
 Di.spositi<m of slips received. 
 
 Distribution of mail by schemes. 
 
 Open and distribute one pouch or sack at a 
 time. 
 
 Absence of slips on packages or in sacks. 
 
 Sack to be turned inside out. 
 
 Pouches to be examined. 
 
 Printed labels to be returned. 
 
 Trip reports to be forwarded. 
 
 Vigilance required in guarding mails. 
 
 "Waste-paper and twiue to be examined. 
 
 Dispii.sition of uumailable matter found in the 
 mails. 
 
 TJnmailable matter forwarded to Superintend- 
 ent. 
 
 Mailable matter turned in as unmailable to be 
 checked as ei-rors. 
 
 Unmailable matter to be postmiu'ked. 
 
 Soldiers' and sailors' letters. 
 
 Change of schedules to be reported. 
 
 Letters outside of pouches to be reported. 
 
 No enii)loy6 to be absent without leave. 
 
 In case of disability eniploy6 must send cer. 
 titicate. 
 
 Employe's record of arrivals and departures. 
 
 Posting record-book. 
 
 Partial duty to be noted on record. 
 
 Employ63 paid for daily service. 
 
 Address of employes. 
 
 Period of duty. 
 
 Sec. 
 
 755. Employes must accompany mails to and from 
 
 post-offices. 
 
 756. Employ6s must examine Offices at the end of 
 
 runs. 
 
 757. Replies to official communications. 
 
 758. Who may have access to Offices. 
 
 759. Trip permits to ridi^ in Offices. 
 
 760. All but aimual permits to be taken np. 
 
 761. Permits not good for transportation. 
 
 762. Sale of postage-stamps by employes. 
 
 763. Employes on duty not to traffic. 
 
 764. Must not impart information to unautliorized 
 
 persons. 
 
 765. Turning over property of Dei)artiuent. • 
 
 766. Forwarding of resignations. 
 
 767. Xo infoiTuation to be given concerning vacan- 
 
 cies. 
 
 768. Intoxicating liquors prohibited. 
 
 769. Mail in transit not to be delivered. 
 
 770. Public property not to be used for private 
 
 purposes. 
 
 771. Exchange of pouches. 
 
 772. Mail must not be delivered at places not post- 
 
 offices. 
 
 773. List to be kejit of exch.inge pouches. 
 
 774. Irregularities to be reported. 
 
 775. Missent matter to be so stamped. 
 
 776. Mutilation of property i)rohibited. 
 
 777. Employes must examine order-book. 
 
 778. Second-class and other matter outside of mail- 
 
 bags. 
 
 779. Reading mail-matter in transit forbidden. 
 
 780. Case examination.s. 
 
 781. Exaiuinations of employ68 on their instnic- 
 
 tious. 
 
 782. Probationary appointees to bo examined 
 
 monthly. 
 
 783. Employ6s on night lines. 
 
 784. Securing mail-locks and mail-keys. 
 
 785. Notify Division Superintendent of changes 
 
 needed in Offices. 
 
 786. Employ6s must assist S])ecial Agents. 
 
 787. Presence of Special Agents not to be reported. 
 
 788. Accidents to mail-trains to be reported. 
 
 789. Hooks prohibiteil in handling mail-bag.s. 
 
 790. Courtesy to public eiyoined. 
 
 791. Delivery of mails at catch-stations. 
 
 792. Rules of railway companies observed. 
 
 793. Ignorance of rules no excuse fi>r violations. 
 j:^"For instructions as to handling registei-ed 
 
 matter, see Title V, The Registry System of the 
 United States. 
 
 Sec. 714. Employes to Carry Instructions -with Them. — Each eini)loy^, 
 when on dnty, must have with him cither the volume of Postal Laws and Regulations 
 of th3 latest edition, or so much thereof as relates to the railway mail-.service and 
 
166 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 registry system of the United States, copies of current "Orders" affecting Lis line, 
 "Schemes of distribution," latest " Postal Guide," and copy of "Schedule of mail- 
 trains." 
 
 Sec. 715. Employes to Report Errors Discovered in the Postal Guide. — 
 Every employe detecting errors in the United States Official Postal Guide must report 
 the same at once to his Division Superintendent, in order that it may he reported to the 
 Department for correction. 
 
 Sec. 716. Employds to be Examined in the Postal Laws and Reg^ations. — 
 At each examination of employes they will be required to answer questions touching 
 the postal laws and regulations, and they must be thoroughly instructed on the rates 
 of postage aud in the regulations of their own service and of the registry system of 
 the United States. They must also be informed as to the duties of postmasters, so far 
 as those duties affect the railway mail service. 
 
 Sec. 717. One Employe' to have Charge of Office. — "WTiere there is more 
 
 than one employe assigned to duty in an Office, one of the number will be designated 
 to take charge of the same. 
 
 Sec, 718. Accountability of Employe in Charge of Office. — The one so des- 
 ignated will have charge of and be accountable for all property belonging in or pertain- 
 ing to the Office, and he will for the time being have full charge of the same. It will be 
 his duty to see that all necessary reports are made, that all distribution in the Office 
 is correct, aud that all mails are properly made \ip and put upon the proper ix)ute to 
 their destination. 
 
 Sec. 719. Assistants to Obey Employ^ in Charge. — It will be the dutj' of 
 
 his assistants to implicitly obey orders of the employe in charge, and no one on duty 
 will consider his labors ended until the whole mail has been properly distributed, 
 pouched, and transmitted. 
 
 Sec. 720. Receiving Mail at Cars ; Cancelled Stamps to be Refused. — Let- 
 ters and other proi)erly-prepaid mail-matter must be received at the Offices, and all 
 employes who are required to open letter-boxes at stations and take mail therefrom 
 must visit the boxes the last moment before leaving ; but employes are strictly pro- 
 hibited from receiving from the imblic for mailing, matter on which the stamjis have 
 been canceled. 
 
 Sec. 721. Cancellation of Postage-Stamps. — Postage-stamps affixed to let- 
 ters, packets, or parcels of any descrii)tion, and all stamped envelopes, newspaper wrap- 
 pers, and postal cards, must be immediately and effectually canceled in the Office in which 
 they may be deposited for transmission. The cancellation must be effected by the use 
 of black i>rinting-ink wherever that material can be obtained; and where it cannot* 
 the operation should be performed by making several heavy crosses or parallel lines 
 U2)on each stamp with a pen dipped in good black writing-ink. 
 
 Sec. 722. Post-marking Stamps not to be Used for Cancellaton. — The use of 
 
 the Office rating or postmarking stamp as a canceling instrument is positively prohib- 
 ited, inasmuch as the postmark when impi-essed on the postage-stamp is usually indis- 
 tinct, and the cancellation effected thereby is imperfect. The postage-stamj) must, 
 therefore, bo effectually canceled with a sej^arate instrument. 
 
 Sec. 723. Receiving and Delivering Second-class Mail at Cars. — The Post- 
 master-Geneial may provide by order the terms tii)on which route-agents 
 may receive from i^ublishers or any news agents in cliarge thereof, ami 
 <leliver the same as directed, if presented and called for at the mail-car 
 or steamer, packages of newspapers and otlier periodicals not received 
 from or intended for delivery at any post-office. (11. S., § 3889.) 
 
 Einployt^s are pi-ohibited from receiving newspapers an<l periodicals from jjublishei-s 
 and news-agents, unh^ss the san»e are accou\pauied by a certilicate frou\ the postmaster 
 that the postage has been paid. 
 
TITLE IV THE RAILWAY MAIL SERVICE. 167 
 
 Sec. 724. Mail to be Made up by States. — All iiinil for Stiitos of wliich no 
 
 tlistribiitiou is made niii.st be made up " by Stiitcs" and facin^^-Mlips used, in accordiiiiee 
 with section 72S; that is, letter and circular mail for each Slate must he nia<le up in 
 packages, and newspajier mail in canvas sacks, by itself, and the name of the State 
 marked on the slip c-overinj; the packa<;<* or ta;j; attacdied to thi' sack. 
 
 Sec. 725. Separate Mail for Delivery and Mail for Distribution. — ^Fail for 
 
 delivery ami mail for distribution at a post-ollice must always \>i: maile up in seiiarate 
 packajics. 
 
 Sec. 726. Direct Packages. — Making a direct package i.s placing all let- 
 
 tei'sfor on<^ OlHee or post-oflice in a i)ackii;ie by themselves, with :i plainly-addressed 
 letter for sn< h Otticc or post-office faced out on each side. 
 
 Sec. 227. Letters must not be Placed in Pouch Loose. — Letter and circnlar 
 
 mail must always be properly." faced up" and tied in packages, and never placed in 
 the pou( h loose. 
 
 Sec. 728. Facing-slips to be Used. — Facing-slips must be placed upon all 
 
 packages of letters and circulars (except those made npdirect for delivery, when the 
 slip should be placed inside of each package, and he postmarked and bear the name 
 of the person making the package and the direction moving), and in each canvas 
 sack of newspapers, the same to be securely tied on the package, or if newspapei-s, 
 placed in the hag, and have on each the address or destination of the package or 
 sack, the postmark, with date, direction moving, and the name of the person making 
 up the same. 
 
 Sec. 729. Checking Errors. — All errors found in the distribution of a 
 
 package of letters or in a sack of newspapers must be noted on the reverse side of the 
 slip-covering or inside of the same, giving the name of the post-office and State, and 
 the county when included in the superscription, adding thereto the name of the per- 
 son noting the erroi*s, and postmark with date. 
 
 Sec. 730. Disposition of Slips Received. — All slips received upon pack- 
 ages of letter or circular mail or in sacks of newsiiaper mail must be preserved and 
 forwarded to the Division Superintendent. 
 
 Sec. 731. Distribution of Mails by Schemes. — Employes will carefully dis- 
 tribute and make up maihs by the otldcial schemes which may be furnished them, and will 
 conform to any changes that may be made in the same by the Superiuteudeiit of the 
 Division, and will make up and exchange only such i)ouche8 as may be ordered by 
 him. 
 
 Sec. 732. Open and Distribute One Pouch or Sack at a Time. — Emidoyes 
 
 will complete the distribution of the contents of one pouch or sack before opening an- 
 other, so that any errors in disti'ibutiou or misseut mail may be correctly noted and 
 reported. 
 
 Sec. 733. Absence of Slips on Packages or in Sacks. — If no slips are re- 
 ceived on the packages or in sacks, notify Division Superintendents, stating, if possi- 
 ble, the line or post-office from which the mail was received, aud if newspaper mail, 
 forward the label received ou the sack. 
 
 Sec. 734. Sack to be Turned Inside Out. — Whenever a sack of newspaper 
 
 mail is emptied the sack nuist be turned inside out, to make sure that no mail is left 
 in it. 
 
 Sec. 735. Pouches to be Examined. — In emptying a pouch great care 
 
 must be taken that no mail is left therein ; and to be certain of this, it must be held 
 so that the whole interior can be seen aud looked into, in each case, in addition to 
 thoroughly shaking it. 
 
 Sec. 736. Printed Labels to be Returned. — Printed wooden labels for sacks 
 
 of newspaper mail and printed slide-lAbels tor pouches must be taken otf when the sacks 
 or pouches arc opened, and returned by first mail to the post-office or Ofiice from which 
 
168 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 they were received, the woodeu labels to he classed with newspaper mail and the slide- 
 labels as letter mail. Uuder no circumstances are auy of such labels to be defaced or 
 destroyed. 
 
 Sec. 737. Trip Reports to be Forwarded. — Trip reports, together with all 
 
 slips received, mast be properly tilled out and i)rom|)tly forwarded to the Division 
 Superintendent at end of each triji. Be particular to give all the information called 
 for by the trip report. 
 
 Sec. 738. Vigilance Required in Guarding Mails. — All employes are ex- 
 pected to use extraordinary vigilance in guarding the mails under their charge, which 
 must not be left for a moment exposed, day or night, and especially in making transfers 
 where there is considerable portage between trains. Should they become aware that 
 the mails are so exposed at any time or place, they are required to note the sjiuie upon 
 their trip-report, for the information of the Division Superintendent. When accom- 
 panying the mails on other than regulation wagons, one of the employes should always 
 sit in such position as to be able to instantly detect the loss of a pouch or sack. 
 
 Sec. 739. Waste Paper and Twine to be Examined. — Waste paper and 
 
 twine must be preserved and turned in at terminal post-of3fice, but carefully examined 
 before being sent from the car, and the sack containing the same shall boar the words 
 " Waste paper," and the postmark, witli date of time of sending it into the terminal 
 post-ofitice. 
 
 Sec. 749. Disposition of Unmailable Matter Found in the Mails. — Any em- 
 
 ployd in whose Office shall be deposited for mailing domestic letters wholly unpaid, or 
 on which less than one full rate of postage is paid, letters or packages bearing stamps 
 that have been previously used, or stamps cut from stamped envelopes or wrappers, or 
 packages of third or fourth class matter not fully pi-epaid, shall detain the same and 
 turn them over to his Division Superintendent. It shall also be his duty to intercept aud 
 withdraw from the mail all letters or packages of the second, third, or fourth class so 
 incorrectly, illegibly, or insufficiently addressed that they cannot be forwarded to the 
 persons for whom thoy are intended, or the addresses of which have become detached 
 or erased ; all articles found loose in any pouch or sack, and any article which, by 
 the rulings of the Department, has been declared unmailable because of its harmful 
 nature, and forward the same to his Division Superintendent, Avith a statement giving 
 the date and name of the post-office or other source from which such matter was re- 
 ceived. Employes must not change the address upon such matter, aud no iudoraement 
 upon a letter, or addition thereto in pencil or ink or any other way, will be permitted. 
 
 Sec. 741. Unmailable Matter Forwarded to Superintendent. — All such mat- 
 ter forwarded to the Division Superintendent must be accompanied by a slip addressed 
 to the Superintendent, and bearing the name of the employ^ forwaixling the same, aud 
 the postmark <»f his Office with date. 
 
 Sec. 742. Mailable Matter Turned in as Unmailable to be Checked as Errors. 
 
 — Any such mail-matter, the address on which is found in the latest current "Postal 
 Guide," will bo noted as errors on the slip accompanying the same and charged agauist 
 the employd. 
 
 Sec. 743. Unmailable Matter to be Postmarked. — Unmailable matter of 
 
 the first and secontl class sent to the Division Superintendent must be postmarked on 
 the back. 
 
 Sec. 744. Soldiers' and Sailors' Letters. — Soldiers' and sailoiV letters, 
 
 duly certitiiMl, sliould be forwarded t]w same as pre]iaid matter. 
 
 Sec. 745. Change of Schedules to be Reported. — Employ(^s are directed to 
 
 notify the SuiKU-intendent of the Division of all elianges of schedules or running of 
 trains ujion their r<'s]tective routes. 
 
 Sec. 746. Letters Outside of Pouches to be Reported. — Emi)loyes will re- 
 
 j i»orfc to the Division Superiutendeut each instance of liuding lotteiM under the strap or 
 
TITLE IV THE RAILWAY MAIL SERVICE. 169 
 
 attaclii'd to flu- outside of a poncli, j;i\in;j; iiiiinc of Ollice or post-onicc from \Tliich re- 
 ceivt'd. 
 Sec. 747. No Employ6 to be Absent without Leave. — Xo iiiiploy^ is 
 
 allowi'd (o al)S(>nt hiiiisolf from his lim-, or U) excliaii;;!' nius witli an cmiiloy^ on tlic 
 same or any other lino, withont the written jieniiission of tlm Division or (Jcrneral 
 SiiixTintendeiit of Railway Mail Service. And any eniployd to whom a leave of iihsiniee 
 is j^ranteil will be re(iuired to fnrnish a snitahle and comi>etent siilwtitute, ;it his own 
 expense, nnless he can mak<' a satisfactory arrangement with the other ein]doyi^s on hi.s 
 line to perform his duties during his absenci! ; such arrangement to he evidenced hy a 
 memorandum, in writing, signed by .all the parties concerned, and to be filed with the 
 Division Superintendent. But uo employd shall be absent for a period aggregating 
 more than sixty days in any one ye.ar (computing from .January tirat) nor nmre tlian 
 thirty consecutive days withont special authority from the Department. See sections 
 502, ;')((:{, TnxtriicttotiH to Pai/hig VontmaHtcrs. 
 
 Sec. 748. In Case of Disability, Employe must Send Certificate. — In case 
 
 an employe shall be disabled while in the actual discharge! of his duties as su(di by a 
 railroad or other accident, ho shall forward to his Division Superintendent a sworn cer- 
 tificate of his attending physician or surgeon, setting forth the nature, extent, and cause 
 of his disability and the probable duration of the same. This certificate should be 
 sworn to before a notary public, justice of the peace, or other ofticer authorized to ad- 
 minister an oath who uses a seal. On receipt of this certificate, leave of absence, with 
 ])ay, nuiy be granted to the disabled employ^ or employes on application to the Second 
 Assistant Postmaster-General, Division of Inspection. But no leave of absence, with 
 pay, granted under such circumstances, shall cover a period exceeding ninety days 
 from the date the disability was received. But if at th<! expiration of ninety days from 
 said date the employ^ be unable to resume duty, further leave, without pay, may be 
 granted by the Second Assistant Postmaster-General on reoommoudatiou of the Gen- 
 eral Sui>eriutendent of Railway Mail Ser%'ioe. 
 
 Sec. 749. Employes' Record of Arrivals and Departures. — A record of ar- 
 rivals and (lepartures will bi kept at each terminal post-offlce, or at some other place 
 at each terminus of a run, to he designated by the Division Superintendent, in which 
 «'ach employ^ is reqnired to sign in his own handwriting his name and the day and 
 hour of the schedule arrival and departure of the train, and of his own arrival at and 
 departure from the post-office or other place where the record is kept. Failure to do 
 so will be regarded as a failure to perform service without excuse, and the employd will 
 forfeit one day's pay for each failure to so sign, but such forfeiture shall not exceed one 
 day's pay for any number of failures to sign on any one day. See section 499. 
 
 Sec. 750. Posting Record-Book. — The person in char^te of the record of 
 arrivals and departures must till up the blank spaces at the head of each page before 
 the i)age is signed upon. 
 
 Sec. 751. Partial Duty to be Noted on Record. — In case an employe does 
 
 not perform duty over the whole length of the route, the portion over which he per- 
 formed duty must be noted on the record. In case of a substitute, he will sign, in addi- 
 tion to his own name, that of the employ^ for whom he is performing service. 
 
 Sec. 752. Employ^ Paid for Daily Service. — The Department pays each 
 employe for daily service whether ho is ou duty or not, and therefore has a right to 
 dem.and service of him at any time. 
 
 Sec. 753. Address of Employes. — Employes must keep the Division Su- 
 perintendent advised of their full address. 
 
 Sec. 754. Period of Duty — Emploj'^s must remain on duty the whole 
 
 length of their allotted runs. 
 
 Sec. 755. Employes must Accompany Mails to and from Post-Offices. — It is 
 the duty of each employd to accompany the mails to and from the initial and terminal 
 post-otlices of their respective runs. 
 
170 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 Sec. 756. Employes must Examine Offices at the End of Runs. — Employes 
 
 will thoroughly examine their Offices before leaving, to see that uo mail is left therein, 
 and that every precaution for the proper protection of the Office has been taken. 
 
 Sec. 557. Replies to Official Communications. — Each employe is required 
 to date and sign with his official signature all replies to official inquiries and other 
 communications. 
 
 Sec. 758. Who may have Access to Offices. — Tlie Office is for the exclusive 
 
 accommodation of the mails and the persons specially appointed to take charge of the 
 same . It is strictly private, not to be entered by any person except regular Special Agents 
 of the Post-Office Dei)artment and persons who may be authorized by the General Super- 
 intendent and Superintendents of the Railway Mail Service. The conductor of the 
 train, however, will have access to the Office in the performance of his duties, and, in 
 case of necessity, other railway employes may pass through, but none of them shall 
 be allowed to remain therein. 
 
 Sec. 759. Trip Permits to Ride in Offices. — ^Permits, signed by the General 
 
 Superintendent Railway Mail Service, and countersigned by one of the Division Super- 
 intendents, will be required (except for Special Agents of the Post-Office Department) 
 as authority for riding in Offices. Without such permit no person except Special 
 Agents of the Post-Office Department, who will be required by the employe in charge 
 to show their commissions, will be allowed to ride in an Office. This applies to all 
 employes in the service passing over lines to which they are not assigned. 
 
 Sec. 760. All but Annual Permits to be Taken up. — Permits will be taken 
 up by the employ^ in charge of the Office, who will affix his postmark, with date, also 
 his name, on the reverse side, and forward to his Division Sui)eriutendent with his 
 trip report, noting on the same the points between which the person rode in his Office. 
 If it is an annual permit, it should not be taken up, but the number of it should 
 be noted on the trip report, and also the points between which the holder rode in 
 the Office. 
 
 Sec. 761. Permits not good for Transportation. — A permit is in uo way to 
 be considered as furnishing transportation to the person holding it, but simply as author- 
 ity to ride in the Office, and the conductor must be notified, so that he may take up ticket* 
 or pass, or collect fare. 
 
 Sec. 762. Sale of Postage-Stamps by Employes. — Employes are required to 
 keep constantly on hand a supply of postage-stamps of the denomination of three cents, 
 for the accommodation of the public at the Office. Applicants should make their own 
 change. It is a penal oifense for an employ^ to demand for a postage-stamp a sum 
 exceeding that expressed on its face. 
 
 Sec. 763. Employes on Duty not to Traffic. — Traffic in merchandise 
 
 by em])loy^s, while on duty or the active engagement, at any time, in any occupation 
 of profit or emolument, is strictly prohibited. They must confine themselves wholly 
 to the duties imposed upon them by the Department. The time while off actual duty 
 is for rest and study. 
 
 Sec. 764. Must not Impart Information to unauthorized Persons.. — Xo infor- 
 mation must be imparted, voluntarily or otherwise, concerniivg- h'rt«'rs or other mail- 
 matter passing tlirough the hands of employes in the process of distribution, excepting 
 to those who may be officially authorized to receive information, and when information 
 may be desired by them. 
 
 Sec. 765. Turning over Property of Department. — On the resignation, 
 
 suspension, or removal of an employe, lie shall turn over the mail-keys and all other 
 property and records (including the records of registered packages received and fi)r- 
 warded) in his i)ossessiou to the Superintendent of Railway Mail Service of the Division 
 in which he last perf()rme<l service. A refusal to deliver all or either of the above 
 arti(des of jjroperty, on demand, is an indictable olleuse under the statutes of the 
 L'^uited States. 
 
TITLE IV THE RAILWAY MAIL SERVICE. 171 
 
 Sec. 766. Forwarding of Resignations. — Kosijifiiations must be forwarded 
 
 to the Dcpartuu'iit thioujih tin- Siiiicriiitoiiilfiit of tin- Division, and slionld bu sent as 
 lon;j prior to tlie tlatt^Mi wliicli they arc intfn<li*il to take fttVct as |i()ssiM<'. 
 
 Sec. 767. No Information to be Given Concerning Vacancies. — Information 
 
 roganlhig vacancies or proV>al)lo vacancies in the s<'rvice must not he imparted hy 
 enipU>y«^s, nor nmst they take any i)art in procnring appointments. 
 
 Sec. 768. Intoxicating Liquors Prohibited. — The use of intoxicating 
 
 liijuors wlicii on duty is ahsohitely itrohiliitcfl. 
 
 Sec. 769. Mail in Transit not to be Delivered. — Employes are specially 
 
 instrnctt'd not to make a «lelivery at the Office o{ letters iu transit, which come into 
 their hands for distribution, to any person whatever (except an authorized Special 
 Agent of the Department), although it be personally known to them that the appli- 
 cant is the person named in the address. The act of delivery is devolved by law and 
 the regulations of the Department on the postmaster at the post-office to which the 
 letters are addressed. 
 
 Sec. 770. Public Property not to be Used for Private Purposes. — The use of 
 
 any property of the Department tor personal purposes is strictlj- prohibited. 
 
 Sec. 771. Exchange of Pouches. — Exchange of letter-mails must always 
 
 be made in locked pouches, and, whether there is any letter-mail or not, a pouch, 
 duly locked, must be furnished whenever one is due. 
 
 Sec. 772. Mail must not be Delivered at Places not Post-OfBces. — Under no 
 
 circumstances should mail be delivered at any place not a regularly established post- 
 office ; and wherever a post-office is discontinued, the mail for it should be delivered 
 into the nearest established post-office. 
 
 Sec. 773. List to be kept of Exchange Pouches. — Each employe in charge 
 
 of an Office nuist keep a list of all exchange i>ouches that shoiild be dispatched and 
 received by him, and on each run each pouch received must be " checked off" at the 
 time it is received. Any failures to receive any regular exchange must be reported to 
 the Division Superintendent on the " trip report." 
 
 Sec. 774. Irregularities to be Reported. — Every serious irregularity iu 
 
 the forwarding of mails should be specially reported, and in making these reports, 
 where letters are concerned, give the exact postmark, including the hour. In the case 
 of newspapers, state whether received iu a pouch or a sack, and, if in a sack, whether 
 it contained all second class, all third class, or mixed matter; and if all one i)ublica- 
 tion, give the name and date of it. In addition to the above, the date, place, exact 
 time of receipt, and train by which received, should be given. In all cases, the tag 
 on a misseut pouch or sack must be forwarded with the report to the Division Super- 
 intendent. 
 
 Sec. 775. Missent Matter to be so Stamped. — Each letter or i)aper missent 
 
 to an Office must be plainly stamped Mis.sext, and the postmark of the Office also 
 stamped plainly thereon. This also applies particularly to registered mail. 
 
 Sec. 776. Mutilation of Property Prohibited. — Any mutilation of property 
 furnished for the use and couveuieuce of the employes of the service is strictly pro* 
 hibited. 
 
 Sec. 777. Employes must Examine Order-Book. — Employes must, im- 
 mediately previous to starting out upon each run, invariably examine all order- 
 books or orders left for their guitlance. 
 
 Sec. 778. Second Class and other Matter outside of Mail-Bags. — Mail matter 
 
 must under no consideration be carried outside of the regular mail-bags, except second- 
 class matter designed and marked for outside delivery, or matter the form of which 
 prevents it from being carried in the mail-1>ag. 
 
 Sec. 779. Reading Mail-Matter in Transit Forbidden.— Employes must 
 
172 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 not remove newspapers or periodicals in the mail from their wrappers, packages, or 
 bundles for the purpose of reading them. 
 
 Sec. 780. Case Exminations. — Case examinations of employes will be 
 
 had, from time to time, upon the official schemes of distribution furnished them, the 
 connection of trains as shown in the "schedule" of mail-trains, and such other instruc- 
 tions and orders as relate to the service. 
 
 Sec. 781. Examination of Employes on their Instructions. — Employes will 
 
 be examined as to their knowledge of the "Instructions to Employes of the Railway 
 Mail Service " at each case examination. The questions asked will be such as will 
 require an answer giving the substance of each section of the instructions, aud the 
 result of the examination will be reported to the Department. 
 
 Sec. 782. Probationary Appointees to be Examined Monthly. — All proba- 
 tionary appointees will be examined monthly during their probationary terra. These 
 examinations will consist of a knowledge of the instructions, the schemes of distri- 
 bution which may be furnished them, and railway connections at the various junc- 
 tions, as given in the schedule of mail-trains. The result of each examination will be 
 reported to the Department, and on the result of these examinations and their efficiency 
 in their work will depend their permanent appointment in the service. 
 
 Sec. 783. Employes on Night Lines. — The special attention of employes 
 
 on night lines is called to the following : When there is any mail to be distributed or 
 work to be done, every employ^ must be awake aud do his full share. 
 
 When the distribution is entirely finished and all of the work done, there is no 
 objection to a part of the crew going to sleep, but at least one emxiloye must always 
 be wide awake and on duty. 
 
 This i»recautiou is absolutely necessary for the proper protection of the registered 
 and other mail against accident, fire, or robbery, as well as for the personal safety of 
 the employ6s on duty. 
 
 Sec. 784. Securing Mail-Locks and Mail-Key. — Employes when on dnty 
 must always wear the mail-key securely attached to their clothing by the safety-chain. 
 Under no circumstances will employes on vacating their Offices leave mail-locks 
 therein. 
 
 Sec. 785. Notify Division Superintendent of Changes Needed in Offices. — 
 
 Employt^s should notify their Division Superintendent of any changes or alterations 
 needed in their cars, and must not go to the railroad company with any requests or 
 suggestions as to what alterations or changes they think should be made. 
 
 Sec. 786. Employes must Assist Special Agents, — In all cases Special 
 
 Agents of the Post-Office Department, presenting proper credentials, must be given 
 any assistance or facility they may ask, and in no case must the fact of a Special 
 Agent being on the train be communicated by one employ^ to another. No excuse 
 will be taken for any violation of this section. 
 
 Sec. 787. Presence of Special Agents not to be Reported. — Xo entry 
 
 should be ma<le in the attendance book of the fact that any Special Agent has ridden 
 in the Office. 
 
 Sec. 788. Accidents to Mail-Trains to be Reported. — When any accident 
 
 occurs to any mail-train, the eniploy6 in charge of the mail will at once make a full 
 report of the same to his Division Superintendent. This is in addition to notation on 
 trip report. 
 
 Sec. 789. Hooks Prohibited in Handling Mail-Bags. — The use of hooks in 
 
 handling mail-bags is forbidden. 
 
 Sec. 790. Courtesy to Public Enjoined. — Employes mnst observe, in their 
 
 official intercourse witli the publii; and with each other, the strictest courtesy ; and 
 must endeav(u', by active aud intelligent elfort, to promote the positive interest of the 
 service and of the ]iublic. 
 
TITLE IV THE RAILWAY MAIL SERVICE. 173 
 
 Sec. 791. Delivery of Mails at Catch-Stations. — At catch-stations, wliere 
 
 oiaiu's art' «Tectt'il for the oxchaii^ic of iii.iil.s witliotit slackinj]: the. HjM'ed of trains, the 
 lioiich niiist never l»e kicked oft", l»nt mii«t be thrown oft" by hand to a distance of at 
 h'ast t»>n feet from the traik, so as to prevent the ])on(h from bein;^ <ha\vn under the 
 train. 
 
 Sec. 792. Rules of Railway Companies Observe! — The riiU's and ren^uhi- 
 
 tions.iif the railway eompanies, not in lontlict with tlieso instructions, must be re- 
 spected and obeyed. 
 
 Sec. 793. Ignorance of Rules no Excuse for Violations. — Ij:jiiorance of the 
 
 f(n-ejjoinji instructions will not be consi(h'red au excuse for the violation of the same, 
 and the violation thereof will be considered a sufficient cause for inunediate removal. 
 
 CHAPTER THREE. 
 
 LOCAL AGENTS AND THEIR DUTIES. 
 
 Sec. Sec. 
 
 794. Local agents under supei-risiou of superin- 800. Examinations of local mail agents. 
 
 tendcnt railway mail service only. , 801. Anivals ami departuru.s must be recorded. 
 
 795. Transfer and delivery of mails. 
 
 796. Vigilance in guarding mails. 
 
 797. Super%"ision of messenger service. 
 
 798. Cliecking mails in transit. 
 
 799. Daily report .s. 
 
 b02. Handling registered matter. 
 
 803. Absence. 
 
 804. Courtesy ei^joined. 
 
 805. Local agents governed by general in.strnctions 
 
 to employes. 
 
 Sec. 794. Local Agents under Supervision of Supt. R. M. S. only. — Local 
 ajients are entirely nnder the supervision of the Superintendent of Railway Mail 
 Service of the I)i\-ision in which the point at which they .are stationed is located, and 
 will look to him only for all instructions. DiA'ision Superintendents will keep a record 
 of all errors in forwarding mail made by local agents in the same manner as that of 
 errors made by employes is kept. They will send to each local agent in their division 
 a slip such as is sent to other employds, stating the errors which the local agent has 
 made in forwarding the mail from the point at which he is stationed. 
 
 Sec. 795. Transfer and Delivery of Mails. — Local agents are required to 
 
 superintend and assist in the transfer and delivery of all mails at the points where 
 they are stationed, as far as possible; to inform themselves thoroughly in relation to 
 the routes over which mails shonld pass that are transferred at that ])oint, and of 
 designations of routes and mails generally, in order that they may be able, in cashes 
 Avhere mails are misseut or incorrectly put oft', to dispatch them by the proper trains; 
 to keep themselves correctly informed of the hours of aiTival and departure of all 
 ti-ains upon which m.ails are carried, and to notify the Division Superintendent of 
 Railway Mail Service, in writing, of any change of schedule whereby railroad connec- 
 tions may bo made or missed, to the end that the quickest possible dispatch of mails 
 may be secured. 
 
 Sec. 796. Vigilance in Guarding Mails. — Local agents are expected to use 
 
 extraordinary vigilance in guarding the mails under their charge, which mn.st not be 
 left for a moment exposed, day or night, and especially in making transfers wheie 
 there is <a considerable portage between trains; they should accompany the mails iipon 
 the wagon in all cases pos-sible, where there is no authorized employe in charge of 
 the same, and sit in such position at all times as to be able to instantly detect the 
 loss of a pouch or sack. Frequent losses have been occasioned by a disregard of this 
 latter requirement. 
 
 Sec. 797. Supervision of Messenger Service. — Local agents will report to 
 
 their Division Superintendents every irregularity in the messenger service at their 
 stations which may come to their knowledge. 
 
174 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 Sec. 798. Checking Mails in Transit. — Special effort should be made to 
 
 check off all mail-bags iu trauslt so that it may be kuown with certainty, both at the 
 time aad at any subsequent period, exactly what mails are transferred at the station; 
 and it is hoped that an actual notation of this at the time of the transfer can be 
 made to advantage by having lists prepared in convenient form of all the mails to be 
 transferred, with columns on either side in which a check mark opjjosite each name 
 of a sack or pouch will be all the record that need be taken at the actual time of mak- 
 ing the transfer ; this to be afterward entered in the permanent book of record. 
 
 Sec. 799. Daily Reports. — Local agents should keep a daily record of the 
 arrival and departure of mails, mail-trains, and mail-wagons at their stations, and 
 hiake a daily report to the Superintendent of Railway Mail Service for the Division 
 in which their station is situated of all failures of railroads to make their regular mail 
 connections, of all irregularities in the transnnssion of the mails, and in the service 
 by mail wagon. A daily report regarding each of these features should be made 
 whether there is a failure or not. 
 
 Sec. 800, Examinations of Local Agents. — Examinations will be made 
 
 of local agents from time to time: First of all, concerning their knowledge of the cur- 
 rent titles and numbers of trains arriving at and departing from their stations ; the 
 mails to be transferred and the arrival of mail-trains ; subsequently, when deemed de- 
 sirable, concerning distribution and other information more pai-ticularly applicable 
 to emploj'^s on duty on the routes. It should also be noted whether they are thor- 
 oughly informed as to the correct terminal titles of routes concerning which they 
 ought to be conversant. 
 
 Sec. 801. Arrivals and Departures must be Recorded. — A record of arriv- 
 als and departures must be kept at each local mail agency, iu which each local 
 mail-agent and assistant will sign his exact time of going on duty and leaving duty 
 at station each day. At the end of each mouth this record will be sent to the Division 
 Superintendent for inspection. 
 
 Sec. 802. Handling Registered Matter.— In special cases local agents 
 
 may be required to receipt for, transfer, and deliver registered packages ; in which 
 case the registers must be entered iu a book of record, which will be furnished for 
 that purpose, and a receipt obtained from the postmaster, or employ^ to whom the 
 packages are delivered. Local agents are positively prohibited from transferring reg- 
 istered matter except as above ipstructed. 
 
 Sec. 803. Absence. — Each local agent is forbidden to absent himself 
 
 from duty, or to exchange duties with other employees in other branches of the service, 
 or to employ and transfer his duties to a substitute without written permission from 
 the Superintendcut Railway Mail Service for his Division, and when such leave is 
 granted, he will be required to furnish a suitable and competent substitute (who must 
 be sWorn), at his own expense, to perform his duties during his absence, such arrangc- 
 meut to be evidenced by memorandttm in Avriting, signed by all the parties concerned, 
 and to be filed with the Division Superintendent. But no local agent shall be absent 
 for a period aggregating more than sixty days iu any one year (computing from Janu- 
 ary first), nor more than thirty consecutive days, Avithout 8i)ecial authority from the 
 Department. 
 
 Se ■ sections 502, .50."5. Instructions to Paying Postmasters. 
 
 Sec. 804. Courtesy Enjoined. — It is especially enjoined upon all local 
 
 agents to observe iu their otticial iutercourae AVith the public .and railroad orticials or 
 employ<58 the strictest courtesy, and endeavor by active and intelligent efi'ort to pro- 
 mote the positive interest of the service and the i>ublic. 
 
 Sec. 805. Local Agents Governed by General Instructions to Employes. — 
 
 In addition to tliese special instructions to local mail-agents, they will also be governed 
 by the general instructions to employ«58 of the railway mail service when applicable. 
 
TITLE V. 
 
 THE REGISTKY SYSTEM OF THE UNITED 
 
 STATES. 
 
 CHAPTER ONE. 
 
 RECEIVING, TRANSMITTING, AND DELIVERING REGISTERED DO- 
 MESTIC MAIL-MATTER. 
 
 Sec. .See. 
 
 806. Registry system authorized. 837. 
 
 807. Object of the registry Sy.steni. 
 
 808. Means einiiKiyrd to attain safety. 838. 
 
 809. Postnia.sters' duty to encourage registration. 
 
 810. What mail-matter can be registered. 839. 
 
 811. No registration on Sunday. 
 
 812. Limit of fee for registration. Ko fee on offl' 840. 
 
 cial matter. 
 613. Registration fee. 841. 
 
 814. Rules for sender of registered letters. 842. 
 
 815. Rules for sender of third and fourth class 
 
 matter. 843. 
 
 816. Postmasters must not address and seal let- 
 
 ters. 844. 
 
 817. Registry of letters containing currency for i 
 
 redemption. ' 845. 
 
 818. Special instructions for registering cur- | 846. 
 
 reucy. j 
 
 819. Receiving mail-matter for registration. } 847. 
 
 820. Numbering registered matter and registered ' 848. 
 
 paclcage envelopes. ! 849. 
 
 821. Matter becomes registered after a receipt is 
 
 given therefor. 850. 
 
 822. Cancellation of stamps, registry-mark, and 
 
 postmark. 861. 
 
 823. Regi.st^red matter to be kept secure. 
 
 824. Receipt to be taken upon delivery of regis- | 852. 
 
 tered matter. 
 
 825. Tlie registry-return-receipt. 853. 
 
 826. The registry-bill. 
 
 827. Registered-package-envelopes. 854. 
 
 828. Preparing registered matter for dispatch, 855. 
 
 829. Matter too large to go in registered-package- 
 
 envelope. 856. 
 
 830. Registered-package-receipt. 
 
 831. Dispatching a registered package. 857. 
 
 832. Registered matter not to be tied with oi'dinaiy 
 
 mail-matter. 858. 
 
 833. Mail-messengers and mail-carriers not to 
 
 handle registered matter. 859. 
 
 834. Certifying to proper dispatch of registered 
 
 matter. 860. 
 
 835. Sending registered matter to an office from 861. 
 
 a distant post-office. 
 
 836. Never send registered matter direct over rail- 862. 
 
 ■way mail-routes. i 
 
 Postmasters receiving registered packages 
 
 for their poet-offices. 
 Postmasters receiving registered packages in 
 
 transit. 
 Recording registered packages in transit and 
 
 returning receipts. 
 Continuous examination, record, and sj"eteni 
 
 of receipts. 
 Record-of-registered-matter-in-transit. 
 When registered packages should go in way 
 
 pouches. 
 Registered packages must be sent by the 
 
 most secure I'oute. 
 Postmasters must observe the registry 
 
 sehemesi 
 Indorsing registered packages. 
 Checking returns of package receipts and 
 
 bills. 
 J'ailure to return regist^red-package-recelpt. 
 I'nilure to return registry-bill. 
 Circular of inquiry returned indorsed "Not 
 
 received." 
 Mi8<iirected registered packages in transit 
 
 not to be opened. 
 Misdirected registered postage-stamp pack- 
 ages, etc. 
 Registered packages found in bad order or 
 
 damaged in ti-ansit. 
 Postmasters to receive registered matter 
 
 from employes. 
 Registry rules uniform for all. 
 Registered postage-stamp packages damaged 
 
 in transit. 
 Receiving registered matter at post-office for 
 
 delivery. 
 Omissions on registry-bill and receipt to be 
 
 supplied. 
 Failure to send registry-bill or return-registry 
 
 receipt. 
 Treatment of registered letters aniving in 
 
 bad order. 
 
 Registered letters found unsealed. 
 No charge to be made on the delivery of reg- 
 istered matter. 
 Report when stamps do not cover postage and 
 fee. 
 
 176 
 
176 
 
 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 Sec. 
 
 863. llegistry-notices to be sent. 
 
 864. A box-liolder to be notified when registered 
 
 matter arrives. 
 
 865. Delivery of registered letter or parcel. 
 
 866. Delivery of regi.stered matter by carriers. 
 
 867. Name of carrier delivering registered matter 
 
 must appear. 
 
 868. Utmost care required in delivery. 
 
 869. Responsibility for wrong delivery. 
 
 870. Proper signature required. 
 
 871. Registry-return-receipt to be remailed to the 
 
 sender. 
 
 872. Ko postage required on registry-bills and re- 
 
 gistry-retum-recei])ts. 
 
 873. Registered matter received for delivery to 
 
 insane or dead i)ersons. 
 
 874. Attaclinii-nt of registered letters. 
 
 875. rrauduleut registered letters may be re- 
 
 turned. 
 
 876. Undelivered regi.stered matter to be returned 
 
 to mailing post-office. 
 
 877. Refused registered letters or parcels. 
 
 878. Original record to show return of a letter or 
 
 parcel. 
 
 879. "When returned registered matter cannot be 
 
 delivered to sender. 
 
 880. Sending registered lettera or parcels to the 
 
 Dead-Letter Office. 
 
 Sec. 
 881. 
 
 884. 
 885. 
 
 890. 
 891. 
 
 892. 
 893. 
 894. 
 895. 
 
 897. 
 
 Forwarding registered letters or parcels. 
 
 Missent registered letters or parcels re- 
 ceived. 
 
 "Writer cannot control registered letter after 
 dispatch. 
 
 Response to inquiries. 
 
 Tracers for stamp, envelope, or postal-card 
 pacliages. 
 
 Treatment of registered matter found among 
 ordinary mail-matter. 
 
 Report to the Chief Special Agent lost or 
 missing registered matter. 
 
 Quarteiiy reports to Third Assistant Post- 
 master-General. 
 
 No entry in account-current of fees or postage 
 on registered matter. 
 
 Accounts of registered matter. 
 
 Disposition of registered-package-envelopes 
 which have been used. 
 
 Blanks used in registration. 
 
 Envelopes used in registry business. 
 
 Registry supplies to be kept up. 
 
 Postmasters to take special interest in success 
 of registry system. 
 
 Postmasters not to reprimand other postmas- 
 ters. 
 
 Postmasters in doubt as to their duty. 
 
 Sec. 806. Registry System Authorized. — For the greater security of val- 
 uable mail-matter, the Postmaster-General may establish a uniform sys- 
 tem of registration. But the Post-Office Department or its revenue 
 shall not be liable for the loss of any mail-matter on account of its having 
 been registered. (K. S., § 392G.) 
 
 Sec. 807. Object of the Registry System. — The registry system is intended 
 to secure to valuable mail-matter iu its transmission tliroiigli tlie mails tlie utmo-st se- 
 curity witliin tlie proviuce of the Post-Office Department. 
 
 Sec. 808. Means Employed to Attain Safety. — The manner in which se- 
 curity over ordinary mail-matter is obtained is by tlie use of a distinctive cover, reten- 
 tion iu special custody, systematic receipts and records showing any transfer from 
 receipt until delivery, affording a continuous trace from tlio sender in its course 
 through tlie mails uutil its delivery into the hands of the addressee. 
 
 Sec. 809. Postmaster's Duty to Encourage Registration. — Postmasters are 
 
 obliged to register all mailable matter offered for registration, and should advise the 
 public to register valuable mail-matter, so as to enable the Post-Office Department 
 to keep it under this strict supervision, which cauuot be given to the transmission of 
 ordinary mail niat^ter. 
 
 Sec. 810. What Mail-Matter can be Registered. — First-class matter, or 
 
 matter on \\Jiicli letter rates of postage has been paid, which matter must always be 
 sealed. Third-class matter and fourth-class matter, unsealed, fully piejiaid at the 
 proper rates and eouforming to all re(iuirements. No matter excluded by law from the 
 mails can be registered. See Title II, Chajiter Three. 
 
 Sec. 811. No Registration on Sunday. — Postmasters arc not rcquia'cd to 
 
 receive letters or otlier matter for registration on Suixlaysor h'gal holidays. 
 
 Sec. 812. Limit of Fee for Registration. — No Fee on Official Matter. — 
 INIail-matter shall be registered only ou the application of the party 
 l>osting the same, and the fee therefor shall not exceed twenty cents 
 
TITLE V THE REGISTRY SYSTEM. 177 
 
 ill addition to the regular pontage, to be, in all cases, prepaid; and 
 all sncli fees sliall be aeeounted for in such manner as the I*ostiiiaster- 
 General sliall dnect. But letters ujion the otlicial business of tin; I'ost- 
 Office l)ei)artiiient which require registering shall be registered free of 
 charge and pass through the mails free of charge. (R. S., § 31)27.) 
 Sec. 813. Registration Fee. — The fee on any registered matter, domestic 
 
 or foreijfii, is t'lxvd at ten ct'utH on each letter or parcel, to 1)0 affixed in stamps, in 
 addition to the jiostage. Two or more lettt^rs or parcels addressed to, or intended for, 
 the same jicrson cannot l)e tied or otherwise fastened t<);:;ether and rej^istered as one. 
 
 Sec. 814. Rules for Sender of Registered Letters. — l*ostmasters before 
 
 receiving a letter for registration ninst re<inire the sender to have it fnlly and legihly 
 addres.seil ; to have his or her name and address indorsed across the end ; to ha\ e 
 placed all its contents in a firmly sealed envelope; and affixed the necessary stamps 
 
 to j)ay i>ostag<^ and fee. 
 
 Sec. 815. Rules for Sender of Third and Fourth Class Matter. — Postmasters 
 
 before receiving third and fonrth class matter for registration mnst recjnire fnll ad- 
 dress, indorsement, and prepayment of fee and postage, as stated in preceding section, 
 and fnrther retinire that such matter shall be marked Third class or Fouutii class, 
 as the case may be, and shall be so put up as to safely bear transportation, and admit 
 of an examination of contents, to ascertain that it is admissible to the mails a-s such 
 matter. See sections 223, 237, and 238. 
 
 Sec. 816. Postmasters must not Address and Seal Letters. — Postmasters 
 
 and their employes are forbidden to address a registered letter for the sender, to place 
 contents in letter, or to seal the letter, or to affix the stamps. This must, in all cases, be 
 done by the sender, as required in section 814. No inquiry must be made fnrther than to 
 ascertain that the matter is mailable, and no statement can appear on the receipt as 
 to the contents of any registered letter, except letters containing currency, registered 
 under the following section: 
 
 Sec. 817. Registry of Letters Containing Currency for Redemption. — Under 
 such regulations as the Postmaster-General may prescribe, all i>ost- 
 masters are authorized to register in the manner prescribed* by law, but 
 without payment of any registration fee, all letters containing fractional 
 or other currency of the United States, which shall be by them sent by 
 mail to the Treasurer of the United States for redemption; and the post- 
 master at the city of Washington, in the District of Columbia, shall reg- 
 ister, in like manner, without charge, all letters containing new currency 
 returned for ciuTcncy redeemed, which shall be received by him from the 
 Treasurer, in sealed packages, marked with the word "register" over 
 the official signature of the said Treasurer. (II. S., § 3932.) 
 
 Sec. 818. Special Instructions for Registering Currency. — Whenever letters 
 
 containing currency for redemption are oHered for registration, postmasters will be 
 governed by the following instructions: 
 
 First. They must require the contents of every such letter to be exhibited to them, 
 with a descriptive list of contents, giving an accurate and detailed description of the 
 money to be remitted. In case of fractional currency, the number and denomination 
 of pieces will be sufficient; but of currency of the denomination of one dollar and 
 upward, the letter, number of series, and date of each note, as well as the dejiomina- 
 tion, mnst be given. 
 
 Second. The list must be carefully examined and compared with the nn>ney to be 
 remitted, and when found to be correct will be filed in the office, to be subject at all 
 times to the iusi>ectiou of proper agents of the Post-Office Department. 
 12 P L 
 
178 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 Third. The money must then be iuclosed aud the letter sealed iu the presence of the 
 postmaster, who will then give the iisual registry-receipt therefor. 
 
 Fourth. The letter must then he disposed of in the manner provided for other regis- 
 tered letters ; but, for the sake of further security, the postmaster must be ready to 
 prove beyond question in eveiy case, by a disinterested witness, that such letter was 
 duly mailed in the mode prescribed for registered letters ; otherwise, should the letter 
 or package be lost, he will be held responsible therefor. 
 
 Sec. 819. Receiving Mail-Matter for Registration. — When a letter or parcel 
 as presented for registration the postmaster will first examine it to see that the sender 
 has complied with requirements of sections 814 and Slf), and, if such be the case, he 
 Avill then enter on the book of registration the name and address of sender, address 
 and destination of letter or parcel, registered number aud date of mailing, filling out 
 alike the stub of the book and registry receipt. He will number the letter or parcel 
 to correspond with number on stub and registry receipt, sign the receipt, separate it 
 from the stub, aud give it to the sender. 
 
 NOTK. — Postmasters will erase the word Letter or Parcel on receipt and stub, so 
 I that it will read according to the character of article registered. 
 
 Sec. 820. Number Registered Matter and Registered-Package Envelopes. — 
 
 The registration-book must be commenced each quarter with No. 1, aud continued 
 consecutively through the quarter, and the letters or parcels registered correspond- 
 ingly numbered. Registered-package envelopes are also to be numbered consecutively, 
 • commencing each quarter with No. 1. 
 
 Sec. 821. Matter becomes Registered after a Receipt is given Therefor. — 
 After a receipt has been given therefor, and the matter has been numbered as pre- 
 scribed in the preceding sections, the letter or parcel becomes a registered letter or 
 parcel, aud must be guarded with the utmost care, and kept separate from ordinary 
 mail-matter. 
 
 Sec. 822. Cancellation of Stamps, Registry-Mark, and Postmark. — All 
 stami)s on registered matter will be effectually canceled, aud the letter or parcel marked 
 plainly Registered, and plainly postmarked. 
 
 Sec. 823. Registered Matter to be kept Secure. — All registered matter 
 
 .must be kept separate from ordinary matter, and iu that part of the post-office most 
 secure from accident or theft, and to which no access can be had by any one unau- 
 thorized by the postmaster, who must account for all registered matter coming into 
 his post-office. 
 
 Sec. 824. Receipt to be Taken upon Delivery of Registered Matter. — A 
 ■receipt shall be taken upon the delivery of any registered mail -matter, 
 showing to whom and when the same was delivered, which shall be 
 returned to the sender, and be received in the courts na prima-facie evi- 
 dence of such dehvery. (E. S., § 3928.} 
 
 Sec. 825. The Registry-Return-Receipt. — A registry-return-receipt of the 
 new card form must l>e filled out for each domestic letter or parcel {i. c, addressed to 
 any post-office iu the United States or Territories). The registry-return-receipt must 
 on its face have written the name of sender, street and number, or post-office box, 
 name of post-office, county, and State (the space for stamp of post-office is reserved for 
 post-office of delivery). On the other side enter date of mailing, registry number, 
 mailing ])ost-office aud State, and address of the registered letter or parcel. 
 
 Sec. 826. The Registry-Bill. — A registry-bill, of the new card form, must 
 
 be prepared to accompany the registeriid letter or parcel, whi(-h bill must, on its face, 
 be filled out with the name of the mailing post-office, county, aud State (the place for 
 «tamp is reserved for })()8t-ofilice of destination) ; on the other side, in the heading, 
 the date of mailing, mailing post-office, jjost-office of destination, county, and State, 
 numb(ir of registered-package envelope in which it is to be inclosed, aud in proper 
 columns in body of bill the registry number of letter or parcel, class, whether first, 
 
TITLE V — Tin: REGISTRY SYSTEM. 17!) 
 
 third, or fourth, namo of luldreasee, and the lull luiist bn Miyiied by tlic postmaster (»u 
 the h>wer h'ft corner. 
 
 NoTi;. — The above section mentions only one letter or parcel, but it is not intended 
 that postmasters shall nse a separate bill for each letter or parcel sent by one mail to 
 the same itost-ofhee ; all doniestie rej^istered letters or jiarcels for the same ])ost-ot)ice 
 are to bo entered on one bill and inclosed in one ie<^istered-]iackaj^e envelope when 
 practicable. When this cannot bo done, a separate registry bill must be made out for 
 the contents of each registered-i>ackage envelope. Special bills in aheet form (old 
 style) may be ns<>d by large ])ost-otTice8 when necessary. 
 
 Sec. 827. Registered-Package Envelope. — A registered-package envelope 
 
 is to be used for no otiier purpose than covering rcgisterefl mail-matter in its trans- 
 mission from the receiving post-ot^ice to post-otlftce of delivery. They nnist securely 
 cover the registered matter they convey, be plainly addressed to post-otKce of destina- 
 tion, connty, and State, be distinctly numbered, and legibly postmarked with the 
 postmark of the mailing post-oftice and date fif mailing. 
 
 Sec. 828. Preparing Registered Matter for Dispatch. — The registered letter 
 
 or i)arcel with registry-bill and registry -return-receipt must be placed together in a 
 registered-package envelope, addressed to the same post-of^ce as the letter or parcel. 
 The registered-package envelope must then be firmly sealed. 
 
 Sec. 829. Matter too Large to go in Registered-Package Envelopes. — When 
 
 a registered letter or parcel too large to place inside of a registered-package envelope is 
 received, it mnst,togetherwith the registry-bill andregistry-retnrn-receii>t, be wrapped, 
 and a registered-package envelope, cut open so as to exiiose address and record of 
 transit, be securely tied thereon, or be gunnned or sealed to the wrapped package so 
 that it cannot be detached or the contents interfered with. 
 Sec. 830. Registered-Package Receipt. — After a registered package has 
 
 been made u}) for dispatch, a registered-package receipt must be tilled out Avith 
 name of mailing post-oftice, date of mailing, number and address of registered package. 
 This registry -receipt is to be signed and returned without delay by the postmaster or 
 employd of the Railway Mail Service who next receives the registered i^ackage after it 
 leaves the mailing postmaster. 
 
 Sec. 831. Dispatching a Registered Package. — If a registered package is 
 
 to be delivered direct to an employ^ of the Railway Mail Service for transmission, the 
 postmaster will hand to him the package and obtain his signature on the jiackage 
 receipt, ^\^lere a registered package cannot be delivered direct, as above, it must be 
 deposited iu the mail-pouch, never in a newspaper or tie sack, the package receipt 
 being placed in the letter jiackage which is to be first distributed by the employe re- 
 ceiving the same. The i)ouch must be locked, and the lock must be tried to ascertain 
 if it has been securely fastened. 
 
 Sec. 832. Registered Matter not to be Tied with Ordinary MaU-Matter. — 
 Postmasters must not wrap or tie registered packages with any ordinary mail-matter, 
 but should place them separately in the mail-pouch, so that their presence can be 
 observed at once by the jierson opening the pouch. 
 
 Sec. 833. Mail-Carriers not to Handle Registered-Matter. — Under no 
 circumstances can a registered package be intrusted to a mail-carrier or a mail- 
 messenger outside of the locked pouch, nor should the pouch be intrusted to any but 
 a sworn officer or employd of the Department. 
 
 Sec. 834. Certifying to Proper Dispatch of Registered Matter. — The post- 
 master, his deputy, or a duly-qualitied clerk must be prepared at any time to make 
 affidavit that any particular registered package was either given to an emi)loy(5 of the 
 railway mail service or left the post-office in a pouch properly locked and labeled, and 
 was forwarded by the proper route ; and in all cases where practicable two persons 
 should be present at the mailing of a registered package, and be prepared to testify as 
 above, in case it should be required. 
 
180 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 Sec. 835. Sending Registered Matter to an Office from Distant Post-Offices. — 
 
 "Wiieu a registered package that is to pass iuto au Otiice is to be sent froiu a post-office 
 located on a route at any distance from the railway or steamboat line, the postmaster 
 must so pouch the package that it will be received and receipted for by the postmaster 
 at a post-office connecting with the Office. If the sending postmaster makes up a di- 
 rect pouch to the Office and another to the connecting post-office the registered pack- 
 ages must not be placed in the pouch for the Office, if the pouch passes through any 
 other post-office before reaching the Office. 
 
 Sec. 836. Never send Registered Matter Direct over Railway Mail Routes. — 
 lu no case must a postmaster dispatch a registered i)ackage in a direct pouch over a 
 route upon which there is railway mail service. Registered matter on such routes 
 must be held for the Office and pouched or delivered to the employ^ in charge, as the 
 safety of registered matter must be considered before celerity in its dispatch. If the 
 dispatching post-office is not on a railroad or steamboat line the requirements of the 
 preceding section must be observed. 
 
 Sec. 837. Receiving Registered Packages in Pouches for a Post-Office. — 
 
 Postmasters opening a pouch and finding registered packages therein addressed to their 
 post-offices will sign the package receipts which they will find in the bundles of letters, 
 examine Ihe registered packages, and note the condition and date of arrival on the 
 package receipt, which they will return hy first mail to the sending postmaster or em- 
 ])loye of the railway mail service. 
 
 Sec. 838. Postmasters Receiving Registered Packages in Transit. — If a 
 
 registered package received in a way-pouch is addressed to a post-office beyond his 
 own on the same route, the postmaster will sign the accompanying registered-package- 
 receipt and fill up another package-receipt, inserting the name of his post-office, and, 
 after indorsing the package, replace it in the ponch with the package-receii»t placed 
 in the bundle of letters for the next post-office on the route. 
 
 Sec. 839. Recording Packages in Transit and Returning Receipts. — From 
 
 the package-receipt he received with a transit package the postmaster must make the 
 proper entry in the record-of-registered-matter-in-transit, and then return the receipt 
 
 by first mail to the Office or post-office whence it came. 
 
 Sec. 840. Continuous Examination, Record and System of Receipts. — The 
 
 process of examination, indorsement, record, filling out package-receii)ts anew and 
 depositing in pouch, must be repeated by every postmaster opening the pouch until 
 it reaches its destination. 
 
 Sec. 841. Record-of-Registered-Matter-in-Transit. — Postmasters at all post- 
 offices where jjouches containing mail-matter for other i^ost-offices are opened must 
 make on the record-of-registered-matter-in-transit a full statement (as per heading 
 of columns) of every registered package, registered postal-card package, registered 
 staniped-envelope package, registered postage-stamp package, or through-registered- 
 pouch passing through their post-offices, showing particulars of arrival and disposal 
 of each such package or pouch. They must at all times be prepared to make prompt 
 rei)ly to any inquiry from a Special Agent or ijostmaster concerning sucli registered 
 packages or pouches. The registered packages are so conspicuous that their preseiu-e 
 among the contents of any mail-pouch cannot fail to be observed, and an omission 
 to make record of them will not be excused. This record of transit must be carefully 
 preserved in good order aud be at all times open to the inspection of Special Agents 
 of Ihe Post-Olliie ])e].iii1iiieiit. 
 
 Sec. 842. When Registered Packages should go in Way-Pouches. — AM i ore 
 
 tlirough-pouches and way-pouelies are sent over routes on which there is no railway 
 mail service, the registered packages must be sent in the way-pouches, and not in Ihe 
 through-pouches, except when the through-pimches are sent under brass locks and 
 special instru('tions given to forward registered mail iu the same. 
 
 Sec. 843. Registered Packages must be Sent by the most Secure Route. — 
 
 Postmasters must dispatch legistered packages by the most secure route, and eu- 
 
TITLE V THE REGISTRY SYSTEM. 1^1 
 
 (Icavor, oaprcially wlicii tlioy liavo to bo HiMit loii;^ distances, toliavc thom roacli a rail- 
 way Odice or tliron^ih-ro^istercd-jxnuli-DlTicc as soon as jiossililc, oven thouf^h such 
 ip<i;istcrf(l packaj^t's traviTso a lonj^cr distanco to (Icstination than that taken hy ordi- 
 nary niaii-inattor; it bcinfjj (h'sirahlc that n^jjjistfrcd matter slioiild ]n; in tlic hands of 
 rosi>()Msil)hi agents of tho servicer, as far as practicabh; avoidinj^ th(^ (>xposnre and 
 handlinf; n»M;essitated by the frequent openinij of ])oii(lies at way postotBces. For 
 list of throiiyh-ro<iistered-i)oufh-oiTice8 see the latest Oftieial l*(tstal Guide. 
 
 Sec. 844. Postmasters must Observe the Registry Schemes. — When regis- 
 try sehenii's and schedules of routes and times for the dispatch of rofjistered matter 
 are furnished to postmasters by tho General Superintendent or Division Superintendent 
 of Railway Mail Service, they will comply with such schemes and schedules until otlier- 
 Avise diriH'ted by the General Superintendent of Railway Mail Service, or by the Division 
 Su]>erintendent. 
 
 Sac. 845. Indorsing Registered Packages. — When a postmaster or rail- 
 way-mail employ(^ signs a receipt for a registered i)ackage, he will carefully examine 
 the package, and indorse thereon in the spaces provided therefor a statement of its 
 condition, the date of its receipt, the name of his post-otlice or Otlice and his signa- 
 ture; also indorse statement of condition on package-receipt. 
 
 Sac. 848. Checking Return of Package Receipts and Bills. — On tlie return 
 
 of a registered-package receipt and registry-bill, the postmaster will note the date on 
 the stub of the registration-book and tile them for futni-e reference. 
 
 Sec. 847. Failure to Return Registered-Package Receipt. — In case a regis- 
 
 tered-i>.ackagc receipt is not promptly returned 1)y the postmaster, or employ^ of the 
 railway mail service, to whom it was sent with thep.ackage, the postmaster who sent 
 it must fill out a duplicate, noting date of such duplicate on registration-book. Failure 
 of duplicate to return in due season must be reported to Third Assistant Postmaster- 
 General. 
 
 Sec. 848. Failure to Return Registry Bill. — In case the registry bill fails 
 
 to come back to the mailing jiost-ofidce in reasonable time, a Circular of inquiry for regis- 
 tered matter, giving particulars of the package and its contents, must be sent to the 
 post-otJice to which tho registered package w' as addressed. 
 
 Sec. 849. Circular of Inquiry Returned Indorsed "Not Received." — If the 
 
 circuLar of inquiry is returned stating the registered jiackagc has not reached its des- 
 tination, a full report of the case must be made to the Chief Special Agent Post-Otiice 
 Department, Washington, D. C, for investigation, and, in addition, to such Special 
 -Agents for certain States and Territories as may be designated by the Chief Special 
 
 Agent. 
 
 Seo. 85D. Misdirected Registered Packages in Transit not to be Opened. — 
 
 Misdirected registered packages, except those mentioned in next section, must be re- 
 turned to the mailing post-office for better directions. The postmaster detecting the 
 error must indorse it "RETt^RXKO Fou better direction," place the misdirected reg- 
 'stered package under cover of a regularly numbered registered-package envelope, 
 duly postmarked and addressed to the mailing post-office, and sealed, making due note 
 of the fact on his record-of-registered-matter-in-transit. Registered packages in 
 transit or addressed to another post-office must not be opened. 
 
 Sec. 851. Misdirected Registered Postage-Stamp Packages, etc. — Post- 
 masters at through-registered-pouch-offices, or separating post-offices, on receiving a 
 registered package of stamps, envelopes, or postal cards bearing an incorrect or im- 
 perfect address, should hold the pack.age and at once uotify the Third Assistant Post- 
 master-General, Stamp Division, giving the registered number, date of postmark, 
 and full address of the package, and aAvait instructions in regard to its disposal. 
 
 Sec. 852. Registered Packages Found in Bad Order or Damaged in Transit. — 
 
 In case a registered package becomes damaged it must be placed in a new registere«l- 
 l)ackage envelope at the post-office where the injury occurs or is discovered; or, when 
 
182 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 damaged in the hands of an employ^ of the railway mail service, at the post-office 
 at the terminus of his route. The original registered-package envelope must not be 
 removed, but, before it is inclosed in the new one, it must be indorsed with a state- 
 ment of its exact condition, signed by the postmaster or railway -mail employe from 
 whom received. The new registered-package envelope must bear the address, reg- 
 istry number, and name of the post-office of origin, and also the postmark of the post- 
 office at which the package is re-enveloped. The fact of reinclosure must be noted on 
 the Record-of-registered-matter-in-transit. Employes of the railway mail service find- 
 ing in their Offices registered packages in bad order or damaged must deliver them 
 to the postmaster at the terminal post-office for treatment as prescribed in this sec- 
 tion. See section 85.5. 
 
 Sec. 853. Postmasters to Receive Registered Matter from Employes. — Post- 
 masters at tenninal post-Offices of routes ou which there is railway mail service must at 
 all times be jirepared to receive and properly receipt for registered packages brought 
 to their post-offices by euiplo s of the railway mail service. No delay of trains or un- 
 reasonable hours of arrival will authorize a deviation from this regulation. 
 
 Sec. 854. Rules for Registered Packages Uniform for all Classes. — The rules 
 given for the treatment of registered packages apply equally to registered postage-stamp 
 packages, postal-card packages, and stamped-envelope packages, except where special 
 rules are given for the treatment of such matter in certain contingencies. 
 
 Sec. 855. Registered Postage-Stamp Packages Damaged in Transit. — Eegis- 
 tered postage-stamp packages, registered postal-card packages, or registered stamped- 
 envelope packages which have been damaged in transit nmst be securely wrapped and 
 sealed by the postmaster discovering the damage, or at the ternunal post-office to which 
 such matter is delivered by railway-mail employes. After indorsing the package as 
 provided in section 852, the postmaster will attach to it a label, "Registered postage- 
 stamp package," "Registered postal-card package," or "Registered stamped-envelope 
 package," as the case may be, will mark the original address and registry number on 
 
 the wrapper, indorsed as follows: "Placed under cover at post-office. 
 
 , 18 — ." He will then enter the package iipon the record-of-registered-matter-in- 
 
 trausit, forward it to its destination as other registered matter, noting the fact of its 
 being damaged and placed under cover, and send a full report of the facts to the Third 
 Assistant Postmaster-General, Stamp Division. 
 
 Sec. 856. Receiving Registered Matter at a Post-Office for Delivery. — On the 
 
 arrival of a mail at any post-office the pouch must be opened only by the postmaster, his 
 depi;ty, or a sworn clerk. If a registered package a<ldressed to the postmaster is found 
 i n tin; pouch, the registered-package receij^t must be first returned, as recjuircd in section 
 857; the registered jiackage will be opened by cutting the end, and the addresses, etc., 
 of the registered letters or parcels contained therein compared with the entries on the 
 registry-bill. If these are found to cori'espond, the postmaster will examine the letters 
 or parcels as to their condition, postmark them ou the back, enter or the Record-of-regis- 
 tered-matter-received-and-delivered, date of arrival, the number and postmark of the 
 registeied package, and the number aiul addresses of the registered letters or parcels, 
 and attach the ieturn-reeeii)ts to the letters or parcels by bands or thrt^ad. The registry- 
 bill is then to be signed, postmarked ou the proper place, and rcmailed without cover. 
 Postmasters receiving registered-stamp packages, postal-card packages, or envelope, 
 packages, addi-esscd to tlu-ir post-offices, must enter such packages on Record-of-regis- 
 tered-matter rcceived-aml-dtOivercd, aii<l sign for them in delivery cidunui. 
 
 ■Sec. 857. Omissions on Registry-Bill and Return-Receipt to be Supplied. — 
 
 If the sen<ling jiostniaster has failed to properly fill up his registry-bill or registry- 
 return-reeeipt, the receiving; i>ostinaster must siii)i)ly the omission. Before returning 
 the registry-bill, he will not(^ any irreguhirity thereon over his signature. 
 
 Sec. 858. Failure to Send Registry-Bill or Registry-Return-Receipt. — If, on 
 
 opening a registered package, no bill is found, the receiving postmaster must fill out a 
 
TITLE V THE REGISTRY SYSTEM. 183 
 
 bill and iiulorsc it No iuli> ui'.ckivkd, sign it, luldri'ss it i)n)]»«'ily, i)Ostiiiaik it, and fm- 
 ward it without ouv*-!' to tlm mailing iiost-ollicc. If no ii'giMtry-ii'tnrn-nMtipt accoin- 
 panies a rcgisteifd lutter or parcel, tht) postmaster opening (he package innst lill one 
 out, attach it to the letter or parcel, and mail it to tin; sender whi-n signed. A report 
 of every such case must bo made to the Third Assistant rostniaster-(jieneral, in order 
 that the delinnuent postmaster may be specially advised. 
 
 Sec. 859. Treatment of Registered Letters Arriving in bad Order. — If, on 
 
 opening a registered package, a registered letter is found in bad order, the postmawter will 
 imlurse the letter, Rkceivkd ix bad order, and sign his name. He will then inclose the 
 letter iu an ordinary official envelope, seal the envelope, and address it to the person 
 to whom the registered letter is addressed, indorsing on the envelope, Havk this ex- 
 amined ON delivery, and make proper entry thereof, as required in section 85(5. Ou 
 delivery of this letter the addressee should be re(|uested to open the envelope in pres- 
 (iiiee of the postmaster, delivery-clerk, or letter-carrier, and if there should be any of 
 its original contents missing, the original envelope of the letter should be obtained 
 from the addressee, with his indorsement thereon as to the deticiency ; and this en- 
 velope, with the registered-package envelope, should be sent to the Chief Special Ageut 
 for investigation. 
 
 Sec. 860. Registered Letters found Unsealed. — If a rejj^isterecl letter arrive 
 
 unseal h1, the postmaster will indorse it Received unsealed, and sign his name. 
 He will tlien place it in an official envelope, and deliver it as directed iu the 
 preceding section, obtaining from the addressee the original enveloi)e of the letter, 
 with the indorsement of the addressee thereon, stating whether the contents are cor- 
 rect or incorrect. If the contents are found correct, a report must be made of the 
 case to the Third Assistant Postmaster-General, accompanied by the envelope. If 
 incorrect, the case should bo reported and the envelope of the letter and the registered- 
 package envelope sent to the Chief Special Agent. 
 
 Sec. 861. No Charge to be Made on the Delivery of Registered Matter. — The 
 
 law, section 612, requires full prepayment of registry fee and postage, which is to be affixed 
 by stamps to letter or parcel when presented for registration; postmasters, therefore, 
 receiving registered letters or parcels for delivery will deliver them to the addressee 
 even if the requisite amount of stamps to cover postage and fee are not affixed, tirst 
 examining them to see if the postmaster at the mailing post-office has performed his 
 duty in this resjiect, and noting any cases where it has been neglected. 
 
 Sec. 862. Report when Stamps do not cover Postage and Fee. — A report 
 
 of all ca.ses where the postage stamps ui)on registered matter do not cover the postage 
 and registration fee, showing number of letter or parcel, date of mailing, post-office of 
 origin, and amount of deticiency, must be made weekly to the Thinl Assistant I'ost- 
 master-General, that it may he recovered from the mailing postmaster who has 
 failed to comj)ly with the law. See section 81*^. 
 
 Sec. 863. Registry-Notices to be Sent. — On receii)t of a registered letter 
 
 or parcel at a post-office (not a free-delivery post-office), the postmaster must notify 
 the addressee of its arrival, using for that purpose a "Registry -notice," which notice 
 must be delivered to the addressee in the same manner as ordinary mail-matter. This 
 ''Registry-notice" may also be used at free-delivery post-offices for registered letter^ 
 or parcels too large to send out by carrier. 
 
 Sec, 864. A Box-Holder to be Notified when Registered Matter Arrives — Box- 
 holders must be advised of the arrival of a i-egistered letter or i)arcel addressed to 
 their boxes, by depositing in the boxes the proper notices, as provided in tl)e jueceding 
 section. 
 
 Sec. 865, Delivery of Registered Letter or Parcel. — Ou applioatioii for a 
 
 registered letter or parcel, the applicant proving to be the proi)er person to receive it, 
 the postmaster will require signature to be given on the record-of-registerod-matter- . 
 received-and-delivered ; also on the return-registry -receipt which accomi)anies the., 
 registered letter or parcel. 
 
184 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 Sec. 863. Delivery of Registered Matter by Carriers. — Postmasters at free 
 
 delivery post-offices must deliver through the carriers all registered letters and parcels 
 addressed to street aud number, requiring the carriers to receipt for such letters on 
 the record-of-registered matter-received-and-delivered or on a special receipt-hook. 
 The carriers must, on the delivery of any registered letter or jjarcel, require the person 
 receiving it to sign the return receipt, and also receipt in the book furnished for the 
 purpose. 
 
 Sec. 867. Name of Carrier Delivering Registered Matter must Appear. — Car- 
 riers' registry-delivery-books must show the name of the carrier who delivers each 
 registered letter or parcel. 
 
 Sec. 868. Utmost Care Required in Delivery. — Registered letters or parcels 
 
 must never be delivered to any person but the one to whom they are addressed, or on 
 the written order of addressee. Identification should be required when the applicant 
 is unknown, and written orders should be verified and placed on tile as vouchers. 
 
 Sec. 869. Responsibility for Wrong Delivery. — Postmasters will be held 
 
 responsible for the wrong delivery of any registered matter, aud must, therefore, take 
 the requisite measures to ascertain the proper person to receive it. 
 
 Sec. 870. Proper Signature Required. — AMien a person other than the ad- 
 dressee signs for a registered letter or parcel, the names of both addressee aud recip- 
 ient must appear on the receipts. 
 
 Sec. 871. Registry.Return-Receipt to be Remailed to the Sender. — As soou as 
 
 any registered matter has been delivered and the registry-return-receipt therefor has 
 been properly signed, the receipt must be postmarked with date of delivery (which is 
 also the mailing postmark), and sent by next mail, without cover of an envelope, to 
 the addi-ess of the sender which is written on the rogistry-return-receipt. 
 
 Sec. 872. No Postage on Registry-Bills and Registry-Return-Receipts. — 
 
 The registry-bills and registry -retiu'n-receipts, after signature, require no postage 
 thereon; they are to be simply postmarked aud mailed without delay. 
 
 Sec. 873. Registered Matter for Delivery to Insane or Dead Persons. — If, 
 
 on the r(!ceipt of a registered letter or y>arcel, the person addressed is dead, it may be 
 delivered to the legal representative of the deceased, who must be either the executor of 
 the •will or the administrator of the deceased, and who produces proof of the fact. In 
 some States the residuary legatee named in a will is allowed, on giving bonds for the 
 proper fulfillment and execution of its provisions, to become the executor. In any 
 such case such person is, upon presentation of the necessary proof, to bo considered 
 the legal representative of the deceased. Registered matter addressed to persons 
 who have been declared insane by competent authority should be ti-eated as above ; 
 but in the absence of any legal representative, all such domestic registered matter 
 must be returned to the mailing post-office for delivery to the sender. 
 
 Sec. 874. Attachment of Registered Letters A registered letter is not sub- 
 ject to attachment in the hands of a postmaster before its delivery, as the Department 
 holds it in cimtodia Iff/is for delivery to the person addressed, or to his or her onler. A 
 postmaster acting in virtue of his office, and refusing to deliver letters on a pi-ocess is.sned 
 by a State court, will readily be purged of any alleged contempt of such process; and in 
 case of any conflict with the State law, be, acting in the line of his duty, will have pro- 
 tection by the law which govei-ns the transmission of registered matter. 
 
 Sec. 875. Fraudulent Registered Letters may be Returned. — The Postmas- 
 ter-General may, ni)on evidence satisfactory to him that any pei-sou 
 is engaged in comlncting any fr-andnlent lottery, gift-enterprise, or 
 sclieme for the distribntion of money or of any real or x>ersonal proiterty, 
 by lot, cliance, or drawing of any kind, or in conducting any other 
 sclieme or device for obtaining money througli the mails by n^eans of 
 false or fraudulent pretenses, representations, or promises, instruct post- 
 
TITLE V THE REGISTRY SYSTEM. 185 
 
 masters at any post-offices at which registered letters arri\ c directed to 
 liny such person, to return all such registered letters to the postmasters 
 at the [post] offices at which they were orijunnally mailed, with the word 
 "fraudulent" plainly writte)iorstam])ed n])on tln^ontside of such letters; 
 and all such letters so returned to such postmasters shall he l)y them 
 returned to the writers thereof, under such re<,ailations as the Tostmas- 
 ter-General may prescribe. IJut nothing contained in this title shall be 
 so construed as to authorize any i>ostmaster or other person to open any 
 letter not addressed to himself. (K. S., §31)20.) 
 
 Sec. 876. Return Undelivered Registered Matter to Mailing Post-Office. — 
 
 If a domestic registered letter or parcel cannot bo delivered within thirty days after 
 its arrival, or within such time as may he named in a reijuest indorsed on its 
 face, or in case delivery is prohibited by the Postmaster-General in accordance with 
 the preceding section, the postmaster must indorse on it the cause of non-deliv- 
 ery and return it to the post-office whence it was mailed. It must be marked Rk- 
 TL'RNEi) TO W'UITKR, renumbered, and entered in registration-book, as if mailed at his 
 post-office (counted as free in his quarterly report of registered letters and parcels), 
 placed in a registered-package envelope with a registry bill, and a note of such return 
 with date thereof made in receipt column of record-of-registered-niatter-received-and- 
 delivered. The address of letter or parcel must be changed only as to destination, and 
 E. W. marked on registry bill, indicating return to writer. On arrival at the original 
 mailing post-office it must be treated as if it were an original registered letter or parcel 
 received for delivery. Fraudulent matter of foreign origin must be sent to the Dead- 
 Letter Office, accompanied by a letter of advice addressed to the Third Assistant Post- 
 master-General, exidaining the character of the matter, and giving the date of the 
 order of the Postmaster-General forbidding its delivery. 
 
 Sec. 877. Refused Registered Letters or Parcels. — In case of addressee 
 
 simply refusing to receive a registered letter or parcel, it must be retained the proper 
 length of time before return, as prescribed in the preceding section. 
 
 Sec. 878. Original Record to Show Return of a Letter or Parcel. — Xote 
 
 must be made on the original record of every registered letter or parcel returning to a 
 mailing post-office, stating its return and date. 
 
 Sec. 879. When Sender of Returned Registered Matter is not found.— In 
 
 case a domestic returned registered letter or i)arcel cannot be delivered to sender, it 
 must be retained thirty days and be then forwarded (properly registered) to the Dead- 
 Letter Office, after due notice to sender by advertisement or otherwise. 
 
 Sec. 880. Sending Registered Letters or Parcels to the Dead-Letter Office. — 
 When registered letters or parcels are sent to the Dead-Letter Office they must be jxtst- 
 marked with date of sending, indorsed with reason for so forwarding, bt^ accompanied 
 M'ith diiplicate bills showing the sending post-office and the numljer an<l address of each 
 registered article, and placed under coverol an official envelope addressed to Third As- 
 sistant Postmaster-General, Dejid-Letter Office, Washington, D. C, indorsed In- 
 closing REGISTERED MATTER. The packet nuist be registered as a free registered let- 
 ter and placed with registry-bill and registry-return-receipfc under cover of a regis- 
 tered-package envelope addressed to the postmaster, Washington, D. C. 
 
 Sec. 881. Forwarding Registered Letters or Parcels. — Should a registered 
 letter or parcel ber eceived addressed to a jterson who has removed, or who from any 
 other cause wishes it forwarded to him at another post-office or returned to writer, it 
 may be so forwarded or returned, at his written request, without additional charge 
 for postage or fee. In such eases the postmaster must enter it on his delivery-book, 
 and make in the record of-registered-matter-reeeived-aud-delivered, in delivery col- 
 umn, a memorandum showing when and where forwarded. He must alter the address 
 
186 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 of the registered letter or parcel as to destination only, and indorse it Forwarded. 
 It must then be entered in registration-book as if mailed at his post-office, counted as 
 free in quarterly report registered matter, numbered anew, and forwarded in a regis- 
 tered-package envelope, with a registry-bill, accompanied by the original registry- 
 return-receipt. The order for forwarding or returning must be filed as a voucher. 
 
 Sec. 882. Missent Registered Letters or Parcels Received. — If on opeuiug 
 a registered package addressed to his post-office a postmaster finds a registered letter 
 or parcel inclosed addressed to another post-office, he will indorse the bill Missent, 
 sign and remail it, file the registered-package envelope, and enter the letter or parcel 
 on his record-of-registered-matter-received-and-delivered, making a note in delivery 
 column, Missent and forwarded, and re-register it from his post-office as in preceding 
 section. ^ 
 
 Sec. 883. Writer cannot Control Registered Letter after its Dispatch. — After 
 a registered letter has been transmitted from the mailing post-office, it cannot be re- 
 called by the sender, but must be sent to the destination named in its address. If not 
 delivered it will be returned in accordance with section 876. Before dispatch a regis- 
 tered letter can only be reclaimed by Avriter under extraordinary circumstances. He 
 must give satisfactory reasons to the postmaster for such action, produce a fac-simile 
 of the envelope, fully identify himself, and return the registration-receipt endorsed 
 with his name, which the postmaster will paste opposite the entry in the registration 
 
 book, endorsing the eutrj' Returned to writer by me, , P. M. The registered 
 
 letter, before return, must be endorsed Withdrawn by writer from Post- 
 office, P. M. 
 
 Sec. 884. Response to Inquiries. — Inquiries or tracers regarding regis- 
 tered packages, letters, or parcels must receive immediate attention from postmasters 
 as also all in(|uiries on registered business. 
 
 Sec. 885. Tracers for Stamp, Envelope, or Postal-Card Packages. — When a 
 
 registered package of stamps, envelopes, or postal cards has been forwarded, and no 
 acknowledgment therefor is received by due course of mail, or bill returns marked 
 Not ep:ceived or Bad order, a couiion tracer will be sent to ascertain whether the 
 package reached its destination in safety, or at what point and through whose fault 
 it disappeared or was tampered with. If, through this means, it should be ascertained 
 that the package reached its destination in good order, the tracer may be retained 
 when it returns; but if it appears that the package was received in bad condition, 
 or was lost or stolen in transit, the tracer must then be forwarded to the Third Assist- 
 ant Postmaster-General. Should the tracer not be returned in due season, a duplicate 
 must be sent to the post-office whence last coupon was returned or special inquiry 
 sent until package is accounted for or loss ascertained, when the tracer with full 
 report of loss must be sent to Third Assistant Postmaster-General. 
 
 Sec. 886. Registered Matter found among Ordinary Mail-Matter. — IMatter 
 
 whieli has ouce lieen registered can never lose its character as such until it has 
 been delivered to the rightful owner. When a postmaster discovers any registered 
 letter or parcel among ordinary mail-matter, he must enter it upon his record-of- 
 registered-matter-received-and-delivered, and treat the i-egistered letter or parcel as 
 directed by the regulations. If the registered letter or parcel is addressed to his own 
 post-office, be will deliver it to the pei'son for whom it was intended, and if addressed 
 to another post-office he will inclose it in a I'egistered-pack.age envelope and forward it. 
 He will in each case report all the facta immediately to the Third Assistant Postmaster- 
 General. 
 Sec. 887. Report to Chief Special Agent Missing Registered Matter. — 
 
 Every case of missing register(^d packages, registered letters, or registered parcels 
 must bo reported without delay to the Cliief Special Agent, Post-Otfiee DepartuuMit, 
 Washington, D. C, giving full particulars, as also all cases of alleged abstraction 
 of contents of registered lettera or parcels ; and also to Special Agents, as stated in 
 section 849. 
 
TITLE V — THE REGISTRY SYSTEM. 187 
 
 Sec. 888. Quarterly Reports to Third Assistant Postmaster-General. — At 
 
 the I'xpiiatiim of carh (piiirtt r postiiiaHtcis iiiusl Inrwanl to tin- Tliinl Assistant To-it- 
 mastcr-Gfiieral art'port shi>\viii'i8fi)ar.it<ly the miinlxMof donu'stic and furci(j;n letters 
 regi.stcie«l at their post-olliees, toj^eflier with the luiiiilMTof jtan els of third and fourth 
 class matter, domestic ami foreijrii, ref^istered diiriiiji the ipiarter. 
 
 Sec. 889. Omit in Account-Current Fees on Registered Matter. — The 
 
 po.staj;e ami registry lee on a registered letter or ii.areel is rtMiiiirtd l)y law to bo 
 prepaid ami atlixed to the letter or parcel in stamps and the stamjts eaneeled, and 
 uo speeial entry of such items should be made ou the qnarterly account -current ren- 
 dered by postmasters to the Auditor of the Treasury for the rost-Oth<;e Department ; the 
 money received for stamps sold for this purpose should be included in the general 
 postal account under the head of Amount of utampn Hold during the quarter. 
 
 Sec. 890. Accounts of Registered Matter. — No accounts or records in 
 
 relation to registered letters or parcels are to be forwarded to the Department other 
 than the (luarterly report stated in section 888. All other accounts and records are 
 to be carefully preserved by the postmasters for future reference. 
 
 Sec. 891. Disposition of Used Registered-Package Envelopes. — Registered- 
 package euvehypes which have been emptied of their coutents, those spoiled by mis- 
 direction, or in any way rendered unfit for use (cutting and resealing is not jjermis- 
 sible), must be retained ou file one year and then sold for the highest attainable 
 price, and the proceeds of such sales taken up in account-current under head of 
 Amount received for waste-paper, etc. ; i^rovided, however, if they cannot be sold at 
 .small post-offices, they may be sent iu a lot to the postmaster at the nearest large 
 post-offiee having facilities for the sale of waste-paper. 
 
 Sec. 892. Blanks Used in Registration.— The following blanks required 
 
 for use in the registry .system are furnished on application to the Superintendent Blank 
 Agency, office First Assistant Postmaster-General, Washington, D. C. : 
 
 Begistration-book, showing matter registered and dispatched Form No. 1549 
 
 Registry-bill lijoO 
 
 Begistry-return-receipt l.'>48 
 
 Registered package receipt 1556 
 
 Record-of-registered-matter-received-and-delivered 1547 
 
 Record-of-regiairred-maifer-in-transit 155:} 
 
 Carriers' -registry-delirery-hooks . 1500 
 
 Railway-mail-registry-books 1539 
 
 Registry-notices 1525 
 
 Registry-circular-of-inquiry 3856 
 
 Registry quarterly report 3848 
 
 Requisition for registered-package envelopes 3204 
 
 Registry deficiency report 3846 
 
 Registry-tracer 1536 
 
 Sec. 893. Envelopes Used in Registry Business. — The envelopes used will 
 
 be furnished on rerpiisition addressed to the Third Assistant Postmaster-General. 
 
 1. Ordinary official penalty-envelopes, 
 
 2. Registered-package envelop>es. 
 
 Sec. 894. Registry Supplies to be Kept Up. — Postmasters must not allow 
 
 their supply of registered-package envelopes or any of the blanks recjuired in the 
 registry business to become exhausted. Requisition must always be made iu time to 
 receive a new supply before those on hand are entirely used. 
 
 Sec. 895. Postmasters take Special Interest in Success of Registry System. — 
 In order to make the registry system as efficieut as possible, it is necessary that it 
 should receive not only the attention, but the hearty co-operation, of every postmaster, 
 who should feel that he has an interest in the improvemeut of the service as well as a 
 desire to promote the public good. Special attention should be paid to secure legibility 
 
188 
 
 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 of addresses and postmarks on registered-package envelopes, and all entries upon 
 registry blanks and records slionld be neatly and distinctly written. Postmastera are 
 particularly enjoined to report promptly to the Third Assistant Postmaster-General any 
 neglect or violation of the registry regulations which may come to their knowledge, in 
 oi'der that the officer in fault may be called to account for his misconduct. 
 
 Sec. 896. Postmasters not to Reprimand other Postmasters. — Postmasters 
 are positively forbidden to reprimand other postmasters for neglect or violation of these 
 regulations. It is the province of the Department to instruct postmasters as to their 
 duties and to take cognizance of their neglect or refusal to obey instructions. 
 
 Sec. 897. Postmasters in Doubt as to their Duty as to any requirements 
 of the regulations of the registry system, must submit the matter in doubt to the Third 
 Assistant Postmaster-General. Ignorance of the law or regulations will not be accepted 
 as an excuse for their violation or for neglect of duty. 
 
 CHAPTER TWO. 
 
 RESPECTING REGISTERED LETTERS AND PARCELS ADDRESSED 
 TO, OR ORIGINATING IN, FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 
 
 Sec. 
 
 809 
 900 
 
 901. 
 
 . Registered correspondence for foreign coun- 
 tries. 
 
 Registration-fee to foreign conntries. 
 
 Postmasters registering foreign matter con- 
 sult Postal Guide. 
 
 Registered packages misdirected to foreign 
 post-offices. 
 
 902. Sender may demand a registry-return-receipt 
 
 from foreign countries. 
 
 903. Registry-return-receipts to foreign conntries. 
 
 904. Matter which, cannot be registered to foreign 
 
 countries. 
 
 905. Mark "Foreign" on registered packages in- 
 
 closing foreign matter. 
 
 906. Registered matter from foreign countries. 
 
 Sec. 
 
 907. Registry-retum-receipts of foreign origin. 
 808. Undelivered foreign registered letters or par- 
 cels. 
 
 909. Foreign registry-retum-receipts not sent to 
 
 Dead-Letter Office. 
 
 910. Registered matter supposed to be liable to 
 
 customs-duty. 
 
 911. Foreign registered matter especially held for 
 
 delivery. 
 
 912. Forwarding registered matter in the Univer- 
 
 sal Postiil Union. 
 
 913. Postmark on registered matter at exchange 
 
 post-offices. 
 
 914. Don't write to foreign postmasters. 
 
 Sec. 898. Registered Correspondence for Foreign Countries. — Eegistered let- 
 ters or ])arcels addressed to foreign countries are governed in their transportation within 
 and through the United States by the same rules and regulations as domestic registered 
 matter, excejjt that no domestic registry -return-receipt is to be made out by the mail- 
 ing postmaster and sent with such foreign registered correspondence, and the registered- 
 package envelope is to be addressed to the proper exchange post-otidce in the United 
 States designated to dispatch registered correspondence to foreign countries. See 
 section 1125. 
 
 Sec. 899. Registration Fee to Foreign Countries. — The registration fee to 
 
 all countries where registration is permissible is ten cents on ea(;h letter or parcel, 
 to be prei)aid by stamps, in addition to the postage. See sections 818-81(). 
 
 Sec. 900. Postmasters Registering Foreign Matter Consult Postal Guide. — 
 
 All classes of mail-matter may b^^ registered to countries and cohmies in the Universal 
 Postal Union, but to certain countries and colonies not in the Universal Postal Union 
 registration of letters only is permissible. To some parts of the world tliere is no 
 means of forwarding registered matter; postmasters are therefore specially enjoined to 
 consult the foreign postal table in the latest issue of the United States Official Postal 
 Guide to ascertain the proper rates of postage, and whether the matter presented is 
 entitled to registration, as will be shown by the ton-cents fee appearing in the columns 
 
TITLE V THE REGISTRY 8Y.STEM. 189 
 
 licatlcd " Rcjji.storod uiattci" in said taMe; ah.icuco of tln' fee in ))otli folrirTiiiH headed 
 " Re«;istrati()ii fi-e on letters" and "Registiati«u fee on other artieh-s"' indicates tliat no 
 re;fistration exists; jjresenee of fee in letter column alone- indieates letti-rs only can Ix; 
 registered ; postmasters must, therefore, refuse to register any mail-matter addressed to 
 countries to which there is no registration or to register other mail-matter to countries 
 Avhcri' I'egislration is conlined to letters. 
 
 Sec. 901. Registered Packages Misdirected to Foreign Post-Offices. — If a 
 
 registered package isn-coived in transit addresst'd to a post-ollice in a foreign country, 
 it .should he .sent to the post-ottice designated to exchange registered matter with such 
 foreign country, where the registered package will he opened and the contents properly 
 forwarded. 
 
 Sec. 902. Sender may Demand a Foreign Registry-Retum-Receipt. — The 
 
 sender of a registered letter or parcel addressed to countri<!s in the I'niversal Postal 
 Union may, by writing on the face of the letter or parcel, RKTrnx uixkii'T r)p;MAXi)KD, 
 have a return receipt sent hack to him from the foreign po.st-oflice of delivery. 
 
 Sec. 903. Registry-Return-Receipts to Foreign Countries. — The return 
 
 receipt will be made out by the exchange post-office which dispatches the registered 
 matter to the foreign countiy on a specially provided form. 
 
 Sec. 904. Matter which Cannot he Registered to Foreign Countries. — It i.s 
 
 forbidden to send by mail to countries of the Universal Postal Union — 
 
 a. Letters or parcels containing gold or silver substances, pieces of money, jewelry, 
 or precious articles. 
 
 b. Any parcel whatever containing articles liable to customs dutj", 
 
 c. Articles of a nature likely to soil or injure other matter in the mail. 
 
 d. Parcels of samples of merchandise which have a salable value, or which exceed 
 two hundred and fifty grams (eight and three-fourth ounces) in weight, or measure 
 more than twenty centimeters (eight inches) in length, ten centimeters (four inches) 
 iu breadth, and five centimeters (two inches) in depth. 
 
 e. Parcels of commercial papers aud printed matter of all kinds the weight of which 
 exceeds two kilograms (four pounds and six ounces). 
 
 /. Any letter which has declared value, i. e., an inscription stating the value of con- 
 tents. 
 
 g. Any matter excluded from the domestic mails as nnmailable. 
 
 The articles excluded above in paragraphs c and g .are also prohibited from trans- 
 mission in the mails exchanged with foreign countries other than those of the Univer- 
 sal Postal Union. 
 
 In the mails exchanged with Canada, it is forbidden to transmit the articles men- 
 tioned in paragraphs c and /and g, and .also samples of merchandise in excess of eight 
 ounces in weight. 
 
 Sec. 905. Mark Registered Packages Inclosing Foreign Matter, " Foreign." — 
 
 In order to facilitate the handling and dispatch of foreign registered matter at an 
 exchange po.st -office, postmasters will mark <m the rcgistered-pack.age-envelopes con- 
 taining foreign matter, beside the address, the word Foreign'. They will also make 
 out a registry bill for the foreign registered letters separate from the bill on which 
 is entered domestic registered matter for delivery (in case foreign and douu'sf ic letters 
 or parcels are placed together in the same registered-package-envelope), writing the 
 country after name of addressee iu the body of the bill. 
 
 Sec. 906. Registered Matter from Foreign Countries. — Postmasters receiv- 
 ing from exchange post-offices registered packages containing letters or parcels origi- 
 nating in foreign countries will treat the package and contents as instructed in section 
 856 respecting registered letters received for delivery. 
 
 Sec. 907. Registry-Retum-Receipts of Foreign Origin. — ^Mien a foreign 
 
 registry-return-receipt accompanies a registered letter or iiarcel from a foreign coun- 
 try, the registry-return-receipt must be properly signed by recipient of letter when 
 delivery is made, postmarked, and properly returned, under cover of an official penalty- 
 
190 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 envelope, addressed to the postmaster at the United States exchange post-office from 
 which the registered package containing it was received. Great care must be taken 
 that any foreign postage-stamps attached to a foreign registry-return-receipt do not 
 hecome detached therefrom. 
 
 Sec. 908. Undelivered Foreign Registered Letters or Parcels. — Should a 
 
 foreign letter or parcel remain umlelivered at the expiration of thirty days (except 
 specially directed to be held for delivery) it must, even though indorsed with the name 
 and address of the sender, or a return request, be forwarded to the Dead-Letter Office 
 in the manner prescribed for sending registered matter to the Dead-Letter Office, in 
 section 880, Eequest registered letters originating in Canada are excepted from this 
 regulation. They should be returned to writer as requested. 
 
 Sec. 909. Foreign Registry-Return-Receipts not Sent to Dead-Letter OiRce. — 
 
 If a Registry-return-receipt is attached to a foreign registered letter or parcel that 
 cannot be delivered, the Registry-return-receipt must be indorsed with the cause of 
 non-delivery, postmarked with date, and returned to the exchange post-office in the 
 United States whence it came. 
 
 Sec. 910. Registered Matter Supposed to be Liable to Customs-Duty. — 
 
 Regulations respecting ordinary matter subject to customs duty, section 1133, govern 
 registered matter also, except that the receipt of the addressee must first be obtained 
 by the postmaster before any opening of the registered letter or parcel is permitted 
 by the addressee. If the addressee refuses to sign a receipt for any such supposed 
 dutiable registered matter, it must be marked Refused, held the proper length of 
 time, and sent to the Dead-Letter Office. 
 
 Sec. 911. Foreign Registered Matter Specially Held for Delivery. — When 
 
 the postmaster has good reason to believe that registered letters or parcels from a for- 
 eign country can be delivered to addressee, he may mark them Specially held for 
 DELIVERY, .and retain fliem not to exceed three months before sending to Dead-Letter 
 Office. Registered letters addressed Poste Restante, or To be called for, or to a 
 passenger or sailor on a vessel to arrive, must also be held not to exceed three months. 
 
 Sec. 912. Forwarding Registered Matter in the Universal Postal Union. — 
 
 Registered letters or parcels received from foreign countries in the Postal Union may 
 be forwarded to any other country in the Postal Union, or to any post-office in the 
 United States, without additional charge for postage or registry fee. 
 
 Sec. 913. Postmark Foreign Registered Matter at Exchange Post-OfBces. — 
 All registered letters or parcels sent to or received from foreign countries must be post- 
 marked at exchange post-offices with the registry postmarking stamp, showing date 
 of dispatch or receival. 
 
 Sec. 914. Do not Write to Foreign Postmasters. — Postmasters of post- 
 offices (not exchange post-offices) are instructed not to address correspondence to foreign 
 post-offices on registry business. 
 
 CHAPTER THREE. 
 
 THE TRANSMISSION OF THROUGH-REGISTERED-POUCHES. 
 
 Sec. 
 
 915. Object of this branch of the rcjjistrv system. 
 
 916. Means used for carrying on the throuji;li-reg« 
 
 i9tered>])ouch service. 
 
 917. Exchanges directed to bo made invariably. 
 
 918. Supplies ft>r through-rogistcred'poudi oliicea, 
 
 how used and kept. 
 
 919. Additional euppliesi 
 
 Sec. 
 
 920. Registered matter dispatched in through reg- 
 
 istered-pouches. 
 
 921. Preparation of matter for through-registered- 
 
 pouches. 
 
 922. Signing the pouch-hill and copying, 
 
 923. Inspection before closing. 
 
 924. Labeling and locking. 
 
TITLE V — THE REGISTRY SYSTEM. 
 
 191 
 
 Sec. 
 
 926. Manner of indlrntiiiBcligpntch of oxtra tli rough- 
 ri'KiHt»Tfil-)ioii«Iu'8. 
 
 026. Ob.jcit <pf the rf;;iMtry-<liHk. 
 
 027. Extrii tliroiifih-ri'gistei-iul- pouches to be 
 
 returned. 
 
 028. Thi-t)u;;li-reKi8tere(l-ponch In had order. 
 
 020. Checking contents of through -reifiBtered 
 poueli. 
 
 030. Safety of regintered keys and locks. 
 
 031. Thi-ougli-regifltered-poueheB in tran.sit, when 
 
 to be ojjened. 
 
 Sec. 
 
 032. DiHrrc'paney In eoiitciitx of thronf^h-rrgiatcrcd- 
 
 poueh. 
 
 033. Keeord of deluyi) to bo kejjt. 
 
 !»34. Damaged regiHtered loikH and keys. 
 
 935. Througli-regiKteredpoiiih. 
 
 936. Non-delivery of tlnough-regiBtered-ponches. 
 
 037. Through-regiNtered-poiiclieH, wlien to be taken 
 
 into terminal pont-ollice. 
 
 038. DiH])OMition of througli-regi»tercd-i)0uche8 in 
 
 bad order in trauoit. 
 
 Sec. 915. Object of this Branch of the Eegistry System. — By the system 
 
 of thnuijih-rojiistcn'tl-poiulies tilt' J)ei>!irtiii('iit li;is been ciiiihled to kf'c]» jiacc witli the 
 growth of rcjii.Htry liiifsiiies.s in consolidating the regibtered parkagt's nn<hT cover of 
 special pouches at certain post-oftices termed through-registered-pouch-oftices, relieving 
 the railway-mail service by preventing too great au accumulation of registered pack- 
 ages on the several lines of postal cars, preventing risks at transfers, and placing the 
 ■work where better opportunity otiers for its correct perfonnance. 
 
 Sec. 916. Mode of Carrying on Through-Eegistered-Pouch-Service. — Certain 
 post-offices are designated by the Third Assistant Po-stmaster-General as through- 
 registered-pouch-oftices, and provided with through-registered-pouches, special regi.s- 
 istered locks, keys, labels, and disks, and instructed to make exchanges only with 
 such through-registered-pouch-ofifices and at such times as they may be directed by 
 the Third Assistant Postmaster-General. For list of such post-offices with their 
 exchange.'^, see the latest Official Postal Guide. 
 
 Sec. 917. Exchanges Directed to be Made Invariably. — Postmasters will 
 
 make the directed dispatches of through-registered-pouches wh«3ther there is any reg- 
 istered matter to be sent in them or not. In case there is no registered matter to be 
 sent iu ,a through-rcgi.stered-ponch dispatched, a pouch-bill marked No pack.\ges 
 SENT, properly filled up, signed, copied, and postmarked, must be placed in the pouch 
 and the pouch locked and regularly dispatched. 
 
 Sec. 918. Through-Registered-Pouch-Office Supplies, How used and kept. — 
 
 The through-registered-pouches, locks, labels, and disks, having been made expressly 
 for the registry system, must not be used for any other puritose, and must he 
 securely kept, the locks and keys in the safe, and the pouches, labels, disks, and bills 
 in that part of the post-office set apart for the transaction of the l)usiiies3 of the reg- 
 istry sj-.stem, and under no circumstances must any other pouches, locks, labels, or 
 disks be used in transmitting registered matter to post-offices with which through-reg- 
 istered-pouclies are exchanged. 
 
 Sec. 919. Additional Supplies. — Timely notice of the need of additional 
 
 through-registered-pouches, locks, labels, and disks must be given to the Third Assist- 
 ant Postmaster-General, in order that they may be sent before the supply is exhausted. 
 Requisition for through-registered-pouch-hills, throngh-registered-ponch blanks, and 
 through-regi.stered-pouch press-books must be made of the Snperintendent of the 
 Blank Agency, Post-Office Department, office of the First AssistantPostiuiister-General. 
 
 Sec. 920. Registered Matter Dispatched in Through-Registered-Pouches. — 
 In the throngh-registered-pouches for each through-registered-ponch-office must be 
 placed all the registered matter addressed to that post-office, and to i)ost -offices on 
 routes beyond it as shown by the throngh-registered-ponch schemes ; but packages too 
 large to be inclosed in the pouch must be dispatched by the hands of the i)roper rail- 
 way-mail employd. 
 
 Sec. 921. Preparation of Matter for Through-Registered-Pouches. — Before 
 
 disp.itchingathrough-registered-poueh there mu.st be entered on the through-registered- 
 pouch-bill the number of the bill, conimencing each quarter with No. 1, the date of dis- 
 patch, the name of the post-office to which the pouch is to be sent, numb, r of the lock to 
 
192 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 be used in fastening the poucli, whicli number is to be considered the number of the 
 pouch, the numbers, postmarks, and addresses of the registered packages to be sent in the 
 pouch, and at tlie foot the number of registered packages sent in that pouch, the total 
 number of through-registered-pouches to be sent to that post-office by that mail, and 
 the total number of registered packages sent in those pouches. At those post-offices 
 vrhere it is usual to dispatch two or more through-registered-pouches to the same post- 
 office by the same mail, the entry of the total number of pouches sent, and of the total 
 number of packages sent in such pouches, may be omitted on the pouch-bills of all the 
 . pouches, except the j)ouch-bill of the pouch last closed, as the disks show the total num- 
 ber of through-registered-pouches. 
 
 Sec. 922. Signing the Pouch-Bill and Copying. — The pouch -bill must then 
 be signed by two dispatching clerks, copied in the through-registered-pouch press-book 
 provided for that i>urpose, i)ostmarked, and jilaced in the iiouch with the registered 
 packages. 
 
 Sec. 923. Inspection before Closing. — Before closiug a through-registered- 
 pouch for dispatch, the dispatching clerks must assure themselves beyond any doubt that 
 all the packages advised to the pouch-bill are inclosed. 
 
 Sec. 924. Labeling and Locking. — The through-registered-pouch must be 
 properly labeled before any packages are placed therein, and the packages, tied to- 
 gether in bundles in order of entry on bill, and marked with name of through-regis- 
 tered-pouch-office, should be compared with the bill and with the label of the pouch, 
 lock number proved correct, and bill and jiackages then placed in the pouch, which 
 must be securely locked and the proper entries made on the record of through-regis- 
 tered-ponches dispatched, and on delivery to the railway-mail employe a receipt taken 
 therefor. 
 
 Sec. 925. Indicating Dispatch of Extra Through-Registered-Pouches. — 
 
 When two through-registered-pouches are sent from a post-office by the same dis- 
 patch to the same post-office, a registry-disk bearing the figure "2" must be attached 
 to each pouch by passing the link of the lock through the ring of the disk. If three 
 pouches are to be sent by the same mail, a disk bearing the figure ''3" must be used, 
 and so on, attaching the disk bearing the figure which corresponds with the total 
 number of pouches sent on each separate pouch. 
 
 Sec. 926. Object of the Registry-Disk. — The registry-disk is attached to the 
 through-registered-pouches to inform employes of the service whose duty it is to receive 
 and receipt for them how many through-registered-pouches are included in any one dis- 
 patch; they must, therefore, at any transfer of the through-registered-pouches, exam- 
 ine the registrv-disks and ascertain before receipting that the full complement of i»ouche8 
 from each post-office indicated by the registry-disks have been delivered to theni' 
 Whenever the letter B appears on the registry-disk, in addition to the niunber, a box 
 must accompany the pouch or pouche.s for each B appearing on the registry-disk. The 
 letters indicate the number of boxes, and the figures the total of boxes and pouches. 
 
 Sec. 927. Return Extra Through-Registered-Pouches, etc., Promptly. — 
 
 In order that each through-registered-pouch-office may preserve its proper complement 
 of through-registered-pouches, locks, and disks, the extra number when received must 
 be returned by next dispatch, inside of the regular pouch, duly entered on the pouch- 
 bill. 
 Sec. 928. Through-Registered-Pouch in Bad Order, — On the arrival of a 
 
 through-registered-pouch at a through-n-gistered-pouch-ofiiee, the receiving clerk must 
 before receipting to the railway-mail employ^, assure himself of the good condition 
 of both pouch and lock. If either appears to have been tampered with or is in bad 
 order, the receipt for the pouch must be withheld until its contents have been carefully 
 examined, and found not only to correspond with the entries on the i)ouch-bill, but 
 to be in good order and condition. Projier facilities should be allowed the railway 
 mail em))loy6 to be present at such exaniin.-ttion, and if the contents are not in good 
 order the receipt given him must state that fact. A. minute of the case must also be 
 
TITLE V THE REGISTRY SYSTEM. 193 
 
 placed ill tlu' filfs (»f tlio tlinnmli-rfj^iHtercd-pouch-onico, in ciisis any Iohs of coiitcnta 
 should at'tcrwaid In- cliarj^rd. 
 
 Sec. 929. Checking Contents of Through-Registered-Pouch. — A tlirough-reff- 
 
 istered-poiudi inii.st 1m' oix-imd by two clerks, and its t-ontcnts must In- <onii>arcd with 
 tlu« eutries on the i)ouch-l»ill. After projjer entries of the itacka^^es im the hooks nl' 
 tlie thronfih-refxistered-iioneh-ofliee, the itoueli-bill nnist he sij^ned liy both chrks. post- 
 marked, and returned to the sendinj^ ])ost-otllie»^ in the next throu;;h-rejfistered-ponch 
 dispatched to that post-ortico. Each pouch must be. thoroujfhly shaken, and its inte- 
 rior ins])eeted, to ascertain that it has been conipU'tely emptied. 
 
 Sec. 930. Safety of Registered Keys and Locks. — Wlien a tlirougli-regis- 
 
 tored-poucli is opened at tin* post-otHre of destination the lock must be, at once placi-d 
 in the safe of the re<;istry branch of the ])()st-ofiice, whei-e it must be kept until needed 
 for iiuniediate use ajrain. The keys used in openiufj the re<j;istered lo(;ks must be 
 attached to the safi-by a chain, and must not be detached therefrom or be handleil by 
 any one save the clerk in cllar^J(^ thereof. Under no circumstances must the regis- 
 tered keys or locks be exhibited to<iny one. 
 
 Sec. 931. Through-Registered-Pouches in Transit, when to be Opened. — If 
 
 by reason of missing a connection, or for other cause, a through-registered-pouch, 
 hibeled and intended for another throngli-registered-pouch-office, is brought into a 
 post-office authorized to exchange throngh-registej-ed-pouches, it must be receipted 
 for in the same manner as if addressed to that post-otfice. It must then be opened, 
 the contents examined, and ccnupared with the pouch-bill, which must be indorsed, 
 
 Pouch delivered to this post-office because of . Contents Icorrect or 
 
 incorrect, as case may he, the iVisadrccment Imiuj stafcdi. , and signed by two clerks. 
 
 The registered packages called for on the pouch-bill must be entered on the record-of- 
 registi-red-matter-in-trausit, and the pouch, with its bill and original contents therein, 
 must be fastened by the same lock (unless the pouch or lock is damaged, in which event 
 it will be replaced by a good one, such action being noted on the bill), and be dispatched 
 by the next mail to the post-oHice for which it was intended. 
 
 Sec. 932. Discrepancy in Contents of Through-Registered-Pouch. — If tlie 
 
 contents of a through-registered-pouch do not agree with the pouch-bill, the fact must 
 be immediately noted thereon, and a rejiort sent by mail to tlie Third Assistant Post- 
 master-General. In addition, in cases where there are entries on the bill for which no 
 corresponding registered packages are found, the discrepancy must be telegraphed 
 to the dispatching post-office, in order that the error may be rectified or immediate 
 action taken concerning the loss. 
 
 Sec. 933. Record of Delays to be Kept. — Postmasters must keep a full 
 
 record of all delays and miscarriages of through-registered-pouches, reporting the facts 
 in each case to the Third Assistant Postmaster-General. 
 
 Sec. 934. Damaged Registered Locks and Keys. — Damaged registered locks 
 
 and keys must be securely enveloped, and sent, registered, to the "Mail Equipment 
 Division, Office of Second Assistant Postmaster-General, Washington, D. C." Damaged 
 
 pouches should be labeled Damaged pouch, from post-office at , returned to 
 
 Second Assistant Postmaster-Gener.vl ; and should be forwarded , unlocked, in the 
 through-registered-poneh for Washington, D. C. If the sending post-office does not 
 exchange through-registered pouches with Washington, it must be sent in the through- 
 registered-pouch for the post-office nearest that point with which such pouches are 
 exchanged, and will bo forwarded in same manner from that post-othce. A letter of 
 advice must always be transmitted to both the Second and Third Assistant Post- 
 masters-General concerning damaged registered locks or pouches returned. 
 
 Sec. 935. Through-Registered-Pouch or Blank must be Delivered.-— Kail way 
 mail employ6s must ascertain what through-registered-pouches are to be daily trans- 
 mitted over their routes, and must in no case leave their terminal post-offices without 
 demanding the regular pouches, or that the blank used stating the reason for absence 
 13 P L 
 
194 
 
 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 of pouch ho givon them. Either the pouch must be delivered or the bljiiiks stating 
 reason for faihire. If they are not seut, the railway mail employ^ must note ou liis 
 railway-mail-regi»try-book the reason why. This course must also be pursued with 
 regard to such through-registered-pouches as they should regularly receive from 
 connecting Offices. By such means the post-offlce at which the pouch is due will be 
 informed of the cause of the delay by the railway mail employ^ whose duty it is to 
 bring it in. 
 
 Sec. 936. Non-delivery of Through-Registered-Pouches. — In case of failure 
 
 in aiTival of a through-registered-pouch when due, without satisfactory reason for its 
 
 absence, report must be made innnediately to the Third Assistant Postmaster-General. 
 
 Sec. 937. Through-Registered Pouches Taken to Terminal Post-Offices. — 
 
 Railway mail employes must, in every case where possible, deliver the throngh-regis- 
 tered-pouches direct to the connecting Office. But if connection with other Offices is 
 not made, the pouches must be taken into the terminal post-offices and receipt obtained 
 for them. 
 
 Sec. 938. Disposition of Through-Registered-Pouches in Bad Order in Transit. 
 When a through-registered-pouch is delivered to a railway mail employ^, he must, 
 before receipting for the same, assure himself that the registered lock and pouch are in 
 good order. If either is not, his receipt must show that fact, and the pouch must be 
 taken by him into the terminal post-office of his route, if such post-office exchanges 
 throngh-registered-poiiches. If the terminal post-office of his route is not a through- 
 registered-pouch-office, or if there is no through-registered-pouch-office on his route, 
 the pouch must be forwarded until it reaches a through-registered-pouch-office, care 
 being taken that none of its contents are lost. Railway mail employes must keep a 
 record of the facts in all such cases for future reference. 
 
 CHAPTER FOUR. 
 
 THE HANDLING OF REGISTERED MATTER BY RAILWAY MAIL 
 
 EMPLOYES. 
 
 Sec. 
 
 939. Kegisteretl packages between post-offices and 
 
 Office to be pouched. 
 
 940. Railway-mail-registry-books. 
 
 941. Record of registered matter kept. 
 
 942. Keceiving registered ni.atter at terminal post- 
 
 offices. 
 
 943. Roceijit for registered matter. 
 
 944. Post marking and returning registered pack- 
 
 age receipts. 
 
 945. Registered matter not to be delivered to em- 
 
 ploy6s of railioads. 
 
 946. Receipting for legiHtcred matter. 
 
 947. Illegible postmark on rogistei-ed packages. 
 
 948. Examination of condition of registered pack- 
 
 ages. 
 
 Sec. 
 
 949. Registered-package receipts to be properly 
 
 filled out. 
 
 950. Forward registered mail in a pouch. 
 
 951. Chock return of registered-package receipt 
 
 and forward duplicates. 
 
 952. Registered matter for through-rcgistered- 
 
 pouch-offices. 
 
 953. Registered matter for delivery to connecting 
 
 Office. 
 
 954. G et receipt for registered matter and registry- 
 
 books. 
 
 955. Turn over registry-books when full to Divis- 
 
 ion Superintendents. 
 
 Sec. 939. Registered Packages between Post-Oiiice and Office to be Pouched. 
 
 Railway mail employes must place their registered packages under cover of a leather 
 pouch (as far as tin,' size of tlie i)ackages will i>ermit) in conveying them to and from 
 the terminal post-office and the Office, and must keep this pouch in their personal 
 charge, and accompany the wiigon ou which it is conveyed to the train. 
 
 Sec. 940. Railway-Mail-Registry-Books — Ivaihvay mail employes "will be 
 furnished by their Division JSuperintcndent with rail way-mail-iegistry-books, i)iovidcd 
 
TITLE V THE REGISTRY SYSTEM. 195 
 
 by the Department, for the purpose of keeping a record of all registeivd niaUt-r pu!s.>*iii;( 
 throujrli tlii'ir IiuihIs. 
 
 Sec. 941. Record of Registry Matter kept. — An entry of the nnniber, jM^st- 
 
 niark, date, and addifss of every n-jii.stered paeka;ie, ie;;i.stered-Htanip paekaj^e, regis- 
 tered-postal-eard paekaj^e, and staniped-enveloite paekaj^e, as well a.s every tlironyh- 
 registered-jtonch jiassing through their handrt, must be made in the raihvay-muil- 
 registry-book by every railway-mail enii)l<>y(^, and where it is ]ir>s.Hilile the reei-ipt 
 on delivery of these paekages must l)e taken direct, in the ])n>per eoinmii of the book. 
 
 Sec. 942. Receiving Registered Matter at terminal Post-offices. — liefore 
 
 leaving the terminal iiost-othcetheijroper rail way-mail employ 6 must receive and receipt 
 for all through-registered-i)onehes and registered packages tendered him by the \um • 
 ma.ster or proper clerk, and become personally responsildo for their care until their 
 delivery into the hands of the proper postmaster or other authorized agent of the 
 Department, or their disposal as required by the regulations of the registry system. 
 Sec. 943. Receipt for Registered Matter. — Eiuploy<5s Avill in all cases 
 
 obtain a receipt for each registered package from the person to whom it is delivered. 
 In the delivery of registered-package envelopes they should be arranged in the same 
 order in which they are entered on the railway-niail-registry-book. 
 
 Sec. 944. Postmarking and Returning Registered Package Receipts. — To 
 
 protect themselves against fraud in the matter of receipts given to postmasters and 
 others for registered mail, employ<Ss will athx the imprint of the postmarking stamp on 
 each receipt asnmny times as there may be packages, and return the package receipts 
 by next mail to the sending postmaster or employ^ of the railway-mail service. 
 Sec. 945. Registered Matter not to be delivered to Employes of Railroads. — 
 
 Employt5s must not deliver registered mail to messengers emi>loyed by the railroad 
 company, nor to any mail-messenger, unless specially instructed. It must bo placed 
 in the pouch, together with a receipt, to be signed and returned. 
 
 Sec. 946. Receipting for Registered Matter. — The Department does not 
 
 authorize employes to stamp their names in receipting for registered matter. They must 
 sign their names with pen or pencil. 
 
 Sec. 947. Illegible Postmark on Registered Packages. — The first recipient 
 
 of a i-egistercd package with illegible ])(>stmark should write on the package the name 
 of the OlTfice or post-ottice from which it was received. 
 
 Sec. 948. Examination of Condition of Registered Packages. — ^When a regns- 
 
 tered package is handed to a railway nuiil employe by an employe on a connecting 
 Ortice or a postmaster, he must exannne the package, make the proper indorsement 
 showing its condition, sign, date, and hand the receipt back. He must then make 
 proper indorsement on the package and enter it in his railway-mail-regis try-bcok. 
 See section 852. 
 
 Sec. 949. Registered-package Receipts to be properly Filled Out. — Keceipts 
 
 for registered packages nnist be properly tilled up by the sending postmaster or rail- 
 ■way-mail employ^. If this duty is not performed, the employd will report the de- 
 linquent to his Division Superintendent. 
 
 Sec. 950. Forward Registered Mail in a Pouch. — When the delivery of 
 
 any registered matter cannot be made direct to the postmaster or a connecting Otlice, 
 and it has to be placed in a pouch for a post-ottice, a package receijit for the same^ 
 properly filled up, must be placed in the package of letters for such post-office, to 
 be signed and returned to the employe?. The package nnist always be placed in the 
 pouch, and the pouch securely locked. 
 
 Sec. 951. Check return of Registered-Package Receipt. — On the return of 
 
 a registered-package receipt, properly indorsed and signed, the railway-mail employ6 
 must check its return on his railway-mail-registry-l)ook and preserve it for future 
 reference. In case it fails to return in due season, he nnist prepare a duplicate and semi 
 it to the postmaster. If the duplicate fails to returu in proper time the railway-mail 
 employ^ must report the case, with all particulars, to his Division Superintendent. 
 
196 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 Sec. 952. Registered Matter for Through-Registered-Pouch-Offices. — Eegis- 
 
 tered matter that cau be iiroperly forwarded in througli-registered-pouches, coming 
 into the hands of railway mail employes, must be delivered into their terminal post- 
 offices, when such post-offices are through-registered-])ouch-offices, to be forwarded 
 thence under cover of through-registered-pouches. Such registered packages should 
 be kept in the order of their entry on the railway-mail-registry-book, so as to facilitate 
 delivery. 
 
 Sec. 953. Registered Matter for Delivery to Connecting Office. — When a 
 
 railway-mail employ^ aiTives at the terminus of his route, he must deliver to a con- 
 necting railway-mail employ^ all registered matter deliverable on the route of such con- 
 necting employ^ when practicable. If he fails to meet such employ^ he must deliver 
 the registered pouches or packages into the terminal post-office with the registered 
 matter deliverable at such post-office. 
 
 Sec. 954. Get Receipt for Registered Matter and Registry-Book. — Railway 
 
 mail employes must not leave registered matter at terminal post-offices, under any 
 circumstances, without first obtaining proper receipt therefor, nor must they allow 
 their railway-mail-registry -books to go out of their possession until they can no longer 
 be used. 
 
 Sec. 955. Turn over Registry-Book when Full to Division Superintendent. — 
 When a railway mail employ^ has filled his registry-book with entries, and all the 
 package-receipts have been returned and checked, he will turn over his book and 
 receipts to his Division Superintendent for filing at his headquarters and receive a 
 receipt showing date of first and final entry in book and the total number of pack- 
 age-receipts, and the book will be placed on file for reference. The package-receipts 
 should be arranged in the oi'der of their entry on the railway-mail-registry-book. 
 Any inquiry or tracer received respecting registered packages entered in such registry- 
 books will be referred to the Division Superintendent with indorsed slip, stating Re- 
 corded IN BOOK, DATED (from first to last date, as shown on receipt.) 
 
 The Division Superintendent will fill the tracer from the record on the registry-book 
 and forward tracer. 
 
TITLE VI. 
 
 THE MONEY- OimER SYSTEM OF THE 
 UNITED STATES. 
 
 CHAPTER ONE. 
 
 ESTABLISHMENT AND GENERAL PROVISIONS. 
 
 Sec. 
 
 956. Est.iblishment of money-order system. 
 
 957. Object of the money-order system. 
 
 958. Design of Congress in establishing the 
 
 money-order system. 
 
 959. Postmasters to issue money-orders. Respon- 
 
 sibility therefor. 
 
 960. Issue ofmoney-orders by clerks. Postmasters' 
 
 responsibility. 
 
 961. Postniastfi s to designate clerks to sign money- 
 
 orders, when. 
 
 962. Signature by clerks for postmasters, and by 
 
 acting postmasters. 
 
 963. Classification of money-order post-offices, 
 
 964. New bonds retiuired when post-office is made 
 
 money-order office. 
 
 965. Books, circulars, and blanks furnished to 
 
 money-order offices. 
 
 966. Duty of retiiing postmaster at money-order 
 
 post-office. 
 
 Sec. 
 
 967. Duty of incoming postmaster at money-order 
 
 post-office. 
 
 968. Extra compensation for issuing and paying 
 
 money-orders. 
 909. Payment for stationery and incidentals out of 
 money-order proceeds. 
 
 970. Surplus money-order ])roceed8, how accounted 
 
 for. Limit of clerk-hire. 
 
 971. Special permission required for all expendi- 
 
 tures. 
 
 972. Postmasters to recommend money -order sys- 
 
 tem to the public. 
 
 973. Postmasters must conform strictly to reg- 
 
 ulations. 
 
 974. No money-order business on Sunday. 
 
 975. Letteis on money-order business to be for- 
 
 warded .separately. 
 
 976. Postmaster-General may make foreign money- 
 
 oi'der conventions. 
 
 977. Books to be kept at money-order post-offices • 
 
 Sec. 956. Establishment of the Money-Order System. — To promote public 
 convenience, and to insure greater security in the transfer of money 
 through the mail, the Postmaster- General may establi.sh and maintain, 
 under such rules and regulations as he may deem expedient, a uniform 
 money-order system, at all suitable post-otfices, which shall be designated 
 as " money-order offices." (R. S., 4027.) 
 
 Sec. 957. Object of the Money-Order System. — The money-order system 
 
 i.s iuteiuU'd ti) promote public convenience and to secure safety in the tran.sfer through 
 the mails of small sums of money. The principal means employed to attain safety con- 
 sist in leaving out of the money-order the name of the p.ayee or person for ^vhom the 
 money is intended. In this respect a money-order differs from au ordinary liank 
 draft or check. An advice, or notification, containing full particulars of the money- 
 order, is transmitted without dehvy by the issuing postmaster to the postmaster at the 
 po.st-office of pajnnent. The latter is thus furnished, liefore the money-order itself is 
 presented, with information which will enable him to prevent its payment to any 
 j)erson not entitled thereto, provided the remitter complies with the regulation of the 
 Department wMcli ]>roliibits him from sending the same information in a letter 
 inclosed with his mouc'v-order. 
 
 197 
 
198 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 Ss3. 953. Dasign of Congrsss in Establishing Money-Order Systeii. — The 
 following is the construction given by the late Attoruey-Geueral (Williams) to the 
 statute creating the money-order sj'stem : 
 
 Congress designed to give money-orders, in some res]iects, the character of ordinary 
 negotiable instruments, to the end that they might be received with full credit, and 
 their usefulness, in a business point of view, be thus promoted. 
 
 The statute does not contemplate that the remitter of the money-order shall be at 
 liberty to revoke it and demand back his money against the will of the payee after it 
 comes into the possession of the latter ; since, to enable the former to obtain a repay- 
 ment of the funds deposited, he must produce the monej^-order. 
 
 The payee of the money-order, upon complying with the requirements of the law 
 and of the regulations of the Post-Office Department, is entitled to payment of the 
 money on demand, and the remitter of the money-order cannot, previous to its being 
 paid, by any notice that he may give to the post-office at which it is payable, forbid 
 the payment thereof to the payee. (14 Opinions, 119.) 
 
 Sec. 959. Postmasters to Issue Money Orders. Responsibility therefor. — 
 The postmaster of every city where branch j^ost-offices or stations are 
 established and in operation, snbject to his supervision, is authorized, 
 under the direction of the Postmaster-General, to issue, or cause to be 
 issued, by any of his assistants or clerks in charge of branch post-offices 
 or stations, jjostal money-orders, payable at his own or at any other 
 money-order office, or at any branch i)ost-office or station of his own, 
 or of any other money-order office, as the remitters thereof may direct ; 
 and the postmaster and his sureties shall, in every case, be held account- 
 able upon his official bond for all moneys received by him or his desig- 
 nated assistants or clerks in charge of stations, from the issue of money- 
 orders, and for all moneys which may come into his or their hands, or be 
 placed in his or their custody by reason of the transaction by them of 
 money-order business. (R. S., § 4029.) 
 
 Seo. 980. Issue of Money-Orders by Clerks. Postmasters' Responsibility. — 
 In case of the sickness or unavoidable absence from his office of the 
 postmaster of any money-order post-office, he may, with the approval 
 of the Postmaster-General, authorize the chief clerk, or some other clerk 
 employed therein, to act in his place, and to discharge all the duties 
 required by law of such postmaster ; and the official bond given by the 
 principal of the office shall be held to cover and apply to the acts of the 
 person appointed to act in his place in such cases ; and such acting 
 officer shall, for the time being, be subject to all the liabilities and i)en- 
 alties prescribed by law for the official misconduct in like cases of the 
 postmaster for whom he shall act. (R. S., 4031.) 
 
 Sec. 931. Postmasters to Designate Clerks to Sign Money-Orders, when. — 
 In case of the sickness or unavoidable absence for a length of time from his post-office 
 of the postmaster at a money-order post-office, ho should apply to the Postmaster- 
 General for permission to put a designated clerk in his place to discharge his duties, 
 upon the condition that the bond of the postmaster shall cover and apply to the acts 
 of such clerk. 
 
 Sec. 982. Signature by Clerks for Postmasters and by Acting Postmasters. — 
 
 It is desirable that money-orders and otlier otUcial papers should in all cases be signed 
 by the postmaster himself; but when, by reason of his unavoidable absence, it may 
 be necessary for the assistant postmaster or designated clerk to sign the moucy-orders, 
 
TITLE VI THE MONEY-OKDER SYSTEM. 199 
 
 the postinastor's namo must lie writtoii, ami lnucath it tin* naiiK- and (l<'.si<;nutii)ii of 
 the writer, tlins: 
 
 "JOHN DOE, 
 
 *' FoxtmaHter, 
 "By RICHAlfl) KOE, 
 "Aasislaiil I'Dslmaxler {or Clrrk)." 
 It may .also liapp»Mi that in case of the doatli, the ab.seoinliim, or the arrest of a 
 postmaster, a person may he jihaced hy the sureties in charj^e of the iiost-olhce as 
 "aetinj; postmaster" for them until a new postmaster is appointed hy the Dejiartment. 
 The person thus placed in charge shouUl sign money-orders and other otflcial papers 
 as "acting postmaster." 
 Sec. 933. Classification of Money-Order Post-Officss. — Money-order post- 
 
 ofhees are divided into two classivs. Post-olliinvs of tlif tir.st class are, depositories, in 
 which those of the second class deposit their surplus mouey-ordi-r funds. This classi- 
 fication does not in any manner refer to that estaldished hy section 100. The names of 
 money-order post-ottices of the first class are printed in the United States Official Postal 
 Guide in italics. Any post-othce in either class may draw upon any other post-oftice in 
 the list of money-order jtost-ottices. 
 
 Sec. 964. New Bonds Required at Post-Offices Made Money-Order Offices. — 
 
 Postmasters whose post-otiices are designated as money-order post-otfices are re(iuired, 
 before commencing the money-order business, to give a new bond to the government, 
 with at least two sureties, which is conditioned for the faithful performance of the 
 duties and obligations imposed upon them by the laws relating to the postal as well 
 as to the money-order business. 
 
 Sec. 965. Books, Circulars, Blanks Furnished Money-Order Post-Offices. — 
 
 When a post-office is designated as a money-order olHee, the postmaster will hv fur- 
 nished with the books required to be kept, and with the necessary blank forms for 
 conducting the money-order business. Postmasters should be careful not to sufter 
 their stock of these blanks to become exhausted, but to make a timely application 
 for a hew supply. The utmost economy in the use of blanks is always to be observed. 
 The registers and the cash-book, being the property of the Department, must be care- 
 fully i)reserv^ed by the postmaster, and must be delivered up when called for, or npou 
 his going out of office. All circulars and instructions sent to a postmaster must be 
 kept on file in his post-ofiice, permanently for reference. 
 
 Sec. 966. Duty of Retiring Postmaster at a Money-Order Post-Office. — In 
 case of the appointment of a new postmaster at a money-order post-office, it will be- 
 come the duty of the late pcKstmaster to render a statement of the business transacted 
 Tip to the date on which he ceased to bo responsible, even should it be for a fractional 
 part of a week only. Upon giving up charge of the post-office, he will deposit with 
 his successor the balance of money-order funds remaining in his hands, taking dupli- 
 cate receipts therefor, one of which he will transmit to the Superintendent of the 
 Money-Order System, together with his final statement, in the "Summary " of which 
 lie will take credit for the amount thus deposited. The late postmaster will also turn 
 over to his successor the money-order books, blanks, and all circulars and instruc- 
 tions which have been sent to the post-oftice by the Department, and also all advices 
 on hand of money-orders drawn npon him, whether paid or unpaid, and he will obtain 
 therefor, as in the preceding case, duplicate receipts, one of which he will transmit to 
 the Department; the receipt must distinctly state the number and description of the 
 blanks, and must designate the first and the last number of the money-order and ad- 
 vice forms delivered, as, "From No. 13;i to No. .">00, iuclusive." The late postmaster 
 will, therefore, obtain from his successor two separate and distinct sets of receipts — 
 one for the money-order funds only, and one for the money-order blanks. 
 
 Sec. 987. Duty of Incoming Postmaster at a Money-Order Post-Office. — 
 
 Upon taking charge of a money-order post-office, the postmaster will obtain from his 
 predecessor full iuformatiou as to the condition of the accounts of the post-office, the 
 
200 POSTAL LAWS AND EEGULATIONS. 
 
 place of deposit, etc., and he will debit himself in the money-order cash-book, and in his 
 first weekly statement, with the amount of funds received from his predecessor. If 
 the latter had been furnished with a credit on the postmaster at Xew York, he will 
 apply at once to the Department for a transfer to himself of the unexpended balance 
 of such credit, or, if there be no balance, for a renewal thereof in his favor. 
 
 Sec. 968. Extra Compensation for Issuing and Paying Money-Orders. — 
 Postmasters at money-order offices may be allowed, as compensation for 
 issuing" and paying money-orders, not exceeding one-third of the whole 
 amount of the fees collected on orders issued and one-fourth of one per 
 centum on the gross amount of orders i^aid at their respective offices, 
 provided such compensation, together with the postmaster's salary, shall 
 not exceed foiu' thousand dollars per annum, except in the case of the 
 postmaster at Xew York City. (R. S., § 4047.) 
 
 Sec. 969. Pajrment for Stationery and Incidentals out of Money-Order Pro- 
 ceeds. — The Postmaster-General may pay out of the proceeds of the 
 money-order business the cost of stationery and such incidental ex- 
 penses as are necessary for the transaction of that business. (R. S., § 
 4048.) 
 
 Sec. 970. Surplus Money-Order Proceeds. Limit of Clerk-Hire. — If the 
 entire receipts from the rates of compensation allowed by section 968 for the money- 
 order business at any post-office should, when added to the annual salary of the post- 
 master, exceed the sum of §4,000 per annum, or $1,000 per quarter, he must account 
 to the Department for the surplus of such receipts. At the close of each quarter post- 
 masters will be duly notified by the Auditor of the amount allowed for commissions, 
 and instructed as to the proper entry to be made thereof. Postmasters whose total 
 compensation from all sources amounts to $4,000 per annum can receive nothing in 
 addition thereto for the transaction of the money-order business, but may be allowed 
 by the Postmaster-General a fixed sum for the necessary clerical force actually em- 
 ployed in that business. Postmasters are strictly prohibited from employing in the 
 transaction of their money-order business any portion of the time of their clerks paid 
 for out of the allowance from postal funds for clerk -hire. 
 
 Sec. 971. Special Permission Rec[uired for All Expenditures. — Postmasters 
 
 are not authorized to incur, without special permission from the Department, any ex- 
 pense whatever on account of the money-order business, except for necessary stationery 
 to be used exclusively in that business ; but they will bear in mind that all blank- 
 books and blanks required in the transaction of the mouey-order business ai"e not to be 
 purchased by them, but will be furnished by the Department, upou application there- 
 for to the Superintendent of the Money-Order System. They will take credit for all 
 authorized expenses incurred on money-order account iu the cash-book, and iu the 
 sunmiary of the weekly statement, under the liead of "incidental expenses," and will 
 be careful to forward with the statement proper vouchers for the credits claimed 
 therein. Such vouchers must specifically state that the said expense was incurred on 
 money-order account. Upon application to the Third Assistant Postuiaster-General, 
 jiostmasters at money -order post-offices will be supplied by the Department with a 
 sufficient number of envelopes of the size required in the transaction of the mouey- 
 order business. 
 
 Sec. 972. Postmasters to Recommend the Money-Order System to the Public. — 
 
 It is expected of postmasters that they will use a legitimate iudueuce iu recommend- 
 ing the mouey-order system, and, by courteous .attention to the in([uiries of applicants, 
 exhibit its superiority as a safe method of transmitting snxall sums of money through 
 the mails. 
 
 Sec. 973. Postmasters must Conform Strictly to Regulations. — The success 
 of the money-order system will greatly depend upou the attention, promptitude, and 
 
TITLE VI THE MONEY-ORDER SYSTEM. 
 
 201 
 
 accuracy f'f post'iiiVstorH ; ami it is expected, therefore, that every ]H>stiiia.Hter\vill care- 
 fully study the re<fiilati<>us ami stri(^tly cnulorin to them. I'ostimisters an; als<» re- 
 quired to report to tlie Superiiiteudeiit ot'tlie Miuiey-Ortler .System all eases of repeateil 
 failure in the re(H',ipt by tliem of advices frou» any ouc i»ost-oriiee. Xe,yli^en<-e in for- 
 wardiii<5 advices cannot Ix^ tt)hn'ated. It causes delay in jiayment, and thereby often 
 intlicts great hardship upon the payoo. It, moreover, tends to deran^^c and discredit 
 the money-order system. 
 
 Sec. 974. No Money-Order Business on Sunday. — Postmastens are not per- 
 mitted to t r;iiis:iet any money-order business on .Sunday. 
 
 Sec. 975. Letters on Money-Order Business to be Forwarded Separately. — 
 
 All letters ;iddressed by postmasters to the Department, or tin; .Superinti-ndent of the 
 Money-Order .System, should be forwarded separately, and are not, under any circum- 
 stances, to be inclosed in envelopes with the "weekly statenu-nts. 
 
 Sec. 976. Postmaster-General makes Foreign Money-Order Conventions. — 
 The Postmaster-Geueral may conclude aiTaugcnieuts with the i>o.st de- 
 ])artment.s of foreign governments Avitli whicli postal convention.s have 
 been, or may be, concluded, for the exchange, by means of postal orders, 
 of small sums of money, not exceeding fifty dollars in amount, at .sucli 
 rates of exchange, and compensation to postmasters, and under such 
 rules and regulations as he may deem expedient ; and the expenses of 
 establishing and conducting- such system of exchange may be paid out 
 of the i)roceeds of tlie nwney-order bu.siness. (R. S., § 4028.) 
 
 Sec. 977. Books to be Kept at Money-Order Post-Offices. — The books to be 
 
 kept, and which, to insure nniformity, will lie furnished to all the money-order post- 
 offices by the Department, \ipon ap^dicatiou to the Superintendent of the Money-Order 
 System, are: 
 
 1. A register of money-orders issued, iu which must bo recorded, daily, the particu- 
 lars of all orders issued. 
 
 2. A register of advices received, which will l»e used for the record of advices. 
 
 3. A casli-book, showing the debit aud credit transactions of each day. 
 
 They should contain a complete record of the money-order business of the post-offices 
 to which they are furuished, and must be fully written up before the close of each day. 
 
 The headings of the registers, together with the instructions contained iu Chapter 
 Five of this Title, will so etiectually direct postmasters that no mistakes need occur iu 
 keeping these books. 
 
 CHAPTER TWO. 
 
 ISSUE OF DOMESTIC MONEY-ORDERS, 
 
 Sec. 
 
 978. Blank fomia of application to be supplitHl. 
 
 979. Postinastcrs proliihiti'tl from tilling up mouey- 
 
 onler ai)plicatiou9. 
 
 980. Printed forms to bo fuinislietl for nionej- 
 
 orders. 
 
 981. Money-order advices. 
 
 982. No money-order to be issued on credit. 
 
 983. Fees ujion money-orders. No order for more 
 
 than tifty dollars. 
 9S4. Fractional parts of a cent not to be included. 
 
 985. Only three fifty-dollar orders to one person 
 
 for same payee. 
 
 986. Issuing money-orders and transmitting ad- 
 
 vices. 
 
 Sec. 
 
 987. Stamping money-orders and advices. 
 
 988. Persons i)rocuiing money-orders must care- 
 
 fully examine them. 
 
 989. Signature of postmaster on money -orders must 
 
 be written. 
 
 990. "When erroi-s are made new money -orders 
 
 must be made out. 
 
 991. How to use blank money -orders and advices. 
 
 992. Omitted and defective bbinks to be reported. 
 
 993. PostmastiMS responsible for loss of money- 
 
 order forms. 
 
 994. How postmasters should make out advices. 
 i 99.1. AVlieu second advices sboulil be issued. 
 
 ' 990. Amount of money-order to be in writing. 
 
202 POSTAL LAWS AN^D REGULATIONS. 
 
 Sec. 
 
 997. Money-orders may be drawn upon what post- 
 
 offices. 
 
 998. Notice money-order offices discontinued. 
 
 999. Postmasters to instruct applicants on what 
 
 post-office to draw. 
 
 1000. Money-orders to be recorded when issued. 
 
 Sec. 
 
 1006. Duplicate money-orders issaed only by the 
 
 Siiperiatendent. 
 
 1007. Duty of postmaster applying for duplicate 
 
 money -order. 
 
 1008. Second advice furnished when needed to get 
 duplicate. 
 
 1001. Report when $300 is drawn upon other than I 1009. Original money-order may be paid before 
 
 first-class post-offices. 
 
 1002. Advices to be checked to insure correctness. 
 
 1003. Reissue of money-orders. New fee required. 
 
 1004. Rules for reissuing money-orders. 
 
 1005. Issue of duplicate monej'-orders. 
 
 duplicate is issued. 
 
 1010. Duty of postmaster certifying to non-pay- 
 
 ment of money-order. 
 
 101 1. Postmasters cannot issue duplicates. 
 
 1012. On what post-offices duplicates can be drawn. 
 
 Sec. 978. Blank Forms of Application to be Supplied. — The Postmaster- 
 General shall supply money-order [post] offices with blank forms of appli- 
 cation for money-orders, which each applicant shall fill up with his name, 
 the name and address of the party to whom the order is to be paid, the 
 amount and the date of application ; and all such aj)i)lications shall be 
 preserved by the postmaster receiving them for such time as the Post- 
 master-General may prescribe. (R. S., § 4033.) 
 
 Sec. 979. Postmasters not to Fill up Money-Order Applications. — When a 
 mouey-order is applied for, the postmaster will funiish the applicant with a printed 
 form of application (Form No. 0001), in which the latter must enter, himself, .all the 
 particulars of amount, name, address, &c., required to be stated in the money-order 
 and advice. Postmasters and money-order clerks are strictly in'ohibited from filling 
 up the application. 
 
 Sec. 980. Printed Forms to be Furnished for Money-Orders. — Tlie Post- 
 master-General shall furnish money-order [post] offices with printed or 
 engraved forms for money-orders, and no order shall be valid unless it 
 be drawn upon such form. (R. S., § 4034.) 
 
 Sec. 981. Money-Order Advices. — The postmaster issuing a money-order 
 shall send a notice thereof by mail, without dehiy, to the postmaster on 
 whom it is drawn. (R. S., § 4035.) 
 
 Sec. 982. No Money-Order to be Issued on Credit. — Any postmaster who 
 issues a mone^'-order without having previously received the money 
 therefor shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall be fined not 
 less than fifty nor more than five hundred dollars. (R. S., § 4030.) 
 
 Postmasters are not permitted to receive in payment of money-ox'ders issued by them, or 
 to pay out for money-orders drawn upon them, any money that is not a legal-tender by 
 the laws of the United States, except national bank notes. Check, drafts, or promissory 
 notes are not to be received under any circumstances for money-orders. 
 
 Sec. 983. Fees upon Money-Orders. No Order for more than Fifty Dollars. — 
 On and after the first day of July, eighteen hundred and seventy-five, 
 the fees on money-orders shall be, for orders not exceeding fifteen dol- 
 lars, ten cents ; exceeding fifteen and not exceeding thirty dollars, fif- 
 teen cents; exceeding thirty and not exceeding fort^^ dollars, twenty 
 cents ; exceeding forty and not exceeding fifty dollars, twenty-five cents ; 
 and no money-order shall be issued for a sum greater than fifty dollars. 
 (R. S., § 4032, as amended by act of March 3, 1875, 18 Stat., p. 351.) 
 
 Sec. 984. Fractional Parts of a Cent not to be Included. — A single money- 
 order may include any amount from one cent to fifty dollars, but such uioney-order 
 must not coutaiu a fractional part of a cent. 
 
TITLE VI THE MONEY-ORDER SYSTEM. 203 
 
 Sec. 985. Only Three Fifty-Dollar Orders to one Person for same Payee. — 
 
 Wlu-n a liiij^rr .siuii than lifty tlollars is rciinircd, aildidoiml inniii'v-orfliTs t<» iiiakr it ii|» 
 iiuist lteol»taiii('«l. Hut post iiiaHt<TH art'! UHt rue ted to refuse to isHiic in one day, to the saint) 
 roinitter and in favor of the same jtayiM', more than tliree money-orders ]»ayal»h^ at tlie. 
 samo i)ost-oHiee. Tlie plain evasion of tills rule by the 8nl>stitnti<»n of a diffen'iit 
 remitter for every three of a larf^e immber of money-orders issued in om; day, in favor of 
 the same i)ayee, should nf)t Ix* tolerated liy ]iostmasters. 
 
 Sec. 986. Issuing^ Money-Orders and Transmitting Advices. — From the itom.s 
 
 oontaiiMMl in the ajiplication, tlu) postmaster will make out the money-onler re(|nired 
 in c<»nformity therewith, and also the corresponding form of advice. The numey-order, 
 ■when completed, is to he handed to the apidicant upon i)ayment of the sutn expressi-d 
 therein and of the fee charg<'al)le tlu'reon, which fee must invariably be p.iid in money, 
 postage-stamps not being receivable therefor. By the first mail dispatched to the 
 2)ost-ottice of payment after the issue of a money-order, the ])ostmaster m nst transmit, in a 
 sealed envelope, the corresponding advice to the postmaster at the itost-office upon 
 which it is drawn. In forwarding advices lie must use only such envelopes as bear 
 the print<Mi letters M. O. B. or the words Monei/ Order Jiiminess. Delay aiul mistakes 
 in sending advices cause difhculty in payment and tend to discredit the system. 
 Their repetition will lead to the removal of the negligent postmaster. The utmost 
 accuracy must be observed in writing both the money-order and the advice, neither of 
 which should be "post-dated," but each should in every instance bear the stamp of the 
 actual date of issue. The application must be uumbere d to correspond with the money- 
 order issued, an<l tiled for future reference. 
 
 Sec. 987. Stamping Money-Orders and Advices. — To insure at all times a 
 
 clear imiucssion, a special stamp must be employed for stamping money-onh-rs and 
 advices, which should never be used for stamping letters. Such stamp is not to con- 
 tain the postmast er's name, but only the name of the post-office and State or Territory, 
 with till" date of impression and the letters M. O. H. 
 
 Sec. 988. Persons Procuring Money-Orders must Carefully Examine them. — 
 
 Parties proctiring money-orders should examine them carefully to see that they are 
 properly filled up and stamped. This caution will appear the more necessary when 
 it is understood that any defect in this respect will throw difficulties in the way of 
 payment. 
 
 Sec. 989. Signature of Postmaster on Money-Orders must be Written. — 
 The signature of the postmaster or designated clerk w^lio issues a money-order must 
 invariably be written and not stamped thereon. 
 
 Sec. 990. When Errors are made New Orders must be made out. — If an 
 
 error of any kind bo made in filling nyi a m ouey-onler, and it lie discovered at the 
 time ofissuiug or before the advicehas been dispatched, a new money-order must be made 
 out, as no alteratiousor erasures are permitted. The special attention of postmasters is 
 called to this important regulation. 
 
 Sec. 991. How to Use Blank Money-Orders and Advices. — Postmasters 
 
 will observe that the forms for money-orders and advices are numbered, consecutively, 
 from 1 to 500 or 1,000, or to higher numbers, according to the reipiirements of the 
 issuing post-office. This is intended as a safeguard against the improper use of the 
 blanks ; and therefore when, through mistake or from any other cause, any of them 
 have been spoiled, the words Not issued must be written or stamped acrossbuth the mon- 
 ey-order and the advice. The spoiled money-order, with the corresjionding advice, must 
 be transmitted to tlu' Superintendent of the Money-Order System with the weekly state- 
 ment, and must be entered therein in its proper numerical order, with the words 
 Not issued written opposite, the particulars and amount of the money-order being left 
 blank. A similar entry must be made against the corresponding number in the regis- 
 ter of money-orders issued. No departure from this rule will be permitted, as the Post- 
 master-General imperatively requires that every blank form of a money-order sent to a 
 
204 POSTAL LAWS AND KEGULATIONS. 
 
 postmaster shall be accounted for at the end of the week in which it is used, or can- 
 celed as spoiled and not issued. 
 
 Sec. 992. Omitted and Defective Blanks to be Reported. — Money-order 
 
 and advice forms should be carefully examined by the postmaster immediately upon 
 their receipt, and all irregularities reported. Should a blauk money-order be omitted 
 i n the book supplied to a post-office, the postmaster will make a note thereof opposite 
 the proper number in the weekly statement in which the money-order would have aj)- 
 peared if supplied. He will also make a similar memorandum in his register of money- 
 orders issued. Should any of these blanks be defective or mutilated, the postmaster 
 will cut out and return the same to the Superintendent of the Money-Order System, and 
 treat the blank or blanks as "Not issued." Should any of the blank money-orders be 
 duplicated, it will only be necessary to cut out the extra one and return it to the 
 Department. 
 
 Sec. 993. Postmasters Responsible for Loss of Money-Order Forms. — Post- 
 masters should keep their stock of blauk money-order forms and advices iu their own 
 custody, under lock and key, in some place of security to which unauthorized persons 
 cannot have access, and they will be held responsible for any loss which the Depart- 
 ment may suffer arising from fraud made possible through a disregard of this regu- 
 lation. 
 
 Sec. 994. How Postmasters should make x)ut Advices. — The given names 
 
 of both remittor and payee must be entered in the advice in full when possible ; and 
 a married woman must be described by her own name, and not by that of her husband, 
 it the former name is known to the remitter. Thus, the appellation " Mrs. JT'i7/m»i 
 Brown" is defective, as it does not accurately describe the payee, whose true name may 
 be Mrs. Mary Brown. Both names and sums must be written so legibly as to etfect- 
 nally guard against errors. When an .applicant is unable to state the initials of the 
 given name or names of an individual to whom he desires to send a money-order, 
 the postmaster must refuse to issue the money-order. A money-order should always 
 be made payable to one person or to one firm only, and not to either of two or more 
 designated persons or firms. 
 
 Sec. 995. "When Second Advices should be Issued. — When a second or 
 
 duplicate advice is required, in conse(pieuce of the original advice having been spoiled 
 in issuing a money-order or when the original advice is stated not to have reached its desti- 
 nation, or when it is necessary to readvise for any reported discrepancy in number, 
 name, or amount, one of the spare advice forms headed " Second advice " must be used. 
 Whenever the issuing postmaster receives a "Letter of inquiry" from the postmaster 
 at the post-office of payment,' in "case of discrepancy between the advice and the 
 statement of the payee," the former will carefully examine the original "application," 
 and if it agrees with the statement of the payee, he will fill up a " second advice" 
 from the application. If, howevei*, the application agrees with the first advice, he 
 will, when practicable, ascertain from the remitter what correction, if any, is required 
 in the application, and fill up the "second advice" accordingly. But in case the re- 
 mitter cannot readily be found, the postmaster will simply fill up from the application 
 a "second advice," antl Avrite thereon the words, Eemittkk XOT FOUND. 
 
 Sec. 996. Amount of Money-Order to be in "Writing. — When monej'-orders 
 
 are issued for sums less than one dollar, or for any amount iu complete dollars, the 
 spaces for " dollars " or " cents," as the case may be, both at the head and in the body 
 of the money-order, must be filled up with a heavy dash, so as in all cases eft'ectually 
 to prevent any subseriuent alteration. The amount in the body of the money-order 
 must invariably be expressed iu writing, and not in figures. 
 
 Sec. 997. Money-Orders may be Drawn upon what Post-Offices. — Money- 
 orders can only l)e drawn upon such post-otiiccs as are enumerated in the list of money- 
 order post-offices contained in the United States Official Postal Guide. In issuing money- 
 orders, the name of the post-office drawn upon must not bo abbreviated, but must be 
 written in full upon advices as well as upon money-orders. 
 
TITLE VI — THE MONEY-ORDER SYSTEM. 205 
 
 See. 998. Notice Money-Order Post-Offlces Discontinued. — On receipt by 
 
 postmasti'iij otoiich uuml)i;r oftlu! I'o.stiil Giiiih-. tlicy aii;»lir(;ctc«l to reud caiel'ully tlu) 
 list of moncy-onlor otiices discontinued, which is placed at the top of the list of 
 nionoy-ordrr ])()st-f)rtic('s. 
 
 Sec. 999. Postmasters to Instruct Applicants on what Post-Office to Draw. — 
 
 It is expected of ])(tstni:i.stcis tliat tliey will exrrci.se their jnd^^iiieiit with leMjieet to 
 tho selection of the ])()st-()t1rtce upon whi(!li si money-order miiy he drawn, as the appli- 
 cant, from lack of information, is liahle to mistakes as to locality which may he jiro- 
 ductivc of inconvenieiiee to the p.ayee. Therefore, when occaNiou reiiuin-s, postmas- 
 ters will endeavor to ascertain which is the money-order post-ottice most conveniently 
 situated for the purpose of the remitter, and to ailviso him that the money-order be 
 drawn thereon. 
 
 Sec. 1000. Money-Orders to be Recorded when Issued. — Upou the i.ssne of 
 a money-order, tlie postmaster will record all the particulars thereof in the "re{!;ister 
 of money-orders issued," as directed hy the headings; and if any subsequent actirm 
 should l)c taken in reference thereto (such, for instance, as repayment, tlie issue of a 
 duplicate, etc.), he will note the alteration oxiposit'e the entry in the rcf^ister under the 
 head of "Remarks." 
 
 Sec. 1001. Report $300 Drawn upon other than First-Class Post-Offices. — 
 
 "When the a<j;jijrei;ate amount of money-orders issued hy any money-onler post-ottice 
 in one day, upon a post-otUce of otlier than the first class, equals or exceeds $'.W}, the 
 issuing postmaster will he required to send by the first mail a special notice of tho 
 fact, stating the amount drawn for, to the Superintendent of the Money-Order System. 
 (See Form No. 6037.) Postmasters are required to pay strict attention to this rule, as 
 a neglect of tho duty it enjoins may result in delay of payment, and consequent in- 
 convenience to the payee. 
 
 Sec. 1002. Advices to be Checked to Insure Correctness. — Postmasters are 
 
 strictly enjoined to check their advices carefully before dispatching them, so as to be 
 sure that they are correctly addressed. 
 
 Sec. 1003. Reissue of Money-Orders. New Fee Required. — After a money- 
 order has been issued, if the purchaser desires to have it modified or 
 changed, the postmaster who issued the order shall take it back and 
 issue another in lieu of it, for which a new fee shall be exacted. (E. S., 
 § 4038.) 
 
 Sec. 1004. Rules for Reissuing Money-Orders. — When the remitter of a 
 
 money-order desires to change the place of payment oi the same, or when a mistake 
 lias been made in drawing a money-order through error of the remitter, the issuing post- 
 master is authorized, with the above restrictions, to take back the iirst money-order, 
 Avhich he will repay, and issue another in lieu thereof, for which a second fee must bo 
 charged and exacted as on a new transaction, in accordance with the preceding section. 
 If the advice has gone forward to the post-otflce upon which the original money-order 
 was drawn, he will, by the first mail, dispatch a special notice, informing the post- 
 master at that post-otfice of the repayment of said money-order. The special advice is 
 not to be used instead of the proper accompanying advice of the new money-order, 
 but is additional to it. Under no circumstances must a postmaster issue a new money- 
 order in lieu of another until the original money-order shall have been returned to 
 him. Should the mistake be made by the postmaster he will be held responsible 
 therefor, and must charge himself with the fee for issuing the new money-order. If 
 the original advice has not been mailed to the paying post-oflftce, the money-order 
 should be treated by the postmaster as "spoiled" or not "issued," in acconlauce with 
 section 991 of these regulations. 
 
 Sec. 1005. Issue of Duplicate Money-Orders. — Whenever a money-order 
 has been lost, the Postmaster-General, upon the applicati()n of the 
 remitter or payee of such order, may cause a duplicate thereof to be 
 
206 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 issued, without charge, providing the i)arty losing the original shall fur- 
 nish a certificate from the postmaster by whom it was payable that it 
 has not been, and will not thereafter be, paid ; and a similar certificate 
 from the postmaster by whom it was issued that it has not been, and 
 will not thereafter be, repaid. (R. S., § 4040.) 
 
 Sec. 1008. Duplicate Money-Orders Issued only by tli3 Superintendent. — 
 In case a money-order is lost in trausinission, or otherwise, a duplicate will be issued 
 Ijy the Superintendent of the Money-Order System, on the receipt of an aj)plication 
 therefor from either the remitter, the payee, or the indorsee of the original. Such ap- 
 plication should be made on Form No. 6002, and should be forwarded to the Depart- 
 ment by the issuing or the paying postmaster. The duplicate can be made payable 
 only to the payee, or, in case of indorsement, to the indorsee of the original, unless the 
 written consent of the payee or indorsee to the repayment of the money-order, by dupli- 
 cate, to the remitter, shall have been obtained by the latter, and duly filed in the Depart- 
 ment. Such written consent must bear a certificate as to its genuineness from the 
 postmaster at the place where the payee resides. It is the duty of the issuing and of 
 the paying postmaster to aid the remitter, as far as they may be able, in obtaining the 
 consent required by this section. If the payee is dead, the remitter must obtain the 
 ■written consent of his legal representative, who should be required to exhibit to the 
 postmaster, who certifies to such consent, the proper documentary evidence of his au- 
 thority to act in that capacity. If the owner of the money-order (whether the payee or 
 indorsee), or his legal representative, cannot, after the l.-ipse of a reasonable time, be 
 found, the remitter should forward to the Department satisfactory evidence of that fact, 
 if he desires repayment. A blank bond of indemnity, in a penal sum of double the 
 amount of the lost money-order, will then be sent him, to be executed by himself and 
 two sureties, and returned to the Department : the condition of such bond being that 
 if, after the issue and payment of a duplicate money-order to the remitter, any other 
 person establishes a valid adverse claim to the original money-order, the amount so 
 paid by duplicate shall be refunded to the Post-Office Department. Upon full compli- 
 ance with the above requirements, the remitter tlms situated will receive a duplicate 
 of the lost money-order. 
 
 Sec. 1007. Duty of Postmaster Applying for Duplicate Money-Order. — 
 
 When a postmaster has been informed by the remitter, payee, or indorsee of a money- 
 order that the same has been lost or destroyed, he will cause the said remitter, payee, or 
 indorsee to sign a statement, setting forth the loss or destruction thereof, and contain- 
 ing a request for the issue of a^duplicate. If the applicant is the indorsee of the orig- 
 inal, his application must be accompanied by a certificate to that eft'ect from the payee, 
 the genuineness of which must be attested by the postmaster at the hitter's place of 
 residence. The postmaster before whom the application is made will complete the 
 application by enumerating the particulars of the lost money-order, and by stating to 
 whom the dui)licate is to be made payable, whether to the payee or to the indorsee, and 
 also the full address of such person. He will thereupon execute the proper certificate 
 relative to the i)ayment or repayment of the original money-order, and di8i)atch the 
 form to the issuing or to the paying postmaster, as the case may be, for his certificate. 
 The latter should be requested to forward the paper, when completed, to the Superin- 
 tendent of the Money-Order System. 
 
 Sec. 1008. Second Advice Furnished when Needed to get Duplicate. — In 
 
 case both the money-order and advice are lost, the issuing postmaster will, upon receiv- 
 ing notice of the loss of the latter from the paying postmaster, forward to him a "sec- 
 ond advice," embracing all the i)articular8 of the missing advice, so that application 
 may be made through the paying postmaster, and he may be enabled to give his cer- 
 tificate in the maimer al)Ove described. 
 
 Sec. 1009. Original Money-Order may be Paid before Duplicate is Issued. — 
 
 Should the original money-order alleged to be lost come into the possession of the re- 
 
TITLE VI — THE MONEY-ORDER SYSTEM. 207 
 
 mittor, pnyoo, or iii<lorsot> tlKircof, and should th(! ijostiiiastcr to whom the moiu-y-onlcr 
 is prt'scntnl notify the IJepurtnR'Ut ofthf liict hoforu a dnplicatc in i.ssni-d, «pfci:il pei- 
 iiiission will In- jjivcu him to pay or repay, as the case may be, snch orijrinal mon«'y- 
 order. IJut it" sntllcient time ha8 elapsed for the isnuo of a dnplieate, the postmaster 
 to whom the money-order is presented will write across it the words, Cancklkd — DU- 
 PLIOATK Ari'i.iKO i"t)U. If the person who presents it requires the jmstmaster to return 
 it to him, he may do so; ))nt, if not, the money-order should he sent to tln' Department. 
 
 Sec. 1010. Duty of Postmaster Certifying Non-payment of Money-Order. — 
 
 ^Vh('U a postmaster sii^us acertilieatc that a money-order drawn upon his iiost-otlicc lias 
 not been and will not be paid, ho should at once note the same )>y writing, in red 
 ink, across the face of the advice and under the entry thereof in the register of advices 
 received, the words Duplicate applikd fou — okuiixal monky-oudku xot to hk 
 paid; ami in the case of a money-order issued at his post-oftice, when he has certified 
 that the original money-order has not been and will not be repaid, he will write under 
 the entry of the said money-order, in the register of money-orders issued, the words 
 Duplicate applied for — ouiginal money-ordeu not to be repaid. Neglect of this 
 rule may involve a postmaster in serious trouble, as he will be held strictly accountable 
 should the original money-order be afterward paid or rejtaid at his post-ofiice. 
 
 Sec. 1011. Postmasters cannot issue Duplicates. — Duplicate luouey-onler.s 
 
 will lie issued only l)y tlu^ Dt-partnient. Under no circumstances whatever will a post- 
 master be allowed to issue them. 
 
 Sec. 1012. On what Post-Offices Duplicates can be Drawn. — A duplicate 
 
 money-order can only be drawn upon the issuing or on the paying post-oftice of the 
 original money-order, and becomes invalid if it bear more than one indorsement or is 
 not presented for payment within one year after its date. 
 
 CHAPTER THREE. 
 
 PAYMENT OF DOMESTIC MONEY-ORDERS. 
 
 Sec. I Sec. 
 
 1013. Money-order valid only cue year from date, i 1029. Money-orders must be correctly receipted 
 
 1014. Only one indorseiuent allowed on money- and stamped. 
 
 order. 1030. Payment of money-order on daj' of issue. 
 
 1015. Postmasters must have payees identified. 1031. Department not responsible after pajnueut of 
 
 1016. Money-orders must not be paid until advice money-order. 
 
 is received. 1032. How money -orders more than a year old may 
 
 1017. Advices examined and filed as received. i be paid. 
 
 1018. Advices miist be kept secret. j 1033. Advices to be examined for money-orders 
 
 1019. Missent advices to be remailed. over a year old. 
 
 1020. Second advice to be entered when received. 1034. Payment of amounts of money-orders iUe- 
 
 1021. Precautions to be taken before paying money- [ gaily indorsed. 
 
 orders. 1035. Repayment of money -order to applicant. 
 
 1022. Money-orders not properly issued to be re' \ 1036. Rules for repaying money-orders. 
 
 fused payment. | 1037. Repaid money-orders to be so stamped. 
 
 1023. Inquiry for missing advice. 1038. Repaid UKmey-orders to be signed by ■whom. 
 
 1024. Duty of postmaster when money-order does 1039. Repayment by duplicate. 
 
 not agree with advice. , 1040. .Special notice of repayment, how entered. 
 
 1025. Postmasters must provide against delays in 1041. Po.stmasters to pay only money-orders drawn 
 
 paying money-orders. I on their post-otlices. 
 
 1026. Paid money -orders to be stamped and re- 1042. Xotice to be sent to payee of duplicate. 
 
 corded. 1043. Postmaster-General may stop paynu>nt of 
 
 1027. Payment by duplicate to be noted. money -orders, when. 
 
 1028. Payment upon power of attorney or to legal 1044. When postmasti'rs should withhold pajiucut 
 
 representative. of inouey-ordi^rs. 
 
 Sec. 1013. Money-Orders Valid only for One Year from Date. — Xo money- 
 order shall be valid and i)ayable unless presented to the postmaster on 
 
208 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 whom it is drawn witliin one year after its date ; bnt tlie Postmaster- 
 General, on the application of the remitter or payee of any snch order, 
 may cause a new order to be issued in lieu thereof. (R. S., §4036.) 
 
 Sec. 1014. Only One Indorsement Allowed on Money-Orders. — The payee 
 of a money-order may, by his written indorsement thereon, direct it to 
 j be] paid to any other person, and the postmaster on whom it is draw'n 
 shall pay the same to the person thus designated, provided he shall fur- 
 nish such proof as the Postmaster-General may prescribe that the in- 
 dorsement is genuine, and that he is the person empowered to receive 
 payment; but more than one indorsement shall render an order invalid 
 and not payable, and the holder, to obtain payment, must apply in writ- 
 ing to the Postmaster-General for a new order in lieu thereof, returning 
 the original order, and making such proof of the genuineness of the in- 
 dorsements as the Postmaster-General may require. (R. S., §4037.) 
 
 Sec. 1015. Postmasters must have Payees Identified. — ^Wheii a money- 
 order is presented for j)aynieut at the post-office upoa which it is drawn, the post- 
 master or authorized clerk will use all j)roper means to assure himself that the ap- 
 plicantisthepersonuamed andintendedin theadvice, oristhe indorsee orattorney of the 
 latter ; and npon payment of the money-order care must be taken to obtain the sig- 
 nature of the payee, or of the person authorized by him to receive payment, to the 
 receipt on the face of the money-order. The signature to the receipt upon the face of 
 the money-order must be that of the pei'son who presents and receives payment of the 
 same. 
 
 Sec. 1016. Money-Orders must not be Paid until Advice is Eeceived. — No 
 
 money-order must be paid until the corresponding letter of advice has been received. 
 
 Sec. 1017. Advices Examined and Filed as Received. — As soon as prac- 
 ticable after the. close of each day's business, all advices received during the day must 
 be arranged and filed in alphabetical order according to the name of the issui ug post-office 
 so that, whenever needed, they may be referred to without difficulty. They must be 
 retained on file for a term of four years, at the expiration of which time they are to be 
 disposed of as " waste i)aper " of the post-office. The postmaster is required to examine 
 each advice when received, to see that it is properly stamped and in all respects regu- 
 lar, and at the same time, if found to be drawn upon his post-office, to enter the par- 
 ticulars thereof in the register of advices received. To avoid errors and to facilitate 
 payment, the ''paid" and "unpaid" advices should be kept in separate packages. 
 
 Sec. 1018. Advices must be Kept Secret. — Every care should be taken to 
 
 guard against the loss of these important documents ; and with this view, and to pre- 
 vent their disarrangement, they should be kept under lock and key. Postmasters, 
 assistant postmasters, and money-order clerks are forbidden to reveal to any jiersou 
 the information communicated to them by the advices in their possession of money- 
 orders drawn npon their respective post-offices. Sliould they do so, in any case, with- 
 out special permission from the Department, such action will be regarded by the Post- 
 master-General as sufficient cause for removal. 
 
 Sec. 1019. Missent Advices to be Remailed. — In the event of an advice 
 
 being received of a money-order which is not drawn upon his post-office, the post- 
 ma^stcr must transmit it by the first mail to its ])roper destination, previously noting on the 
 document the circumstance of its having been missent. A strict compliance Avitli 
 this regulation is of the utmost iuiiiortance to jirevent delay in paynu'nt. 
 
 Sec. 1020. Second Advice to be Entered when Received. — Should a second 
 
 advice bo received, correcting the number, name, or amount of the original, the entry in 
 the register should be altered accordinglj', and the second advice be attached to the 
 original, and i>]aced ou file. 
 
TITLE VI THE MONKY-ORDER SYSTEM. 209 
 
 Sec. 1021. Precautions to be Taken before Pa3ring Money-Orders. — When a 
 
 moncy-iirdcrisprosciitcd forpjiyiiicnt, tlio ])ostiiiastcr will first «N.iiiiiiif flicdoriimcrit tf> 
 sec tliat it isjjropcrly si<;m'(l, Htaiiipcd, <'tc. ; lif will t}i<'ii<'f)nipan' tlirdatf, nuinlKT, arid 
 amount with the advicf or with tlio record tlu'ret^f in the roj^istir of advicos nn-pjvod, 
 and satisfy himself that tlie ajtplieant is the person entitled to ])ayinent. Every 
 pereon who appli(^s for payincMit of a money-order should he reipiired Ity the \}<>Ht- 
 master to prove his identity, unless the applicant is known to l)e the ri;;htful owner 
 of the money-order. Special cautionshould heexereisedin the payment ofmoney-ordcrB 
 issued in favor of women or of soldiers or sailors. In the event of a money-order having 
 been paid to the wrong person through lack of necessary precatition on the part of the 
 postmaster, he will V»e held aecoiintahle for such payment. Whoever identifies the 
 payee of a money-order should he required, hefore payment is made, to write his name 
 and residence on the hack of the corresponding advice, under a statement that he 
 knows the applicant for jiayment to be the person he represents himself to be. 
 Care should be taken that the signature of the payee be as full as the name given in 
 the advice, and that it be in no way inconsistent therewith. If the payee be unable 
 to write, he must sign the receipt by making his mark, to be witnessed in writing. 
 The witness should sign his name, with his address, in the presence of the yiostmaster, 
 and the latter will then certify the payment by adding his own initials. The witness 
 should be known to the postmaster, but it is desirable (though not imperative) that 
 he be not connected with the post-office. In no case should the postmaster act as witness 
 himself. It is not absolutely necessary that the witness should be personally acquainted 
 with the payee. \Vlien the payee of a money-order is a bank, railway company, insurance 
 company, municipality, college, newspaper, society, or corporation of any kind, the 
 president, cashier, manager, secretary, treasurer, agent, or the person who has author- 
 ity to receive payment of moneys due such bank, railway company, «fec., must be 
 required to sign the receipt on the money-order in his official capacity, and the i)aying 
 postmaster may exact satisfactory proof that the applicant for payment is duly author- 
 ized to sign and to receive payment of the money-order. 
 
 Sec. 1022. Money-Orders not Properly Issued to be Refused Payment. — Should 
 
 thestampof theissuingpostmasterandthe written date be wanting upon amoney-order, 
 the postmaster at the post-office upon which it is drawn nuist decline payment, but a 
 money-order may be paid notwithstanding the absence of the stamp of the issuing post- 
 office, provided the money-order is not defective in any other respect. Money-orders 
 from which the stamp of either post-office has been omitted will be rejected as vouchers 
 by the Department, and will be returned to the postmaster at fault, in order that the 
 omis.sion may be supplied. 
 
 Sec. 1023. Inquiry for Missing Advice. — When a money-order is presented 
 
 for which no advice has been received, one of the printed letters of inquiry for missing 
 advices (Form No. 6006) must at once be dispatched to the postmaster who issued the 
 order. Under no circumstances whatever can an order be paid nntil the corresponding 
 advice shall have been received. 
 
 Sec. 1024. Duty of Postmaster when Money-Orders do not Agree with Advice. — 
 
 When a mouey-ordor is presented which does not agree with the advice, payment must be 
 refused until a second advice can be obtained, unless the ditference be evidently acci- 
 dental and tritiing, in which case the postmastermay, if he chooses, pay the money-order ; 
 but he will be held responsible if the payment should prove to be incorrect. Every case 
 of ditference, however small, between a money-order and an advice should be reported 
 in forwarding the money-order at the end of the week. If the discrepancy is considerable 
 and is not corrected by a second advice, the holder of the money-order shouM be directed 
 to return it to the remitter, so that the latter may present it to the issuing postmaster 
 for repayment and the issue of a new money-order in lieu thereof. If the latter postmas- 
 ter is responsible for the error, he must charge himself with the fee for the new money - 
 order. In case, however, the amount stated in the advice is less than that in the money- 
 14 PL 
 
210 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 order, pa^nnent of the lesser amount may be made to the payee at ouce, provided he 
 requests it. The postmaster must then -write across the face of the money-order this 
 memorandum : Paid $ , amount or advice, ix compliance with payee's kequest ; 
 and must send to the issuing postmaster for a second advice. Should the amount of the 
 second advice agree with that of the money-order the postmaster will transmit to the 
 Superintendent of the Money-Order System, in an envelope marked " Special," the paid 
 money-order, together with both advices and a full statement of the case, that he 
 may cause the balance due on the money-order to be paid to the payee. If the 
 second advice agrees in amount with the first, no further action need be taken in the 
 matter. 
 
 Sec. 1025. Postmasters Paying Money-Orders must Provide against Delays. — 
 
 It is the special duty of the postmaster to provide as far as possible against delay in the 
 payment of money-orders on presentation, by making immediate application for funds 
 (using Form No. 60.36), whenever the amount of advices received indicates the need of 
 assistance to enable him to pay (he corresponding money-orders. He is authorized to 
 defer payment only long enough to procure the requisite funds, and the delay, if he is 
 prompt in making his application, should not exceed five days. Should a postmaster 
 who has sufficient funds of the Department, whether arising from the issue of money- 
 orders or from postages, in his hands, refuse to pay money-orders drawn upon him 
 when dulj' presented, such refusal will be deemed sufficient cause for his immediate 
 removal. 
 
 Sec. 1026. Paid Money-Orders to be Stamped and Recorded. — After payment 
 of a money-order, the date of such payment must immediately be stamped upon the 
 money-order and upon the advice, and likewise entered opposite the record thereof 
 in the register of advices received, with the word Paid written opposite the entry, in 
 the column headed "Remarks." 
 
 Sec. 1027. Payment by Duplicate to be^SToted. — Wlien a money-order is paid 
 
 by duplicate, the fact must be noted iu the register of advices received, by writing op- 
 posite the entry of the advice, in the column of "Remarks," the words Paid by dupli- 
 cate No. — (adding the number and date of payment). The same should be written 
 iu red ink under the particulars of the original order in the weekly statement. 
 
 Sec. 1028. Payment upon Power of Attorney or to Legal Representative. — 
 
 Postmasters are prohibited from iiaying a money-order to a second person without the 
 written indorsement to such second person by the payee on the back of the money-order, 
 unless the payee has, by a duly executed power of attorney, designated and appointed 
 some person to collect moneys due or to become due him, iu which case the attorney 
 should be required, before payment is made him, to file at the post-office of payment 
 a certified coi)y of such jjower of attorney, or unless the payee has given a written 
 order, addressed to the paying postmaster, which is to be filed with the latter, author- 
 izing a second j»ers<m to receive payment of and to receipt for any specific money-order 
 or for all money-orders, payable by such postmaster to the i)ayee. Money-orders paid 
 upon a power of attorney, or upon a written older from the payee, should T)ear upoH 
 their face, written or stamped in red ink, the words Power of attorney on file, 
 or Written order on file, as the case may be. 
 
 Where money-orders are jiaid upon an indorsement, the utmost caution should bo 
 exercised, and before paying them the jjost master must be satisfied that the signature 
 to the indorsement is genuine, and that the person presenting the money-order is the 
 one named in the indor.sement. The i)erson presenting the money-order should be 
 required, if unknown to the postmaster, to prove his identity. The name of the in- 
 dorsee to whom a money-order is paid should be entered in the column of " Remarks" 
 in the "register of advices received," 
 
 In case of the death of the payee the money-order is to be paid to his "legal repre- 
 sentative," whether executor or administrator, who should be required to satisfy the 
 paying postmaster of his authority to act in such cajjacity, and to sign the receipt to 
 the money-order as executor or administrator, as the case may be. A money-order 
 
TITLE VI THE MONEY-OKDEK SYSTEM. 211 
 
 l>;iyiil)l(> to ;i firtii, bank, or r(»iM]iiiiiy wliii'li liiis ccjisrd to (;xisf, imiMt Im- |)iiitl to llin 
 Ifjiiil rcpi'csciitnl i\ <• tlincof. 
 
 Sec. 1029. Money-Orders must be Correctly Receipted and Stamped. — Any 
 
 moiH'y-onlir not corifcll.v n-cciiited, or not 8tani]>('(l witli tin- date of [layniint, will Ix- 
 disallowed from tlic wi't-kly acronnt and n-turni-d for correction. 
 
 Sec. 1030. Payment of Money-Order on Day of Issue. — Tlie Dcpartnient 
 
 docs not undertako to secure payment of a money-order on the day of its issu<i, but 
 the postmaster at the post-office drawn upon may, if lie has rcceivefl the correspondiug 
 advice, m.nke payment on that day. 
 
 Sec. 1031. Department not Responsible after Payment of Money-Order. — 
 
 After once payinjj a money-order, by whomsoever presented, provided t In- rccpiired infor- 
 mation has been given by the party who pre.sented it, tlie Department will not hold 
 itself liable to any further chiim, hut in ease of improper payment of a mouey-ordor, 
 will endeavor to recover the amount for the owner. 
 
 Sec. 1032. .How Money-Orders more than a Year Old may be Paid. — Any 
 
 money-order which is not presented for payment until after the expiration of one year 
 from the date thereof, is declared "invalid aud not payable" by section lOlli, and the 
 postmaster to wliom such money order is presented must refuse payment of the same. 
 In order to obtain payment of such invalid money-order, the holder will bo required 
 to forward the same, throuf^h the issiling or the paying postmaster, to the Suporiu- 
 tendeut of the Money-Order System of the Post-Office Department. (See Form No. 
 6003.) If the Department is satisfied that the money-order has not been paid, a dupli- 
 cate will be issued payable to the remitter, payee, or in<lorsee, as may be reqmvsted in 
 the application, and the same will be sent to the postmaster for delivery or payment, 
 as the case may be. 
 
 Sec. 1033. Examine Advices for Money-Orders over one Year Old. — The 
 
 register of advices received should bo carefully examined at least once a week, with a 
 view to ascertain whether any of the unpaid advices entered therein have become in- 
 valid by reason of being more than one year old; and should it be found that any of 
 tliem have become invalid for the reason stated, the several dates and numbers thereof 
 in the register must he underscored in red ink, and the advices picked out at the close 
 of the week aud forwarded to the Department ; the envelope containing the same 
 being indorsed Advicks of invalid ordeus. Under the corresponding entries thereof 
 in the register should be written, Ixvalid— AD^^CE forwarded to the Department 
 , 187 — . A strict compliance with this regulation is of the first importance. 
 
 Sec. 1034. Payment of Amounts of Money-Orders Illegally Indorsed. — It Ls 
 
 provided by law (section 1014) that more than one indorsement upon a. money-order 
 t^hall render the same invalid and not])ayable. Hence, the postmaster to whom a money- 
 order, whether "original" or "duplicate," thus illegally indorsed is presented, must 
 refuse payment of the same ; and the holder thereof, to obtain payment of the money- 
 order, is required to forward the same, with au'application for renewal, to the Superin- 
 tendent of the Money-Order System, and to furnish the statement, under oath or allirma- 
 tion, of two responsible persons known to the postmaster (whose certificate shall be 
 appended thereto) that the indorsement is genuiue, and that the holder is the person 
 named therein. (See Form No. (i003.) Upon his compliance with these reciuirements, 
 a duplicate of the illegally indorsed money-order will be issued, as above. In all cases 
 of lost or invalid money-orders, the owner of the money-order (whether remittor, 
 payee, or indorsee) may make ajjplication, through either the issuing or the paying 
 ]iostmaster, for a duplicate ; and it is the duty of the i>ostmaster to whom such applica- 
 tion shall be made to till up and dispatch the proper forms therefor. The duplicate 
 will be issued agreeably to the request contained in the postmaster's letter — i. c, to the 
 remitter, payee, or indorsee— and made payable at the issuing or the paying post-ofhce, 
 as may be desired, and forwarded to the address specified by the ai>plicant. 
 
 Sec. 1035. Repayment of Money-Order to Applicant— The postina.ster issu- 
 ing a money -order shall repay the amount of it upon application of the per- 
 
212 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 son who obtained it, and the return of the order; but the fee paid tor it 
 shall not be returned. (R. S., § 4039.) 
 
 Sec. 1038. Rules for Eepaying Money-Orders. — A postmaster may repay a 
 
 money-order issued at his own post-office, provided the money-order is presented to him 
 for that i^urpose, and is less than one year old, and does not bear more than one indorse- 
 ment ; bntthe repayment must be made to the person who obtained the money-order, 
 except in special cases. (See section 1038.) If the advice has gone forward to the 
 poet-office upon which the money-order was drawn, the postmaster will, by the first 
 mail,dispatch a special advice (Form No. 6036) notifying that post-office of the'repay- 
 ment. If the advice has not gone forward, it is to be transmitted to the Superintend- 
 ent of the Money-Order Sj'^stem, inclosed with the corresponding repaid money-order in 
 the weekly account. The fee must not in any case be refunded. 
 
 Sec. 1037. Repaid Money-Orders to be so Stamped. — The word Repaid (and 
 the date) must be written or stamped on the face of every repaid money-order, and a 
 corresponding entry made in the register of money-orders issued, against the par- 
 ticulars of the money-order and in the column headed "Remarks." 
 
 Sec. 1033. Repaid Money-Orders to be Signed, by Whom. — Every money- 
 order repaid must be signed by the remitter or jierson who procured it. But if he 
 should be unable to make application for such repayment in person, it can be made to 
 another party, in which case the remitter will fill up the indorsement upon the back 
 with the name of the person to whom he wishes the payment made, and sign his own 
 name thereto, substituting the word "remitter" for that of "payee," where the latter 
 occurs. But postmasters will exercise the greatest caution in repaying a money-order 
 to a second person. It may occasionally ha|ipen that a money-order is presented for 
 payment at the post-office of issue by the payee. The issuing postmaster is at liberty 
 to pay the money-order in such case, and treat it as "repaid," provided he is satisfied 
 as to the identity of the payee, and that the latter has good reasons for presenting the 
 order at his post-office. Across the face of the order should be written these words, 
 viz: Repaid to thk payee, and a "special advice of repayment" should be forwarded 
 to the post-office on which the mdfney-order was drawn. 
 
 Sec. 1039. Repayment by Duplicate. — When a money-order is repaid by 
 
 duplicate, the fact must be noted in the register of money-orders issued, by writiiig 
 opposite the entry of the original money-order, in the column of "Remarks," the words 
 Repaid by duplicate No. — (adding the number and the date of repayment). Special 
 notice must also be sent to the post-office on which the original money-oixler was drawn. 
 In taking credit for such repayment in the sunniiary of the weekly statement, the 
 postmaster will enter the number of the original monej^-order, and also that of the dupli- 
 cate, thus, "By money-order No. 1286 (repaid by duplicate 120), ^19.25." 
 
 Sec. 1040. Special Notice of Repayment, how Entered. — When a post- 
 master receives a special notice of the repayment of a money-order by the issuing post- 
 master, he will write the words Repaid at (naming the place and date) oppo- 
 site the entry in the register of advices received, and also upon the original advicei 
 which, .after having attached the special notice thereto, he will pl.ace on lil(^ 
 
 Sec. 1041. Postmasters Pay only Money-Orders on their Post-Offices. — jS^o 
 
 postmaste)' will be permitted to pay a money-order which is not drawn upon his post- 
 office. This, however, does not preclude the repayment of a money-order at the post- 
 office where it was drawn, .as s{)ecified in section 1036. The postmaster at the post- 
 office drawn upon m.ay also jiay a money-order to the remitter thereof, but such Jiair- 
 menti should be mad(^ with great caution, as prescribc'd in section WAS. 
 
 Sec. 1042. Notice to be Sent to Payee of Duplicate. — The postmaster who 
 
 receives from the Departnumt a duplicate payable by him must forthwith send notice 
 to the ijayco of such duplicate to call for payment. In jtaying a duplicate order the 
 postmaster is iHsquirod to exercise the same precautions as in paying an original order. 
 
 Sec. 1043. Postmaster-General may Stop Payment of Money-Orders, when. — 
 
TITLE VI — THH MONEY-ORDER SYSTEM. 218 
 
 The Postmaster-General may, upon evidence satisfactory to liim that 
 any person is (Mi^;i<;e«I in coiKliictinj; any fraudulent lottery, j^ilt enter- 
 prise, or scheme for the distribution of money, or of any real or jiersonal 
 property, by lot, chance, or drawing of any kind, or in conducting any 
 other scheme or device for obtaining money through the mails by means 
 of false or irau<lulent pretenses, representations, or promises, forbid the 
 payment, by any postmaster, to any such person of any ])ostal money- 
 order drawn to his order or in his favor, and may provide by regulations 
 for the return, to the remitter, of the sums named in such money-orders. 
 But this shall not authorize any person to open any letter not addressed 
 to himself. (K. S., § 4041.) 
 
 Sec. 1044. Payment of Money-Orders to be Withheld, When, — {a) Pay- 
 ment of a money-order may be with hcklby the paying postmaster, upon the re(;eipt of a 
 written retinest from the issuing postmaster or the remitter, for a sufficient time to ena- 
 ble the remitter to furnish the paying postmaster with proof that the money-order wa8 
 procured bVihim through false representations, or other fraudulent action of the payee, 
 who is fnrthermore alleged by him to be engaged in conducting a scheme or deviw 
 for obtaining money through the mails by means of false or fraudulent pretenses, 
 representations, or promises. The case, together with the proof furnished, must be 
 referred to the Department, in order that the Postmaster-General may, under the 
 authority given him by the preceding section, if the evidence is satisfactory to him, 
 forbid the payment of the money-order, and direct the return of the amount thereof 
 to the remitter upon api)lication of the latter for a duplicate. 
 
 (b) In cases in which payment of a money-order to the payee is not forbidden by 
 the Postmaster-General under the conditions above mentioned, the payee is entitled 
 to payment, '' notwithstanding the protest of the remitter of the money-order; and the 
 remitter of a money-order cannot forbid the payment of it by any notice to the post- 
 office at which it is made payable before it has been paid." The above quotation is 
 from volume xiv, page 110, Official Opinions of the Attorneys-General of the I'uited 
 States. The possession of a money-order by the remitter, payee, or indorsee thereof is 
 prima-fade evidence of ownership. 
 
 (c) When a postmaster receives by mail a letter containing a money-order drawn upon 
 him, purporting to be receipted on the face bj- the payee thereof, or to be made pay- 
 able to such postmaster by the indorsement of the payee, with a request to transmit 
 to the payee by mail, iu money or by draft, the amount of the money-order, the post- 
 master should decline to comply with this request, and should notify the payee that 
 he will, if the latter consents, forward to him a new money-order, drawn upon any 
 money-order post-office which the payee may designate, for an amount eqiial to the 
 money-order received, less the fee for the new money -order. If the payee declines, in 
 a ease of this kind, to give his consent to the issue of a new money-order, the post- 
 master will send back to him the receipted or indorsed money-order. 
 
 (d) When a motiey-order is presented* for payment, in which the t)nly defect is that 
 the name of the State in which the paying post-otlice is situated is eiTone(msly given, 
 the postmaster is at liberty to jiay such money-order at his own risk, provided there 
 is no other obstacle to payment, and that he has on hand the corresponding advice of 
 the same number and date, which advice gives correctly the name of his post-office 
 and of his State. After having paid a money-order of this description, the postmaster 
 will write across the face thereof the following statement : Thk corkkspoxding 
 
 ADVICE OF THIS MOXEY-ORDEK IS CORRECTLY DRAWN ON THIS POST-OFKICE, whlch 
 
 statement he will duly si^rn and date. 
 
214 
 
 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 CHAPTER FOUR. 
 ISSUE AND PAYMENT OF FOREIGN MONEY-ORDERS. 
 
 Sec. 
 
 1045. Exchange of money-orders witli Great Brit- 
 
 ain. 
 
 1046. International money-order.s, how drawn. 
 
 1047. Form of application for international money. 
 
 order. 
 
 1048. Issuing postmaster not to decide coin value 
 
 of currency. 
 1043. Postmaster at New York decides coin value 
 of currency. 
 
 1050. Lists of international money-orders. 
 
 1051. Payment of international money-orders. 
 
 1052. Inquiry for missing international money- 
 
 orders. 
 
 1053. Repayment of international money-orders. 
 
 1054. Issue of duplicate international money - 
 
 orders. 
 
 1055. Exchange of money-orders with Gei-manyi 
 
 Switzeiland, and Italy. 
 
 1056. Fees for money-orders on Switzerland and 
 
 Italy. 
 
 Sec. 
 
 1057. Fees for money-orders on Germany. 
 
 1058. Special rules for money-orders on Gei-many. 
 
 Switzerland, and Italy. 
 
 1059. Interchange of money-orders with Canada. 
 
 1060. Issue of money-orders on Canada and New- 
 
 foundland; inland offices. 
 
 1061. Postmasters not to decide value of currency 
 
 in Canadian money. 
 
 1062. Applications for Canadian money-orders. 
 
 1063. Payment of Canadian money -oiders. 
 
 3064. Daily report of premium on gold to be filed. 
 1065. Canadian money-orders to be stamped on 
 
 receipt. 
 1006. Repayment of Canadian money-orders. 
 
 1067. Invalid Canadian money-orders. 
 
 1068. Inquiry about Canadian money-orders. 
 
 1069. Issue of duplicate Canadian money -orders. 
 
 1070. General rules for international money -order 
 
 business. 
 
 1071. "When gold and paper are at par. 
 
 Sec. 1045. Exchange of Money-Orders with Great Britain. — The exchange 
 
 of money-orders between the United States and the United Kingdom of Great Britain 
 and Ireland, i.s to be effected through the agency of two post-offices, termed "inter- 
 national exchange post-offices." The international exchange post-office on the part 
 of the United States is New York, and that on the part of the United Kingdom is 
 London. 
 
 Sec. 1046. International Money-Orders, how Drawn. — Certain money-order 
 
 post-offices in this country, designated for the purpose by the Postmaster-General, are 
 authorized to issue money-orders on the postmaster at New York, payable to bene- 
 ficiaries in the United Kingdom, and to pay money-orders i.ssned bj' that ])osf master 
 for sums remitted by the Postal Department of the United Kingdom for payment to 
 beneficiaries in the United States. Hence, a postma.ster in either country cannot 
 draw an international money-order for an amount deposited with him directly upon 
 a postmaster in the other, but must draw the same upon the international exchange 
 post-office of his own country. An intei'uational money-order must not be drawn for 
 a larger .sura than $50 in United States currency, and must not contain a fractiimal 
 part of a cent. The fees for the issue of interuational money-orders are as follows, 
 viz: On money-orders not exceeding $10, 25 ceuts; over $10 and not exceeding $20, 50 
 cents ; over $20 and not exceeding $30, 75 cents ; over $30 and not exceeding $40, $1 ; 
 over $40 and not exceeding $50, $1.25. Postmasters are not permitted to receive in 
 payment for international money-orders issued by them, or to pay for snch money- 
 orders drawn upon them, anj- money that is not a legal tender, except national-bank 
 notes. 
 Sec. 1047. Form of Application for International Money-Order. — A special 
 
 form of api)liciition (Form No. (J201) must Ik- furnished to the api)licant for an inter- 
 national money-order payable in Great Britain. On this form he must enter all the 
 particulars of the amount, names, iiddress, etc., .and must state the full n.ame and 
 exact residence of the payee, giving the town or village, and county. From the 
 items contained in such application, the issuing postmaster will fill up the internation.al 
 money-order and coupon, both of which he will, by the next outgoing mail, dispatch. 
 without separating them, to the postmaster at New York. The corresponding cortifi- 
 
TITLE VI THE MONEY-ORDER SYSTEM. 215 
 
 cate of th(> samo, number and date lio will di'livcr, when completed, to tin- rf-ntittcr, 
 as a rot'cipt for tho amount paid in by tlic latter. No ''advice" is used at the issuing 
 post-oHice in this interuatioiial system, inasmuch as the money-order, insteail of being 
 delivered to the remitter for transmission, is forwarded directly by the issuing post- 
 master to tiic ''exihange" post-oflice at New York. The particulars of the money- 
 order are to hci entered in tlie register of international nion«'y-cM(b'rs issued, and the 
 apjilication must be retained on tile. The general rules in regard to issuing domesti* 
 money-orders contained in the domestic money-order instructions are to be observed 
 in the issue of international money-orders, in so far as these rules are applicable. 
 The postmaster, however, must ret'nse to issue a money-order payable to any person, 
 if the surname and the initial hotter of that person's luimc^ are not furnished by the 
 apjilicant, unless the payee be a peer or a bishop, in which case his ordinary title 
 is sufticieut. If the payee be a tirm, the usual designation of such firm will suffice, 
 such as " Baring Bros.,'' " Smith »& Sou," ".Jones & Co." ; but the mc're term " Messrs.," 
 such as "Messrs. Rivington," or the name of a company trading under a title "which 
 does not consist of the names of the persons composing such company, as, for example, 
 "The Carron Company," must not be accepted as suflftcieut by the issuing postmaster, 
 who will decline to issue a money-order on the United Kingdom in favor of such payee, 
 as i)aymeiit thereof would be refused in th.af country. 
 
 Sec. 1048. Issuing Postmaster not to Decide Coin Value of Currency. — The 
 
 issuing postmaster must not undertake to decide detinitively upon the actual value in 
 United States gold coin of a certain sum in currency for which an international money- 
 order is issued. He is at liberty, h(nvever, to advise the remitter as to its ai)proximato 
 value, which may be found to differ materially from the real value, as the latter is to 
 be comput(>d upon the basis of the premium upon gold on the day of the receipt of 
 the money-order l)y the postmaster at New York. Hence, this Department cannot 
 undertake, on behalf of a remitter in this country, to pay a determinate sum in gold 
 in the United Kingdom. As the pren'ium on gold is variable, it is evident that an in- 
 ternational money-order issued for a sum in United States currency may, when received 
 at the exchange post-office at Now York, yield a sum in gold greater or less than that 
 considered at the post-otfice of issue as the equiA\ilent of such money-order. For the 
 same reason, the value in United States currency of a money-order in gold, certified 
 by the exchange office at London to the exchange post-office at New York, would depend 
 upon the premium on gold on the day of the receipt of the list containing such certified 
 ordei-. This Department, therefore, cau only agree to cause a payment to be made to 
 a beneficiary in Great Britain of the gold value of any international money-order 
 issued for an amount in United States currency, and to pay to a beneficiary in this 
 country the currency value of an international money-order in gold from Great Britain. 
 To guard against misapprehension, postmasters will l)c careful to exjilain this point 
 fully to remitters and to payees. 
 
 Sec. 10i9. Postmaster of New York Decides Coin Value of Currency. — Wlieii 
 
 the international money-order and coupon are received by the postmaster at New York, 
 the latter will stamp thereon the date of receipt, and insert the items to be filled iuby 
 him, viz: "Premium on gold the day of receipt at New York"; "Value of money- 
 order in United States gold"; "Value of nnmey-order in sterling"; "Date and number 
 of list in which money-order was certified to the United Kingdom "; " Current number 
 of certified money-order."' When the coupon has been c(uni)leted by the postmaster 
 at New York, he will return it to the issuing postmaster, who will place it on file with 
 the corr(!sponding application for reference, in case the remitter of the money-order 
 desires information as to the value thereof in gold when received at New York, the 
 amount transmitted, or the date of transmission. It is expected that the issuing post- 
 master will cheerfully and promptly comply with a reiiuest of the remitter for infor- 
 mation as to any of these points. 
 
 Sec. 1850. Lists of International Money-Orders. — It is tbe duty of the 
 
 postn'iaster at New York to enter the particulars of each British international money- 
 
216 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 order issued in this country and received by him since his last previous dispatch to 
 Great Britain in a blank form called a "List of international jiostal orders," which 
 list he transmits by the next transatlantic mail to the exchange post-office at London, 
 together with his certificate that the several amounts of these money -orders have been 
 duly received in the United States for payment in the United Kingdom to the persons 
 named in that list. He also forwards at the same time a money-order drawn by him, 
 in sterling, in favor of and addressed to each payee mentioned in the list, which order 
 the exchange office at London undertakes to send, free of postage, to the payee. The 
 postmaster at New York, therefore, retains on file all international money-orders drawn 
 on him by postmasters in the United States, but forwards to the United Kingdom a 
 descriptive list thereof, together with corresponding money-orders, payable in sterling, 
 made out by him in favor of the several beneficiaries. The exchange post-office at 
 London, in like manner, transmits by each transatlantic mail to the postmaster at the 
 exchange i)ost-office at New York a similar list of international money-orders for sums 
 received in the United Kingdom for payment to beneficiaries in the United States. 
 The receiving exchange post-office at New York immediately issues a money-order in 
 favor of each beneficiary for an amount in United States currency equivalent to that 
 in gold mentioned in the certified list, which money-order is payable by the money- 
 order post-office nearest his place of residence, and is transmitted to the postmaster 
 at such post-office. It is provided by the Convention that each exchange post-office 
 shall, in the certified lists, state the amounts of the money-orders in the denominations 
 of the money of the dispatching and of the receiving country, and that, in the trans- 
 action of the international money-order business, the pound sterling of Great Britain 
 .shall be considered as equivalent in value to four dollars and eighty-six cents of the 
 gold coin of the United States. 
 
 Sec. 1051. Payment of International Money-Orders. — Upon the receipt of 
 
 an international money-order, issued by the postmaster at New York upon the post- 
 master of a money-order post-office in this country, the latter will enter the particulars 
 thereof in his register of international money-orders received. He will then send a 
 notification (Form No. 6704) to the payee to apply for payment of the order in person 
 or by his duly authorized agent, who must file with the paying postmaster his written 
 authority from the payee to receive payment of the money-order and execute a receipt 
 therefor, and must prove his identity if required to do so. Such written authority, 
 when given by a payee who does not reside within the delivery of the post-office of 
 payment, should be executed in the in^esence of the postmaster of his locality, and 
 should bear a certificate from the latter to that effect, as well as the impression of his 
 post-office stamp. The date of payment must immediately be stamped upon the in- 
 ternational money-order and likewise entered opposite the record thereof in the 
 register, and the paid money-order imist be forwarded to the Department as a voucher 
 with the weekly statenuMit of international money-(n-der business. 
 
 Sec. 1052. Inquiry for Missing International Money-Order. — Should inquiry 
 
 be made at the post-office for a money-order from Great Britain, notice of which had 
 been received by the jjayee from the remittci', but wliich had not reached the post- 
 master, he will send a letter of inquiry upon the subject to the postmaster at New 
 York. The latter, in case an international money-order luid been drawn by him 
 upon the postmaster in favor of the payee and had been lost in transmission, will take 
 measures to furnish a duplicate thereof. 
 
 Sec. 1053. Repayment of International Money-Orders. — Whenever the re- 
 mitter of an international money-order, i)ayable in tin; United Kingdom, makes appli- 
 cation to the issuing postmaster for repayment of the amount thereof, the latter should 
 immediately communicate the fact to this Department, whereupon, if the money-order 
 has not already been certified by the exchange post-office at New York to the exchange 
 post-office at London for payment, the issuing postmaster will be authorized to repay 
 the amount of such money-order. But if it has been so certified, this Department will 
 notify the Postal Department of Great Britain that application has been made for its 
 
I 
 
 TITLE VI — TIIK MONEY-ORDER SYSTEM. 217 
 
 repaymoiit, iiiid, should it not li.ivc lutii paid in that country at tlio date of the r<!Cf'ipt 
 of tho notilicatioii, it. will hr n-critirKMl to tli<- cxchanj:!' post-ortif*? at Now York, in 
 duo coui-S(^ of liiisiucss, for rcimymriit. Authority will thru he jjiveu flu- iHnuiuji jmst- 
 master to repay t lie s:uni'. All nuuicy-onU-rs (u-rtifiid to th»5 Postal Df-partiui-ut of 
 cither country, which for any reason cannot he paid within twelve niontliH from tlie 
 njoi\th of issu(>, hecome invalid, and will he recertilied to the country of issin- for re- 
 payment, or other disposal, in accordance with the hiws ami rt fiulations of that 
 country. Postmasters will therefore take care to forward proini>tly to this ])fi»art- 
 nuuit all invalid money-orders of this kind, with their weekly stat<'iiients containing,' a 
 d(^scrij)lioii lliereot". 
 
 Sec. 1054. Issue of Duplicate International Money-Orders. — In ea.s(; the 
 
 postmaster who issues an international money-order does not receive, after a snflicient 
 lapse of time, the correspondinj; coupon thereof, duly filled up and stamped hy the 
 postmaster at New York, the former should mm\ him a letter of inquiry on the suhject, 
 with the recjuest that, if the money-order had not heen received at the exchange post- 
 ottice at New York, the latter would transmit to the issuing post-oflHce a certiticate 
 to that ertect. Ui)on the receipt of such a document, the postmastcir who issued the 
 original should draw and transmit a new money-order in liini thereof, for the same 
 amount, and should write across its face, and across the coupon, in red ink, the wonls 
 In lieu of Bkitisii ixtiorxatioxai. moxey-ordkr No. — , not rkceivkd ijy tiik 
 POSTMASTER AT New York. Th(^ certificate of loss should he carefully tiled, hut it is 
 not necessary to make out and deliver a second receipt; to the remitter. 
 
 Sec. 1055. Money-Orders on Germany, Switzerland, and Italy. — The in- 
 ternational post-otHce of exchange with the United States, on the part of the Ger- 
 man Empire, is Cologne, and on the part of Switzerland, is IJasle, and on the part of 
 
 Italy, is Turin. 
 
 Sec. 1056. Fees for Money-Orders on Switzerland and Italy. — ^The forego- 
 ing instructions relative to the international money-order system between Great Brit- 
 ain and this country are, except as provided in section 1058, to he strictly followed 
 hy postmasters in the issue of international money-orders payable in Switzerland, 
 Germany, or Italy, and in the payment of money-orders for sums delivered to the 
 postal administration of either of those countries, for transmission to the United 
 States. The fees or rates of commission for the issue of international numey-orders, 
 payable in Switzerland or Italy, are the same as are charged for issuing international 
 money-orders on Great Britain. 
 
 Sec. 1057. Fees for Money-Orders on Germany. — The fees for the issue of 
 
 international money-orders jiayable in Germany are as follows, viz: On money-orders 
 not exceeding $.5, 15 cents ; over $5 and not exceeding $10, 25 cents ; over $10 and not 
 exceeding $20, 50 cents ; over |20 aiul not exceeding $30, 75 cents; over$:?0 and not 
 exceeding $40, $1 ; over $40 and not exceeding $50, $1.25. 
 
 Sec. 1058. Rules for Money-Orders on Germany, Switzerland, and Italy. — 
 
 In the issue of international money-orders payable in Germany, Switzerhiml, or Italy? 
 the mode of procedure differs from that described in section 1047 of the instructions 
 relative to British international money-orders, in this respect, viz : The postnuister at 
 New York transmits, at stated periods, to the exchange Y>ost-office at Cologne, or at 
 Basle, or at Turin, as the case may require, a list of international money-orders, for 
 sums received in the United States, for payment by either of those ])ost-ottice8 in their 
 respective countries, but no money-orders are drawn by him in favor of and addressed 
 to the payees, and transmitted to either of those exchange jiost-oftices for dtdivery, 
 in the manner detailed in section 1049. On the receipt of a "list" from New York 
 by the exchange post-otHce at Cologne, at Basle, or at Turin, a don\eatic money- 
 order is immediately issued in favor of each payee mentioned in the list, which omer 
 is j)ayaV)lo at the money-order post-oflice nearest his place of residence, and is sent to 
 him or to the postmaster at such ])ost-ottice. 
 
 Sec. 1059. Interchange of Money-Orders with Canada.— The exchange of 
 
218 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 money-orders between tlie United S tates and Canada is to be effected througli the agency 
 -of certain post-offices in the United States, selected for that purpose, to be known as 
 ''international exchange post-offices." Sis such exchange post-offices have been 
 agreed upon in the convention between the two countries, viz, Bangor, Me., Buffalo, 
 N. Y., Detroit, Mich., Saint Paul, Minn., Portland, Oreg., Saint Albans, Vt. 
 
 Sec. 1080. Issue of Money-Orders on Canada and Newfoundland. — Certain 
 
 •other money-order i>ost-offices in this country, specially selected for this service by 
 the Postmaster-General, and to be known as "inland post-offices," in distinction from 
 (the exchange jjost-offices, are authorized to issue money-orders on any of the above- 
 mentioned international exchange post-offices, payable to beneficiaries in the Domin- 
 ion of Canada and in the province of Newfoundland, and to pay money-orders, prop- 
 erly certified by postmasters of such exchange jiost-offices, for sums remitted by post- 
 masters in the Dominion of Canada and in the province of Newfoundland, for payment 
 to beneficiaries in the United States ; but each exchange post-office shall also be an 
 inland post-office, the postmaster at which shall have the right to draw orders on his 
 own or on any other exchange post-office for certification in the usual manner. Hence, 
 a, postmaster in either country cannot draw an international money-order, for an 
 amount deposited with hiin, directly upon a postmaster in the other, but must draw the 
 same upon some one of the designated "exchange post-offices" most convenient to the 
 residence ef the payee or beneficiary for whom the money is intended. An interna- 
 tional money-order must not be drawn for a larger sum than fifty dollars in United 
 States currency, and must not contain a fractional part of a cent. The fees for the 
 issue of international money-orders are as follows, viz : On naoney-orders not exceeding 
 .$10, twenty cents; over $10 and not exceeding $20, forty cents; over $20 and not 
 exceeding $30, sixty cents ; over $30 and not exceeding $40, eighty cents ; over $40 
 and not exceeding .$50, one dollar. No other money can be received or paid for 
 Canadian money-orders than that which is a legal tender, except national-bank notes- 
 Sec. 1061. Postmasters not toDecide Value of Currency in Canadian Money. — 
 
 Tlie Canadian dollar is equivalent in value to the gold dollar of the United States, 
 but the issuing postmaster must not undertake to decide definitely upon the actual 
 value, in United States gold coin (or Canadian money), of a certain sum in currency 
 for which an intexnatioual money-order is issued by him. He is at liberty, however, to 
 advise the remitter as to its approximate value, which may be found to differ materi- 
 ally from the real value, as the latter is to be computed, on the day the order is received 
 by the exchange post-office, upon the basis of the premium on gold in New York, as 
 last advised by the postmaster of that city. Hence, this Department cannot under- 
 take, on behalf of a remitter in this country, to pay a determinate sum in gold (or 
 Canadian money) in the Dominion of Canada. As the premium on gold is variable, it 
 is evident that an international money-v)rder issued for a sum in United .States currency 
 may, when received at such "exchange post-office," yield a sum in gold greater or less 
 than that considered at the post-office of issue as the equivalent of such money-order. 
 For the same reason, the value in United States currency of a money-order in gold, 
 when received for certification by any "exchange j)ost-office," would depend ujion the 
 premium on gold in New York on the day of the receipt of the money-order, as shown 
 by the last telegraphic advices from the postmaster thereof to such "exchange post- 
 office." This Department, therefore, can only agree to cause payment to be made to 
 a beneficiary in the Dominion of Canada of the gold value of any international 
 nionej'-order issued for an amount in United States currency, and to pay to a ben- 
 eficiary in this country the currency value of an international monej'-order in gold 
 from the Dominion of Canada. To guard against misapprehension, postmasters will 
 be careful to explain this point fully to remitters and to j)ayees. 
 
 Sec. 1082. Application for Canadian Money-Order. — A S]iocial form of 
 
 a})plication, form "No. G4U1, Canadian," must be furnished to each appli<'ant for an 
 international monc^y-order payable in the Dominion of Canada. On this form he 
 must enter all the particulars of the amount, names, address, &c., and must state 
 
TITLE VI — THE MONEY-ORDER SYSTEM. 219 
 
 the lull iiiiiiKi and exact. rosiilotu'O of lln- i>;iye«i, K'^i"^ tlui (<»\vii or village an«l 
 county. Fruiu tliu items coiitainod in .smli ai)pUcatioii the (iulimd) ihHuin)r iioHtiiiaH- 
 ter will till up a Canadian international money-order, the advi(;e of the .same, the 
 coupon, and tho receipt, all of which, afler haviuj; been jiroperly da^ed, and slaiiiix-d 
 wilii the money-order Htamj) of hi.s ])().st-oHice, he will loiwaid, without separatin;c 
 them, to the international exehan;^*! jio.st-otlice nearest the residence of t lie jiayee, but 
 ho will iu)t undertake to enter upon either of them the name of the post-olHce in the 
 Dominion of Canada at which .such money-order is to be paid. Ih' will also fill up, 
 detach, and deliver to the rtMuitter of .such money-order the certificate. Upon th<- 
 return to him, from the exchan<^e post-olliee, of the receipt " No. \2(l,'' he will place the 
 same on tile in his post-oHice for reference, should the ren»itter apply for information 
 as to the j^old value of the money-order. lie will also enter in his " coinldned regis- 
 ter" of moni'v-orders issued the particulars of such money-order, and the ajiplication 
 must be retained on tile at the issuing pest-ol'tice. 
 
 Sec. 1063. Payment of Canadian Money-Orders. — When a money-order, 
 
 drawn by a postmaster in the Dominion of C'anada, and properly numbered, dated, 
 certilied, stamped, signed, and addre.s.sed to Iiim l>y the postmaster a ta duly-author- 
 ized international exchange post-otirtce, is jtresented for payment to the jjostmaster of 
 an inland post-oftice, authorized to transiict Canadian business, he wdll compare such 
 money-oi-der with the corresponding advice, which should previously have been re- 
 ceived by him, and after having satisfied himself, in the manner re(iuired for domestic 
 money-orders (see sections lUi:? to 1044, inclusive), that both the advice and niouey- 
 order are correct, and that the person presenting the money-order is legally entitled 
 to receive the amount due thereon, he will pay the same, and will enter all such paid 
 money-orders upon his combined weekly statement. The postmaster issuing a Cana- 
 dian money-order should bo careful to instruct tlie sender thereof that he "should 
 at once iuftu-m the iJayee, in Canada, of the full name ant^ address of the remitter,"' 
 iiuismuch as payment thereof cannot be obtained unless the payee is able to furnish 
 that information to the paying postmaster. All applications for duplicates of lost or 
 missing advices, or for corrections of advices, must be made to the exchange post- 
 master by whom such advices w^ei"e certilied. Postmasters, however, must refuse to 
 issue a money-order payable to any i^erson, if the surname of that person, and hi.s 
 given name or names, or at least the initial letters thereof, are not furnished by the 
 applicant. 
 
 Sec. 103i. Daily Reports of Premium on Gold to be Filed. — Tlie postmas- 
 ter at New York, N. Y., will telegraph at 3 p. m. daily, except Sunday, the rate 
 of premium ou gold at that hour in New York to each of the exchange post-otitices 
 designated for the cercihcatioa of international money-orders to and irom Canada ; 
 and postmasters at exchange post-offices are required to keep on file in their po.st-o.*lice.s 
 the telegrams received daily from New York concerning the premiunx on gold. 
 
 Sec. 1035. Canadian Money-Orders to be Stamped at Exchange-Offices. — 
 
 The postmaster at each of .said international exchange jxtst-offices will, whenever he 
 receives a money-order with its corresponding ''advice,"' ''.coupon,"' and "receipt,"' 
 stamp, at once, upon each of these papers the current iuternatioual number and the 
 date of its receipt at his post-office. He wall al.so enter therein the vahie of the same 
 in gold (or Canadian currency), if such money-order originated in the United States, or 
 its value in United States currency, if it originated in the Dominion of Canada, as a.scer- 
 tained by calculation, uiion the biisis of the last telegram received by him from the post- 
 master at Now York, aud the name of the post-office in the Dominion of Canada or in the 
 United States, as the case may be, at which he desires the sj^me to ba paid, which shouhl 
 be the post-office nearest the residence of the payee or most access! ble by him. He will 
 then forward tlu mouey-order, inclosed in an envelope, to the payee, aud the advice to 
 the postmaster instructed to pay the money-order, and will seiul back the receipt to the 
 issuing postmaster, but will retain the coupon on tile in his post-office f )r future reference. 
 At the close of each week he will make up, in duplicate, from the coupons on tile iu his 
 
220 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 post-offiee a " weekly list of iuternatioual money-orders " issued in the United States 
 wliich have been certified by him during the week for payment in the Dominion of 
 Canada, and " weekly list of international money-orders" issued in the Dominion of 
 Canada which have been certified by him during the week for payment in the United 
 States, and will forward such duplicate " lists," with his weekly statement, to the Super- 
 intendent of the Money-Order System at Washington, D. C. He will also furnish, upon 
 the application of postmasters drawn upon, duplicates of lost advices, which must be 
 made up from the corresponding coupons on file in his post-office. When the postmaster 
 at an exchange post-office receives an application from a paying postmaster for a cor- 
 rected advice, the former will, if necessary, apply to the issuing postmaster for precise 
 information in the premises, and will communicate the same to the postmaster at the 
 post-office of payment. 
 
 Sec. 108S. Repayment of Canadian Money-Orders. — When a remitter of 
 
 an international money-order, payable in the Dominion of Canada or in the United 
 States, makes application to the issuing postmaster for repayment of the amount 
 thereof, the latter should immediately communicate the fact to the postmaster of the 
 exchange post-office on which it was drawn, Avhereupon, if he has not already certified 
 and forwarded the money-order to the payee, and the advice to the paying postmaster, 
 he will return them to the issuing postmaster for repayment. But if the money-order (in 
 case it is payable in the Dominion of Canada) has been so certified, the issuing post- 
 master, upon the receipt of notice to that effect from the exchange post-office, will 
 apply to the Superintendent of the Money-Order System at Washington, D. C, for 
 repayment, who will notify the Canadian Postal Department of such application, and 
 request authority for repayment of the money-order. When that authority is received 
 by him, notice will at once be sent to the issuing postmaster to repay the amount of 
 the m one y-order. 
 
 Sec. 1067. Invalid Canadian Money-Orders. — All money-orders certified 
 
 for payment in either country, which for any reason cannot be paid within twelve 
 months after the month of issue become invalid, and will be recertified to the country 
 of issue for repayment or other disposal in accordance with the laws and regulations 
 of that country. Postmasters will therefore take care to forward promptly to this 
 Department the advices of all invalid money-orders of this kind with their weekly 
 statements and a description thereof. 
 
 Sec. 1088. Inquiries about Canadian Money-Orders. — AH inquiries from 
 
 inland postmasters in the United States concerning the issue or the payment in Canada 
 of international money-orders should be addressed to the postmaster of the exchange 
 post-office by whom such money-orders were certified. 
 
 See. 1089. Issue of Duplicate Canadian Money-Orders. — In case the post- 
 master who issues an international money-order does not receive, after a sufficient lapse 
 of time, the corresponding receipt thereof, duly filled up and stamped by the postmaster 
 at the exchange post-office drawn upon, the former should send him a letter of inquiry 
 on the subject, with the request that if the money-order and advice have not been 
 received at the exchange post-office the latter Avould transmit to the issuing post- 
 office, and also to the Superintendent of the Money-Order System at Washington, D. 
 C, a certificate to that effect. Upon the receipt of such a document, the i)ostmaster 
 who issued the originals should at once draw upon and transmit to the same exchange 
 jjost-office a new money-order, advice, coupon, and receipt in lieu theerof for a like 
 amount, after having written across the face of each of them in red ink the words 
 In lieu of Canadian money-order No. — , not ueceived by the postmaster at 
 
 EXCHANGE POST-OFFICE. The certiiicate of non-receipt should be carefully 
 
 filed by the issuing postmaster, but it is not necessary for him to furnish remitter 
 with a second receipt. Great caution should be exercised by postmasters at exchange 
 j)ost-offices in certifying such money-ord(^rs, as they will be lield responsil)le for all 
 double ])aynients that imiy occur thrdugli their negligenct>. 
 
 Sec. 1070. General Rules for International Money-Order Business. — Post- 
 
TITLE VI THE MONEY-ORDER SYSTEM, 221 
 
 ma»tera will rocoivo as compensation for transacting international mon«*y-onlor Vinsi- 
 noss one fonrth of ono per cent, on the gross amount of international money-onleri* 
 issutMl and paid, and the domestic money-order regnlations in regard to incidental 
 expenses and to the transH^r of funds and blanks from a late to a newly appoinU-d 
 postmaster an^ to be followed in the transaction of all international money-order 
 business. 
 
 Sec. 1071. When Gold and Paper are at Par. — While tin-; fr<>l«l coin ami 
 
 the paper currency of the United States are of equal commercial value, so much of 
 tlie^e regulations as is bivsod upon the existence of a ditference in their value is void 
 and of no eftect. 
 
 CHAPTER FIVE. 
 
 MONEY-ORDER FUITDS AND ACCOUNTS. 
 
 Sec. I See. 
 
 1072. Transfer of money-order fiin(l.s. | 1087. Money-order funds not suliject to rules of 
 
 1073. Transfer by warrant of money-order funds. I po.stal funds. 
 
 1074. Wliat are money-order funds. 
 
 1075. Postmasters' weekly reports of niont\y-()rder 
 
 funds. 
 
 1076. Embezzlement of money-order funds, pen- 
 
 alty, explanation. 
 
 1077. How to write up tbe cash-Viook. 
 
 1078. Transferring jiostage funds to money-order 
 
 account. 
 
 1079. Kntry of transferred funds in cash-book. 
 
 1080. The fixed reserve. 
 
 1081. Daily remittance of money-order funds. 
 
 1082. Receipts for daily remittances. 
 
 1083. No credit for remittances until receipt is 
 
 obtained. 
 
 1084. Daily reports of remittances received. 
 
 1085. Postmastersmust remit and d«'posit promptly. 
 
 1086. Unpaid advices less than two weeks old in 
 
 weekly statements. 
 
 1088. Weekly statements how transmitted. 
 
 1089. Money-Older t:a.sh must bo kept separately. 
 
 1090. Weekly statements to be numbered con.secu 
 
 tively. 
 
 1091. Make up weekly statements every Saturday. 
 
 1092. Statements of "no business." 
 
 1093. ^Veekly stateinents at close of quarter yenr. 
 
 1094. Vouchers to accom})any weekly statements. 
 
 1095. Credits allowed on New York. 
 
 1096. Drafts against credit.", how made. 
 
 1097. Special drafts for emergencies. 
 
 1098. Drafts must always be on forms furnished. 
 
 1099. Special insti-uctions about remittances. 
 
 1100. Postmasters may deposit in national banks, 
 
 when. 
 
 1101. Importance of promptly transmitting weekly 
 
 statements. 
 
 Sec. 1072. Transfer of Money-Order Funds.— All payments aiul transfers 
 to and from money-order ottices shall be imder tbe direction of the Post- 
 master-General. He may transfer money-order funds from one post- 
 master to another, and from the postal revenue to the money-order funds ; 
 and he may transfer money-order funds to creditors of the Department^ 
 to be replaced by equivalent transfers from the postal revenues. {11. S., 
 §4042.) 
 
 Sec. 1073. Transfer by Warrant to Money-Order Funds. — Tbe Postmaster- 
 General may transfer to the postmaster at any money-order office, by 
 warrant on the Treasury, countersigned by tbe [Sixth] Auditor [of the 
 Treasury for the Post Office Department], and payable out of the ix>stal 
 revenues, such sum as may be required over and above the cuirent 
 revenues at his office to pay the money-orders draAvn upon him. (K. S., 
 § 4043.) 
 
 Sec. 1074. What are Money-Order Funds.— All money received for the 
 sale of money-orders, including- all fees thereon, all money transferred 
 from the postal revenues to the money-order funds, all money transferred 
 
222 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 or paid from the money-order funds to the service of the Post-Office De- 
 partment, and all money-order funds transferred from one postmaster to 
 another, shall be deemed and taken to be money-order funds and money 
 in the Treasury of the United States. And it shall be the duty of the 
 assistant treasurer of the United States to open, at the request of the 
 Postmaster-G-eneral, an acoount of "money-order funds" deposited by 
 postmasters to the credit of the Postmaster-G-eneral, and of drafts 
 against the amount so deposited, drawn by him and countersigned by 
 the [Sixth] Auditor [of the Treasury for the Post-Office Department.] 
 (E. S., §4045.) 
 
 Sec. 1075. Postmasters' Weekly Reports of Money-Order Funds. — The 
 Postmaster General shall require each postmaster at a money-order 
 office to reader to the Post-Office Deparcmeut weekly, semi-weekly, or 
 daily accounts of all money-orders issued and paid ; of all fees received 
 for issuing them; of all transfers and payments made from money-order 
 funds ; and of all money received to be used for the iiayment of money- 
 orders or on account of money-order business. (R. S., § 4044.) 
 
 Sec. 1076. Emhezzlement of Money-Order Funds, Penalty, Explanation. — 
 Every postmaster, assistant, clerk, or other i^erson employed in or con- 
 nected with the business or operations of any money-order office who 
 converts to his own use, in any way whatever, or loans, or deposits in 
 any bank, except as authorized by this Title, or exchanges for other 
 funds, any portion of the money-order funds, shall be deemed guilty of 
 embezzlement ; and any such person, as well as every other person advis- 
 ing or participating therein, shall, for every such offense, be imprisoned 
 for not less than six months nor more than ten years, and be fined in a 
 sum equal to the amount embezzled ; and any failure to pay over or pro- 
 duce anj' monej'-order funds intrusted to such person shall be taken to 
 be prima-facie evidence of embezzlement ; and upon the trial of any in- 
 dictment against any person for such embezzlement, it shall be prima- 
 facie evidence of a balance against him to i)roduce a transcript from the 
 money-order account-books of the [Sixth] Auditor [of the Treasury for 
 the Post-Office Department]. But nothing herein containefl shall be 
 construed to prohibit any postmaster depositing, under the direction of 
 the Postmaster-General, in a national bank designated by the Secretary 
 of the Treasury for that purpose, to his own credit as jjostmaster, any 
 money-order or other funds in his charge, nor prevent his negotiating 
 drafts or other evidences of debt through such bank, or through United 
 States disbursing officers, or otherwise, when instructed or required to 
 do so by the Postmaster-General, for the purpose of remitting suri)lus 
 money-order funds from one post-office to another, to be used in payment 
 of money-orders. Disbursing officers of the United States shall issue, 
 under regulations to be prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury, 
 duplicates of lost checks drawn by tliem in favor of any postmaster on 
 account of money-order or other i)ublic funds received by them from 
 some other postmaster. (R. S., § 404G.) 
 
TITLE VI THE MONKY-ORDEU SYSTEM. 
 
 223 
 
 Sec. 1077. How to Write up the Cash-Book. — In writ in;; up tlio cash-book, 
 
 the biiliinn" will liist In- hroujjlit loiwunl. 'I'lifii, on tin- df\At side niunt bw iMitfred 
 tho ainoiiiit loccivod upon a <lr:ift drawn by tin; |>(>.sf,inast<T und<T antliority of flie 
 Postinaster-dcnt'iars credit, tlii^ aiiionnt n'e(Mved for picniinni upon tins sann-, the 
 ainonut roceivnd on deposit from other i)o.stniaster.s, and the, amount transfericd from 
 'the postajjfo to the money-order acc^ount, should any of those transactions have taken 
 idacc ; then the amount received from the issue of money-orders, the amount of fees 
 thereupon, and, lastly, the Ijahiuce, should there he one. The cn.'dit side must em- 
 hrace the am()unt transferred to the posta;i;o ac(-ouut, the amount remitted or depos- 
 ited, the amount |Kii(l on account of incMih^ntal pximmisch (such as cltuk-lkire, station- 
 ery, etc.), and the amount repaid on mouey-orders, should any of tlieso transaction* 
 have taken phice; then the amount paid for money-orders cbawn upontlio post-otlice, 
 and, histly, the balance. The cash-book must be written up and balanced daily at 
 every post-office. 
 
 FOKM OF CASH-BOOK. 
 
 -, postmaster at 
 
 , in account with the money-order office, Post-Office De- 
 partment, the day of , 187- 
 
 Dr. 
 
 
 
 
 
 Cr 
 
 
 $40 
 
 100 
 118 
 
 60 
 
 00 
 
 22 
 90 
 
 By amount paid for money-orders 
 
 $250 
 00 
 
 9 
 
 
 
 
 To amount trausferred fi-om posti^ge 
 
 By certiricate of dei)osit. No. — . . 
 
 
 To amount received for money-orders 
 issued, No. — to Xo. — , inclusive 
 
 7-' 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 259 
 
 72 
 
 259 
 
 72 
 
 Sec. 1078. Transferring Postage Funds to Money-Order Account. — It is to* 
 
 be expected that occasionally at. some jjost-offices the postmaster will be called upon 
 to pay money-orders to an amount exceeding that of the money-order funds in his 
 hands. In every such event he will transfer from the jiostage to the money -order ac- 
 count a sum of money large enough to enable him to pay these orders. In case the 
 postage funds are insufficient for such ti-ansfer the postmaster will transfer as large an 
 amount as practicable (provided it be sufficient to pay even one money-order), and 
 must immediately notify the Department (see Form No. GU34), when he will be furnished, 
 ■with a draft for the amount reciuired. Should the payments at any post-office continue 
 to exceed the receipts thereat, the postmaster at such post-office will be furnished with a 
 letter of credit, to be used only when ab.solutely retj^uired for the payment of mouey- 
 orders. 
 
 Sec. 1079. Entry of Transferred Funds in Cash-Book. — ^luinaking a traus- 
 
 fer of funds (which must in all cases consist of complete dollars only, the introduction 
 of cents into transfers being prohibited), if from the " postage " to the " monej'-order ' 
 account, postmasters will tir.st take credit for the amount of said tran.sfer in their 
 general account w^th the Po.st-Office Department. They will then debit themselves 
 therewith in the money-order cash-book, and enter the transaction under its projter 
 head in the weekly statement following such transfer. If from the "money-order'' 
 to the "postage" account, the amount must be entered on the credit side of the 
 money-order cash-book and a corresponding entry made on the debit side of the g<'n- 
 eral account, the transfer to be noted in the, Aveekly statement as before. A notilica- 
 tion (Form t)024) is, in all cases, to be forwarded to the Superintendent of the Mouey- 
 Order System immediately after a tran.sfer of funds from either acctnint. A transfer 
 trom the money-order to the postage account is only to be made when expressly 
 directed by the Department. No entry of a transfer to the money-order account 
 should be made by a iiostmaster in liis quarterly account of i)OstaI bnsines.s. The 
 proper credit for such transfers will be allowed him by the Auditor upon the settle- 
 ment of his postal accounts. In order to avoid mistakes the strictest attention should 
 be given to the directions contained in this section. 
 
224 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 Sec. 1080. The Fixed Eeserve. — At certain money-order post-offices the 
 
 fluctuating character of the husiuess makes it necessary that a limited sum of 
 money be kept constantly on hand to insure the prompt payment of mnnej^-orders when 
 presented. This sum is siiecified in each instance by direction of the Postmaster-Gen- 
 eral, and is known as the " fixed reserve." Its amount is determined by the nature and 
 extent of the business of the post-office to which it is allowed, and may be changed 
 from time to time by order of the Department. 
 
 Sec. 1081. Daily Remittance of Money-Order Funds. — The money-order 
 
 accounts must be kept separately from all other accounts, and must be adjusted at the 
 close of each day's business, in order that the balance of money-order funds on hand 
 may be aecur.ately ascertained. Every dollar of money-order funds, in excess of a 
 sum equal to the amount of the unpaid advices on hand less than two weeks, must be 
 remitted daily to the designated post-office of the first class, where the postmaster shall 
 have been instructed to make his deposits ; but postmasters to whom a " fixed reserve " 
 is allowed may retain the amount of the " fixed reserve," and no more, except when 
 the amount of such unpaid advices exceeds the "fixed reserve," in which event the 
 postmaster may retain a sum which, when added to the " fixed reserve," will equal 
 the amount of his unpaid advices on hand less than two weeks. For instance, sup- 
 pose the postmaster's fixed reserve is $100, and that he has advices on hand less 
 than two weeks to the amount of $175 ; in this case he will be at liberty to withhold 
 from deposit only $75 in addition to his fixed reserve of $100. He will thus have $175 
 to meet the amount of such unpaid advices. 
 
 In the total of unpaid advices on hand less than two weeks is to be included the 
 amount of money-orders, payment of which has been refused, for the reason that the 
 corresponding advices have not been received, but for which second advices have been 
 requested from the issuing postmaster by the postmaster drawn upon. 
 
 Sec. 1082. Receipts for Daily Remittances. — The postmaster at the post- 
 office of the first class who receives these deposits will fill up and number consecu- 
 tively certificates therefor in duplicate, one of which he will transmit to the Superin- 
 tendent of the Money-Order System, and the other to the depositing postmaster, who 
 will take credit therefor iu his weekly statement, entering therein its proper number, 
 date, and amount. 
 
 Sec. 1083. No Credit for Remittances until Receipt is Obtained. — Post- 
 masters are prohibited from taking credit in their money-order cash-books or in their 
 weekly statements for the amount of any remittance until they shall have received a 
 certificate of deposit therefor from the designated post-office of the first class to which 
 it was sent. The amount of each remittance for which no certificate has been 
 received, must appear in the money-order cash-book and in the summary of the 
 weekly statement, as a part of the "cash balance on hand," exactly as though no 
 remittance had been made; but it should be entered with its ])roper date in the blank 
 space, provided for such entries, at the bottom of the weekly statement. A failure to 
 comjjly with this requirement will be deemed sufficient cause for the removal of the 
 offending postmaster. 
 
 Sec. 1084. Daily Reports of Remittances Received. — Postmasters at all 
 
 money-order offices of the first class are required to forward daily to the Superin- 
 tendent of the Money-Order System a list of the remittances received by them during 
 the day, by which means the Saperinteudent is enabled to know precisely the exact 
 date and amount of eat-h remittance of nioiiey-ordcr funds made in the United States. 
 
 Sec. 1085. Postmasters must Remit and Deposit Promptly. — The dates of 
 
 the issues of the several money-orders, and also of the deposits, entered in the weekly 
 statements, will clearly show to the Deitartnient when the moneys received for such 
 issues and deposits should have been remitted; and postniasters will beheld strictly 
 accountable for any failuri' to remit or to dei>osit promptly in obedience to these 
 instructions 
 
 Sec. 1086. Unpaid Advices Less than Two Weeks Old in Weekly Statements. 
 
TITLE VI — TIIH M(J.\I:V-0K1)I:K SVS'IKM. 225 
 
 Kvory postiiiastor is it>(|iiirrii, in iiiai<iii^ iiji liis wrckly statfintiitH, to oimiiMTato, in 
 detail, <aiclull.v uiul accuratt-ly, all tin- unpaid advices which have liccn in his handH 
 less than two weeks, lint he will take no account whatever of un|>airl advices tliat liav'o 
 been on hand two weeks or more. If tliere is not space enou;fh to include in the weekly 
 statement all the )ini>aid advices on hand less than two weeks, he will enter only the 
 aggregate amount thereof, hut will make a detailed enumeration of these advices ou 
 a separate paper, which must he inclosed with the weekly statement, as a vouclier 
 for funds withheld from deposit. A blank form for this enumeration of a<lvice8 will 
 be fuiliished postmasters wlio need it, on application to the Dejiartmeiit. Postmas- 
 ters who fail to comply with these requirements will be considered as having improperly 
 withhehl the money. In case no unpaid advices are on hand at the close of the week, 
 the fact should l)e noted in the statement by writing the words Ni)XK o\ hand, under 
 the projiei- headin;^. 
 
 Sec. 1087. Money-Order Funds not Subject to Rules of Postal Funds. — 
 
 Postmasters will take notice that the standing instructions which they may receive 
 from the Post-Ottice Department with respect to the disposal of (juarterly balances 
 ai'ising from the sale of postage-stamps, stamped envelopes, etc., due from them to 
 the United States, do not apjtly to money-order funds in their hands, but only to 
 postal funds. 
 
 Sec. 1088. Weekly Statements, how Transmitted. — The weekly statement 
 for each week, together with all vouchers and other papers appertaining thereto, and 
 all correspondence with the Post-Ottice Department relative to the money-order busi- 
 ness, must be addressed to the "Superintendent of the Moxey-Ohdek System, 
 Washington, D. C." It is desirable that each communication should relate to one 
 sul)ject only, and that a memorandum should lie written on each envelope stating the 
 nature of its contouts. 
 
 Sec. 1089. Money-Order Cash must be Kept Separately. — Postmasters 
 should keep their money-order cash aiiart from all other cash whatsoever, and with 
 this view a special drawer should be provided for it. All receipts of cash on money- 
 order account, whether for money-orders issued and for fees for remittances from other 
 postmasters, or for postage-money transferred, should be deposited therein ; and all 
 disbursements, whether payments of money-orders, remittances made to other post- 
 masters, or transfers to postage acconnt. shoubl be made therefrom. 
 
 Sec. 1090. Weekly Statements to be Numbered Consecutively. — Postmas- 
 ters must not fail to numlier their weekly statements consecutively, lieginuing with 
 No. 1 for the iirst statement made in the month of January of each year. The 
 greatest care must be taken to write the names of the remitters and payees of the 
 money-orders so i)laiiily in the statements that they may be easily read. 
 
 Sec. 1091. Make up Weekly Statements Every Saturday. — Ou Saturday 
 
 evening of each week every postmaster will make up his weekly statement, being 
 careful to state therein all the particnlai"s required by the headings, and to compare 
 the seA-eral items with those contained in the registere and cash-book before the 
 statemeiit is forwarded to the Superintendent of the Money-Order System, which must 
 be done by the first mail after the accounts of the week have been closed. 
 
 Sec. 1092. Statements of "No Business." — If no business has been trans- 
 acted during the week the jtostmaster will be required to send forward the usual form, 
 Avith a statement of the last balance, and the words Xo nrsiNESS written across the 
 face of the blank. Co]ties(>f the weekly sTatement should not be retained by the jiost- 
 master. 
 
 Sec. 1093. Weekly Statements at Close of Quarter. — Postmasters Avill l)e 
 
 careful to enter into their weekly statements neither more nor less than the trans- 
 actions of one week, and the week must be understood to counnence on Monday and 
 to end on Saturday. Bnt at the ex]»iratifm of each (jnarter of the year, Aiz, 31st 
 :March, 30th June, 30th September, and 31st December, should either of these days 
 not fall on Saturday or Sunday, a statement must be made up and forwarded of the 
 1.3 r L ' 
 
226 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 business transacted from the last Saturday but one in the montb, up to the close of the 
 last day of that month and quarter. The next succeeding statement must embrace all 
 the business transacted since the first day of the first month of the next quarter up to 
 the close of the second Saturday of said mouth. For example, the 30th of September, 
 1879, falls on Tuesday ; hence no statement is to be made on Saturday, the 27th of that 
 month, but a statement must be made on Tuesday, the last day of the month, to in- 
 clude all the biisiness transacted since Saturday, the 20th of the month. In like man- 
 ner, no statement should be made on Saturday, October 4, 1879, but the statement 
 of the next Saturday, October 11, must embrace all the business transacted since the 
 first day of that month. The object of this regulation is to facilitate the quarterly set- 
 tlement of the accounts of i)o-5tmasters, and also to disj)ense with statements for frac- 
 tional iiarts of a week. 
 
TITLE VI TIIH MONHY-OKDKU SYSTKM. 
 
 •_'•_'< 
 
 is! 
 
 
 JO a^uQ 
 
 J^5 
 
 <<•; 
 
 33 
 
 -SQ 8 11 
 
 •.Mjsuur 
 -jsod aq; 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 . lO 
 
 in 
 
 
 
 t- 
 
 t- 
 
 '~ 
 
 
 ! 6 
 
 o 
 
 z 
 
 _■ 
 
 :!2i 
 
 'A 
 
 y-< 
 
 ;2; 
 
 • 3 
 
 £ . 
 
 i 
 
 •~ _ 
 
 %.\^ ^ 
 
 fc -r 
 
 X ' i- 
 
 M -^ ^ r-<^ TT u 2 o i C" o 5 i _=- 2 r ? F ■- ' •= .' 
 
 Vi»~ S^" xi~ k" S :? (S » S 
 
 •J t~- OC C5 
 
 = -'>a '"I J 
 
 ■.i.i;si!ra 
 X(l asii .io,j 
 
 
 . o . - 
 
 o : o 
 6 :| 
 
 
 SE-i H r- 
 
 
 r^ " H "h H H H H ~H 
 
 I H - f- 
 
 i cT o" '^. 
 II 
 
228 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 Sec. 1094. Vouchers to Accompany Weekly Statements. — The paid, repaid, 
 and "not issned" money-orders, and the voncliers for mcideutal expenses must in- 
 variably accompany the statements, which will not be considered complete without 
 them. 
 
 Postmasters at first-class post-offices are required to send with each weekly statement 
 a transcript of theii- cash account for the week (Form No. 6018), giving therein 
 the business of each day in detail. Postmasters who remit their suridus money-order 
 funds to the postmaster at San Francisco, Cal., are required to send him a similar 
 transcript, using Form No. 6020, and those who deposit at Portland, Oreg., must for- 
 ward such transcripts weekly to the postmaster of that city. 
 
 Sec. 1095. Credits Allowed on New York. — AVhenever it is found neces- 
 sary, in order to prevent delay or enil>arrassment in the payment of money-orders, 
 the postmasters at certain post-offices will be allowed a credit for a specific amount with 
 the postmaster at New York, or at some other first-class post-office designated for the pur- 
 pose, which credit will be used in the following manner : When at anj^ post-office having 
 such credit the funds arising from the money-order business are insufficient to pay 
 the money-orders presented, the postmaster will thereupon be permitted to draw a 
 draft, payable to his own order, against the amount placed to his credit, for such a sum, 
 and no more as may be necessary to meet the requirements of the case. It is 
 therefore apparent that this credit anust be drawn by installments ; for example, $100, 
 $200, etc., as may be required, and not in one gross sum. The amounts so drawn from 
 time to time must be entered by the postmaster to his debit in the cash-book upon 
 the day they are drawn, and also in the weekly statement. Should the amount of 
 money-orders paid at any one of these post-offices continue to exceed consideraldy 
 the amount of money-orders issued, this credit will, of course, become exhausted. In that 
 event the postmaster having a credit should make timely aiiplicatiou to the Superin- 
 tendent of the Money-Order System for a renewal thereof (Form No. 6035). 
 
 Sec. 1096. Drafts against Credits, how Made. — Special drafts will be 
 
 supplied to postmasters having these credits, who, in the margin provided for their 
 own use, will state the amount of the credit, and enter and deduct from it the 
 amount drawn by the corresi)onding draft, by which means tliey will be constantly 
 reminded of the condition of the fund. Each of these drafts bears a coupon, which 
 the postmaster drawing the draft will fill up, date, and sign, and which the postmaster 
 at the post-office drawn upon will transmit to the Superintendent of the Money- 
 Order System Avhencver the draft is xiaid. It rarely happens that any difficulty is 
 experienced by a postmaster in negotiating a draft of this descripti*)n. For this 
 purpose a form of indorsement is printed upon the back. Should he be unable to 
 obtain the amount of such draft in his vicinity, he will promptly notify the Depart- 
 ment. In the negotiation of these drafts, the postmaster is not at liberty to receive 
 any money that is not a legal tender, except national-bank notes, inasmuch as lie is 
 prohibited from paying out any other money for money-orders presented. If a in-emium 
 be recei\'ed foi' a draft, the postmaster must cliarge himself therewith. 
 
 Sec. 1097. Special Drafts for Emergencies. — In case of S])ecial exigency, 
 
 where assistance is needed at a post-office tht; business of which does not re(|uire a stand- 
 ing credit, a draft for a designated sum sufficient to meet the unpaid advices will be 
 sent u])on application to the Su|teriiiten(lent of the Money-Order System. 
 
 Sec. 1098. Drafts must always be on Forms Furnished. — Postmasters are 
 prohibited from drawing drafts in manuscript or upon any other forms than those sTip- 
 .plied by the Department, and they must invariably sign the drafts themselves, except 
 in the cases mentioned in sciction 9G2. 
 
 Sec. 1099. Special Instructions about Remittances. — The postmaster at 
 
 every money-order post-otlice will make the deposits leciuired by these instructions(see 
 section 1081) by transmitting the amount to be deposited in a registered package ad- 
 dressed to the postmaster of tlio post-oliice named as his depository. Inclosed in this 
 package he will also send a letter (Form 6U21), giving in detail ;ni accni ate description 
 
TITLE VI — mi: M()m:v-(irj)i:i; systkm. 2"J0 
 
 of tho iiKMicy tlitTiiii icmiiti'd. Ft)!' tlio sako <it" ('(luvcnifin'f ami si'ciiiity, tin- iiutfs re- 
 mitted slioiilil Ix' of thf liif^ln'st tlcnoiiiiiiatioiis pioiiiiahlf. anil tiic iiostinastiT iiiiist 
 keep ail exact reeonl of tlio series, uuiiiliers, dciKiiiiiiiations, and dates of all notes 
 remitted by him in compliance with these instructions. In every case of a remittance 
 of money-order funds made l)y means of iia]ier money, sent throu^^htlu! m.-iils, the jiost- 
 master should he aide to jnove hy at least one disinterested Avitness, wlio should, if prac- 
 ticable, he a jterson not emi)loyed in his ])ost-oHice, that the numey was actually in- 
 closed in a ])roperly rej^istered package, addressed to the postmaster at the post-ot^ico 
 of the fust class, designated to receive the deposit, and furthermore, that said pack- 
 age, with the money inclosed therein, was securely locked in the mail-poiuh, and was 
 taken from the post-office out of the postmaster's possession hy the contractor, employe 
 of the railway-mail service, mail-carrier, or other person duly authorized to dispatch 
 the same to destination. Should the remitting postmaster fail to comply with the fore- 
 going instructions, he will he required, if the money is lost, to make good the amount. 
 If the remitting postmaster does not receive in dvic time an acknowledgment of the 
 receipt of the registered package and a certificate of deposit for its contents, he will 
 report the fact to the nearest Special Agent and to the Superintendent of the Money- 
 Order System. These deposits may likewise he made l»y means of iliafts drawn hy one 
 national hank upon another national bank of the locality where the first-class post-office 
 named as the depository is situated, provided such drafts can be obtained without cost. 
 Postmasters are instructed that the unauthorized use of any portion of the money- 
 order funds, for which they are accountable, or any failure to remit, or to pay over 
 their suri)lu8 money-order funds to the person duly authorized hy the Postmaster-Gen- 
 eral to receive the same, will subject them to the penalties prescribed hy law for such 
 offenses. If a remittance of surjilus money-order funds should contain any notes which 
 appear to the receiving postmaster to he counterfeit, he should submit such notes to 
 the nearest assistant treasurer of the United States, or to the proper officer of any 
 national bank, for examination, who will, in accordance with instructions from the 
 Treasury, stamp or brand the notes as counterfeit if they should prove to he so. They 
 should then be returned, with a certificate of deposit for the renuiinder of the remit- 
 tance, to the postmaster who forwarded them. In case a remittance should contain 
 any notes or drafts, other than those of national banks, the receiving postmaster should 
 rei)ort the fact to the Superintendent of the Money-Order System. 
 
 Sec. 1100. Postmasters may Deposit in National Banks, when. — Postinaisters 
 
 are also strictly prohibited by law fium depositing momy-order funds in their charge 
 in any hank except a national bank. See section 73. 
 
 Sec. 1101. Importance of Promptly Transmitting "Weekly Statements. — 
 
 Negligence or delay in transmitting the weekly statements, forwarding advices, or in 
 remitting funds for deposit, according to instructions, are serious obstacles to the 
 successful workiugof the money-order system, and postmasters must be cantioirs in these 
 respects. As intimated elsewhere, the withholding of money in violation of the regu- 
 lations, and the illegal use thereof, will suljject the offender to severe penalties. 
 
TITLE YII. 
 
 EXCHANOE OF COllRESPONDENCE WITH 
 FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 
 
 CHAPTER ONE. 
 
 THE UNIVERSAL POSTAL UNION. 
 
 Sec. 
 
 1102. Tho Convention of Paris. 
 
 1103. Eojiulations of detail ami order under Pari.s 
 
 Convention. 
 t^^ This Convention and the repilation.s of do- 
 tail and order as signed were in the French lan- 
 guage only. The English translation was made in 
 "Washington. 
 
 1104. Postage and registration fee to Postal Union 
 
 countries. 
 
 1105. The metric system of weights used for for- 
 
 eign mails. 
 
 1106. Countries and colonies of the Union. 
 
 1107. Paris Convention does not govern exchange 
 
 of mails with Canada. 
 
 1108. Kates of postage and conditions of prepay- 
 
 ment. 
 
 1109. Mode of prepayment. 
 
 1110. Franking of postal correspondence. 
 
 Sec. 
 
 1111. Postmarking. 
 
 1112. Registration. 
 
 1113. Conditions of fonn and weight. 
 
 1114. Printed matter defined. 
 
 1115. Commercial papers defined. 
 
 1116. Articles excluded from reduced postage. 
 
 1117. Arti(-les excluded from Postal Union mails. 
 
 1118. Special anangements with certain countries. 
 
 1119. International postal card. 
 
 1120. Reforwarding. 
 
 1121. Articles not transmissible or limited in. 
 
 weight to Italy. 
 
 1122. Addressing correspondence to Russia. 
 
 1123. Newspapers for Russia, restrictions. 
 
 1124. Letters of declared value not admissible to 
 
 Union mails. 
 
 1125. List of exchange post-oftices. 
 
 Sec. 1102. The Convention of Paris. — Uiiiversal Postal Unioii concluded 
 between Germany, the Argentine llepnblic, Anstria-Hnnoary, lielgiiim, 
 Brazil, Denmark and the Danish Colonies, Egypt, Spain and tlie Span- 
 ish Colonies, the United States of North America, France and the French 
 Colonies, Great Britain and certain British Colonies, British India, Can- 
 ada, Greece, Italy, Jai)an, Luxemburg, Mexico, Montenegro, Norway, 
 the Netherlands and the Netherland Colonies, Peru, Persia, Portugal and 
 the Portuguese ('olonies, Roumania, Russia, Servia, Salvatlor. Sweden, 
 Switzerland, and Turkey. 
 
 COXYEXTIOX. 
 
 Tlie undersigned, plenii^otentiaries of the governments of tlie coun- 
 tries above enumerated, being assembled in congress at Pari.s, by virtue 
 of Article 18 of the Treaty con.stituting the General Po.stal rnion, con- 
 cluded at Berne on the 9th of October, 1874, have, by mutual agirement, 
 and subject to ratification, revised the said Treaty, conformably to the 
 following stipulations : 
 
 231 
 
232 postal laws and regulations. 
 
 Article 1. 
 
 The countries between which the present Convention is conckided, as 
 Avell as those which may join it hereafter, form, under the title of Uni- 
 versal Postal Union, a single postal territory for the reciprocal exchange 
 of correspondence between their i)ost-offices. 
 
 Article 2. 
 
 The stipulations of this Convention extend to letters, post-cards, 
 printed matter of all kinds, commercial documents and samples of mer- 
 chandise, originating in one of the countries of the Union and intended 
 for another of those countries. They also apply, so far as regards con- 
 Abeyance within the Union, to the exchange by mail of the articles above 
 mentioned between the countries of the Union and countries foreign to 
 the Union, whenever that exchange makes use of the services of two of 
 the contracting parties at least. 
 
 Article 3. 
 
 The Postal Administrations of neighboring countries, or countries able 
 to correspond directly with each other without using the intermediary 
 of the services of a third Administration, determine, by mutual agree- 
 ment, the conditions of the conveyance of their reciprocal mails across 
 the frontier, or from one frontier to the other. 
 
 Unless there be a contrary arrangement, the direct sea conveyance 
 performed between two countries by means of packets or vessels depend- 
 ing upon one of them, shall be considered as a third service ; and such 
 conveyance, as well as any performed between two offices of the same 
 country, by the intermediary of maritime or territorial services main- 
 tained by another country, is regulated hj the stipulations of the follow- 
 ing article. 
 
 Article 4. 
 
 The right of transit is guaranteed throughout the entire territory of 
 the Union. 
 
 Consequently, the several Postal Administrations of the Union may 
 send reciprocally through the intermediary of one or of several of them, 
 as well closed mails as correspondence in open mails, according to the 
 requirements of trade and the convenience of the postal service. 
 
 The correspondence exchanged, whether in open or in closed mails, 
 between two administrations of the Union, by means of the services of 
 one or of several other administrations of the Union, is subject to the 
 following transit charges, to be pjiid to each of the countries traversed, 
 or whose services participate in the conveyance, viz : 
 
 1st. For territorial conveyance, 2 francs i>er kilogramme of letters or 
 post-cards, and 25 centimes per kilogramme of other articles ; 
 
 2d. For sea conveyance, 15 francs per kilogramme of letters or post- 
 cards, and 1 franc per kilogramme of other articles; 
 
TITLE VII FOIJHKiN CORRESPOND KNX'E. 233 
 
 It is, liowevor, uiukMstood — 
 
 1st. That wheicvcr th«' transit is alioady jL;rat nitons at pirscnt, oi 
 subject to more advantaj^eons condilions, snt-ii <'on<lifion is maintained, 
 except in the case provided for hi paragraph .'>, following; 
 
 2d. That wherever the rate of sea-transit lias hitherto been fixed at <» 
 francs 50 centimes per kiloynimme of letters or post-cards, snch rate is 
 reduced to 5 fraucs ; 
 
 3d. That every sea-conveyance not exceeding oOO nautical miles is 
 gratuitous if the administration concerned is already entitled, on account 
 of nuiils or corrcs]»ondenco benefiting by this conveyance, to the rtMiiu- 
 neration applicable to the territorial transit ; in the contrary case pay- 
 ment is made at the rate of 2 francs i)er kilogramme of letters or post- 
 cards, and 25 centimes per kilogramme of other articles ; 
 
 4th. That in the case of sea-conveyance effected by two or more admin 
 istrations, the expenses of the entire transportation cannot exceed 15 
 francs i)er kilogramme of letters or i)ost-cards, and 1 franc per kilo- 
 gramme of other articles. These expenses are in such case shared 
 between the administrations ^ro rata for the distances traversed, without 
 prejudice to other arrangements between the parties interested ; 
 
 5th. That the rates specified in the present article do not apply either 
 to conveyance by means of services depending upon administrations 
 foreign to the Union, or to conveyance within the Union l)y means of 
 extraordinary services specially established or maintained by one admin- 
 istration in the interest or at the request of one or several other admin- 
 istrations. The conditions of these two categories of conveyance are 
 regulated by mutual agreement between the administrations interested. 
 
 The expenses of transit are borne by the administration of the country 
 of origin. 
 
 The general settlement of these expenses takes place on the basis of 
 statements prepared every two years, during a month to be determined 
 on in the Regulation of Execution referred to in Article l-Jt hereafter. 
 
 The correspondence of the postal administrations with each other, 
 articles reforwarded or misseut, undeliverable articles, acknowledgments 
 of delivery, post-ofdce money-orders or advices of the issue of orders, 
 and all documents relative to the postal service, are exempt from all 
 transit charges, whether territorial or maritime. 
 
 Akticle 5. 
 
 The rates of postage for the conveyance of postal articles throughout 
 the entire extent of the Union, including their delivery at the residence 
 of the addressees in the countries of the Union where a delivery service 
 is or shall be organized, are fixed as follows : 
 
 1st. For letters, 25 centimes in case of prepayment, and double that 
 amount in the contrary case, for each letter and for every weight of 15 
 grammes or fraction of 15 grammes; 
 
 2d. For post-cards, 10 centimes per card ; 
 
234 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 3d. For printed matter of every kind, commercial papers, and samples 
 of merchandise, 5 centimes for each article or packet bearing a particn- 
 lar address; and for every weight of 50 grammes or fraction of 50 
 grammes, provided that such article or package does not contain any 
 letter or manuscript note having the character of an actual and personal 
 correspondence, and that it be made up in such a manner as to admit 
 of its being easily examined. 
 
 The charge on commercial papers cannot be less than 25 centimes per 
 packet, and the charge on sami)les cannot be less than 10 centimes pBr 
 packet. 
 
 In addition to the rates and minima fixed bj' the preceding paragraphs, 
 there may be levied : 
 
 1st. For every article subjected to the sea transit rates of 15 francs 
 per kilogramme of letters or post-cards and 1 franc per kilogramme of 
 other articles, an additional charge, which may not exceed 25 cen- 
 times per single rate for letters, 5 centimes i^er i)ost-card, and 5 centimes 
 per 50 grammes or fraction of 50 grammes for other articles. As a tem- 
 j)orary arrangement, there may be levied an additional charge up to 10 
 centimes per single rate for the letters subjected to the transit rate of 5 
 francs per kilogramme. 
 
 2d. For every article conveyed by services maintained by administra- 
 tions foreign to the Union, or conveyed by extraordinary services in the 
 Union giving rise to special expenses, an additional charge in propor- 
 tion to these expenses. 
 
 In case of insufficient prepayment, articles of correspondence of all 
 kinds are liable to a charge equal to double the amount of the deficiency, 
 to be paid by the addressees. 
 
 Circulation shall not be given — 
 
 1st. To articles other than letters which are not prepaid at least partly, 
 or which do not fulfill the conditions required above in order to enjoy the 
 reduced rate ; 
 
 2d. To articles of a nature likely to soil or injure the correspondence; 
 
 3d. To packets of samples of merchandise which have a salable value, 
 or which exceed 250 grammes in weight, or measure more than 20 centi- 
 meters in length, 10 in breadth, and 5 in depth. 
 
 4th. Lastly, to packets of commercial pai)ers and printed matter of all 
 kinds, the weight of which exceeds 2 kilogrammes. 
 
 Article G. 
 
 The articles specified in Article 5 maylje registered. 
 
 Every registered article is liable, at the charge of the sender — 
 
 1st. To the ordinary prepaid rate of i)ostage upon the article, accord- 
 ing to its nature ; 
 
 2d. To a fixed registration fee of 25 centimes at the maximum in the 
 European states, and of 50 centimes at the maximum in the other coun- 
 tries, including the issue to the sender of a bulletin of i>osting. 
 
TITLE VII — FOREIGN COKKESPONDENCE. 235 
 
 The seiidci' of a rc^iistcicd article may ol»taiii an ackiiowh dfj^inent of 
 drlivt'iy ofsiu'li article l»y jtayin;: in aihaiicc a fixed fee of !'."» eeiitiiiies 
 at tlie iiiaxiiiiiini. 
 
 In case of the loss of a registered article, and exce[)t in ease oi force 
 majruir, ther<' is to l)e i)aid an indemnity of 50 francs to the sender, or, 
 at his re<]uest, to the addressee, by the administiation npon wiiose ter- 
 ritory or ill whose maritime service the loss has occurred ; that is to say, 
 where the trace of the article lias ceased. 
 
 Asa temporary measure, the administrations of the countries beyond 
 Europe, whose legislation is at present opposed to the principle of 
 responsibility, are permitted to ])ostpone the ai)plication of the preced- 
 ing clause until the time wlien they sliall have obtained from the legis- 
 lative power authority to subscribe to it. Up to that time, the other 
 administrations of the Union are not bouud to pay an indemnity for the 
 loss, in their respective services, of registered articles addressed to or 
 originating in the said countries. 
 
 If it is impossible to discover the service in which the loss has occur- 
 red, the indemnity is borne in equal proportions between the two corre- 
 sjionding offices. 
 
 Payment of this indemnity is made witli the least possible delay, 
 and, at the latest, within a year dating from the day of application. 
 
 Every claim for an indemnity is excluded if it has not l)een made 
 
 within one year from the date on which the registered article was 
 
 posted. 
 
 Article 7. 
 
 Those countries of the Union which have not the franc for their 
 monetary unit hx their i)0stages at the equivalent in their respective 
 currencies of the rates determined by Articles 5 and (i preceding. Such 
 countries have the option of rounding off the fractions in conformity 
 with the table inserted in the regulation of execution mentioned in 
 Article 14 of the present Convention. 
 
 Article 8. 
 
 Prepayment of postage on every description of article can be effected 
 only by means of postage-stamps valid in the country of origin for the 
 correspondence of private individuals. 
 
 Official correspondence relative to the postal service, and exchanged 
 between the postal a<lministrations, is alone exempt from this obliga- 
 tion and admitted free. 
 
 Article 1>. 
 
 Each administratfon keei»s the whole of the sums which it has col- 
 lected in execution of the foregoing Articles ."i, (I, 7, and 8. Consequently, 
 there is no necessity on this head lor any accounts between the several 
 administrations of the Union. 
 
 iS^either the senders nor the addressee.s of letters and other postal 
 
236 POSTAL LAAVS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 articles are called upon to pay, either iu the couutry of origin or in that 
 of destination, any i^ostage or any postal fee other than those contem- 
 plated by the articles above mentioned. 
 
 Article 10. 
 
 ^o additional charge is levied for the reforwarding of postal matter 
 within the interior of the Union. 
 
 Article 11. 
 
 It is forbidden to the public to send by mail : 
 
 1st. Letters or packets containing gold or silver substances, pieces of 
 money, jewelry, or precious articles ; 
 
 2d. Any packets whatever containing articles liable to customs duty. 
 
 In case a packet falling under one of these prohibitions is delivered 
 by one administration of the Union to another administration of the 
 Union, the latter proceeds according to the manner and forms prescribed 
 by it s legislation or by its interior regulations. 
 
 There is, moreover, reserved to the government of every country of 
 the Union the right to refuse to convey over its territory, or to deliver, 
 as well articles liable to the reduced rate, in regard to which the laws, 
 ordinances, or decrees which regulate the conditions of their publication 
 or of their <'irculation in that couutry have not been complied with, as 
 correspondence of every kind which evidently bears inscriptions forbidden 
 by the legal enactments or regulations in force in the same country. 
 
 Article 12. 
 
 The offices of the Union which have relations with countries beyond 
 the Union admit all the other offices to take advantage of such relations 
 for the exchange of correspondence with the said countries. 
 
 The correspondence exchanged in open mails between a country of the 
 Union and a country foreign to the Union, through the intermediary of 
 another country of the Union, is treated, as regards the conveyance 
 beyond the limits of the Union, in conformity to the conventions, ar- 
 rangements, or special provisions goveining the postal relations between 
 the latter country and the country foreign to the Union. 
 
 The rates chargeable on the correspondence in question consist of 
 two distinct elements, viz : 
 
 1st. The Union rate tixed by Articles 5, 0, and 7 of the present Con- 
 vention. 
 
 2d. A rate for the conveyance beyond the limits of the Union. 
 
 The first of tliese rates is assigned — 
 
 a. For correspondence originating in the Union and addressed to 
 foreign countries, to the dispatching office in case of prepayment, and 
 to the office of exchange in case of non-prepayment. 
 
 h. For correspondence originating in fort'ign countries and addressed 
 
TITLE VII rolM-IGX (ORRESPOXDEN'CE. '2'M 
 
 to tlH' Union, to tlio ollicc of cxclian^ic in cast' of ])rci)iivnHnt. and to 
 the ofllci* of destination in case of non-inrpaynient. 
 
 Tlic second of these rates is. in every ease, assi^iiicd to the ollicc of 
 exchan-^e. 
 
 With refiard to the expenses of transit \vitliin th<' I'nion, tlie cor- 
 respondence originating in or atldressed to a foreign conntiy is assiini- 
 hxted to that from or for the country of the Union whii'h maintains 
 rehitions witli the country foieign to the Union, unless such relations 
 imply obligatory and partial i)repayment, in which case the said I'liion 
 country has the right to the territorial transit rates fixed by Article 4 
 preceding. 
 
 The general settlement of the rates chargeable for the conveyance 
 beyond Union limits takes place upon the basis of statements which are 
 prepared at the same time as the statements drawn up by virtue of 
 Article 4 preceding- for the calculation of the expenses of transit within 
 the Union. 
 
 As regards the correspondence exchanged in closed tnails Ijetweeu a 
 country of the Union and a country foreign to the Union, through the 
 intermediary of another country of the Union, the transit thereof is 
 subject as follows: 
 
 Within the limits of the Union, to the rates fixed by Article 4 of the 
 present Convention. 
 
 Beyond the limits of the Union, to the conditions arising; from si)ecial 
 arrangements concluded or to be concluded for that purpose between 
 the administrations interested. 
 
 Article 13. 
 
 The exchange of letters of declared value and that of postal money- 
 orders form the subject of special arrangements between the various 
 countries or grouiis of countries of the Union. 
 
 Article 14. 
 
 The postal administrations of the various countries composing the 
 Union are competent to establish by nnitual agreement, in a regulation 
 of execution, all the measures of order and detail which are judged 
 necessary. 
 
 The several administrations may, moreover, make among thcmselvcv* 
 the necessary arrangements on the subject of (luestions which do not 
 concern the Union generally, provided that thcsi' arrangements are not 
 contrary to the present Convention. 
 
 The administrations interested are, however, permitted to come to 
 mutual arrangements for the adoption of lower rates of postage, within 
 a radius of 30 kilometers, for the conditions of the delivery of letters by 
 express, as well as tV)r the exchange of post-cards with paid answer. In 
 this latter case, the answer-car<ls. when sent back to the eountrv of 
 
238 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS, 
 
 origin, are exempt from tlie transit charges stipulated by the hist para- 
 graph of Article 4 of the present Convention. 
 
 Article 15. 
 
 The present Convention involves no alteration in the postal legislation 
 of any country as regards anything wliich is not provided for by the 
 stipulations contained in this Convention. 
 
 It does not restrict the right of the contracting parties to maintain 
 and to conclude treaties, as well as to maintain and establish more re- 
 stricted Unions, with a view to the improvement of postal relations. 
 
 Article 10. 
 
 There is maintained, under the usime of the IttternatioHal Btireau of the 
 Universal Postal Union, a central ofitice, which is conducted under the 
 superintendence of the Swiss Postal Administration, and the expenses 
 of which are borne by all the administrations of the Union. 
 
 This office continues to be charged with the duty of collecting, collat- 
 ing, publishing, and distributing information of every kind which con- 
 cerns the international postal service ; of giving, at the request of the 
 parties concerned, an opinion u^jon questions in dispute ; of making 
 known proposals for modifying the acts of the Congress ; of giving notice 
 of the changes adopted, and, in general, of undertaking examinations 
 and labors devolving upon it in the interest of the Postal Union. 
 
 . Article 17. 
 
 In case of disagreement between two or more members of the Union 
 as to the interpretation of the present Convention, the question in dis- 
 pute is decided by arbitration. To that end, each of the administra- 
 tions concerned chooses another member of the Union not directly inter- 
 ested in the matter. 
 
 The decision of the arbitrators is given b7 the absolute majority of 
 votes. 
 
 In case of an equality of votes, the arbitrators choose, in order to set- 
 tle the difference, another administration equally disinterested in the 
 disputed question. 
 
 Article 18. 
 
 Countries which have not taken part in the present Convention are 
 admitted to adhere thereto upon their demand. 
 
 Kotice is given of this adhesion, through the diplomatic channel, to 
 the government of the Swiss Confederation, and by that government 
 to all the countries of the Union. 
 
 It implies, as a right, accession to all the clauses and admission to all 
 the advantages stipulated by the present Convention. 
 
 It devolves uj)on the government of the Swiss Confederation to de- 
 termine, by mutual agreement with the government of the country in- 
 
TITLE VII — FOKEIGN CORKESI'ONDENCE. 239 
 
 terested, the share to be contrilmted by the Administration (tf tliis hittci- 
 country toward tho cxpt'iiscs of tli** Intcniatioiial I>iir«*aii, and, if ne<'«'s- 
 sary, the rates to bo k'vieil by that administration in confuniiity with 
 Article 7 preceding. 
 
 Article 10. 
 
 Conjiresscs (»f i>lonii)otcntiarios of tlic contractin.u' countries, or simpb; 
 ailmiuistrati\c conferences, according to tiie importance of the ques- 
 tions to be solved, are held when a <lemand for them is made or approved 
 by two-thirds, at least, of the governments or administrations, as the 
 case may be. 
 
 Nevertheless, a Congress must be held at least once every five years. 
 
 Each country may be represented either by one or several delegates, 
 or by the delegation of another country. But it is understood that the 
 delegate or delegates of one country can be charged with the represen- 
 tation of two countries oidy, inclutling the country which they represent. 
 
 In the deliberations each country has one vote only. 
 
 Each Congress fixes the place of meeting for the following Congress, 
 
 For Conferences, the administrations fix the places of meeting upon 
 proposal of the International Bureau. 
 
 Article I'O. 
 
 In the interval which elapses between the meetings, any postal 
 administration of a country of the Union has the right to address to 
 the other administrations belonging to it, through the intermediary of 
 the International Bureau, proposals concerning the regimen of the 
 Union. But to become executive these propositions nuist obtain, as 
 follows : 
 
 ]st. Unanimity of votes, if they involve a modification of the stipula- 
 tions of Articles 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and !) preceding. 
 
 2d. Two-thirds of the votes, if they involve a modification of the stip- 
 ulations of the Convention other than those of Articles 2, 3, 4, .j, 0, and 1». 
 
 3d. A simple absolute majority, if they involve the interpretation of 
 the stii)nlations of the Convention, except in the case of dispute contem- 
 plated in Article 17 preceding. 
 
 The binding decisions are sanctioned, in the first two cases, by a 
 diplomatic declaration, which the government of the Swiss Confedera- 
 tion is charged to prepare and transmit to all the governments of the 
 contracting countries, and, in the third case, by a simple notification 
 from the International Bureau to all the administrations of the Union. 
 
 Article 21. 
 
 The following are considered as fornung, for the application of Articles 
 10, 19, and 20 preceding, a single country', or a single administration, as 
 the case may be : 
 
 1st. The Empire of British India ; 
 
240 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 2d. The Dominion of Canada ; 
 3d. Tlie whole of the Danish Colonies ; 
 4th. The whole of the Spanish Colonies ; 
 5th. The whole of the French Colonies ; 
 6th. The whole of the Xetherland Colonies ; 
 7th. The whole of the Portuguese Colonies. 
 
 Article 22. 
 
 The present Convention shall be put into execution on the 1st of April, 
 1879, and shall remain in force during- an indefinite period ; but each 
 contracting party has the right to withdraw from the Union by means 
 of a notice given, one year in advance, by its government to the govern- 
 ment of the Swiss Confederation. 
 
 Article 23. 
 
 After the date on which the j)resent Convention takes effect, all the 
 stipulations of the treaties, conventions, arrangements, or other acts pre- 
 viously concluded between the various countries or administrations, in 
 so far as those stipulations are not in accordance with the terms of the 
 liresent Convention, are abrogated, without prejudice to the rights re- 
 served by Article 15 above. 
 
 The present Convention shall be ratified as soon as possible. The acts 
 of ratification shall be exchanged at Paris. 
 
 In faith of which, the pleniijotentiaries of the countries above enumer- 
 ated have signed the present Convention at Paris, the first of June, one 
 thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight. 
 
 For the United States of America | t^?' ?" "^ ^t?^." ^ . 
 
 ( Joseph H. Blackfan. 
 
 ( Dr. Stephax. 
 For Germany ) Gunther. 
 
 ( Sachse. 
 
 For the Argentine Eepublic Carlos Calyo. 
 
 For Austria Dewez. 
 
 For Hungary Geryay. 
 
 ^-Be'g"- {•^-.isr^" 
 
 For Brazil A'ico3ITE d'Itajuba. 
 
 For Denmark and the Danish Colonies. . .ScHOU. 
 
 For Egypt A. Caillard. 
 
 For Spain and the Spanish Colonies. . . \ ^i" ^'R™!^^^ A^illaamil. 
 ^ ^ { Lmilio C. de ^.ayasoues. 
 
 ( Leon Say. 
 For France ) Ad. Cochery. 
 
 ( A. Besnier. 
 For the French Colonics ]•]. Boy. 
 
 For Great Britain and the British Cdo \ ^^V^" f^^f,^' 
 
 1 
 
 rE, 
 
 For Britisli India Fred. B. Hogg 
 
 ^'^^« ^A.llACLEAN. 
 
TITLE VII — FOREIGN CORRESPONDENX'E. 241 
 
 ( F. O. Adams. 
 
 For Canada < AVm. Jas. Page. 
 
 ( A. Maclean. 
 
 For areeee f N. IM )elyanni. 
 
 1 or txreece ^^ j^ I\r ansolas. 
 
 For Italy G. B. Tantesio. 
 
 ■|?«« T«,,«., i Naonouoit Samesiiima. 
 
 ^ovJH^an { Saml. M. Buyan. 
 
 For Luxeinbour*; V. de Iio<:i5E. 
 
 For Mexico G. Uarueda. 
 
 For Montenegro DEwi:z. 
 
 For ]S'orway Ciir. Hefty. 
 
 For the Netherlands and the Aether- ^ g^^^^f^^^^^^^^^ ^^^ j^ 
 land Colonies ^^ Wyborgh. 
 
 For Pern . . JuAN M. de Goyeneche. 
 
 Persia unrepresented . 
 
 For Portugal and the Portuguese Colo- ( Guelhekmeno Augusto de 
 
 nies ( Barros. 
 
 For Eoumania C. F. Eobesco. 
 
 For Rnssii f BARON Velho. 
 
 i^oritussia ^ Georges Poggenpohl. 
 
 For Salvador J. M. ToRRi:s Caicedo. 
 
 For Servia Mladen F. Eadoycovitch. 
 
 For Sweden Wm. Roos. 
 
 -n, a •+ 1 1 ( DR- Kern. 
 
 For Switzerland | Ed. Hohn. 
 
 For Turkey B. Couyoumgian. 
 
 Having examined and considered the provisions of the aforegoing 
 Convention, signed at Paris on the Istof Jume, A. D. 1878, revising the 
 Treaty constituting the General Postal Union which was concluded at 
 Berne on the 9th of October, A. D. 1874, the same is by me, in virtue of 
 the powers vested in the Postmaster-Generalby law, hereby ratified and 
 approved, by and with the advice and consent of the President of the 
 United States. 
 
 la witness whereof I have caused the seal of the Post-Office Depart- 
 ment of the United States to be hereto afl&xed, with my signature, this 
 loth day of August, 1878. 
 
 [SEAL.] D. M. KEY, 
 
 Fostmaster-Genend. 
 
 I hereby approve the above-mentioned Convention, and in testimony 
 thereof I have caused the seal of the United States to be affixed hereto. 
 [SEAL.] E. B. HxVYES. 
 
 By the President : 
 F. W. Seward, 
 
 Acting Secretary of State. 
 Washington, August 13, 1878. 
 10 p L 
 
242 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 FINAL PKOTOCOL. 
 
 The uiidersigned, plenipotentiaries of the governments of the countries 
 •vrhich have this day signed the Convention of Paris, have agreed as 
 follows: 
 
 I. Persia, which forms part of the Union, being unrepresented, will 
 nevertheless be allowed to sign the Convention hereafter, provided that 
 countrj' confirms its adhesion by a diplomatic act with the Swiss gov- 
 ernment before the 1st of April, 1879. 
 
 ir. The countries foreign to the Union, which have deferred their 
 adhesion or wliich have not yet announced their intentions, shall enter 
 the Union on fulfilling the conditions specified in Article 18 of the Con- 
 vention. 
 
 III. In case one or other of the contracting parties should not ratify 
 the Convention, this Convention shall nevertheless be binding on the 
 parties to it. 
 
 IV. The various British colonies, other than Canada and British India, 
 which are parties in the Convention, are Ceylon, the Straits Settlements, 
 Labuan, Hong-Kong, Mauritius and dependencies, Bermuda, British 
 Guiana, Jamaica, and Trinidad. 
 
 In faith of which the undermentioned plenipotentiaries have drawn 
 up the present final protocol, which shall have the same force and the 
 same value as if the stipulations which it contains were inserted in the 
 Convention itself, and they have signed it in one single instrument, 
 which shall be deposited in the archives of the French government, and 
 a copy of which shall be delivered to each party. 
 
 Paris, June 1st, 1878. 
 
 ( Dr. Stephan. 
 
 For Germany - < Gitnther. 
 
 ' ( Sachse. 
 
 For the Argentine Eepublic Carlos Calvo. 
 
 For Austria Dewez. 
 
 For Hungary Gervay. 
 
 -n Ty ^ • (J- ViNCHENT. 
 
 ForBelgmm { F. Gife. 
 
 For Brazil Yicomte d'Itajuba. 
 
 For Denmark and the Danish Colonies . . . Schou. 
 
 For Egypt A. Caillard. 
 
 For Spain and the Spanish Colonies. . . I ^S^Y.^n^^ Villaamil. 
 ^ ^ ( Emilio C. de IS^avasques. 
 
 For the United States of America { T^!;£;'?f ^?^: 
 
 ( Joseph H. Blackfan. 
 
 ( Leon Say. 
 For France ) Ad. Cochery. 
 
 ( A. Besnier. 
 For the French Colonies E. Roy. 
 
 For Great Britain and the British Colo- { Ev?' ^^^S^' 
 _:„„ < WM. Jas. Page. 
 
 ^^^^ (A. Maclean. 
 
TITLE VII — FOREIGN CORRESPONDENCE. 243 
 
 For British India .^ Fred. R. Hogg. 
 
 ( F. (). Adams. 
 For Canada ] Wm. J as. Page. 
 
 ( A. Maclean, 
 t:, >^ ( N. P. Delyanni. 
 
 ^«'^^^^^<^ {a.Mansolas. 
 
 For Italy G. B. Tantesio. 
 
 „ T ( XAONonou Sameshima. 
 
 ^o^M^^^ i Saml. M. Bryan. 
 
 For Luxembourg V. de R(EBE. 
 
 For Mexico G. Barreda. 
 
 For Montenegro Dewez. 
 
 For Xorway Chr. Hefty. 
 
 For The Netherlands and the Aether- ^ f^|^™^|^ ^andas- 
 
 laud Colonies ^ Wyborgh. 
 
 For Peru Juan M. de Goyeneche. 
 
 For Portugal and the Portuguese Colo- i Guelhermeno Augusto de 
 
 nies ( Barros. 
 
 For Eoumania C. F. Eobesco. 
 
 ^ -p . ( Baron Yelho. 
 
 j^or lYUSsia j Georges Poggenpohl. 
 
 For Salvador J. M. Torres-Caicedo. 
 
 For Servia Mladen F. Radoycovitch. 
 
 For Sweden Wm. Roos. 
 
 For Switzerland | Ed.' HoSn." 
 
 For Turkey B. Couyoumgian. 
 
 Having examined and considered the j)rovisions of the foregoing final 
 protocol, signed at Paris on the 1st of June, A. D. 1878, relative to the 
 Convention of Paris, signed the same day, the same is by me, in virtue 
 of the x^owers vested in the Postmaster-General by law, hereby ratified 
 and approved, by and with the advice and consent of the President of 
 the United States. 
 
 In witness whereof I have caused the seal of the Post-Office Depart- 
 ment of the United States to be hereto affixed, with my signature, this 
 13th day of August, 1878. 
 
 [SEAL.] D. M. KEY, 
 
 Postmaster-General. 
 
 I hereby approve the above-mentioned protocol, and in testimony 
 thereof I have caused the seal of the United States to be affixed. 
 [SEAL.] R. B. HAYES. 
 
 By the President : 
 F. W. Seward, 
 Acting Secretary of State. 
 Washington, August 13, 1878. 
 
244 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 Sec. 1103. Regulations of Detail and Order under the Paris Convention. — 
 Eegulatious of detail and order for the execution of the Convention 
 concluded between Germany, the Argentine Republic, Austria-Hun- 
 gary, Belgium, Brazil, Denmark and the Danish Colonies, Egypt, Spain 
 and the Spanish Colonies, the United States of North America, France 
 and the French Colonies, Great Britain and certain British Colonies, 
 British India, Canada, Greece, Italy, Japan, Luxemburg, Mexico, Mon- 
 tenegro, Norway, The Netherlands and the Netherland Colonies, Peru, 
 Persia, Portugal and the Portuguese Colonies, Roumania, Russia, Servia, 
 Salvador, Sweden, Switzerland, and Turkey. . . 
 
 The undersigned, in view of Article 14 of the Convention concluded at 
 Paris June 1st, 1878, for the revision of the fundamental compact of the 
 General Postal Union, have, in^the name of their respective administra- 
 tions, established, by mutual agreement, the following measures to in- 
 sure the execution of the said Convention : 
 
 I. 
 
 Direction of the Correspondence. 
 
 1. Each administration is bound to forward, by the most rapid routes 
 at its disposal for its own mails, the closed mails and the correspondence 
 in open mails which are delivered to it by another administration. 
 
 2. The administrations which avail themselves of the right to levy 
 sup])lementary charges, as representing the extraordinary expenses at- 
 tending certain routes, are at liberty not to forward by those routes when 
 other means of communication exist, such of the insufficiently-paid cor- 
 respondence for which the employment of the said routes has not been 
 expressly requested by the senders. 
 
 11. 
 
 Exchange in Closed Mails. 
 
 1. The exchange of the correspondence in closed mails between the 
 administrations of the Union is regulated by mutual agreement, and 
 according to the needs of the service, between the administrations con- 
 cerned. 
 
 2. If an exchange is to be made through tlie intermediary of one or 
 several third countries, the administrations of those countries must be 
 informed thereof in due time. 
 
 o. It is, moreover, obligatory in this latter case to make up closed 
 mails, whenever the amount of the correspondence is of a nature to im- 
 pede the operations of an intermediary administration, according to the 
 statement of that administration. 
 
 4. In case of alteration in a service of exchange in closed mails estab- 
 lished between two administrations through the intermediary of one or 
 more third countries, the administration which has called for the altera- 
 tion gives notice thereof to the administrations of the countries through 
 whose intermediary the exchange is made. 
 
TITLE VII FOREIGN CORRESPONDENCE. 
 
 245 
 
 in. 
 
 Extraordinary Services. 
 
 The extraordinary services of the Union grivin^- rise to spcciiil expenses, 
 the fixing of wiiich is reserved by Article 4 of tlie Con v-ention for arrange- 
 ments between the administrations interested, are exehisively — 
 
 1st. Tiiose wliich are maintained for the aceelerate<l territorial con- 
 veyance of the mail called Indian ; 
 
 2d. That which the postal administration of the United States of 
 America maintains npon its territory for the conveyance of closed mails 
 between the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. 
 
 IV. 
 
 Fixing the Rates of Postage. 
 
 1. In execntion of Article 7 of the Convention, the administrations of 
 the countries of the Union which have not the franc for monetary unit, 
 levy their rates of postage according to the following equivalents : 
 
 Countries. 
 
 Germany 
 
 Argentine Republic. 
 Aiiatria-Hun<;ary. .. 
 Brazil ". 
 
 25 centimes, l 10 centimes. I 5 centimes. 
 
 I)fniiiaTk 
 
 Dani.sh colonies : 
 
 (Treenland . .. 
 
 AVest Indies . 
 
 Es 
 
 mt 
 
 United States of Amei-ica 
 
 Great Britain 
 
 British Inilia 
 
 Briti.sh colonies : 
 
 Jamaica. Trinidad, British Guiana, Labtian, Manritins 
 
 and deiK'iideucie.s, Beniiiidas 
 
 Ceylon, Straits Settlements, Hoiiic-Kons, Can.ida 
 
 Japan 
 
 Montenegro 
 
 !Xor way 
 
 Netherlands and Xetheiland colonics 
 
 Persia 
 
 20 pfennifr . 
 
 1 lOpfennis .. 
 
 .") ])ftiiiiiir. 
 
 8 eentavos . 
 
 1 4 eentavos . . 
 
 2 eentavos 
 
 10 kreuzcr. 
 
 5 kreiizer ... 
 
 .3 kreiizer. 
 
 lOOreis 
 
 . ."iO leis 
 
 25 reis. 
 
 20 ore 
 
 10 lire 
 
 1 
 
 Sore. 
 
 20 ore 
 
 .1 10 (ire 
 
 5 ore. 
 
 cents 
 
 2 cents 
 
 1 cent. 
 
 1 piastre . . . 
 
 . 20 paras 
 
 10 para.s. 
 
 5 cents 
 
 2 cents 
 
 1 wut. 
 
 2i j)iufe ... 
 
 . 1 jicnnv 
 
 i penny. 
 
 2 annas 
 
 . J anna 
 
 i anna. 
 
 2j pence . . . 
 
 . 1 1 penny .... 
 
 i penny. 
 
 .5 cents 
 
 . 2 cents 
 
 1 cent. 
 
 
 . 2 sen 
 
 . r> soldi 
 
 1 sen. 
 
 lOs.ddi .... 
 
 3 .soldi. 
 
 Portuiial and Portnsiiese colonies. 
 
 Kussia 
 
 Servia 
 
 Sweden 
 
 Turkey 
 
 Mexico 
 
 Peru 
 
 Salvador 
 
 20 (ire 
 
 12i cents 
 
 shaliLs 
 
 .")0 reis 
 
 7 kopecks. .. 
 
 .tO pai-as 
 
 20 lire 
 
 50 paras 
 
 6 eentavos . . 
 
 o eentavos . . 
 
 5 eentavos 
 
 de peso. 
 
 10 iire 
 
 5 cents . . . . 
 
 2 sliahis 
 
 20 reis 
 
 3 kopecka . . 
 20 paras . . . 
 
 10 ill e 
 
 20 pai-as . . . 
 H eentavos . 
 2 eentavos . 
 2 centavoi 
 
 de peso. 
 
 2J cents. 
 
 1 shall i, 
 10 reis. 
 
 2 kojiecks. 
 10 paras. 
 
 5 lire. 
 10 paras. 
 2 eentavos. 
 1 centavo. 
 lean ta vo 
 de peso. 
 
 2. In case of change in the monetary system in one of the above-named 
 countries, the administration of that country mu.st have an understand- 
 ing with the Swiss Postal Administration in order to modifv the above 
 equivalents : it devolves upon the latter administration to give notice of 
 this modification to all the other offices of the Union through the inter- 
 mediary of the International Bureau. 
 
 3. Any administration has the right to have recourse, if it deems it 
 necessary, to the understanding i)rovided for in the preceding paragraph , 
 in case of an imjiortant modification in the value of its money. 
 
246 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 4. The monetary fractious resulting either from the complement of 
 the charge applicable to iusufficieut prepaid correspondence, or from the 
 combination of the Union postages with the foreign postages, or with 
 the surcharges contemplated by article 5 of the Convention, may be 
 rounded oif by the administrations which collect them. But the sum 
 to be added on this account cannot, in any case, exceed the value of one- 
 twentieth of a franc (five centimes). 
 
 V. 
 
 Correspondence with Countries foreign to the Union. 
 
 1. The offices of the Union which have relations with countries foreign 
 to the Union, furnish to the other offices of the Union a table conforma- 
 ble to model C annexed to the present Regulations, and indicating, with 
 the conditions of dispatch, the rates due for the conveyance outside of 
 the Union of the correspondence for or from the aforesaid countries. In 
 the case provided for by the tenth paragrajih of Article 12 of the Conven- 
 tion, there may be added five centimes per single rate of letters and two 
 centimes per single rate of other articles. 
 
 2. In application of Article 12 of the Convention, there is levied, in 
 addition to the foreign rates indicated in table C : 
 
 1st. By the office of the Union forwarding prepaid correspondence 
 for countries outside the Union, the rates of prepayment respectively 
 applicable to correspondence of the same nature for the country of 
 egress from the Union ; 
 
 2d. By the office of the Union to which is addressed unpaid or par- 
 tially paid correspondence of foreign origin, as follows : 
 
 a. For letters, the rate applicable to the unpaid letters coming from 
 the country of the Union which serves as the intermediary ; 
 
 h. For other articles, a charge equal to the prepaid rate on similar 
 articles which are addressed from the Union country of destination to 
 the Union country serving as the intermediary. 
 
 VI. 
 
 Application of Stamps. 
 
 1. Correspondence originating in countries of the Union is impressed 
 with a stamp indicating the place of origin and the date of posting. 
 
 2. Correspondence originating in countries foreign to the Union is 
 impressed, by the office of the Union which has received it, with a stamp 
 indicating the point and date of entrance into the service of that office. 
 
 3. Unpaid or insufficiently prepaid correspondence is, in addition, 
 impressed with the stamp T (tax to be paid), the application of which 
 devolves upon the office of the country of origin in cases of correspond- 
 ence originating in the Union, and upon the office of the country of 
 entry in cases of correspondence originating in countries foreign to the 
 Union. 
 
TITLE VII FOREIGN CORRESPONDENCE. 247 
 
 4. Registered articles must bear the special mark (label or stamn) 
 adopti'd for articles of a lik<^ nature by the country of ori^'in. 
 
 5. The stamps vr marks, tlie employment of wlii<;h is pn*scribed by 
 the i)resent article, are pla(;ed on the address side of the iiacket. 
 
 6. Every article of correspondence not bearing the stamp T is con- 
 sidered as prepaid and treated accordingly, unless there be an obviijus 
 error. 
 
 YII. 
 
 Indication oftheXumher of Rates and the Amount of the Foreign Charges. 
 
 1. Wlien a letter or other article of correspondence is liable, by reason 
 of its weight, to more than a single rate, the office of origin or of entry 
 into the Union, as the case may be, indicates, at the upper left corner 
 of the address, in ordinary figures, the number of rates paid or to be 
 paid. 
 
 2. This regulation is not obligatory for the fidly prepaid correspond- 
 ence. 
 
 3. The foreign charges due by virtue of Article 12 of the Convention 
 and of Article Y of the present Regulations, for the conveyance outside 
 of the Union of correspondence for or from countries foreign to the 
 Union, are indicated at the lower left corner of the address of eacli arti- 
 cle, as follows : 
 
 1st. By the office of tlie country of origin, in red figiu-es, in case of 
 regularly prepaid correspondence originating in the Union ; 
 
 2d. By the office of the country' of entry into the Union, in blue fig- 
 ures, in case of correspondence of foreign origin to be charged by the 
 Union office of destination. 
 
 Till. 
 
 Insufficient Prepayment. 
 
 1. When an article is insufficiently prepaid by means of postage- 
 stamps, the dispatching office indicates, in black figures placed at the 
 side of the postage-stamps, the amount of the insufficiency, expressing 
 it in francs and centimes. 
 
 2. According to this indication, the exchange office of the country of 
 destination charges the article with double the insufficiency ascertained. 
 
 3. In case use be ma<le of postage-stamps not valid for prei)ayment, 
 no account is taken of them. This circumstance is indicated by the 
 cipher (0) placed at the side of the postage-stamps. 
 
 IX. 
 
 Letter Bills. 
 
 1. The letter bills accompanying the mails exchanged between two 
 administrations of the Union are in conformity with the model A an- 
 nexed to the present Regulations. 
 
248 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 2. The registered articles are entered in table No. I of the letter-bill, 
 -vrith the following details : The name of the office of origin, the name 
 of the addressee, and the place of destination, or simply the name of the 
 office of origin and the number given to the article at that office. 
 
 3. When the number of registered articles usually sent from one office 
 of exchange to another requires it, a special and separate hst may be 
 used to replace table No. I of the letter bill. 
 
 4. In table No. II are to be entered, with the details which this table 
 requires, the closed mails which accompany the direct dispatches. 
 
 5. When it is deemed necessary, for certain relations, to make other 
 tables or headings upon the letter-bill, the measure may be accomplished 
 by mutual agreement between the administrations interested. 
 
 6. When an exchange office has no article to forward to a correspond- 
 ing office, it must nevertheless send, in the ordinary form, a mail which 
 is composed solely of the letter bill. 
 
 X. 
 
 Registered Articles. 
 
 1. The registered articles and, if necessary, the special list specified 
 in paragraph 3 of Article IX, are placed together in a separate packet, 
 which must be suitably inclosed and sealed so as to preserve its contents. 
 
 2. This packet, with the letter ijill around it, is placed in the center 
 of the mail. 
 
 3. The presence in the mail of a packet of registered articles, the de- 
 scription of which is given upon the special list mentioned in paragraph 
 1 above, must be announced by the application at the head of the letter 
 bill, either of a special entry, or of the label, or of the registration stamp 
 in use in the country of origin. 
 
 4. It is understood that the mode of making up and transmitting reg- 
 istered articles prescribed by paragraphs 1 and 2 above applies only to 
 ordinary relations. For important relations, it appertains to the ad- 
 ministrations interested to prescribe, by mutual agreement, special 
 arrangements, under reservation, in the one case as in the other, of the 
 exceptional measures to be taken by the chiefs of the exchange offices, 
 when they have to assure the transmission of registered articles which, 
 from their nature, their form, or their bulk, cannot be inserted in the 
 
 mail. 
 
 XI. 
 
 Indemnity for the Loss of a Registered Article. 
 
 The obligation to pay the indoinnity in case of the loss of a registered 
 article, devolves upon the administration to which the dispatching office 
 is subordinate, subject to appeal, if necessary, to the administration 
 responsible for the loss. 
 
TITLE VII — FOREIGN CORRESrONDENX'E. 249 
 
 XII. 
 MaJiiny vj) the Maih. 
 
 1. As a general rule, the articles of which the mails consist must be 
 classified and put up in bundles according to the nature of the corre- 
 spondence. 
 
 2. Every mail, after having been first tied with string, is inclosed in 
 strong i)aper of sufticient quantity to prevent any injury to the contents, 
 then tied again on the outside and sealed with wax, or by means of a 
 gummed paper label bearing an imi)ressioii of the seal of the office. 
 The mail is furnished with a printed a(hlress bearing, in small cliaracters, 
 the name of the dispatcliing office, and in larger characters the name of 
 the office of destination : "From " "For " 
 
 3. If the size of the mail requires it, it is inclosed in a bag properly 
 closed, sealed, and labeled. 
 
 4. The bags must be returned empty to the dispatching office by the 
 next mail, subject to other arrangement between the corresponding offices. 
 
 XIII. 
 
 Verijicaiion of the Mails. 
 
 1. The office of exchange which receives a mail ascertains, in the first 
 l^lace, if the entries upon the letter bill and — the case occurring — upon 
 the list of registered articles, are correct. 
 
 2. When it detects errors or omissions, it immediately makes the nec- 
 essary corrections on the letter bills or lists, taking care to strike out 
 the erroneous entries with a pen, in such a manner as to let the original 
 entries be seen. 
 
 3. These corrections are made by the concurrence of two officers. 
 Except in the case of an obvious error, they are accepted in preference 
 to the original statement. 
 
 4. A bulletin of verification, in conformity with model B annexed to 
 the present regulations, is prepared by the receiving office and sent 
 without delay, under official registration, to the dispatching office. 
 
 5. The latter, after examination, returns it with any observations to 
 which it may give rise. 
 
 6. In case of the failure of a mail, of a registered article, of the letter 
 bill, or of the special list, the circumstance is immediately authenticated, 
 in the manner agreed upon, by two officers of the receiving exchange 
 office, and reported to the dispatching exchange office by means of a 
 bulletin of verification. If needful, the latter office may also be advised 
 thereof by telegram, at the expense of the office which sends the 
 telegram. 
 
 7. In case the receiving office has not forwarded by the first mail to 
 the dispatching office a note of verification reporting errors or irregu- 
 
250 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 lai'ities of any kind, the absence of that document is to be regarded as 
 evidence of tlie due receipt of the mail and of its contents, until proof 
 to the contrary. 
 
 XIV. 
 
 Registered Articles. — Conditions of Form and Fastening. 
 
 No special condition of form or of fastening is required for the regis- 
 tered articles. Each office has the right to apply to this correspondence 
 the regulations established in its interior service. 
 
 XV. 
 
 Post Cards. 
 
 1. Post-cards must be forwarded without cover. One of the sides is 
 reserved for the address alone. The communication is written on the 
 other side. 
 
 2. Post-cards cannot exceed the following dimensions : 
 Length, 14 centimeters ; 
 
 Width, 9 centimeters. 
 
 3. As far as possible, post-cards issued specially for circulation within 
 the Union, should bear an impressed stamp and the title "Universal 
 Postal Union," followed by the name of the country of origin. This title, 
 when not in the French language, is to be repeated in that language. 
 
 4. Post-cards issuing from Union offices are alone admitted to circu- 
 lation in the international service. 
 
 5. It is forbidden to join or to attach to post-cards any article what- 
 soever. 
 
 XVI. 
 
 Commercial Papers. 
 
 1. The following are considered as commercial papers and admitted 
 as such to the reduced postage sanctioned by Article 5 of the Conveu- 
 tion, viz : All instruments or documents written or drawn wholly or 
 l^artly by hand, which have not the character of an actual and personal 
 correspondence, such as papers of legal procedure, deeds of all kinds 
 drawn up by public functionaries, way bills or bills of lading, invoices, 
 the various documents of insurance companies, copies or extracts of 
 deeds under private seal written on stamped or unstamped paper, scores 
 or sheets of manuscript music, manuscripts of works forwarded sep- 
 arately, &c. 
 
 2. Commercial papers must be forwarded under band or in an open 
 enveloi)e. 
 
 XVII. 
 
 Printed matter of all kinds. 
 
 1. The following are considered as printed matter, and admitted as 
 such to the reduced postage sanctioned by Article 5 of the Convention, 
 
TITLE VII — FOREIGN CORRESPONDENCE. 251 
 
 viz: Newspapers and periodical works, books stitched or ImxiihI, paiii- 
 l)liU'ts, sheets of luiisic, visiting-canls, address cards, proofs of printing, 
 with or without tlic manuscripts rehiting thereto, engravings, plioto- 
 graphs, drawings, plans, geographical ina[>s, catalogues, iu()sp«'ctuses, 
 annouuceinents and notices of various kinds, whether printed, engi-avtxl, 
 lithogra|)hed, or autographed, and, in general, all impressions or copies 
 obtained ui)ou paper, parchment, or card-board, by means of i)rinting, 
 lithographing, or any other mechanical process easy to recognize, except 
 the copying-press. 
 
 2. The following are excluded from the reduced postage, viz : Stamps 
 or forms of prepayment, whether obliterated or not, as well as all printed 
 articles constituting the rei)resentative sign of a monetary value. 
 
 3. The character of actual and persotml corTesjyondence cannot be 
 ascribed to the following, viz : 
 
 1st. To the signature of the sender or to the designation of Lis name, 
 of his profession, of his rank, of the place of origin, and of the date of 
 dispatch. 
 
 2d. To a dedication or mark of respect offered by the author. 
 
 3d. To the figures or signs mei-ely intended to mark the passages of a 
 text, in order to call attention to them. 
 
 4th. To the prices added upon the quotations or prices current of ex- 
 change or markets. 
 
 5th. Lastly, to annotations or corrections made uiM>n proofs of print- 
 ing or musical compositions, and relating to the text or to the execution 
 of the work. 
 
 4. Printed matter must be either placed under band, upon a roller, 
 between boaixis, in a case open at one side or at both ends, or 
 in an unclosed envelope, or simply folded in such a manner as not to 
 conceal the natui^e of the jiacket, or, lastly, tied by a stiing easy to un- 
 fasten. 
 
 5. Address cards, and all printed matter presenting the form and con- 
 sistency of an unfolded card, may be forwarded without band, envelope, 
 fastening, or fold. 
 
 XYIII. 
 
 Samples. 
 
 1. Samples of merchandise are admitted to the advantage of the re- 
 duction of postage which is granted to them by Article 5 of the Conven- 
 tion only under the following conditions : 
 
 2. They nuist be placed in bags, boxes, or removable envelopes, in 
 such a manner as to admit of easy inspection. 
 
 3. The}' must not have any salable value, nor bear any manuscript 
 other than the name or profession of the sender, the address of the ad- 
 dressee, a manufacturer's or trade-mark, numbers, and prices. 
 
252 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 XIX. 
 
 Articles grouped together. 
 
 It is permitted to inclose in the same packet samples of merchandise, 
 printed matter and commercial papers, but subject to the following' con- 
 ditions : 
 
 1st. That each article taken singly shall not exceed the limits which 
 are applicable to it as regards weight and size. 
 
 2d. That the total weight must not exceed two kilogrammes per 
 package. 
 
 3d. That the minimum charge shall be 25 centimes when the packet 
 contains commercial papers, and 10 centimes when it consists of printed 
 matter and samples. 
 
 XX. 
 
 Refoncarded Correspondence. 
 
 1. In execution of Article 10 of the Convention, and subject to the ex- 
 ceptions specified in paragraph 2 of the present article, correspondence 
 of every kind circulating in the Union, addressed to i^ersous who have 
 changed their residence, is treated by the delivering office as if it had 
 been addressed directly from the place of origin to the place of new 
 destination. 
 
 2. With regard to articles of the interior service of one of the coun- 
 tries of the Union, which enter, in consequence of reforwarding, into 
 the service of another country of the Union, the following rules are 
 observed : 
 
 1st. Articles unpaid or insufficiently paid for tlieir first transmission, 
 are treated as international correspondence, and subjected by the de- 
 livering office to the charge ai^plicable to articles of the same nature 
 addressed directly from the country of origin to the country in which the 
 addressee may be. 
 
 2d. Articles regularly paid for their first transmission, and upon 
 which the remainder of the charge relating to the further transmission 
 has not been paid previous to reforwarding, are subjected, according to 
 their nature, by the delivering office, to a charge equal to the difference 
 between the prepaid rate already paid and that which would have been 
 levied if the articles had been originally dispatched to their new desti- 
 nation. The amount of this difference must be expressed in francs and 
 centimes at the side of the postage stamps by the reforwarding office. 
 
 In both cases, the charges contemplated above remain to be defrayed 
 by the addressees, even if, owing to snccessive reforwardiugs, the arti- 
 cles should return to the country of origin. 
 
 3. Articles of every kind missent are, without delay, reforwarded by 
 the most rapid route to their destinatioD. 
 
TITLE VII — FOREIGN CORRESPONDENCE. 253 
 
 XXL 
 Undelivered Correnpondencc. 
 
 1. The correspondence of every kind which is not dclivorpd, from what- 
 ever cause, must he returned immediately after the expiration of tlie 
 period for keei)in^ it reiiuired by the hiws of tlie country of (U-stination 
 through the intermediary of the respective ottices of exchange, and in a 
 special bundle hibele<l "/?('&Mf.s." 
 
 2. Xevertheless, undelivered registered correspondence is returned to 
 the exchange office of the country of origin as if it were registered cor- 
 respondence addressed to that country, except that as regards the de- 
 scriptive entry in table Xo. I of the letter bill, or in the separate list, 
 the word ^^Kebuts^ is entered in the column of observations by the re- 
 turning oftice. 
 
 3. As an exception, two corresponding offices may, by mutual agree- 
 ment, adopt a ditferent mode of returning undelivered corresi)ondence, 
 and may also dispense with the reciprocal retiu-n of certain printed matter 
 considered to be without value. 
 
 XXII. 
 
 Statistics of Transit Expenses. 
 
 1. The statistics to be taken once every two years in execution of Ar- 
 ticles 4 and 12 of the Convention, for the settlement as well of the ex- 
 penses of transit within the Union as of the charges relating to the con- 
 veyance beyond the limits of the Union, are established according to the 
 provisions of the following articles, during the entire month of May or 
 of Xovember alternately, in such a manner that the first statistics shall 
 take place in Xovember, 1879 ; the second in May, 1881 ; the third in 
 Xovember, 1883, and so on. 
 
 2. The statistics of Xovember, 1879, shall take effect from the 1st of 
 April in the same year, until the 31st December, 1880. Each snbsequent 
 statistical account shall serve as basis for the i)aymeuts relating to the 
 current year, and to that which follows. 
 
 3. If during the period of application of the statistics, a country hav- 
 ing important relations should enter the Union, the countries of the 
 Union whose situation might, in consequence of this circumstance, 
 be aft'ected in regard to the payment of transit rates, have the option 
 to demand special statistics relating exclusively to the countries recently 
 admitted. 
 
 XXIII. 
 
 Correspondence in Open Mails. 
 
 1. The office serving as the medium for tlie transmission of coiTespond- 
 ence exchanged in open mails, either between two countries of the 
 Union or between a country of the Union and a country foreign to it, pre- 
 
254 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 pares beforehand, for eacb. of its correspondents of the Union, a table in 
 conformity mth model D annexed to the present Regulations, and in 
 which it indicates, distinguishing, if needful, the different routes of trans- 
 mission, the rates of payment by weight due to it for conveyance within 
 the Union of both categories of correspondence by means of the services 
 at its disposal, as well as the rates of payment by weight to be paid, 
 the case occurring, by the office itself to other offices of the Union, for 
 the further conveyance of the said correspondence within the Union. If 
 needful, it communicates in due time with the offices of the countries to 
 be traversed as to the routes the correspondence is to take, and the rates 
 to be applied thereto. 
 
 2. A copy of table D is forwarded by the said office to the corre- 
 sponding office interested, and serves as the basis of a special account 
 to be established between them with reference to the intermediate con- 
 veyance in the Union of the correspondence in question. This account 
 is prepared by the office which receives the correspondence, and is sub- 
 mitted to the examination of the dispatching office. 
 
 3. The dispatching office prei)ares, according to the particulars given 
 in the form D, furnished by its correspondent, tables in conformity with 
 model E, hereto annexed, and intended to show for each mail the ex- 
 penses of intermediate conveyance within the Union of the correspond- 
 ence, without distinction of origin, comprised in the mail to be forwarded 
 by the intermediary of the said corresponding office. With this view, 
 the dispatching exchange office enters in table No. 1 of a form E, 
 which it joins to its dispatch, the total weight, according to its nature, 
 of the correspondence of this class which it delivers in open mail to the 
 corresponding exchange office, and the latter, after verification, under- 
 takes the further transmission of the correspondence to its destination 
 in mixing it with its own, in respect to the payment, if needful, of the 
 further charges for conveyance. 
 
 4. With regard to the expenses of conveyance beyond the limits of 
 the Union of correspondence addressed to or coming from countries 
 foreign to the Union, they are calculated according to the particulars 
 given in the table C mentioned in Article V of the present Eegulations, 
 and entered in gross upon the form E, as follows : 
 
 In table No. II, in the case of paid correspondence for abroad (expense 
 at the charge of the dispatching office of the Union) ; 
 
 In table No. Ill, in the case of unpaid correspondence coming from 
 abroad, and of reforwarded or undelivered correspondence marked with 
 foreign charges to be refunded (expense at the charge of the Union 
 office of destination) ; 
 
 5. Any error in the statement of the office of exchange which has 
 dispatched the table E is immediately notified to that office by means 
 of a bulletin of verification, notwithstanding the correction made in the 
 table itself. 
 
 G. If there be no correspondence liable to a charge for intermediate 
 
t 
 
 TITLE VII — FOREIGN CORRESPONDENCE. 255 
 
 or foreign conveyance, the table E is not prepared. In case of tluj 
 unexplained omission of this table, the irreffularity is fMiually nijxnted 
 by means of a bulletin of veritication to the olU(;c in fault, and must be 
 immediately repaired by the latter. 
 
 xxrv. 
 
 Closed Mails. 
 
 1. The coiTcspondcnce exchanged in closed mails between two offices 
 of the Union, or between an office of the Union and an office foreign 
 to the Union, across the territory, or by means of the services of one 
 or more other offices, forms the object of a statement similar to model 
 F annexed to the present Kegulations, and which is prepared according 
 to the following stipulations : 
 
 2. As regards the mails from one country of the Union to another 
 country of the Union, the dispatching office of exchange enters in the 
 letter bill for the office of exchange receiving the mail the net weight 
 of the letters and post-cards, and of the other articles, without distinc- 
 tion of the origin or destination of the correspondence. These entries 
 are verified by the recei\ing office, which prepares, at the end of the 
 period for taking the statistics, the statement above mentioned, in as 
 many copies as there are offices interested, including the office of the 
 place of dispatch. 
 
 3. In the four days which follow the close of the statistical operations, 
 the statements F are transmitted by the offices of exchange which have 
 prepared them to the offices of exchange of the administration indebted, 
 in order to be accepted by them. The latter, after having accepted 
 these statements, transmit them to the central administration to which 
 they are subordinate, which is charged with distributing them among 
 the offices interested. 
 
 4. As regards the closed mails exchanged between a country of the 
 Union and a country foreign to the Union, by the intennediar\- of one 
 or several offices of the Union, their conveyance is effected in both 
 directions, at the charge of the said Union country, and the offices of 
 exchange of that country themselves prepare, for each mail dispatched 
 or received, a statement F, which they transmit to the office of departure 
 or of entry, which prepares, at the end of the statistical period, a general 
 statement, in as many copies as there are offices interested, including 
 itself and the debtor office of the Union. A copy of this statement is 
 transmitted to the debtor office, as well as to each of the offices which 
 have participated in the conveyance of the mails. 
 
 XXV. 
 
 Account of the Expenses of Transit. 
 
 1. The tables E and F are incorporated in a special account, in which 
 is shown, in francs and centimes, the annual amount of transit payment 
 
256 POSTAL LAWS AND EEGULATIONS. 
 
 accruing to each office, by multiplying the totals by 12. The duty of 
 preparing- this account devolves upon the creditor office, which transmits 
 it to the debtor office. 
 
 2. The balance resulting from the reciprocal accounts between two 
 offices is paid by the debtor office to the creditor office in effective francs, 
 and by means of bills drawn upon the capital, or upon a commercial 
 place of the latter office. 
 
 3. The preparation, transmission, and payment of the accounts of the 
 expenses of transit belonging to a period of service must be effected 
 with the least possible delay, and at the latest, before the expiration of 
 the first six months of the following period of service. When this time 
 has passed, the amounts due by one office to another office are subject 
 to interest at the rate of five per cent, per annum, dating from the day 
 of the expiration of the said delay. 
 
 4. Nevertheless, the option is reserved to the offices interested to make, 
 
 by mutual agreement, other arrangements than those which are set forth 
 
 in the i)resent Article. 
 
 XXVI. 
 
 Exceptions in Matters of Weight. 
 
 As an exceptional measure, it is agreed that the States which, in con- 
 sequence of their interior regulations, are unable to adopt the decimal 
 metrical system of weight, have the right to substitute for it the ounce 
 avoirdupois (28.3465 grammes), by assimilating a half ounce to 15 
 grammes, and two ounces to 50 grammes, and to raise, if needful, the 
 limit of the single rate of postage on newspapers to four ounces, but 
 under the express condition that, in the latter case, the postage on 
 newspapers be not less than 10 centimes, and that an entire rate of 
 postage be charged for each copy of the newspaper, even though several 
 newspapers be included in the same packet. 
 
 XXYII. 
 
 Applications for Ordinary Articles ichicli have failed to reach their Destina- 
 tion. 
 
 1. Every application respecting an article of ordinary correspondence 
 which has failed to reach its destination gives rise to the following pro- 
 ceeding : 
 
 1st. A form similar to the model G hereto annexed, is handed to the 
 applicant, who is requested to fill up as exactly as possible, the por- 
 tion which concerns him. 
 
 2d. The office at which the application originates transmits the form 
 direct to the corresponding office. It is transmitted officially and with- 
 out any writing. 
 
 3d. The corresponding office causes the form to be handed to the 
 addressee or to the sender, as the case may be, with the request that 
 particulars on the subject bo furnished. 
 
TITLE VII FOREIGN CORRESPONDENCE. 257 
 
 4th. Supplied with these particuhus, the form is sent back oflicially 
 to the oflice whicli jin'piinMl it. 
 
 r)th. Ill case the ai)plication jnovea to be well founded, it is trans- 
 mitted to the central administration, to serve as the basis for further 
 investigation. 
 
 Cth. Unless by agreement to the contrary, the form is drawn up in 
 French, or bears a French translation. 
 
 2. Any administration may require, by means of a notification 
 addressed to the International Bureau, that the exchange of ai)])li<a- 
 tions, so far as it is concerned, be eftected through the intermediary of 
 the central administrations, or of an office specially designated. 
 
 XXVIII. 
 
 Division of the Expenses of the International Bureau. 
 
 1. The ordinary expenses of the International Bureau must not exceed 
 the sum of 100,000 francs annually, not including the special expenses 
 to which the meeting of a Congress or of a Conference may give rise. 
 
 2. The administration of the Swiss Post Office superintends the 
 expenses of the International Bureau, makes the necessary advances, 
 and prepares the annual account, which is communicated to all the 
 other administrations. 
 
 3. For the division of the expenses, the countries of the Union are 
 divided into seven classes, each contributing in the proportion of a cer- 
 tain number of units, viz : 
 
 1st class 25 units. 
 
 2d " 20 " 
 
 3rd " 15 " 
 
 4th " 10 " 
 
 5th " 5 " 
 
 Cth " 3 " 
 
 7th " 1 " 
 
 4. These coefficients are multiplied by the number of countries of each 
 class, and the total of the i)roducts thus obtained furnishes the number 
 of units by which the total exi)ense is to be divided. The quotient 
 gives the amount of the unit of expense. 
 
 5. The countries of the Union are classified as follows, in view of the 
 division of the exiDcnses : 
 
 1st class: Germany-, Austria-IIungary, United States of America, 
 France, British India, the whole of the other British colonies except 
 Canada, Great Britain, Italy, Russia, Turkey. 
 
 2d class : Spain. 
 
 3d class : Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Egypt, Japan, Xetherlands, Eou- 
 mania, Sweden, Spanish colonies or provinces beyond sea, French col- 
 onies, Xetherland East Indies. 
 
 4th class: Denmark, Norway, Portugal, Switzerland, Portuguese 
 colonies. 
 
 17 P L 
 
258 POSTAL LAWS AND EEGULATIONS. 
 
 5th clas^ : Argentine Eepublic, Greece, Mexico, Pern, Servia. 
 
 6th class : Colony of Snrinam (or Dutch Guiana), colony of Curagoa 
 
 (or Netherland West Indies), Luxemburg-, Persia, Danish colonies, 
 
 Salvador. 
 
 7th class : MontenegTO. 
 
 XXIX. 
 
 Communications to he addressed to the International Bureau. 
 
 1. The International Bureau serves as the intermediary for the regular 
 and general notifications which concern the international relations. 
 
 2. The administrations forming the Union must communicate to each 
 other specially through the medium of the International Bureau: 
 
 1st. Information of the additional charges which they levy by virtue 
 of Article 5 of the Convention, in addition to the Union rate, whether 
 for sea-postage or for the exjienses of extraordinary conveyance, as well 
 as a list of the countries in relation to which these surcharges are levied, 
 and, if needful, the designation of the routes which cause their collec- 
 tion; 
 
 2d. The impression of the special stamp or mark serving to authenti- 
 cate the registration ; 
 
 3d. The model of their form of ad\ace of receipt j 
 
 4th. The collection of their postage stamps ; 
 
 5th. Lastly, the tables C, the preparation of which is prescribed by 
 Article V of the present Eegulations. 
 
 3. Every modification adopted hereafter in regard to one or other of 
 the five points above mentioned, must be notified, without delay, in the 
 same manner. 
 
 4. The International Bureau equally receives from all the adminis- 
 trations of the Union, two copies of all the documents which they 
 publish, as well relating to the interior service as to the international 
 service. 
 
 5. Moreover, each administration transmits, in the first half of each 
 year, to the International Bureau, a complete series of statistical details 
 relating to the preceding year, in the form of tables filled up according 
 to information from the International Bureau, which distributes for 
 this purpose formulas already prepared. 
 
 6. The correspondence addressed by the administrations of the Union 
 to the International Bureau, and nice versa, is assimilated, as regards 
 freedom from postage, to the correspondence exchanged between the 
 administrations. 
 
 XXX. 
 
 Duties of the International Bureau. 
 
 1. The International Bureau prepares general statistics for each year. 
 
 2. It publishes, by the aid of the documents which are put at its dis- 
 posal, a special journal in the German, English, and French languages. 
 
 3. All the documents published by the International Bureau are dis- 
 tributed to the administrations of the Union in the proportion of the 
 
TITLE VII — FOREIGN CORRESPONDENCE. 259 
 
 number of contributing units assigned to each by Article XXVIII 
 preceding. 
 
 4. Tlie atblitlonal copies and documents wiiicli may be applied for by 
 these administrations are paid for, sei>arately, at prime cost. 
 
 5. The International IJureau must, besides, hold itself always at the 
 disposal of the members of the Union, for the i)urpose of furnishing 
 them with any special infonnati(m they may require upon quest rmis 
 relating to the International Postal Service. 
 
 C. The International Bureau makes known deman<ls for the moditica- 
 tion or interpretation of the stipulations which govern the Union. It 
 notifies the results of each application, and any modification or resolu- 
 tion adopted is not executive until two months, at least, after its notifi- 
 cation. 
 
 7. In the questions to be decided by unanimous assent or by the major- 
 ity of the Union administrations, those administrations which have 
 not sent in their reply within the maximum delay of four months are con- 
 sidered as expressing no opinion. 
 
 8. The International Bureau prepares the business to be submitted to 
 the congresses or conferences. It undertakes the necessary copying 
 and printing, the editing and distribution of amendments, journals af 
 proceedings, and other details. 
 
 9. The Director of this Bureau attends the sessions of the congresses 
 or conferencesj and takes part in the discussions, without the power of 
 voting. 
 
 10. There is issued, under his superintendence, an annual report, 
 which is communicated to all the administrations of the Union. 
 
 11. The official language of the International Bureau is the French 
 language. 
 
 XXXI. 
 
 Language. 
 
 1. The letter-bills, tables, statements, and other forms used by the 
 administrations of the Union in their reciprocal relations must, as a 
 general rule, be drawn up in the French language, unless the adminis- 
 trations interested arrange otherwise by direct agreement. 
 
 2. As regards official correspondence, the present state of things is 
 maintained, unless any other arrangement should subsequently be agreed 
 upon by common consent between the administrations interested. 
 
 XXXII. 
 Jurisdiction of the Union. 
 
 The following are considered as belonging to the Universal Postal 
 Union : 
 
 1st. The Island of Ueligoland, as assimilated to Germany, from a 
 postal point of view. 
 
 2d. The Principality of Lichtenstein, as subordinate to the postal ad- 
 ministration of Austria. 
 
 3d. Iceland and the Faroe Islands, as forming part of Denmark. 
 
260 POSTAL LAWS AND EEGULATIONS. 
 
 4th. The Balearic Isles, the Canary Islands, and the Spanish posses- 
 sions on the Northern Coast of Africa, as forming part of Spain ; the 
 Eepnblic of Andorra and the postal establishments of Spain upon the 
 western coast of Morocco, as subordinate to the Spanish postal admin- 
 istration. 
 
 5th. Algeria, as forming part of France ; the Principality of Monaco, 
 and the French i^ost-offices established at Tunis, Tangier (Morocco), and 
 at Shanghai (China), as subordinate to the postal administration of 
 France ; Cambodia and Tonquin, as assimilated, so far as regards the 
 postal service, to the French colony of Cochin China. 
 
 6th. Gibraltar, as well as Malta and its dependencies, as subordinate 
 to the postal administration of Great Britain. 
 
 7th. The post-offices which the administration of the English colony 
 of Hong-Kong maintains at Kiung-chow, Canton, Swatow, Amoy, Foo- 
 cbow, Kingpo, Shanghai, and Hankow (China), and Hai-Fuug and Hanoi, 
 (Tonquin). 
 
 8th. The Indian postal establishments of Aden, Muscat, Persian Gulf, 
 Guadur, and Mandalay, as subordinate to the postal administration of 
 British India. 
 
 9th. The Republic of St. Marino, and the Italian offices of TudIs and 
 Tripoli, in Barbary, as subordinate to the postal administration of 
 Italy. 
 
 10th. The post-offices which the Japanese administration has estab- 
 lished at Shanghai, Chefoo, Chin-Kiaug, Hankow, Ning-po, Foo-Chow, 
 IS'ewchwang, Kiukiang, and Tien-Tsin (China), and of Fusampo (Corea). 
 
 11th. Madeira and the Azores, as forming part of Portugal. 
 
 12th. The Grand Duchy of Finland, as forming an integral part of the 
 
 Empire of Eussia. 
 
 XXXIII. 
 
 In the interval which elapses between the meetings, every postal ad- 
 ministration of a country of the Union has the right to address to the 
 other i)articipating administrations, through the intermediary of the 
 International Bureau, proposals in regard to the stipulations of the 
 present Regulations. Bat to become binding these prox>osals. must ob- 
 tain as follows : 
 
 1st. Unanimity of votes, if they relate to the modification of the stipu- 
 lations of the Articles III, IV, V, XI, XXYI, XXXIII, and XXXIY. 
 
 2d. Two-thirds of the votes, if they relate to the modification of the 
 stipulations of the Articles I, II, VIII, X, XIII, XIV, XV, XVI, XVII, 
 XVIII, XIX, XX, XXII, XXIII, XXIV, XXV, XXVII, XXXI, and 
 XXXII. 
 
 3d. Simj)ly au absolute majority, if they relate to the modification of 
 stipulations other than tliose above mentioned, or to the interpretation 
 of the various stipulations of the Regulations. 
 
 The resolutions adopted in due form are sanctioned by a simple noti- 
 fication from the International Bureau to all the administrations of the 
 Union. 
 
TITLE VII FOREIGN CORRESPONDENCE. 261 
 
 XXXIV. 
 
 Duration of the Regulation.^. 
 
 The present 7lo;x'iliin()ns shall be ]mt into ex<M'iiti(m IVoia Uw, day on 
 which the Coiiveiitiou of the l.st .June, 1878, comes into t'oice. They 
 shall have the same duration as that Convention, unless they be renewed 
 by mutual a<;reoment between the parties interested. 
 
 Done at Paris, the 1st June, 1878. 
 
 For the Uuited States of America { f^J^^ S! bIackfan. 
 
 ( Dr. Stephan. 
 For Germany -j G untiiek. 
 
 ( Sach.se. 
 
 For the Argentine Eepublic CIrlos Calvo. 
 
 For Austria Dewez. 
 
 For Hungary Ger VA y. 
 
 F- ««>•«-- !^-.S'='" 
 
 For Brazil Vicomte d'Itajuba. 
 
 For Denmark and the Danisli Colonies . . . Schou. 
 
 For Egypt A. Caillard. 
 
 For Spaiu and the Spanish Colonies. . . { ^^'$:'^J^;^^,, 
 
 ( L6oN Say. 
 For France } Ad. Cochery. 
 
 ( A. Besnier. 
 For the French. Colonies E. Roy. 
 
 For Great Britain and the British Colo- { Sv, P' T^?^i^^^x. 
 . ^ ^ X. Jas. Page. 
 
 ^^^ (A. Maclean. 
 
 For British India Fred. R. Hogg. 
 
 ( F. O. Adams. 
 For Canada } Wm. Jas. Page. 
 
 ( A. Maclean. 
 
 For Greece i ^- ^- ^elyanni. 
 
 i<orUrreece j j^ Mansolas. 
 
 For Italy G. B. Tantesio. 
 
 ■c, T i Xaonobou Sameshima. 
 
 ^«^J^1^^^ { SA3IL. M. Bryan. 
 
 For Luxerabiirg V. DE Roebe. 
 
 For ]Mexico G. Barreda. 
 
 For Montenegro Dewez. 
 
 For Iforway Chr. Hefty. 
 
 For the ]!fetherlands and Xetherland S ^lllTS^^^nxs de Landas- 
 Colonies ^ AVyborgh. 
 
 For Peru JuAN M. de Goyeneche. 
 
 For Portugal and the Portuguese Colo- ( Gi-elhermeno ArGUSTO DE 
 
 Dies \ Barros. 
 
262 
 
 POSTAL LAWS AND EEGULATIONS. 
 
 For Eoumauia C. F. Eobesco. 
 
 . ( Baeon Velho. 
 
 ± or Kussia | Georges Poggenpohl. 
 
 For Salvador J. M. Toeees-Catcedo. 
 
 For Servia Mladen F. Eadoycovitch. 
 
 For Sweden Wm. Eoos. 
 
 For Switzerland | j.^* 353^,' 
 
 For Turkey B. Couyoumgian. 
 
 Sec. 1104. Postage and Registration Fee to Postal-Union Countries. — ^By 
 
 order datetl March 3, 1879, the Postmaster-Geueral has fixed the rates of postage to be 
 levied iu the United States to all parts of the Universal Postal Union at those pre- 
 scribed in article 5 of the Convention of Paris (section 1102, pp. 233, 234), without regard 
 to the rates of sea-transit chargeable thereon. The registration fee chargeable in the 
 United States is lixed, in accordance with article 6, at ten cents ; but no fee will be 
 charged for return receipts for registered articles iu cases where such receii)ts are re- 
 quested. 
 
 Sec. 1105. The Metric System of Weights Used for Foreign Mails. — The 
 Postmaster-General shall furnish to the post-offices exchanging mails 
 with foreign countries, and to such other offices as he may deem expe- 
 dient, postal balances denominated in grams of the metric system, fifteen 
 grams of which shall be the equivalent, for postal puri)Oses, of one-half 
 ounce avoirdupois, and so on in progression. (E. S., 3880.) 
 
 Sec. 1106. Countries and Colonies of the Union. — The following are the 
 countries and colonies which, up to the date of this i^ublication, are embraced in the 
 Universal Postal Union : 
 
 Austria-Hungary, including the Princi- 
 pality of Lichtenstein. 
 
 Argentine Republic. 
 
 Belgium. 
 
 Bermudas. 
 
 Brazil. 
 
 British Colonies on "West Coast of Af- 
 rica, (Gold Coast, Lagos, Senegambia, 
 and Sierra Leone.) 
 
 British Colonies, West Indies, viz : An- 
 tigua, Dominica, Montserrat, Nevis, St. 
 Christopher, and the Virgin Isles. 
 
 British Guiana. 
 
 British Honduras. 
 
 British India: Hindostan and British 
 Burmah (Aracan, Pegu, and Tenas- 
 serim), and the Indian i^ostal establish- 
 ments of Aden, Muscat, Pei-sian Gulf, 
 Guadur, and Mandalay. 
 
 Canada. (See sections 1107 and 1108.) 
 
 Ceylon. 
 
 Danish Colonies of St. Thomas, St. Croix, 
 and St. John. 
 
 Denmark, including Iceland and the 
 Faroe Islands. 
 
 Egypt, including Nubia and Soodan. 
 
 Falkland Islands. 
 
 France, including Algeria, the Princi- 
 pality of Monaco, and French post-office 
 establishments at Tunis, Tangier (Mo- 
 rocco), and at Shanghai (China), Cam- 
 bodia, and Tonquin. 
 
 French Colonies. 
 
 1. In Asia : French establishments in In- 
 
 dia, (Chandemagore,Karikal,Mah(?, 
 Pondicherry, and Yanaon,) and in 
 Cochin China, (Saigon, Mytho, 
 Bien-Hoa, Poulo-Condor, Vingh- 
 Long, Hatien, Tschandok.) 
 
 2. In Africa: Senegal and dei>eudencie.s, 
 
 (Gor6e, St. Louis, Bakel, Dagana,) 
 Mayotte and Nossi-bd, Gaboon, Re- 
 union, (Bourbon,) Ste. Marie de 
 Madagascar. 
 
 3. In America : French Guiana, Gaada- 
 
 loupe and dependencies, (Desirado 
 or Deseada, Les Saintes, Marie 
 Galaute, and the north portion of 
 St. Martin,) MartiniquCj St. PieiTe, 
 aud Miquelotu 
 
TITLE VII FOREIGN CORRESPONDENCE. 
 
 263 
 
 Frkxcii Coloxiks— Continued. 
 4. In OcKtuH-n : New Cih-douia, Tahiti, 
 Mai»iiit'sas Isliiiid.s, Lslo of rities, 
 Loyalty Islands, tbo Aichipclagoes 
 of Giimliicr, TouboiiaT, aud Tua- 
 motou, (Low Islands.) 
 
 Gkrmany, iucludingtlie Island of Heligo- 
 land. 
 
 Great Britain axd Iuki.axd, inelu<ling 
 Gilnaltar, Malta, the dependeneies of 
 Malta, (Gozzo, Coiuiiio, and Couiinotto,) 
 and the Island of Cyprns. 
 
 Grekce, inchuling the Ionian Isles. 
 
 Greknlaxd. 
 
 HoXDi'RA.s, Republic of. 
 
 HoxG-KoxG and the post-offiees main- 
 tained by Hong-K(»ng at Kinng-Chow, 
 Canton, Swatow, Anioy, Foo-Chow, 
 Ning-po Shanghai, and Hankow, 
 (China,) and Hai-Fung and Hanoi, 
 (Tonqnin.) 
 
 Italy, including the Republic of San 
 Marino, and the Italian otilices of Tunis 
 and Tripoli iu Barbaiy. 
 
 Jamaica. 
 
 Japan and Japanese post-offices at Shang- 
 hai, Chee Foo, Chin Kiaiig, Hankow, 
 Xing-po, Foo-Chow, Newchwang, Kiu- 
 Kiang, and Tien-Tsin, (China,) and at 
 Fusam-jio, (Corea.) 
 
 Labuax. 
 
 Liberia. 
 
 Luxemburg. 
 
 Mauritius and dependencies (the Anii- 
 rante Islands, the Seychelles and Rodri- 
 gues). 
 
 Mexico. 
 
 mox-tb-negro. 
 
 Netherlands. 
 
 Netherland Colonies : 
 
 1. In Asia : Borneo, Sumatra, Java, 
 
 (Batavia,) Billiton, Celebes, (Ma- 
 cassar,) Madura, the Archipelagoes 
 of Banca and Rliio, (Kiouw,) Bali, 
 Lombok, Sumbawa, Flores, the 
 S.W. portion of Timor, and the 
 Moluccas. 
 
 2. In (keanica: The N.W. portion of 
 
 New Guinea, (Papua). 
 
 Nktiierlaxi) Colonics — Continued. 
 3. In .Imirira: Net herland(iniana,( Suri- 
 nam,) (Juraeoa, Arubu, ]{onuire, 
 l)art of St. Martin, St. Kustatius, 
 and Saba. 
 Newfouxdlaxd. 
 Norway. 
 Persia. 
 Peru. 
 Portugal, including the island of Madeira 
 
 and the Azores. 
 Portuguese Coloxies : 
 
 1. In Asia: Goa, Daniao, Din, Macao, 
 and part of Timor, 
 
 2. In Africa: Cape Verde, Bissao, 
 Cacheo, Islands of St. Thorn*; and 
 Prince's, Ajuda, Mozambi(£ue, and 
 the province of Angola. 
 
 RouMANiA, (Moldavia and Wallachia.) 
 
 Russia, including the Grand Duchy of 
 Finhind. 
 
 Salvador. 
 
 Servia. 
 
 Spain, including the Balearic Isles, the 
 Canary Islands, the Spanish possessicms 
 on the north coast of Africa, (Ceuta, 
 Peuon de la Gomera, Alhucemas, Melilla, 
 and the Chaifarine Islands, the Republic 
 of Audon-a, and the postal establish- 
 ments of Spain on the west coast of 
 Morocco, (Tangiers, Tetuan, Larrache, 
 Rabat, Mazagau, Casablanca, Saffi, and 
 Mogadore. ) 
 
 Spanish Colonies: 
 
 1. In Africa : Islands of Fernando Po, 
 Annobon, and Corisco. 
 
 2. In America : Cuba and Porto Rico. 
 
 3. In Oceanica : The Archi[)elagoes of 
 the Mariana (Ladrone) and the 
 Caroline Islands. 
 
 4. In Asia : The Philippine Archipelago, 
 (Luzon Avith Manila, Mindanao, 
 Palawan, Panay, Amar, &c.) 
 
 Straits SErrLEMEXTTS, (Singapore, Pe- 
 
 nang, and Malacca.) 
 Sweden. 
 Switzerland. 
 Trinidad, W. L 
 
 Turkey, (European and Asiatic.) 
 United States of America. 
 
 Sec. 1107. Paris Convention does not Govern Exchange with Canada. — 
 
 Agreeably to the provisions of Articles XV and XXIII of the I'aris Convention, the 
 special postal arrangement between the United States and Canada in force prior to 
 tjie entrance of the latter country into the Postal Union is coutinued in operation, 
 excepting that the privilege of registration is accorded to all the correspondence ex- 
 
264 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 changed between the two countries which is also exchangeable registered under the 
 Paris Couveution. 
 
 Sec. 1108. Rates of Postage and Conditions of Prepayment. — The postages 
 api>licable in the United States to correspondence exchanged with the Universal 
 Postal Union (Canada excepted) are as follows : 
 
 For prepaid letters, 5 cents per fifteen grams (| ounce). 
 
 For unpaid letters received, 10 cents per fifteen grams (i ounce). 
 
 For insufficiently paid letters or other articles received, a charge equal to double 
 the amount of the deficiency. 
 
 For j)ostal cards, 2 cents each. 
 
 For newspapers, if not over four ounces in weight, 2 cents each ; if over four ounces 
 in weight, 2 cents for each additional four ounces or fraction thereof. 
 
 For printed matter of all kinds, commercial papers, and samples of merchandise, 1 
 cent for each article or pacliet bearing a particular address, and for every weight of 
 two ounces or fraction thereof; with a minimum charge of 5 cents per packet of com- 
 mercial papers, and a minimum charge of 2 cents per packet of samples of merchandise ; 
 that is to say, for commercial papers not exceeding ten (10) ounces in weight, the 
 postage is five (5) cents, and if above ten ounces in weight, one cent for each two 
 ounces or fraction thereof ; for samples not exceeding four ounces in weight, two cents; 
 if above four ounces in weight, one cent for each two ounces or fraction thereof. 
 
 For the registration fee on all correspondence, 10 cents. 
 
 No fee will be charged for return receipts of registered articles in cases where such 
 receipts are requested. 
 
 The prepayment of the Union postage on ordinary letters is optional, but the postage 
 on all other articles (except postal cards, which are necessarily prepaid, and registered 
 letters and other articles i-egistered) must be at least partially prepaid. 
 
 Sec. 1109. Mode of Prepayment. — Paymeut of postage on every descrip- 
 tion of correspondence can be efl:ected only by means of postage-stamps valid in the 
 country of origin for the correspondence of private individuals. 
 
 Sec. 1110. Franking of Official Correspondence. — Ofiicial correspondence 
 
 relative to the jiostal service, exchanged directly between the resiiective Postal 
 Administrations of the Union, is alone admitted free of postage. 
 
 Sec. 1111. Postmarking. — All classes of correspondence are reqnired to 
 
 be impressed by the mailing office with a stamp indicating the place of origin 
 and date of posting. 
 
 Sec. 1112. Registration. — Any article of mail -matter may be registered, 
 
 subject to prepayment of the postage upon the article, according to its nature, in ad- 
 dition to the registration fee of 10 cents. For detailed instructions as to registration 
 of foreign matter, see Title V, Chapter Two. 
 
 Sec. 1113. Conditions of Form and Weight. — 1. Postal cards must be 
 
 forwarded without cover. One of the sides must be reserved for the address alone, 
 and the communication written on the other side. It is forbidden to join or to attach 
 to postal cards any article whatever. 
 
 2. Printed matter must be either placed under band, upon a roller, between boards, 
 in a case open at one side or at both ends, or in an xanclosed envelope ; or simply folded 
 in such a manner as not to conceal the nature of the packet ; or, lastly, tied by a 
 string easy to unfasten. 
 
 3. Address cards and all in-intod matter presenting the form and consistency of an 
 nufolded cax'd may bo forwarded without band, envelope, fa.stening, or fold. 
 
 4. The maxinnua weight of printed matter is fixed at 2 kilograms (4 lbs. 6 ozs.). 
 
 5. Commercial papers nuist be forwarded under band or in an open envelope. 
 
 6. The maximum weight of connuercial papers is fixed at 2 kilograms (4 lbs. 6 ozs.). 
 
 7. Samples of merchandise must conform to the following conditions: 
 
 1st. They must be placed in bags, boxes, or removable envelopes in suoh a manner 
 as to admit of easy inspection. 
 
TITLE YII FOREIGN CORRESPONDENCE. 265 
 
 2(1. They must not have any salahio valno, nor hear any inaniiHcript other than tho 
 name or profession of the Hender, the aihlress of the addrcHsee, a manufacturer's or 
 tra(h'-mark, numhers and i)riee.s. 
 
 3d. They must not exceed 'i-W "grains in wei;?ht (8} oTinces), or the foHowiii;; dimen- 
 sions: 20 eentimeters (8 inches) in length, 10 centimeters (4 inches) in hreadtli, and 
 5 centimeti-rs (2 inches) in (h'pth. 
 
 8. Packets of printed matter, commercial i)apers, and samph-s must nr)t contain 
 any letter or manuscript note liaving the character of an actual and personal corre- 
 spondence, and must be made up in such manner as to admit of being easily exam- 
 ined. 
 
 Tho character of actual and personal correspondence cannot be ascribed to the fol- 
 lowing, viz : 
 
 1st. To the signature of the sender or to the designation of his name, of his profes- 
 sion, of his rank, of the place of origin, and of tho date of dispatch. 
 
 2d. To a dedication or mark of respect offered by the author. 
 
 3d. To the figures or signs merely intended to mark the passages of a text, in order 
 to call attention to them. 
 
 4th. To the prices added upon the quotations or prices current of exchange or mar- 
 kets. 
 
 5th and lastly. To annotations or corrections made upon proofs of printing or musi- 
 cal compositions, and relating to the text or to the execution of tlio work. 
 
 It is permitted to inclose in the same packet samples of merchandise, pi'iuted mat- 
 ter, and commercial papers, but sul)ject to the following conditions : 
 
 1st. That each article taken singly shall not exceed the limits which are applicable 
 to it as regards weight and size. 
 
 2d. That the total w eight must not exceed 2 kilograms (4 lbs. 6 ozs.) per package. 
 
 3d. That the minimum charge shall be 5 cents when the packet contains commercial 
 papers, and 2 cents when it consists of printed matter and samples. 
 
 Sec. 1114. Printed Matter Defined. — The following are considered as 
 
 printed matter, viz: Newspapers and periodical works, books stitched or bound, pam- 
 phlets, sheets of music, visiting cards, address cards, proofs of printing, Avith or with- 
 out the manuscripts relating thereto, engravings, photographs, drawings, plans, geo- 
 graphical maps, catalogues, prospectuses, announcements and notices of various kinds, 
 whether printed, engraved, lithographed, or autographed, and, in general, all impres- 
 sions or copies obtained upon paper, parchment, or card-board by means of printing, 
 lithographing, or any other mechanical process easy to recognize, except the copying- 
 press. 
 
 Sec. 1115. Commercial Papers Defined. — The following are considered as 
 commercial papers, viz: All instruments or documents written or drawn wholly or 
 partly by hand which have not the character of an actual and personal correspondence, 
 such as papers of legal procedure, deeds of all kinds drawn up by public functionaries, 
 way-bills or bills of lading, invoices, tho various documents of insurance companies, 
 copies or extracts of deeds under private seal, written on stamped or unstamped i)aper, 
 scores or sheets of manuscript music, manuscripts of works forwarded separately, etc. 
 
 Sec. 1116. Articles Excluded from Reduced Postage. — The following are 
 
 excluded from the reduced postage, viz: Stamps or forms of prepajTuent, whether ob- 
 literated or not, as well as all printed articles constituting the representative sign of 
 a monetary value. 
 
 Sec. 1117. Articles Excluded from Postal-Union Mails. — It is forbidden to 
 send by mail : 
 
 1. Letters or packets containing gold or silver substances, pieces of money, jevrelrj', 
 or precious articles. 
 
 2. Any packet whatever containing articles liable to customs duty. 
 
 3. Articles other than letters which are not prepaid at least partly, or which do 
 not fultill the conditions required in order to enjoy the reduced rate. 
 
266 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 4. Articles of a nature likely to soil or injure the correspondence. 
 
 5. Packets of samples of merchandise which have a salable value, or which exceed 
 250 grams (8f ozs. ) in weight, or measure more than 20 centimeters (8 inches) in length, 
 10 centimeters (4 inches) in breadth, and 5 centimeters ("2 inches) in depth. 
 
 6. Packets of commercial j)apers and printed matter of all kinds, the weight of 
 which exceeds 2 kilograms (4 lbs. 6 ozs.). 
 
 There is, moreover, reserved to the government of every country of the Union the 
 right to refuse to convey over its territory, or to deliver as well, articles liable to the 
 reduced rate in regard to which the laws, ordinances, or decrees which regulate the 
 conditions of their publication or of their circulation in that coimtry have not been 
 complied with, as correspondence of every kind which evidently bears inscriptions 
 forbidden by the legal enactments or regulations in force in the same country. 
 
 See also "Miscellaneous Regulations and Suggestions," section 1132, subsections 19, 
 20, 21. 
 
 Sec. 1118. Special Arrangements with Certain Countries. — By the terms 
 
 of Article XXIII of the Convention of Paris all the stipulations of antecedent special 
 treaties, conventions, arrangements, or other acts previously concluded between, the 
 A'arious countries or administrations, in so far as those stipulations are not in accord- 
 ance with the terms of the Paris Convention, are abi'ogated. Hence, such of the 
 provisions of antecedent postal conventions as are not inconsistent or at variance with 
 the provisions of the Universal Postal Union Convention, may, by mutual understand- 
 ing between the administrations parties to such conventions, be considered as remain- 
 ing in force. 
 
 1. A mutual understanding has been had between this Department and the postal 
 administrations of Great Britain and Germany to continue in force the former regu- 
 lation limiting the dimensions of book-packets and other printed matter to two (2) feet 
 in length and one (1) foot in width or depth. 
 
 2. By virtue of a similar understanding between the United States and Great Britain, 
 periodicals published in the United States at intervals of not more than thirty-one 
 days may be sent to Great Britain at newspaper rates of postage. 
 
 Sec. 1119. International Postal Card. — A two-cent postal card lias been 
 
 specially prepared and issued by this Department for circulation in the Universal 
 Postal Union mails, and is to be used for card correspondence with the countries of the 
 Postal Union. See section 141. 
 
 Sec. 1120. Reforwarding. — 1. All mailable matter of Postal Union 
 origin (including such matter from Canada) received in the United States may be re- 
 forwarded from the United States post-office of original destination to any other 
 United States post-office, or to any Postal Union country, without charge of addi- 
 tional postage therefor, or, if a registered ai'ticle, without charge of an additional 
 registry fee. 
 
 2. Such matter, however, as has been in the first instance addressed to a post-office 
 in the country of mailing is chargeable on rodii-ectiou with the same postage, less the 
 sum prepaid, as would have been charged had it been addressed in the first instance 
 to the post-office of ultimate delivery, but, if registered, without additional registry 
 fee. 
 
 Sec. 1121. Articles not Transmissible, or Limited in Weight, to Italy. — 1. 
 
 Living plants, and generally any living portion of a vegetable, such as branches, bulbs, 
 or roots, being prohibited entrance by mail in Italy, samples of these articles cannot 
 be sent in the mails to that country. 
 
 2. Samples of tobacco, being subject to customs duties in Italy, should not be sent 
 in the mails to that country. 
 
 3. Samples of raw or spun silk for Italy are limited to a weight of one hundred, 
 grams (3^ ozs.). 
 
 Sec. 1122. Addressing Correspondence to Russia. — Correspondence for 
 Russia should have the name of the place of destination added in either English, 
 
TITLK VII FOREIGN CORRESPONDENCE. 2G7 
 
 Fronoli, or fievnum, and if for thi> smaller towns in Knssia, thi-y hIiomM lioar, as a jiurt 
 «)f tlu'ir addrt'ss, tho name of f lit^ jtrovinci' or >iovt!rnm<-nt in whirli tlio towns are sit- 
 uated. If tlii'si! conditions are not comidied with the Knssian post-oflico deelineH to 
 undertake delivery of the eorrespondenei-. 
 
 Sec. 1123. Newspapers for Russia. Restrictions. — Newspapons and other 
 
 politieal jmblieations of forei<jfn origin are not allowed cirenlati<m in Rnasia hy mail, 
 except such as are addressed to members of the rei;^nin^ imix-rial family, the ministerH 
 of the empire, or members of the diplomatic corps. Non-political ]>nblieiitions and 
 newspapers are only admitted to circnl.atiou by mail when addressetl to the rnblie 
 Imperial Library, the Academy of Sciences, the liigher establishment's of education, 
 and established bookstores, but any person in Russia may snbscrib(> at the Russian 
 ])0.st-ot1iccs fur lorciiiii ncws])a]MTs and i)ublications, whether ]iiilitir;i] or n<it. 
 
 Sec. 1124. Letters of Declared Value not Admissible to Union Mails. — Tho 
 United States not having entered into aiTangements with otlier countries of tlie Uni- 
 versal Postal Union for the exchange of letters of declared value, it is prohibited to 
 send to any of those conutries any registered or other articles marked on the outside 
 ■with the declared value of the contents. 
 
 Sec. 1125. List of Exchange Post-Offices. — The folloAAinj^ table and para- 
 
 graplis appended exhibit the exchange of United States mails with foreign countries. 
 Where mails for the same countries are made up at more than one United States ex- 
 change post-office, ordinary (unregistered) correspondence addressed abroad should 
 be forwarded to that oue of the exchange post-offices from which it will have the ear- 
 liest dispatch ; but registered correspondence must always be sent under domestic reg- 
 istration to the United States exchange post-office at the port of embarkation or jdace 
 of egress of the mails. 
 
268 
 
 POSTAL LAWS AND EEGULATIONS. 
 
 .« >a O >j 
 
 ^1 
 
 
 >. sT = >. ■' >. = >v'^ 
 
 p.'S [-, t.'w > H > 
 
 HWWH WW 
 
 gW 
 
 
 
 IS 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Ti 
 
 
 
 a 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 a 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 =s ■ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 bc 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 SB 
 
 
 : :•;' a 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 oW 
 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 gw : 
 
 ^ 
 
 ; .ix-s 
 
 
 N 
 
 
 
 a'3 
 
 O 
 
 : ;^y 
 
 
 &= 
 
 
 
 — a ; 
 
 h . 
 
 • ^^-a 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 
 s-a : 
 
 3^ 1 
 
 i§^ 
 
 1 g 
 
 
 
 gs ; 
 
 
 a ^ 
 
 
 t 
 
 ,- 
 
 c 
 
 ; 
 
 c 
 
 ,t. 
 
 t ■ = 
 
 > 
 
 lwl^ §« 
 
 U ^ ^ CS Fh Cd 
 
 
 _ 3 • 
 i:^ : 
 
 nooQ 
 
 
 Hti 
 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 S<=^A 
 
 ?R 
 
 S &:P 
 
 
 M3 C 
 
 e 
 
 
 
 
 «Q 
 
 uite 
 
 mak 
 mai 
 
 S 
 
 •<!* 
 
 P 
 
 
 •'3 = o 
 c -a >* -a ^ ; 3 , ji 
 
 
 a • >H 
 
 M 
 
 a-^ =ea 
 T' ^ .;s ^ ^ ^ 
 
 C Jj3 C3 ; , 
 
 MP40« ■ . 
 
 H g 
 
 £ ° 
 
 o ;fi :* 
 
 '*-. 
 
 't?. 
 
 sg 
 
 §.g 
 
 S"3 
 
 ts a 
 
 01 CO a c8 
 
 SSm 
 
 O 
 
 .3 o 
 
 a a 5fe 
 
 o .2 -g . »" 
 
 a t< * f^'r; 
 -Sa-wr^M 
 
 o K § * 
 
 ts g'5 ->5 
 
 a a 'a 2 9 3 
 
 pH •" '3 ^ 
 
 ."^ c'a 
 s'S-9 o . 
 
 bt;:^o'S a 
 
 o a a K t- 
 
 ? a « a?':» 
 
 .S:.5 3 a - 
 
 ia? a a 
 
 a a '^■a 
 S:ia?i^ 
 
 O q a g bfl 
 -■; 5:_2.a 
 
 ^5 9j-9 
 
 
 •r So o 
 
 CD 'a 
 2 a 
 
 
 ! « ^ 
 
 > .a ^ a ^ .a 1 
 
 <-^ S<' 
 -a ,'~'^- 
 ac-r 
 -2 ='3 a 
 
 a-S— 5 
 iS S I: " 
 
 t. '^ X 
 
 _ , -ti5 a3N 
 -m- a a «'^ S^-g 
 
 -■aa5"^_^^'es- 
 T-S-^r-- -^-5.2 >? 
 
 - - - ^ •„ — cd 
 
 '€i< 
 
 a -i 
 
 ! a 5 a 5 -' ?; -ri - a 
 l-g^^^^a -<5.-g 
 
 -c5'a«'2-5^a-ii" 
 
 H'^'S =^.5a^ 3 
 
 ~ a •- f^ -a - - S 
 
 a -_S S-aa ».a_« 
 
 -2 =^ S^t ? xS 
 
 i a cB s o * a a.2» 
 
 -sa 
 
 .ate® 
 
 Scia 
 
 H g 
 
 W 
 
TITLE VII — FOREIGN CORRESPONDENCE. 
 
 2C9 
 
 •I 
 
 ■OS 
 
 I a ,-J. 
 
 ' *2 c t- C u 
 
 111 I 
 
 HI 
 
 H 3 
 
 
 
 
 w^i; 
 
 = 00 
 
 j; o o 5 J j_£ ■- 
 
 1 
 
 C3 O CO 
 
 . tu E * ie t£ u S .• to 
 
 S:i eScScjclcSggca 
 
 M M 
 
 3 3 
 
 o o 
 cccc 
 
 ^^ 
 
 _3 J yj= 7 
 
 
 t>p t>>a 
 
 
 ■a - . . 
 
 CO a o o 
 
 t>i yj >H >< M 
 
 ^ S ^ ^ " 
 
 
 : : : : :^ 
 
 © o oooec" 
 
 X « xxx«x 2 
 
 
 ij; [^ e 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 3 
 
 c 
 
 a 
 
 r-i 
 
 'S 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 C3 
 
 X 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 B 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 = 
 
 ■5 
 
 =. = o 
 
 
 
 •" 3 
 
 «'33rH 
 
 73 3 
 
 -^-J 
 
 !«5 cc 
 
 '^ 3 
 
 ^•3 
 
 X 3 
 
 x'S 
 
 r^-3 * 
 
 (3 Ms'-^ i a'.S 
 r'^ 5^ a£'^ X 
 
 ^ .3 a ?' <1 o 
 >ii<'~'£ a's'a 
 
 S M- 2 3-? 3 
 j; S---2 a-- o 
 
 3/;— - 3 *> 
 
 X 3 ;: 3 -3; S 3 
 £a ^'= =- i'^ 
 
 O" 3 T* 3 s 3 
 
 s_-3 =•- =t; 
 
 = = iJ ^ 2 7: 3 
 
 
 : a 
 
 . ^ 
 
 . CI 
 
 • 3 
 
 "3 
 
 3 3 
 0.3 
 
 f^Ma 
 ,a fev 
 
 £^■=^3: 
 
 efe-3 .-'i ^-■,-31^--' 
 
 :5 : -g 
 
 :^ : S 
 
 5 : • 3 . a 
 
 ,3 t-'a — ^2i3s c-£iiO p.S'^^X £^ '^< J; - " >^ 3 J: i: -3 * 
 
 
 9 ^. 
 
 ^ .9 
 
 ^ Izi 
 
 3 a 
 
 |3 
 
 2"a's 
 
 '> ti 3 
 
 . - o 
 
 2 S 5P 
 "x^x 3 
 
 .5 > .3 3 
 
 ». a -~ 
 ■r- J— r" 
 
 J 3 
 
 • r. ^ 
 
 
 
 x'E 
 
 13 
 
 s ^ v: N - u- 
 
 3- '= t ^ 3 
 ^3 ?? ^ J^O'XX?' 
 
270 
 
 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 
 ^A't* m mSHmS SHS 
 
 uR So" 
 
 *=> 
 
 '^^^ 
 
 « 
 
 p. p>sa fi p 
 
 
 
 £ 2 
 
 53 
 
 t8 C8 
 
 
 PP Q PPPPP PPP 
 
 p o 
 
 p>p 
 
 -S « " 
 
 ^ B s o in 
 £ tS a J< r3 
 
 .■§^E 2 3 
 B O O B 3 
 
 AJ 
 
 ^ 
 
 s^.« 
 
 ^ 
 
 ,i«i 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 ^ 
 
 h 
 
 ,^>^;>^ 
 
 H 
 
 h 
 
 ^ 
 
 fe: 
 
 9 » o 
 
 ^ 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 
 i) 
 
 V 
 
 \^ 
 
 1^ 
 
 ^;z;;2i 1^; 
 
 >^ 
 
 b '"3 ci 
 
 ^ ^ ^ "S ^ * 
 
 >^><, 
 
 
 a s 
 
 
 o o o o 
 
 a a o a cs 
 
 
 
 fc^ 
 
 sa 
 
 at: o 
 
 & t^ 
 
 a c3 
 « 
 
 ;: s^ » 
 
 5-sa 
 
 
 
 
 1^-5 
 
 B5 
 
 ci-.g' 
 
 ^3 
 
 X O 
 
 ^^ -I 
 
 -5 2 = 5 S 
 
 a S a ti s « 'S 
 HO O O WW 
 
 
 ^ -~"S 
 
 O 2 " 
 
 aS^Ca- « 
 .S 5 _ .9 a ai 
 
 a y 
 
 S « 6 ^ 
 
 ■| J ■£ Is 
 
 « "b 3 a S 
 
 « pd 
 
 s o P a 
 
 C3 "^ >-. -t-^ f 
 
 O C C KM 
 
 : ^ : M 
 
 a a-J S 
 a a.a § 
 
TITLE VII — FOREIGN CORRESrONDENCE. 
 
 •I'll 
 
 A >° 
 
 5: u ^5 
 
 P 3 a 
 - c- ■ "^ 
 
 ac - I - w I 
 
 ©'-'--'»«'-- to 
 
 
 tt u ;c « 
 
 'J 
 
 !.£ 
 • 5 
 
 
 
 '"a ■ • 
 
 :^ : : 
 :.g : • 
 
 • 5* • 
 
 
 QJ ^ O - 
 
 t. ;- ;• ^ 
 
 qpp :Ra=;> 
 
 OSQk 
 
 
 coo 
 
 a, « 
 
 si 
 
 9 u 
 
 -to 
 .5 " 
 S ■-• 
 
 3 2 cS 
 
 c 3 
 ^ is 
 
 coo 
 
 "a 3 S C ='2>-^ 5 
 
 tr -■ -• = ii^ -w a 
 
 
 Si? [2 i?-'? '-''a'o 
 
 O— So:. EriiM . 
 
 Oii ^±-^~> 3 « • . 
 
 . . _ ^ ^ g . N ■i' • ■ 
 
 g ci a . «-' ii,^. J : ; 
 
 li|i:5l|'« : : 
 
 ■^ ^ S" 2 i2 . « ^ ; • 
 
 - K - ;:; '^ .•/. r^ • - .a 
 
 g^ S - =. „„ 
 
 E- 
 
 cs o o a ^ 
 
 ^1 
 
 HH > 
 
272 POSTAL LAWS AND EEGULATIONS. 
 
 EXCHANGE OF MAILS WITH CA>rADA. 
 
 The excliange of mails witli Canada takes place between the following exchange 
 
 post-offices : 
 
 On the side of the United States. On the side of Canada. 
 
 Albany, N. Y Hamilton, Ont. ; Toronto, Ont. ; Montreal, Q. 
 
 Bangor, Me St. John, N. B. 
 
 Boston, Mass Hamilton, Ont. ; Toronto, Ont.; Kingston, 
 
 Ont. ; Montreal, Q. ; Quebec, Q. ; Halifax, 
 N. S. ; Yarmouth , N. S. (summer service) ; 
 St. John, N. B. ; Charlottetown, Pr. Ed. I, 
 
 Buffalo, N.Y Great Western Eailway, Out.; Canada 
 
 Southern Railway Postal Car, Out. ; Buf- 
 falo &, Lake Huron Railway Postal Car, 
 Ont. ; London, Ont. ; Fort Erie, Ont. ; 
 Hamilton, Ont. ; Niagara, Ont. ; Toronto, 
 Out. 
 
 Burlington, Vt Montreal, Q. 
 
 Calais. Me St. Stephen, N. B. ; Western Extension Eail- 
 way Postal Car, N. B. 
 
 Canaan, Vt Hereford, Q. 
 
 Canada Roads, Me Jersey, Q. ; Marlow, Q. 
 
 Cape Vincent, N. Y Kingston, Ont. 
 
 Chicago, 111 Great Western Eailway Postal Car, Ont.; 
 
 Hamilton, Ont. ; Toronto, Ont. ; Grand 
 Trunk Eailway (west) Postal Car, Ont. 
 
 Cleveland, Ohio Lomlon, Ont. 
 
 Derby Line, Vt Stanstead, Q. 
 
 Detroit, Mich , Great Western Eailway Postal Car, Ont.; 
 
 Canada Southern Eailway Postal Car, 
 Ont. ; Windsor, Out ; Toronto, Out, ; 
 Grand Trunk Railway Postal Car, Ont, ; 
 Montreal, Q. 
 
 Duluth, Minn Silver Islet, Out.; Thunder Bay, Ont. 
 
 Eastport, Me Grand Manan, N. B. ; St. Andrews, N. B. ; 
 
 St. John, N. B. 
 
 Fort Covington, N.Y Huntingdon, Q. 
 
 Fort Fairfield, Me Andover, N. B. 
 
 Houlton, Me St. Andrews, N. B. ; St. Stephen, N. B. ; 
 
 Woodstock N. B. ; Western Extension 
 Eailway Postal Car, N. B. 
 
 Island Pond, Vt Montreal, Q. ; Montreal & Island Pond Eail- 
 way Postal Car, Q. 
 
 Marine City, Mich Sombra, Ont. 
 
 Morristown, N. Y Bi'ockville, Ont. 
 
 Newport, Vt Lenuoxville, Q. ; Massawippi Valley Eail- 
 way Postal Car, Q. 
 
 New York, N. y. . Loudon, Out.: Hamilton, Out.; Toronto, 
 
 Ont. ; Kingston, Out. ; Ottawa, Ont. ; 
 Montreal, Q. ; Quebec, Q. ; Halifax, N. S. 
 
 Ogdensbnrg, N. Y Prescott, Out. 
 
 Oswego, N. Y Kingston, Ont. 
 
 Pembina, Dak West Lynne, Man. 
 
 Portland, Me Montreal, Q. ; St. John, N. B. 
 
 Portland, Oieg Victoria, B. C. 
 
 Port Huron, Mich Sarnia, Ont. 
 
 Poit Towusend, Wash. Ter Victfuia, B. C. (by steamers). 
 
 Eichford, Vt Southeastern Eailway Postal Car, Q. 
 
 Rochester, N. Y Port Hope, Out (by steamer iu summer). 
 
 Rouse's Pf)iut, N. Y Montreal, Q. ; St. John's, Q. 
 
 Rutland, Vt Montreal, Q. (via St. Armand & St. Albans 
 
 R. P. O. and St. Albaus & Boston R. P O. ). 
 
 Saint Albans, Vt Montreal, Q. ; St. Anuaud Station, Q. ; St. 
 
 John's, Q. ; Veruiout Junction Railway 
 Postal Car, Q. ; Quebec, Q. 
 
 Saint Vincent, Minn Winnipeg, Man. 
 
 San Francisco, Cal Victoria, B. C. 
 
 Sault de Ste. Marie, Mich Sault de Ste. Marie, Ont. 
 
 Suspension Bridge, N. Y Great Western Railway Postal Car, Ont. ; 
 
 Clifton, Ont. ; Toronto, Out. (for regis- 
 teied letters). 
 
TITLE VII — FOKEIGN CORRESPONDENCE. 273 
 
 On lUf .side ofllir riiitfd StatcH. On tlif niilc i.f Cimmla. 
 
 Tliniis;unl Isliiiid Tark, N. Y Kinjjstdii, Out. (dmiiiK «iim'ii»r). 
 
 Troy, N. Y MontrcMl, (/. 
 
 Upix'V Miulawnskii, Mr Kdimiiidstoii, \. I?. 
 
 Vanci'borouj!;h, Mc Halifax, \. S. (tor nj^isfcicd Ifttf-rs); West- 
 ern Kxleii.sioii Uaihviiy I'oatul Cur, X. 11. 
 
 Waddin-rton. N. Y M<»rrisltiir>r, Out. 
 
 Watertowii, \. Y Kiiif^ston, Out. 
 
 Detroit & Cliieago R. P. Toronto. Ont. ; Grand Trunk Iv'ailway (east) 
 
 I'orttal Car, Ont. ; Montreal, Q. 
 
 Island Pond &■ Portland a;j;ent Montreal, Q. 
 
 Newiiort & Sprinylield aj^ent Montreal, Q. ; MnHaawijtpi Valley Railway 
 
 Postal Car, C^., and .Stanstead, Q. 
 
 New York & Chicago R. P. 0., east of 
 
 Ivocliester, N. Y Toronto, Ont. 
 
 Rieht'ord tfc Newjjort agent .S(nitliea.stern Railway Postal Car, Q. 
 
 Rome, Watertown & Ogdensbnrg agent.. Kingston, Ont. 
 
 Ronse's Point & Albany agent Montreal, Q. 
 
 St. Albans & Boston R. P. O Montreal, Q. ; Vermont Jnnction Railway 
 
 Postal Car, Q. 
 
 St. Panl & St. Vincent agent Winnipeg ami St. Vincent ronte agents. 
 
 Tacoma & Victoria agcTit Victoria, B. C. 
 
 Vauceborough &, Bangor, Me., R. P. O. .. St. Stepliens, St. Andrews, and Woodstock, 
 
 N. B. 
 
 EXCHA^'GE OF MAILS WITH MEXICO. 
 
 The exchange of mails ■witli Mexico takes place between the following exchange 
 po.st-oti(ice8 : 
 
 1. Between New York and Vera Crnz (by sea). 
 
 2. Between New Orleans and Tampico and Vera Crnz (by sea). 
 
 3. Between San Francisco and Mazntlan, San Bhis, Mauzauilla, Acapulco (by sea). 
 
 4. Between Brownsville, Tex., and Matamoras. 
 
 5. BetAveen Eagle Pass, Tex., and Piedras Negras, 
 
 6. Between El Paso, Tex., and Paso del Norte. 
 
 7. Between Tncson, Ariz., and Magdalena. 
 
 Correspondence for Y'ucatan, Campeachy, Tobasco, Vera Cruz, Puebla, and the 
 entire eastern and central sections of Mexico is expeditiously forwarded -via New York 
 or via New Orleans. 
 
 Correspondence for the State of Tauiaulipas and northeastern section of Mexico is 
 exi)editionsly forwarded via Brownsville, Tex., or via New Orleans. 
 
 CoiTespondence for the States of Nneva Leon and Coahnila, up to San Luis Potosi, 
 is expeditiously forwarded via Eagle Pass, Tex. 
 
 CoiTespondence for the State of Chihuahua and central and northwestern sections 
 of Mexico is expeditiously forwarded via El Paso. 
 
 CoiTespondence for the States of Sonora, Sinaloa, Jalisco, and Duraugo and the 
 Territory of Lower California is expeditiously forwarded via Tucson, Ariz. 
 
 Correspondence for ports and places on the Pacific coast and western and southern 
 sections of Mexico is expeditiously forwarded via San Francisco. 
 18 P L 
 
274 
 
 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 CHAPTER TWO. 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE UNDER SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS, AND WITH 
 COUNTRIES NOT IN THE UNIVERSAL POSTAL UNION. 
 
 Sec. 
 
 1126. Special postalconventlons and arrangements. 
 
 1127. Eates of postage When not fixed by conven- 
 
 tion. 
 
 1128. Eates, etc., for non-Convention countries bj- 
 
 direct mails. 
 
 1129. List of principal non-Convention countries. 
 
 1130. Eates to non-Convention countries on matter 
 
 not sent direct. 
 
 1131. Postal Guide to be consulted for foreign post- 
 
 age table. 
 
 Sec. 
 
 1132. Miscellaneous regulations and suggestions. 
 
 1133. Treatment of dutiable articles. 
 
 1134. Dutiable printed matter in foreign mails. 
 1133. Discretional remission of duties on single 
 
 books. 
 
 1136. Consuls may pay foreign postage on letters 
 
 for the United States. 
 
 1137. Eetaliatory postage on certain foreign matter. 
 
 1138. Letters brought by foreign vessels to be 
 
 deposited in post-oifice. 
 
 Sec. 1126. Special Postal Conventions and Arrangements. — Special postal 
 
 couventions are in force with tlie countries named below. 
 
 The principal provisions governing the exchange of correspondence under the 
 respective couventions and arrangements, together with the rates of postage, are 
 stated under each. 
 
 CANADA. 
 
 The Dominion of Canada embraces all the British North American Provinces, except 
 Newfoundland. 
 
 The coi'respondence exchangeable comprises letters (ordinary and registered), postal 
 cards, newspapers, pamphlets, magazines, books, maps, plans, engravings, drawings, 
 photographs, lithographs, sheets of music, etc., and patterns and samples of merchan- 
 dise, including grains and seeds. 
 
 Patterns and samples are construed to be ionafide specimens of goods on hand and for 
 sale, having no intrinsic value aside from their use as patterns and samples. The 
 weight of each package is limited to eight ounces, and the postage ch.arge is ten cents 
 per package, prepayment compulsory. They are subject to the regulations of either 
 country to prevent violations of the revenue laws ; must not be closed against insiJec- 
 tion, and must be so wrapj)ed and inclosed as to be easily examined. 
 
 All articles of mail-matter, except samples, must be fully prepaid at the domestic 
 rates of the country of origin, and are deliverable free of charge in the country of 
 destination. 
 
 Newspapers sent from offices of publication in the United St.ates to regular sub- 
 scribers in Canada are subject to the same rates of postage and conditions of prepay- 
 ment as when sent to subscribers in the United States. 
 
 "Request letters" originating in Canada are return.able directly to the Canadian 
 mailing post-offlces, in the event of non-delivery to their addressees within the time 
 sjiecified by the writers. 
 
 The regulations respecting the manner of inclosure and limit of weight, governing 
 the transmission of domestic correspondence, are applicable to correspondence ex- 
 changed with Canada, i^atterns and samples excepted. 
 
 ECUADOR. 
 
 Letters, and manuscript subject by the laws of either country to letter rate of postage, 
 newspapers, and prints of all kinds in sheets, in pamphlet.s, and in books, sheets of 
 music, engravings, lithographs, photographs, drawings, maps, and plans, comprise 
 the corn;spondence exchangeable wi tli Ecuador. 
 
 All correspondence, except letters, and mauuscript subject to letter postage, is 
 
TITLE VII FOREIGN CORRESPONDENCE. 275 
 
 transmissihle uiulor the same rogiilatioiiH aiwl restrictions an aro statM f<»r (iiiatomaln 
 (tlie limit for Itoolts »'Xci>])t*Ml), ajid is also Hiilijcct to tin- laws v( fa<;li coiiiitrv in 
 rt'ijanl to its liability to cuHtoiuH duty, if coutaiiiiiif^ dntialilc ^(>o<1h. 
 
 Corn'spondt'iiec other than Icttt-rs, n'trivcd from Eiiiador, is Ijjihlo, on delivery iu 
 the Unitfd States, to tho rates of postaf^e for matter sent to Emador. 
 
 The rates of j)osta<;e appliealile to correspondeneo for E(iia<lor, sent via Panama, 
 are as follows, prepayment eompulsory, and on letters in full to de.stination : 
 
 Letters, ])er ^ onne*', 20 cents. 
 
 Newspapers, 2 cents each, if not exceeding 4 ounces in weight. 
 
 Other printed matter, not over I ounce, 2 cents; over 1 but not over 2 ounces, 
 3 cents ; over 2 but not over 4 ounces, 4 cents. 
 
 Newspapers and other printed matter are liable to postage on delivery in Ecuador. 
 
 Registration is not permissible and samples are not exchangeable. 
 
 GUATEMALiL 
 
 Letters, newspapers, unsealed circulars at newspaper rates, pamphlets, iKriodicals, 
 books, and other kinds of printed matter may be exchanged in the mails with Guate- 
 mala. 
 
 All printed matter must be sent in narrow bands, open at the sides or ends, and is 
 subject to the laws and regulations of each country, re8i>ectively, in regard to its lia- 
 bility to be rated with letter postage when containing written matter, or for any other 
 cause specified in said laws and regulations. 
 
 Bound or unbound books weighing over two pounds cannot be sent, except at letter 
 rates of postage. 
 
 The rates of postage applicable to correspondence for Guatemala sent via Panama 
 are as follows, prepayment compulsory : 
 
 Letters, per | ounce, 10 cents. 
 
 Newspapers, 2 cents each. 
 
 Other printed matter, 1 cent an ounce. 
 
 Correspondence of all kinds received from Guatemala is liable, on delivery in the 
 United States, to the rates of postage for matter sent to Guatemala, and on that from 
 the United States sent to Guatemala postage is chargeable on delivery. 
 
 Registration is not permissible and samples cannot be sent. 
 
 THE HAWAIIAN KINGDOM (SANDWICH ISLANDS). 
 
 Letters, newspapers, and printed matter of every kind are exchangeable. 
 
 Rates of postage, prepayment compulsory, on corresjtondence for Hawaii sent in 
 direct mails : 
 
 Letters, jier ^ ounce, 6 cents. 
 
 Newspapers, United States domestic rates. 
 
 Other i>rinted matter, 4 cents per 4 ounces or fraction thereof. 
 
 On newspapers received in the United States from Hawaii the established rates of 
 the United States domestic postage are chargeable. Articles of printed matter except 
 newspapers are liable, on delivery in the United States, to postage at the rate of 4 
 cents for each 4 ounces or fraction thereof. The domestic postage rates of the Hawaiian 
 Kingdom are chargeable upon all correspondence, except letters, received there from 
 the United States, 
 
 To regular siibscribers in the Hawaiian Kingdom newspapers published in the United 
 States may be sent at domestic rates. 
 
 Registration is not permissible, and samples cannot be sent, 
 
 NEW SOUTH WALES (AUSTRALIA). 
 
 Exchangeable correspondence comprises letters (ordinary and registered), news- 
 papers, printed matter of every kind, and patterns and samples. 
 
276 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 The provisions relative to nupaid and iusufflcieutly prepaid letters to New Zealand, 
 as below stated, are applicable in tlie case of New South Wales. 
 
 Correspondence of all kinds, if prepaid in full in New South Wales, is delivered free 
 of charge in the United States. 
 
 The regulations and conditions governing the exchange of newspapers and iirinted 
 matter are identical with those stated below for New Zealand. 
 
 Rates of postage, prepayment compulsory, and in full to destination, on correspond- 
 ence for New South Wales sent in direct mails : 
 
 Letters, per |. ounce, 12 cents. 
 
 Register fee on letters, 10 cents. 
 
 Newspapers, 2 cents each. 
 
 Other printed matter and samples, 4 cents per 4 ounces or fraction thereof. 
 
 NEW ZEALAND. 
 
 For the correspondence exchangeable, see New South Wales above. 
 
 Letters may be registered with fee and postage prepaid. 
 
 Letters nnx>aid, or prepaid less than one full rate, caunot be forwarded, but insuffi- 
 ciently paid letters, on which a single rate or more has been prepaid, will be forwarded 
 charged with the deticient postage. 
 
 Correspondence of all kinds prepaid in full in New Zealand is delivered free of charge 
 in the United States. 
 
 Newspapers, printed matter, and patterns of merchandise are subject to the laws 
 and regulations of each country, respectively, in regard to liability to be rated with 
 letter postage when containing written matter, or for any cause specified in said laws 
 and regulations, as well as in regard to liability to customs duty under the revenue 
 laws. 
 
 The rates of postage, register fee, and conditions of prepajTnent on correspondence 
 for New Zealand sent in direct mails are the same as for New South Wales. 
 
 QUEENSLAND (AUSTRALIA). 
 
 Exchangeable correspondence comprises letters (ordinary and registered), news- 
 papers, printed matter of every kind, and patterns and samples of merchandise. 
 
 The provisions relative to unpaid and insufticiently paid letters to New Zealand, as 
 above stated, are applicable in the case of Queensland. 
 
 Correspondence of all kinds prepaid in full in Queensland is delivered free of charge 
 in the United States. 
 
 New8i)apers, printed matter, and patterns and samples of merchandise are subject 
 to the laws and regulations of each country, respectively, in regard to their liability 
 to be rated with letter postage, when containing written matter, or for any other 
 cause specified in said laws and regulations, as well as in regard to their liability to 
 customs duties. 
 
 Postage rates, register fee, and conditions of prepayment for correspondence for 
 Queensland sent in direct mails are as above stated for New South Wales and New 
 Zealand. 
 
 VENEZUELA, 
 
 The correspondence exchangeable with Venezuela comprises letters and manuscript, 
 subject by the laws of the United States, or Venezuela, to letter rate of postage, news- 
 papers and prints of all kinds in sheets, in pamphlets, and in books, sheets of music, 
 engravings, lithographs, photographs, drawings, maps, and plans. 
 
 Mail-matter other than letters must be inclosed in narrow bands or covers, open at 
 the sides or ends, so as to be easily examined, subject to the laws and regulations of 
 each country, resx^ectively. 
 
 Rates of postage, prepayment compulsory, for correspondence for Venezuela sent in 
 direct mails : 
 
 Letters, per i ounce, 10 cents. 
 
TITLE VII FOREIGN CORRESPONDENCE. 277 
 
 Newspapprs, Uniterl States domestic rates for transient ncwHpapers, with one tent 
 a«M<'(l f<ir cucli i>a]>«'r. 
 
 Otlur ])rint<'(l niattiir, Unitod States domestic rates and one cent for oadi ounce or 
 fraction tlicrcof. 
 
 Domestic rates of postafjo are <liar<jealtle <ni all coneMjifindence rcceive<l from \'ene- 
 znela, and correspondence scut is liable on delivery in Veiuiziiela to the inland postaj^e 
 there chargeahle. 
 
 Registration is not permissible and samples cannot bo exchanged. 
 
 VICTORIA (AUSTRALIA). 
 
 Letters (ordinary and registered), newspapers, printed matter of every kind, and 
 patterns antl sami)les of merchandise are exchangeable with Victoria. 
 
 Letters ])repai(l less than one full rate of ]>ostage cannot be forwanled. Those pre- 
 paid at single rates or more will be forwarded chargtid with the deficient postage. 
 
 Correspoudeuce fully i>rcpaid in Victt)ria is delivered free of charge in the United 
 States. 
 
 Newspapers, printed matter, and samples of merchandise are subject to the laws 
 and regulations of each country, respectively, in regard to liability to letter postage 
 when containing written matter, or for any other cause specified in said laws and 
 regulations, as well as with reference to liability to customs duties. 
 
 Postage rates and register fee upon correspondence for Victoria sent in direct mails 
 are the same as given above for Queensland. 
 
 Sec. 1127. Rates of Postage when not Fixed by Convention. — Tlio rate 
 of United States postage on niail-iuatter sent to or received from 
 foreign countries with wliicli different rates have not been established by 
 l)ostal convention or other arrangement, when forwarded by vessels regu- 
 larly employed in transporting the mail, shall be ten cents for each half- 
 ounce or fraction thereof on letters, unless reduced by ordei' of the Post- 
 master-General ;* two cents each on newspapers ; and not exceeding two 
 cents per each two ounces, or fraction thereof, on pamphlets, periodicals, 
 books, and other printed matter, which postage shall be prepaid on 
 matter sent and collected on matter received ; and to avoid loss to the 
 United States in the payment of balances, the Postmaster-General may 
 collect the unpaid postage on letters from foreign countries in coin or 
 or its equivalent. (II. S., § 3912.) 
 
 Sec. 1128. Rates, &c., for Non-Convention Countries by Direct Mails. — 
 
 Correspondence from the United States for foreign countries and places other than those 
 heretofore named, or with which uo postal treaties or other postal arrangements have 
 been made by the United States, if forwarded in direct mail by vessels regularly em- 
 ployed in caiTying the mails, and not through the intermediary of a country having 
 postal relations with the United States by treaty or other arrangement, is subject to 
 the rates of jiostage stated in section 1127 and foot-note thereto. 
 
 Only ordinary letters, newspapers, i>amphlet8, periodicals, books, and other printed 
 matter nuiy be sent in these cases, under the regulations and conditions ai)plicable to 
 the same correspondence in the domestic mails. 
 
 Prepayment of postage is compulsory for all correspondence, and the prescribed rates 
 are collectible ujion delivery in the United States of nuitter received. 
 
 Sec. 1129. List of Principal Non-Convention Countries. — The jirincipal 
 
 countries and places to which the above rates and conditions at present apply are the 
 *The Postmaster-General has reduced the rate to live cents. (See next section.) 
 
278 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 United States of Colombia, other Central and South American States not embraced in the 
 Universal Postal Union, or not having postal arrangements with the United States ; 
 the West India Islands not in the Postal Union ; the Fiji and other islands of the 
 Pacific Ocean not in the Postal Union, or with which no postal arrangements have 
 been made ; Shanghai, China, and the Australian colonies other than New South 
 AVales, Queensland, and Victoria. 
 
 Registered letters may be transmitted to Aspinwall, Panama, and to Shanghai. 
 
 Sec. 1130. Rates to Non-Convention Countries on Matter not Sent Direct. — If 
 corresiJondence for countries not in the Postal Union, or the countries and places men- 
 tioned or referred to in the last section, istransmitted inopenmails through the interme- 
 diary of other countries having postal arrangements with the United States and with the 
 countries of destination, it is liable generally to the combined rates of the United 
 States, as named above for direct transmission, and those applicable in the inter- 
 mediary country to correspondence for the same destinations, less the domestic interior 
 rate of the intermediary country, and the combined postages are usually required to 
 be prepaid. 
 
 Sec. 1131. Postal Guide to be Consulted for Foreign Postage Table. — Ref- 
 erence should be had to the Foreign Postage Table in the latest edition of the United 
 States Official Postal Guide for rates of postage, condition and limit of prepayment, 
 and the classes of correspondence transmissible, in the cases of countries and places 
 not in the Universal Postal Union, or to which coiTesx)ondence is forwarded in the open 
 mails of intermediary counti'ies. 
 
 Sec. 1132. Miscellaneous Regulations and Suggestions. — 1. All inquiries 
 relative to foreign mails and mail steamship service between the United States and 
 foreign countries should be addressed to " Superintendent Foreign Mails, Post-Office 
 Department, Washington, D. C." 
 
 2. The Post-Office Department is the i^roper medium for official communication with 
 foreign postal officials respecting postal matters, and United States postmasters should 
 refer all subjects requiring official correspondence with foreign jiostal administrations 
 or officials to the Superintendent of Foreign Mails at Washington, D. C, through 
 whose office such corre8j)ondence is conducted. 
 
 3. All articles of correspondence addressed to foreign countries must bear a legible 
 impression of the stamp of the mailing post-office, or inscrijjtion in ink, showing the 
 place of mailing and date of dispatch therefrom. 
 
 4. In order to avoid the delay consequent upon the return through the Dead-Letter 
 Office of short-paid letters, addressed to countries to Avliich prepayment of postage is 
 compulsory, care should be exercised in the weighing and stamping of such letters. In 
 case of doubt it is safer to prepay at the higher rate. Delay may also be avoided by 
 writing the name and address of the sender on the covers. 
 
 5. Make the address legible and complete, giving the name of the country, as well 
 as the name of the post-office or town. Letters addressed merely to "London," with- 
 out adding "England," may be sent to London, Canada, and vice versa, thereby caus- 
 ing delay, and often serious loss. Wherever practicable the name of the street and 
 number of the house should also be given on letters addressed to cities. While the let- 
 ter may eventually reach its destination without a number, the omission is often a 
 cause of hesitation and delay. 
 
 6. See that every letter, newspaper, or other packet sent by mail is securely folded 
 and fastened. In affixing the postage-stamps to the covers of printed matter, see that 
 they do not overlap the covers and adhere in part to the contents, thus, in effect, 
 closing the jiacket against inspection. Avoid using cheap envelopes, made of thin 
 paper, especially where more than one sheet of paper or any other artich> than paper is in- 
 closed. Being often handled, and subject to pressure in the mail-bags, such envelopes 
 not nnfrequently split open, often giving cause of complaint against officials who are 
 entirely innocent in the matter. 
 
TITLE VII FOREIGN CORRESPONDEN'CE. 279 
 
 7. It is rt'coiuiiiemleil Unit soiiio other iiiiittrial th;in wiix \n- u.suil lor cloMing lftt»is 
 or puckots atUliessed to placfs in Wiiriii (liniatcs. 
 
 H. Many of the su}^;^i'stioii,s iflativi' to doiiicHtic roiTi'.sixuKlcuct! apply with ci|nal 
 lorco to coiTi'.spoiulciuo aihlressi-d to toi*'ij;ii t-omitrii'.s. 
 
 y. Lettt'r.s for couutrios to which paynu-nt of posta;i(: is coinimlsory, winMi uii)iai(l or 
 iiisiUliciontly prepaid, arc sent to the Dead-Letter OlBce, to be opeued and returned 
 to the writers. 
 
 10. Unthilivercd correspondence of foreign orif^in is rctnrned to the senihrs in pnr- 
 siiance of the stipnlations of postal treaties or conventions in force with f<nei;jjn coun- 
 tries, or ill accordance with special arrangements made with reference thereto. 
 
 11. Newspapers and periodicals sent in the mails to foreign conntries should lie 
 wrapped singly, except those sent by publishers to regular subscribers in Canada and 
 the Hawaiian Kingdom. 
 
 12. To avoid possible errors, the route by which the correspondence is desired to be 
 forwarded should be plainly marked on the fiice of the correspoudcuce, near the ad- 
 dress. 
 
 lo. In the absence of special instruction to the contrary, where correspondenci? is 
 marked for transmission by a route requiring prepayment, and the amount prepaid is 
 insntticient for that route, it will be sent by some other route by which i»rep:iymeiit 
 of postage is optional; but if there is no such route, aud no means of obtaining full 
 pre[)aymeut by notice to the sender, the correspondence will be sent to the Dead-Letter 
 Office, 
 
 14. Directions given by senders on correspondence for foreign countries respecting 
 routes of trausmissiou desired will be observed w' henever practicable. 
 
 15. Prepayment of postage on correspondence sent from the United States to foreign 
 countries must be made in United States postage-stamps. On correspondence from 
 foreign countries to the United States prepayment must be made in postage-stamps of 
 the country of mailing. 
 
 16. The amount of postage due on unpaid or insufficiently paid correspondence re- 
 ceived from foreign countries is plainly marked on the cover by the United States 
 exchange post-office through which the correspondence passes, and only the amount so 
 marked as due should be collected. But in the case of mail-matter other than letters, 
 which is discovered at the office of destination to contain a letter or other communica- 
 tion in writing, the postmaster at such office should levy postage tbereon at letter 
 rates for collection on delivery. 
 
 17. Senders have no legal claim upon the Post-Office Department for the value of 
 postage-stamps uselessly employed upon mail-matter; but in cases where excessive 
 postage has been paid upon correspondence addressed to foreign countries upon erro- 
 neous information given to the sender at mailing post-offices in the United States by 
 postal officials at the time of mailing, the Department will require the overpaid sums 
 to be reimbursed by the postmaster of the mailing post-office. 
 
 18. The exchange of postal cards is limited to the Universal Postal Union, including 
 Canada. They can only be sent to, or received from, other countries and places at let- 
 ter rates of postage. 
 
 19. Li([uids, poisons, explosive and intlammable articles, fatty substaiues, live or 
 dead animals, reptiles, fruits or vegetable matter liable to decompositiim, confectionery, 
 pastes or confections, and substances exhaling a bad odor, excluded from transmis- 
 sion in domestic mails as being in themselves either from their form or nature liable 
 to destroy, deface, or otherwise injure the contents of the mail-bags or the ])ersons of 
 those engaged in the postal service, are prohibited from transmission in the mails 
 exchanged wnth foreign countries, .as are also obscence, lewd, or lascivious books, 
 pamphlets, etc., and letters and circulars concerning lotteries, so-called gift concerts, 
 etc., also excluded from domestic mails, 
 
 20. Certain articles, other than those above mentioned, which from their nature or 
 form are liable to destroy, deface, or injure the coutenta of the mail-bags or the per- 
 
280 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 sons of those engaged in the postal service, may be transmitted as samples in the 
 mails to foreign countries when inclosed in the form prescribed for such matter in 
 domestic mails. 
 
 21. All articles prohibited from domestic mails under sections 225 and 226, pages 
 79 and 80 of this book, are also excluded from circulation in the mails to or from 
 foreign countries. 
 
 22. Packets of patterns or samples of merchandise, for dispatch in the mails to for- 
 eign countries, are restricted to hona-fide trade samples or specimens having no salable 
 or commercial value in excess of that actually necessary for their iise as samples or 
 specimens. Goods sent for sale, in execution of an order, or as gifts, however small 
 the quantity may be, are not admissible. 
 
 23. Prices-current and trade cii'culars (unsealed) may be sent to Guatemala at news- 
 paper rate of postage, but to all other countries at the rate of postage for "other 
 printed matter." 
 
 24. The domestic regulation requiring notice to be given by United States postmas- 
 ters, to publishers whose publications are refused or not tal?;en out of the post-office by 
 the x^ersons addressed, does not apply in the case of newspapers and periodicals of for- 
 eign origin refused or not taken out of the post-office by their addressees. 
 
 25. The public should bear in mind that all matter received in the mails from for- 
 eign countries which is subject to customs duties, such as watches, jewelry, lace, silk, 
 etc., is liable to seizure by the officers of the customs. 
 
 26. The Post-Office Department assumes no responsibility for the delay, injury, or 
 loss of either registered or ordinary correspondence for or from foreign countries, but 
 it will, at the instance of senders or addressees, use the means at its command for the 
 purpose of ascertaining the causes of such delay, injury, or loss, and preventing the 
 reciuTence thereof. 
 
 27. Where no special regulation is made relative to the transmission of correspond- 
 ence, the domestic regulations will govern. 
 
 Sec. 1133. Treatment of Dutiable Articles. — When letters, sealed pack- 
 ages, or packages the wrappers of wliich cannot be removed without destroying them, 
 are received in the United States from a foreign country, and the postmaster of the 
 exchange post-office at which they are received has reason to believe they contain articles 
 liable to customs duties, he shall immediately notify the ciistoms officer of the district 
 in which his post-office is located, or the customs officer designated by the Secretary of the 
 Treasury for tlie purpose of examining the mails arriving froin foreign countries, of 
 the receipt of such letters or packages, and their several addresses ; and if any letter 
 or package of this character be addressed to a person residing within the delivery of 
 his i>ost-office, the postmaster shall also, at the time of its arrival, notify the addressee or 
 addressees thereof that such letter or package has been received and is believed to 
 contain articles liable to customs duties, and that he or they must appear at the post- 
 office at a time in said notice to be designated, not exceeding twenty days fi'om the 
 date of said notice, and receive and open said letter or package in the i>resence of an 
 officer of the customs. 
 
 Letters and sealed packages, or packages the wrappers of wliich cannot be removed 
 without destroying tliom, which are supposed to contain articles liable to customs 
 duties, and which are addressed to persons residing outside of the delivery of the United 
 States exchange post-offloe where they were first received from abroad, shall be forwarded, 
 without longer detention than twenty-four hours, to their respective destinations, 
 marked Stipposed liable to customs duties, and upon their receipt at the post-offices of 
 destination the postmasters thereof shall notify the nearest customs officer and the 
 parties addressed, in the manner and to the same eftect as hereinbefore provided iu 
 the case of similar letters or packages addressed for delivery at the United States ex- 
 change post-offieo where they were first received. 
 
 Provided, however, that nothing lierciuabove contained shall authorize or allow 
 customs officers to seize or take possession of any letter or scaled package Avhile the 
 
TITLE VII FOREIGN CORRESPONDENX'E. 281 
 
 eamo is in the onstody of a postmaster, nor nntil after its dolivory to th*^ a<l«lr«88Pe ; 
 anil i»rovi(lt'(l further, that no letter or seiiled jmckaKC shall ho di-tainrd at tin; jiost-otHce 
 of di'livt-ry a lonj^r-r periofl than may ho n»;c(!SHary for the a[>i(faranoo of a cnstoins 
 ofliccr and tlic addrcsst^i', in pursuance of the notices hereiiihefore jiruvifli-d to he jjivuu. 
 
 Unseali'd packa<i;<'s received in the mails from forei;rn countries, wliieli an; found on 
 examination hy customs othcers to contain articles liahhs to customs duties, shall he 
 delivered hy the postmaster at the exchannje post-oflice of rec^eipt to the jiroper ittliciT of 
 the cnst(niis for the collection of the duties charguahle thereon, witii notic-e of such 
 delivery to the person addressed. 
 
 Unsealed packages of samples of merchandise, including grains anil seeds, in excess 
 of eighr ounces in weight, forwarded to the United States in the mails from Canada 
 contriiry to the provisions of the postal arrangement hetwecii the two countries, which 
 are declared hy customs officers to he dutiahle, shall he immediately retnnmd from the 
 United States exchange post-office of receijit to the Canadian exchange post-office from 
 which they were dispatched. 
 
 Postmasters are expected to extend to customs officers, specially designated for that 
 duty by the Secretary of the Treasury, such facilities as may he necessary to enahlo 
 them to examine mail matter arriving in the mails from foreign countries, in order to 
 protect the customs revenue. 
 
 Sec. 1134. Dutiable Printed Matter in Foreign Mails. — Printed matter, 
 other than books, received in the mails from foreign countries under the 
 provisions of postal treaties or conventions, sliall be free of customs duty, 
 and books which are admitted to the international mails exchanged under 
 the j)ro visions of the Universal Postal Union Convention may, when sub- 
 ject to customs duty, be delivered to addressees in the United States 
 under such regulations for the collection of duties as may be agreed 
 upon by the Secretary of the Treasury and the Postmaster-General. 
 (Act of March 3, 1870, § 17, 20 Stat., p. 3(50.) 
 
 Sec. 1135. Discretional Remission of Duties on Single Books. — From infor- 
 mation received by the Postmaster-General from the Secretary of the Treasury, it appears 
 that no books are absolutely exempt from customs duties, except those prv^'^ed and 
 manufactured more than twenty years ; hut collectors of customs may, m rheir discre- 
 tion, remit duties on importations of single copies of books of less dutiable value than 
 one dollar, when such books are intended for the personal use of the addressees. 
 
 Sec. 1136. Consuls may Pay Foreign Postage on Letters for the United 
 States. — The Postmaster-General or the Secretary of State is hereby 
 authorized to empower the consuls of the United States to pay the for- 
 eign postage on such letters destined for the United States as may be 
 detained at the ports of foreign countries for the non-payment of postage, 
 Ayhich postage shall be by the consid marked as paid by him, and the 
 amount thereof shall be collected in the United States as other postage, 
 on the delivery of the letters, and repaid to said consul, or credited on 
 his account at the State Department. (R. S., § 4014.) 
 
 Sec. 1137. Retaliatory Postage on Certain Foreign Matter — The Post- 
 master-General, under the direction of the President of the United States, 
 is hereby authorized and empowered to charge upon, and collect from, 
 all letters and other mailable matter carried to or from any port of the 
 United States, in anj- foreign packet-ship or other vessel, the same rate 
 or rates of charge for American postage which the government to which 
 such foreign packet or other vessel belongs imposes upon letters and 
 
282 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 other mailable matter conveyed to or from such foreign country la 
 American packets or other vessels as the postage of such government, 
 and at any time to revoke the same; and all custom-house officers and 
 other United States agents designated or appointed for that purpose 
 shall enforce or carry into effect the foregoing provision, and aid or assist 
 in the collection of such postage, and to that end it shall be lawfnl for 
 such officers and agents, on suspicion of fraud, to open and examine, in 
 the presence of two or more respectable persons, being citizens of the 
 United States, any package or packages supposed to contain mailable 
 matter found on board such packets or other vessels or elsewhere, and 
 to prevent, if necessary, such packets or other vessels from entering, 
 breaking bulk, or making clearance until such letters or other mailable 
 matter are duly delivered into the United States Post-Ofifice. (R. S., 
 § 4015.) 
 
 Sec. 1138. Letters Brought by Foreign Vessels to be Deposited in Post- 
 OfBce. — All letters or other mailable matter conveyed, to or from any 
 part of the United States by any foreign vessel, except such sealed let- 
 ters, relating to such vessel, or any part of the cargo thereof, as may 
 be directed to the owners or consignees of the vessel, shall be subject 
 to postage-charge, whether addressed to any person m the United 
 States or elsewhere, provided they are conveyed by the packet or other 
 ship of a foreign country imposing postage on letters or mailable mat- 
 ter conveyed to or from such countiy by any vessel of the United 
 States ; and such letters or other mailable matter carried in foreign ves- 
 sels, except such sealed letters, relating to the vessel, or any part of the 
 cargo thereof, as may be directed to the owners or consignees, shall be 
 delivered into tlie United States post-office by the master of such ves- 
 sel when jt'oi-iving, and be taken from a United States x)Ost-office when 
 departing, and the postage paid thereon, justly chargeable [by tJiis Title]^ 
 and for refusing or failing to do so, or for conveying such letters or any 
 letters intended to be conveyed in any vessel of such foreign country 
 over or across the United States, or any portion thereof, the party 
 offending shall be punishable by a fine of not more than one thousand 
 dollars for each offense. (R. S., § 4010,) 
 
TITLE VIII. 
 
 AUDITING POSTAL ACCOUNTS. 
 
 CHAPTER ONE. 
 
 THE AUDITOR OF THE TREASURY FOR THE POST-OFFICE 
 
 DEPARTMENT. 
 
 Sec. 
 
 1139. Auditor, bow appointed. 
 
 1140. Duties of Auditor f^enenilly stated. 
 
 1141. Divisions of Auditor's Office. 
 
 1142. The duties of the Auditor as prescribed by 
 
 statute. 
 
 1143. Accomits of Post-Offico Department, how to 
 
 be kept. 
 
 1144. To superintend collection of debts due the 
 
 Department. 
 
 Sec. 
 
 1145. Accounts of the money-order business. 
 114C. Accounts of expenses paid by pos|ma8ter8 
 to be stated. 
 j 1147. Coinproiuisc of judfnnents to be made, how. 
 
 1148. Papers required in suits for deliiKiuenciea, 
 
 etc. 
 
 1149. Oaths in settlement with Auditor. 
 
 1150. Appeal to First Comptroller from Auditor's 
 
 settlement. 
 
 Sec. 1139. Auditor, how appointed. — There sliall be appointed by the 
 President, by and with the ad\ice and consent of the Senate, an [Sixth]* 
 Auditor of the Treasiuy for the Post-Office Department. (K. S., § 276.) 
 
 Sec. 1140. Duties of Auditor generally Stated. — To this office, which is 
 
 not a Imie.iu of the Post-Offico Dopartmeut, but an office of the Treasury Dei)art- 
 meut, established for the adjustment and preservation of the accounts of tlie former 
 are assigned the duties of examining the returns of postma-sters and of notifying 
 them of errors found therein ; of adjusting their accounts ; of designating the post- 
 offices from which contractors shall make collections, and of furnishing them the 
 blank orders and receipts necessary for that purpose ; and, u^ion receipt of such col- 
 lection-orders, together with the acknowledgments of collections and of certificates 
 from the Division of Inspection, Office of the Second Assistant Postmaster-General, of 
 the performance of service, of adjusting the quarterly compensation of contractors for 
 carrying the mail, and of transmitting to them the drafts issued in payuumt of the 
 balances found due ; of adjusting the accounts for advertising, niail-l)ags, mail 
 locks and keys, stamps, Special Agents, and all other demands properly arising 
 under the laws, contracts, regulations, or oVders of the Department : of closing 
 the accounts of the Department quarterly, and of reporting the amounts paid by 
 postmasters pursuant to appropriations made by law ; and of registeriug, charging, 
 and countersigning all warrants upon the Treasury for receipts and payuients when 
 warranted by law, as well as all drafts issued in payment or collection of debts. 
 To the Auditor is also assigned the duty of adjusting and settling the mouey- 
 order accounts of postmasters, and attending to all correspondence relating thereto. 
 It is the duty of the Auditor to report to the Postmaster-General all delinquencies on 
 the part of postmasters in paying over the moneys in their hands, all failures of post- 
 masters o render their quarterly returns according to law, and all failures of 
 appointees to ([ualify. To the Auditor is also assigned the duty of collecting from 
 
 * Title, formerly Sixth Auditor, changed by act of March 3, 1875. (18 Statutes at 
 
 Large, page 397. 
 
 283 
 
284 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 late i^ostmastiTS balances due the United States upon their general postal and money- 
 order accounts; and in cases of failure to collect such balances by drafts in favor of 
 postmasters or other authorized agents of the Department, to prepare and transmit to 
 the Department of Justice certified copies of all accounts and papers necessarj' for the 
 institution of legal proceedings against such late postmasters and their sureties. To 
 the Auditor should be transmitted all quarterly and general accounts ; all vouchers 
 and letters relating thereto ; all receipts of postmasters for money and stamps turned 
 over to them by their predecessors or other postmasters ; all acknowledgments of 
 drafts issued in payment of balances ; all receipts of mail contractors for, and their 
 acknowledgments of, the collections from postmasters ; all letters admitting or contest- 
 ing balances due on the general accounts of postmasters and mail contractors j all 
 receipts for drafts issued in collecting such balances ; all letters returning such drafts, 
 or reporting the non-payment thereof; and all letters in relation to the settlement of 
 the money-order accounts of postmasters. 
 
 Sec. 1141. Divisions of Auditor's Office. — There are in the office of the 
 
 Auditor of the Treasury for the Post-Office Department eight divisions, through 
 which the work of the office is distributed. Their names and duties are as follows : 
 
 Collecting Division. — To this division is assigned the collection of balances due 
 from all postmasters, late postmasters, and contractors ; also the payment of all bal- 
 ances due to late and jireseut jjostmasters, and the adjustment and final settlement of 
 postal acounts. 
 
 Stating Division. — The general postal accounts of postmasters and those of late 
 postmasters, until fully stated, are in charge of this division. 
 
 Examining Division. — Receives and audits the quarterly accounts-cun-ent of all 
 post-offices in the United States. It is divided into four subdivisions, viz, the open- 
 ing-room, the stamp-rooms, the examining corps proper and the error-rooms. 
 
 Money-Order Division. — Accounts of money-orders paid and received are exam- 
 ined, and paid money-orders are assorted, checked, and filed, remittances of money- 
 order funds are registered and checked and errors corrected by this division. 
 
 Foreign Mail Division. — Has charge of the postal accounts with foreign govern- 
 ments, and the accounts with steamship companies for ocean transportation of the 
 mails. 
 
 Registering Division. — Receives from the examining division the quai'terly ac- 
 counts-current of all the post-offices in the United States, re-examines and registc^rs t hem, 
 and exhibits in the register ending June 30 of each year the total amount of receipts 
 and expenditures for the fiscal year. 
 
 Pay Division. — The adjustment and payment of all accounts for the transportation 
 of the mails, whether carried by ooean-steamers, railroads, steamboats, or any mail- 
 carrier ; the accounts of the railway postal service, railway postal clerks, route-agents, 
 and local agents, mail-depredations. Special Agents, iTOe-delivery system, postage- 
 stamps, postal cards, envelopes, stamps, njaps, wrapping-paper, twine, mail-bags, 
 mail locks and keys, advertising, fees in suits on postal matters, and miscellaneous 
 accounts, are assigned to this division." 
 
 Bookkeeping Division. — The duty of keeping the ledger-accounts of the Depart- 
 ment, embracing postmasters, late postmasters, contractora, late contractoi-s, and 
 accounts of a general, special, and miseellaueous character, is performed by this divis- 
 ion. 
 
 Sec. 1142. The Duties of the Auditor as Prescribed by Statute. — The [/iS'w'/'/i] 
 Auditor of the Treasury for the PovSt-Offiee Department shall receive 
 all accounts arising" in the Post-Office Beiiartnient, or relative thereto, 
 with the vouchers necessary to a correct adjustment thereof, and shall 
 audit and settle the same and certify the balances thereon to the Post- 
 master-General. He shall keep and preserve all accounts and vouchors 
 after settlement. He shall close the account of the Dei)artmeut quar- 
 
TITLE VIII — AUDITING POSTAL ACCOUNTS. 285 
 
 terly, and transmit to the Secretary of the Treasury quarterly statements 
 of its receipts iiiul expenditures. He shall rejHU-t to the J'ostmaster- 
 General, when leciuired to <h) so, the manner an<l form of keei>in}^ and 
 stating the accounts of the Department, and the otiicial forms of papers 
 to be used in connection with its receipts and expenditures. Lie shall 
 report to the rostmaster-General all delincpiencies of i>ostmasters in 
 rendering their accounts and returns, or in ])aying over money-order 
 funds and other receipts at their othces. He shall register, charge, and 
 countersign all warrants upon the Treasury for receipts or payments 
 issued by the Postmaster-General, when warranted by law. He si i all 
 perform such other duties in relation to the financial concerns of the 
 Department as may be assigned to him by the Secretary of the Treasury, 
 an<l make to the Secretary or to the Postmaster-General such reports 
 respecting the same as eitlier of them may require. (R. S., § 277.) 
 
 The Auditor of the Treasury for the Post-Office Department has diiect official rela- 
 tion to both the Treasury and the Post-Office Department. (7 Opins., 4:'.9.) 
 
 Sec. 1143. Acoounts of Post-Office Department, how to be Kept. — Hereafter 
 the [Siiih] Atulitor of the Treasury for the Post Office Department shall 
 keep the accounts in his office so as to show the expenditures of the 
 Post-Office Department under each item of appropriation provided by 
 law. (Act of March 3, 187."), § 4; 18 Stats., p. 343.) 
 
 Sec. 1144. To Superintend the Collection of Debts Due the Department. — 
 The [Sixth] Auditor [of the Treasury for the Post-Office DepartmeutJ 
 shall superintend the collection of all debts due the Post-Office Depart- 
 ment, and all i)eualties and forfeitures imposed for any violation of the 
 postal laws, and take all such other measures as may be authorized by 
 law to enforce the payment of such debts and the recovery of such pen- 
 alties and forfeitures. He shall also .superintend the collection of all 
 penalties and forfeitures arising under other statutes, where stu^h penal- 
 ties and forfeitures are the consequence of unlawful acts aliecting the 
 revenues or property of the Post-Office Dei)artment. (K. S., § 292.) 
 
 Sec. 1145. Accounts of the Money-Order Business. — The [/SfrfA] Auditor 
 [of the Treasury for the Post-Office Department] shall keep the accounts 
 of the money-order business separately, and in such manner as to show 
 the nitmber and amount of money-orders issued at each office, the niun- 
 ber and amount paid, the amount of fees received, and all the expenses 
 of the money-order business. (E. S., § 293.) 
 
 Sec. 1146. Accounts of Expenses Paid by Postmasters to be Stated. — The 
 [Sixth] Auditor [of the Trea.sury for the Post-Office Department] shall 
 state and certify quarterly to the Postmaster-General an account of the 
 money paid by postmasters out of the receipts of their offices, and pur- 
 suant to appropriations, on account of the expenses of the postal service; 
 designating the heads under w^hich such payments were made. (K. S., 
 § 294.) 
 
 Sec. 1147. Compromise of Judgments to be Made, how. — Whenever a 
 judgment is obtained for a debt or damages due the Post-Office Depart- 
 meut, and it satisfactorily appears that such judgment, or so much 
 
286 
 
 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 thereof as remains unpaid, cannot be collected by due process of law, 
 the [Sixth] Auditor [of the Treasury for the Post-Office Department] may, 
 with the written consent of the Postmaster-General, compromise such 
 judgment, and accept in satisfaction less than the full amount thereof. 
 (R. S., § 205.) 
 
 Sec. 1148. Papers Required in Suits for Delinquencies, etc. — In case of 
 delinquency of any postmaster, contractor, or other officer, agent, or 
 emi)loye of the Post-Office Department, in which suit is brought, the 
 [>Sft>^^] Auditor [of the Treasury for the Post-Office Department] shall 
 forward to the Department of Justice certified copies of all papers in his 
 office tending to sustain the claim. (R. S., §296.) 
 
 Sec. 1149. Oaths in Settlement with Auditor.* — Any mayor of a city, 
 justice of the peace, or judge of any court of record in the United States, 
 may administer oaths, in relation to the examination and settlement of 
 the accounts committed to the charge of the [Sixth] Auditor [of the 
 Treasury for the Post-Office Department]. (R. S., §298.) 
 
 Sec. 1150. Appeal to First Comptroller from Auditor's Settlement. — "\\Tien- 
 ever the Postmaster-General or any person whose accounts have been 
 settled by the [Sixth] Auditor [of the Treasury for the Post-Office De- 
 partment] is dissatisfied with the settlement made by the Auditor, he 
 may, witliin twelve months, appeal to the First Comptroller, whose 
 decision shall be conclusive. (R. S., §270.) 
 
 CHAPTER TWO. 
 
 POSTMASTERS' QUARTERLY RETtJRlTS. 
 
 Sec. 
 
 1151. Quarterly accounts of receipta. 
 
 1152. Quarterly accounts to be sworn to. 
 
 1153. Neglect to render .accounts ; penalty. 
 
 1154. Time of forwarding quarterly retuma. 
 
 1155. What composes the quarterly return. 
 
 1156. Manner of mailinj? quarterly returns. 
 
 1157. Transcripts must accomijany account cur- 
 
 rent. 
 11.58. Written accounts will not be audited. 
 
 1159. Quarterly returns to include but one quarter. 
 
 1160. Printed labels for i-eturns from Presidential 
 
 offices. 
 
 1161. Detailed statement from Presidential offices. 
 
 1162. Accounts of outgoing and incoming post- 
 , masters. 
 
 1163. Accounts of deceased postmasters. 
 
 1164. Postmasters giving new bond, return not 
 
 changed. 
 
 Sec. 
 
 1165. Originals must be retained. 
 
 1166. Who must sign account-current, 
 
 1167. Correction of errors in accounts. 
 
 1168. Bcoord to be kept of receipts by postma.?- 
 
 tera. 
 
 1169. Duty of postmaster when returns are lost in 
 
 the mail. 
 
 1170. Unreasonable delay in presenting claims, in- 
 
 ference from. 
 
 1171. Allowance for advertising letters. 
 
 1172. Items not to be entered on the account-cur- 
 
 rent. 
 
 1173. Ifo allowance for expenditures without 
 
 vouchers. 
 
 1174. No allowance for administering oath. 
 
 1175. Endorsement on back of account-current. 
 
 1176. Blank forms, how procured. 
 
 Sec. 1151. Quarterly Accounts of Receipts. — Everj'^ postmaster shall ren. 
 der to the Postmaster-General, under oath, and in such form as the 
 
 * Section 297, Revised Statutes, provides that the several Auditors are empowered to 
 aduiinister oaths to Avitnoeses in any ca.se in which tlioy may deem it necessary for the 
 due examination of the accounts with which they shall bo charj^ed. 
 
TITLE VIII — AUDITING POSTAT. ACCOUNTS. 287 
 
 latter shall prescribe, a quarterly account of all moneys received or 
 charjit'd by liiiii or at his office, for posta;;*', rent of boxes or otlier r«'- 
 ceptacles for inail-inatter, or l>y reason of kecpiii;; a l>ranch oHiee, or for 
 the delivery of mail-matter in any manner whatever. (K. S., § 384.3.) 
 
 Sec, 1152. Quarterly Accounts to be Sworn to. — Tlie rostniastcr-General 
 may rtMHiire a sworn stiitciiuMit to accroiiipany eacli quarterly account of 
 a postma.ster, to the effect that such account contains a true statement 
 of the entire amount of postaj^e, box-rents, cliar<jes, and moneys col- 
 lected or rc<;eived at his ottice during the quarter ; that he lias not know- 
 ingly delivered, or permitted to be delivered, any mail-matter on which 
 the postage was not at the time paid ; that such account exhibits tnilj' 
 and faithfully the entire receipts collected at his office, and which, by 
 due diligence, could liave been collected, and that the credits he claims 
 are just and right. (E. S., § 38-44.) 
 
 Sec. 1153. Neglect to Render Accounts; Penalty. — Whenever any post- 
 master neglects to render his accounts for one month after the time, and 
 in the form and manner prescribed by law and the regulations of the 
 Postmaster-General, he and his sureties shall forfeit and pay double 
 the amount of the gross receipts at such office during any prcAious or 
 subsequent equal period of time ; and if, at the time of trial, no account 
 has been rendered, they shall be liable to a penalty of such sum as the 
 court and jury shall estimate to be equivalent thereto, to be recovered 
 in an action on the bond. (R. S,, § 3845.) 
 
 Sec. 1154. Time of Forwarding Quarterly Returns. — Immediately after 
 
 the close of- each riuartcr, which is on the last day of March, .Tune, September, and 
 December, every postmaster imist make np his .acconnts for the quarter and forward 
 transcripts of them to the Auditor. The originals must be retained by the post- 
 master, subject to inspection. Quarterly returns must not be addressed to the Third 
 Assistant Postmaster-General. 
 
 Sec. 1155. What Composes the Quarterly Return. — The quarterly return 
 
 is composed of the account-current and the necessary iranscripts and vouchers. 
 
 Sec. 1156. Manner of Mailing Quarterly Returns. — To insure a correct 
 and expeditious settlement of the quarterly accounts of postmasters, it is indispensa- 
 ble that each return should ari'ive at the Department in one perfect, unbroken bundle 
 or packet. The packet should be plainly directed to the ''Auditor of the Treasury for 
 the Post-Office Dei^artmeut." The words "Quarterly returns " should be plainly 
 written on the package. No letter, receipt, paper, or other thing whatever, not 
 strictly belonging to the quarterly return, should be inclosed with it. 
 
 Sec. 1157. Transcripts must Accompany Account-Current. — Postmasters 
 
 should never send an account-current without the transcripts from which it is made 
 up; and never neglect to send with the transcripts an account-current. The posK 
 master's signature should be attached to each paper. 
 
 Sec. 1158. Written Accounts will not be Audited. — Quarterly returns 
 must be made upon the regular blanks furnished by the First Assistant Postmaster- 
 General. "Written accounts will not be audited. 
 
 Sec. 1159. Quarterly Returns to Include but One Quarter. — A quarterly 
 
 return must not include more than the business of one quarter. 
 
 Sec. 1160. Printed Labels for Returns from Presidential Post-Offices. — Post- 
 masters at post-otfices of the first, second, and third classes will be furnished by the 
 First Assistant Postmaster-General, on application, with printed labels, which they 
 
288 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 are required to paste upon the package contaiuiug tlieir quarterly returns, Tlie use 
 of these labels iu transmittiug to the Auditor the quarterly returns enables the receiv- 
 ing clerks to (.listinguish these returns from those of fourth-class post-ofiSces, and very 
 greatly expedites the settlement of the accounts. 
 
 Sec. 1161. Detailed Statement from Presidential-Post=Offioes.-— Postmasters 
 
 at post-offices of the first, second, and third classes are required to transmit ^^ ith their 
 quarterly returns, upon the priuted blank furnished them for that purpose, a detailed 
 statement of stamps, stamped envelopes, newspaper- wrappers, and postal cards received 
 during the quarter, and also a detailed statement of the vouchers accompanying the 
 account-current. 
 
 Sec. 1162. Accounts of Outgoing and Incoming Postmasters. — Where a 
 
 change of ^jostmaster occurs, the outgoing postmaster will render an account to and 
 including the day upon which the office is delivered to his successor ; and the successor 
 will render an account for the remainder of the quarter. At fourth-class post-offices, 
 however, by agreement between the parties, the late postmaster or his successor may 
 render the account for the entire quarter, provided that all poetage-stamps, stamped 
 envelopes, postal cards, etc., are duly accounted for in said account-current. 
 
 Sec. 1163. Accounts of Deceased Postmasters. — In case of the death of a 
 
 postmaster, the assistant, deputy, or the sureties may render the account to and 
 including the day upon which the new postmaster enters upon the discharge of his 
 duties. Such account will be duly anditcd, compensation allowed in the settlement 
 of the same, and credited to the account of the deceased postmaster. 
 
 Sec. 1164. Postmaster Giving New Bond; Return not Changed.— The 
 
 execution of a new bond by a postmaster does not in any way change the manner of 
 rendering the quarterly return, as the sureties upon the former bond are held respon- 
 sible lentil tlie last day of the quarter in which the new bond is executed. 
 
 Sec. 1165. Originals must be Retained. — Many postmasters are in the 
 
 habit of forwarding to the Department, contrary to regulation, their original accounts, 
 keeping no duplicate or copy. This violation of rule cannot be permitted or over- 
 looked. Transcripts or copies only must be sent, and the original accounts must be 
 carefully preserved for inspection by any Special Agent of the Department who may 
 require it. 
 
 Sec. 1168. Who must Sign Account-Current. — The quarterly account-cur- 
 rent and all other official papers must be signed by the postmaster himself,, unless 
 necessarily absent or sick, iu which case it may be signed as follows : 
 
 A B , P. M., 
 
 By C D , Jasiiitant P. M. 
 
 The blank heading of the account-current must be filled up with the name of the 
 post-office, its county and State. 
 
 Sec. 1167. Correction of Errors in Accounts. — The accounts of all ijost- 
 
 masters are examined and adjusted by the Auditor as they are received, and the errors, 
 if there be any, are carefully corrected, and the postmasters at post-offices of the first, 
 second, and third classes are notified of the corrections made. Postmasters at all 
 other post-offices are notified of errors which increase by as much as one dollar the 
 balance due to the United St.ates. Postmasters, therefore, Avill understand that any 
 alteration in the balances of their accounts is occasioned either by the correction of 
 some clerical error, or by some deviation on their part from a strict conformity to 
 the law .and the instructions. 
 
 Sec. 1168. Record to be Kept of Receipts by Postmasters. — Every post- 
 master shall keep in a book, separate from his otlier accounts, a record — 
 
 1. Of all postage-stamps, stamped envelopes, newspaper-wrappers, newspaper and 
 periodical stamps, postage-due stamps, and postal cards received by him. 
 
 2. Of all post.al books, blanks, or other property turned over by his predecessor, or 
 received from the Post-Office Department, or from any of its agents, during his term 
 of office. 
 
TITLE VIII — AUDITING POSTAL ACCOUNTS. 289 
 
 3. Of all box-rents. (Tho entry of money received for box-rents should show the 
 number of the box and tho period for wliieh tho puyment was made.) 
 
 4. Of all other rents, emoluments, and moneys received l»y him as postmaster, or as 
 custodian of the l>uildin;j in which the post-office is located. 
 
 Every postmaster will keep the above accounts separately, and charge himself with 
 all receipts thereon. He will make quarterly returns thereof to the Auditor, ami turn 
 over his records to his successor. 
 
 Sec. 1169. Duty of Postmasters when Returns are Lost in the Mail. — The 
 
 postiuasttT, though lie nuiy have mailfd his returns, will not be considi-red as dis- 
 charged from the penalty mentioned in section llol} unhsss, after lieiug notified that 
 they have not been receivt^d at the Dejiartmeut, he transmits forthwith duplicate 
 transcripts from the orij^iual accounts retained in his possession. 
 
 Sec. 1170. Unreasonable Delay in Presenting Claims. Inference from. — A 
 
 Tuo account-current is intended to show the net proceeds of the post-oHiceforthe quar- 
 ter, no balance due on a former quarter, nor any payment to or collection for the De- 
 partment in a former quarter, is to be inserted in it. All vouchers for expenses 
 charged in the account-current must be transmitted with the said accounts, and if 
 for advertising letters, must state the number of letters. Unreasonable delay not 
 only implies neglect of the public business, but is calculated to bring suspicion upon 
 the claims withheld ; and the Department, therefore, reserves to itself the right to 
 reject .all such claims after the quarterly accounts have been adjusted. 
 
 Sec. 1171. Allowance for Advertising Letters. — When proper authority 
 
 has been given to tho postmaster by the Postmaster-General, one cent will be allowed 
 for advertising each letter, and the printer's receipt must state the number ol letters 
 and the amount paid for advertising. 
 
 Sec. 1172. Items not to be Entered on the Account-Current. — Items relat- 
 ing to Money Order Business, to ex])eiiditures on account of the Free Deli very System 
 and of the Railway Postal Service, must iu)t be entered on the account-current. 
 
 Sec. 1173. No Allowance for Expenditures without Vouchers. — No allow- 
 ance will be made for any expenditure (uiless accompanied by the proper voucher — 
 that is, a bill receipted. 
 
 Sec. 1174. No Allowance for Administering Oaths. — Xo allowauce cau be 
 
 made for fees paid for administering oaths to accounts. 
 
 Sec. 1175. Indorsement on Back of Account-Current. — The postmaster 
 
 must indorse plainly upon the back of the account-current, in the blanks prepared for 
 that purpose, the class and name of the post-ofirtce, the name of the State, the period 
 for winch the account is rendered, and the name of the postmaster. 
 
 Sec. 1176. Blank Forms, how Procured. — Blank forms for quarterly ac- 
 counts-current are furnished on application to the First Assistant Postmaster-General, 
 Blank Agency ; and postmasters should so arrange their orders as to have a supply suf- 
 ficient for one year constantly on hand. 
 
 CHAPTER THREE. 
 ACCOUNTS-CURRENT AND TRANSCRIPTS— FORMS. 
 
 Sec. [ Sec. 
 
 1177. Form.s for use at Prt'sidi'utwl iK)st-ollici'S. 1178. Fonu.s for use at fourth-class post-offices. 
 
 Sec. 1177. Forms for Presidential Post-Offices.— The following forms of 
 
 accounts-current and transcripts, w hich are i)rinted upon colored or tinted paper, are 
 prescribed for the use of postnuisters at post-offices of the first, second, and third 
 classes : 
 
 19 P L 
 
290 
 
 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 
 ^ H <! S 
 
 
 SJ 
 
 t' 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 o . 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 1 
 
 J 
 
 s 2 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 l_l 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 sS 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ,5 ^ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 O 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Ca ^ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ,0 1) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ■v- -w 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 a« 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ^ -G 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 O o 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 O a. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ^•' I 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 : 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ts : 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 • 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 u* • 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 .a • 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ^^ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 -*- ;i 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 P. CS 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 .o a 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ^ « 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ? a 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 tn 
 
 
 
 5 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 OS 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 !S 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 C ts 
 
 
 
 
 'S' 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 — cj 
 
 
 
 ,4 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Is 
 
 
 
 
 p 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 c: 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 '^ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 § 2 
 
 
 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 "SdJ 
 
 
 
 
 ' 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 tS 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 i.& 
 
 
 
 
 Pi 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 h 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 a 
 
 
 
 ^4 
 
 
 
 
 s 
 
 
 
 
 s 
 
 p. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 rt 
 
 
 
 
 a 
 
 
 
 
 >< 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 a 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 t-.§ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 "3 
 
 
 
 M 
 
 
 
 
 M 
 
 
 
 CP 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 p; 
 
 
 
 00 
 
 
 
 
 ci 
 
 
 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 d 
 
 
 Z -^ ~ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 .c » 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 V< -i^ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 1 
 
 
 Is 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 O P< 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 a 
 B 
 
 ft 
 
 1 
 
 
 p. 
 
 t- 
 
 ;- 
 
 a 
 ^ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 cS 
 
 
 
 
 a 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 s 
 
 
 
 
 
 T. 
 
 4) 
 Pi 
 
 03 
 
 6 
 
 t2 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 P 
 
 M 
 
 
 
 3< 
 
 p 
 
 -1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 •1 
 
 X 
 
 
 
 
 H 
 
 Cm 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 & 
 
 a 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 .3 
 
 -4J 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 "5 
 
 C 
 
 x' 
 
 "3 
 
 
 
 c 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 p< 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 p. 
 
 •5 
 
 B 
 ss 
 
 
 
 ei 
 
 c 
 p. 
 
 p. 
 
 E 
 
 « 
 
 K 
 
 C 
 
 a 
 
 
 J7 = 
 P 
 
 11 
 
 C > 
 
 P.S 
 
 _ o 
 
 « = 
 
 i 'x 
 
 o £ 
 p*2 
 
 s 
 
 p. 
 
 ^ 
 
 3 
 
 .a 
 
 £ 
 p 
 
 1 
 
 P. 
 
 o 
 
 a 
 
 a 
 
 a 
 
 a 
 5 
 
 OS 
 
 S 2 
 
 S2 
 
 S 
 o 
 
 a 
 
 a 
 
 a 
 
 5 
 
 -£ 
 
 £ 
 
 a 
 "S 
 
 05 
 
 O 
 P< 
 
 o 
 a 
 
 p. 
 £ 
 
 i 
 
 o 
 P. 
 
 o 
 
 a 
 
 
 s 
 
 u 
 
 5 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 5 
 £ 
 
 c 
 
 •5 f 
 
 
 
 P. 
 
 c 
 c 
 
 E 
 
 K 
 
 t 
 
 2 a . 
 
 c 
 * 
 
 -11 
 
 a- 
 a 
 
 c 
 
 a 
 
 ^ 
 
 t 
 
 S 
 
 i 
 
 
 p. 
 
 o 
 
 
 p. 
 
 £ 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 ft 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 -1 
 
 
 
 
 
 p 
 
 
 
 
 
 (^ 
 
 
 ^^ 
 
 
 
 
 
 '^ 
 
 c 
 
 
 
 « 
 
 
 
 
 'i! 
 
 
 
 
 
 lO 
 
 
 
 
 
 «o 
 
 
 t-^ 
 
 
 
 
 t' 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 .o . 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 =« h 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 aS 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1^ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 5 3 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 c: 
 
 °-^ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Q 
 
 U 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 a r .5 5 "St 
 
 
 = -^— a 
 
 :- •_ s P. c 
 
 i .= — ■ = ° 
 
 — 2 *" ' 
 
 5^ i c: •= ~r 
 
 "lis^ 
 
 ■>^ 1- =5 £ CS 
 
 5 ==.5 1:^ 
 
 
 '■; r^ a 
 
 p.!! o a 
 
 n S c ♦^ 
 
 ISS^.a g 
 
 sills 
 
TITLE VIII AUDITING POSTAL ACCOUNTS. 291 
 
 Jiox-niit account. 
 
 Qiiarter-ycaily rotiini of ftll roccipts for linxos niid drawers by mo receivod aa postmaatcr of , 
 
 State of , for the (luartor i-uding , 18 — . 
 
 Rent of boxpn ... 
 Keut of dniwura . 
 
 No. 
 
 Rate. 
 
 Dollars. 
 
 Ct8. 
 
 I, , postmaster of , do that the above and forcjroinjc is a trne and correct account of 
 
 all receipts for rent of boxes and drawers for the quarter ending , 18 — . 
 
 , Postmaster. 
 
 - antl subscribed before the undersigned, a for the of - 
 
 this- 
 
 ilay of , A.D. 18— . 
 
 Detailed statement of stamps, .Jc, received. 
 
 (No. 1511.) 
 Pest Office : 
 
 County of . 
 
 State of . 
 
 -, 18- 
 
 A detailed statement of stamps and stamped envelopes, newspaiier wrappers, postal cards, newspaper 
 
 and periodical stamps, and postage-duo stamps received during the quarter ended , 18 — , and 
 
 acknowledged in article 4 of the aocount-ouiTent for that quarter. 
 
 Date of receipt, ^f^^' 
 
 Description. 
 (Whether stamps, envelopes, newspaper wrap- 
 pers, or postal cards.) 
 
 Amount. 
 
 Dollars. 
 
 Cents. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Total 
 
 1 
 
 
 I certify the above statement to be correct. 
 
 raij-roU of clerks. 
 "W'e, the undersigned, officers in the post-office at , have received of 
 
 the several sums affixed to our names, in full for services to , inclusive. 
 
 Postmaster. 
 
 post-master. 
 
 
 Names. 
 
 Time of service. 
 
 
 
 Signatures. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
292 
 
 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 Poat Office 
 
 Expense voucher. 
 (Form 1526.) 
 
 , State of. 
 
 To 
 
 _, Dr. 
 
 To 
 
 Received of 
 
 -, P. M. at , State of , the above sum of i^sti dollars, for 
 
 whicli have signed duplicate receipts this day of , 18 — . 
 
 Detailed statement of vouchers. 
 (No. 1559.) 
 
 Post Office : 
 
 County of 
 
 State of 
 
 , 18—. 
 
 A detailed statement of vouchers accompanying quarterly account-current for the quarter ended 
 , 18 — , for "Which credit is claimed in art. 10 of said account-current. 
 
 No. of 
 
 To whom paid. 
 
 For what expended. 
 
 Amount. 
 
 voucher. 
 
 Dollars. 
 
 Cents. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Totf 
 
 il 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 I certify the above statement to be correct. 
 
 -, Postmaster. 
 
 Sec. 1178. Forms for Fourth-Class Post-Offices. — The following forms, 
 
 wliich are iiriuted uitou white i)apcr to tlistingnish thcni from those of presidential 
 post-offices, are prescribed for the use of postmasters at fourth-class post-offices : 
 
 1NSTKUCTION8. 
 
 The special attention of postmasters is directed to the following instructions, and a 
 strict compliance with the same will be required : 
 
 Article 1. Enter the amount received for waste-paper, twine, &c., sold during the 
 quarter. 
 
 Articlk 2. Enter the amount of box-rent collected during the quarter. 
 
 Postmasters are prohibited from collecting or I'eceiving the rent of boxes for more 
 than oiu' qu.arter in advance. 
 
 Akticlk 3. Enter the exact v.alue of all postage-stamps, postage-diui stamps, stamped 
 envelopes, newspaper stamps, newspaper wrappers, and postal cards that remained 
 
TITLE VIII AUDITING POSTAL ACCOUNTS. 293 
 
 on liaud at the close of the preceding qnaitcr. Whore a cliange of postmasters occurs, 
 the \ iiUie of stamps, enveh)pe8, curds, etc., received from the outgoing postmaster 
 shouhl also he entered in this article. 
 
 Akticlk 4. Enter the value of all postajije-stamps, postage-due stamps, stamped 
 enveh)pes, newspaper stamps, newspaper wrapjiers, and postal cards receive<l from 
 the Department during the (juarter. Then a<hl together artiiles 3 and 4, jilacing 
 their sums directly underneath the line opposite the words "Total amount of stamps, 
 etc." 
 
 Article 5. Enter the exact value of all postage-stamps, postage-due stamps, stamped 
 envelopes, newspaper stamps, uewspajjcr wrappers, and postal cards that remained 
 on hand the last day of the <iuarter. 
 
 Articlk 6. Enter the value of damaged stamps, etc., returned to the Department 
 during the quarter ; hut not until notice of allowance shall he received from the Third 
 Assistant Postmaster-General. This item must be deducted from the value of stamps 
 sold during the (juarter, and not from the amount remaining on hand. 
 
 AuTiCM-: 7. Enter the value of all postage-stamps, stamped envelopes, postal cards, 
 etc., sold during the (piarter, and of postage-due stamps affixed upon delivery of insuf- 
 ficiently i)repaid matter. This item is ascertained by subtracting the amount on 
 hand (article 5) from the sum total of articles 3 and 4. The ditierence being the amount 
 sold, less any damaged stamps that may have been returned during the quarter. 
 
 AUTICLE 8. Compute and enter the commissions on the aggregate amount charged 
 under article 1, and the amount of canceled stamps shown by the transcript accom- 
 panying the aecount-current, at the rates provided by law and as set forth on the in- 
 side lower margin of this form. Credit should also he taken under this article for the 
 whole amount of box-rent charged under article 2. (See section 117, Postal Laws and 
 Regulations, edition of 1879. 
 
 Article 9. Enter the number of ship and steamboat letters received and paid for 
 during the quarter, taking credit for the amount paid. No credit will be allowed in 
 this item unless accompanied by vouchers, signed by the master of the ship, showing 
 the name of the vessel and port from which the letters were carried. 
 
 Article 10. Credit should be taken under this article for expenses incurred in the 
 repair of mail-hags, and for office furniture and clerk hire where allowances have pre- 
 viously been granted by the Postmaster-General: 
 
 Article U. Under this article should be entered the difference between the total 
 footing of the debit side and the sum of the credits claimed under articles 8, 9, and 10 
 of the credit side of the account-current, as this difference constitutes the balance due 
 the United States. 
 
 Credit for iiayments made to the mail-carrier must not be entered in this account, as 
 such credits are allowed in the general account on the books of the Auditor's office 
 immediately on receipt of the carrier's voucher. 
 
294 
 
 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 c> 
 
 ^ p 
 
 o 
 
 i (=1 
 
 5^ O 
 
 o H ;i 
 
 l| 
 
 b X - 
 
 a? P* a; 
 P 3 — 
 .S-2o 
 
 (C 30 CO 
 
 H.3 
 o 
 
 9 <&«-€e- ^ 
 
 
 d 
 
 4i 
 
 ;! 
 
 S 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 b 
 
 
 u 
 
 ._= 
 
 
 B 3 
 
 rr 
 
 X 
 
 
 ft 
 
 c: 
 
 1) 
 
 s 
 
 
 
 
 s 
 
 c 
 
 =! 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 bll 
 
 fct 
 
 C 
 
 q 
 
 fcf.J^ a 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 - -- C 9 5 - 7"— '^ P 
 
 « p 
 
 o "^o 
 
 ftft 
 
 ^ if.t; o t « 
 
 c 3 •: p s ti 
 
 " r S "= - = ^-r = a ^ ^ 
 
 *:ft>s.i-t:ftL.t.*-LH, 
 
 2 * 
 
 C . ^ —" 3 G 
 
 i.^ +j; Kr— 
 
 
 -13 
 
 ftp a 5^ ^ 
 
 I) CO J^ re O ftcS . 
 
 a ft ftcM <u ftc o « 
 
 3 S k S 
 
 
 35 
 
 
 '="2 ? ? i J S i - >-■ 
 
 ~_ G ^ S V^ 
 
 P ^ - * 
 
 miss 
 
 
 go 
 
 > i^ p 
 
 5 £ 3 ?| £ ^ 
 
 £;,-«'=' "^ 
 
 c-fci-gSsj 
 
 f- <s P S a 
 ftS'^^'S 
 
 . :ra C3 ^ 
 r; >■■*• t- w 
 
 • P P S CO t. 
 
 i " >■•" =5 
 
 t P— CO 
 
 
 £.■« 
 
 9 £<^i5'^ 
 
 r— '^ '^ ^ 35 
 
 _S " _ e t~ 
 
 r= *^ P 2 . 
 
 fe t- rK p 
 
 C i, * . ; 
 
 
 °'ft'? 
 Oil 
 
 £: bf p'S 
 
 •r'^ 9 § 3 
 
 « 3 s s «i 
 I "I §5 
 
 ?^ p 9'— ^ 
 
 f— t: - -" o 
 Ji p >■.;-' * 
 '^ ft-? ft 
 
 '=^ I 
 "1 J. 
 
 ■Too 
 
 p<i 
 
 ;S ■— -^ a "^ S ■'• p if 3 !/5 
 
 "B o ^ ® o >, 
 
 fS t; '*" S « > 
 § -sp^.s^ 
 
 
 ti 
 
 o 
 ft 
 
 ■^ .mIHI^ 
 
 js P 
 p. 2 
 
 o 
 in 
 
 lliiyii 
 
 ftP 
 
 o 
 o 
 
 t. c« 3 P-'^ i * 
 
 0) ^:£ p - = — 5 
 
 «^£(B= ^;::a 
 
 
 
 a » 
 a; t^ 
 ft.= 
 
 P » 
 
 O 
 
 
 •a 
 
 
 X't. 
 
 i '^ 
 
 p 
 
 s5-2*:tSsJ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 -w 
 
 
 •Pf^ 
 
 p 
 
 g'?;f ° 2.^1-3 
 
 
 O 
 
 5 s 
 
 2 " 
 
 p s 
 
 o 
 
 ft 
 
 o . 
 
 "p ? 
 
 P ?"o 
 
 i S * 
 
 '*" O'S P 
 =<- P.- a 
 
 5^ 
 
 t'^ 
 
 ifPl 
 
 
 = 5 p ?:= : 
 
 ift? 
 
 £» « c "_ig a '^^ 
 ■••^ .- 2 's . • ' C S -P "5 
 2 = H ft -3' 
 
 fP-'Sl n. S 
 
 1*-w Xio^2M"-=5'C 
 
 ^x?^ 
 
 3 =2 
 
TITLE VIII AUDITING POSTAL ACCOUNTS. 
 
 295 
 
 Traimcrijit for fourth clagg officeg. 
 
 Account of liox-ronts collpotcd, niul daily triiiisnipt of aiiinuiitof poHtaco-stampB. Btampe<l enveloppH, 
 postal lanls, and lu'wspapi-r ami iiiriodical Mtaiiips raiictlfd \\n poMta^fH on matter actually niailcil. 
 and of poMtaftt-tl""' stamps cauiikd in paynunt of undcrcliaiKod and uni)aid i)o«taKis upon K.tlerH d<r 
 
 livend at the post-olHceat , county of andStat«'0f , durin>,' the quarter cndinj? 
 
 188—. 
 
 This lraiisfni>t fonns a part of the quart<Mly rotuni, and must, in all case«, be inclosed in and trans- 
 uiittod to tlie Auditor with the quarterly account-current. 
 
 Daily trameript of amount of postage-stamps, stamped envelopes, postal cards, and newspaper and period- 
 ical stamps canceled as postages on matter actually mailed, and of postage-due stamps canceled in pay- 
 ment of undercharges and unpaid postages upon matter delivered during the quarter. 
 
 Month. 
 
 Day. 
 
 Amoout. 
 
 Month. 
 
 Day. 
 
 Amount. 
 
 Month. 
 
 Day. 
 
 Ammmt. 
 
 Dolls, eta. 
 
 DoUs. 
 
 Cts. 
 
 DoUa. 
 
 Cts. 
 
 
 1 
 2 
 3 
 4 
 5 
 6 
 7 
 8 
 9 
 10 
 11 
 12 
 13 
 14 
 15 
 16 
 17 
 18 
 19 
 20 
 21 
 22 
 23 
 24 
 25 
 26 
 27 
 28 
 29 
 30 
 31 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 2 
 
 3 
 4 
 5 
 6 
 7 
 8 
 9 
 10 
 11 
 12 
 13 
 14 
 15 
 16 
 17 
 18 
 19 
 20 
 21 
 22 
 23 
 24 
 25 
 26 
 27 
 28 
 29 
 30 
 3i 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
 7 
 
 8 
 
 9 
 10 
 11 
 12 
 13 
 14 
 15 
 16 
 17 
 18 
 19 
 20 
 21 
 22 
 23 
 24 
 25 
 26 
 27 
 28 
 29 
 30 
 31 
 • 
 
 
 
 Total $ 
 
 
 
 Total $ 
 
 
 
 Total $ 
 
 
 
 Total amount of stamps, &c., canceled during the quarter, t« be cai-ried to account-current, $ 
 
 Box-rent account. 
 Quarterly account of all receipts for rent of boxes and drawers for the quarter endmg , 188 — . 
 
 Rent of box<'s 
 
 Bent of drawers 
 
 Total — to be carried to articles 2 and 8 of the 
 account-current 
 
 Xumber of 
 boxes rented. 
 
 Kate. 
 
 Dollars. 
 
 Cents. 
 
 Post-Offlce at . 
 
 County of . 
 
 State of. 
 
 I hereby certify, on my official oath as postmaster, that the above and within transcript is a true 
 statement from the records of this office. 
 
 , Postmaster. 
 
296 
 
 POSTAL LAWS AND EEGULATIONS. 
 
 CHAPTER FOUR. 
 
 THE GENERAL POSTAL ACCOUNT. 
 
 Sec. 
 
 1179. Tlie postmaster to teep general account. 
 
 1180. Statement to be sent quarterly to Auditor. 
 
 1181. Debit side of accounts. 
 
 1182. Credit side of accounts. 
 
 1183. Distinction between quarterly and general 
 
 account. 
 
 1184. General account to be sent separately to 
 
 Auditor. 
 
 Sec. 
 
 1185. Vouchers to be kept by postmasters. 
 
 1186. Postmasters and Auditor to compare ac- 
 
 counts. 
 
 1187. Blanks for gener<il account. 
 
 1188. Fourth-class postmasters' general account. 
 
 1189. All payments to be made for each quarter 
 
 before tran.smitting accounts. 
 
 1190. Form of account for fourth-class post-offices. 
 
 Sec. 1179. All Postmasters to keep General Account. — Every postmaster 
 
 is required to keep in his post-office a general or leilger account witli the United States 
 for the service of the Post-Office Department, subject to the inspection of the Post- 
 master-General, or of any general or Special Agent of the Post-Office Department, 
 
 Sec, 1180, Statement to be Sent Quarterly to Auditor, — Postmasters at 
 post-offices of the first, second, and third classes are required to transmit to the 
 Auditor of the Treasury for the Post-Office Department, as soon as possible after the 
 close of each quarter, and not later than the twentieth day of the first month of the 
 succeeding quarter, a statement of their general postal accounts as kept by themselves. 
 
 Sec, 1181. Debit Side of Account. — On tbe debit side of tbe general 
 
 postal account the postmaster will charge himself with the balance on the general 
 account, as rendered, for the preceding quarter ; with corrections of former quarterly 
 and general account; with the balance on the quarterly account for the current 
 quarter ; with drafts collected giving dates when i)aid, dates of issue, numbera, names 
 of post-offices, and by whom paid ; with deposits received, giving dates, names of post- 
 offices, and depositors ; Avith transfers from money-order fund to postal fund, giving 
 dates and amounts. 
 
 Sec. 1182. Credit Side of Account.— On the credit side should be entered 
 
 corrections of former quarterly and general accounts; aggregate amounts, for the 
 quarter, paid to letter-carriers, and to employes of the railway mail service, and for 
 incidental expenses of the railway postal system ; amounts and dates of payments to 
 contractors, mail-messengers or special mail-can-iers ; deposits made, when, where, 
 and with whom ; drafts paid, with dates of payment and of issue, numbers, and to 
 whom paid ; also, transfers from postal to money -order fund, with an\ount and date 
 of each. 
 
 Sec. 1183. Distinction between Quarterly and General Account. — Particu- 
 lar care should be taken not to include in the (piarterly stat/cnueut of the general 
 postal accounts any items which have been charged or creilited in the quarterly 
 accounts-current, and also to enter all the items of the general po.stal account pertain- 
 ing to, and all payments on account of, the (luarter for which it is rendered. 
 
 Sec. 1184. General Accounts to be Sent Separately to Auditor, — The gen- 
 eral postal account should not be inclosed with the quarterly account-current, but 
 must be transmitted in a separate envelope adiliossed to the "Auditor of the Treasury 
 for the Post-Office Department." 
 
 Sec. 1185, Vouchers to be kept by Postmasters, — The duplicate quarterly 
 
 accountH-current, the duplicate certilicates of deposit, the duplicate collection orders, 
 and also all instructions, are to be kept on file by the postmaster as vouchors with 
 this account, and bo subject to iuspectiou. 
 
TITLE VIII AUDITING POSTAL ACCOUNTS. 297 
 
 Sec. 1186. Postmaster and Auditor to compare Accounts. — Tlio postmaster, 
 
 iil)()U bi'tii;^ riiiiii.slu!(l with ii 8t;itoiii(;ut i)f his j;<iicr;il iiccoiint ;i.s k('i»t hy the Auditor, 
 "will iiinnediately comparo it with the account as kept by himself, and at ouco ac- 
 knowledj!;o to the Auditor the balance appearing; on such stateiiieut, or i>oiiit out 
 .specihcally the jtartieulars wherein the accounts disagree. 
 
 Sec. 1187. Blanks for General Accounts. — Blanks for j^oncral accounts 
 
 will Itf funiislicd to ii<)stiii;i.st<T,s :it j)()st-i)l'ficc.s of the first, second, and third classes 
 only, on apiilication to the First Assistant I'ostniastcr-Cieneral. 
 
 Sec. 1188. Fourth-Class Postmasters' General Account. — Pcstmasters at 
 
 post-ottices of the fourth class are not recinired to render a statement of their general 
 accounts to the Auditor quarterly, but this regulation does not relieve them from the 
 duty of keeping such general accounts in their post-offices; and the Auditor may at 
 any time, if Jie deems it necessarj-, require postniasters at such post-offices to fur- 
 nish statements of their general accounts for examination and comparisou with the 
 accounts as kept in hisottice. 
 
 Sec. 1189. All Payments to be Made for Each Quarter before Transmitting. — 
 
 The law reciuires the Auditor to close the accounts of the department quarterly, and 
 to transmit to the Postmaster-General and the Secretary of the Treasury quarterly 
 statements of its receipts and expenditures. That he may be enabled to discharge 
 this duty fully and accurately, postmasters are required to make all payments on 
 account of the free-delivery service, employes of the railway mail service, mail-route 
 messengers, and local-agents service, and all the expenses of their respective post- 
 offices for the (juarter just expired, before transmitting their accounts and rolls to the 
 Auditor, which must be done on or before the 20tli day of the next quarter. 
 
 Sec. 1190. Form of Account for Fourth-Class Post-Offices.--A8 a guide to 
 
 postmasters at post-offices of the fourth class, the following form of a general postal 
 account is given : 
 
298 
 
 POSTAL LAWS AND EEGULATIONS. 
 
 o 
 o 
 o 
 
 < 
 
 
 ==§« = 
 
 a H s OS" g 
 
 B O O B- 
 
 £ S S g 
 
 ^_. 
 
 : fl s s 
 
 ; «=" =n 
 •:£ !- -M 
 
 -■■^S ® 03 ,■ O 
 
 OS °£"5 ° 
 
 ^ 1— I © t- ^ -j 
 
 § ■ ° Sf S ° 
 
 SpnagSa 
 
 ® 1* n a _ „ 
 
 ,- o 3 — — S^ 
 •5 5^P-3-5 o" 
 
 a a-i: a a£ 
 
 ^ ;2 t: ^ ^ ^ 
 
 o o a o o a- 
 iS2as2' 
 
 >i >-. >-. >i ;*. >i 
 
 a a 
 a a 
 o o 
 
 22"*2r!S -H ■* IM r-l ■* 00 rt lO O -* 
 CC r5 r-l C^ 35 . rH CO C^ f-i 00 
 
 §>■■■£ 
 
 ft 1-5 P^3- 
 
 
 r-t O 05 CO CO C5 
 
 cE^ 
 
 "5 
 
 §2 
 
 B Sec 
 
 . B 
 
 QG O 
 
 ,sfc 
 
 
 o El 
 H o 
 
 as 
 
 o o 
 
 B c5" a rt => 
 
 ^"^ ■-( "'^00 
 
 o o f* O O '-' 
 
TITLE VIII AUDITING POSTAL ACCOUNTS. 
 
 299 
 
 CHAPTER FIVE. 
 
 COLLECTION OF DEBTS DUE THE DEPARTMENT. 
 
 Sec. 
 
 1191. Collection by contractors' orders. 
 
 119 2. Colle<tiou by drafts. 
 
 1193. Postnia.stcrs expecU'd to bonor drafts. 
 
 1194. Xotification to Auditor of payment of drafts- 
 
 1195. Xutiticatiuu of uou-payment. 
 
 1196. Report of cause of failure to collect. 
 
 Sec. 
 
 1197. Responsibility for nncollect<>d drafts. 
 
 1198. Postmasters may be removed for neglect to 
 
 collect. 
 
 1199. Suits upon collection-drafts. 
 
 1200. Collection-drafts not issued for "money-order 
 
 funds. " 
 
 Sec. 1191. Collection by Contractors' Orders. — ^Mion tlie convenience of 
 
 tlie sorvito rt'(i[uires it, contractors arc funiislied Avitli printed blank orders upon post- 
 ina.ster9 on their routes, to whom, upon presentation of an order at the end of the 
 quarter, postmasters are required to pay over all moneys due the United States, from 
 "whatever source received, except " money-order funds." In such cases uo form of 
 order or receijtt will be recognized except the printed blank furnished by the Depart- 
 ment. A payment made otherwise than strictlj' according to the regulations is null 
 and void. 
 
 Sec. 1192. Collection by Drafts. — ^Mienever it shall be deemed advis- 
 able by the Auditor, drafts will be i.ssued for the collection of balances due by post- 
 masters, late postmasters, and others; and ininiediatoly upon the receipt of such 
 drafts by the postmaster in whose favor they are issued, it is his duty to notify the 
 party or parties upon whom such drafts are drawn and demand prompt payment 
 thereof, as instructed by the circulars accompanying the diafts. 
 
 Sec. 1193. Postmasters Expected to Honor Drafts. — Upon the receipt of 
 
 such notice and demand, it is the duty of the postmasters, or other persons upon 
 whom such drafts are drawn, to pay the amount thereof to the postmaster in whose 
 favor they are issued without delay and without risk or expense to the United 
 States. 
 
 Sec. 1194. Notification to Auditor of Payment of Draft. — If the draft be 
 collected by the postmaster, he shall immediately notify the Auditor by transmitting 
 his receiiit for the amount, as instructed by the circular accompanying the draft, and 
 should charge himself upon his general postal account with the amount of such 
 draft. 
 
 Sec. 1195. Notification of Non-Payment. — If the postmaster, late post- 
 master, or other porsou upon whom the draft is drawn, fail to respond to the demand 
 Avithin the time named in the Auditor's circular of instructions, the postmaster hold- 
 ing the draft will notify the Auditor by letter of such failure, communicating the 
 reply to his demand, if any bo received, when further instructions will be sent by th® 
 Auditor. 
 
 Sec. 1196. Report of Cause of Failure to Collect. — If the exertions of the 
 
 postmaster to collect from the party or his sureties prove unavailing, he will commu- 
 nicate to the Auditor the cause of such failure, and also the i-esidence and pecuniary 
 circumstances of all the parties, if alive ; or, if dead, the condition of their estates 
 and the names of their administrators or executors. 
 
 Sec. 1197. Responsibility for Uncollected Drafts. — If dne diligence be not 
 
 used in making the collection, or if, being unsuccessful, any postmaster fail to return 
 the draft or demaiul to the Auditor, or otherwise to give notice of such failure, or fail 
 to give any information required in relation to the same, .such neglect and want of 
 fidelity will amount to a breach of the couditiou of his bond, and the ib'aft will bo 
 
300 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 permanently charged to tlie general acconnt of the postmaster holding it, and he and 
 his snreties will be held responsible for the amount of the same. 
 
 Sec. 1198. Postmasters may be Removed for Neglect to Collect. — The fail- 
 ure or refusal of a postmaster to comply strictly with instructions sent him in rela- 
 tion to the collection of drafts will be considered just ground for his removal from office. 
 
 Sec. 1199. Suits upon Collection-Drafts. — Upoii the return of a collection- 
 drafc upon a late postmaster or contractor unpaid, the Auditor will at once prejiare 
 and transmit to the Department of Justice certified copies of all the accounts and 
 other papers necessary for the immediate institution of a suit against the principal 
 and sureties for the recovery of the balance due the United States. 
 
 Sec. 1200. Collection-Drafts not Issued for Money-Order Funds. — Collection- 
 drafts are not issued upon late postmasters for balances due the United States upon 
 their money-order accounts. If a late postmaster fails to pay to his successor, immedi- 
 ately upon his taking charge of the iiost-otfice, the full amount of money-order funds 
 in his hands, as shown by the last statement rendered, the Aiulitor will instruct the 
 postmaster, by letter, to demand immediate payment of such balance ; and if payment 
 be not made promptly, the i>ostmaster will be directed to require payment of the 
 sureties of the late postmaster, as in the case of the collection of drafts for postal 
 balances. Should payment be refused by the snreties, the case will be submitted to 
 the Department of Justice for suit, as provided in the preceding section. 
 
 CHAPTER SIX. 
 
 RENEWAL OF LOST WARRANTS OR DRAFTS. 
 
 Sec. 
 
 1201. Indemnity bond for duplicate warrants. 
 
 1202. Certificate of non-payment. 
 
 1203. No bond required for duplicate di'aft. 
 
 Sec. 
 
 1204. Tenor, force, and effect of duplicate. 
 
 1205. Renewal of loot collection-drafts. 
 
 Sec. 1201. Indemnity Bond for Duplicate Warrant. — In aU cases where 
 
 application is made for the issue of a duplicate warrant, upon the allegation that the 
 original is lost, every such application must be addressed to the Auditor of the Treas- 
 ury for the Post-Office Department, who will furnish the applicant with a blank 
 "bond of indemnity," to be filled up in accordance with the conditions specified in 
 the same, which bond, duly executed, must be returned to the Auditor, accompanied 
 by a statement, on oath or affirmation, by the aiiplicaut, or the person who is the 
 legal holder thereof, showing the time, place, and all the circumstances attend- 
 ing the loss or destruction of the warrant, with its number, date, and amount; in 
 whose favor it was issued ; and if assigned, to whom made payable ; together with 
 any other particulars relating to it within the knowledge of the applicant. 
 
 Sec. 1202. Certificate of Non-Payment. — The applicant must also pro- 
 duce a letter or certificate from the officer or person on whom the warrant may have 
 been drawn, showing that it has not been paid ; also that payment of tUo same will 
 not thereafter be made to the owner, or any other jterson whatever. 
 
 Sec. 1203. No Bond Required for Duplicate Draft. — When the application 
 is for a duplicate draft, the applicant must conform to the above requirements, except 
 as to the execution of the bond of indemnity. 
 
 Sec. 1204. Tenor, Force, and Effect of Duplicate. — The duplicate, when 
 
 issued, shall have the same tenor, force, and effect as the original, unless, in case of 
 assignment, the assignee of the lost draft or warrant produce due authority from the 
 Iiayee for the issue of the duplicate in his own favor. 
 
TITLE VIII AUDITING POSTAL ACCOUNTS. 301 
 
 Sec. 1205. Renewal of Lost Collection-Drafts. — Where collection-drafts 
 sent to iHMtmasttTH arc lost, tht- posttnastcrs to wliom they arc wMit are rfM|uin'rt to 
 make alUduvit, cither that thi>y huvo m-vor roccived tlio same, or that paymoiit has 
 Lecu roijiu'stc'd ami refusod, or that thf draft has htM'n forwanh'd by mail. Tin- post- 
 ma.stnr will ho roqiiirod to make further adhlavit that neither the whole nor any part 
 of sncli draft has been i)aid to hiui nor to any (►ther i)erson, so far as he knows or is 
 able to ascertain. Forms for this affidavit will bo furnished by the Auditor. 
 
 CHAPTER SEVEN. 
 
 PROCEEDINGS IN SUITS. 
 
 Sec. 
 
 1206. Circnitanil <H.strict courts, jurisdiction nnder 
 
 postal laws. 
 
 1207. Attachments on postal suits. 
 
 Sec. 
 
 1216. Attachments dissolved in conformity with 
 
 State laws. 
 
 1217. What credits allowed in suits. 
 
 1208. Application for warrant, by whom and how ' 1218. Suitsof the FnitedStatesaj^aiust individuals, 
 
 made. I what credits allowed. 
 
 1209. Issuing warrant; duty of clerk and mar- 1219. Judgment at return term, unless. 
 
 ahal. 1220. Interest on balances due Post-OflSce Depart - 
 
 1210. Ownership of attached property, trial. I ment. 
 
 1211. Proceeds of attached property to be invest- [ 1221. Duties of United States attorneys. 
 
 ed. I 1222. Proceedings in equity, when. 
 
 1212. Publication of attachment. 1223. Copies of post-otKce records and of Auditor's 
 
 1213. Holders of defendant's property to account 
 
 for it. 
 
 1214. Discharge of attachment ; bond. 
 1213. Accrued rights not to be abridged. 
 
 statement of accounts. 
 
 1224. Copies of statements of demands by Post- 
 
 Office Department. 
 
 1225. Return of marshal to Auditor. 
 
 Sec. 1206. Circuit and District Courts, Jurisdiction under Postal Laws. — 
 The circuit courts [of the Uiiiteil States] sh-all have orioinal jurisdiction 
 as follows: * * * Fourth. * * * of all causes arising under the 
 postal laws. The district courts [of the United States] shall have juris- 
 diction as follows : * * * Seventh. Of all causes of action arising 
 under the postal laws of tlie United States. All suits arising under the 
 postal laws shall be brought in the name of the United States. (K. S., 
 § 5G3, G29, 919.) 
 
 Sec. 1207. Attachments in Postal Suits. — In all cases where debts are 
 due from defaulting or deliiKpient postmasters, contractors, or other 
 officers, agents, or employes of the Post-Office Department, a warrant of 
 attachment may issue against all real and personal property and legal 
 and equitable rights belonging to such officer, agent, or employe, and 
 liis sureties, or either of them, in the following cases : 
 
 First. When such officer, agent, or employe, and liis sureties, or either 
 of them, is a non-resident of the district where such officer, agent, or 
 employ^ was appointed, or has departed from such district for the pur- 
 pose of permanently residing out of the same, or of defrauding the United 
 States, or of avoiding the service of civil process. 
 
 Second. When such officer, agent, or employ^, and his sureties, or 
 either of them, has conveyed away, or is about to convey away his prop- 
 erty, or any part thereof, or has removed or is about to remove the same 
 
302 POSTAL LAWS AND EEGULATIONS. 
 
 or any part thereof from the district wherein it is situate, with intent to 
 defraud the United States. 
 
 And when any such property has been removed, certified copies of the 
 warrant may be sent to the marshal of the district into which the same 
 has been removed, under which certified copies he may seize said prop- 
 erty and convey it to some convenient point within the jurisdiction of 
 the court from which the warrant originally issued. And alias warrants 
 may be issued in such cases upon due application, and the validity of 
 the warrant first issued shall continue until the return day thereof. 
 (R. S., §924.) 
 
 Sec. 1208. Application for Warrant ; by Whom and how Made. — Applica- 
 tion for such warrant of attachment may be made by any district or 
 assistant district attorney, or any other person authorized by the Post- 
 master-General, before the judge, or, in his absence, before the clerk of 
 any court of the United States having original jurisdiction of the cause 
 of action. And such application shall be made upon an affidavit of the 
 applicant, or of some other credible person, stating the existence of 
 either of the grounds of attachment enumerated in the preceding section, 
 and upon production of legal evidence of the debt. (R. S., § 925.) 
 
 Sec. 1209. Issuing Warrant; Duty of Clerk and Marshal. — Upon any 
 such application and upon due order of any judge of the court, or, in 
 his absence, without such order, the clerk shall issue a warrant for the 
 attachment of all the property of any kind belonging to the person 
 specified in the affidavit, which warrant shall be executed with all pos- 
 sible dispatch by the marshal, who shall take the property attached, if 
 personal, into his custody, and hold the same subject to all interlocutory 
 or final orders of the court. (R. S., § 920.) 
 
 Sec. 1210. Ownership of Attached Property ; Trial. — At any time within 
 twenty days before the return day of such warrant, the party whose 
 property is attached may, on giving notice to the district attorney of 
 his intention, file a plea in abatement, traversing the allegations of the 
 affidavit, or denying the ownership of the property attached to be in 
 the defendants or either of them ; in which case the court may, upon 
 application of either party, order an immediate trial by jury of the 
 issues raised by the affidavit and plea ; but the parties may, by con- 
 sent, waive a trial by jury, in which case the court shall decide the is- 
 sues raised. And any party claiming ownership of the property attached 
 and a specific return thereof, shall be confined to the remedy herein 
 afforded, but his right to an action of trespass, or other action for dam- 
 ages, shall not be impaired hereby. (R. S., § 927.) 
 
 Sec. 1211. Proceeds of Attached Property to be Invested. — When the prop- 
 erty attached is sold on any interlocutory order of the court or is pro- 
 ducing any revenue, the money arising from such sale or revenue shall 
 be invested in securities of the United States, under the order of the 
 court, and all accretions shall be held subject to the orders of the same. 
 (R. S., § 928.) 
 
TITLE VIII — AUDITING POSTAL ACCOUNTS. 303 
 
 Seo. 1212. Publication of Attachment. — Immefliatoly upon the execution 
 ofauy .siicli warraiitofiittiiclimciit, tlu^ inarslial shall (taiiscMhic puhlicatioii 
 thereof to be made, in the cast'- of abscoiidiiij; debtor.s for two months 
 and of non-residents for four months. The publication shall be made in 
 some niiNVspaper published in the <listrict where the property is situate, 
 and the details thereof shall be regulated by the onler mider which the 
 warrant is issued. (K. S., § 920.) 
 
 Sec. 1213. Holders of Defendant's Property to Account for it. — After the 
 first publication of such notice of attachment as rcijuircdby law, every 
 person indebted to, or having; possession of any property l)elonj^ing to, 
 the said defendants, or either of them, and havin<^ knowledf^e of such 
 notice, shall account and answer for the amount of such debt and the 
 value of such property ; and any disposal or attempt to dispose of any 
 such property, to the injury of the United States, shall be illegal and 
 void. And when the person indebted to, or having possession of the 
 property of, such defendants, or either of them, is known to the district 
 attorney or marshal, sucli officer shall see that personal notice of the 
 attachment is served upon such person, but the want of such notice 
 shall not invalidate the attachment. (R. S., § 930.) 
 
 Sec. 1214. Discharge of Attachment ; Bond. — Upon application of the 
 party whose property has been attached, the court, or any judge thereof, 
 may discharge the warrant of attachment as to the property of the ap- 
 plicant, pro\ided such a[)plicaut shall execute to the United States a 
 good and sufficient penal bond, in double the value of the property at- 
 tached, to be approved by a judge of the court, and with condition for 
 the return of said i)roperty, or to answer any judgment which may be 
 rendered bj' the court in the premises. (R. S., § 931.) 
 
 Sec. 1215. Accrued Rights not to be Abridged. — Xothing contained in the 
 preceding eight sections shall be construed to limit or abridge, in any 
 manner, such rights of the United States as have accrued or been allowed 
 in any district under the former practice of, or the adoption of State 
 laws by, the United States courts. (R. S., § 932.) 
 
 Sec. 1216. Attachments Dissolved in Conformity with State Laws. — An 
 attachment of property, upon i)rocess instituted in any court of the 
 United States, to satisfy such judgment as maybe recovered bj^the 
 plaintiff therein, except in the cases mentioned in the preceding nine sec- 
 tions, shall be dissolved when any contingency occurs by which, accord- 
 ing to the laws of the State where said court is held, such attachment 
 would be dissolved upon like process instituted in the courts of said 
 State : Provided, That nothing herein contained shall interfere with any 
 priority of the United States in the payment of debts. (R. S., § 933.) 
 
 Sec. 1217. What Credits Allowed in Suits. — No claim for a credit shall be 
 allowed upon the trial of any suit for delinquency against a postmaster, 
 contractor, or other officer, agent, or employe of the Post-Office Depart- 
 ment, unless the same has been presented to the {Si.vtli] Auditor [of the 
 Treasury for the Post-Office Department] andbyhim disallowed, in whole 
 or in part, or nnless it is proved to the satisfaction of the court that the 
 
304 POSTAL LAWS AND EEGULATIONS. 
 
 defendant is, at the time oftrial, in possession of vouchers not before in Ms 
 power to procure, and that he was prevented from exhibiting to the said au- 
 ditor a claim for such credit by some unavoidable accident. (E. S., § 952.) 
 Sec. 1218. Suits of United States against Individuals. What Credits Al- 
 lowed. — In suits brought by the United States against individuals, no 
 claim for a credit shall be admitted, upon trial, except such as appear to 
 have been presented to the accounting officers of the Treasury, for their 
 examination, and to have been by them disallowed, in whole or in part, 
 unless it is proved to the satisfaction of the court that the defendant is, 
 at the time of the trial, in possession of vouchers not before in his power 
 to procui-e, and that he was prevented from exhibiting a claim for such 
 credit at the Treasury by absence from the United States or by some 
 unavoidable accident. (R. S., § 951.) 
 
 In U. S. vs. Wilkius, 6 Wli., 143, it was decided that under the 3d and 4th sections of 
 the act of March 3, 1797, the defendant is entitled at liis trial to the benefit of any credit 
 in his favor whether arising out of the particular transaction for which he was sued, or 
 out of distinct and independent transactions which would constitute a legal or equit- 
 able set-off in whole or in part to the debt sued for by the United States. (Vide note 
 to Ware'sedition, 1866, p. 84.) U. S. vs. Robeson, 9 Peters, 319. U. S. vs. Eckford, 6 
 Wall., 484, and large numbers of decisions cited under this section in Revised Statutes.) 
 
 Sec. 1219. Judgment at Return Term, unless. — In suits arising under the 
 postal laws the court shall proceed to trial, and render judgment at the 
 return term ; but whenever service of process is not made at least twenty 
 days before the return day of such term, the defendant is entitled to 
 one continuance, if, on his statement, the court deems it expedient ; and 
 if he makes affidavit that he has a claim against the Post-Oftice Depart- 
 ment, which has been submitted to and disallowed by the [Sixth] Auditor 
 [of the Treasury for the Post-Office Department], specifying such claim 
 in his affidavit, and that he could not be prepared for trial at such term 
 for want of evidence, the court, if satisfied thereof, may grant a continu- 
 ance until the next term. {11. S., § 958.) 
 
 Sec. 1220. Interest on Balances Due Post-OflBice Department. — In all suits 
 for balances dne to the Post-Office Department, interest thereon shall be 
 recovered, from the time of the defaidt, at the rate of six per centum a 
 year. (R. S., § 9G4. 
 
 Sec. 1221. Duties of United States Attorneys. — In the prosecution of any 
 suit for money due the Post-Office Department, the United States attor- 
 ney conducting the same shall obey the directions which may be given 
 him by the Department of Justice. (R. S., § 381.) 
 
 Sec. 1222. Proceedings in Equity, when. — Wlien proceedings at law for 
 money due the Post-Office Department are fruitless, the Department of 
 Justice may direct the institution of a suit in chancery, m any United 
 States district or circuit court, to set aside fraudulent conveyances or 
 trusts, or attach debts due the defendant, or obtain any other proper 
 exercise of the powers of equity to have satisfaction of any judgment 
 against such defendant. (R. S., 382.) 
 
 Sec. 1223. Copies of Post-Office Records and of Auditor's Statement of 
 Accounts. — Copies of the quarterly returns of postmasters and of any 
 
TITLE VIII AUDITING POSTAL ACCOUNTS. 305 
 
 papers pertaining to tlie accounts in the office of the [Sixth] Auditor [of 
 the Treasury for the Tost-Onice Departincnl], ;in<l transcripts from the 
 money-order account-books of the I'ost-Ollicc J)«'i»arm«'nt, when certified 
 by the f^'uY/<] Auditor fof the Treasury for tlie Tost-Otlice Deiiartment] 
 under the seal of his office, sliall be admitted as evich'iicc in the <ourts 
 of the United iStates, in civil suits and criminal i>rosecutions ; and in any 
 civil suit, in case of delin(piency of any postmaster or contractor, a state- 
 ment of the account, certitied as aforesaid, shall be admitted in evidence, 
 and the court shall be authorized thereupon to give judgment and award 
 execution, subject to the provisions of law as to proceedings in such civil 
 suits. (11. S., § 889.) 
 (See U. S. r. Hodge, KJ Hoav., 478; Lawrence r. U. S., 2 McLean, 58L) 
 Sec. 1224. Copies of Statements of Demands by Post-Office Department. — 
 In all suits for the recovery of balances due from i)ostmasters, a copy, 
 diily certified under the seal of the [Sixth] Auditor [of the Treasury for 
 the Post-Office Department], of the statement of any postmaster, .special 
 agent, or other person, employed I>y the Postmaster-General or the 
 Auditor for that purpose, that he has mailed a letter to such delinquent 
 postmaster at the post-office where the indebteness accrued, or at his 
 last usual idace of abode ; that a sufficient time has elapsed for said 
 letter to have reached its destination in the ordinary course of the mail ; 
 and that payment of such balance has not been received, within the 
 time designated in his instructions, shall be received as sufficient evi- 
 dence in the courts of the United States, or other courts, that a demand 
 has been made upon the delipquent postnuister; but when the account 
 of a late iiostmaster has been once adjusted and settled, and a demand 
 has been made for the balance appearing to be due, and afterward allow- 
 ances are made or credits entered, it shall not be necessary to make a 
 farther demand for the new balance found to be due. (1\. S., § 800.) 
 
 Sec. 1225. Returns of Marshal to Auditor of the Treasury for the Post- 
 Office Department. — Every marshal to whom any execution upon a judg- 
 ment in any suit for moneys due on account of the Po.st-Office Depart- 
 ment has been directed, shall make returns to the [Sixth] Auditor [of the 
 Treasury] for that Department, at such times as he may direct of the pro- 
 ceedings which haA'e taken place upon the said process of execution. 
 (K. S., §792.) 
 20 P L 
 
TITLE IX 
 
 Sec. 
 
 
 Sec. 
 
 12-2r>. 
 
 Fnrjiinf; postal monoy-ordtM-s. 
 
 1239. 
 
 1227. 
 
 Forfriug or coimterfeitiug postage-stamps, 
 
 1240. 
 
 
 dies, &c. 
 
 1241. 
 
 1228, 
 
 Forging or counterfeiting foreign postage- 
 
 1242. 
 
 
 stainps. 
 
 1243. 
 
 1229, 
 
 Injuriiig mail-matter in street mailing box^ 
 
 1244. 
 
 
 &c. 
 
 124.i. 
 
 1230. 
 
 Eiiibczzlomeiit of letters containing inclo.s- 
 ures. 
 
 1246. 
 
 1231. 
 
 Meaning of words "intended to be conveyed 
 
 1247. 
 
 
 by mail." 
 
 1248. 
 
 1232. 
 
 Penalty for detaining letters. 
 
 1249. 
 
 1233. 
 
 Penalty for detaining, opening, or destroying 
 
 
 
 letters. 
 
 12.50. 
 
 1234. 
 
 Penalty for interoeptiiig or secreting letters. 
 
 1251. 
 
 1235. 
 
 Stealing or fraud ulently obtaining mail, open- 
 
 
 
 ing valuable letters. 
 
 12.52. 
 
 1236. 
 
 Keceiving articles stolen from the mail. 
 
 
 1237. 
 
 Stealing, detaining, or destroying ncws- 
 papeis. 
 
 1253. 
 
 1238. 
 
 Bobbery of the mail. 
 
 
 CRIMES AND MISI>EMEANOIlS AOAINST 
 THE OPERATIONS OF THE POST-OFFICE 
 DEPARTMENT. 
 
 Attempting to rob the mail. 
 
 Deserting the mail. 
 
 Stealing post-ofMee property. 
 
 Injuring mail-bags, &,c. 
 
 Stealing or forging mail looks or keys. 
 
 Breaking into and entering ])o»t-ottiee. 
 
 Counterfeiting bid, bond, &e. 
 
 Sending letters through the mail wtth intent 
 to defraud. 
 
 Accessorj' to robbery of the mail. 
 
 Accessory to stealing mail matter. 
 
 Willfully neglecting to deposit postal reve- 
 nues. 
 
 Fraudulent receipts of postage. 
 
 Painting upon vessels, &c., words "TJ. S- 
 Mail." 
 
 Penalty for using, washing, selling, canceled 
 stamps. 
 
 Aiding or abetting in trading in obscene 
 literature. 
 
 Sec. 1226. Forging Postal Money-Orders. — Any per.son wTio .slmll, with 
 intent to defraud, falsely make, forge, counterfeit, engrave, or print, or 
 cause or procure to be falsely made, forged, counterfeited, engraved, or 
 printed, or willingly aid or assist in falsely making, forging, counterfeit- 
 ing, engraving, or iirinting, any order in imitation of or purporting to 
 be a money-order issued by the Post-Ofifice Department, or any of its 
 postmasters or agents, or any material signature or indorsement thereon; 
 any person who shall falsely alter, or cause or procure to be altered, or 
 willingly aid or assist in falsely altering any such money-order; any 
 person who shall, with intent to defraud, pass, utter, or publish, or at- 
 tempt to pass, utter, or publish, as true, any such false, forged, counter- 
 feited, or altered money-order, knowing the same, or any signature or 
 indorsement thereon, to be false, forged, counterfeited, or altered, shall 
 be punishable by a fine of not more than five thousand dollars, or by im- 
 prisonment at hard labor for not less than two years and not more than 
 five year.s. (K. S., § 5403.) 
 
 Sec. 1227. Forging or Counterfeiting Postage-Stamps, Dies, etc. — Any per- 
 son Avho shall forge or counterfeit any po.stagestainp, or any stamp 
 printed upon any stamped envelope, postal card, or any die, plate, or 
 engraving therefor; any person who shall make, or print, or knowingly 
 use or sell, or have in possession, with intent to use or sell, any such 
 forged or counterfeited postage-stamp, stamped envelope, postal card, 
 
 307 
 
308 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 die, plate, or engraving ; any person "wlio shall make, or knowingly use 
 or sell, or have in possession, with intent to use or sell, any paper bear- 
 ing the water-mark of any stamiietl envelope, postal card, or any fraud- 
 ulent imitation thereof; any person who shall make or print, or authorize 
 or procnre to be made or printed, any postage-stamp, stamped envelope, 
 or postal card, of the kind authorized and provided by the Post-OfiBce 
 Department, without the special authority and direction of the Depart- 
 ment ; any person who shall, after such postage-stamps, stamped enve- 
 lopes, or postal card, have been printed, and with intent to defraud the 
 postal revenue, deliver the same to any person not authorized by an in- 
 strument of writing duly executed under the hand of the Postmaster- 
 General and the seal of the Post-OfBce Department to receive them, 
 shall be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars, or by 
 imprisonment at hard labor not more than five years, or by both such 
 fine and imprisonment. (R. S., 5464.) 
 
 Sec. 1228. Forging or Counterfeiting Foreign Postage-Stamps. — Any per- 
 son who shall forge or counterfeit or knowingly utter or use any forged 
 or counterfeited postage- stami^ of any foreign government, shall be 
 punished by imi)risonment at hard labor of not less than two nor more 
 than ten years. (E. S., § 54C5.) 
 
 Sec. 1229. Injuring Mail-Matter in Street Mailing-Box, etc. — ^Any person 
 who shall willfully or maliciously injure, deface, or destroy any mail-matter 
 deposited in any letter-box, pillar-box, or other receptacle established 
 by authority of the Postmaster-General for the safe deposit of matter 
 for the mail or for delivery, or who shall willfully aid or assist in injur- 
 ing such mail-matter, shall be punishable by a fine of not more than five 
 hundred dollars, or by imprisonment for not more than three years. (E. 
 S., § 54G6.) 
 
 Sec. 1230. Embezzlement of Letters Containing Inclosures. — Any person 
 employed in any department of the postal service who shall secrete, 
 embezzle, or destroy any letter, ]3acket, bag, or mail of letters intrusted 
 to him, or which shall come into his possession, and which was intended 
 to be conveyed by mail, or carried or delivered by any mail carrier, 
 mail-messenger, route-agent, letter-carrier, or other person employed in 
 any department of the postal service, or forwarded through or delivered 
 from any post-ofHce or branch i>ost-office established by authority of the 
 Postmaster-General, and which shall contain any note, bond, draft, 
 check, warrant, revenue stamp, postage-stamp, stamped envelope, 
 postal card, money-order, certificate of stock, or other pecuniary obliga- 
 tion or security of the Government, or of any officer or fiscal agent 
 thereof, of any description whatever; any bank-note, bank x>ost bill, 
 bill of exchange, or note of assignment of stock in the funds ; any letter 
 of attorney for receiving annuities or dividends, selling stock in the 
 funds, or collecting the interest thereof; any letter of credit, note, bond, 
 warrant, draft, bill, promissory note, covenant, contract, or agreement 
 whatsoever, for or relating to the payment of money, or the delivery of 
 
TITLE IX — CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS. dO'J 
 
 any article of valno, or tlio x)erformanco o( any act, matter, or tltin;;"; 
 any reccii)t, release acquittance, or discliarj^c of or fioni any debt, cove- 
 nant, or demand, or any part tliereof ; any co[)y of the record of any 
 jud;j:ment or decree in any court of law or chancery or any execution 
 which may have issued tliereon ; any co})y of any otlier re(;ord, or any 
 other article of value, or writin<^ representing; the same; any such per- 
 son who shall steal or take any of the things aforesaid out of any letter, 
 packet, bajx, or mail of letters which shall have come into his possession, 
 either in the regular course of his oflicial duties or in any other manner 
 ■whatever, aud provided the same shall not have been deliv^ered to the 
 l>arty to whom it is directed, shall be punishable by im])risonment at 
 hard labor for not less than one year nor more than five years. (K. S., 
 § 54(57.) 
 
 All indictment which charges the defendant with uuhiwfuUy abstracting a letter 
 containing bank-notes from the mail is good, if it alleges that the letter containing 
 bank-notes was put into the post-office to be conveyed by post, and came into posses- 
 sion of defendant as a driver of the mail-stage. (The United States vs. Martin, 2 Mc- 
 Lean, 256.) 
 
 In an indictment for embezzlement, under this section, it is sufficient to charge " that 
 defendant was a person employed in one of the departments of the Post-Office estab- 
 lishment of the United States." (The United States v-t. Patterson, 6 McLean, 466.) 
 
 It is not necessary to aver in an indictment, nnder tliis section, that the letter em- 
 bezzled was intended to be conveyed to any ])articular place; an averment that it was 
 intended to be conveyed by post being sufficient. (U. S. r». Okie, 5 Blatch., 576. See 
 also U. S. vs. Randall, 1 Deady, 524; l^ S vs. Hardyman. i;{ Pet., 176; U. S. vs. Gold- 
 ing, 2 Curtis's C. C, 212; U. S. vs. Winter; U. S. vs. Jenther, 13 Bhitch., 333, .335.) 
 
 Sec. 1231. Meaning of Words " Intended to be Conveyed by Mail." — The 
 fact that any letter, packet, bag', or mail of letters has been dej^osited in 
 any post-ofiice or branch post-office established b}' authority of the Post- 
 master-General, or in any other authorized depository for mail-matter, 
 or in charge of any jiostmaster, assistant clerk, carrier, agent, or mes- 
 senger employed ill any departmentof the postal service, shall be evidence 
 that the same was " intended to be conveyed by mail" within the mean- 
 ing of the two preceding sections. (R. S., § 5408.) 
 
 Sec. 1232. Penalty for Detaining Letters. — Any postmaster who shall 
 unlawfully detain in his office any letter or other mail-matter, the iiost- 
 ing of which is not prohibited by law, with intent to prevent the arrival 
 and delivery of the same to the person to whom it is addressed, shall be 
 punishable by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars, and by 
 imprisonment for not more than six months, and he shall be forever 
 thereafter incapable of holding the office of postmaster. (R. S., § 3890.) 
 
 Sec. 1233. Penalty for Detaining, Opening, or Destroying Letters. — Any 
 person employed in any department of the postal service, who shall 
 unlawfully detain, delay, or open any letter, packet, bag, or mail of let- 
 ters intrusted to him, or Avhich has come into his possession, and which 
 was intended to be conveyed by mail, or carried or deliveretl by any 
 mail-carrier, mail-messenger, route-agent, letter-carrier, or other person 
 employed in any department of the postal service, or forwarded through 
 
310 POSTAL LAWS AND EEGULATI0N8. 
 
 or delivered from any i^ost-oSice or branch post-office established by 
 authority of the Postmaster-General; or who shall secrete, embezzle, or 
 destroy any such letter, packet, bdg, or mail of letters, although it does 
 not contain any security for or assurance relating to money or other 
 thing of value, shall be punishable by a fine of not more than five hun- 
 dred dollars, or by imprisonment for not more than one year, or by 
 both. (R. S., § 3891.) 
 
 Sec. 1234. Penalty for Intercepting or Secreting Letters. — Any person 
 who shall take any letter, i^ostal card, or packet, although it does not 
 contain any article of value or evidence thereof, out of a post-office or 
 branch post-office, or from a letter or mail carrier, or which has been in 
 any post-office or branch post-office or in the custody of any letter or 
 mail carrier, before it has been delivered to the person to whom it was 
 directed, with a design to obstruct the correspondence, or to pry into 
 the business or secrets of another, or shall secrete, embezzle, or destroy 
 the same, shall, for every such ofiense, be punishable by a fine of not 
 more than five hundred dollars, or by imprisonment at hard labor for 
 not more than one year, or by both. (R. S., § 3892.) 
 
 See U. S. IS. Bond. 2 Curtis, 265; U. S. vs. Lancaster, *2 McLean, 431. 
 
 Sec. 1235. Stealing or Fraudulently Obtaining Mail, Opening Valuable Let- 
 ters. — Any person who shall steal the mail, or steal or take from or out 
 of any mail or post-office, brancli post-office, or other authorized de- 
 pository for mail-matter, any letter or jiacket ; any i)ersou who shall 
 take the mail, or anj^ letter or packet therefrom, or from any post-office, 
 branch post-office, or other authorized depository for mail-matter, with 
 or without the consent of the person having custody thereof, and open, 
 embezzle, or destroj"" any such mail, letter, or package which shall con- 
 tain any note, bond, draft, check, warrant, revenue-stamp, jiostage-stamp, 
 stamped envelope, money-order, certificate of stock, or other pecuniary 
 obligation or security of the Government, or of any officer or fiscal agent 
 thereof, of any description whatever; any bank-note, bank post-bill, bill 
 of exchange, or note of assignment of stock in the funds; any letter of 
 attorney for receiving annuities or dividends, selling stock in the funds, 
 or collecting the interest thereof; any letter of credit, note, bond, war- 
 rant, draft, bill, promissory note, covenant, contract, or agreement what- 
 soever, for or relating to the payment or the delivery of anj^ article of 
 value, or the performance of any act, matter, or thing ; any receipt, 
 release, acquittance, or discharge of or from any debt, covenant, or de- 
 mand, or any part thereof; any copy of the record of any judgment or 
 decree in any court of law or chancery, or any execution which may 
 have issued thereon ; any copy of any other record, or any other article 
 of value, or any writing representing the same; any person who shall, 
 by fraud or deception, obtain, from any person having custody thereof, 
 any such mail, letter, or packet containing any such article of value 
 shall, although not employed in the postal service, be punishable by 
 
TITLE IX — CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS. 311 
 
 imprisonment at hard labor for not less than one year and not more 
 tliun five years. (11. S., §5409. See also li. S,, §55.'i.j.) 
 
 TluH section doe* not look bey<»iul a i>o.ssc'Ssiou of letters obtained \crongfuUy from 
 tlic post-oftice or from a mail-carrier. After tho voluntary teruiiuatitm of the custody 
 of a letter by tho post-otHce or its ajjentij the riylits of tho real proprietor of the letter 
 are under tho guardianship of the local law and uot of that of the United States 
 U. S. vs. Parsons, 2 Blatch., 104. 
 
 To constitute a post-office under this section, the place where the business of keep- 
 ing, forwarding, and distributing mailable matter is conducted need not bo a building 
 set apart for that use, or any apartment or room in a building ; but, according to the 
 extent of the business done, may bo a desk, or a trunk, or box, carried about a house 
 or from one building to another. (Tho United States vs. Marselis, 2 Blatch., 108.) 
 
 A decoy letter, containing nionej', mailed for the purpose of entrapping a clerk in a 
 post-office, etc., is within this section. (U. S. vs. CoUingham, 2 Blatch., 470. Vide also 
 U. S. vs. Pond, 2 Curtis's C. C, 265; U. S. vs. Lauder, 6 McLean, 598; U. S. vs. Fisher, 
 2 McLean, 23.) 
 
 Sec. 1236. Receiving Articles Stolen from the Mails. — ^Any person who 
 shall buy, receive, or conceal, or aid in buying, receiving, or concealing, 
 any note, bond, draft, check, warrant, revenue-stamp, postagestamj), 
 stami^ed envelope, postal card, money-order, certificate of stock, or other 
 pecuniary obligation or security of the government, or of any officer or 
 fiscal agent thereof, of any description whatever ; any bank-note, bank 
 post-bill, bill of exchange, or note of assignment of stock in the funds ; 
 any letter of attorney for receiving annuities or dividends, selling stock 
 in the funds, or collecting the interest thereof; any letter of credit, note, 
 bond, warrant, draft, bill, promissory note, covenant, contract, or agree- 
 ment whatsoever, for or relating to the payment of money or the delivery 
 of any article of value, or the performance of any act, matter, or thing ; 
 any receipt, release, acquittal, or discharge of or from any debt, cove- 
 nant, or demand, or any part thereof; any coi)y of the record of any 
 judgment or decree in any court of law or chancery, or any execution 
 which may have issued thereon any copy of any other record; or any 
 other article of value or writing representing the same, knowing any 
 such article or thing to have been stolen or embezzled from the mail, or 
 out of any post-office, branch i)ost-office, or other authorized depository 
 for mail-matter, or from any person having custody thereof, shall be 
 punishable by a line of not more than two thousand dollars, and by 
 imiirisonment at hard labor for not more than five years. (R. S., § 5470.) 
 
 See U. S. vs. Hardyman, 13 Pet., 176. 
 
 Sec. 1237. Stealing, Detaining, or Destroying Newspapers. — Any person 
 employed in any department of the postal service who shall improperly 
 detain, delay, embezzle, or destroy any newspaper, or permit any other 
 X)erson to detain, delay, embezzle, or destroy the same, or open, or per- 
 mit any other per.son to open, any mail or package of newspapers not 
 directed to the office where he is employed, shall be punishable by a fine 
 of not more than fifty dollars. And if any other person shall open, 
 embezzle, or destroy any mail or package of newspapers not being 
 directed to him, and he uot being authorized to open or receive the same, 
 
312 POSTAL LAWS AND KEGULATIONS. 
 
 lie shall be punishable by a fine of not more than twenty dollars. And 
 any person who shall take or steal any mail or x>ackage of newspapers 
 from any post-oftice, or from any person having custody thereof, shall 
 be imprisoned at hard labor for not more than three months. (R. S., § 
 5471.) 
 
 Sec. 1238. Robbery of the Mail. — Any person who shall rob any carrier, 
 agent, or other person intrusted with the mail, of such mail, or any part 
 thereof, shall be j)unishable by imprisonment at hard labor for not less 
 than five years and not more than ten years ; and if convicted a second 
 time of a like offense, or if, in effecting such robbery the first time, the 
 robber shall wound the person having custody of the mail, or put his 
 life in jeopardy by the use ot dangerous weapons, such offender shall 
 be punishable by imprisonment at hard labor for the term of his natiu^al 
 life. (E. S., § 5472.) 
 
 Sec. 1239. Attempting to rob the Mail. — Any person who shall attempt 
 to rob the mail bj^ assaulting the person having custody thereof, shoot- 
 ing at him or his horse, or threatening him with dangerous weajions, 
 and shall not effect such robbery, shall be punishable by imprisonment 
 at hard labor for not less than two years and not more than ten years 
 (E. S., § 547.3.) 
 
 Sec. 1240. Deserting the Mail. — Any person who shall have taken charge 
 of the mail and shall voluntarily quit or desert the same before he has 
 delivered it into the post-ofdce at the termination of the route, or to 
 some known mail-carrier, messenger, agent, or other employe of the 
 Post-Ofl&ce Department authorized to receive the same, shall be punish- 
 able by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars, and by imprison- 
 ment for not less than three months nor more than one year. (E. S., § 
 5474.) 
 
 Sec. 1241. Stealing Post-Office Property. — Any person who shall steal, 
 jiurloin, or embezzle an.y mail-bag or other property in use by or belong- 
 ing to the Post-OfiSce Department, or who shall, for any lucre, gain, or 
 convenience, appropriate any such property to his own or any other 
 than its proper use, or who shall, for any lucre or gain, convey away 
 any such property to the hinderance or detriment of the public service ; 
 if the value of the property be twenty-five dollars or more, the offender 
 shall be punished by imprisonment at hard labor for not more than 
 three years, and if the value of the property be less than twenty-five 
 dollars, the offender shall be punishable by imprisonment for not more 
 than one year, or by a fine of not less than ten dollars and not more than 
 two hundred dollars. (E. S., § 5475.) 
 
 Sec. 1242. Injuring Mail-Bags, etc. — Any person who shall tear, cnt, or 
 otherwise injure any mail-bag, pouch, or other tiling used or designed 
 for use in the conveyance of the mail, or who shall draw or break any 
 staple, or loosen any part of any lock, chain, or strap attached thereto, 
 with intent to rob or steal any sucli mail, or to render the same insecure, 
 shall be punishable by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars and 
 
TITLE IX — CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS. 313 
 
 not more tliiin five hundred, or by imprisonment at hard labor for not 
 less tliaii one y«'ar and not more tlian throe years. (K. S., § 547(5.) 
 
 Sec. 1243. Stealing or Forging Mail Locks or Keys. — If any ])<T.son Avho 
 shall steal, pudoin, or embezzle, or obtain l)y any fals(qiretens«', or shall 
 aid or assist in stealinj>-, ])arloiuin^, euibezzlinjjf, or obtaininj^ by any 
 folse pretense, any key snited to any lock adopted by the Post-Office 
 ])epartment and in nseon any of the mails or bags tliereof; any person 
 who shall knowingly and nulawfuUy make, forge, or connterfeit, or 
 cause to be unlawfully made, forged or counterfeited, or knowingly aid 
 or assist in making, forging or counterfeiting any sueh key; any person 
 who shall have in his possession any such mail lock or key, with the 
 intent unlawfully or improperly to use, sell, or otherwise dispose of the 
 same, or cause the same to be unlawfully or iinproperly used, sold, or 
 otherwise disposed of; or any person engaged as contractor or other- 
 wise in the manufacture of any such mail locks or keys, who shall de- 
 liver, or cause to be delivered, any finished or unfinished lock or key used 
 or designed for use by the Department, or the interior part of any such 
 lock, to any person not duly authorized, under the hand of the Post- 
 master-General and the seal of the Post-Office Department, to receive 
 the same, unless the person receiving is the contractor for furnishing 
 the same, or engaged in the manufacture thereof in the manner author- 
 ized by the contract, or the agent for such manufacturer, shall be pun- 
 ishable by imprisonment at hard labor for not more than ten years. 
 (R. S., § 5477.) 
 
 Sec. 1244. Breaking and Entering Post-Office. — Any person who shall 
 forcibly break into, or attempt to break into any post-office, or any 
 building used in whole or in ixirt as a post-office, with intent to commit 
 therein larceny or other depredation, shall be punishable by a fine of 
 not more than one thousand dollars and by imprisonment at hard labor 
 for not more than five years. (R. S., § 5478.) 
 
 Sec. 1245. Counterfeiting Bid, Bond, etc. — If any person shall fjilsely 
 make, alter, forge, or counterfeit, or cause or procure to be falsely made, 
 altered, forged, or counterfeited, or willingly aid or assist in the false 
 making, altering, forging, or counterfeiting any bond, bid, proposal, 
 guarantee, security, official bond, public record, affidaWt, or other writ- 
 ing, for the purjiose of defrauding the United States ; or shall utter or 
 publish as true, or cause to be uttered or published as true, any such 
 false, forged, altered, or counterfeited bond, bid, proposal, guarantee, 
 security, official bond, public record, affida%at, or other writing, for the 
 purpose of defrauding the United States, knowing the same to be false, 
 forged, altered, or counterfeited ; or shall transmit to or present at, or 
 cause [to] [or] procure to be transmitted to or jiresented at, the office of any 
 officer of the United States, any such false, forged, altered, or counter- 
 feited bond, bid, proposal, guarantee, security, official bond, public 
 record, affida^^t, or other writing, knowing the same to l>e false, forged, 
 altered, or counterfeited, for the purpose of defrauding the United 
 
314 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 States, shall be punishable by a fine of not more than one thousand 
 dollars, or by imprisonment at hard labor for not more than ten years, 
 or by both saeh punishments. (R. S., § 5479; see, also, E. S., § 5418.) 
 
 Sec. 1246. Sending Letters Through the Mails with Intent to Defraud. — 
 If any person having devised or intending to devise any scheme or 
 artifice to defraud, or be effected by either opening or intending to open 
 correspondence or communication with any other person, whether resi- 
 dent within or outside of the United States, by means of the Post-Office 
 Establishment of the United States, or by inciting such other person to 
 open communication with the person so devising or mtending, shall, in 
 and for executing such scheme or artifice, or attempting so to do, place 
 any letter or packet in any post-ofiice of the United States, or take or 
 receive any therefrom, such person so misusing the Post-OfiQce Estab- 
 lishment shall be punishable by a fine of not more than five hundred 
 dollars, and by imprisonment for not more than eighteen months, or by 
 both such punishments. The indictment, information, or complaint may 
 severally charge offences to the number of three when committed within 
 the same six calendar months ; but the court thereupon shall give a 
 single sentence, and shall proportion the punishment especially to the 
 degree in which the abuse of the Post-Ofiice Establishment enters as an 
 instrument into such fraudulent scheme or device. (R. S., § 5480.) 
 
 See also sections 875 and 1043, Postal Laws and Regulations. 
 
 Sec. 1247. Accessory to Robbery of the Mail. — Every accessory after the 
 fact to any robbery of the carrier, agent, or other person intrusted with 
 the mail, of such mail, or of any part thereof, shall be fined not more than 
 two thousand dollars, and be imi^risoned at hard labor not more than 
 ten years. (R. S., § 5434.) 
 
 Sec. 1248. Accessory to Stealing Mail-Matter — Every accessory after the 
 fact to the offense of stealing or taking any letter or other mail-matter, 
 or any inclosure therein, shall be fined not more than one thousand dob 
 lars, and be imprisoned not more than five years. (R. S., § 5435.) 
 
 Sec. 1249. Willfully Neglecting to Deposit Postal Revenues — Any oificer, 
 agent, postmaster, clerk, or other person employed in any branch of the 
 postal service having temporary custody of any money taken from dead- 
 letters; any money derived from the sale of waste paper or other public 
 13ro]3erty of the Post-Ofl&ce Department ; or any money derived from 
 any other source which by law is part of the postal revenues, who shall 
 willfully neglect to deposit the same in the Treasury of, the United 
 States, or in some other depository authorized to receive the same, shall 
 be deemed guilty of embezzlement, and be subject to a fine of not more 
 than double the sum so retained, or to imprisonment for not more than 
 three years, or both. And any person intrusted by law with the sale of 
 postage-stamps or stamped envelopes, who shall refuse or neglect to ac- 
 count for the same, or who shall pledge or hypothecate or unlawfully 
 dispose of them, for any purpose whatever, shall be deemed guilty of 
 embezzlement, and shall be punishable by like fine and imprisonment as 
 
TITLE IX CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS. 315 
 
 are provided in this section for the embezzlement of money. (R. S., § 
 
 40.~.;{.) 
 
 Sec. 1250. Fraudulent Receipts of Postage. — If any postmaster, or other 
 persons jiiitlioriyAMl by the I'ostiiiiistcr-Gencral to receive th<; i)«)staj,'e of 
 letters, shallfniutlulcntly demand or receive any rate of posta;j;e or ;frutuity 
 or reward other than is provided by this section for the ])osta^e of letters 
 or pa(!kets, he shall be i)unishable by a fine of one hundred dollars. (R. 
 S., §38im.) 
 
 Sec. 1251. Painting upon Vessels, etc., the Words <' United States Mail." — 
 Any person who shall paint, print, or in any manner place upon or at- 
 tach to any steand)oat or other vessel, or any stage-coach or other 
 vehicle, not actually used in carrying the mail, the words " United States 
 mail," or any words, letters, or characters of like import; or any per.son 
 who shall give notice, by publishing in any newspaper or otherwise, that 
 any steamboat or other vessel, or any stage-coa<;h or other vehicle, is 
 used in carrying the mail, when the same is not actually so used, every 
 person so oftending, or willfully aiding or abetting therein, shall, for every 
 such oft'ense, be punishable by line of not less than one hundred dollars, 
 nor more than live hundred dollars. (R. S., § 3979.) 
 
 Sec. 1252. Penalty for Using, Washing, Selling Canceled Stamps. — Any 
 person who shall use, or attempt to use, in payment of postage, any 
 canceled postage-stami) or postage-stamps, whether the same have been 
 before used or not, or who shall by any means remove, or attempt to re- 
 move, or assist in removing, marks from any i)ostage-stamp or postage- 
 stamps, with intent to use the same in paymeutof postage, or Mho know- 
 ingly shall have in his possession any postage-stamp or i^ostage-stamps 
 canceled, with intent to use the same, or from which such cancellation 
 marks have been removed, or who shall sell or offer to sell anj' such stamp 
 or stamps, or who shall use or attempt to use the same in payment of 
 postage, or who shall remove the superscrii)tion from any stamped en- 
 velope or postal card that has once been used in the payment of postage, 
 with intent to again use the same for a like purpose, shall be deemed 
 guilty of a misdemeanor, aud shall, on couviction thereof, be puuished 
 by iuiprisonment for not less than six months nor more than one year , 
 or by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars nor more than five 
 hundred dollars for each offense, or by both such flue aud imprisonment, 
 in the discretion of the court. (Act of March 3, 1879, § 28 ; 20 Stat., 
 p. 362.) 
 
 Any person employed in any branch of the postal service who shall 
 willfully and unlawfully remove from any mail-matter any postage-stamp 
 affixed thereto in payment of the postage, shall be i^unishable by a fine 
 of not more than one hundred dollars, or by imiirisonmeut for not more 
 than six months. (R. S., 3922.) 
 
 Any person who shall use or attempt to use, inpayment of the postage 
 on any mail-matter conveyed by mail or otherwise, any postage-stamp 
 or stamped envelope, or any stamp cut from any such stamped envelope, 
 
316 POSTAL LAWS AND EEGULATIONS. 
 
 which has been before used for a like purpose, shall be liable to a penalty 
 of fifty dollars. (R. S., § 3923.) 
 
 If any person emploj^ed in any department of the Post-Ofiftce Estab- 
 lishment of the United States shall willfully and knowingly use, or cause 
 to be used, in jirepayment of postage, any postage-stamp, postal card, 
 or stamped euvelope issued, or which may hereafter be issued, byauthority 
 of an act of Congress, or of the Postmaster-General, which has already 
 been once used for a like purpose, or shall remove, or attempt to remove, 
 the canceling or defacing marks from any such postage-stamp, or stamped 
 envelope, or postal card, with intent to use or cause the use of the same 
 a second time, or to sell, or offer to sell, the same, or shall remove from 
 letters or other mail matter deposited in or received at a post-office the 
 stamps attached to the same in payment of postage with intent to use 
 the same a second time for a like purpose, or to sell, or offer to sell, the 
 same, every such offender shall be deemed guilty of felony, and shall be 
 imprisoned for not less than one year nor more than three years. (R. S. 
 § 3924.) 
 
 If any person not employed in any department of the Post-Oflfice 
 Establishment of the United States shall commit any of the offenses de- 
 scribed in the preceding section, every such person shall be deemed 
 guilty of a misdemeanor, and be punishable by imprisonment for not 
 less than six months nor more than one year, or by a fine of not less than 
 one hundred dollars nor more than five hundred dollars, for each offense, 
 or by both. (R. S., § 3925.) 
 
 Sec. 1253. Aiding or Abetting in Trading in Obscene Literature, etc. — 
 Whoever, being an officer, agent, or employe of the Government of the 
 United States, shall knowingly aid or abet any person engaged in any 
 violation of any of the provisions of law prohibiting importing, adver- 
 tising, dealing in, exhibiting, or sending or receiving by mail, obscene 
 or indecent publications, or representations, or means for preventing 
 conception or procuring abortion, or other articles of indecent or im- 
 moral use or tendency, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and 
 shall for every offense be punishable by a fine of not less than one 
 hundred dollars and not more than five thousand, or by imprisonment 
 at hard labor for not less than one year nor more than ten, or both. 
 (R. S., § 1785; see sections 225 and 228, Postal Laws and Regulations.) 
 
TITLE X. 
 
 POSTAL ANO OFFICIAL TELEGRAMS. 
 
 Sec. 
 
 1254. Telegraph conipauies granted right of way 
 
 over public <loinalii. 
 
 1255. Telegi'aph coiupauies to take material from 
 
 public laniU. 
 
 1256. Telegraph companies may not transfer above- 
 
 granted rights. 
 
 1257. Priority of official telegrams. 
 
 1258. United States may purchase telegraph lines. 
 
 .Sec. 
 
 1259. To sccnre rights telegraph companies mnat 
 
 accept obligations. 
 1200. Penalty for refusal to transmit dispatches at 
 
 rates fixed. 
 
 1261. Hates for official telegrams as fixed by the 
 
 Postmaster-General. 
 
 1262. Telegraph companies subject to foregoing 
 
 sections. 
 
 Sec. 1254. Telegraph Companies Granted Right of Way over Public 
 Domain. — Any tt'legiai)]i coniiiaiiy now organized, or Avhieli may Lere- 
 alter be organized, under the laws of any State, shall have the right to 
 construct, maintain, and operate lines of telegraph through and over 
 any portion of the public domain of the United States, over and along 
 any of the military or post roads of the United States which have been 
 or may hereafter be declared such by law, and over, under, or across 
 the navigable streams or waters of the United States ; but such lines 
 of telegraph shall be so constructed and maintained as not to obstruct 
 the navigation of such streams and waters, or interfeie with the ordinaiy 
 travel on such military or po.st roads. (E. S., § 5203.) 
 
 Sec. 1255. Telegraph Companies to Take Materials from Public Lands. — 
 Any telegraph comi^any organized under the laws of any btate shall 
 have the right to take and use from the public lands through which its 
 lines of telegraph may pass, the necessary stone, timber, and other 
 materials for its posts, piers, stations, and other needful uses in the 
 construction, maiatenance, and operation of its lines of telegraph, and 
 may pre-emi^t and use such portion of the unoccupied public lands sub- 
 ject to pre-emption through which their lines of telegraph may be located 
 as may be necessary for their stations, not exceeding forty acres for each 
 station ; but such stations shall not be within fifteen miles of each other. 
 (R. S., § 5264.) 
 
 Sec. 1256. Telegraph Companies may not Transfer above-granted Rights. — 
 The rights and privileges granted under the provisions of the act of July 
 twenty-four, eighteen hundred and sixty-six, entitled ''An act to aid in 
 the construction of telegraph lines, and to secure to the Government the 
 use of the same for postal, military, and other purposes,'' or under this 
 Title, shall not be transferred by any company acting thereunder to anj- 
 other corporation, association, or person. (R. S., § 5205 ; see 14 Upin- 
 ons, 153, 278.) 
 
 Sec. 1257. Priority of Official Telegrams; Postmaster-General to fix Rates.— 
 Telegrams between the several Departments of the Government and their 
 
 317 
 
318 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 officers and agents, iu their transmission over the lines of any telegraph 
 company to which has been given the right of way, timber, or station 
 lands from the public domain shall have priority over all other business, 
 at such rates as the Postmaster-General ahall annually fix. And no 
 j)art of any appropriation for the several Departments of the Government 
 shall be paid to any company which neglects or refuses to transmit such 
 telegrams in accordance with the provisions of this section. (R. S., § 
 52G5.) 
 
 Sec. 1258. The United States may Purchase Telegraph Lines. — The United 
 States may, for postal, military, or other purposes, purchase all the tele- 
 graph lines, property, and effects of any or all companies acting under 
 the provisions of the act of July twenty-fourth, eighteen hundred and 
 sixty-six, entitled "An act to aid in the construction of telegraph lines, 
 and to secure to the Government the use of the same for postal, military, 
 and other ijurposes," or under this Title, at an appraised value, to be 
 ascertained by five competent, disinterested persons, two of whom shall 
 be selected by the Postmaster-General of the United States, two by the 
 company interested, and one by the four so prenously selected. (R. S., 
 § 5267.) 
 
 Seo. 1259. To Secure Rights Telegraph Companies must Accept Obliga- 
 tions. — Before any telegraph company shall exercise any of the powers 
 or privileges conferred by law, such company shall file their written ac- 
 ceptance with the Postmaster-General of the restrictions and obligations 
 required by law. (R. S., § 5268.) 
 
 Seo. 1269. Penalty for Refusal to Transmit Dispatches at Rates Fixed. — 
 Whenever any telegraph company, after having filed its written accept- 
 ance with the Postmaster-General of the restrictions and obligations 
 required by the act approved July twenty-fourth, eighteen hundred and 
 sixty-six, entitled "An act to aid in the construction of telegraph lines, 
 and to secure to the Government the use of the same for postal, military, 
 and other purposes," or by this Title, shall, by its agents or employes, 
 refuse or neglect to transmit any such telegraphic communications as 
 are provided for by the aforesaid act, or by this Title, or by the provis- 
 ions of section two hundred and twenty-one. Title " The Department 
 OP War," authorizing the Secretary of War to provide for taking meteor- 
 ological observations at the military stations and other points of the in- 
 terior of the continent, and for giving notice on the northern lakes and 
 sea-board of the approach and force of storms, such telegraph company 
 shall be liable to a penalty of not less than one hundred dollars and not 
 more tban one thousand dolhirs for each such refusal or neglect. (R. 
 S., § 5269.) 
 Seo. 1261. Rates for Official Telegrams as Fixed by the Postmaster-General. 
 
 — 'The rnte tor all telegraphic cotiiiiuiuiL'atioiis, sent otherwise than over circnita estab- 
 lished by the Chief 8ignal-0ttieer of the Army for the transmission of enciphered weather 
 reports, sh.all be as follows, viz : 
 
 One cent per Word for each circnit through which it shall bo transmitted, said rate 
 to be computed subject to the following conditions, viz : 
 
TITLE X — POSTAL AND OFFICLVL TELEGRAM.**. 319 
 
 A distance of flvehumlrod miloa, a« computed by thotrtl)lo»of the Po»t-Offlce Depart- 
 nifiiit,* slinll bo dociiit'd a circuit, and the HliortPst ]>racticablc rout*" of tbc ronipany 
 trauBuiittiug tlic uicssaf^c uliall iu all cascH bo tbc Ijanin of computation. 
 
 It", in cou\piitinf{ circuits, tlicrc shall he found one or niorc circuits and a fraction of 
 a circuit, such fraction shall he deemed a circuit. 
 
 If a connnunicatiou shall he sent rt distance loss than five hundred milcB, that dis- 
 tance shall he deemed a circuit. 
 
 All words of the comnuinication transmitted are to be counted, exccirting the date 
 and place at which such couununicati<tn is filed. 
 
 All messages of less than twenty-hvc! words, .iddress and wfjnature included, Miall 
 be rat(Ml as if containing twenty-five Words, and all messages exceeding twenty-five 
 words shall ho rated by the exact number of words they contain, address and signa- 
 ture included. 
 
 Each company will be allowed to charge for messages received from another line at 
 the same rates as if received from the Oovemment direct for transmi-ssiou over its own 
 line. 
 
 Companies forwarding messages to another line will be entitled to compensation at 
 established rates to the terminus of their lines, at the sanie rates as if for messages 
 transmitted exclusively over their own lines. 
 
 The ratejfor all telegraphic communications known as the Signal-service weather 
 reports shall not exceed three cents for each word of said reports for each circuit over 
 which they may pass, in accordance with the schedule of circuits aiul plans of the 
 Chief Signal-Officer of the Army, which are now or may hereafter be adopted by him 
 for transmitting these reports, or such parts thereof as he may designate, in such words 
 or ciphers as may from time to time be directed by him. The annnint thus estimated 
 is to bo taken iu full payment for said reports ; no additional allowance to be made 
 for drops, office messages, or other services or special facilities recpiired by the Chief 
 Signal-Offlcer for the correct and prompt transmission of said Signal-scn'ice-reports. 
 
 If, at any time, from competition or other cause, telegraph rates should be reduced 
 80 that a message of ten words may be sent for the public at a less rate than that above 
 mentioned for a twenty-tive-word message, then, and in that case, this order shall be 
 changed to meet such lower public rate ; it being intended by this proviso that in no 
 case shall the Govei*nment be compelled to pay more for a twenty-five-word message, 
 including address and signature, than the public is required to pay for a ten-wox-d mes- 
 sage, exclusive of such address and signature. 
 
 All officers of the United States Government are requested to report to the Postmas- 
 ter-General any ch.arges in excess of the .ibove rates. 
 
 Sec. 1262. Telegraph Companies Subject to Foregoing Sections.— The fol- 
 lowing is a list of telegraph companies that have filed their acceptauceHof the provis- 
 ions of the preceding sections of this Title up to the first day of June, 1879: 
 
 8. Mississippi Valley N.ational Telegraph 
 Comjiany of Saint Louis, Mo, 
 
 9. Western Union Telegraph Company of 
 New York, N. Y, 
 
 10. Northwestern Telegraph Company of 
 Kenosha, Wis. 
 
 IL Great Western Telegraph Conqiany of 
 New York, N, Y. 
 
 12. The Franklin Telegraph Company of 
 Boston, Mass. 
 
 13. The Insulated Lines Telegraph Com- 
 pany of Boston, Mass. 
 
 14. Pacific and Atlantic Telegraph Com- 
 pany of Pittsburgh, Pa. 
 
 1. The National Telegraiih Company of 
 New York, N. Y. 
 
 2. The Globe Insulated Lines Telegraph 
 Company of New York. 
 
 3. The American Submarine Telegraph 
 Conqiany of New York, N. Y. 
 
 4. International Telegraph Company of 
 Portland, Me. 
 
 5. The Atlantic and Pacific Telegraph 
 Company of New York, N. Y. 
 
 6. The Franco-American Laud and Ocean 
 Telegraph Company of New York, N. Y. 
 
 7. The Globe Telegraph Company of New 
 York. 
 
 See section 27, p. 39. 
 
320 
 
 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 15. The Alantic and Pacific States Tele- 
 graph Compauy of Sacramento, Cal. 
 
 16. The Eastern Telegraph Compauy of 
 Philadelphia, Pa. 
 
 17. The Delaware Eiver Telegraph Com- 
 pauy, Philadelphia, Pa. 
 
 18. Peninsula Telegrax^h Company, New 
 York City. 
 
 19. Cape May and Shore Telegraph Com- 
 pany, New York City. 
 
 20. Ocean Telegraph Company of Boston, 
 Mass. 
 
 21. The American Cable Comiiany of New 
 York, N. Y. 
 
 22. Southern and Atlantic Telegraph Com- 
 pauy of Philadelphia, Pa. 
 
 23. lutemational Ocean Telegrai)h Com- 
 pany, New York City. 
 
 24. Missouri Eiver Telegraph Company 
 of Sioux City, Iowa. 
 
 25. Atlantic and Pacific Telegraph Com- 
 pany of Missouri. Executive Office, 145 
 Broadway, New York City. Received 
 and filed May 8, 1S77. 
 
 26. New Jersey and New England Tele- 
 graph Company. Received and filed 
 November 21, 1878. Address A. L. 
 Worthington, No. 10 Green street, 
 Trenton, N. J. 
 
 27. Central Union Telegraph Company, 
 145 Broadway, New York. Received 
 and filed May 9, 1879. 
 
 28. New York Land and Ocean Telegraph 
 Comj)any. Received and filed May 10, 
 1879. 
 
 29. Deseret Telegraph Company, Salt 
 Lake City, Utah. Received and filed 
 May 19, 1879. 
 
TITLE XL 
 
 EXECUTIVE ORDERS AFFECTING THE 
 POSTAL SERVICE. 
 
 rrp»i(lcnt Grant's order ia rr<;iir<l to Fnitoil I 2. Explanation of the fini'Koiiif; order. 
 States ollicera holding Statu and muuicipttl 3. President Hayes's civil-service order, 
 offices. I 
 
 E.VECUTIVE ORDER IX REGARD TO UNITED STATES OFFICERS HOLDING STATE AND 
 
 MUNICIPAL OFFICES. 
 
 Ji}j the President of the United Stat^ : 
 
 Whereas it has beeu brought to the notice of the President of the United States 
 that many persons holding eivil office by appointment from him, or otherwise, nnder 
 the Constitution and laws of the United States, while holding such Federal positioii.s, 
 accept offices under the authority of the States and Territories in which they reside, 
 or of municipal corporations, under the charters and ordinances of sudi corporations, 
 thereby assuming the duties of the State, Territorial, or rauuicip.al office at the same 
 time that they are charged with the duties of the civil office held under Federal au- 
 thority; and 
 
 Whereas it is> beliered that, with few exceptions, the holding of two such officea by 
 the same person is incompatible with a due and faithful discharge of the duties of 
 either office; that it frequently gives rise to great inconvenience, and often results in 
 detriment to the public service, and moreover is not in harmony with the genius of 
 the government: 
 
 In view of the premises, therefore, the President has deemed it proper thus and 
 hereby to give public notice that, from and after the fourth day of March, A. D. 187;], 
 except as herein specified, persons holding any Federal civil office by appointment 
 under the Constitution and laws of the United States will be expected, while holding 
 such office, not to accept or hold any office nnder any State or Territorial government, 
 or under the charter or ordinances of any municipal corporation ; and, further, tha* 
 the acceptance or continued holding of any such State, Territorial, or municipal office, 
 whether elective or by appointment, by any person holding civil office, as aforesaid',, 
 nnder the Government of the United States, other than judicial offices under the Con- 
 stitution of the United States, will be deemed a vacation of the Federal office held by 
 such person, and will be taken to be, and will be, ti'eated as a resignation by such 
 Federal officer of his commission or appointment in the service of the United States.. 
 
 The officer of justices of the peace, of notaries ]>ublic, and of commissioners to take 
 the acknowledgment of deeds, or bail, or to administer oaths, shall not be deemed 
 witliiu the imrview of this order, and are excepted from its operation, and may Ije 
 held by Federal officers. The appointment of deputy marshal of the United States 
 maybe conferred n]»on sheritts or deputy sheriffs ; and deputy postniastei-s, the emolu- 
 ments of whoso office do not exceed $600 per annum, are also excepted from the 
 operations of this order, and may accept and hold appointments under State, Terri- 
 torial, or municipal authority, provided the same be found not to interfere with the 
 discharge of their duties a^s postmaster. Heads of Departments and other officei-s of 
 the government who have the appointment of subordinate officers are reqtiired to take 
 
 sa 
 
 21 PL 
 
322 POSTAL LAWS AND EEGULATIONS. 
 
 notice of this order, and to see to tlie enforcement of its provisions and terms within 
 the sjihere of their respective Departments or offices, and as relates to the several 
 persons holding appointments nnder them respectively. 
 By order of the President : 
 
 HAMILTON FISH, 
 
 Secretary of State. 
 Washingtox, January 17, 1873. 
 
 Note. — The President has modified the above order so as not to apply to post-offices 
 the salary of which is less than .$1,000. 
 
 2. 
 
 who are extitled to hold state and municipal offices under the order of 
 
 the president. 
 
 Department of State, 
 Washington^ D. C, January 28, 1873. 
 Inquiries having been made from various quarters as to the application of the Ex- 
 ecvitive order issued on the 17th of January, relating to the h(dding of State and 
 municipal offices by persons holding civil offices under the Federal government, the 
 President directs the following reply to be made : 
 
 It has been asked whether the order prohibits a Federal officer from holding also 
 the office of au alderman, or of a common councilman in a city, or of a town council- 
 man of a town or village, or of appointment under city, town, or village governments. 
 By some it has been suggested that there may be distinction made in case the office 
 be held with or without salary or compensation. 
 
 The city or town officers of the description referred to, by whatever names they may 
 be locally known, whether held by election or by appointment, and whether with or 
 Avithout salary or compensation, are of the class which the Executive order intends 
 not to be held by persons holding Federal offices. 
 
 It has been asked whether the order prohibits Federal officers from holding positions 
 on boards of education, school committees, public libraries, religious or eleemosynary 
 institutions, incoii)orated or established or sustained by State or municipal authority. 
 Positions and service on such boards or committees and professorships in colleges 
 are not regarded as "offices" within the contemplation of the Executive order, but 
 as employments or service in which all good citizens may engage without incompat- 
 ibility, and in many cases without necessary interference with any position which 
 they may hold under the Federal Government. Officers of the Federal Government 
 may, therefore, engage in such service, provided the attention required by such em- 
 ployment floes not interfere with the regular and official discharge of the duties of 
 their office under the Federal Government. The head of the department under whom 
 the Federal office is held will in all cases be the sole judge whether or not the employ- 
 ment does thus interfere. 
 The question has also been asked with regard to the officers of the State militia. 
 Congress having exercised the power conferred by the Constitution to provide for 
 organizing the militia, which is liable to be called forth to be employed in the service 
 of the United States, and is thus in some sense under the control of the General Gov- 
 ernment, and is, moreover, of the great^^st value to the public, the Executive order of 
 17th January is not considered as prohibiting Federal officers from being officers of the 
 militia in the States and Teiritories. 
 
 It has been asked whether the order prohibits persons holding office under the Fed- 
 eral Government being members of local or municipal iiro departnuuits ; also, whether 
 it applies to mechanics employed by the day in the armoiies, arsenals, and navy-yards. 
 &c., of the United States. 
 
 Unpaid service in local or municipal lire departments is not regarded as an office 
 within the intent of the Executive order, and may be i)erformed by Federal officers, 
 
TITLE XI — EXECUTIVE ORDERS. 323 
 
 providi'd it docs not iiitorfcrc with tlio rf<;iiliir and otTlcii-nt. discliar;jo of tlio duties of 
 the Federal olliec, of wliiidi the head of the department mider which tlie ollice is hehl 
 will in each case bo the judge. 
 
 Employment by the day us mechanics or laborers in the armories, arsenals, navy- 
 yards, &c., does not constitute an ofiico of any kind, and thos<; thus employe<l are not 
 within the contemplation of the Executive order. Master-workmen and others who 
 hold appointments from the goverunn-nt or from any Department, whether for a fixed 
 time or at the pleasure of the appointing power, are embraced within the operation of 
 the order. 
 
 By order of the President : 
 
 HAMILTON FISH, 
 
 Secretary of State. 
 
 postal officers forbidden to participate ie political campaigns, etc. 
 
 Executive Mansion, 
 
 Washington, June 22, 1877. 
 Sir: I desire to call your attention to the following paragraph in a letter addressed 
 by me to the Secretary of the Treasury, on the conduct to be observed by officers of 
 the general government in relation to the elections: 
 
 " Xo officer should be required or permitted to take part in the management of polit- 
 ical organizations, caucuses, conventions, or electiou campaigns. Their right to vote 
 and to express their views on public questions, either orally or through the jiress, 
 is not denied, provided it does not interfere with the discharge of their official duties. 
 No assessment for political purposes on officers or subordinates should be allowed." 
 This rule is applicable to every Department of the civil service. It should be under- 
 stood by every officer of the general government that he is expected to conform his 
 conduct to its requirements. 
 Very respectfully, 
 
 R. B. HAYES. 
 To the Postmaster-Gekeral. 
 
TITLE XII. 
 
 OPINIONS OF THE ASSISTANT ATTORN KY- 
 OENERAL FOIl THE POST-OFFICE DEPART- 
 MENT. 
 
 No. 
 
 1 (6) 
 
 (11). 
 
 (14). 
 (24). 
 
 Local or drop letters, their character and 
 rights. 
 
 Delivery of letters ; effect of iivjunction of 
 State court. 
 
 Mail-matter by express. 
 
 Production of letters before a State court 
 under process duces tecum. 
 
 Letter-boxes ; letteis addressed to ficti- 
 tious names, how disposed of. 
 
 Sureties upon contracts; their liability, 
 how tested. 
 7 (122). Official envelopes; misase of, by private 
 individuals. 
 
 5 (26). 
 
 6 (83). 
 
 No. 
 
 8 (130). PajTuent of money-orders to fictitious 
 
 address ; validity of power of attorney 
 after decease of grantor. 
 
 9 (132). Fraudulent use of the mails. 
 
 10 (157). Advertising sheets; what constitutes a 
 
 regular publication designed primarily 
 for advertising purposes. 
 
 11 (159). Delivery ofletters to trustees of an insolv- 
 
 ent firm. 
 12. List of all opinions given by the Assistant 
 
 Attomey-Genei-al for the Post-OfBce 
 Department. 
 
 Note. — Only such opinions as are of general importance are given at length. The numbers in paren- 
 theses refer to the docket number. At the close of this Title will be found a full index to all opinions not 
 printed in full in this volume, which are on tile in the ofhce of the Assistant Attorney-General for the 
 Post-Office Department. 
 
 [Number (6) One.] 
 
 Local or Drop Letters. 
 
 1. TThen a drop-letter properly stamped has been deposited in the post-office for delivery, and the 
 person to whom it is addressed requests that it should be forwarded to another post-office, under that 
 request the character of a drop-letter is entirely lost to it, and it assumes the character of a letter de- 
 posited "for mailing," without any stamp for that purpose. 
 
 2. The postage on a drop-letter must be prepaid, and, to that extent, it falls within the general therms 
 of a piepaid letter, but the prepayment is not such as would entitle the depositor to have it carried be- 
 yond the bounds of delivery of the post-office where deposited, or even to be put into the mails. 
 
 Office of the Assistant Attorxey-Gexeral 
 
 FOR THE Post-Office Departmext, 
 
 Washington, July 29, 1873. 
 
 Sir: I have considered your communication of July 25, 1873, inclosing the letter of 
 Mr. C. W. Bennett, and the envelopes accompanying it, addressed to the postmaster 
 of this city. 
 
 Mr. Bennett excepts to the postage charged on the envelopes by the postmaster here. 
 The envelopes appear to have been deposited in this office, addressed to Mr. Bennett 
 at this place, with stamps affixed to tliem, at the time they were deposited, sufficient 
 to cause them to be received and delivered to their address as drop or local letters. 
 
 Upon their receipt at this office as drop or local letters the stamps affixed to them 
 were canceled ; and Mr. Bennett having reqtiested that all letters deposited or received 
 at this office to his address should be forwarded to him at another office, through the 
 mails, stamps proper to be charged on such letters, as letters deposited "for mailing," 
 were affixed thereto at this office, and the letters forwarded, as Mr. Bennett requested. 
 
 The postmaster here, in affixing the stamps, in order that they shouM be forwarded 
 through the mails to another office, has charged the postage on them without regard 
 to the postage which had been paid on them as drop-letters. It is to the postage so 
 charged that Mr. Bennett excepts. 
 
 325 
 
326 POSTAL LAWS AND EEGULATIONS. 
 
 The letters forwarded were letters wliich had been deposited in this office with 
 postage prepaid as local or drop letters. Letters of that character are mentioned in only 
 two sections, the 156th and 157th sections of the act of June 8, 1872, entitled "An act 
 to revise, consolidate, and amend the statutes relating to the Post-Office Dei)artment," 
 commonly called the "Postal Code." 
 
 In tlie 156th section although they are recognized as " mail-matter wholly or partly 
 in writing," yet to mark their special and distinctive character they are expressly 
 excepted from the postage of three cents for each half ounce or fraction thereof, which 
 hy that section is charged on other letters. 
 
 The 157th section describes a local or drop letter, and directs the postage with 
 which such a letter shall be charged, and is in the following terms: 
 
 "That letters commonly known as drop or local letters, delivered througJi the post-office 
 or its carrier, shall be charged with postage at the rate of two cents, where the system 
 of free delivery is established, and one cent where such system is not established, for 
 each half ounce or fraction thereof." 
 
 The description of a local or drop letter is probably more clearly drawn in the laws 
 which it was the purpose of the Postal Code to "revise, consolidate, and amend," than 
 in these sections of that code. Thus, in the 23d and 22d sections of the act of March 
 3, 1863, we have the distinction clearly drawn between drop or local letters and other 
 domestic letters. The language in the 22d section is that "the rate of postage on 
 all domestic letters, transmitted in the mails of the United States, and not exceeding 
 one-half ounce in weight, shall bo uniform at three cents." Of the 23d section it is : 
 "That the rate of postage on all letters not transmitted throur/h the mails of the United 
 States, but delivered through the post-office or its carriers, commontij described as local 
 or drop letters, not exceeding one-half ounce in weight, shall be uniform at two cents," 
 etc. 
 
 In this 23d section we have the character or a local or drop letter defined as a letter 
 not to he " transmitted through the mails." In the act of March 3, 1855, section 1, a drop- 
 letter is still more accurately described in different language, but of the same pur- 
 port, in the following terms: "And all drop-letters or letters ^ilaced in any post-office 
 not for transmission through the mails, hut for delivery only." 
 
 From the language of these several statutes there can be no doubt that tlie local 
 or drop letter intended in the 157th section was a letter deposited in the post-office 
 not to be transmitted through the mails, but for delivery only. All letters deposited 
 in a post-office, whether to be transmitted through the mails or for delivery only, 
 must be prepaid by stamps, according to the purpose for which they are deposited, 
 before they can be officially received ; that is, received so as to impose an obligation 
 on the Department to transmit theui through the mails or deliver them from the office 
 where deposited, or by its earners, to their address. The prepayment of postage en- 
 titles the person depositing a letter to have it so officially received. 
 
 When a letter properly stamped is officially received, the stamp has performed its 
 office, and is canceled, and when canceled is no further available for any purpose. 
 
 When a drop-letter, proi>erly stamped, has been deposited in the office for delivery, 
 and the person to whom it is addressed requests that it should be forwarded to an- 
 other office under that request, the character of a drop-letter is entirely lost to it, 
 and it assumes the character of a letter deposited "for mailing" without any stamp 
 for that purpose. The stamp affixed to it when deposited was so affixed in order 
 that it should be received for the purpose of delivery only, and was not intended to 
 be, nor was, available for anj' other purpose. 
 
 If the request "to forward" is to be gratified, it can only be by the prepayment of 
 the postage proper to be chargtid on a letter deposited to be transmitted through tbe 
 mails to the address contained in the request. 
 
 The comprehensive terms of the lt>9th section are well calculated to mislead if read 
 without regard to other parts of the Code. The terms of the 19Dth section are, " That 
 prepaid and free letters shall be forwarded from one post-office to another at the 
 
TITLE XII OPINIONS. 327 
 
 rpqucst of till' i)arty addressed without additional charge for postage." It is evident, 
 however, for iiiauy reasons, notwitlistainlinj^ the eoinpreheusivcness of its terms, tliat 
 this section was not intended to apply to drop-letters. In the; lirst jilaee, the lan^^najje 
 of the seetion clearly implies that the letter to he forwanled under its i»rovisions lias 
 heen already carried through the mails from one post-olHee to another, and that post- 
 age for that service has heen jiaid. But inasmuch as the prei)ayment of one full rate 
 of postage entitles the sender to have his letter carried through the lUiiils anywhere 
 where the mails are carried, the right so purchased is not exhausted under the i)ro- 
 visions of this section until it reached not only the destination which the sender has 
 given to it, hut also that further destinatitm which may he given to it hy the person 
 to whom it is addressed. But the prepayment to which this right is incident is that 
 which would have carried the forwarded letter to its last destination if it had been 
 so directed when deposited for mailing. 
 
 The i)Ostage on a drop-letter it is true must be prepaid, and to that extent it falls 
 within the general terms of a prepaid letter, but the prepayment is not such as would 
 entitle the depositor to have it carried beyond the bounds of delivery of the othce 
 where deposited, or even to be put into the mails. In the language of the acts of 
 1855 and 1863 it is placed in the office " not for transmission through the mails." 
 
 Hence it cannot be held or considered to be embraced within that class of prepay- 
 ments to which the right is incident to have the letter carried any and every where 
 where letters are carried through the mails; and that is the prepayment which is 
 clearly contemplated in the 199th section. 
 
 Again, from all the provisions of the code relating to this subject, we can come to 
 uo other conclusion than that it was the intention of the law that no letter should be 
 carried through the mails from one post-office to another except upon tlie prepaj'nient 
 by stamps of three cents for each half ounce or fraction thereof, and yet, by a con- 
 struction different from that which I have given, a letter deposited in an office "/or 
 delivery only " may be carried across the continent for a postage-stamp of one cent ; for 
 if a drop letter on which one cent postage by stamp has been paid, at an office where 
 there is uo free delivery, is a prepaid letter, embraced within the intendment of the 
 199th section, then, on the request of the person to whom the letter is addressed, it 
 must be forwarded " without additional postayc" to any office he may direct. This was 
 clearly not intended by the law. 
 
 For these reasons, I can see no error in the action of the postmaster at Washington 
 in treating the letters, of which the envelopes covering them are before me, as drop 
 letters, not entitled, by any postage which might have been paid on them as such, to 
 he transmitted through the mails, and if transmitted after their official receipt as drop 
 letters at the request of the person to whom they are addressed to another post-office, 
 the postage directed by law to be prepaid on letters deposited for "mailing" must be 
 charged and prepaid on them. 
 
 I herewith return the letter of Mr. Bennett, with the accomj)anying envelopes, sent 
 with your couuuuuicatiou. 
 Very respectfully, 
 
 T. A. SPENCE, 
 Assistant Attorney-General Post-Office Department. 
 
 Hon. John A. J. Creswell, 
 
 Postmaster-General. 
 
328 POSTAL LAWS AND EEGULATIONS. 
 
 [Number (11) Two.] 
 
 Delivery of Letters. Effect of Injunction of State Court. 
 
 Office of the Assistant Attorney-General 
 
 FOR the Post-Office Department, 
 
 Washington, August 11, 1873. 
 
 Sir : I have carefully esamineLl the papers transmitted for my consideration with 
 your communication of August 1. 
 
 From those papers I infer the following facts : Alvan W. Chase, being the proprietor 
 of the copyright of a book which he had published, and a large steam-printing house, 
 in August 1839, for a valuable consideration sold the said copyright and steam-print- 
 ing house to Rice A. Beal ; and in the contract of sale, among other agreements, the 
 said Chase contracted with the said Beal "that all letters and packages that should 
 thereafter be received at the post-office in said city of Ann Arbor, addressed to the 
 paid Chase, whether registered or otherwise, and not having the description by num- 
 ber of his private box, should be delivered to the said Beal;" that the postmaster at 
 the said city of Ann Arbor, having knowledge of the said sale and contract, did, from 
 the time of his appointment to the said office in June, 1870, to September, 1872, deliver 
 to the said Beal all letters and packages addressed to the said Chase, not having 
 thereon the description, by number, of the private box of the said Chase in the said 
 office ; that in the month of September, 1872, the said Chase, by his written order, di- 
 rected the said postmaster, after the date of the said order, to wit, September 19, 1872, 
 to place all letters addressed to him in his box, unless there was something in the ad- 
 dress of the letter to indicate that it was intended for the publisher of Dr. Chase's recipes 
 or the proprietor of Dr. Chase's steam-printing house ; and thereafter, in compliance with 
 said order, the said postmaster placed in the letter-box of the said Chase, to be deliv- 
 ered to him, or his order, all letters adtlressed to him, as by the said order directed. 
 That the said Rice A. Beal subsequently, after the order aforesaid of the said Chase 
 to the said postmaster, filed in the circuit court of Washtenaw County, in the State 
 of Michigan, his bill of complaint against the said Alvan W. Chase and others, with 
 a prayer for an iujunctiou. The circuit court for Washtenaw County, on the filing of 
 the said bill of complaint, ordered a writ of injunction as prayed, and, amongst other 
 restraints therein, enjoined the said defendants " from taking or receiving from the 
 post-office in the city of Ann Arbor any letter or letters that may be received at said 
 office addressed to the said Alvan W. Chase which shall not have upon them a des- 
 ignation of the number of said Chase's private letter-box at said office, or in any man- 
 ner interfering to prevent the delivery of the same to the said complainant, Rice A. 
 Beal, at said post-office ;" that the defendants, after service of the said writ of injunc- 
 tion, without having filed a plea or answer to the said bill, but upon affidavits which 
 they filed to be read at the hearing of the motion, moved the court to dissolve the in. 
 junction. The motion to dissolve the injunction was heard and considered, and was 
 denied. The court in denying the motion passed the following order : 
 
 "The motion to dissolve the injunction is therefoio denied, and it is ordered that the 
 modification of the same, as ordered on the 21st of July instant, be, and is hereby, set 
 aside and held for nought, and that the injunction do stand in full force and effect as 
 originally granted, without modification or alteration, iintil the coming in of the 
 defendant's answer to said bill of complaint, and until the fui'ther order of this court) 
 except that the said defendant. Chase, shall not be prevented by said injunction from 
 taking from the post-otfice any and all letters directed tohimself or family which shall 
 be designated by the number of his post-office box, 351, written thereon." 
 
 Rice A. Beal, under his purchase from, and contract with, Alvan W. Chase, herein- 
 before stated, and this order of the court, now demands of the postmaster at the city 
 of Ann Arbor the letters and packages received at his office addressed to the said 
 
TITLE XII OPINIONS. 329 
 
 Chase " which shall uot be desiguateil by the number of bin post-offlce box, 351, written 
 thereon." 
 
 Under these facts the postmaster at the city of Ann Arbor, in liis b-tter afrompany- 
 ing your conuiiiiiiiiatioii, asks the roHtiiuiHttT-Goiu'ral to b(^ inroniicd of bis duty iu 
 the preinist's; to whom lie shall deliver, or what disposition be shall make of tlio 
 letters addresseil to Alvan W. Chase, and now demanded by Kiec A. Keal. 
 
 After a careful examination of all the facts presented, I can find nothing that would 
 relieve the postmaster from his duty, as clearly and e.xplicitly stated in the r)8th an<l 
 59th sections of the regulations of 1SS3 of this Department. Those regulations are as 
 follows. 
 
 "Sec. 58. The persons entitled to letters received by mail are those whose names 
 are iu the address." 
 
 "Sec. 59. The delivery should be either to the person addressed or according to his 
 or her order." 
 
 Under this law, making plain the duty of postmasters, and controlling their action, 
 the postmaster at the city of Ann Arbor must deliver to Alvan W. Chase, or to his 
 order, all letters and packages addressed to the said Chase, received at the said post- 
 ofiice, "unless there is something in the address of the letter or package to indicate 
 that it is iuteudod for the publisher of Dr. Chase's recipes or the proprietor of Dr. 
 Chase's steam-printing house"; and he must do so on retiuest, notwithstanding the 
 injunction which enjoins the said Chase from receiving them. 
 
 If Alvan W. Chase should take from the post-office the letters he has been enjoined 
 from taking or receiving, he would thereby otfend against the order of the court, and 
 may be punished for the contempt; but the postmaster, as such, has not been made a 
 party to the proceeding in ecpiity, referred to, of Beal vs. Chase and others ; nor is he 
 in any manner controlled by the order of the court ; nor would he be protected by it, 
 in violating bis duty, as imposed by the regulations of the department referred to. 
 
 The postmaster uniler these rules, iu the discharge of his official duties, is bound to 
 respect the written order given him by Alvan W. Chase on the 19th September, 1872, 
 however much in his private judgiueut such order mig ht be inconsistent with, or 
 violate the contract hereiubeforo set out in, the statement of facts, which the said 
 Chase had made with the said Beal iu August, 1869. 
 
 It is not the duty, nor is it proper, for a postmaster to decide the validity and legal 
 eftect of contracts, nor to act on any construction which he may give them, when 
 such action is in direct contravention of the plain law of his duty. 
 
 Under the order of Alvan W. Chase, of the 19th September, 1872, it was the duty 
 of the postmaster to place in the private letter-box of the said Chase the letters ad- 
 dressed to him, as by the said order he was directed. 
 
 It does jiot appear, from any of the papers before me, that that order has ever been 
 rescinded; and until it is rescinded, the same duty remains and continues. It is not 
 to be presumed that Alvan W. Chase will olfend against the order of the court, and 
 take from the office the letters he has been enjoined from taking; and they will, there- 
 fore, remain in the office, and be treated by the postmaster as unclaimed letters, 
 unless specially ordereil by the Postmaster-General to hold them for delivery, or to be 
 disposed of under a future order. The present order of the circuit court of Washtenaw 
 County is only temporary; the injunction may be dissolved or made perpetual when 
 the defendants have filed their answer to the bill of complaint and further proceed- 
 ings shall have been had thereon, or the court may pass other and further orders 
 in the cause, considering that the neglect or refusal of A. W. Chase to rescind the 
 order which controls the action of the postmaster, and prevents K. A. Beal from re- 
 ceiving the letters and packages which under the contract aforesaid, as construed by 
 the court, the said Beal is in eiiuity entitled to have, is a violation of the present order 
 of the court and a contempt of its authority. 
 
 In conclusion, I can see nothing in the papers transmitted with your communication 
 which would authorize or justify the postmaster at the city of Ann Arbor in deliver- 
 
330 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 ing the letters and packages received at this office, addressed to A. W. Chase, to R. 
 A. Beal, in viohitiou of the order aforesaid of the said Chase of the 19tli Sei^tember, 
 1872, or until that order is in some manner, directly or indirectly, rescinded or an- 
 nulled. 
 
 Yours, respectfully, 
 
 Hon. J. A. J. Cresavell, 
 Postmaster- General. 
 
 T. A. SPENCE, 
 
 Assistant Attorney-General, Post-Office Department. 
 
 [Number (14) Three.] 
 
 Mail-Matter by Express. 
 
 1. There is notliinj!; "in any existing statute upon the subject of postal matter" which discriminates 
 in favor of the Departments of the Government in relation to the mode and manner of transmitting 
 mailable matter. 
 
 2. Distinction between packet and package discussed. 
 
 3. No limit of weight or size for first-class mail-matter. 
 
 Office of the Assistant Attorxey-General 
 
 FOR THE Post-Office Department, 
 
 Washington, D. C, August 26, 1873. 
 Sir: I have carefully considered the letter of the honorable the Secretary of War of 
 the 14th instant, addressed to you, and the papers accompanying it. 
 
 Enclosed in the letter of the Secretary is a copy of an order of the War Department 
 iu the following words : 
 
 "General Orders, No, 80. 
 
 "War Department, Adjutant-General's Office, 
 
 ''Washington, Aug. 1st, 1873. 
 "Where any considerable saving would result, packages of official mail-matter, such 
 as returns, &c., weighty or bulky in character, maybe transmitted by express, in- 
 stead of through the mails as heretofore, the expressage to be paid out of the apiiro- 
 priations for the military service. 
 "By order of the Secretary of AVar. 
 
 "THOMAS M. VINCENT, 
 ''Assistant Adjutant-General. 
 "Official: 
 
 "E. D. TOWNSEND, 
 
 "Adjutant- General." 
 
 And you are asked if the forwarding of mailable matter by express, as directed by 
 that order, "is considered by the Department iu conflict with existing statutes upon 
 the subject of postal matter." 
 
 There is nothing "in any existing statute upon the subject of postal matter" 
 which discriminates in favor of the Departments of the Government in relation to the 
 mode and manner of transmitting mailable matter. 
 
 The law is general, aud since the abolition of the franking privilege by the act of 
 Congress passed January 31, 1873, all of the restrictions and prohibitions of the act 
 passed June 8, 1872, entitled "An act to revise, consolidate, and amend the statutes 
 relating to the Post-Office Department," which apply to the private citizen, are appli- 
 cable, to the same extent, to an officer of any of the Departments. 
 
 If the private citizen, by the jirovisions of that act, and particularly by the 230th 
 section thereof, is inhibited from using an express, or other unlawful means, for the 
 transmission of mailable matter, so also is the public officer; nor are the inhibitions 
 in any manner aft'ected by the public or private character of the mailable matter. 
 
TITLE XII OPINIONS. 331 
 
 It will not 1)0 supposed that a juivate citizen woiiM l>e porinitto<l to violate- witli 
 impmiity the provisions of the 2;{0th section of tlui act refciTcd to, wliicii jirovidea 
 "that no j)cr.s()n shall transmit, l>y ]>rivato exj)reHs or other unlawful means, or d«»- 
 liver to any ii;;ent of siuli unlawful exjiress, or ilejiosit, or cause to be dejiosited, at 
 Jiny appointed place, for the ])nrj»ose of being transmitte«l, any letter or ])acket, and 
 W every such oft'enso the party so offending shall forfeit and pay fifty ilollars," for 
 any consideration of the saving of postage to him for the violation. Much less 
 could it be allowed an officer of a Department to violate the same law for a similar 
 consideration, especially in view of the fiict that Congress has provided so lilx-rally 
 by appropriation for the payment of the postage of the several Departnu-nts. 
 
 It may not be improper in this conimtinication to notice a matter intimately con- 
 nected with this subject, although iu)t directly responsive to the question projtounded 
 in the letter of the Secretary of War. It was the purpose of the 228th, 229tli, 'I.VHh, 
 and 2:Ust sections of the act of June 8, 1872, to prevent, ]»y penal enactments, the 
 transmission of mailable matter of the first class (all correspondence wholly or ]>artly 
 in Avriting) by express or other unlawful means. By the 134th section of th(^ same 
 act, it is provided that " jyackuf/es weighing more than four pounds shall not be re- 
 ceived for conveyance by mail." 
 
 The term packar/c in this section, and throughout the law, appears to l)e used in 
 a diflerent sense and with a different intendment from the term "packet" found in 
 the sections above referred to. 
 
 The latter is restricted to mailable matter of the first class ; the former is used 
 throughout the law as applicable to mailable matter of the second and third classes. 
 And inasmuch as mailable matter of the second and third classes, under the restrictions 
 of the 134th section, cannot be received into the mails when each of the several proper 
 mailable parcels of such matter, made up in a package, exceeds four pounds in weight, 
 such packages are not within the contemplation of the Postal Code, and may be sent 
 by express, or in any other manner, without a violation of law ; but the 134th section 
 not being applicable to mailable matter of the first class, all matter of that class can 
 be conveyed through the mails without regard to its weight, and all the inhibitions 
 of the several sections of the Postal Code, prohibiting its transmission by express or 
 other unlawful means, apply to it. 
 Very respectfully, yours, &c., 
 
 T. A. SPENCE, 
 Assistant Attoniey-General, Post-Office Department. 
 Hon. John A. J. Creswell, 
 
 Postmaster-Genei'al. 
 
 [Number (24) Four.] 
 
 Production of Letters before a Court under Process Duces Tecum. 
 Office of the Assistant Attorney-Gener.\l, 
 
 FOR THE PoST-OfFICE DEPARTMENT, 
 
 Washington, D. C, January 24, 1874. 
 
 Sir : My opinion is asked as to the duty of the postmaster at Greeusburgh, in the 
 State of Indiana, under the following circumstances : 
 
 There is in the post-office at Greeusburgh, in the said State of Indiana, a letter ad- 
 dressed to Sally Covert ; that fact having come to the knowledge of a certain William 
 Den wood, and he desiring to know and be informed of its contents, and to ol)tainthe 
 information, in.stituted suit in the circuit court of Decatur County, in the State afore- 
 said, against a certain Nicholas Howard, and caused sul)i)a>ua to be is.sued out of the 
 court in which the said suit was brought, commanding the sheriff of said county to 
 summon George H. Dunu (the postmaster at Greeusburgh) to produce on the trial a 
 
332 POSTAL LAWS AND EEGULATIONS. 
 
 letter in his possession addressed to Sallie Covert, Greensburgli, Indiana, and to ap- 
 pear before the said court to testify in tlie said suit. The subpoena has been served in 
 due form of law on the said George H. Dunn. 
 
 From the subpcena it appears that George H. Dunn has been summoned as an indi- 
 vidual, not as an officer, to produce in court a letter which he has in his possession 
 addressed to Sallie Covert. If he has in his possession as an individual, and not in 
 his official character as postmaster, a letter addressed to Sallie Covert, it will be his 
 duty to obey the summons of the court imj)Iicitly ; but if the letter sought to be ob- 
 tained is in the post-office at Greensburgh as proper mail-matter, and he is summoned 
 as postmaster, having charge of the said office, to take the letter from the office to pro- 
 duce the same before the circuit court for Decatur County, to be used as evidence, or 
 for any other purpose, he should respectfully decline to obey the summons. The let- 
 ler addressed to Sallie Covert, having through the mails reached its destination, 
 according to its address, at the post-office at Greensburgh, it is then, until delivered 
 to the person to whom it is addressed or disposed of as the postal laws and regula- 
 tions direct, in the custody of the Post-Office Department of the government, by its 
 agent or representative, the postmaster of the office. His custody or jjossession of the 
 mail-matter in the office is purely representative, not personal; and his duties as 
 the representative are clearly and distinctly defined by the laws and regulations gov- 
 erning the postal service. They are to him his only rule of conduct. No mandate or 
 order of any tribunal, judicial or otherwise, directing or commanding him to disobey 
 or disregard them, or to act in contravention to them, will justify him in so doing, or 
 excuse or protect him from any and all penalties which would follow the violation of 
 his official duties. 
 
 The government, in receiving the letter addressed to Sallie Covert in the mails, un- 
 dertook to carry that letter to its destination at the office of delivery, and there to 
 deliver it to the person to whom it is addressed without unnecessary detention or de- 
 lay. Any act which would or might detain or delay the delivery to the person to 
 whom the letter is addressed would not only be a default in the undertaking, but 
 would be ou the part of the postu)aster a palpable violation of the Postal Code, for 
 which offense, according to its gravity, the punishment of fine and imprisonment is 
 provided by law. The post-office at the office of delivery is the only proper place of 
 custody of mail-matter until it is delivered; and a postmaster cannot be justified in 
 taking letters from the post-office for any purpose otlier than for delivery to the person 
 addressed, except in exceptional cases, for greater security. 
 
 The postmaster at Greensburgh, in obeying the summons of the circuit court for De- 
 catur County to produce this letter before it for the purposes of evidence, would not 
 only violate his duty as to the proper custody of the letter before its delivery, but he 
 would further violate the plain letter of the law in doing an act naturally tending to 
 detain and delay the delivery of the letter. The circuit court for Decatur County can- 
 not properly interfere with the postmaster at Greensburgh in the lawful and proper 
 discharge of his official duties, nor require him to do that which would violate in 
 their letter or their spirit the laws and regulations relating to the Post-Office Depart- 
 ment. 
 
 The court may exercise its jurisdiction over individuals, but not to couti"ol the offi- 
 cers of the government to a violation of the laws relating to their office. It may, in 
 the proper exercise of its jurisdiction, restrain au individual to whom a letter is ad- 
 dressed from taking it from the post-office, or, if the letter luis been delivered, and 
 thereby all connection of the government with it, or relating to it, toriuinated, the 
 court may then exercise its jurisdiction to compel its j)rod action before it, in whose- 
 soever possession it may be found. 
 
 But it may be, and probably is, alleged that the address "Sallie Covert " is fictitious, 
 and that the letter under that address is intended for the wife of the plaintitf in this 
 action, William Denwood. If such an allegation w.as true, it might and would affect 
 the duties of the postmaster as to its disposition, but none the more justify him in 
 
TITLE XII — OPINIONS. 333 
 
 obeying the sninmons of the conrt which has been nerved on him. If the addresH is 
 fictitinuH, there is no person to whom it can be delivered, and his dnty in relation to 
 it is clearly delined by the rejjiilations of the Department. He must return it at the 
 end of the month to the Doad-Lotter OHlce, there to he disposed of as jirovided by 
 the laws relating to and the rejjalations of the Department. 
 
 I would, tlierofore, advise that the postmaster at Groensburg be instructed to 
 appear in person before the circuit court of Decatur County on the day named in the 
 writ of sunmions, but not produce before it the letter which by the said writ he is 
 ordered to produce; and that, if retiuired, he should purge himself of any alleged 
 contempt of the conrt by the statement that the letter mentioned in the writ is in his 
 custody, not as an individual, but as an officer of the government, and that he cannot 
 obey the summons of the court without violating the laws relating to and the rules 
 and regulations of the Post-Office Deiiartment. 
 Very respectfully, yours, 
 
 T. A. SPENCE, 
 Assistant Attorney-General Post-Office Department. 
 Hon. John A. J. Creswell, 
 
 rostmaster-General. 
 
 [Number (26) Five.] 
 
 Letter-Boxes. Letters Addressed to Fictitious Names ; How Disposed of. 
 
 Office of the Assistant Attorney-General 
 
 FOR the POST-OfFICE DEPARTMENT, 
 
 Washington, D. C, February 4, 1874. 
 
 Sir: An opinion on the facts presented by the application of Dr. John M. Dagnall 
 "to have delivered to him a large number of letters addressed to Nathaniel Mayfair, 
 P. O. bos 153, Brooklyn, N. Y.," which have been sent by the postmaster at Brooklyn 
 to the Dead-Letter Office of the Department, requires a review of the laws and postal 
 regulations relating to the jiurpose and use of letter-boxes, the delivery of letters, 
 and the use of a fictitious address on mailable matter. 
 
 While letter-boxes are frequently recognized in the Postal Code as a proper part of 
 postal facilities, and as a source of postal revenues, they are never provided at the ex- 
 pense of the Departments, " except when the building is owned by the United States." 
 They may be and are provided by postmasters and indi\iduals. Boxes "put up" by 
 postmasters are the private proj)erty of the postmasters, but the rents or revenues 
 thereof must be paid over to the Department. Box-holders may provide lock-boxes or 
 drawers for their own use at their own expense, which upon their erection become 
 the property of the United States, subject to the direction and control of the Depart- 
 ments, and for which a rent is expected equal to that of other boxes in the same office. 
 A letter-box may be considered a particular space in the post office, which for a con- 
 sideration is set apart for the exclasive use of an individual for the greater facility of 
 the person to whom it is assigned in receiving his mail-matter, and to be a source of 
 revenue to the Department. Its use is subject to and controlled l)y the regulations of 
 the Department, which have been framed and adopted with a proper regard to the 
 purposes for which it is allowed to be and is erected. 
 
 For the convenience of the person renting a box, he is entitled to have put in it the 
 letters of his family, firm, or company, and those of his friends stopping temporarily 
 with him, if directed to his care or the number of his box ; but to protect the revenues 
 of the Dep.artment it is provided, that letters addressed to other persons residing in 
 the same place, ai\d living and doing business separate and apart from a box-holder, 
 should not be placed in the box. 
 
334 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 In order to protect the revenues aud to prevent the improper use of the privilege of 
 box-holders, postmasters should use proper care that none should have the jirivilege 
 of the box except those to whom it is allowed under the regulations. 
 
 In the exercise of this care, the difficulties and embarrassments that will most 
 frequently occur to postmasters will be the disposition to be properly made of letters 
 addressed to initials or fictitious names. 
 
 This embarrassment may be removed by instructions from the renter of the box 
 directing the jiostmaster that letters so addressed are intended for some of the persons 
 who are allowed to have his or her letters put in his box. All the regulations of the 
 Department in relation to the delivery of letters are framed with care to secure the 
 certain delivery of the letters to the persons to whom they are addressed aud to none 
 other. 
 
 The Department may be relieved from the duty of delivering them directly to the 
 person to whom they are addressed if the address directs them to be delivered at a 
 designated place withiu the delivery of the office to which they are addressed. But 
 the question may uot unfrequently be asked, Is a box in a post-office a designated 
 place within the intendment of the term as used in the regulations of the Department, 
 and in which letters addressed to fictitious persons, or firm.s, or to initials, or to no 
 particular person or firm, aud, further, addressed to a box of particular number, can be 
 placed ? I think not, in the absence of instructious from the renter of the box, satis- 
 factory to the postmaster, that the letters so addressed are intended for some of the 
 persons allowed under the rules to have their letters deposited in that particular box. 
 
 If it was otherwise, the restrictions of the regulations to i)rotect the revenue of the 
 Department would be unavailing, as the use of the box would be open to any one who 
 desired to use it, and for that purpose would resort in their correspondence to the use 
 of initials or fictitious names. 
 
 When a letter is addressed only to a particular box in a post-office, the presumption 
 is that it is intended for the person who rents the box ; but that presumption does not 
 arise when, in addition to the address to the box, there is that of initials or names, which 
 are not the initials or names of persons whose letters, under the regulations, are enti- 
 tled or allowed to be put in the box. These remarks are not applicable to registerd 
 letters. These regulations ^irovide that such letters "must never be delivered to any 
 person but the one to whom they are addressed, or to a person whom the postmaster 
 knows to be authorized to receive them. A receipt for each registered letter delivered 
 must always appear on the sheets provided for that purjiose." 
 
 In relation to the delivery of letters addressed to fictitious persons or firms, to initials? 
 or to no particular person or firm, the 157th section of the regulations provides that 
 "such letters must be returned at the end of each mouth to the Dead-Letter Office, 
 unless directed to be delivered at a designated i^lace, or to the care of a certain person 
 or firm, within the delivery of the office to which they are addressed." 
 
 Such direction relieves the Department, in the delivery, from the emban'assment 
 arising from the uncertainty of the address. 
 
 The term used in this section of the regulations is "fictitious persons or finns," and 
 is not applicable to firms or companies conducting a real and legitimate business under 
 a style or name which is not that of any member of the firm or company, and for that 
 reason might be termed a fictitious name. In such cases letters addressed to the firm 
 or company by its style or name only can be properly delivered to any known member 
 of it. The proper construction of this term of the regulation would limit its applica- 
 tion to letters addressed to persons or firms having no real or business existence. 
 
 It appears from the statements accompanying your communication that John M. 
 Dagnall rented box No. 153, in the post-office at Brooklyn ; that a large number of 
 letters addressed to "Nathaniel Mayfair, P. O. box 153, Brooklyn, N. Y.," arrived at 
 the post-office at the city of Brooklyn for delivery. 
 
 From this address the postmaster, in the absence of information to the contrary, 
 •would properly presume that " Nathaniel Mayfair" was the name of a real aud not a 
 
TITLE XII — OPINIONS. 335 
 
 fictitious person, for whom the h-tters wore intciKlfd, aiul, ho jirosniiuii;^, couhl not put 
 them for delivery in the box rented by John M. DugniiU until sjitislied that Natlmniel 
 Mayfair, for whom the letters were intended, was a member of his family or a friend 
 stopping temporarily with him. But, if against this presumption, he should be in- 
 formed that "Nathaniel Mayfair" was a fictitions name, which John M. Dagnall had 
 assumed for a presumed legitimate purpose in his correspondence, and that the letters 
 HO addressed were intended for him, then the letters should be put in his box for de- 
 livery to him, the address to the box being equal in all respects for the purpose of de- 
 livery to an address to his care. 
 
 The use of initials and fictitious names, as an address on letters to be sent through 
 the mails for fraudulent and immoral purposes, is much to be deprecated, but they 
 can be and are used extensively for legitimate and proper purposes, and in the ab- 
 sence of express legislation directing it, no further or other restriction or limitation 
 coi\l(l properly be imjiosed upon their use than that provided by a fair and i)roper 
 construction of the 157th regulation hereinbefore referred to. 
 
 There is nothing in your communication, aside from the suspicion T\hich attaches 
 itself to the use of a tictitious name tinder any circumstances, tending to show that 
 the letters uiuler the address of "Nathaniel Mayfair" were used for a purpose -\vliich 
 should, under the law, exclude them from the mails ; and the statement of John M. 
 Dagnall that "Nathaniel Mayfair" is a fictitious name for himself, that he has assumed 
 in his correspondence for a legitimate purpose, and that statement being confirmed by 
 the address to the box of which he is the renter, and other circumstaTices, I can see no 
 impropriety in gratifying his reciuest "that the letters now in the Department ad- 
 dressed to "Nathaniel Mayfair, P. O. box 153, Brooklyn," should be delivered to him 
 as the person for whom they were intended. 
 Resi>ectfully, yours, 
 
 T. A. PPENCE, 
 Assistant Attorney-General, Post-Office Department. 
 
 Hon. JoHX A. J. Cheswell, 
 Postniaster-Genei-al. 
 
 [Number (83) Six.] 
 Sureties upon Contracts. Their Liability, how Tested. 
 
 1. No certain and unerriii<i rule can be laid down by ■wliich tbe effect of other liabilities upon the 
 pecuttiary rcsponsilulity or sutHeicncy as surety of a person assuming them may be measured or de- 
 termined; and the only safe rule of conduct, by one who is called upon in the di8chai;:e of an official 
 duty to detemiine the efl'ect and extent of sueli liabilities, is to act in the case presented as a prudent 
 man Would act in a similar case when transacting his own private business. 
 
 Office of the Assistant Attorxey-General 
 
 FOR the Post-Office Depart.mext, 
 
 Washington, D. C, March 13, 1876. 
 Sir: I have carefully considered the questions embodied in the following letter, 
 ■which you have submitted to me : 
 
 " Washington', March 10, 1876. 
 
 ".Sir; In the matter of sureties on mail contracts, I desire instructions on the fol- 
 lowing points: 
 
 " 1st. Is each contract to be considered an independent transaction, and the ability 
 of the sureties to be tested as to its amount without reference to the fact as to whether 
 they have assumed liability on other contracts ? 
 
 "2d. Where the same sureties have assumed liabilities on more than one contract, 
 shall their responsibility be tested a<j to the aggregate liability, and their ability be re- 
 
336 POSTAL LAWS AND EEGULATIONS. 
 
 quired to be equal to the aggregate of liability assumed on all the contracts? And if 
 not, to what extent? 
 
 ' ' Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 
 "J. M. EDMUNDS, 
 
 '^Postmaster. 
 " Hon. Marshall Jewell, 
 
 "Fostma^to'-General." 
 
 I would state, in reply to the first question, that although each contract is to be 
 considered an independent transaction, yet the ability of the sxireties is not to be tested 
 as to its amount without reference to the fact as to whether they have assumed lia- 
 bility on other contracts. 
 
 As to the second question : The obligation of a surety in the bond of a bidder for 
 mail transportation is not a debt in the ordinary acceptation of the term, yet it is a 
 liability which affects his pecuniary responsibility, and his sufficiency as surety in any 
 other bond is diminished in proportion to the number and extent of such liabilities 
 compared with his property, real and personal. 
 
 No certain and unerring rule can be laid down by which the eifect of other liabilities 
 upon the pecuniary responsibility or sufficiency as surety of a person assuming them 
 may be measured or determined ; and the only safe rule of condvict by one who is called 
 upon in the discharge of an official duty to determine the effect and extent of such 
 liabilities is to act in the case presented as a prudent man would act in a similar case 
 when transacting his own private business. 
 
 A prudent man when called upon in the transaction of his private business to deter- 
 mine the sufficiency as a surety of a person offered as such, to secure a debt or the i)er- 
 formance of a contract, would properly inquire into the property, real and personal, of 
 the person offered, and the direct and contingent liabilities for which his property 
 might in any event be made resiionsible. With the same carefulness of inquiry does 
 the law require a postmaster to act before he certifies to the sufficiency of the sureties 
 in the bond or contract of a bidder. The law expressly requires the exercise of due 
 diligence by a postmaster on approving the bond of a bidder, under the penalties of 
 dismissal from office, disqualification from holding a like office in the future, and pun- 
 ishment, on conviction, by fine and imprisonment ; that requirement is not complied 
 with without a careful inquiry as to the property and liabilities of the persons ofi'ered 
 as sureties, and the exercise of an impartial judgment upon the information obtained 
 by snch inquiry. 
 
 This is my answer to the second question. 
 I am, very respectfully, 
 
 T. A. SPENCE, 
 Assistant Attorney-General, Post-Office Department. 
 
 Hon Marshall Jewell, 
 Postmaster-Genei'al. 
 
 [Number (122) Seven.] 
 
 Official Envelopes, Misuse of, by Private Individuals. 
 
 Office of the Assistant Attorney-General 
 
 FOR THE Post-Office Dkpartment, 
 
 Washington, D. C, November 8, 1877. 
 Sir : Yonr communication of the 2d instant, referring to this office certain interrog- 
 atories from Charles H. Coster, lias been considered. In reply, 1 liave to suggest that 
 so far as disclosed by the papers submitted, Mr. Coster sustains no such rel.ation to 
 the Department as entitles him to the information sought. If, however, you should 
 deem it proper to answer hi» comuuiuication, I have the honor to advise you that 
 
TITLE XII OPINIONS. 337 
 
 under uo tircunistancea liii.s a postina.sti'r a ri^^ht to dftaiii a letter iii»i>ii wliieh tlio 
 full anioiiiit of ])osta^e lias been jtaitl. lie eaiiiiot, luuler any circiuiiMtaiices, l»e 
 allowed to l)as(» his action upon a i)resunu!d kno\vle<l;r,) <,{" the contents of a Healed 
 letter. The Haerc<lness of a seal is inviolable. The law ]>resuines that the contents 
 of a sealed lett<'r are eonlidt-ntial, except in so far as they may he divulged hy the 
 jierson havinjr the authority to break the seal, and this presumption is conclusive. 
 The postmaster has no right to know and has no authority to inquire into the con- 
 tents of a sealed letter. If it should coiuo to his knowledge, aside from any informa- 
 tion that the letter itself might furnish, that the writer had improperly and illegally 
 used an olticial stamp or envelope, it would bo his duty to report such violation of the 
 law to the proper authorities of the government. It would, however, even in that 
 case, be his duty to deliver the letter, unless restrained from so doing by some com- 
 petent authority. 
 
 KespectfuUv, 
 
 A. A. FREEMAN, 
 
 Assistant Attorney-General for the Post-Office Department. 
 Hon. A. D. Hazen, 
 
 Third Assistant Fostmanter-General, 
 
 [Number (130) Eight.] 
 
 Payment of Money-Orders to Fictitious Address. — Validity of Power of 
 Attorney after Decease of Grantor. 
 
 1. Distinction is to be niacle in tlic payment of uiouey-oideis between those cases where assumed names 
 are made use of to cover a le;iitimate bona-fide business earned on with a legitimate intent, and those 
 where the business itself is ((iiestionable and the intent a frandulent one. 
 
 2. Power of attorney is personal, and dies with the party giving it. 
 
 Office of the Assistant Attorxey-Gexeral 
 
 FOR THE Post-Office Departmext, 
 
 Washington, D. C, July 16, 1878. 
 
 Sir : Your letter of the 8th instant, together witli inclosurcs, has been considered. 
 
 The subject-matter of said communication and inclosures may be considered under 
 the three specitic interrogatories which you have propounded to me, and which are in 
 the following words, to wit : 
 
 "1st. Whether a money-order issued in favor of a person or company having no ex- 
 istence in fact, could properly be paid to one doing business behind the advertised 
 name or style of such pretended person or company ; and if so what form of signature 
 would render the order a valid voucher under the provisions of law respecting the 
 issue and payment of money-orders ? " 
 
 "2d. Where an advertised business conducted under a personal name, such as 'Jos. 
 T. Inman,' has been legally transferred, would it be proper to pay to successors in such 
 business, say 'Allison and Hearue,' an order drawn in favor of Joseph T. luman ; and 
 if so, Avould a receipt in form like Allison and Hearue, successors to Jos. T. Inman, or 
 Allison «& Hearue, doing business under the name of Joseph T. Inman, serve to render 
 the order a sufficient voucher for the payment ?" 
 
 "3d. Would a power of attorney to collect or to sign be of effect, or could efifect be 
 given thereto, under any circumstances in the case of a money-order drawn, or of ono 
 presented for payment, after the decease of the person named as payee of such order, 
 and by whom such power of attorney Avas executed ?" 
 
 In reply to your Urst question, as to whether a money-order issued in favor of a 
 
 person or company having no existence in fact could properly be paid to one doing 
 
 business behind the advertised name or style of such pretended person or company, I 
 
 have to advise you that a proper solution of the question depends upon a correct ascer- 
 
 22 p L 
 
338 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 tainment of the facts of eacli particular case as it may arise. EverytMug, or at least 
 very much, depeuds upon the quo animo of the party using the name. Distinction is to 
 be made between those cases where assumed names are made use of to cover a legiti- 
 mate iona fide business carried on with a legitimate intent and those cases where the 
 business itself is questionable and the intent a fraudulent one. Imaginary or catch 
 titles are often made use of, in this country at least, as a means of advertising a strictly 
 legitimate business. 
 
 One of the cases cited by the postmaster at New York, in his letter of the 2Sth June, 
 will serve as an illustration of this. 
 
 J. T. Gilman is a responsible tea merchant, but he does his business under the names 
 of "The Great American Tea Co.," "The Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Co.," etc. 
 He doubtless finds it to his advantage to thus advertise, and the use of these titles 
 can scarcely subject him to the charge of using a fictitious title within the meaning 
 of the statute. If, however, J. T. Gilman should be an assumed name, and if in addi- 
 tion he should make use of any one or all of these titles, and be not engaged in the 
 trade which these titles indicate, or if he should make use of a legitimate title to cover 
 a fraudulent business or a business of the class denounced in section 3929 of the 
 Revised Statutes, he would clearlj' come within the scope of your first interrogatory. 
 
 In the case which you have particularly referred to this office it appears that Messrs. 
 Allison and Hearne make and sell a medicine which they advertise as the discovery of 
 Rev. Jos. T. Inmau. One of the firm personated Jos. T. Inman, in signing money-orders 
 drawn to him or his order, until it was discovered by the New York office that there 
 was no such j)erson as Jos. T. Inman doing business as pretended. It was then al- 
 leged by Allison and Hearne that Jos. T. Inman was deceased, and they still claim to 
 be the equitable owners of the orders, entitled, moreover, to sign the orders by virtue 
 of a power of attorney given to Allison by Jos. T. Inman in 1858, but which had since 
 been lost. 
 
 It is stated also in the letter of Mr. James, heretofore alluded to, that the business 
 in which these parties are engaged is of a questionable nature. 
 
 Under the circumstances of this case I should advise you that the payment of money- 
 orders drawn to the order of Jos. T. Inman should be refused. 
 
 As to your second interrogatory, I answer in the affirmative to both branches of it. 
 The postmaster, however, to whom such orders are presented for iiaymeut should be 
 satisfied as to the legality of the transfer of the business of the payee and the identity 
 of the persons purporting to be the successors of such payee. 
 
 Your third interrogatory is susceptible of but one answer. A power of attorney to 
 collect or to sign a money-order, drawn or presented for payment after the decease of 
 the jjerson named as payee of such order, and by whom such power of attorney was 
 executed, is void and of no effect in law. It is of a personal character, and dies with 
 the person granting it. The papers submitted are herewith returned. 
 
 July 27, 1878. 
 
 Sir : I am in receipt of the letter of Mr. James, postmaster at New York, under date 
 of the 25th instant, and addressed to yourself, relative to my opinion of the ICth in- 
 stant in the case of Allison and Hearne, submitted by your office under date of July 
 10th. 
 
 In his letter of the 25th Mr. James calls attention to my answer to the second ques- 
 tion propounded by you in your former letter, and its probable eff"ect if adopted un- 
 qualifiedly as the rule in paying the class of money-orders referred to, in depriving the 
 j)ayee of his heretofore-unquestioned right to all his money-order remittances. 
 
 For the sake of connection, I (|uote again the second interrogatory iiroponnded in 
 your former letter and my answer thereto. The question and answer are as follows : 
 
 "When an advertised business, conducted under a personal name, such as Jos. T. 
 Inman, has been legally transferred, would it be proper to pay to successors in such 
 business, say 'Allison and Hearne,' an order drawn in favor of Jos. T. Inmau; and, if 
 
TITLE XII OPINIONS. 339 
 
 so, would a rofcijit in form liko, 'Allison and Hoanio,' succcssorH to Jog. T. Inniaii, or 
 'Allison and Hrarno'doin^i business under the name of Jos. T. Innian, serve to n-mler 
 tlui order a surtieieut voueher for tln^ ])aynient V 
 
 To this (juestion the reply was as follows : 
 
 "As to your second interrogatory, I answer in the atlirniative to both hranehes of it. 
 The postmaster, however, to whom such orders arc presented for payment should ho 
 satisHed as to the legality of the transfer of the business of the payee and the identity 
 of the persons purporting to be the successors of such payee." 
 
 As a general proposition of law, I have no doubt of the correctness of this view. It 
 must be borne in mind, however, that the money-order sought to be collected by the 
 transferee must be directly connected with the business transferred. The transferee 
 must have a direct interest in the order presented for payment growing out of the 
 transfer. This interest might or might not attach to remittances drawn to the prede- 
 cessor of the transferee. That would depend iipou the nature of the transfer. A. B. 
 may transfer not only his right and title to the business in question to C. D., but the 
 transfer may include all outstanding claims or debts of A. B. If such be the case, C. 
 D., as the successor of A. B., would have the uudovibted right to receipt for all money- 
 orders drawn to the order of A. B. in anyway connected with the business transfen-ed. 
 If, however, the transfer applied only to the right to continue the business under the 
 title, only such money-orders could be receipted for by C. D. as were incident to the 
 ti'ansfer of the title. 
 
 It is proper to observe in this connection that after fully considering the letter of 
 the postma^ster at New York, and the cases suggested by him, where a .strict applica- 
 tion of the rule would work injustice, I am satisfied that it would be difficult to lay 
 down any general proposition for his guidance. Each case must stand ui)on its owu 
 merits. The course suggested by Mr. James, to wit, of requiring the payee to either 
 receipt tlie order or authorizing in writing another to collect and receipt for him, is 
 unquestionably the safest one. 
 
 Very respectfully, 
 
 A. H. BISSELL, 
 
 Acting Assistant Attorney-General, Post-Office Department. 
 
 Hon. C. F. McDoxALD, 
 
 Superintendent Money-Order System. 
 
 Approved. A. A. FREEMAN, 
 
 Assistant Attorney-General for the Post-Office Department. 
 
 [Number (132) Nine.] 
 
 Fraudulent Use of the Mails. 
 
 Office op the Assistaxt Attorxey-Gexeral 
 
 FOR the Post-Office Departmext, 
 
 JVashington, D. €., August 16, 1878. 
 
 Sir: The circular, purporting to have been issued by the "Albion Portrait Works," 
 submitted by you for my opinion, is unmailable under section 4041 of the Revised 
 Statutes. That section reads as follows : 
 
 "The Postmaster-General may, upon evidence satisfactory to him that any person 
 is engaged in conducting any fraudulent lottery, gift-enterprise, or scheme for the 
 distribution of monej-, or of any real or personal property, by lot, chance, or drawing 
 of any kind, or in conducting any other scheme or device for obtaining money through 
 the mails by means of false or fraudulent pretenses, representations, or promises, for- 
 bid the payment, by any postmaster, to any such person of any postal money-order 
 drawn to his order or in his favor, and may provide by regulations for the return, to 
 the remitter, of the sums named in such money-orders. But this shall not authorize 
 any person to open any letter not addressed to himself." 
 
340 POSTAL LAWS AND EEGULATIONS. 
 
 This is uudoiibtedly a scheme for the distribution of " money " or "personal jn-nperty " 
 by "lot" or "chance," and should he stamped as a "fraud" and excluded from the 
 mails. It is evident upon the most casual examination of the circular that the "Albion 
 Portrait Works" (which seems to have an international existence, an office located 
 for one purpose in Canada and a different office for a dilferent purpose in the United 
 States) cannot comply with its undertakings, True, it claims that it cau aftbrd to 
 make these immense sacrifices to secure a large circulation, and by that means an ex- 
 tensive advertisement of its paintings. This plea will not avail to cover up the fraud. 
 No honest man would advertise to give away a hundred-dollar gim or a forty-dollar 
 gun in order to sell a twenty-five dollar picture. But admitting that these gifts or 
 prizes are to be distributed as set out in the circular, the author of this scheme shows 
 that they are distributed by c/i.a"ce, and explains in detail the mode of distribution, 
 thus bringing his scheme so clearly within the inhibition of the statute as to render 
 comment unnecessary. The objection frequently iirged against lotteries is that they 
 are not governed alone by lot or chance. This author, however, is particular to de- 
 monstrate that under his scheme it is impossible that anything save the merest chance 
 should control his distribution, not even the sender of the prize or gift being allowed 
 to know what the gift is. It avails nothing to say that the so-called "Premium gift 
 order" is sent unsolicited, and that the recipient has his option to retiiru it accom- 
 panied by the additional j)rice of the picture or to retain or destroy the order. If 
 the orders are worth what they purport to be (varying from twenty-five to four hun- 
 dred per cent, of the price of the painting), then the company cannot aftbrd to give 
 them away. If, on the other hand, they are worthless, as the manner of giving them 
 to every man who is willing to receive them from the postmaster would seem most 
 clearly to demonstrate, then it is a fraud, and ought to be suppressed. If tbis grand 
 gift concern, alias "The Albion Portrait Works," is engaged, as it purports to be, in, 
 recklessly squandering and giving away its property, it would be a stroke of good 
 fortune to have its business suppressed. If, on the other hand, it is an attempt to 
 defraud the public, then its victims are entitled to the protection atibrded them by 
 the restrictions the law has thrown around the use of the mails. 
 Very respectfully, 
 
 A. A. FREEMAN, 
 Assistant Attorncij-General for the Post-Office Department. 
 Hon. Jos. H. Blackfax, 
 
 Snperintendent Foreign Afails. 
 
 [No. (157) Ten.] 
 
 Advertising Sheets. — What Constitutes a " Regular Publication, Designed 
 Primarily for Advertising Purposes." 
 
 1. In asccrtaiiiiug the primary purpose of the paper, we are not confined to cither its cditoiial or 
 advertising columns ; for it is a fact that will hardly bo controverted that by far the most valuable 
 advertisements are those which, in the nature of editoiials, call particular attention to that character 
 of business in which the advertiser is engaged. This is especially true when the particular character 
 of business thus advertised can be conducted at but one place, and the editor or proprietor is the only 
 person advertised as engaged in that particular business. 
 
 2. A paper owned and controlled by one or several individuals or business concerns and conducted as 
 an auxiliary, and essentially for the advancement of the main business or calling of those wlio own or 
 control them, is an advertising sheet within the intent of the law. 
 
 Office of the Assistant Attorney-General 
 
 FOR THE PoST-OfFICE DEPARTMENT, 
 
 Washiiifjton, I). C, March 7, 1879. 
 Sir: Iu compliance with your verbal request, I have examined the petition of Mr. 
 **** ** * * asking that the question of the proper classification of the **** **** 
 a paper published in the city of Washington, D. C, bo reopened and reviewed by 
 
TITLE XII — OPINIONS. 341 
 
 tho Pcpai'tmont. Mr. *»•*»» proposes to support his application lij" substantially 
 the following : 
 
 l8t. His own affidavit, showiiin that the **•* ••** is not pnhlishod "primarily 
 for advortisinjr purposes " ; aiul, further, that said paper is not published at nominal 
 rates nor for free circulation. 
 
 2d. That the Post-Ollice Department knowin<,'ly permits other papers, which are 
 notoriously advertising sheets, to fjo throu<,'h the mails at juMind rates, eitinjf the 
 " Scientific American," "Tho Boston Journal of Chemistry," "The Star-Span<;led 
 Banner," etc. 
 
 M. Tliat the law officer of the Department stated that the Scientific American was 
 permitted to i)ass throujih the mails at the jmuiid r.ates hecanse of its wide and ex- 
 tensive circulation, while the ***** **** has a circulation as large, if not larger, 
 than the Si'ientific American. 
 
 4th. That he is making a profit of .9:?,000 per year from the sul)Scrii)tions received. 
 5th. That the order excluding the **** **** from the pound rates is an unjust 
 discrimination against its stibscrihers, who are soldiers. 
 
 He proposes to show by letters from "tens of thousands of ex-soldiers that they 
 look upon the **** **** as a newspaper, and that they believe themselves outraged 
 by the government in this unjustifiable attempt to interfere with their family paper." 
 The petition then concludes as follows: 
 
 " I propose to prove that the word primarily does not attach to a paper where sev- 
 enteen-eighteenths of the same is not advertising, but that the whole, or nearly the 
 -whole part of the paper must be used for advertising before the word 'primarily ' can 
 rightfully attach thereto in the meaning of the law. 
 
 "All of which I ask permission to submit, in order to revoke the order excluding the 
 **** **** from its just rights under the laws." 
 
 It will be observed, in the first place, that the petitioner does not ask for a review of 
 the ruling of the Department, on the ground that the evidence otfered to be submitted 
 is new or that is was not heard when the matter of the classification of the paper was 
 originally before the Department. Before yon can be asked to review your action in 
 the premises, I am of the opinion the petitioner ought to submit new facts, or else 
 show in a very satisfactory manner that the original ruling, as based on the facts 
 already adduced, was wrong. This the petitioner does not do. The statement proposed 
 to be made that the **** **** is not piihlished "jmmarih/ for adrertisinri purposeii " 
 is more of the natnre of a conclusion of law than a statement of a fact. A paper, the 
 principal ol)ject or design of which is to advertise a particular trade or profession, edited 
 and controlled by a person engaged in the particular trade or professi(ni advertised 
 in its columns, falls within the class defined by law to be " regular publications de- 
 signed primarily for advertising purposes." (Sec. 1.5, act approved July 1'2, 1876.) 
 
 In ascertaining the primary purpose of the paper, we are not confined to either its 
 editorial or advertising columns; for it is a fact that will hardly be controverted that 
 by far the most valuable advertisements are those which, in the nature of editorials, 
 call particular attention to that character of business in which the advertiser is en- 
 gaged. This is especially true when the particular character of business thus'adver- 
 tised can be conducted at but one place, and the editor or proprietor is the only per- 
 son advertised as engaged in that particular business. 
 
 I therefore conclude that the matters of fiict otfered to be set forth in the affidavit 
 of the petitioner might be true, and yet not inconsistent with the judgment already 
 rendered Ijy the Department. 
 
 A regular publication, designed primarily for advertising purposes, may possess 
 every characteristic set out in Mr. ****** proposed affidavit. As to the state- 
 ment that it is not published at nominal rates, that has nothing to do with the ques- 
 tion as to whether its primary purpose is that of advertising. Papers that are pub- 
 lished for free circulation, or at nominal rates of subscription, form a distinct class. 
 The paper in question may have a large and lona-fide subscription list, from which 
 
342 POSTAL LAWS AND EEGULATIONS. 
 
 its proprietor may derive a large income; it may possess all the xiaraplierualia of a 
 newsi>aper, possessing a known office of publication, issued in regular numbers, con- 
 veying intelligence of passing events, &c., and yet be a " regular publication designed 
 primarily for advertising purposes." 
 
 I am not called upon to determine whether the paper in question falls within that 
 class ; that question has already been determined ; and I am called upon to say whether 
 the evidence proposed to be submitted is sufficient of itself to reverse that conclusion. 
 
 This question is invested with almost insuperable difficulties. 
 
 The 15th section of the act of July 12, 1876, provides that ''transient newspapers 
 magazines, and regular publications, designed primarily for advertising ptirposes, or 
 for free circulation, or for circulation at nominal rates, and all printed matter of the 
 third class except unsealed circulars, shall be admitted to and transmitted tln-ough 
 the mails at the rate of one cent for every two ounces or fractional jjart thereof," 
 
 What is a "regular publication designed primarily for advertising purposes"? In 
 order to arrive at a proper conclusion, it may be necessary to examine critically two 
 words used in the paragraph, namely, "designed" and " primarily." The term design 
 means to intend, to purpose ; i. e,, a pajier, the intention or purpose in the publication 
 of which is to advertise. But this must be its "primary" purpose. The term "pri- 
 mary" here relates not to the order of time when this purpose was formed, but relates 
 to the character of this design, its dignity and importance. It means, therefore, a 
 regular iiublication, the principal purpose or object of which is to advertise. 
 
 But we are told that the principal profit derived from the most of periodical publi- 
 cations is derived from advertisements, and therefore we are asked to conclude that 
 advertising is the principal object of the leading newspapers of the country; and as 
 it was not the design of Congress to include the common current newsiiapers of the 
 day in this class, that therefore this definition is unsatisfactory. 
 
 But we must not confound the "desire "or " wish" of the publisher with his "design." 
 His wish or desire is to make money. His design is to do so by means of publishing a paper. 
 He may conclude to publish a paper having no advertisements at all — such, for instance, 
 as the New York Ledger — or he may conclude to publish one having, like the New 
 York Herald, a large amount of advertisements. In both cases, however, his business 
 is the dissemination of newspaper matter. We buy, subscribe for, and read the 
 Ledger on account of its essays, literature, and stories. We read the Herald on 
 account of the world-wide information as to current events found in its columns, and 
 also on account of the varied business interests it advertises. Whether we look to its 
 advertising or editorial columns we find it full of legitimate newspaper matter. We 
 look in vain through its columns to ascertain who its editor is or what his business is. 
 In fact, there is nothing in either one of the papers I have named, or the thousand of 
 others that might be named (for I have instanced these two as the leading examples 
 of the two difierent kinds of papers), to indicate that the publishers have auy other 
 business than that of publishing the paper. A careful examination of these papers 
 fails to disclose that the editor of either has any other occupation than that of pub- 
 lishing a newspai^er. The one advertises for nobody ; the other for everybody. 
 
 The paper under consideration pursues neither course ; the burden of its editorials 
 and general reading matter is directed in a single charmel, viz, that of building up the 
 private business of its editor. The paper is devoted to the interests of those having 
 claims, present or pi'ospective, against the government, and the proprietor, and he 
 alone, is advertised as engaged in the business of collecting these claims. To fall 
 Avithin this class it need not be a transient or irregular publication, nor a publication 
 designed for free circulation, nor for circulation at nominal rates ; these form, as already 
 stated, a distinct class of their own, and the rate of postage on each is prescribed by 
 law. We find a paper imblished at a point where a particular trade or profession 
 amounts to a specialty, and we find the cohimns of said paper largely devoted to a 
 particuLar trade or pn)fession; its editorials principally on that subject; its corre- 
 spondence almost exclusively on that or kindred subjects; the burden of its informa- 
 tion relating to a i^articular subject, as, for instance, the collection of claims against 
 
TITLE XII — OPINIONS. 343 
 
 the {loverniuoiit. Whon \vc fmd tlic* wliolo tnakcviip t>f tlic ]tai)cr of a character to 
 eatfli tbo ey»> and enlist tho intenMit of only a particular class, we conclude, of course, 
 that it is what is denominated a "class Journal." That, however, is not suflicient to 
 exclude it from the pound rates ; for very many papers of this class are everyday ad- 
 mitted to the mails at pound rates. But when we proceed a step further, and ascertain 
 that, in addition to all this, the paper advertises the ^»v>j>cit'/«r, <tn<l him alone, as en- 
 gaged iu a business outerpriso, in which the particular class of persons whose interests 
 are apparently sought to he promoted arc most deeply interested, I think we may well 
 conclude that the primary or principal object of the pajier is to advertise the business 
 of the editor. 
 
 I am not holding that a lawyer, mechanic, or physician, a claim agent or nu'rchant, 
 may not edit a legitimate newspaper, entitled as such to the pound rates. I do hold, 
 however, that when a person engaged in any of the trades or professions named, or 
 others of similar character undertakes, in addition to and in connection with such 
 occupation or profession, to publish a nciwspaper, having for its principal object the 
 promotion of the particular class of business in which its proprietor is engaged, con- 
 veying through its columns the superior facilities of its editor or proprietor for the 
 transaction of that particular business, in such a manner as to impress even a casual 
 reader with the fact that the entire influence of the paper is devoted to forwarding 
 the professional interests of its editor or proprietor, that such a paper falls within the 
 rule. Nor does it materially alter the case that such a papier contains a largo propor- 
 tion of reading-matter of interest to the general public. It is not the amount of si)ace 
 occupied by what are ordinarily denominated advertisements that brings it within the 
 rule. Seventeen-eighteenths of the paper in question may, as the petitioner alleges, 
 be devoted to reading-matter. The rule has been held, and I think correctly, to apply 
 to a j)aper tilled with reading-matter, other than advertisements, containing not a 
 single advertisement in the ordinary sense of that term, for the reason that it made the 
 simple announcement, in a marginal form, that it was published by a tirm engaged 
 in a certain trade ; as, for instance, " this paper is published by John Smith, the grocer." 
 The most casual examination of the paper under consideration discloses the interest 
 of its publisher in its circulation. He may have, as he says, tens of thousands of sub- 
 scribers, and all the paraphernalia of a regular ncAvspaper. His paper may be read, 
 and doubtless is read, by thousands of ex-soldiers and others having claims, real or 
 prospective, against the government ; but the paper is so apparently, palpably, and 
 notoriously devoted to forwarding the private interest of the pro])rietor as an attorney 
 or claim agent, that I cannot see how we can avoid the conclusion that the paper is 
 devoted primarily to advertising his business. Suppose instead of seventeen-eight- 
 eenths, as is claimed, ninety-nine one hundredths of the space were devoted to matter 
 relating princiiially to the subject of pensions and other claims, and the paper should 
 contain a simple announcement, in some peculiar and attractive form, that it wa* 
 issued by John Smith, attorney and counsellor at law and solicitor of claims and 
 patents, is it not apparent that it would fall within the rule ? 
 
 I have already intimated that it is very difificult to lay down any general rule on 
 this subject. I think, however, we maj" adopt as a basis for a sound discrimination 
 on this subject the following rule, viz : A paper principally or very largely devoted 
 to a jiarticular interest, as, for instance, the collection of claims against the govern- 
 ment or the sale of a particular article of manufiicture, or the development of a par- 
 ticular section of couutrj-, edited and controlled, iu the first instance, at the seat of 
 government by a claim agent, or, in the second instance, by the proprietor of the 
 article advertised iu its columns, or, in the third instance, by a real-estate agent in 
 the section of country advertised or proposed to be developed — such a paper may very 
 safely be held to be within the rule. If it should be urged as an objection to this rule 
 that it excludes professional men, merchants, and artisans from the editorial class, I 
 reply by saying that the law interposes no obstacle in the way of either of the classes 
 named, exce^jt to say that they may not burden the mails with advertisements of their 
 private interests under the guise of publishing a newsi)aper devoted to the interests of 
 a particular class of persons or the public. 
 
344 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 I am not prepared to say that a person engaged in either of the occupations I have 
 named, or an occupation or profession of kindred character, may not also engage in edit- 
 ing a legitimate newspaper entitled to the pound rates of postage. I am prepared to 
 say, however, in view of the law, that a person so engaging in two occupations having 
 so little legitimate connection ought not (if the paper is devoted to the particular 
 interest in which he is engaged) to advertise himself at all, for if he does he must 
 know that he raises a very strong, if not a conclusive, presumption that the primary 
 or leading object of his paper is to advertise his business. If, for instance, the primary 
 ol)ject of the paper under consideration is to serve the interest of the soldier element 
 of the country, it is submitted that the general interest of that element could be 
 equally as well served if the exclusive advertisement of the editor's professional busi- 
 ness was left out entirely. It is no more to the interest of the soldier element of the 
 country to know that blanks and forms for prosecuting claims for pensions, &c., can 
 be procured from the proprietor of the ***** *****^ and that such claims will be 
 collected by such i^roprietor, than it is to the general public to know that a certain 
 character of goods can be procured of A. T. Stewart & Co., and yet a copy of such a 
 paper as the New York Ledger containing reading matter for the million, and without 
 a siugle advertisement, could not go through the mails at pound rates if it contained 
 the simple announcement that it was issued by A. T. Stewart & Co., merchant, etc. 
 
 The law could interfere by saying that "notwithstanding your paper is tilled with 
 good reading matter ; notwithstanding not a single advertisement, in the ordinary 
 sense of that term, is found in your columns, yet the very mode in. which you issue 
 the paper — nay, the very fact that advertisements of all business, especially all rival 
 firms, is excluded from your coliimns, shows that the primary object of issuing the 
 paper is to advertise your business." 
 
 I deem it unnecessary to discuss the allegations in the petition that other journals 
 are admitted, which, under the law, ought to be excluded. While not agreeing to 
 the correctness of this statement, it is not at all imjiossible that, in the construction 
 or application of a statute of this character, mistakes should occur. It is not believed, 
 however, that in any instance has a paper been admitted to the mails at pound rates 
 for the simple reason of its extensive circulation ; nor for the reason that it was 
 regarded by a large number of persons as a good jiaper. There is no other class of 
 persons deserving so much at the hands of the government as the soldier class, but in 
 the absence of any legislation on the subject, the Department can make no distinction 
 in the application of the law fixing the rates of postage on newspapers. 
 
 A paper, the primary or princijial purpose of which is to advertise the business of a 
 gentleman engaged in the collection of j)ensions or other claims against the goveiu 
 ment, is chargeable, under the law, with precisely the same rate of postage required 
 to be paid on a paper the primary j)urpose of which is to advertise any other business 
 or occupation. 
 
 Very respectfully, 
 
 A. A. FREEMAN, 
 Assistant Ationiey-Gcvcral , Fost-Office Ueiuirt incut. 
 
 Hon. D. M. Key, 
 
 Post mas ter-Gen era 1. 
 
 [Number (159) Eleven."] 
 
 Delivery of Letters, Right of Trustees to Letters addressed to a Firm by 
 whom they were Appointed, Discussed. 
 
 Office of the Assistant Attorxev-Gkxf.ral 
 
 FOR THE Post-Office Depaktmext, 
 
 Washington, D. C, April 5, 1879. 
 Sir: The papers submitted by you on this day show that on the 3d day of March, 
 1879, Trufant & Davis, merchants in the city of Boston, executed a deed of trust to 
 George Woods Rice and Stephen M. Crosby. The deed, or so much thereof as relates 
 
TITLE XII OPINIONS. 345 
 
 to the qnestion lioreinafter stated, is as follows : • * " " Now, therefore, tli*> said 
 Trufiint & Davis, for the purposivs hereiu coutaiued, aud in consideration of one dol- 
 lar to him paid )>y the said parties of the second part, the receipt whereof is hereby 
 aeknowledjied, do hereby grant, harjjain, soil, assijrn, and convey to said parties of the 
 second part, all the floods, Avares, nienhandisc, chattels, etlects, ehoscs in action, 
 estates and property, real and personal, of every name, nature, and description, when-- 
 socver the same may he, helon<;ing to .said parties of the first part, tr)j;('ther w ith all 
 their books of acconnts, evidences of debt, and correspond<'nce relatinf; to their busi- 
 ness, whether now in their hands or which may hereafter come to them, exccptin<^, 
 however, herefrom their household furniture and etlects." » • • • 
 
 Under this deed the trustees claim the rij^ht to demand and receive all letters ad- 
 dressed to the makers of the deed. I do not think this claim can be maintain<'d. 
 Under all ordinary circnmstances the addressee of a letter, aud he alone, is entitled to 
 demand it from the postmasttu-. The exceptions to this rule are very few, aud rest 
 iipou well-defined principles of natural or commercial necessity. 
 
 If the addressee is dead it is physically impossible to make the delivery to him ; it 
 must in that case go to his representative. If he is bankrupt he is civiliter mortuim, 
 and in like manner incapable of receiving letters relating to the matter of his commer- 
 cial life, and such letters are, therefitre, required to be delivered to the assignee ; not to 
 his assignee, but the assignee appointed under the law without his direction. He is 
 civilly dead, and the court has appointed a representative to take charge of his estate. 
 He is incapable of receiving his correspondence, aud therefore the law, ex necessitate rei, 
 directs its delivery to another ])erson. 
 
 Here the case is different. Both parties are alive, physically and commercially. 
 Both are capable of contracting. It is true that the addressees of the correspondence 
 have undertaken to convey the oorrespoudence relating to their busiiiess ; but this 
 conveyance is limited to the correspondence now in their (the addressees') hands, or 
 which may hereafter come to them. How is it practicable to determine before a let- 
 ter is opened that it is a " correspondence relating to their business " ? The fact that 
 it is addressed to the tirra is a very strong circumstance in favor of that presumiition, 
 but by no means conclusive. 
 
 Under this deed, if the assignee is entitled to receive and open all the correspondence 
 addressed to the assignors, it would be their duty to return such as did not relate to 
 the business. If, on the contrary, the assignors are entitled to receive aud open letters 
 addressed to them, it would be their duty to return to the trustees all letters relating 
 to their business. 
 
 The postmaster ought not to be reqxiired to assume the responsibility of deciding as 
 to the proper party to exercise so delicate a trust. 
 
 It would have been an easy matter to so draft the deed as to have made it operate 
 as a direction to the postmaster to deliver all the correspondence to the trustee, if 
 such had been the design of the parties to the deed. 
 
 But I am not undertaking to decide as to what was the intention of the parties to 
 the deed. It is enough that the matter is left in doubt, aud wherever the least 
 shadow of doubt exists, as to the proper person to receive a letter, the postmaster 
 should follow literally the directions ujiou the face of the letter. 
 Very respectfully, 
 
 A. A. FREEMAN, 
 Assistant Attorney-General, Post-Office Department. 
 
 Hon. James N. Tyxer, 
 
 First Assistant Post master- GeneraJ. 
 
346 
 
 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 List of all Opinions Given by the Assistant Attorney-General for the Post 
 
 Office Department. 
 
 No, 
 
 Subject. 
 
 Date. 
 
 2 
 3 
 
 4 
 5 
 
 G 
 
 7 
 
 8 
 
 9,10 
 
 11 
 
 12 
 
 13 
 
 14 
 
 15 
 
 16 
 
 17 
 
 18 
 
 19 
 
 20 
 21 
 
 22 
 23 
 24 
 25 
 
 26 
 27 
 28 
 29 
 
 30 
 
 31 
 
 32 
 33 
 
 34 
 
 35 
 38 
 37 
 
 38 
 39 
 40 
 41 
 42 
 43 
 
 44 
 
 45 
 46 
 
 Construction of section 5464 Revised Statutes. Bang's photo- 
 graphic postal card- 
 Delivery of letters to members of dissolved partnership 
 
 Cancellation of official stamps. Construction of section 3855 
 Revised Statutes. 
 
 New service. Construction of term 
 
 Concealment of mail-matter. Construction of section 3887 
 Revised Statutes. 
 
 Local or drop letters 
 
 Mail contractor's oath 
 
 Bona-fide and regular subscribers. Construction of term 
 
 Moiety to informers 
 
 Delivery of letters. Effect of injunction of State court 
 
 Back numbers. Meaning of term 
 
 Delivery of letters of deceased person 
 
 Sending of mail-matter by express. Packet and package defined . 
 
 Gift enterprises. Sections 3894,3929, 4041, and 5480 Revised 
 Statutes. 
 
 Obscene publications. Construction of act of March 3, 1873. 
 Section 3893 Revised Statutes. 
 
 Copyright act 
 
 Continental Bank-Note Company. Construction of their con- 
 tract of January 25, 1873. 
 
 Loss of money in the mails 
 
 Readjustment of compensation for railway mail service 
 
 Delivery of letters of deceased person. Rights of widow, child, 
 and legal representative discussed. 
 
 Neglect of government officials .. 
 
 Readjustment of compensation for carrying the mails 
 
 Production of letters before a court under process duces tecum. .. 
 
 Guarantors of a bidder for mail-contract. Postmaster's certifi- 
 cate as to their responsibility. 
 
 Letter-boxes. Law governing the use of 
 
 Mail contracts. Method of bidding for, and obligation of bidders . 
 
 Return of checks or drafts accompanying bids for mail service. 
 
 Official stamps to be furnished Executive Departments. Con- 
 struction of section 4, act of March 3, 1873. 
 
 Successful bidder for mail service cannot associate another with 
 him. 
 
 Baltimore aud Ohio Raih-oad. Clai m for extra compensation for 
 carrying mail. 
 
 Postmasters' salaries. Readj ustment of, in special cases 
 
 Interruption of mail by ferrymen. Mail-carrier's rights in cross- 
 ing a ferry. 
 
 Carrying the mail. Rights of legal representatives of deceased 
 contractors. 
 
 Carrying the mail. Power of Postmaster-General to contract for. 
 
 Lottery letters. Disposition of, now in the Dead-Letter Office.. 
 
 Effect of discontinuance of post-office upon postmaster ap- 
 pointed by President. 
 
 Letters addressed to letter-box 
 
 Supplement. Construction of word 
 
 Carrying mail without advertisement, Avhcn 
 
 Compensation to railroads for carrying the mails 
 
 Mail contracts. Construction of section 3951 Revised Statutes . 
 
 Apidicatiou to reconsider the rejection of the bid of John D. 
 Johnson. 
 
 Curtailed service, Term discussed 
 
 Failure of lowest bidder to execute contract by time required.. 
 
 Relative to the compromise of the claim of the United States 
 against Lowell, late i)ostmasfccr at New Orleans. 
 
 23 June, 1873. 
 
 24 June, 
 
 26 June, 
 
 11 July, 
 18 July, 
 
 27 July, 
 30 July, 
 
 5 Aug., 
 8 Aug., 
 11 Aug., 
 15 Aug., 
 22 Aug., 
 26 Aug., 
 2 Oct., 
 
 1873. 
 1873. 
 
 1873. 
 1873. 
 
 1873. 
 1873. 
 1873. 
 1873. 
 1873. 
 1873. 
 1873. 
 1873. 
 1873. 
 
 23 Oct., 1873. 
 
 12 Nov., 
 8 Dec, 
 
 6 Jan., 
 
 7 Jan., 
 
 13 Jan., 
 
 14 Jan., 
 20 Jan., 
 
 24 Jan., 
 29 Jan., 
 
 4 Feb., 
 13 Feb., 
 23 Feb., 
 
 25 Feb., 
 
 1873. 
 1873. 
 
 1874. 
 1874. 
 1874. 
 
 1874. 
 1874. 
 1874. 
 1874. 
 
 1874. 
 1874. 
 1874. 
 1874. 
 
 6 Mar., 1874. 
 16 Mar., 1874. 
 
 17 Mar., 
 20 Mar., 
 
 1674. 
 1874. 
 
 26 Mar., 1874. 
 
 6 April, 1874. 
 
 9 April, 1874. 
 
 17 April, 1874. 
 
 22 April, 1874. 
 
 24 iVpril, 1874. 
 
 8 May, 1874. 
 
 15 May, 1874. 
 28 May, 1874. 
 
 3 June, 1874. 
 
 9 June, 1874. 
 
 16 June, 1874. 
 
 18 June, 1874. 
 
TITLE XII OPINIONS. 347 
 
 List of opinions (jivcn by Anxinldiil Altornry-dcnvnil for J'oMt-Office Diparltneut — Cont'd. 
 
 Subject. 
 
 Ri}:jlit and duty of ro.stnia.stf'r-Gcn<'ral rof^ardiiijf unliiiishcd in- 
 Vf.stij;a1ion (if itrcdt^ccssor. Applii'atinu lo reopen eas»i. 
 
 What advertisements for earryin;^ the mail must eonlain 
 
 Upon tlie ))roiM>sal of .Mr. Hincdvly to submit tiie question of 
 compensation to I'hiladelphia, Wilmington tfc Baltimore liail- 
 road to arliitration. 
 
 Official Postal ( Jiiido. Before entering into contract for compila- 
 tion and publication, must there be an advertisement. 
 
 Use of the mails by persons advertisinj;' gift-concerts, etc 
 
 Dcmau<l for a maii contract as next lowcist l>idder because of 
 alleged failure of the contractor to perform the service. 
 
 Against award of contract for stamped envelopes and wrappers 
 to Plymi)tou Mauufactariug Company. Protest of George H. 
 Reay. 
 
 Against extending time for furnishing stamped envelopes. Pro- 
 test of Messrs. Raynor & Co. 
 
 Regai'ding postage on foreign periodicals imported and mailed 
 in the United States. 
 
 Transmission of newspapers to Europe outside of the mails 
 
 Sureties of mail contractors. Duties of postmasters certifying 
 to the sufficiency of. 
 
 Newspapers and iieriodical publications. Construction of sec- 
 tion 5, act of Juno 23, 1874. 
 
 Constitutional powers of President to till vacancies originating 
 during the session of the Senate and continuing during the 
 recess. 
 
 Contractors for carrying the mails. Section 3943 Revised Stat- 
 utes, does not restrict contractors to owners or masters of steam- 
 boats. Postmaster-General may let contract without adver- 
 tisement to one who is neither a master nor owner of a steam- 
 boat. 
 
 Right of Postmaster-General to compromise judgment against 
 Sinmis, postmaster at Atlanta, Ga., and sureties. 
 
 Wliat constitutes "corrected proof-sheets" -• 
 
 Question of forfeitures considered 
 
 Periodical publication. What constitutes, within the intend- 
 ment of section 5, act of June 23, 1874. 
 
 Heirs of Sheldon McKnight. Application to have the case re- 
 opened. 
 
 Liability of postmaster's bond for loss of registered package... 
 
 Taking or receiving of letters, etc., for the purpose of obstruct- 
 ing the correspondence or prying into the business or secrets 
 of another. Construction of section 3892, Revised Statutes. 
 
 Power of Postmaster-General to contract with more than one 
 railroad to carry the mails over same route. 
 
 Denver Pacific Railway and Telegraph Company. Claim for 
 compensation for tran8])ortation of mails. 
 
 Application for reward ottered September 9, 1874. In re J. T. 
 Morris. 
 
 Oregim Steam Navigation Company vs. Z. S. Moody 
 
 Reweighiug of mails on railroad routes. Construction of sec- 
 tions 4002-4005 Re\n8ed Statutes. 
 
 Failure of railroads to perform service. Rule of deduction 
 
 Postal convention with Canada. Construction of, relative to 
 rei)aymeut of money-order to remitter. 
 
 Southern newspapers. Compensation to, under designation of 
 Clerk of House of Re])rosentatives. 
 
 Deposit of postal funds by postmasters in cities where there is 
 an assistant treasurer. 
 
 Postal cards. Their character and relation to the postal serv- 
 ice. 
 
 Curtailment of service. Rate of compensation 
 
 ''Lap service." Rule of compensation to be i)aid to Burlington 
 and Missouri Railroad Company. 
 
 Date. 
 
 11 July, 1874. 
 
 14 Julv, 1874. 
 21 July, 1874. 
 
 24 July, 1874. 
 
 20 Aug., 1874. 
 
 8 Sept., 1874. 
 
 6 Oct., 1874. 
 
 17 Oct., 1874. 
 
 28 Oct., 1874. 
 
 21 Dec, 1874. 
 
 23 Dec, 1874. 
 
 15 Feb., 1875. 
 
 19 Feb., 1875. 
 
 2 Mar., 1875. 
 
 11 Mar., 
 
 1875. 
 
 15 May, 
 
 17 May, 
 
 2 June, 
 
 1875. 
 1875. 
 1875. 
 
 5 June, 
 
 1875. 
 
 8 Juno, 
 2G June, 
 
 1875. 
 1875. 
 
 14 Aug., 
 
 1875. 
 
 23 Aug., 
 
 1875. 
 
 27 Aug., 
 
 1875. 
 
 25 Oct., 
 16 Nov., 
 
 1875. 
 1875. 
 
 24 Nov., 
 20 Dec, 
 
 1875. 
 1875. 
 
 28 Dec, 
 
 1875. 
 
 19 Jan., 
 
 1876. 
 
 24 Jan., 
 
 1876. 
 
 25 Jan., 
 25 Jan., 
 
 1876. 
 1876. 
 
348 POSTAL LAWS AND EEGULATIONS. 
 
 List of ojnnions given hy Assistant Attorney-General for Post-Office Department — Cont'd. 
 
 79 
 
 80 
 
 8l' 
 
 82 
 83 
 
 84 
 
 85 
 86 
 
 87 
 88 
 89 
 
 90 
 
 91 
 92 
 
 93 
 94 
 
 95 
 
 96 
 
 97 
 
 98 
 
 99 
 
 100 
 
 101 
 
 102 
 103 
 
 104 
 
 105 
 
 106 
 
 107 
 
 108 
 
 109 
 110 
 111 
 112 
 
 113 
 
 Special Agents. Per diem allowance to. Construction of sec- 
 tions 4017, 4019, and 4020, Revised Statutes. 
 
 "Lap service." Compensation to be paid to Pittsburgh, Cincin- 
 nati and Saint Louis Eailroad Company. 
 
 Electric pen. Circulars written with, may pass through mails 
 as third-class matter. 
 
 Bonds of bidder. Approval of, by clerk in post-office 
 
 Sureties u] ion contracts. Their liability, how tested 
 
 Claim of Bowling Embry for compensation during time of sus- 
 pension from office. 
 
 Claim of R. W. Gurley, Superintendent of Free Delivery, for 
 back compensation. 
 
 Pacitic Mail Steamship Compauy. Eight of Postmaster-Gen- 
 eral to pay for performance of service in steamships of 
 greater burden than those mentioned in their proposals. 
 
 Letter boxes in post-offices are under control of postmaster 
 
 Letters and circulars defined, and their difference shoAvn. 
 
 Claim of George H. Giddings for carrying the mails on route 
 No. 12900. 
 
 ''Lap service." Claim of Rockford, Rock Island and Saint Louis 
 Eailroad Company for compensation. 
 
 Assignment of contract. Effect of 
 
 Compensation to railroad companies for mail-messenger service. 
 Case of Baltimore and Potomac Railroad. 
 
 Extension of route from Bellaire to Pittsburgh 
 
 Eailroad companies under contract. Whether subject to the 
 provisions of act of July 12, 1876. 
 
 Importations through the mails 
 
 "Lap service." Claim of Alabama Central Eailroad Company for 
 compensation. 
 
 Rate of postage. Eifect of autograph signature on printed 
 matter which is incomplete without it. 
 
 "Lap service." Claim of Northern Central Eailroad Company 
 for compensation. 
 
 Land-grant railroads. Application of section 13, act of July 12, 
 1876, to such as are under contract. 
 
 Extension of service. Claim of Cleveland and Pittsburgh and 
 Pittsburgh and Erie Eailroad Companies for compensation. 
 
 Compensation to railroads for use of postal cars. A^ipli cation 
 of act of July 12, 1876. 
 
 Advertisements. Number of papers in District of Columbia... 
 
 Ajiplication to Postmaster-General to enter into contract. In re 
 Selucius Garfield. 
 
 Application for readjustment of mail pay, under act of July 12, 
 1876. 
 
 Metric system. Construction of section 3880, Eevised Statutes . 
 
 Compensation to railroads for postal-car service not subject to 
 reduction of section 1 of act of July 12, 1876. 
 
 Ante-bellum mail contract. Wilmington and Weldon Eailroad 
 Company. 
 
 Contract for furnishing adhesive postage-stamps. — Power of 
 Postmaster-General to limit advertisements, etc., to certain 
 class of persons. 
 
 "Lap service". — Claim of Memphis and Charleston Eailroad 
 Company for compensation. 
 
 Indians not United States citizens. Eight to hold the office of 
 postmaster. 
 
 Protest against application of act of July 12, A. D. 1876. Saint 
 Paul and Sioux City Eailroad. 
 
 Construction of section 3998, Revised Statutes. Twenty-five 
 percent, for night service to Lake Shore and Michigan South- 
 ern Railroad. 
 
 Extension of route. Under what circumstances can it be ordered. 
 
 15 Feb., 1876. 
 1 Mar., 1876. 
 
 3 Mar., 1876. 
 
 4 Mar., 1876. 
 
 13 Mar., 1876. 
 
 14 Mar., 1876. 
 
 16 Mar., 1876. 
 
 22 Mar., 1876. 
 
 23 Mar., 1876. 
 31 Mar., 1876. 
 
 1 April, 1876. 
 
 17 April, 1876. 
 
 20 April, 1876. 
 12 July, 1876. 
 
 12 July, 1876. 
 
 21 July, 1876. 
 
 28 July, 1876. 
 31 July, 1876. 
 
 25 Aug., 1876. 
 
 26 Aug., 1876. 
 1 Sept., 1876. 
 
 18 Sept., 1876. 
 26 Sept., 1876. 
 
 23 Nov., 1876. 
 
 29 Nov., 1876. 
 
 22 Dec. 1876. 
 
 9 Feb., 1877. 
 
 17 Mar., 1877. 
 
 15 Mar., 1877. 
 
 5 April, 1877. 
 
 3 May, 1877. 
 
 3 May, 1877. 
 
 10 May, 1877. 
 
 18 May, 1877. 
 
 24 May, 1877. 
 
TITLE XII — OPINIONS. 349 
 
 List of 02)inion>i given by AuMtntaiit Altoniey-deiierul for Poat-Office Department — Cont'd. 
 
 114 Ri'fruliiiimbliciitioiisilfsifincdpiimarily foradvoitisiiigpurposps. 7 JiiiiP, l"*??. 
 
 115 CoustiiKtion of contract for I'liriiisliiiig postal cards KJ .Iutic, l?^?. 
 
 lit) I Papyiojrraidiic process of i)riutiii;f. Newspaper correspondence j 18 June, ld77. 
 
 executed liy. 
 
 117 , Baltimore and Havana .Stoauisliip Company. Claim of, for iil June, 1877. 
 i transportation of mails. 
 
 118 i Claim of (J. H. Giddiuys. One mouth's pay for discontinuance 2'.'i .June, 1877. 
 
 of service. i 
 
 119 Sioux City and Saint Paul Railroad Company. Rate of com- j 5 July, 1877. 
 pensatiou to. | 
 
 Saint Louis Practical Photographer. Insets in publications 12 July, 1«77. 
 
 Uniforming railway clerks, etc. Right of Postmaster-General 27 Oct., 1877. 
 
 to issue order for tin-. 
 
 Official envelopes. Misuse of, by private individuals i 9 Nov., 1877. 
 
 Allowance to post nuisters for rent. When post-oliice drops from | 9 Nov., 1677. 
 
 second to third class. 
 New Orleans, Opelousas and Great Western Railroad Company. 15 Nov., 1877. 
 
 Construction of section 1:5, act of July 12, 1876. 
 Subscribers (regular). Postmasters acting as agents only, are 31 Dec., 1877. 
 
 not subscribers. Case of Cincinnati Gazette. 
 
 Disposition of money recovered in the mails 4 Jan., 1878. 
 
 Private express. Down-town Letter Office. Carrying letters 2 Mar., 1878. 
 
 outside the mails. j 
 
 Chicago, Burlington and Quiucy Raili-oad. Protest against l 15 Mar., 1878. 
 
 reduction of compensation. | 
 
 Subcontractor's lien. Construction of sections 2 and 3, act of I 1 June, 1878. 
 
 May 17, 1878. I 
 
 Payment of money-orders to fictitious address. Validity of; 16 July, 1878. 
 
 power of attorney after decease of grantor. 
 Uniform canceling ink. Powerof Postmaster-General to adopt, 24 July, 1878. 
 
 etc. Act of June 20, 1878. i 
 
 Albion Portrait Works. Fraudulent use of the mails. Section! 16 Aug., 1878. 
 
 4041, Revised Statutes. 
 Silver as legal tender. To what extent, in the money-order 17 Aug., 1878. 
 business. 
 Drafts sent through the mails for postal service are on official 29 Aug., 1878. 
 
 business, and should be registered as such. | 
 
 Sureties of postmaster liable for funds improperly credited by j 3 Sept., 1878. 
 
 bank to postmaster's individual account. Case of McArthur, | 
 
 late postmaster at Chicago. I 
 
 Application for compensation for carrying United States mails i 16 Sept., 1878. 
 
 February and March, 1866. Selma and Meridian Railroad [ 
 
 Company. 1 
 
 Correction of mistake in language of lease. Power of Post- ! 24 Sept., 1878. 
 
 master-General to allow. 
 Rates of postage on publications mailed to subscribers within 1 Nov., 1878. 
 
 the delivery of carrier post-offices by news-agents without the | 
 
 same. Construction of section :}872 Revised Statutes. i 
 
 Charges against postmaster at New Loudon, Conn. Official ! 19 Nov., 1878. 
 
 misconduct and fraud of personal rights, while assistant I 
 
 postmaster. Mower vs. Tubbs. ! 
 
 Ordinary postage-stamps. Can requisitions for, for Depart- ' 3 Dec, 1878. 
 
 ments be tilled under the act for furnishing official stamps ? ; 
 Duty of Auditor in reporting to First-Assistant, fourth-class ' 4 Dec, 1878. 
 
 post-offices, etc. 
 Selma, Rome and Dalton Railroad Company, Reduction of 13 Dec, 1878. 
 
 10 per cent, under act of July 12, 1876. i 
 
 Extraordinary increase in business of post-office of fourth ] 16 Dec, 1878. 
 
 class. Salary of i)08tma8ter, how aliected by proviso, act i 
 
 of June 17, 1878. | 
 
 Application of Fisher A. Foster for compensation for index- i 2 Jan., 1879. 
 
 ing Postal Laws of 1872. 
 Application for compensation for carrying the mails. Saint 11 Jan., 1879. 
 
 Louis and San Francisco Railroad Company. 1 
 
350 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 List of ojnnions given by Assistant Attorney-General for Post-Office Department — Cont'd. 
 
 No. 
 
 146 
 
 147 
 
 148 
 149 
 150 
 
 151 
 152 
 153 
 
 154 
 
 155 
 156 
 
 157 
 
 158 
 
 159 
 
 160 
 
 161 
 162 
 
 163 
 164 
 165 
 166 
 
 Subject. 
 
 Telegraphic rates. Construction of Postmaster-General's order 
 fixing. 
 
 Howe Scale Company, protest against award of contract. 
 Question of want of consideration raised. 
 
 Application for compensation. Leavenworth, Lawrence and 
 Galveston Railroad Comi)any. 
 
 What constitutes a lease. Obligation of the government 
 thereunder. 
 
 Printed blanks in periodicals. Does it subject them to third- 
 class rates ? 
 
 One mouth's extra pay. Are sub-contractors entitled to? 
 
 Franking privilege. Does it extend to members-elect ? 
 
 Acquiescence in action of the Department, by claimant, what 
 constitutes. Force and elfect of a rule of the Department 
 discussed. 
 
 Subletting of a contract. Copy of notice required to be filed 
 with Department. 
 
 Claim for services rendered Special Agent 
 
 Railroad companies refusing to carry the mails. How Post- 
 master-General should act. • 
 
 What constitutes a sheet primarily designed for advertising 
 pui-poses. 
 
 Sunday service. Power of the Postmaster-General to discon- 
 tinue. 
 
 Delivery of letters. Right of trustees to letters addressed to 
 a finn, discussed. 
 
 Official-penalty envelopes. Their use under section 29, act of 
 March 3, 1879. 
 
 Lease of post-office buildings. Liability of government for 
 
 Mail lettings. Advertisement of, in States of Virginia and 
 Maryland. Can an advertisement be inserted in a Wash- 
 ington paper ? 
 
 United States vs. Gregg. Convicted of embezzlement. Ap- 
 plication for pardon. 
 
 A regular publication designed primarily for advertising pur- 
 poses. Question of discrimination raised. 
 
 Missouri River, Fort Scott and Gulf Railroad. Abatement of 
 pay from July 1, 1876, to May 25, 1878. 
 
 George H. Giddings. Who entitled to custody of warrant issued 
 in accordance with siJecial appropriation by Congress. Eflect 
 of injunction. 
 
 Date. 
 
 15 Jan., 
 
 1879. 
 
 28 Jan., 
 
 1879. 
 
 31 Jan., 
 
 1879. 
 
 3 Feb., 
 
 1879. 
 
 10 Feb., 
 
 1879. 
 
 13 Feb., 
 13 Feb., 
 18 Feb., 
 
 1879. 
 1879. 
 1879. 
 
 24 Feb., 
 
 1879. 
 
 6 Mar., 
 6 Mar., 
 
 1879. 
 1879. 
 
 7 Mar., 
 
 1879. 
 
 26 Mar., 
 
 1879. 
 
 5 April, 
 
 1879. 
 
 21 April, 
 
 1879. 
 
 23 April, 
 5 May, 
 
 1879. 
 1879. 
 
 6 May, 
 
 1879. 
 
 8 May, 
 
 1879. 
 
 19 June, 
 
 1879. 
 
 21 June, 
 
 1879. 
 
TITLE XII OPINIONS. 351 
 
 List of 02>ininnH (livrn by An8intaiit .Ht<in)ei/-Ciencral for Post-Office Department — Cont'd. 
 
 No. 
 
 Subject. 
 
 Date. 
 
352 POSTAL LAWS AND EEGULATIONS. 
 
 List of opinions (jiven hy Jssistant Attorney-General for Post-Office Department-Cont'd. 
 
 No. 
 
 Subject. 
 
 Date. 
 
TITLE XIII. 
 
 Ar)i:>ENDA. I 
 
 CHANGES IN THE POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS SINCE THE 
 PUBLICATION OF THIS VOLUME. 
 
 IMI'ORTAXT. 
 
 Any alterations, &c., which it may be necessary to make iu tliis book on account 
 of changes in the law or regulations (see page 3), and which cannot be conveniently 
 shown in the preceding pages, shotild be made on the blank pages following this 
 notice. In such cases the postmaster must take care to fill in the various columns 
 correctly, and he should place against the section atiVctod the number of the page in 
 "which the alteration will be found. 
 
 23 p L 
 
 363 
 
354 
 
 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 No. of section 
 altered. 
 
 605. 
 
 Date of alteratiou and 
 where noted. 
 
 An act to extend the time of special postal 
 service until service can be obtained by 
 advertisement. 
 
 Be it enacted hy the Senate and 
 House of Representatives of the United 
 States of America in Congress assem- 
 bled, Tliat ill cases wliere special ser- 
 vice has already been placed on new 
 routes, the Postinaster-General may, 
 in his discretion, extend such service 
 niitil the time when serAace can be 
 obtained by advertisement, not exceed- 
 ing in any case one year. And when- 
 ever an accei)ted bidder shall fail to 
 enter into contract, or a contractor on 
 any mail -route shall fail or refuse to 
 perform the service on said route ac- 
 cording to his contract, or when a new 
 route sliall be estalilished or new ser- 
 vice required, or when, from any other 
 cause, there shall not be a contractor 
 legally bound or required to i)erform 
 such service, the Postmaster-General 
 may make a temjiorary contract for 
 cairying the mail on such route, with- 
 out advertisement, for such jieriod as 
 may be necessary, not in any case ex- 
 ceeding one year, until the service 
 shall have commenced under a con- 
 tract made according to law. And 
 any i)iovisioii of statute in contiict 
 with this provision is hereV)y repealed. 
 
 Ai)proved June 12, 1879. 
 
 Jnne 12, 1879. 
 Page 143. 
 
TITLE XIII. ADDENDA, ALTERATIONS, ETC. 
 
 355 
 
 No. of section 
 altorod. 
 
 Alloratioii in full 
 
 Date of alteration and 
 where note<l. 
 
356 
 
 POSTAL LAWS AND EEGULATIONS. 
 
 No. of section 
 jiltered. 
 
 Alteration in full. 
 
 Date of alteration and 
 wliere noted. 
 
TITLE XIII. ADDENDA, ALTERATIONS, ETC. 
 
 357 
 
 No. ofsei'tion 
 ulterctl. 
 
 Alteration in full. 
 
 Date of alteration and 
 •where iiot«'tl. 
 
358 
 
 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 No. of section 
 altered. 
 
 Alteration in full. 
 
 Date of alteration and 
 where noted. 
 
TITLK XIII. ADDENDA, ALTKKATIONS, KTC. 359 
 
 No. of spctioii 
 altorod. 
 
 Altciiilion ill full. 
 
 Datp of alteration ami 
 wIhtc uoted. 
 
1 
 
 360 
 
 POSTAL LAWS AND EEGULATIONS. 
 
 No. of section 
 altered. 
 
 Alteration in full. 
 
 Date of alteration and 
 where noted. 
 
TITLE XIII. ADDENDA, ALTERATIONS, ETC. 
 
 361 
 
 No. of HPotion 
 alti'ied. 
 
 Date of alteration anil 
 wlii'if noted. 
 
362 
 
 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 No. of section 
 altered. 
 
 Alteration in full. 
 
 Date of alteration and 
 ■where noted. 
 
TITLE XIII. — ADDENDA, ALTERATIONS, ETC. 
 
 303 
 
 No. of spotion 
 iiltortMl. 
 
 AlttM-atioii in full. 
 
 Date of alteration ami 
 whin- iiutiii. 
 
364 
 
 POSTAL LAWS AND EEGULATIONS. 
 
 No. of section 
 altered. 
 
 Alteration in full. 
 
 Date of alteration and 
 wliere noted. 
 
Tiri.E XIII. ADDKNDA, Al/I'KKA TIOXS, KTC. 
 
 365 
 
 No. of Bpction 
 alteri'd. 
 
 Altci'.'itidii in full. 
 
 Dato of alteration atnl 
 wluTc iiot«'«I. 
 
>eQ 
 
 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 No. of section 
 altered. 
 
 Alteration in full. 
 
 Date of alteration and 
 where noted. 
 
TITLE xiii. — Ai)i»i:\i)A, altp:rations, etc. 
 
 3G7 
 
 No. of section 
 jiltert'd. 
 
 Altcrafionin full. 
 
 T)at«^ of alttrutiou and 
 w liiT«' nuted. 
 
368 
 
 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 No. of section 
 altered. 
 
 Alteration in full. 
 
 Date of alteration and 
 wliere noted. 
 
REFERENCE ESTDEX 
 
 REVISED STATUTES OF THE UNITED STATES 
 
 FROM SECTIONS OF TILE REVISED STATUTES AXI) SUUSEl^UENJ' 
 
 VOLUMES OF THE STATUTES AT LARGE TO SECTIONS OF 
 
 THIS EDITION OF THE POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 Act of Cong^resM. 
 
 Revised Statutes. 
 
 XIII 
 
 3 
 
 7 
 
 14 
 
 17 
 
 18 
 
 161 
 177 
 183 
 270 
 276 
 277 
 292 
 293 
 294 
 295 
 296 
 298 
 :m 
 382 
 388 
 389 
 390 
 391 
 392 
 393 
 394 
 395 
 396 
 397 
 398 
 399 
 400 
 401 
 402 
 403 
 404 
 405 
 406 
 407 
 408 
 409 
 410 
 411 
 412 
 413 
 414 
 563 
 629 
 792 
 889 
 890 
 919 
 924 
 925 
 926 
 927 
 92f 
 
 i 
 
 1 
 
 ...... 
 
 1 
 
 ...... 
 
 .'.'.'.'.J 
 
 ... — 
 
 Past*' 
 
 .*»«T. of 
 
 26 
 
 28 
 
 29 
 
 45 
 
 46 
 
 46 
 
 49 
 
 49 
 
 49 
 
 49 
 
 49 
 
 49 
 
 63 
 
 63 
 
 65 
 
 65 
 
 65 
 
 65 
 
 65 
 
 65 , 
 
 66 
 
 66 
 
 66 
 
 67 I 
 
 67 j 
 
 67 
 
 67 
 
 67 I 
 
 67 
 
 67 
 
 67 
 
 67 
 
 67 
 
 67 
 
 68 
 
 68 
 
 68 
 
 68 
 
 68 
 
 68 
 
 69 
 
 95 
 111 
 14.- 
 168 
 U)8 
 175 
 176 
 176 
 ITC. 
 ITC. 
 1" 
 
 26 
 
 3 
 
 8 
 
 113» 
 
 ]13» 
 
 1142- 
 
 1144 
 
 1145 
 
 1146 
 
 1147 
 
 1148 
 
 1149 
 
 1221 
 
 1 222 
 
 1 
 
 4 
 
 24 
 
 25 
 
 5 
 
 5 
 
 28 
 
 29 
 
 30 
 
 31 
 
 32 
 
 33 
 
 34 
 
 35 
 
 36 
 
 37 
 
 38 
 
 3» 
 
 66^ 
 
 67 
 
 40- 
 
 41 
 
 42- 
 
 43- 
 
 44 
 
 47 
 
 1206 
 
 I20(> 
 
 1225 
 
 1223 
 
 1224 
 
 1206 
 
 I20? 
 
 120N 
 
 1209 
 
 1210 
 
 1211 
 
 24 PL 
 
 3'jy 
 
370 
 
 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 Act of Congress. 
 
 .Revised Statutes 
 
 Title. 
 
 Chap. 
 
 Sec. 
 
 Vol. 
 
 «_„„ Sec. of 
 rage. p.i^.&R. 
 
 XIII 
 
 18 
 
 929 
 
 
 177 
 
 1313 
 
 
 
 930 . 
 
 
 177 
 
 1313 
 
 
 
 931 . 
 
 
 177 
 
 1314 
 
 
 
 932 . 
 
 
 177 
 
 1315 
 
 
 
 933 . 
 
 
 177 
 
 1316 
 
 
 
 952 
 
 
 180 
 
 131T 
 
 
 
 951 
 
 
 180 
 
 13i8 
 
 
 
 958 
 
 
 181 
 
 1319 
 
 
 
 964 
 
 
 182 
 
 1330 
 
 
 
 1014 
 
 
 189 
 
 16 
 
 XIX 
 
 
 1785 
 
 
 317 
 
 1353 
 
 XL 
 
 1 
 
 3641 
 
 
 717 
 
 6§ 
 
 
 1 
 
 3642 
 
 
 717 
 
 69 
 
 
 
 3643 
 
 717 1 
 
 TO 
 
 
 
 3644 
 
 
 717 
 
 9^1 
 
 XLI 
 
 
 3668 
 3674 
 
 
 721 
 722 
 
 46 
 65 
 
 XLVI 
 
 1 
 
 3829 
 3830 
 
 
 750 
 750 
 
 98 
 101 
 
 
 
 3831 
 
 
 750 
 
 104 
 
 
 
 3832 
 
 
 750 
 
 51 
 
 
 
 3833 
 
 
 750 
 
 53 
 
 
 
 3834 
 
 
 750 
 
 105 
 
 
 
 3835 
 
 
 751 
 
 106 
 
 
 
 3836 
 
 
 
 751 
 
 llO 
 
 
 
 3837 
 
 
 
 751 
 
 113 
 
 
 
 3838 
 
 
 751 
 
 115 
 
 
 
 3839 
 
 
 751 
 
 367 
 
 
 
 3840 
 
 
 751 
 
 368 
 
 
 
 3841 
 
 
 751 
 
 657 
 
 
 
 3842 
 
 
 752 
 
 511 
 
 
 
 3843 
 
 
 752 
 
 1151 
 
 
 
 3844 
 
 
 752 
 
 1153 
 
 
 
 3845 
 
 
 752 
 
 1153 
 
 
 
 3846 
 
 
 752 
 
 73 
 
 
 
 3847 
 
 
 752 
 
 73 
 
 
 
 3848 
 
 ... . 
 
 752 
 
 74 
 
 
 
 3849 
 
 
 
 752 
 
 663 
 
 
 
 3850 
 
 
 : 752 
 
 599 
 
 
 
 3851 
 
 
 752 
 
 541 
 
 
 
 3856 
 
 
 1 753 
 
 130 
 
 
 
 3857 
 
 
 753 
 
 134 
 
 
 
 3858 
 
 
 754 
 
 54 
 
 
 
 3859 
 
 
 754 
 
 131 
 
 
 
 3860 
 
 
 ! 754 
 
 134 
 
 
 
 3861 
 
 
 '. 754 
 
 133 
 
 
 
 3862 
 
 
 754 
 
 133 
 
 
 
 3863 
 
 
 : 754 
 
 135 
 
 
 
 3864 
 
 
 754 
 
 99 
 
 
 2 
 
 3867 
 
 
 755 
 
 337 
 
 
 
 3868 
 
 • 
 
 755 
 
 333 
 
 
 
 3869 
 
 
 755 
 
 334 
 
 
 
 3870 
 
 
 755 
 
 315 
 
 
 
 3871 
 
 
 755 
 
 336 
 
 
 
 3873 
 
 
 ! 755 
 
 337 
 
 
 
 3874 
 
 1 
 
 755 
 
 339 
 
 
 3 
 
 3880 
 
 
 756 
 
 1105 
 
 
 3881 
 
 
 757 
 
 183 
 
 
 
 3882 
 
 
 757 
 
 366 
 
 
 
 3883 
 
 
 757 
 
 335 
 
 
 
 3885 
 
 
 757 
 
 471 
 
 
 
 3888 
 
 1 
 
 757 
 
 571 
 
 
 
 3889 
 
 _ 
 
 757 
 
 733 
 
 
 
 :5h90 
 
 
 757 
 
 370 
 
 
 
 :}89l 
 
 
 7r7 
 
 1333 
 
REFERENCE INDEX TO THE REVISED STATUTES. 371 
 
 Act of Congr««ii. 
 
 I 
 
 '. Tide. 
 
 Kc vised Statutes X L VI 
 
 Chap. 9ec. .T*l* 
 
 :m)4 
 
 :wyH 
 :{Hyy 
 :{9()o 
 :{'joi 
 
 :Jt>(»4 
 :{9I2 
 391:} 
 :}914 
 39ir) 
 891 ti 
 :}917 
 
 391H 
 3919 
 3920 
 3921 
 3922 
 3923 
 3924 
 3925 
 3926 
 3927 
 3928 
 3929 
 3930 
 3931 
 3932 
 3933 
 39:34 
 39:55 
 39:5H 
 :39:?7 
 3938 
 3939 
 :}940 
 3941 
 3942 
 3943 
 3944 
 ;}94r) 
 3946 
 3947 
 3948 
 3949 
 3950 
 
 3951 
 
 3952 
 3953 
 3954 
 3955 
 
 3956 
 
 3957 
 3958 
 3959 
 :3960 
 3961 
 3962 
 3963 . 
 
 758 
 
 758 
 
 758 
 
 759 
 
 759 
 
 759 
 
 759 
 
 759 
 
 759 
 
 759 
 
 760 
 
 760 
 
 761 
 
 761 
 
 761 
 
 761 
 
 761 
 
 761 
 
 762 
 
 762 
 
 762 
 
 762 
 
 762 
 
 762 
 
 762 
 
 763 
 
 76:5 
 
 76:? 
 
 76:5 
 
 763 
 
 763 
 
 764 
 
 764 
 
 7«)4 
 
 764 
 
 764 
 
 764 
 
 764 
 
 764 
 
 765 
 
 765 
 
 765 
 
 765 
 
 765 
 
 765 
 
 765 
 
 766 
 
 766 
 
 766 
 
 766 
 
 766 
 
 767 
 767 
 767 
 
 767 
 
 767 
 767 
 768 
 768 
 768 
 768 
 768 
 
 •1 
 
 12:11 
 
 22« 
 
 2«r 
 
 I250 
 
 •■am 
 
 17H 
 
 t7H 
 
 11. '7 
 
 i:«> 
 
 |:tx( 
 
 I 10 
 
 1 14 
 
 145 
 
 175 
 
 174 
 
 373 
 
 12.S2 
 
 1252 
 
 1252 
 
 1252 
 
 »^06 
 
 §12 
 
 §24 
 
 875 
 
 444 
 
 445 
 
 §17 
 
 446 
 
 447 
 
 448 
 
 468 
 
 431 
 
 483 
 
 456 
 
 371 
 
 573 
 
 607 
 
 607 
 
 580 
 
 581 
 
 582 
 
 587 
 
 588 
 
 601 
 
 589 
 
 603 
 
 604 
 
 605 
 
 598 
 
 585 
 
 606 
 
 602 
 
 607 
 
 6IO 
 
 575 
 
 576 
 
 612 
 
 618 
 
 619 
 
 665 
 
 623 
 
372 
 
 POSTAL LAWS AND KEGULATIONS. 
 
 Act of Congress. 
 
 Title. 
 
 Revised Statutes. 
 
 XLVI 
 
 Chap. I Sec. ! Vol. Page. 
 
 Sec. of 
 P.L,.&R. 
 
 10 
 
 11 
 
 12 
 
 V.i 
 
 3964 
 
 3965 
 
 3966 
 
 3967 
 
 3968 
 
 3969 
 
 3970 
 
 3971 
 
 :?972 
 
 3973 
 
 3974 
 
 3975 
 
 3976 
 
 3977 
 
 3978 
 
 3979 
 
 39t0 
 
 3981 
 
 3982 
 
 3983 
 
 3984 
 
 3985 
 
 3986 
 
 3987 
 
 3988 
 
 3989 
 
 3990 
 
 3991 
 
 3992 
 
 3993 
 
 3994 
 
 3995 
 
 3996 
 
 3999 
 
 4000 
 
 4001 
 
 4002 
 
 4003 
 
 4004 
 
 4005 
 
 4006 
 
 4007 
 
 4008 
 
 4009 
 
 4010 
 
 4011 
 
 4012 
 
 4013 
 
 4014 
 
 4015 
 
 4016 
 
 ' 4017 
 4018 
 4019 
 4020 
 
 I 4021 
 
 I 4022 
 4023 
 4024 
 
 1 4025 
 4020 
 
 1 4027 
 4028 
 
 1 4029 
 4030 
 
 768 i 
 
 769 
 
 769 
 
 769 
 
 769 
 
 769 
 
 769 
 
 769 
 
 769 
 
 769 
 
 769 
 
 769 
 
 769 
 
 770 
 
 770 
 
 770 
 
 770 
 
 770 
 
 770 
 
 770 
 
 770 
 
 770 
 
 771 
 
 771 
 
 771 
 
 771 
 
 771 
 
 771 
 
 771 
 
 772 
 
 772 
 
 772 
 
 772 
 
 772 
 
 773 
 
 773 
 
 773 
 
 773 
 
 773 
 
 773 
 
 774 
 
 774 
 
 774 
 
 774 
 
 774 
 
 774 
 
 774 
 
 774 
 
 774 
 
 775 
 
 775 
 
 775 
 
 776 
 
 776 
 
 776 
 
 776 
 
 776 
 
 '.'.'.'.'.' 
 
 776 
 
 776 
 
 
 
 77() 
 
 
 776 , 
 
 
 777 
 
 
 777 
 
 
 777 
 
 
 777 
 
 542 
 
 543 
 
 544 
 
 545 
 
 546 
 
 547 
 
 607 
 
 548 
 
 549 
 
 550 
 
 551 
 
 553 
 
 253 
 
 353 
 
 354 
 
 1351 
 
 638 
 
 559 
 
 555 
 
 557 
 
 558 
 
 559 
 
 560 
 
 561 
 
 563 
 
 563 
 
 564 
 
 565 
 
 567 
 
 568 
 
 369 
 
 553 
 
 554 
 
 645 
 
 643 
 
 637 
 
 629 
 
 630 
 
 631 
 
 633 
 
 649 
 
 653 
 
 653 
 
 654 
 
 655 
 
 656 
 
 650 
 
 651 
 
 1136 
 
 1137 
 
 1138 
 
 6 
 
 11 
 
 7 
 
 lO 
 
 19 
 
 30 
 
 31 
 
 33 
 
 33 
 
 570 
 
 956 
 
 9*6 
 
 959 
 
 983 
 
liKFKKKNCK INDKX TO TMK STATUTES AT LARGE. 
 
 373 
 
 Act ofCoii^frfoH. 
 
 Titl«>. 
 
 Chap. 
 
 nee. 
 
 Tol. 
 
 Pace. 
 
 M«T. of 
 
 F.I-.A K. 
 
 ]?(>vi.st'(l Statutes 
 
 XL VI 
 
 13 
 
 4():n 
 
 777 
 
 960 
 
 
 
 
 40:{2 
 
 
 778 
 
 9§3 
 
 
 
 
 40:{:{ 
 
 
 778 
 
 978 
 
 
 
 
 40:54 
 
 
 778 
 
 OKO 
 
 
 
 
 40:J5 
 
 
 77H 
 
 *.tst 
 
 
 
 
 403(; 
 
 
 
 778 
 
 1 1 3 
 
 
 
 
 4o:J7 
 
 
 
 778 
 
 lOll 
 
 
 
 
 40:58 
 
 
 778 
 
 1 003 
 
 
 
 
 4o:vj 
 
 
 778 
 
 IO:t5 
 
 
 
 
 404(1 
 
 
 778 
 
 I005 
 
 
 
 
 4041 
 
 
 778 
 
 10I3 
 
 
 
 
 4042 
 
 
 779 
 
 1072 
 
 
 
 
 404:5 
 
 
 779 
 
 1073 
 
 
 
 
 4044 
 
 
 779 
 
 1075 
 
 
 
 
 4045 
 
 
 779 
 
 1074 
 
 
 
 
 404(5 
 
 
 779 
 
 1076 
 
 
 
 
 4047 
 
 
 779 
 
 96 « 
 
 
 
 
 4048 
 
 
 780 
 
 969 
 
 
 
 14 
 
 4049 
 4050 
 4051 
 4052 
 
 
 780 
 780 
 
 781 
 781 
 
 55 
 
 56 
 
 57 
 
 296 
 
 
 
 
 405:5 
 
 
 781 
 
 1249 
 
 
 
 
 4054 
 
 
 781 
 
 58 
 
 
 
 
 4055 
 
 
 
 781 
 
 59 
 
 
 
 
 4056 
 
 
 781 
 
 60 
 
 
 
 
 4057 
 
 
 781 
 
 61 
 
 
 
 
 4058 
 
 
 
 782 
 
 62 
 
 
 
 
 4059 
 
 
 782 
 
 63 
 
 
 
 
 4060 
 
 
 782 
 
 64 
 
 
 
 
 4061 
 
 
 782 
 
 478 
 
 
 LX 
 
 3 
 
 4961 
 
 
 959 
 
 374 
 
 
 LXV 
 
 
 526:5 
 52()4 
 5265 
 526t) 
 5267 
 5268 
 52(59 
 
 
 
 
 
 1019 
 1019 
 1019 
 1019 
 1019 
 1019 
 1020 
 
 1254 
 1255 
 1256 
 1257 
 1258 
 1259 
 1260 
 
 
 LXX 
 
 5 
 
 54(5:5 
 5464 
 5465 
 54(56 
 5467 
 5468 
 5469 
 5470 
 5471 
 5472 
 547:5 
 5474 
 5475 
 5476 
 5477 
 5478 
 
 
 
 1059 
 1059 
 1060 
 1060 
 1060 
 10(50 
 1060 
 1061 
 1061 
 1061 
 1061 
 10(52 
 10()2 
 1062 
 1062 
 1062 
 
 1226 
 1227 
 1228 
 1229 
 1230 
 1231 
 1235 
 1236 
 1237 
 1238 
 1239 
 1240 
 1241 
 1212 
 1213 
 1211 
 
 
 
 
 5479 
 
 ...*.. 
 
 1062 
 
 1245 
 
 
 
 
 5480 
 
 
 lot -.2 
 
 1246 
 
 
 
 8 
 
 55:54 
 55:55 
 
 
 1072 
 1072 
 
 1217 
 1218 
 
 Act March 5, 1874 
 
 
 46 
 
 1 
 
 18 
 
 19 
 
 S 24 
 
 ^ 25 
 
 103 
 
 Act March 18, 1874 
 
 
 57 
 
 1 
 
 18 
 
 2:5 
 
 Act Jium 2:?, 1874 
 
 
 456 
 
 6 
 12 
 
 18 
 18 
 
 233 
 2:55 
 
 191 
 
 
 
 581 
 
 
 
 
 
 18 
 
 2:J5 
 
 587 
 
 
 
 
 
 18 
 
 236 
 
 585 
 
374 
 
 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 Act of Congress. 
 
 Title. 
 
 Chap. 
 
 Sec. 
 
 Vol. 
 
 Page. 
 
 Sec. of 
 P.Ii.&R. 
 
 Act March 3, 1875 
 
 
 128 
 
 1 
 4 
 
 18 
 18 
 
 341 
 343 
 
 63a 
 
 
 
 
 1143 
 
 
 
 7 
 
 18 
 
 343 
 
 247 
 
 Act March 3, 1875 
 
 
 129 
 179 
 
 1 
 1 
 
 18 
 19 
 19 
 
 351 
 
 78 
 78 
 
 9§3 
 
 Act July 12, 1876 
 
 
 573 
 
 
 
 
 314 
 
 
 
 
 
 19 
 
 79 
 
 635 
 
 
 
 
 4 
 
 19 
 
 80 
 
 45 
 
 
 
 
 7 
 
 19 
 
 81 
 
 116 
 
 
 
 
 9 
 
 19 
 
 82 
 
 119 
 
 
 
 
 10 
 
 19 
 
 82 
 
 120 
 
 
 
 
 11 
 
 19 
 
 82 
 
 121 
 
 
 
 
 12 
 
 19 
 
 82 
 
 122 
 
 
 
 
 13 
 
 19 
 
 82 
 
 63§ 
 
 
 
 
 14 
 
 19 
 
 82 
 
 174 
 
 
 
 186 
 
 1 
 
 19 
 
 90 
 
 5 225 
 \ 226 
 
 Act August 11, 1876 
 
 
 260 
 
 1 
 
 19 
 
 129 
 
 5$2 
 
 
 
 r 603 
 . to04 
 
 ) 605 
 
 
 
 
 
 19 
 
 129 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 L 606 
 
 Joint resolution July 25, 1876 
 
 
 18 
 
 ..... 
 
 19 
 
 215 
 
 116 
 
 Act March 3, 1877 
 
 
 103 
 
 3 
 
 19 
 19 
 
 335 
 335 
 
 4S 
 
 
 
 49 
 
 
 
 
 4 
 
 19 
 
 335 
 
 50 
 
 
 
 
 5 
 
 19 
 
 335 
 
 249 
 
 
 
 
 6 
 
 19 
 
 335 
 
 250 
 
 Act March 3, 1877 
 
 
 110 
 
 1 
 
 19 
 19 
 
 383 
 
 384 
 
 573 
 
 
 
 314 
 
 Act Decemher 15, 1877 
 
 
 3 
 107 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 2 
 
 20 
 20 
 20 
 
 10 
 61 
 62 
 
 345 
 
 Act May 17, 1878 
 
 
 57S 
 
 
 
 624 
 
 
 
 
 3 
 
 20 
 
 62 
 
 625 
 
 
 
 
 4 
 
 20 
 
 62 
 
 579 
 
 
 
 
 5 
 
 20 
 
 62 
 
 607 
 
 Act June 17, 1878 
 
 
 259 
 
 1 
 
 20 
 20 
 
 140 
 141 
 
 6 
 
 
 
 573 
 
 
 
 
 
 20 
 
 141 
 
 5 117 
 > 118 
 
 
 
 
 
 20 
 
 142 
 
 5 
 
 
 
 
 
 20 
 
 142 
 
 636 
 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 20 
 
 143 
 
 53 
 
 Act February 4, 1879 
 
 
 45 
 
 1 
 
 20 
 
 281 
 
 106 
 
 Act February 21, 1879 
 
 .... 
 
 95 
 
 1 
 2 
 
 20 
 20 
 
 317 
 317 
 
 309 
 
 
 
 310 
 
 
 
 
 3 
 
 • 20 
 
 317 
 
 311 
 
 
 
 
 4 
 
 20 
 
 317 
 
 312 
 
 
 
 
 5 
 
 20 
 
 317 
 
 307 
 
 Act March 3, 1879 
 
 
 180 
 
 1 
 
 20 
 20 
 
 ;»6 
 :i56 
 
 573 
 
 
 
 245 
 
 
 
 
 
 20 
 
 356 
 
 555 
 
 
 
 
 
 20 
 
 :357 
 
 46 
 
 
 
 
 
 20 
 
 357 
 
 141 
 
 
 
 
 
 20 
 
 357 
 
 6;il 
 
 , 
 
 
 
 3 
 
 20 
 
 :i58 
 
 642 
 
 
 
 
 4 
 
 20 
 
 358 
 
 632 
 
 
 
 
 5 
 
 20 
 
 358 
 
 670 
 
 
 
 
 6 
 
 20 
 
 3oS 
 
 646 
 
 
 
 
 7 
 
 20 
 
 358 
 
 176 
 
 
 
 
 8 
 
 20 
 
 358 
 
 177 
 
 
 
 
 9 
 
 20 
 
 :i58 
 
 178 
 
 
 
 
 10 
 
 20 
 
 359 
 
 184 
 
 
 
 
 11 
 
 20 
 
 359 
 
 190 
 
 
 
 
 12 
 
 20 
 
 359 
 
 209 
 
REFERENCE INDEX TO THE STATUTES AT LARGE. 
 
 375 
 
 Act orC^ongrraH. 
 
 Title. 
 
 Chap. 
 
 Sec. 
 
 Vol. 
 
 l»f«K«-. 
 
 Wff. of 
 
 Act Miiicli 3, 1H79 
 
 
 180 
 
 13 
 14 
 
 20 
 20 
 
 359 
 :{.'->9 
 
 197 
 
 
 
 1§J^ 
 
 
 
 
 15 
 
 2(1 
 
 ;i.'-)9 
 
 212 
 
 
 
 
 IG 
 
 20 
 
 3.59 
 
 206 
 
 
 
 
 17 
 
 2<» 
 
 3.59 
 
 S 21. S 
 
 ( ii:t4 
 
 
 
 
 18 
 
 20 
 
 :}60 
 
 217 
 
 
 
 
 19 
 
 20 
 
 :i60 
 
 219 
 
 
 
 
 20 
 
 20 
 
 :«iO 
 
 221 
 
 
 
 
 21 
 
 20 
 
 :i60 
 
 ^ 229 
 > 230 
 
 
 
 
 22 
 
 20 
 
 360 
 
 231 
 
 
 
 
 23 
 
 20 
 
 361 
 
 233 
 
 
 
 
 24 
 
 20 
 
 361 
 
 182 
 
 
 
 
 2.5 
 
 20 
 
 361 
 
 239 
 
 
 
 
 26 
 
 20 
 
 361 
 
 270 
 
 
 
 
 27 
 
 20 
 
 362 
 
 271 
 
 
 
 
 28 
 
 20 
 
 362 
 
 1252 
 
 
 
 
 29 
 
 20 
 
 362 
 
 2.51 
 
 
 
 
 30 
 
 20 
 
 :i62 
 
 602 
 
 
 
 
 31 
 
 20 
 
 362 
 
 135 
 
 
 
 
 32 
 
 20 
 
 362 
 
 143 
 
 '^ ^■.v 
 
 
 ■^'ff: 
 
IISTDEX 
 
 TO TIIK 
 
 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 Abseac*' (ifciii]ilii.\<''s iif Kiihvay MmH Srrvici-, rules reiiiilat in;;, etc 
 
 of li)i;il aiiciits, |)i(>visii>ii.s iiiinfiiiiii;i 
 
 of I'o.stiiiiistcr-lM'iii'ral, who may art in <-as(' of ... . 
 
 of ])(i.>itniasti'r.-i. wlio may act in ia.se of 
 
 Absconding debtors, i>ii Mica t ion of attacliincut against 
 
 w a I rants of a ttaclinicnt against |ifoi>eity of 
 
 AcccMMory, after t lie fact, to mliliery of the mail. ]>ciialty for liein^ 
 
 to stealing' mail-mat tef. iicnalty fof lieinii 
 
 AccidentN to mail-tiains to l)e lepoiteil liy emjtloy6.s of the Kailway Mail Service t<i 
 
 Division Snpirintendent . 
 
 Acfoiiiilnbility of pipstmaste.r.s in case of postajic^-staniiis, etc., beiug lost or stolen.. 
 
 Account!"! of money-older liusiness: liow to be ke])t by Aiiilitor 
 
 of i>o.stal ilejiosits to be kept se))arate from other iniblic money 
 
 of postal service, how kept 
 
 of I'ost-OtKce Department to be kept by"(Si\-th) Ainlitor (of Treasnry) 
 
 Accounts-riirrent. (Src (^r.\i;rivi!i,v iiETrifSs.) 
 
 blank forms foi. how ])rocineil 
 
 detailed statements to accmniiany, from Presidential post-oflices 
 
 distinct from iiiiaiteily stateiiunf of sieneral postal account 
 
 errors in, corrected liy .\uditor: notifications to postmasters of corrections 
 
 forms for. at fourth-class )(ost-oliices 
 
 at Presidential ]iost-iiliices 
 
 iuilorsenicnt on back id', how tilled u)) 
 
 lost in transmission, jiostmasti'is must semi duplicates of 
 
 nevi>r to be inclosed with iinarterly statement of general postal account 
 
 new bcmd <iiven by postmaster does not change manner of rendering 
 
 no iiicnti(m to be made in, of registration fees 
 
 not iii)on rei;iilar blanks will not be audited 
 
 of deceased i)ost masters, who may render ... 
 
 of i>i)stiiiasters. how to enter ))osta^e-stam]>s received thereon 1 
 
 ori'.iiiials to he retained liv pustmasters : copies only to be sent to Auditor 
 
 <iuti;oing postmasters at fourth-class post-ottices may make special arriingements 
 
 with successors aliniit rendering .' 
 
 payments for foiiuer (luarter not io ap|H'ar on 
 
 on account of what, not to be entered on 
 
 quarterly, from Presidential ixist-otfices to be accompanied by detailed statement of 
 
 jiosta;;e-stami)s. etc 
 
 how to be mailed 
 
 of postmasters. ])eiralty for non-rendition 
 
 time of making 
 
 to be accompanied l)y attidavit 
 
 to lie sworn to 
 
 printe(l labels to be used by postnnisters at Presidential offices 
 
 to l)e aeeom|ianied by voiicliers 
 
 to be reiider.'cl by ]>ost masters 
 
 trans(^ript to be sent with 
 
 signature of. by whom : blank heading, how tilled up 
 
 to be preserved two years 
 
 to be transmit t I'd to .Vuditor before 2()th day of next (|uarter 
 
 to include only business (diuie iiuarter ....... 
 
 transcript of and voiichi'is com]>ose jmstmaster's quarterly return 
 
 transcripts niiiat always be sent with 
 
 Account, general postal, amounts of Auditor's drafts collected by jiostmasti'is 
 
 to be entered tipon 
 
 Auditor will charge upon, amount of collection-drafts neglected to be collected by 
 
 postmasters 
 
 blanks for, furnished to Presidential jjost-ottices only 
 
 form of, for fourth cla.ss post-ottices 
 
 or ledger, what to be entered on credit side 
 
 debit side 
 
 with the Fnitid States to bi' k<-pt by postmasters 
 
 postmasters to compare, with .Vuditors sfateiiient of 
 
 quarterly statement of, low diU'creut from i|uarti'rly account-current 
 
 never to be inclosed witli ipiarterly account-current 
 
 not reiinired from fourth class post-otHces 
 
 to be sent to .Vuditor by postmasteis at Presidential po.st- 
 
 otHees only .". 
 
 to be transmitted to Auditor before 20tli day of next quarter. 
 what to lie retainc-d by postmasters as vouchers to 1 
 
 Sec. 
 
 Page. 
 
 747 
 
 169 
 
 »().'! 
 
 174 
 
 :i 
 
 34 
 
 n]A 
 
 125 
 
 I'.'li 
 
 303 
 
 1207 
 
 301 
 
 1247 
 
 314 
 
 1248 
 
 314 
 
 788 
 
 172 
 
 173 
 
 70 
 
 114.5 
 
 285 
 
 69 
 
 51 
 
 .53 
 
 48 
 
 1143 
 
 285 
 
 1176 
 
 289 
 
 1161 
 
 288 
 
 1183 
 
 296 
 
 1167 
 
 288 
 
 niH 
 
 292 
 
 1177 
 
 289 
 
 117.5 
 
 289 
 
 116!) 
 
 289 
 
 1184 
 
 296 
 
 1164 
 
 288 
 
 889 
 
 187 
 
 11.58 
 
 287 
 
 1163 
 
 288 
 
 1. 1.56 
 
 67 
 
 1165 
 
 288 
 
 1162 
 
 288 
 
 1170 
 
 289 
 
 1172 
 
 289 
 
 1161 
 
 288 
 
 1156 
 
 287 
 
 11.53 
 
 287 
 
 11.54 
 
 287 
 
 11.52 
 
 287 
 
 1152 
 
 287 
 
 116(1 
 
 287 
 
 1155 
 
 287 
 
 1151 
 
 286 
 
 1157 
 
 287 
 
 1166 
 
 288 
 
 64 
 
 .50 
 
 1189 
 
 297 
 
 1159 
 
 287 
 
 11.55 
 
 287 
 
 11.57 
 
 287 
 
 1194 
 
 299 
 
 1197 
 
 299 
 
 1187 
 
 297 
 
 1191) 
 
 297 
 
 1182 
 
 296 
 
 1181 
 
 296 
 
 1179 
 
 296 
 
 HSH 
 
 297 
 
 1183 
 
 296 
 
 1184 
 
 296 
 
 1188 
 
 297 
 
 1180 
 
 206 
 
 1189 
 
 297 
 
 1185 
 
 296 
 
 377 
 
 
378 
 
 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 Accrued rights of TTnited States not, to be abridged in proceedings under warrant 
 
 ofattachnieiit 
 
 Acting Postiuaster-fteneral, who may serve as 
 
 Acting special agents, Assistant Postmaster-General and superintendents may 
 
 act as 
 
 Actions under postal laws. {See Suns.) 
 
 may be brouglit in State courts 
 
 Address cards, how tliey may be presented for mailing 
 
 Adjustment of pay to railway companies for carrying the mail 
 
 AdniiniMtrators, mail-matter to be delivered to 
 
 moncv-didi-is to lie ]>ai(l to 
 
 registered matter To be delivered to 
 
 of deceased persons aiiaiiist wlioiii collictioii-drafts have been issued, names of, to 
 
 be reported to Auditor by collect in i; jiost masters 
 
 Admission of new publications to second-class rate 
 
 Advances for expenses may lie made by Postmaster-General to si>ecial agents, etc . 
 
 Adverti sed letters, charge on delivery of, only made when 
 
 from Dead-Letter ( )tiice 
 
 list of, at free-delivery post-offices to designate those at post-office and at each 
 
 station 
 
 foreign, may lie in foreign language 
 
 to be dis|ilayed in post-othce 
 
 to be posted ill iiublic place 
 
 pav for i>tiblislied list of 
 
 to be so stam]ped 
 
 Advertising steamboats, vessels, vehicles, etc., falsely, as carrying the mail, penalty. 
 
 Advertising sheets, characteristics of ". 
 
 not entitled to second-class rates 
 
 Advertisement not icixuived for mail-contracts upon water-routes 
 
 not re(iuired for luail-contracts with railroad companies 
 
 of general mail lettings 
 
 of letters uncalled for, allowance for printing, how ma<le by Auditor 
 
 of miscellaneous mail-lettings 
 
 of routes (imittecl in general mail-lettings '. 
 
 rates to be jiaid iie\vs]i:ipers for 
 
 Advertisements, forms of, which are prohibited in second-class matter 
 
 for Post- Jffi<c Department, record of, kept by Chief Clerk 
 
 Affidavit. (See Oaths.) 
 
 may be re{{uired to accompany iiostmasters" quarterly returns 
 
 penalty for altering or counterfeitiug 
 
 required for continuance of suits 
 
 in apidying for warrant of attachment 
 
 to clain'i credit for stamps destroyeil 
 
 to accompany application for renewal of lost warrant or draft 
 
 to be made by postmasters as to loss of ccdlection-drafts 
 
 Affirmation. ' (<S'ee Oaths.) 
 
 Age of letter-carriers 
 
 mad-carriers 
 
 Agents. (,S'ec Mail agexts. Local agexts. Route a(;en'ts, Special age.nts, etc.) 
 (Jlaim (pension), not to receive letters from Pension-Office when addressed to other 
 
 persons 
 
 news, defined 
 
 how they obtain second-class rates 
 
 may send and receive sample copies of newspajiers, <fcc., as second-class 
 
 matter 
 
 must funiisli evidence as to character of matter otfered as second-class 
 
 route, emidoynient and jiay of 
 
 on mail steamboats to receive letters 
 
 stamp, who may buy iio.sta^e-stamps. etc., at discount 
 
 Agricultural Reports from Auricultural De^iartment free of postage 
 
 Agriculture. Commissioner of is entitled to semi reports and seetls free of postage. 
 Allowances at jiost-othces. apidication to lie made to First Assistant Postmaster- 
 General 
 
 laniiot exceed surplus revenue 
 
 to be fixed by order of Postmaster-( iencral 
 
 extra, to first and second class post-offices 
 
 for iuivertising letters 
 
 for clerks and incidental expenses at jiost-offices 
 
 at post-offices 
 
 not made until i-oster of clerks is approved by First Assist- 
 ant Postmastei'-General 
 
 at separating post-offices 
 
 receipt to be taken for pay 
 
 for expenditures not matle in absence of vouchers 
 
 for extraordinary business at post-offices 
 
 for ineicbiital expenses at post-offices _ 
 
 none ;;ianteil to postmasters for sale of jxistage-.stamps, etc 
 
 Alterations needi-d in postal cars. Division Superintendents to be notified of ; eni- 
 
 liloyes not to go to railroad otiicials about 
 
 of I'ostal Laws and Kegu hit ions, how noted 
 
 Annual Report of A uditor <d' the Treasury Hu' the Post-Office Depai-tment 
 
 of l'ostmastei-(!ciieral 
 
 Annulment of mail-contracts, for what causes, will be made 
 
 Appeal allowed to First Comptroller from .\ uditor 
 
 to I'ost master- ( Jeiicral from de<isions of postmasters 
 
 Application for aj ■point nient of li tter-carrier, form of 
 
 for blank forms, how and to whom made 
 
 bee. 
 
 Page. 
 
 1215 
 
 303 
 
 3 
 
 34 
 
 7 
 
 35 
 
 .52 
 
 47 
 
 237 
 
 83 
 
 629 
 
 . 149 
 
 285 
 
 91 
 
 1028 
 
 210 
 
 873 
 
 184 
 
 1196 
 
 299 
 
 196 
 
 75 
 
 59 
 
 49 
 
 448 
 
 115 
 
 4.54 
 
 lie 
 
 356 
 
 100 
 
 445 
 
 115 
 
 440 
 
 115 
 
 444 
 
 114 
 
 447 
 
 115 
 
 453 
 
 116 
 
 1251 
 
 315 
 
 187 
 
 73 
 
 185 
 
 73 
 
 607 
 
 144 
 
 607 
 
 143 
 
 573 
 
 135 
 
 1171 
 
 289 
 
 578 
 
 136 
 
 a 1.1 
 
 136 
 
 579 
 
 137 
 
 210 
 
 77 
 
 27 
 
 39 
 
 11.52 
 
 2S7 
 
 1245 
 
 313 
 
 1219 
 
 304 
 
 1208 
 
 302 
 
 167 
 
 69 
 
 1201 
 
 300 
 
 1205 
 
 301 
 
 318 
 
 96 
 
 604 
 
 156 
 
 281 
 
 91 
 
 202 
 
 76 
 
 200 
 
 75 
 
 195 
 
 74 
 
 201 
 
 75 
 
 •J2 
 
 38 
 
 261 
 
 87 
 
 175 
 
 70 
 
 247 
 
 84 
 
 247 
 
 84 
 
 128 
 
 63 
 
 127 
 
 62 
 
 126 
 
 62 
 
 129 
 
 63 
 
 1171 
 
 289 
 
 124 
 
 62 
 
 124 
 
 62 
 
 131 
 
 63 
 
 121 
 
 62 
 
 128 
 
 63 
 
 1173 
 
 289 
 
 125 
 
 62 
 
 124 
 
 62 
 
 165 
 
 69 
 
 785 
 
 172 
 
 
 353 
 
 45 
 
 45 
 
 44 
 
 44 
 
 613 
 
 144 
 
 1150 
 
 286 
 
 19 
 
 28 
 
 319 
 
 96 
 
 1176 
 
 289 
 
INDEX. 379 
 
 StT. Vunf. 
 Appliontion — (^niitiniicd. 
 
 for tVccdclivi TV s.vstvin must he iiiikIc t« First AHHiMtaiit PoHtmaBtcr-Gwionil :U(J W> 
 
 lbrvciiil.iustiiu'ut ofsiiliirii's of poHtniiiHti'i'H, to whom made 123 02 
 
 of surotifs for roloiiso, to wlioni nuulc 113 .18 
 
 to Auditor for rpiu'wal of lost warniiit or draft, how iniuli- 1201 300 
 
 to be a4-coinpaitied by ccrtitl»rat« of 
 
 non-i>ayiin-nt ." 1202 300 
 
 Appointmrnl, Icttt-r of, to \w furnished to postmast<ns upon thoir appointment 107 57 
 
 ofikrksat post-otfiw-s 130 B3 
 
 of employes of Railway Mail Service for six months on probation. ))crman<nt after 
 
 satisfactory examination 710 104 
 
 not to be recommended by I)ivisi(ui Sujierin- 
 
 tendent '. 712 1«4 
 
 of fonnjin mail-agents 1" ^ 
 
 of letter-carriers 312 93 
 
 fnnii (if application for 319 96 
 
 how made 317 9fi 
 
 (pialitication for 31>< 90 
 
 of mail-a}rents on board of ocean mail steamer84 20 38 
 
 of ot!i<'.ers of tlie I'ostOlbcc Department, by whom made •'. 34 
 
 of postmasters, by wlioni made • 101 56 
 
 to be issued by First Assistant Postma.ster-Creneral 102 56 
 
 of railway postal clerks 23 38 
 
 of the A liditor of tlie Treasury for the I'est-Office Department 1139 283 
 
 Appoiiiliiioiit oifice. (.*>'-■<■ FiusT Assisr.vNT Postmasteu-C^knkkal.) 
 
 Appi'oprintioiiM for |iiistal service to be made from revenues "iS 49 
 
 Archil»Tt!>i' ilra^vings rated as fourth-class matter 27 
 
 Arrans<-iiientM, special postal, continued with certain countries under convention 
 
 ofl'aris 1118 266 
 
 made by United States with various countries. 1120 274 
 
 Arreist of mail-robbers by postmasters to be r<!i)orted to United States district at- 
 
 toniey 4tU 121 
 
 of witnesses, duties of special airents iu case of 17 37 
 
 Arrival and drpartiirc of inaiiti, postma.sters to report exact time of 6.58 155 
 
 schedule of. to lie tiivnislieil ]Mistmasters 657 154 
 
 when chaimes may not be uiaile in schedule of 622 14.5 
 
 Aspinwall, iiui,<;triitiiiii of letters only to, permissible 1129 278 
 
 Asiiiignevs, delivery of matter to 286 91 
 
 wlieu duplicate diaft or warrant may be issued to 1204 300 
 
 ABtiisninent of mail-contracts ]ii'ohibited 623 146 
 
 ot projiosals for carrvinsr the mail iirohibited 600 141 
 
 ANHi»tIanl Atlorney-fSeneral for tlie Po.st-Oftice Department, appointment of 4 34 
 
 dutiesof 27 41 
 
 opinions of 325 
 
 Acidiiiitant poMtuiastrri^ may liave access to mail at post-offices -520 125 
 
 may not be interested in mail -eon tracts -599 141 
 
 may si<;n certiticates of dejiosits for iiostmaster. how 96 54 
 
 may render accounts of deceased jiostmaster 1163 288 
 
 oaths of otti<-e of. to be sent to First A.ssistant Postmaster-General 519 12& 
 
 to be aji] minted by every ])0,st master 518 12o 
 
 Asaislant Poslmaslers-rienoral, ajipointment and term of office: how removed. _ 2 34 
 
 to be (ireseut at opeiiiuii of )iro]iosals for carryini; the mail .580 137 
 
 Atlacliiiient, may be dissolved in acecudanee wifli provisions of State laws 1216 303 
 
 ownerslii]) of projiertv Iield nmler wariant of. how to be determined 1210 302 
 
 proceeds of iiroperty sold or lield under warrant of. how to be invested 1211 302 
 
 will not lie aLiainst ;i n ;:ister( il litter in hands of postmaster lietore delivery 874 184 
 
 Attachment, warrant of, accrued rights of United States under attachment pro- 
 
 ceedini;s not to be abridged 121.'. 303 
 
 discharge of, may be made when bond is filed, etc 1"-'14 •'O.^ 
 
 bow and by whom issued 1209 302 
 
 how apjdied for and applicatiini liow made 1208 302 
 
 may issue against property of defaulting postmasters 1207 301 
 
 persons indebted to defendant's estate to account for it after publication of attach- 
 
 incTit proceedings 1213 303 
 
 ]iubliiatinn of execution of. how and for how long to be made 1212 303 
 
 Attorney-Cleneral to givedirections to district attorneys prosecuting suits for Post- 
 
 Ottice Dej.artment ' - 1221 304 
 
 Attorneys, United .States district, prosecuting suits for Department, duties of 1221 304 
 
 Auditor, accounts of expenses paid by po,stma.sters to be stated by 1146 285 
 
 numev-order business, how kejtt by 1145 285 
 
 Post-Office Dei.artnu-nt. how k.jit by 1143 285 
 
 appeal granted from, to First Comiitroller 1150 286 
 
 application to, for duplicate of lost warrant or draft, how made 1201 300 
 
 authorized to administer oaths 1149 286 
 
 cause of failure to collect amount of collection-drafts to be reported to 1196 299 
 
 collection by, of balances due the Department from postmasters and other.s, by 
 
 collection-drafts in favor of other ]>o8tmasters 1192 299 
 
 of balances due tht^ Department from postmasters by contractors' 
 
 orders 1191 299 
 
 coni])romise of .judgments may be made by. when 1 l-jj 285 
 
 copies of quarterly returns to be sent to: originals to he kept by postmasters Iltj5 288 
 
 directicm of quarterly returns sent to. by postmasteis 11."'6 -8' 
 
 divisions of office of 1141 284 
 
 dutiesof, generally stated 1140 283 
 
 prescribed by statute _. 1142 284 
 
 marshals to make return to. of proceedings upon process of execution 122.T 31)5 
 
 may furnish papers reipiired to sustain the clain\s of the Department in suits 1148 
 
 286 
 
380 
 
 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 Auditor — Continued. 
 
 iiiiiy require jiostniasters at fourtli-elass post-offices to furnish statements of general 
 
 postal account 
 
 of the Treasury for the I'ost-OtHee De]iartTiii'nt. a])pointment of 
 
 postmasters to e()m])are general postal accouur vrith 
 
 quarterly returns of postmasters to he forwanletl to, when 
 
 statement of fjeneral postal account to he sent to, by postmasters at Presi- 
 dential post-ottices i 
 
 records of receipts by postmasters to he returned to 
 
 to be evidence in suits for Department 
 
 report of, to be part of Postmaster-General's report 
 
 superintends collection of debts due the Department 
 
 to be furnished inventory of what public property at j)ost-ottiees 
 
 notified by collecting postmaster of nbn-i)ay ment of draft 
 
 ](aynient of drafts 
 
 to cause suit to he brought u])ou unjiaid (•olle<tion drafts 
 
 instruct railroad companies to disigiiate a tinaueial agent 
 
 Australia, colonies of. not in Universal Postal Union, no conventions with other than 
 
 New South Wales. Queensland, aiul Victoria 
 
 special postal an-angeTuents with Xe w South Wales 
 
 (Queensland 
 
 Victoria 
 
 AutheiiticatioH of records, how to be made 
 
 Auxiliary carriers, appointment of authorized 
 
 Back uuniber.<« may be sent as sample copies of second-class matter 
 
 Balances due Department liy jpostmasti-rs, evidence of demand for 
 
 rate of interest on 
 
 Banks, national, postmasters may deposit money-order funds in 
 
 postal funds in 
 
 Bar-room, ])ost-otfice not to be located in 
 
 Basle, internal i(jnal excliange post-ottice for money-orders on Switzerland 
 
 Bidders accepted failing to make contract, next lowest to be contracted with, etc 
 
 for carrying the mail, amount of bond lequired of 
 
 may not assign or ti'ansfer bids 
 
 mu.st be of legal age 
 
 first piopose strictly aceoiding to the advertisement, and make separate bid 
 
 foi- ditteii'nt service if di'sired 
 
 inform 1 lienisel ves of the chaiaeter of the service 
 
 not released from bonds until .service has been comnnmcedby successful bidder ... 
 
 residences of, to lie stated 
 
 should use printed proposals furnished by Department . . .■ 
 
 special instructions to 
 
 Bids. (.S'e« Proposals.) 
 
 alteration or counterfeiting of. penalty 
 
 Bill, form of. to accompany second-class matter 
 
 Blank agency, all blanks furnished by, except when otherwise directed 
 
 b\isiness of 
 
 to be establi.shed at Washington for the Po.st-OfHce Department 
 
 Blank forms of accounts current and transcripts for Presidential post-offices 
 
 of accounts-current, etc., how obtained 
 
 for fourth-class post-offices 
 
 Blanks for letter-can-ier post-offices, how obtained 
 
 for use in post-offices, how furnished 
 
 ofpiinted commercial i)ai)er filled out in writiiii;, do not subject them to letter- 
 
 ]»"<t:VA>- ■' 
 
 Bookkeeping, manner of, at letter-carrier po.st-offices 
 
 at money -order post-offices 
 
 Books, how to be jiiescnted for mailing 
 
 may be sent as third-class mail-matter 
 
 received in foreign mails, duty on, may be remitted when , 
 
 single, may be sent by mail when weighing over four pounds 
 
 special anangements for tran.smission of, to Oreat Britain and Gennanv 
 
 Bond accompanying bids for canying the mail, londitions of 
 
 amount of, recpiired of biddeis for carrying the mail 
 
 ap])lication of paynumts by jiostmasters aftei- giving new 
 
 sureties for withdrawal from, to whom to be made 
 
 blank form of to be furnislied to |iost masters upon thiir a]>pointnieiit 
 
 defendant to give, when ajqilying for discharge ot warrant of attachment 
 
 foiin of 
 
 limit of time of sureties, liability on 
 
 new execution of, by postmaster does not change manner of rendering quaiteily re- 
 turn ..' 
 
 new, reipiired in case of death, removal fiom State, or inscdvency of sureties 
 
 new. to be given by iiostmasters at post-offices when first made iliouey -order offices, 
 
 and subse(|uenfly as requiied 
 
 not rei|uinil with a|iiili(aliiin for duplicate draft 
 
 of bidders for carrying the mail to be api)roved by a postmaster 
 
 not to bi- ajipnix ed by iiostmasters until i-omideted 
 
 ])i>nalfy for fraudulent aiqiroval of by postmasters 
 
 of letter-carriers to be )irom|itly i\ei iiteil 
 
 to be returned to Uirst Assistant Postmaster-tJeneral 
 
 of l)ostmasters 
 
 a]ii)roval of, may be signed by First A.ssistant Postmaster-General . . . 
 
 how jenewed 
 
 most be lenewed when mime of post-office is chiinged 
 
 penalty for alteiiug or counterfeiting 
 
 illegal apjir(i\al of. of bidders, by postmasters 
 
 lequired of sjiecial agents, and in what cases 
 
 ro acccnnpany aiiplicalion foi- issue of duplicate warrant 
 
 responsibility of sureties after postmaster's death 
 
 Sec. 
 
 Page. 
 
 1188 
 
 297 
 
 1139 
 
 283 
 
 1186 
 
 297 
 
 1154 
 
 287 
 
 1180 
 
 296 
 
 1168 
 
 . 288 
 
 1223 
 
 304 
 
 45 
 
 45 
 
 1144 
 
 285 
 
 .51t) 
 
 124 
 
 11 a--. 
 
 299 
 
 1194 
 
 299 
 
 1199 
 
 300 
 
 648 
 
 152 
 
 1129 
 
 278 
 
 1126 
 
 275 
 
 1126 
 
 276 
 
 1126 
 
 277 
 
 28 
 
 41 
 
 311 
 
 95 
 
 203 
 
 76 
 
 1224 
 
 305 
 
 1220 
 
 304 
 
 1076 
 
 222 
 
 73 
 
 51 
 
 523 
 
 125 
 
 1055 
 
 217 
 
 603 
 
 142 
 
 5,S3 
 
 138 
 
 600 
 
 141 
 
 595 
 
 141 
 
 593 
 
 140 
 
 MI2 
 
 140 
 
 598 
 
 141 
 
 593 
 
 141 
 
 593 
 
 141 
 
 593 
 
 140 
 
 1245 
 
 313 
 
 234 
 
 82 
 
 1 
 
 27 
 
 27 
 
 39 
 
 33 
 
 42 
 
 1177 
 
 289 
 
 1176 
 
 289 
 
 1178 
 
 292 
 
 365 
 
 101 
 
 1 
 
 27 
 
 232 
 
 81 
 
 366 
 
 101 
 
 977 
 
 201 
 
 237 
 
 83 
 
 215 
 
 78 
 
 1135 
 
 281 
 
 221 
 
 79 
 
 1118 
 
 266 
 
 581 
 
 138 
 
 583 
 
 138 
 
 106 
 
 57 
 
 113 
 
 58 
 
 107 
 
 57 
 
 1214 
 
 303 
 
 36 
 
 43 
 
 no 
 
 57 
 
 1164 
 
 288 
 
 109 
 
 57 
 
 964 
 
 199 
 
 1203 
 
 300 
 
 ,581 
 
 138 
 
 590 
 
 140 
 
 587 
 
 139 
 
 320 
 
 96 
 
 320 
 
 96 
 
 105 
 
 56 
 
 48 
 
 46 
 
 112 
 
 58 
 
 114 
 
 58 
 
 1245 
 
 313 
 
 587 
 
 139 
 
 11 
 
 36 
 
 1201 
 
 300 
 
 III 
 
 58 
 
INDEX. 
 
 3H1 
 
 Bond— CiiMiiuiU'd. 
 
 siiri'tics nut M'.-<|i(iiiMilili' I'lH' iiiilclilr<liii-HH of |ioHtniaHt<-i' when Hiiit m not inNtitiiUMl 
 
 within tliii'c yciir.s altiT cIohc <>1' ;i<-<'<iiint8 
 
 to he ;;iviii 1>\ it'tt<T-i"ii'ii<'i>i 
 
 witni'rt.scH in ci riain cnxcH 
 
 Box<-H, lottcr. ortn'tvd liv hnldiTsnl tlicir cxpi'nsi" ; ivnt to lnM-oll(!ctc(l UHlnni; im UHrd. 
 lioltlcFM oi', Mi:iv cri'it lnck-lioxi't at ]»cist-o(lic<-M at tlicir own expfiiHc. .. 
 
 may lie ircctcil liy iiiistiiiastcr.s at llii-it own cxiM-nsf. 
 
 nanus of lioldci s of, not to lie disclnsid liy l>ostnniHt<TS 
 
 wliall not lie icnti'd for iniiiro|nT |iiii'|iosi' 
 
 to !»■ usrd only l>y one family, firm, or corponttioii 
 
 strcft mailin-r. arn-st <d' |m rson.s found tanipiTiug with 
 
 cutaldisliini'nt of 
 
 how ol)tain<'d 
 
 in.jmics to. to Ix' r<-]iortcd hy lftter-carri«'i'H 
 
 in.jurin^i mail-matter in. jx-nalty 
 
 may he placed in hotels and commercial exehanfres 
 
 penalty foi' injuring; 
 
 to he kei>t in rejiair. etc 
 
 Box-holdf'rti. (Sec LiaTKit-iioxEs ix fOST-oFKicKS.) 
 
 nolitieation to. of arrival of registered matter for 
 
 Box-rnilN. (See LKiTlcit-noXKS ix rosr-OKl-KEis.) 
 
 rciiird of to he kept l)y postmasteis , 
 
 Branch poHt-o(liri-M. ajiplications for estahlishmenf of. how made 
 
 eonvevanee of mails between general ]>ost-otfiee and ; 
 
 mail-matter not to lie .sent to. eontrary to re<pie.st of person a4ldre88ed 
 
 I'ostmaster-(ien<'ral may estalilish 
 
 to he freipiently inspe( ted hy postmaster 
 
 BraMK lorliM not to he sent to iron-lock post-offices ; when received to be sent to a 
 
 hrassloi'k ]iost-oftiee to he ojieni'd 
 
 BuNinrMa. extraordinary allowances for. at post-ottiees 
 
 wliat mav hi' transacted in )iosto(hce room hy fouith-class pUHtinaaterH 
 
 BuNinesa honrti at jiost (ittices the usual, in the place 
 
 Canada, exehan;ie post-otHees for 
 
 may send mails throui;h the I'nited States 
 
 money-orders exchanficil with 
 
 Paris eonvenlion does not <:overn ex(haii;ie with 
 
 recpiest letters from, to he ii>tnrne<l to 
 
 special jiostal arrangements with 
 
 undelivered re(iuest reji^istered h'tters from, to he returned to 
 
 C'analN. mail may he cariied on 
 
 Cancfllalion of postaf;e-stani))8 in Offices 
 
 <m matter dejiosited in post-offiees for mailin;^ or 
 
 delivery 
 
 of return stamps on return postal cards and letter envelopes 
 
 nse of postniarkiii<r stamp for, prohihited 
 
 Canceled stamps, penalty for washinji or using again 
 
 Card matter not first class, .senderof, may have returned hy sending postage 
 
 sliortpaid first class, collection of jiostaye on. returned 
 
 to he ret u I lied to writer without reipiest, when 
 
 unclaimed, to he stamped with postmaik and ilate of aiTival 
 
 CardN. address, how they may he jire.sented for mailing 
 
 postal, how redeemed when spoiled 
 
 when spoiled and redeemed by postmaster to be sent to Third Assistant Post- 
 
 ma.ster-General 
 
 ]iostage (m, when repo.sted after delivery 
 
 Carrier system. (See Fkke-hki.ivkry svrtXE.M.j 
 Carrierit. (.Vee LEXTEit-r.vuitiKits, M.vii.-caiumeks.) 
 
 letter, additional, not to he emiiloyed until ajijioiuted by Department 
 
 a|ipointmeuts and pMimotions 
 
 auxiliary (third grade), a]ipointmeut of, authorized 
 
 bonds re(|uired of 
 
 bonds and oaths of office to be returned to the First Assistant Postmaster- 
 
 tieneral 
 
 caution to be used in delivery of registered matter by 
 
 classification of 
 
 descrijition of uniform 
 
 duties of 
 
 efficiency to he tested frequently 
 
 IVnbidden to deliver mail-matter before the same has passed through the 
 
 post-office 
 
 form of application for a]ipointment 
 
 how appointed 
 
 leave ot ali.sence of. in case of illness, etc 
 
 may .sell postage-stamps in limited <|iiautities 
 
 must beware of dogs 
 
 not contract debts on their route 
 
 not return letters which have been deposited in letter-boxes 
 
 receive proiierly-stamiied letters for mailing 
 
 return mail-keys and satchels to post-office after last delivery 
 
 wear uniform when on duty, etc 
 
 write reason foi- non-delivery on undelivered matter. 
 
 not allowed to solicit contributions or sell tickets 
 
 not permitted to collect extra fees on mail-matter delivered 
 
 number of, limited 
 
 qua fication of. for appointment 
 
 rule for delivering mail-matter 
 
 salaries of 
 
 Page 
 
 n.'i 
 
 .'>« 
 
 31.1 
 
 INI 
 
 17 
 
 37 
 
 :i().-. 
 
 04 
 
 SWi 
 
 »3 
 
 •Mr> 
 
 »-2 
 
 :«j« 
 
 94 
 
 3(H 
 
 9:t 
 
 iitrj 
 
 Ki 
 
 .WJ 
 
 101 
 
 :{3:{ 
 
 98 
 
 :j6.'i 
 
 101 
 
 33.5 
 
 9« 
 
 rsiu 
 
 308 
 
 313 
 
 9.5 
 
 334 
 
 98 
 
 3.'i7 
 
 101 
 
 1168 
 
 288 
 
 3.T4 
 
 100 
 
 3.'>.") 
 
 100 
 
 336 
 
 98 
 
 336 
 
 98 
 
 3.58 
 
 101 
 
 699 
 
 162 
 
 125 
 
 62 
 
 .526 
 
 125 
 
 .525 
 
 125 
 
 1125 
 
 272 
 
 050 
 
 153 
 
 1059 
 
 218 
 
 1107 
 
 263 
 
 457 
 
 116 
 
 1126 
 
 274 
 
 908 
 
 190 
 
 .545 
 
 129 
 
 721 
 
 166 
 
 375 
 
 103 
 
 376 
 
 103 
 
 377 
 
 103 
 
 1252 
 
 315 
 
 465 
 
 117 
 
 462 
 
 116 
 
 457 
 
 116 
 
 461 
 
 116 
 
 237 
 
 83 
 
 171 
 
 70 
 
 172 
 
 70 
 
 181 
 
 72 
 
 323 
 
 96 
 
 312 
 
 95 
 
 311 
 
 95 
 
 315 
 
 96 
 
 320 
 
 96 
 
 361 
 
 101 
 
 309 
 
 95 
 
 328 
 
 97 
 
 324 
 
 96 
 
 351 
 
 100 
 
 348 
 
 100 
 
 319 
 
 96 
 
 317 
 
 96 
 
 .325 
 
 96 
 
 3.53 
 
 100 
 
 3(U 
 
 101 
 
 .331 
 
 99 
 
 360 
 
 101 
 
 347 
 
 100 
 
 359 
 
 101 
 
 330 
 
 98 
 
 349 
 
 100 
 
 332 
 
 99 
 
 337 
 
 99 
 
 314 
 
 96 
 
 318 
 
 96 
 
 342 
 
 99 
 
 310 
 
 95 
 
382 
 
 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 •Carriers — Coutiuued. 
 
 sliall not deliver mail at unoccupied premises 
 
 mail-matter in the street 
 
 substitutes, bow appointed 
 
 temporary, may be a])pointed by postmasters 
 
 to obey ordeis of postmaster 
 
 be employed in what cities 
 
 report iiijurits to street letter-boxes 
 
 Huiiiily tbcir own unifoiTns -■ 
 
 ])cnalty tor aliseine witliout leave 
 
 unit'oim of, and penalty for wearing it unlawfully 
 
 C/aate-examinations, monthly report of, at post-otfices 
 
 nature of, for cleiks in post-otfices 
 
 of distrilintinii-clfrts in post-othces 
 
 I'liiiiloyes of tilt' Railway Mail Service 
 
 Catchers, how fuiiiislied 
 
 Catcher-crane, liow to haiiji ]>onrhcs on 
 
 Catcher post-offices, cranes and jmnches for 
 
 newspaper juail at, to b(^ sent to nearest express station 
 
 .s]ie<ial instiintion sto jtoistinasters at 
 
 Catcher-pouches, limit of mail in 
 
 to be usi'd for no otlier ])ui]>ose 
 
 Catch stations, delivery of mail to, by employes of Railway Mail Service 
 
 Central America, no jiostal conventions with countries of 
 
 Certiticates of deposit should be signed in person by j)0stmasters of depository 
 
 otti<es, excejit in certain cases 
 
 Changes needed in niail-< ars, Division Supeilntendent to be notified of, eniploy63 not 
 
 to go to railroad officials about 
 
 Checking mails transferred at stations by local agents 
 
 Checks de](osited with bids for carrying the mails, wlien forfeited 
 
 returned to unsuccessful bid- 
 der 
 
 Chief Clerk of Depnrtment, duties of 
 
 Chief hcHd clerks of Railway Mail Service, assignment of, diities of 
 
 Chief special agent attached to office of Postmaster-General 
 
 losses in the mails to be piomptly rejioited to 
 
 mail robberies to be reported to . 
 
 missing or lost registered matter to be reported to • 
 
 leport to be made to, by iiostmasteis, when contents of registered letteis received 
 
 are missing 
 
 registeied letters arrive unsealed 
 
 return of circular of inquiry for registered matter indorsed "not received" to be 
 
 reported to 
 
 robbery of post-office to be reported to 
 
 Circulars and ]>rices-current may be sent to Guatemala at newspaper rates of postage, 
 
 to all other foreign countries as "other ])rinted matter" 1[23 
 
 definition of and pevmissildc writing tlieieon 
 
 from the Post-Oftiie Dcjiartiiicnt to ])ostniasters to be treated as official letters .... 
 
 issued by Department to be treated as written letters by postmasters 
 
 postage I >n, when mailed in bulk, for postmasters to distribute 
 
 Circular of inquiry for registered matter must receive immediate attention of re- 
 ceiving postmaster 
 
 for registered mattei-, returned indorsed "not received," to be reported to Chief 
 
 S])ecial Agent 
 
 to be sent when registry-bill is not returned 
 
 Circuit courts (of United States), jiirisdictiuii of under ))ostal laws 
 
 Claims ]iresented after adjustnicnf nl' qiiaiteily accounts may be rejected 
 
 Claim agents not to receive letters tiom Pension-Office addressed to pensioners 
 
 Classitlcation of dead matter 
 
 of lettei-caniers 
 
 of mail-matter 
 
 of unmailable matter 
 
 Clearances not to Ije granted to vessels carrying letters contrary to law 
 
 Clerks, railway juistal, appointment and pay of (see EMi'i.ovfo OF the Railway Mail- 
 
 Skkvke) . 
 
 Clerks in post-ottlces, allowance for 
 
 allowance for, at money-order ])ost-oifices, out of money-order funds 
 
 sejiarating post-offices 
 
 application for, to be made to First Assistant Postmaster-General 
 
 ap])ointed by postmasters, excejdion 
 
 case examinations of 
 
 efficiency of, rei)orted upon by superintendents of mails 
 
 forbidden to address or seal registered letters or to put postage-stamps thereon 
 
 inc(nnpefent distiibuting, to be removed 
 
 may not be interested in mail contract.s 
 
 must sign all oi-ders relating to ilistribution and disi)atch of mails 
 
 nujiiber, grade, and coiM)ien.Hation of, fixed by Postmaster-General 
 
 and salaries not to be changed without authority from First Assistant 
 
 Postniasfer-(ieiuiral 
 
 receipts re(iuired for pay of 
 
 verbal examination of 
 
 Clerk of House of Representatives entitled to send and receive public docu- 
 ments fne of jiostage 24.'>, 
 
 Close of mails, authority to fix tinui of vested in Postmaster-General 
 
 tinn: of as fixed l)y the I'ostmaster-General 
 
 Coin. {See Unmaii.ahle MArrEU.) 
 
 cannot be rtigistered to foreign countries 
 
 foreign, not receivable for postage-stanii)s or dues 
 
 Sec. Page. 
 
 34.J 
 
 99 
 
 344 
 
 99 
 
 321 
 
 96 
 
 322 
 
 96 
 
 362 
 
 101 
 
 307 
 
 94 
 
 335 
 
 98 
 
 329 
 
 98 
 
 326 
 
 97 
 
 327 
 
 97 
 
 424 
 
 109 
 
 418 
 
 108 
 
 418 
 
 108 
 
 780 
 
 172 
 
 690 
 
 160 
 
 427 
 
 109 
 
 426 
 
 109 
 
 429 
 
 110 
 
 430 
 
 no 
 
 429 
 
 110 
 
 428 
 
 110 
 
 791 
 
 173 
 
 1129 
 
 278 
 
 96 
 
 54 
 
 78.'; 
 
 172 
 
 798 
 
 174 
 
 585 
 
 139 
 
 586 
 
 139 
 
 27 
 
 39 
 
 713 
 
 164 
 
 27 
 
 39 
 
 490 
 
 120 
 
 493 
 
 121 
 
 887 
 
 186 
 
 859 
 
 183 
 
 860 
 
 183 
 
 849 
 
 181 
 
 492 
 
 121 
 
 1132 
 
 280 
 
 2iv 
 
 78 
 
 537 
 
 127 
 
 21 
 
 28 
 
 218 
 
 78 
 
 884 
 
 186 
 
 849 
 
 181 
 
 848 
 
 181 
 
 1206 
 
 301 
 
 1170 
 
 289 
 
 281 
 
 91 
 
 433 
 
 112 
 
 309 
 
 95 
 
 176 
 
 72 
 
 432 
 
 111 
 
 561 
 
 133 
 
 23 
 
 38 
 
 124 
 
 62 
 
 970 
 
 200 
 
 121 
 
 62 
 
 128 
 
 63 
 
 130 
 
 63 
 
 418 
 
 108 
 
 417 
 
 108 
 
 816 
 
 177 
 
 425 
 
 109 
 
 599 
 
 141 
 
 422 
 
 108 
 
 131 
 
 63 
 
 131 
 
 C3 
 
 128 
 
 63 
 
 420 
 
 108 
 
 246, 248 
 
 84 
 
 368 
 
 102 
 
 410 
 
 107 
 
 904 
 
 189 
 
 97 
 
 54 
 
INDKX. 
 
 383 
 
 C'olleclioiin, no allow mik'i' I'lir cxiiriisi- in making; 
 
 iit'iiostal t'miils from poMtmasti-is l>y roiifrartoiH' ohIith 
 
 ilrnftH in fiivor iit°iithi*r poHtiniuitorH 
 
 sliipt'i'cs 
 
 to In- (laiil into llicTri'asiirv 
 
 Collrt'tioii (Irnt'ls lost, how n-iirwi'd 
 
 iiiusl 111' paiil i\ III ir rontrai'tor owes pimtniUMtt^r 
 
 |iioiiiiitly paiil 1)\ |i(istiiiaHtrrs anil otliers 
 
 non']ia\iui-iit of, to lir n porti-il to .Vuilitoi liy I'oUcctin;; poHtiiiiiHter 
 
 not issiicil for iniinryorili'r fiiiuls 
 
 paynii-nt of, to lie ri'imrtcil to Amlitof Ity rolli-ctiny postnianter 
 
 po.stiiiiisti-is may lu- icniovcil fm- failinji to lolliTt 
 
 must bi' icaily to pay, at rml of raili c|iiarti'r 
 
 iii';;li'Ctin;l to <-olli-<t, iliar^cil with amount of 
 
 to ii'porf laii.si- of failuri' to rollt-rt amount of, to Auditor, rtc 
 
 ivccipls for ]>avmt'iit,s on. to hv snit .sri»aratrly to Auditor 
 
 rctunieil unpaid. Auditor will cau.sf suit to In- liroiiglit iipiin 
 
 upon po«tniii,stfrs for |>ayinfnt of lialnncfs due tlit; Departnu'iit, how made by 
 
 Auditor 
 
 CollmionN from poNliiinHlerci by Auditor s drafts in favor of other pcmtniaHterH. 
 
 by ((luti.iit.us nrilifs 
 
 Col Iff t ion po»t-«»fflfc». dutii's of iiostmastcrs at 
 
 ('oIoK»<'< iutiTiiational i'Xfliani;i' p<»,st-otticr tor monfV-ordrrs on Germany 
 
 Coloiiibin, rnitril .'^tatfs of, no postal com rntion w itii 
 
 CoiiibiiinlioiiM to lui'vi-nt bids for carryiui; the mail, how jiiinislu'd 
 
 C'oiiiiiicrrial papcrit, uudi-r domestic regulations, perini.ssible writing upon 
 
 undii Postal I'Tiion icirulations. for fnrcii;n mails only 
 
 ConiniiaMioiif r, Tiiited States, may make j)relimiuary examination of per.sou.s ar- 
 
 I est I'd for mail ilijiri-datious 
 
 ConiiniHHioucr of Agriculture entitled to .send repurt.s and seeds free of po,4tage. 
 CouiuiiHNionf r of deeds, postmasters may bold otHce of, witbcmt violating Presi- 
 dent's order 
 
 ComniiMsions not issued to postmasters until after approval of bonds 
 
 of jiostmasters, bow i-ecorded and sijiued 
 
 C'ouiuiuuif Riions to tlie I)e))artment sboiild be on one subject only 
 
 C'oiiipeuNRliou, extia, to ])08tniasters at money-order post-ottice.s 
 
 • for advi 1 risiu;; letters 
 
 of fiiuitb-class postmasters 
 
 Icttei carriirs 
 
 postmasters at Presidential post-ofKces 
 
 pro ten) 
 
 none allowed to iiostma.sters for sale of posta-je-stamps, etc 
 
 to masters of shi]>s not mail-vessels for receiving printed matter 
 
 to iiiasti IS of ships for canyiu}; mail on their vessels 252, 
 
 Com plaint-book to be kept at all post-ortices 
 
 Complaint!! of delay in receipt of mails to Division Superintendent of Railway Mail- 
 
 ,service ... 
 
 to be made to Chief Special Agent of lost letters, etc 
 
 Congresfii may tix rates tVir carrying the mail by land-grant railroads 
 
 terminate any contract for carrying the mails between the United 
 
 States and any foreign country 
 
 latts tixed by. for carrying mails by laud-giant railroads 
 
 Congressional dof unient.s free of postav:e with othcial frank 
 
 may be mailed in bulk and remailed alter one delivery 
 
 must III- separately franked, exceiit 
 
 11(1 liiiiit of Weight fill 
 
 Congressional Reeord, free of postage when franked by members of Congress ... 
 Consuls may pay imstage on letters for the United States, which will be refunded by 
 
 the State Department .'. 
 
 Continuanff of suits, bow granted to defendants 
 
 Conlraft otHfe. (S«e Skcosd A s.ststa.nt Postma-stek-Gf-xeral.) 
 Contrae tors for carrying the mail, (Sue Maii. coxtkactors.) 
 
 iliiluitiniis from ]iay of, for .s])ecial causes 
 
 for failure to perform service and tines for delimpiencies . . 
 
 delimiuencies of. to be reported by ])ostmasters 
 
 tines imiiosed uimu, for what 
 
 for carrying foreign mails may, be fined 
 
 must miike specific excu.ses for each delinqnenci" 
 
 take ])ostal oath of ottice 
 
 notitied bv postmasters of failures, when 
 
 transfer of debts to 
 
 Contrnf tors' orders, postmasters reijuired to pay upon presentation 
 
 Contrae t sections, division of the I'nited States into 
 
 Contracts for larrying the mail. (See Mail lOXTKArTs.) 
 
 lietwiiii the Fnited States and any foreign country may be terminated by Con- 
 gress 
 
 form of 
 
 postal employes not to be interested in 
 
 to be certitied to Auditor 
 
 t nily dated _ 
 
 Convention of Paris, accessions to the I'uion, how pennitted, article 18 
 
 aciounis between countries of the I'nion aboli.shed, article 9 
 
 arliitration between disagreeing members of the Union, article 17 
 
 combmatious of colonies, etc, as one administration, article 21 
 
 conditions of I'onve.vance of mails across frontiers, article 3 
 
 congi'esses of contracting countries every five years, article 1!) 
 
 correspondence between po.stal administrations alone tree, articles 
 
 See. 
 
 I»a«o. 
 
 00 
 
 S3 
 
 HOI 
 
 290 
 
 111)2 
 
 299 
 
 257 
 
 87 
 
 m 
 
 50 
 
 1203 
 
 301 
 
 M 
 
 53 
 
 ll9:i 
 
 299 
 
 1 !«.'•) 
 
 299 
 
 12()0 
 
 300 
 
 1I!M 
 
 299 
 
 1108 
 
 300 
 
 m 
 
 53 
 
 11»7 
 
 299 
 
 1190 
 
 299 
 
 8«i 
 
 53 
 
 1109 
 
 300 
 
 1192 
 
 299 
 
 1192 
 
 299 
 
 1191 
 
 299 
 
 76 
 
 52 
 
 10,T.> 
 
 217 
 
 1129 
 
 278 
 
 .->H9 
 
 140 
 
 •.'32 
 
 81 
 
 in.'-> 
 
 265 
 
 49.1 
 
 121 
 
 247 
 
 84 
 
 
 321 
 
 107 
 
 57 
 
 103 
 
 56 
 
 3 
 
 27 
 
 968 
 
 200 
 
 447 
 
 115 
 
 117 
 
 60 
 
 310 
 
 95 
 
 116 
 
 59 
 
 135 
 
 63 
 
 165 
 
 69 
 
 264 
 
 87 
 
 253, 254 
 
 86 
 
 15 
 
 28 
 
 16 
 
 28 
 
 15 
 
 28 
 
 637 
 
 151 
 
 6.-.<! 
 
 154 
 
 638 
 
 151 
 
 245 
 
 84 
 
 248 
 
 84 
 
 248 
 
 85 
 
 221 
 
 79 
 
 246 
 
 84 
 
 1136 
 
 281 
 
 1219 
 
 304 
 
 668 
 
 156 
 
 665 
 
 156 
 
 663 
 
 156 
 
 669 
 
 157 
 
 655 
 
 154 
 
 667 
 
 156 
 
 25 
 
 39 
 
 666 
 
 1.-.6 
 
 60 
 
 49 
 
 1191 
 
 299 
 
 574 
 
 130 
 
 656 
 
 154 
 
 36 
 
 43 
 
 4;j 
 
 44 
 
 37 
 
 43 
 
 35 
 
 42 
 
 1102 
 
 239 
 
 
 235 
 
 
 2;w 
 
 
 239 
 
 
 232 
 
 
 2;i9 
 
 
 235 
 
384 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 Sec. Page. 
 ConYenlion of I*ari8 — C^outiuuL'd. 
 
 conespondence t-xchimged between Union and non-Unitm countries, article 12 1102 236 
 
 of j)Ostal administrations tree of transit charges, article 4 233 
 
 countries concluding 281 
 
 declared value, exchange of letters of, subject of, special arrangements, article 13.. 236 
 domestic jjostal legislation not altered by, except as to express stipulations, ar- 
 ticle 15 -■ 238 
 
 duration of convention indefinite, article 22 240 
 
 final protocol of - 242 
 
 former arrangements and conventions in conflict with, abrogated by. article 23 240 
 
 internationarbureau of UuiviTsal Postal Union, article 16 238 
 
 modificati(jns of <()uveuti(in. iir(>]iositioiis for, how made and adopted, article 20 239 
 
 monetary iMiuix ulciits of the franc, article 7 235 
 
 I>osta--.- i-atcs. ai'ticle .t 233 
 
 postagestaiiiiis, what valid for prepayment of postage, article 8 235 
 
 prohibiteil matter in Union mails, article 11 236 
 
 ratification of, by Postmaster-General and President 241 
 
 final protocol 243 
 
 reforwarding matter fiee of charge 236 
 
 regi.stercd matter, limited liability for, article 6 235 
 
 registration of all mailable matter permitted, article 6 234 
 
 signatures of contract iug parties to 240 
 
 stipulations of, extend to what, arti<'le 2 232 
 
 transit charges and comlitions. article 4 232 
 
 expenses, how borne, article 4 233 
 
 rights guaranteed tln(mt;hout Union, article 4 232 
 
 Union countries may make siiecial arrangements with each other, article 14 237 
 
 Universal Postal Union established, article 1 232 
 
 unmailable matter, article .5 234 
 
 CJonveiitioii of Paris, regulations adopted by, amendments of, how to be pro- 
 posed, etc., article32 1103 260 
 
 articles of ordinary correspondence failing to reach destination, how to be applied 
 
 for, article 27 256 
 
 change in the monetary system of one country, notice to be given, in what way, 
 
 article 4 245 
 
 closed mails, correspondence in, re«-ulations respecting, how prepared, article 24 255 
 
 commercial papers, what are considered, article 16 250 
 
 coiTCspondence, aitual and peTsonal. what not considered, article 17 251 
 
 delivered by one administration toanother, how forwarded, articlel. 244 
 
 in closed mails, regnlations res)iecting, how prepared, article 24 . .. 255 
 
 in ojien mails, leiiulations respectinir, how prepared, article 23 253 
 
 undelivered, how to be tivated, article 21 253 
 
 what may be reforwarded. article 20 252 
 
 duration of, aiticle 34 261 
 
 exchange of conespondence in closed mails, how regulated, article 2 244 
 
 exp<>nses of transit, accounts of, how ine])ared, article 25 255 
 
 statistics of, article 22 253 
 
 extraordinary services of the Union, giving rise to special expenses, are what, ar- 
 ticle 3 .---.■ ; 245 
 
 International Bureau, connnunicatious to be addressed to, article 29 258 
 
 duties of, article 30 258 
 
 expenses of. how divided, article 28 257 
 
 jurisdiction of the Union, article 32 259 
 
 language to be used in fonns employed in international correspondence, article 31 . . 259 
 letter-bills accompanying the mails exchanged with Union countries, what to be en- 
 tered in, article 9 247 
 
 mails, how to be made up, article 12 - 249 
 
 verification of. by exchange otlices, article 13 249 
 
 open mails, corresjiondence in. niinlations resjiectiug, how prepared, article 23 253 
 
 postal cards, regulations resjiecting cin illation, dimensions, and use, article 15 250 
 
 prepayment insiitticieiit, how indicated, article 8 247 
 
 printed matter, what is coiisiilered, article 17 250 
 
 rates of postage, how levied on correspondence with countries not in the Union, 
 
 articles 246 
 
 by administrations not having the franc for monetary 
 
 unit, article 4 245 
 
 rates, number of. indications of, and amount of foicii;ii chai'ges, article 7 247 
 
 reduced po.stage, what excluded from, article 17 251 
 
 reforwarded, what articbs may be, article L'0 252 
 
 registered articles, indemnity for the loss of, article 11 248 
 
 in the mails, rules lor the treatment of, article 10 248 
 
 110 si)ecial c(uidition of form or fastening required, article 14 250 
 
 samples of meri'handise, ]irireiiuisites of admission, article 18 251 
 
 sub.iect to reduced jiostage, article 18 251 
 
 stamps, on cori'esiioudence oriniuatiug in lum-Union ccumtries, how impressed, arti- 
 cle C, 246 
 
 Uni(m countries, how impressed, article 6. 246 
 
 Stamp T. (tax to be paid), ai)iilicati. f, etc., articIl^ 6 246 
 
 undelivered corresiMui<lence, liow to be treated, article 21 253 
 
 weight, exceptions ill mat ters of, article '.'(t 256 
 
 what aiti<les may be gioniied together, and under what conditions, article 19 252 
 
 ConveiitioiiN, siiecial (postal, with various countri<'s 1126 274 
 
 C'opiei* of Dejiaitnieiit records, etc., to he Miithentieated by .seal of Department 28 41 
 
 stateiiients of ]ios( masters iiscil in suits certified by seal of Auditor 1224 305 
 
 Copyright, Inited .States, foreign puldicatitms which infringe .same, not allowed a.<> 
 
 second-class mattei- 214 78 
 
 Copyright matter, postmaster to receipt for 374 103 
 
INDEX. 385 
 
 Sec. Page. 
 
 Corr«-Mpond«'nrc coiupriMos ull mailMMu uinttur exchnugcd with foreigu coiuitrics .. 1108 'J64 
 
 conilitiiMis lit' nschiingo of, with t'auiulii iVM 274 
 
 lAUiulor ni;« 274 
 
 (Juatiniulii 1120 275 
 
 New South Wales, Austniliiv 1120 276 
 
 New Ztaluntl 1126 276 
 
 Qucciislimfl, Austialia 1126 278 
 
 Sandwich Islaud.s 1126 275 
 
 Wu.ziK 111 1126 276 
 
 Viitoiia, Aii3tialiii 1126 277 
 
 exchange jiost-otliccs for, with foreign couutries 112;") 268 
 
 metric weiglits used for foreigu 1105 262 
 
 miscellaneous rej;ulations and sujigestious for exchange of, with foreign countries. 1132 278 
 
 official, how to be eoudueted 534 127 
 
 postniasf er.s iiiu.st not allow, to pas.s into the hands of tho public 533 127 
 
 personal, negatively diliiied 232 81 
 
 postage.s (111, exchanged witli the Universal Postal Union 1108 264 
 
 rates of United States jxistage on. exchanged with foreign countries when not fixed 
 
 by convention 1127 277 
 
 witii foreign eountiies not in Postal Union, and "with whom no convention exists, 
 
 prepayment conipul.sory 1128 277 
 
 Postal Ifuiou countries, conditions of fonn and weight 1113 264 
 
 prepayment 1108 264 
 
 United States postage and registry for 1104 262 
 
 Post-Oflie.- Dej.artnieiit, by postmasters. {See Official cokbespojjdence.) 
 
 Counlcrfipitiiig affidavits, bid.s, boud.s, etc 1245 313 
 
 mail lucks ami kevs. peuallv 1243 313 
 
 of foieimi ])esta-i-stauips, jieiialt v 1228 308 
 
 IMistaLie-stainiis. itc, penalty for 1227 307 
 
 C'ounl<-i'<rit luoiicy. jiostnia.ster.s receiving, must replace with genuine 91 53 
 
 C'oiirlM. iiijmiet inns of, to be respectt-d by postmasters in the delivery of mail 230 92 
 
 State, juiisdiclion of, over ollcnses against tht' postal laws 52 47 
 
 ('ourt-houtiies to be supplied with mail 544 129 
 
 C'riinc. {Sec Catchek-ckaxe.) 
 
 C'rciiciitiaN of .special agents to be demanded by postmaster 540 128 
 
 Crediliii allowed in suits against individuals 1218 304 
 
 claims fur, shall not be allowed upon trial of any suit for delinquency unless pre- 
 
 .sented to Sixth Auditor .' 1217 303 
 
 Crimea {sec ()i fenses A(;aixst Postal Laws), altering or counterfeiting bids, bonds, 
 
 affidavits, etc., penaltv 1245 313 
 
 attempt to rob the mails, penalty 1239 312 
 
 being accessory after the fact to stealing of mail-matter 1248 314 
 
 mail lobberj- ; penalty 1247 314 
 
 breaking into post-office, penalty - - - 1244 313 
 
 destroying, secreting, or embezzling letters by persons not in the postal service, 
 
 penalty 1234 310 
 
 detention of mail-matter by postmasters, penalty 1232 309 
 
 embezzlement of letters containing inclosures 1230 308 
 
 failure to deposit postal revenues in Treasury constitutes embezzlement ; penalty . . 1249 314 
 
 forgery of foreign postage-stamps, penalty 1228 308 
 
 or counterfeiting of postage-stamps, dies, etc., penalty for 1227 307 
 
 forging or stealing mail locks or keys, penalty 1243 313 
 
 injuring mail-matter dejiosited in street mailing-box 1229 308 
 
 money -orders, forgery of. penalty for 1226 307 
 
 mntUatiug mail-bags with intent to rob the mail, penalty 1242 312 
 
 opening, destroying, secreting, or embezzling letters by persons in postal service, 
 
 penaUy ^ 1233 309 
 
 receiving articles stolen from the mails, pen;ilty 1236 311 
 
 robbery of the mail, penalty '. 1238 312 
 
 sending letters through tho'maUs with intent t(j defraud, penalty 1246 314 
 
 stealing mail-bags or other property of the Department, or diverting tho same from 
 
 their proper use 1241 312 
 
 or wrougfuUy obtaining mail-matter from custody of Department; penalty. 1235 310 
 
 Criminals, entitled to receive their letters 282 91 
 
 Currency, coin value of, for international money-orders decided by postmaster at 
 
 New York 1049 215 
 
 coin value of, not decided by postmaster issuing international money-order 1048 215 
 
 sent for redemption, special instructions for registration of 818 177 
 
 to Treasurer of tho United States for redemption, may be registered free of 
 
 charge 817 177 
 
 Current money, funds to be kept in 95 54 
 
 Custom!* duties on printed matter, except books, abolished 1134 281 
 
 on siunle l)ooks, may be remitted when 1135 281 
 
 treat uieut of articles in the mails liable to 1133 280 
 
 Daily reports of local agents to Hi vision Superintendents 799 174 
 
 Dated stamp daily impressious to be taken of 380 104 
 
 how to clean ami secure legible impressions of 381 104 
 
 Dea«l-l>ettor Office, fraudulent registered matter of foreign origin, forbidden to be 
 
 delivev<(l, to bo returned to 876 185 
 
 letters fniiu, to be advertised 454 116 
 
 when sender of returned registered matter not found it must be sent to 879 185 
 
 Dead letters ccmtaining money returaed back to Dcad.Letter Office, postmaster re- 
 sponsible for loss of, when not registered 486 120 
 
 containing money returned to owners, caution in delivery of 484 120 
 
 when not delivered to be returned registered 
 
 istered to Dead Letter Office 485 120 
 
 foreign, treatment of. determined by conventional stipuLitions 34 42 
 
 25 P L 
 
386 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 Sec. Page. 
 Dead IvCliers — Contiuned. 
 
 unclaimed money in, turned into Treasury 56 49 
 
 Taluable, returned to Dead-Letter Office not inclosing money neednot be registered. 487 120 
 
 sent in search of owner must not be forwarded . . .' 488 120 
 
 witljout valuable inclosures, returaed to owners, may be forwarded 489 120 
 
 Dead uiattcr, authority of Postmaster-General to declare matter dead 468 117 
 
 definition and classification of 4.33 112 
 
 how returned to Dead-Letter Oflice 482 119 
 
 sent 1 Dead-Letter Oflice 442 114 
 
 inquiries for, to be addressed to Third Assistant Postmaster-General 21 31 
 
 record of valuable, to be kept in Dead-Letter Office 483 119 
 
 Dead persons, delivcrv of ordinary matter addressed to 285 91 
 
 registered matter for, how delivered 873 184 
 
 Dead postal cards, disposition of 480, 481 119 
 
 Dead printed matter, domestic, without obvious value, to be sold as waste-paper 
 
 except that upon which postage is due 480 119 
 
 foreign, to be sent to Dead-Letter Oflice 479 119 
 
 rostmaster-General may dispose of, by regulation 478 119 
 
 Death, in case of, of sureties, new bond.s required 109 57 
 
 (if postmaster, limit of time of sureties' liability 110 57 
 
 responsibility of sureties Ill 58 
 
 Debtors, imprisoned .judgmeiit, discharge of 41 43 
 
 imprisoned judgTuent, discharge of no bar to execution of property 42 43 
 
 Debts due the Post-Ofiico De])artment, collection of, to be superintentled by Auditor. . 1144 285 
 
 not to be contracted by letter-carriers on their route 331 98 
 
 Deelared value, letters of. not admissible to Postal Union mails 1124 267 
 
 Decoy letter, stealing of, a crime 1235 311 
 
 Decreased service on mail-routes, decreased compensation for, one month's ex- 
 tra pay as indemnity foi' 621 145 
 
 Deductions, causes for which, made from contractors' pay 668 156 
 
 for faihires to jierfonn service by mail contractors 665 156 
 
 from pay of railroad companies, for what 670 157 
 
 vouchers for, on account of expenses to be sent to Auditor 133 63 
 
 Defective key, when lock cannot be opened on account of, mail should be sent to 
 
 nearest post-office to be opened 700 162 
 
 Defective lock, in case of staple of mail-bag may be cut 701 162 
 
 Deticiency in postmasters' accounts to be reported by Auditor to sureties 106 57 
 
 Definition of circulars - 217 78 
 
 ofdeadmatter 433 112 
 
 printed matter .• 219 78 
 
 unmailable matter 432 111 
 
 Delay in receipt of mails to be reported to Division Superintendents 16 28 
 
 Delegates in Congress are entitled to send and receive public documents free of 
 
 postage 245,246,248 84 
 
 Delinquencies, contractors to make specific excuses for each of 667 156 
 
 of mail-carriers, fines for 665 156 
 
 Delivery and distribution, mail for, to be separately made up by employes of the 
 
 Eailway Mail Service 725 167 
 
 Delivery of ordinary matter, addressed in care of another, may be to person 
 
 a<ldres8ed ' 280 90 
 
 addressed to criminals cannot be prevented 282 91 
 
 addressed to deceased persons, instructions concerning 285 91 
 
 defunct firm or corporation must be, to legal representative 287 91 
 
 dissolved Ann, postmaster may ask appointment of receiver 288 91 
 
 minors, cimtrolled by parents or guarctians 284 91 
 
 other post-offices, not allowed, exceptions 279 90 
 
 at letter-carrier post-offices. (5«e Fkee deuverv system.) 
 
 by mistake, return of "opened by mistake" 278 90 
 
 erroneously delivered and redirected 372 103 
 
 from Pension-Office must be only to person addressed 281 91 
 
 in dispute, injunctions of courts to be obeyed by postmasters 290 92 
 
 instnictions concerning 289 91 
 
 insufficiently prepaid. UE>e of postag-e-due stamps 270-274 89 
 
 must be, to persons addressed or their order 275 90 
 
 not to be made by a postmaster when addressed to another post-oflSce 279 90 
 
 officially addressed must be to person holding the office 283 91 
 
 proof of identity may be requii ed before 277 90 
 
 to assignees, instruct Urns ((inceming 286 91 
 
 fictitious addresses jirohilated 276 90 
 
 Delivery of registered matter by cariiers, rules for 866, 867 ] 84 
 
 addressed to in.sane or deatl persons 873 184 
 
 care required in 868 184 
 
 duties of postma.sfeis in.. 865 183 
 
 nopo.stage or fee to be collected on 861 183 
 
 on order of tlii' ;iddre,ssee 870 184 
 
 lesponsihility of poslmasters for wiong 869 184 
 
 Demand on postmastei s for bahinces due the Department, evidence of 1224 305 
 
 Department, letters from Post-Ollice, legistered free 812 176 
 
 of Agriculture, Commissioner of, entitled to send reports and seeds free of postage. 247 84 
 Justic(\ to in.stnut district attomoys as to conduct of suits for monev due the 
 
 Po.st-Office I)e]iartiiunt ". ' 1221 304 
 
 State will refund to consuls' ])Ostage advanced on letters for the United State's . . 116 281 
 
 Departments of the gdverniiieiit allowed til send packages without limit of weight. 221 79 
 
 Deposit, faihire to make, cause tor removal of jiostmaster S.'i .'>3 
 
 ])Ost masters to report cau.se of failui e to make 82 53 
 
 want of funds no exeu.se for lailure to make 8.! 53 
 
 Depositaries must make ret unis of money received and paid 71 51 
 
INDEX. 
 
 387 
 
 I>epoiiiliit|{ poMi-odlrcct, dctiiiition of 
 
 DrpoMiiory poN|.olIlcoei| defiiiilioi) of 
 
 lor iiiaillia^r'*. )ist of 
 
 postiiiii.sti rs nt, to k<'C}i Burplus mail bogs and locks apart from cur- 
 nut st(>ck 
 
 postniiusters Ht, to render accounts to Second ABsistant Poatmaster- 
 
 Gem-nil 
 
 SrpoaitH, luroiuUs of, of postal funds to bie kept separate from other public moneys. 
 
 how broujjlit into tlif Tivasiiry 
 
 IraiisfctTi-d 
 
 letter trausiuittiiis;, to state what 
 
 must be accuiately cntoreu 
 
 to be fuiiiK-iit .. 
 
 made liy postiiiastcrs without risk to lU-partmeut 
 
 ]>epr<-<lalioiiH of the mail to br rcportecl to Chief Special Agent 
 
 Deputy poMliiiiiNK'r may lender accounts of deceased postmaster 
 
 l>rN<-rtioii of the mail liy i)ersouiii charge, penalty 
 
 !><'>• I ;:iiM may 1><- iiiailid as foiirthelass matter 
 
 !>(■.« troyiMl poNins**-Htanips, etc., how to obtain credit for 
 
 I>e»t(riiciive niatli-r, (-Set- UN>fA)LAHU-; matter.) 
 
 how to be jirepared for mailing when mailable 
 
 DelcclivcM. (,SV(' Si'EcTAi. AiiU.vrs.) 
 
 Detciilioii of mail matter unlawful, penalty 
 
 ]>im-l pac-knjses, how made by employtsof Kailway Mail Service 
 
 how til make, at po.stofHces 
 
 Disability, employes of Kailway Mail Service to furnish certificate of, on applica- 
 tion lor sick leave . . 
 
 Distribution and dispatch of niaiis at poMt-offlces. appointment of Super- 
 intendents of Mails to direct 
 
 by schemes 
 
 States, how to make up packages 
 
 changes desired in forwarding mails to be reported to Division Superintendent 
 
 disposition of facing slijis received 
 
 duties of Superintendents of Mails 
 
 errors in distribution, how checked 
 
 to be recorded by Superintendents of Mails 
 
 to be checked by employes of RiiUway Mail Seixice 
 
 failure to receive faciiig slips to be reported 
 
 for States, when to bo made 
 
 hooks prohibited in handling mail-matter 
 
 incompetent distributing ch-rks to bo removed 
 
 irregularities in receipt of mail to be reported 
 
 letters not to be placed under straps of pnuilns 
 
 returned, after cancelLiig stamjjs, for mailing on trains 
 
 local mail for railway and steamlmat "Ottiees, " liow di8i)atched 
 
 Ottices to have diret'tiou marked thereon 
 
 make direct jiackages for post-offices on star routes 
 
 making direct packages 
 
 matter foi- delivery and matter for distribution to be made up separately 
 
 not local sent to railway Offices to be made up by States 
 
 sent from post-ofhce on star route to go beyond tenuinal post-office to be 
 
 made up by States 
 
 no changes to be maile in, without orders from Sujierintendent Railway Mail Service. 
 
 orders relating to, to be entered in an order-book by postmasters 
 
 record of errors in distribution to be furnished postmasters 
 
 time of closing mails 
 
 through j)ouclie8 not to be forwarded by niail-Ui; ins 
 
 under orders of General Superintendent of K.'.ilway Mail Service, general rules for. 
 
 use of facing slips 
 
 unworkod mail received, to be rej)orted 
 
 Discontinuance of post-office to be certified to Auditor 
 
 Dissolved firm, delivery of matter addressed to 
 
 District attorneys prosecuting suits for Dei)artment, to obey instructions from 
 
 Department of Justice 
 
 District courts (of United States), .jurisdiction of, under postal laws 
 
 Division of Inspection, contractors to make stpecidc excuses to, for each failure 
 
 or delinquency 
 
 delinijueneirs of mail-carriers and contractors to be reported to 
 
 instructiiin.-t to postmasters relative to paying employes of the Railway Mail Serv- 
 ice furnislied l)y ' 
 
 receipts for payinent by postmasters to acting employes of the Railway Mail Service 
 
 to be sent to ." ' '. 
 
 Divisions of Railway Mail Service, territory comin'ised in 
 
 Division Superintendents of Railway .^lail Service, absence of facing 
 
 slips on mail to be lejiorted to. liy employes of Railway Mail Service 
 
 accidents to mail-trains to be reported to 
 
 assignment of 
 
 chief head clerks by 
 
 certificates of disability to be forwarded to, by employes 
 
 changes of railroad sdiedules to be reported to, by employes of Railway Mail Serv- 
 ice '. 
 
 daily reports of loc.al agents to 
 
 delays in receipt of mail to be reported to, by postma sters 
 
 designation by, of place of keeping employe's' record of arrivals and departures 
 
 facing slips received by emplov68 to be forwarded to 
 
 failures to receive regiilar exchange pouches to be reported to, by employ6s 
 
 S*i: 
 
 Page. 
 
 76 
 
 52 
 
 76 
 
 52 
 
 683 
 
 159 
 
 685 
 
 160 
 
 684 
 
 150 
 
 69 
 
 51 
 
 07 
 
 50 
 
 68 
 
 51 
 
 79 
 
 52 
 
 70 
 
 51 
 
 74 
 
 51 
 
 78 
 
 52 
 
 492 
 
 121 
 
 1163 
 
 288 
 
 1240 
 
 312 
 
 13 
 
 27 
 
 167 
 
 69 
 
 223 
 
 79 
 
 1232 
 
 309 
 
 726 
 
 167 
 
 394 
 
 106 
 
 748 
 
 169 
 
 413 
 
 107 
 
 ■isr, 
 
 105 
 
 387 
 
 105 
 
 404 
 
 106 
 
 398 
 
 106 
 
 414 
 
 107 
 
 397 
 
 106 
 
 415 
 
 108 
 
 729 
 
 107 
 
 399 
 
 106 
 
 386 
 
 105 
 
 405 
 
 106 
 
 425 
 
 109 
 
 402 
 
 106 
 
 407 
 
 107 
 
 406 
 
 107 
 
 388 
 
 105 
 
 390 
 
 105 
 
 391 
 
 105 
 
 394 
 
 100 
 
 393 
 
 106 
 
 389 
 
 105 
 
 393 
 
 105 
 
 384 
 
 105 
 
 421 
 
 108 
 
 417 
 
 108 
 
 410 
 
 107 
 
 403 
 
 106 
 
 383 
 
 105 
 
 396 
 
 106 
 
 401 
 
 106 
 
 99 
 
 55 
 
 288 
 
 91 
 
 1221 
 
 304 
 
 1206 
 
 301 
 
 667 
 
 166 
 
 mi 
 
 loft 
 
 509 
 
 12a 
 
 513 
 
 123 
 
 707 
 
 16a 
 
 733 
 
 167 
 
 788 
 
 172 
 
 707 
 
 16a 
 
 713 
 
 164 
 
 748 
 
 lf!9 
 
 745 
 
 16» 
 
 799 
 
 174 
 
 16 
 
 2& 
 
 749 
 
 16» 
 
 730 
 
 167 
 
 773 
 
 171 
 
388 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 Sec. Page. 
 JDiTision Superintendents of Rail^vay in[ail Service— Continued. 
 
 irregularities in forwarding mails to be reported 4o, by employes of the Railway Mail 
 
 Service 774 171 
 
 mail-messenger service to be reported to, by local agents 797 173 
 
 letters found outside of or under straps of pouches to be reported to, by employes 
 
 of Railway Mail Service 746 163 
 
 local agents to apply to, for leave of absence 803 174 
 
 notify of changes of schc'dulc, etc 795 173 
 
 under supervision of, record of errors of local agents to be kept by 794 173 
 
 mail-keys and other post-office property to be turned over to, by retiring employes 
 
 of Railwiiy Mail Service 765 170 
 
 not to recommend aijjjointmeuts 712 164 
 
 permission of, required for leave of absence of and employment of substitutes by 
 
 employes of Railway Mail Service 747 169 
 
 promotions of employes based upon reports of 710 164 
 
 registered package receipts improperly lilled out to be reported to 949 195 
 
 report to bo made to. by employes of Railway Mail Service when mails are exposed 
 
 at portages between trains . .'. 738 168 
 
 Tesignatious of employes of Railway Mail Service to be forwarded to 766 171 
 
 to be kept advised of addicsses of employes 753 169 
 
 notified of changes needed in offices 785 172 
 
 trip-reports to be made to, by employes of Railway Mail Sei'vico 737 168 
 
 unmailable and misdirected matter to be forwarded to, by employes of Railway 
 
 Mail Service .'. 740 168 
 
 unmailal)lu matter sent to, to be postmarked in offices 743 168 
 
 show name of employs sending 741 168 
 
 Documents, Congressional, free of postage under omcial frank 245, 246, 248 84 
 
 Dogs, Iftttr-carriers not to deliver mail where dangerous dogs are kept 364 101 
 
 Uoiibt, i)ostiiiiistt>rs in, to a.sk instructions 536 127 
 
 Doubtful publications to be referred to First Assistant Postmaster-General 188 73 
 
 Draft poiKt-ofiices, duties of postmasters at 76 52 
 
 postmasters at, not to honor drafts upon other post-offices 92 54 
 
 Draft!^, application to Auditor for duplicate of lost, how made . . .■ 1203 300 
 
 application to Auditor for renewal of lost, must prove non-payment 1202 300 
 
 collection, lost, how renewed 1205 301 
 
 deposited with bids for carrying the mail, when forfeited 585 139 
 
 returned to unsuccessful bidders . . 586 139 
 
 duplicate, tenor, force, and effect of 1204 300 
 
 dailuro to pay, cause for i-emoval of postmaster 85 53 
 
 for collection of postal funds from postmasters and others, how made by Auditor . . 1192 299 
 
 non-payment of, to be reported to Auditor by collecting postmaster 1195 299 
 
 not issued for money-order funds 1200 300 
 
 only to be paid by the office on which drawn 92 54 
 
 postmasters may be removed lor failing to collect 1198 300 
 
 neglecting to collect, charged w ith amount of 1197 299 
 
 to report cause of failure to collect amount of, to Auditor, &c 1196 299 
 
 returned unpaid, Auditor will cause suit to be l)rought upon 1199 300 
 
 upon postmasters and others for collection of balances must be promptly paid 1193 299 
 
 payment of, to be rejiorted to Auditor by collecting 
 
 postmaster '. 1194 299 
 
 Drop-letters may be forwarded three miles to a jjost-offlce, when 431 111 
 
 rates of postage on 178 72 
 
 request on oue to return to another post-office, not regarded 463 117 
 
 Duplicate ^Tarrant, how obtained from Auditor 1201 300 
 
 tenor, force, and .effect of 1204 300 
 
 Duties on printed matter, except books, abolished 1134 281 
 
 on single books may be remitted when 1135 281 
 
 treatment of articles in the mails liable to 1133 280 
 
 Ecuador, special postal arrangements with 1126 274 
 
 JSlectric pen. {See Printed matteb.) 
 
 £nibe2zlentent of letters containing inclosures, penalty 1230 308 
 
 postmasters and otln i officers of the postal service failing to deposit postal revenues 
 
 in Treasury siiiilty ot, peii:ilty : 1249 314 
 
 Employes of Railway ITlail Service, absence of facing slips on mail to be re- 
 ported by, to Division Superintendent 733 167 
 
 absences of, in case of, with and without leave, must employ substitutes 747 169 
 
 accountability of, in charge of Offices 718 166 
 
 acting, authority for paying 512 123 
 
 definition of 511 123 
 
 manner of paying 513 123 
 
 appointment of, for six months on probation, permanent appointment after exami- 
 nation 710 164 
 
 not to be recommended by Division Superintendents 712 164 
 
 case examinations of 780 172 
 
 courtesy enjoined uiion 790 172 
 
 delivery by, of mail in transit, forbidden 769 171 
 
 of mail by, to catch shUions 791 173 
 
 directions to, for making direct jjackages 726 167 
 
 distribute contents of oiio mad-bag before opening another 732 167 
 
 distribution of mails by schemes 731 167 
 
 duties of, on night lines 783 172 
 
 errors in distribution and dispatch of mails to bo checked by 729 167 
 
 Postal (Tuid(> to be repoited by 715 166 
 
 examination of, in postal laws and regulations 716 166 
 
 upon their instructions 781 172 
 
 exchange of letter-mails by, to be ui lacked pouches 771 171 
 
INDEX. 389 
 
 Sec. Pngc 
 Euiploy^ of Knilwny .Tliiil N4>rvirf>— <'iiiiiiuu(.'(l. 
 
 laein}: ^lips nrcivcd liy. to l>c lorwanli <l 1<> Hivision Superintt-ndonts 730 1C7 
 
 to lie nsrd liv. in what iiiaiiuci' 7i* lff7 
 
 forbitldiTi to <s\\v iiiloiiiiation ( oiicciiiiny letttiM, etc., to tinauthorizcrt pcrsoDS 764 170 
 
 trallii' will n on iluty 703 170 
 
 {fcnornl ilcsignalion for roiitt-agcnts, posttil i-lfi-ks, iuail-roiit<' niessfngtrB, and 
 
 local nian-ajimts 700 104 
 
 pnoral instniitionsof, apply to local aijcntM, wlicu 805 174 
 
 hooks forbidden to lie used by. in IiandlinK moil-bags 789 172 
 
 ignorance of rules no excuse for violation liy 793 173 
 
 instruct ions to be carried by 71 J 165 
 
 irre;:ularities in forwarding" mails to be reported to Division Superinteudent by 774 171 
 
 leave of absence fjranted to. on certificate of disability 748 169 
 
 letters not to be jilaced loose in jiouclies by 727 167 
 
 list of exehauiS' i)ouchers to be kept by 773 171 
 
 mail made up by States by ." 724 167 
 
 tuails to be aecompanii'd Itv. to and from post-offices 755 109 
 
 mail to be received liy, at ()ilices : matter bearing canceled stamps to bo refused by. 720 166 
 
 missent mat ter. to be so stamped by 775 171 
 
 must assist Special AL'ents. and not report their presence 786 172 
 
 keep Division Superintendents advised of their address 753 169 
 
 not deliver mail at places not post-ollices 772 171 
 
 notifv Division Superintendents of changes needed, and not go to officers of 
 
 railroad companies - 785 172 
 
 obey orders of emydoye in charge of Office 719 166 
 
 post-mark nnniailable matter sent to Division Superintendents 743 168 
 
 receive mail at Otbces : must r, fuse matter bearing canceled stamps 720 166 
 
 report changes of schedule to Division Superintendent 745 168 
 
 to Division Superintendent when letters are received outaide of or un- 
 der strap of jiouches 746 168 
 
 mutilation by. of public property, jirohibited 776 171 
 
 "nixes" to be pnslmarki <l on the back by 743 168 
 
 not to give information conci ruing vacancies 7C7 171 
 
 note preseuee of Special Agents upon record of arrivals and departures 787 172 
 
 read mail-matter in transit" '. 779 171 
 
 one to Ite de.'^ignated in charge of Office 717 166 
 
 order-books to' lie examined iiy 777 171 
 
 jiaid for daily duty, and service may be demanded of, at any time 752 169 
 
 paj-ing postmasters to note on pay-ioU can.ses of deductions of pay of 504 123 
 
 receive instnictiou.s as to pavment of, from whom 509 123 
 
 notice of ab.sences of", etc 502 122 
 
 failures of etc 501 122 
 
 prelimiuiry notice of death of. etc 500 122 
 
 sui?iMnd pay of. after preliminary notice 503 122 
 
 withhold pay for failure to sign record 499 122 
 
 will not make final payments to. until 506 123 
 
 pa.\-ment of, by postmasters ' 510 123 
 
 jia'j-ments to, by postmasters, not to be entered on account -current 1172 289 
 
 period of duty of 754 169 
 
 postage-.st,imps on maO-matter, to be canceled by 721 166 
 
 post -marking stamp not to bo used for canceling postage-stamps by 722 166 
 
 postmasters to examine daily records of arrival and departure of 498 122 
 
 forward record of aiTivals and departures of, to Division Superin- 
 tendent 507 123 
 
 note ' • no signature " and ' ' advance signature '' 505 123 
 
 receive registered matter from, at all times 853 182 
 
 report all failures of -^^ 123 
 
 probationary, to be examined monthlv 782 172 
 
 promotions of. based upon reports of t)i vision Superintendents 710 164 
 
 railway-mail-registry-book for use of 940 194 
 
 when to be turaed over to Superintendent, by 955 196 
 
 receipting for registered matter, must write and not stamp their n.ames 946 195 
 
 record of arrivals and departirres to be signed by 749 169 
 
 registered matter delivered by. must be receipted for 943 195 
 
 to connecting Otlices, when 953 196 
 
 found by, in bad order, to be turned into terminal post-offices 852 181 
 
 in charge of, to be pouched between Offices and post-offices 939 194 
 
 not to be delivered by, to railroad employes 945 195 
 
 left by. at post-offices without receipt therefor 954 196 
 
 received and delivered bv, to be entered in railway-mail-registry- 
 book ■ 941 195 
 
 bv, to be how indorsed 948 195 
 
 with illegible ].ostniaik, to bo how noted IMT 195 
 
 to be receipted for by. licfori- having initial post-offices 942 195 
 
 sent by, to through-ngisrereil-pouch-ottices, when 952 190 
 
 package receipts how iiost-marked by i'44 195 
 
 impropeily tilled out. to be reported by 949 195 
 
 to accomiiany any registered matter pouched by 950 195 
 
 replies to official communications by 757 170 
 
 report accidents to mail-trains to Division Superintendents 788 172 
 
 resignations of to be forwarded to Division Superintendent ;••.-.■•• "*^' ^"^ 
 
 resignini; or retiring, to ttirn over mail-keys and other luiblic property to Division 
 
 Superintendent '. "•'j !"'• 
 
 return cif registered-package-receipts to be cheeked bv. on railwav-mail-registry- 
 
 book - 951 195 
 
 return printed labels to Office or post-offic^" whence they were received 736 107 
 
 rules of railway companies must be obserN'ed by 792 173 
 
390 
 
 POSTAL uAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 Employes of Kail way ITIail Service— Continued. 
 
 sale of postage-stamps by 
 
 second-class matter not to be received by, for mailing without certificate of post- 
 master tliat postage has been paid 
 
 separate mail for delivery and mail for distribution 
 
 substitute, detinitiou of 
 
 to examine interior of pouches thoroughly when emptied 
 
 examine Offices at ends of runs to see that no mail is left therein, etc 
 
 send slips with unmailable matter sent to Division Superintendent 
 
 use safety chain for mail-keys and never to leave mail-locks in Offices 
 
 trip reports made by, to Division Superintendents 
 
 turn canvas sacks inside out when emptied 
 
 unifonn of 
 
 unmaOable and misdirected matter, treatment of, by 
 
 use by, of public property for private purposes forbidden 
 
 of intoxicaticating liquors by, when on duty forbidden 
 
 vigilant guard of mails by, report to be made when mails are exposed 
 
 waste paper and twine to be examined by, to see that no mail is mixed therewith 
 
 before turning in to terminal jiost -offices 
 
 Employe in chai-gc of Office, designation of 
 
 orders of, to be obeyed by assistant employds 
 
 Employes at post-offices forbidden to address or seal registered letters or to put post- 
 age-stamps thereon 
 
 not to receive any fees 
 
 Eniploymcut of route-agents 
 
 £uglaii<l. (»s'ce Great Britain.) 
 
 Envelopes, letter-sheet, to be issued by Postmaster-General 
 
 return, for letters to be issued by Postmaster-General 
 
 special-request, proper course for postmaster when misprinted 
 
 requisition for 
 
 stamped and penalty (official), requisition, how to be made bj' postmasters 
 
 kind of . - - ." 
 
 Postmaster-General authorized to adopt improvements in 
 
 to be issued by Postmaster-General 
 
 sold at cost and postage 
 
 when spoiled and redeemed by postmaster, to be sent to Third Assistant 
 
 Postmaster-General 
 
 when spoiled, postage onlj- refunded, how 
 
 Entry of second-class matter at post-offices 
 
 Equity, suits may be brought in, when 
 
 Errors in distriljution and dispatch of mail to be noted by employes of the EaUway 
 
 Mail Service ." - 
 
 in disti'ibution at post-offices, record of, to be furnished postmaster 
 
 how checked at post-offices 
 
 Postal G uide to be reported by employes of Railway M.^.il Service 
 
 postmaster's quarterly returns, corrected by Auditor ; notitication to postmasters 
 
 of coiTections 
 
 made by local agents, record of, kept by Division Superintendents 
 
 sending mailable matter by em])loy6s of Kailway Mail Service to Division Superin- 
 tendent as unmailable, to be checked as ' 
 
 Establis^hnicut of post-offices to be certified to Auditor 
 
 Estimate of amount required for the several bi-anches of the Post-Offlce Department 
 
 for ensuing fiscal year, by whom madt^ 
 
 Estimates tu be fumi.shed to the Secretary of the Tn .isury 
 
 Evidence that matter was intended to be coriveyed by mail 
 
 Examination of employes of Kailway Mail Service in postal laws and regulations. . 
 
 of employes of the Kailway Mail Service upon their instructions 
 
 local agents ■ 
 
 probationary api)ointees in Railway Mail Service 
 
 Executive order forbidding postal officers to jjarticipate in political campaigns 
 
 prohiWitiui: ]iu.stma.sters from holding State and municipal offices, except at fourth- 
 class l)iist-ollici.'.s 
 
 Executor!* of deceased persons agaiu.st whom collection-drafts have been issued, 
 
 names of, to be reported to Auditor by collretiug postmaster 
 
 Excess of ^veiyht and size. (Sec U.NMAU.Aiii.E matter.) 
 
 Exchange post-olOces, foi' all foreign coiudries, list of 
 
 foreign registry -return-receipts for deli\ ri id inattii' to be sent to 
 
 on uucUlivc rcil matter to be returned to 
 
 mi.sdirected registered matter for foreign countries to be sent to 
 
 l)ostmastei'S at, are alone permitted to write to foreign post-oihces on registry busi- 
 ness T 
 
 registered matter for foreign countri(>s to ln> sent to 
 
 sent to or riiii\icl iiom fi)n>ign countries to bo postmarked at... 
 
 regi.strv-return-receipts for iii;it tir siiit ti> fDreign countries to be made out at 
 
 Expenditures, no allowance for, made in absence of vouchers 
 
 special i)ermission required .for, at money-order post-offices, out of money-order 
 
 proceeds 
 
 Expenses at jjost-offices may be deducted from receipts 
 
 at post-offices, voucher.s for deduetions for 
 
 incidental, allowances for 
 
 Express companies m:iy <ai rv h-tlers in stamped envelojies 
 
 Extra allowances tip lir.st and second class pnst-nllici'S 
 
 Extra nuinbci's of iii\vsi)ainis and pti iodirals nol samjde copies 
 
 Extraoa'dinary business at post-olticts, allownnce for 
 
 Eacing slips, absence of, on mail, to be re]iorted by employes of Railway Mail Serv- 
 ice to Division Superintendent 
 
 disposition of, received at post-offices 
 
 Sec. 
 
 Page. 
 
 762 
 
 170 
 
 723 
 
 166 
 
 72.3 
 
 167 
 
 511 
 
 123 
 
 73.5 
 
 167 
 
 756 
 
 170 
 
 741 
 
 168 
 
 78i 
 
 172 
 
 737 
 
 168 
 
 7^ 
 
 167 
 
 711 
 
 164 
 
 ■40-743 
 
 168 
 
 770 
 
 171 
 
 768 
 
 171 
 
 738 
 
 168 
 
 739 
 
 168 
 
 717 
 
 166 
 
 719 
 
 166 
 
 816 
 
 177 
 
 54 
 
 47 
 
 22 
 
 38 
 
 143 
 
 65 
 
 143 
 
 65 
 
 1.33 
 
 67 
 
 149 
 
 66 
 
 147 
 
 66 
 
 139 
 
 65 
 
 144 
 
 66 
 
 138 
 
 64 
 
 174 
 
 70 
 
 172 
 
 70 
 
 170 
 
 69 
 
 199 
 
 75 
 
 1222 
 
 304 
 
 729 
 
 167 
 
 417 
 
 108 
 
 397 
 
 106 
 
 715 
 
 166 
 
 1167 
 
 288 
 
 794 
 
 173 
 
 742 
 
 168 
 
 98 
 
 55 
 
 46 
 
 45 
 
 47 
 
 46 
 
 1231 
 
 309 
 
 716 
 
 166 
 
 781 
 
 172 
 
 800 
 
 174 
 
 782 
 
 172 
 
 
 323 
 
 1125 
 
 267 
 
 907 
 
 189 
 
 909 
 
 190 
 
 901 
 
 189 
 
 914 
 
 190 
 
 898 
 
 188 
 
 913 
 
 190 
 
 903 
 
 189 
 
 1173 
 
 289 
 
 971 
 
 201) 
 
 132 
 
 63 
 
 133 
 
 63 
 
 124 
 
 62 
 
 568 
 
 134 
 
 129 
 
 63 
 
 204 
 
 76 
 
 125 
 
 62 
 
 733 
 
 167 
 
 393 
 
 106 
 
INDEX. 391 
 
 •Sec. Pago. 
 FncinK slips — ('nutiiuit-il. 
 
 tliifi't ions tor nsi' 111', liy rmploNr.s of tlii! ]{;iilwa.v Mail Si>rvJco ; 728 167 
 
 cxiuiiiiiiition of, by sii|M'rint<'i)il<'iit!t of mailit at post-otHccs 416 108 
 
 ("irors, liow to lie nott'il tlii-roon 397 lOfi 
 
 how obtiiiiicd liv ixi.stiiiiistoi'H 400 106 
 
 >is(<l at ](Ost-otli(f.s 31W 106 
 
 of Irtlcis ill transit, to lie ]iostinarkiHl at post-otllci'S 379 104 
 
 iiTciv fd l>v i'iiii)lov6s of IJailwav Mail SiTviee to lie Ibrwanli-d to Diviaiun Supcrin- 
 
 t. ii<l. lit ■ .' ^ 730 167 
 
 witli criois noted of jioslina.slcrs to lie roniparcd with schi-incs 4'J3 108 
 
 wliiii not icciivid on ]iai'ka;;t's at postolliics, what jiostuiasters should do 3!)!l 106 
 
 l<'niiiii;;-bi<l<l<-rM, in casi- of. contract made with whom 603 142 
 
 l<^niliujy; t-onlrsiciorM, in case of, contract made with whom 604 142 
 
 VailurcM, rnntraitois to make «peeiflc excuses for each of 667 156 
 
 of niail-i :inii'i-,s, deductions for WVi 156 
 
 False evidence a.s to character of publication, penalty for 197 75 
 
 postmasters to report submission of, by publishers, to First Assistant Postmaster- 
 
 G cneral ! 198 75 
 
 False reluriiM liy postmasters, jienalty for 118 61 
 
 Fee.-*. {.sV't' ;Mom;'y-oi!Iiki!s and Kkcisthatiox.) 
 
 none allowed to mail vessels or carriers on mail-routes 263 87 
 
 not to be collected iijiou delivery of registered matter 861 183 
 
 jiersons in po.stal service not to receive 54 47 
 
 ship, manner of collect inn 257 87 
 
 F«Ti-y, iienally for delaying mail at 554 131 
 
 Fietiliotis matter. \Scc Dead matteu.) 
 
 not to be adverti.sed 4.'i5 116 
 
 Finance Division. ( A'c TiriKii Assista>t Postmasteu-Genf.isal.) 
 
 F'iiinncial condition of Post-Oflice Department at close of flscal year ; report of 
 
 Audi till 4.'i 45 
 
 Fines anti iorfeitures, half of amount recovered to be paid to informer 63 50 
 
 how and by wliom remitted 40 43 
 
 imposed fur violatiun of postal laws, oolleetiou of, to be superintended by Auditor. 1144 285 
 
 on contractors, fur what 669 157 
 
 of contractors' jiay. for what made 668 156 
 
 goods containinii letters unlawfully can'ied 565 133 
 
 one day's pay by employes of Railway JkTail Service for failure to sign record of 
 
 aniials and departures 749 169 
 
 tunied in to Treasury .56 49 
 
 upon railroad cunipanies 670 157 
 
 First Assistant Postniastrr-Oeneral. business of office of 27 39 
 
 application fur allowances at iiosl-ottices made to 128 63 
 
 appointiiieuts of imstmasters issued by 102 56 
 
 doubtful jiublieations to be referred to. for decision as to rate of postage on 188 73 
 
 false evidence submitted as to character of publications to be reported to 198 75 
 
 letter-carriers' bonds to be returned to 320 96 
 
 may sign what contracts 48 46 
 
 oaths of otiice of assistant postmasters and clerks to be filed with 519 125 
 
 IKJstmasteis' bonds to be approved by 48 46 
 
 roster of clerks at post-oflBces to be approved bv, before allowance for clerk hire is 
 
 made ." 131 63 
 
 to be furnished inventory of what jiublic property at post-offices 516 124 
 
 First-class niail-uiatter. detiiiition of 177 73 
 
 all matter not open for exaiuination held to bo '. 182 72 
 
 mit to be held unmailable on mere suspicion 434 , 112 
 
 rates of imstage on 178 72 
 
 received in Viad order, how treated 382 105 
 
 First <"oMi|>lrollcr, appeal to. fnuii deeisi<in of Auditor 1150 286 
 
 r''orcis:n coins not leeeivalile Jur ]iosta'j.estamps or dues 97 54 
 
 Foreign dead letters, treatment of. determined by conventional stipulations 34 42 
 
 Foreign letters fur transmission abroad only to be received from post-office 561 132 
 
 Foreign mail agencies, eslablisliiiieiit and payment of 19 37 
 
 Foreign mail contracts, term of, limited to two years 607 144 
 
 Foreign mails, condition of form and weight of correspondence in lli:i 264 
 
 compensation for carrying, limit of 6.">4 154 
 
 contractors for carrying, may be lined 655 154 
 
 contracts for canying, may be terminated by Congress 0.56 154 
 
 term of •i52 153 
 
 exchange of correspondence with Canada not governed by Convention of Paris 1107 263 
 
 howcarried 653 1.54 
 
 inquiries relative to, to be addressed to Sni)erintendeut of 1132 278 
 
 in tr.ansit throuch the United States to be treated as domestic 651 153 
 
 metric weights usrd for 1105 262 
 
 may be tiaiispurted through the United States 650 153 
 
 miscellaneous regiilations'and suggestions regarding 1132 273 
 
 liostaue and reuistration fee on correspondence with" Postal Union countries 1104 262 
 
 Superintendent of, business of otiice of 27 41 
 
 1 1 eatmeut of dutiable articles in 1133 280 
 
 Foreign matter, delivery of, when received registered 906 189 
 
 ueneral rules for registration of 898 188 
 
 niisdireeted registered, .should be sent to exchange post-office 901 180 
 
 postmasters legist i-riug, should consult Postal G-uicle 900 188 
 
 registered, forwaided within Postal Union 912 190 
 
 liable to customs duty, how treated 910 190 
 
 packages inclosiu,!!, to be niarke<l foreign 905 189 
 
 speciall.v held for delivery, how long 911 190 
 
 to be postmarked at excliange jiost-offices 013 190 
 
392 POSTAL LAWS AND EEGULATIONS. 
 
 Sec. Page. 
 Foreign matter — Continned. 
 
 registration fee, upon 899 188 
 
 registry-retum-receipts attached to undelivered, not to be sent to Dead-Letter Office . 909 190 
 
 signature and return of registry-retum-receipt for 907 189 
 
 undelivered registered, to be sent to Dead-Letter Office 908 190 
 
 Foreign publications admitted as second-class matter 212 77 
 
 offered as second-class matter, how examined 213 77 
 
 violating United States copyrights, not admitted as second-class matter 212 77 
 
 copyright, to be reported . . .' 214 78 
 
 Forgery of foreign postage-stamps, penalty 1228 308 
 
 of mail-locks and keys, penalty 1243 313 
 
 money-orders, penalty for. .". 1226 307 
 
 postage-stamps, dies,'etc., penalty for 1227 307 
 
 Form, conditions of, for matter ad(bessed to Postal Union countries 1113 264 
 
 Forwarding of matter addressed under cover to postmasters 373 103 
 
 at request of person addressed 371 103 
 
 erroneously delivered and redirected 372 103 
 
 Fourth-class matter, definition and permissible weight of 221 79 
 
 list of articles of, which cannot be registered to foreign countries 904 189 
 
 mav be cariied outside of the mail 572 134 
 
 registered - 810 176 
 
 to what foreign countries 900 188 
 
 must be subject to examination 229 80 
 
 penalty for prohibited wi-iting upon 233 82 
 
 permissible additions to 231 81 
 
 postmasters may examine, on receipt, for prohibited writing, etc 266 88 
 
 rate of postage on 229 80 
 
 rules to be observed by persons offering, for registration 815 177 
 
 to be open for examination 182 , 72 
 
 undelivered valuable, to be advertised 451 115 
 
 weight of, limited to four pounds: 221 79 
 
 which might damage the mail, how to secure same 223 79 
 
 Fractional currency sent for redemption, special instructions for registration of. . 818 177 
 sent to Treasury of the United States for redemption may be registered free of 
 
 charge 817 177 
 
 Franking privilege granted to members of Congress, etc., when sending or receiv- 
 ing public documents 245, 246, 248 84 
 
 oflBcial correspondence between postal administrations of Postal Union countries 
 
 relative to postal service, admitted to privilege of • 1110 264 
 
 Fraudulent letters, penalty for sending, through the mails 1246 314 
 
 Fraudulent lotteries, money-orders not to be paid to. 1043 212 
 
 registered letters addressed to persons conducting, may be returned, when 875 184 
 
 Fraudulent schemes, list of persons conducting, published in Postal Guide 20 28 
 
 Fraudulent matter. (.Sfe Dead matter.) 
 
 of foreign orisin, the delivery of which is forbidden, to be returned to Dead- 
 Letter Office". 876 185 
 
 Free county delivery, not applicable to sample copies 244 84 
 
 not granted to paper claiming two offices of publication in different counties . . : 243 84 
 
 second-class matter free in county, except at letter-carrier offices 239 83 
 
 intended for, to be mailed separately 242 83 
 
 Free-delivery post-o&ces, delivery of letters i)y private carriers prohibited at 556 131 
 
 general delivery at, to be discoiuaged 338 99 
 
 oliday and evening delivery at 350 100 
 
 how to offer second-class matter for mailing at 241 83 
 
 no fees to be paid to carriers at 337 99 
 
 persons calling for advertised letters at, to be requested to leave addresses so that 
 
 mail may be delivered by carriers 356 101 
 
 postage on second-class matter at 240 83 
 
 transient matter and matter without street and number or box number not to be 
 
 given to carriers, but held at general delivery 345 99 
 
 use of postage-due stamjjs at 270-274 89 
 
 Free-delivery system, accoimts to be reported quarterly to Auditor 341 99 
 
 accounts to be stated monthly l)y postmasters .' 340 99 
 
 show income from local postages, and expenses 339 99 
 
 applications for establishment of, how made 316 96 
 
 appointment of temporary carriers by postmasters at 322 96 
 
 books for accounts of 366 101 
 
 districting of cities for operations of 308 95 
 
 number of deliveries not to be reduced without orders from the Department 352 . 100 
 
 payments on account of, not to bo entered on account-current 1172 289 
 
 postmasters to issue necessary orders to carry out 362 101 
 
 superintendent of, to what otfice attached ; duties of 27 39 
 
 supplies for, how obtained 365 101 
 
 what matter is to be delivered by carriers 342 99 
 
 when city directory is to be used to ascertain addresses 346 100 
 
 cstabUshed 307 94 
 
 Fncl, allo^Fance for, only made to post-offices of first and second class 129 63 
 
 Funds, public, for deposit may be transmitted by postmasters in free registered 
 
 letters -' 80 52 
 
 must be safely kept 72 51 
 
 to be kept in current money -- 95 54 
 
 Furniture in post-offices to be turned over by retiring postmaster as public 
 
 property 539 127 
 
 Oarnisbment of property belonging to judgment debtors 1213 303 
 
 of registered matter in hands of postmaster, not to be permitted ■ 874 184 
 
 General delivery, to be discouraged at free-delivery post-offices 338 99 
 
 transient letters to be delivered at 345 99' 
 
INDEX. 393 
 
 Sec. Page. 
 Ci^ncral pontal account, amounts of Auditor 8 dral'lsi-ollcctt'd by jiOHtmastcr to bo 
 
 entered upon ." 11&4 299 
 
 Auditor will charge upon, amount of collection drafts neglected to be collected by 
 
 postinastora 1107 299 
 
 blanks for, liirnislicd to I'rosidnitiul post-offices only 1187 297 
 
 i'orni ot, fur rinirtli-iliiss pc,st<pl1i<-.-H 111)0 287 
 
 poatniastors to coniiiarc, willi Auditor's statement of 1186 297 
 
 quarterly statement of, bow dill'creiit from quarterly account-current 1183 296 
 
 never to lie inclosed with nuartirly account-current 1184 296 
 
 not re<|uired from fourth-class jiost-otlices 1188 297 
 
 to he sent to Auditor by jxistmasters at Presidential post- 
 
 otlicesonly '. 1180 296 
 
 to l)e transmitted to Auditor before twentieth daj' of next 
 
 <iuarter 1189 297 
 
 to be kept by postmasters 1179 296 
 
 ■what to 1)6 eutcrcd on credit side : 1182 296 
 
 debit side 1181 296 
 
 retained by postmasters as vouchers to •- 1185 296 
 
 Ocrtnany, money-orders exchanged with 1055 217 
 
 special arrangements with, for transmission of book packt-'S 1118 2C6 
 
 Gift rntrrpri»ics, pavinent of monev-orders to, may be .stopped by order of Post- 
 
 nuister-General . . .' ■ 104.3 212 
 
 ri'iiisi ered letters addressed to pci sons conducting, may be returned, when 875 184 
 
 Gold cannot be registered to lorciLiu countries ' 904 189 
 
 Govrrniurnt may purcha.sc tclegi aidilincs for postal, military, or other purposes. . . 1258 318 
 
 rates for relegiains on business of 1201 318 
 
 telegrams on business of, to be tran.smitted at rates fixed by Postmaster-General. . . 1257 317 
 
 Great JSi-itain, money-orders exchanged with 1015 214 
 
 money-orders uyion, how drawn 1046 214 
 
 special arrangements with, for transmission of books and periodicals 1118 2CC 
 
 Guano, not permitted to be seut by mail 223 79 
 
 Guarantrc (.SVr I'.oxus.) 
 Guarantor. {Sec Srp.i'.riKS.) 
 
 Guatemala, prices-current and circulars may be sent to, at newspaper rates of post- 
 age, ri -3 : ■ 1132 280 
 
 special postal arrangements with '. 1120 275 
 
 Hnnd-billi^ not mailable as .sup]dements 208 77 
 
 Hawaiian Kingdom, special postal an-angemcuts with 1120 275 
 
 Held for postage. (.See I'xmaii,.vi;i.k MATTEk.) 
 
 Holiday!!!, matter not re(|uire(l to be reiiistered on 811 176 
 
 Honey not -permitted to be .sent in the mails 222 79 
 
 HookN, eiiijiloyes of Kailway Mail Service forbidden to use, in handling mail-bags 789 172 
 
 proliibited in handling mail-bags l)y jiostmasters 405 106 
 
 Horse-c.vprcMS, Postmaster-General may employ, to carry mail over railroad routes, 
 
 when 645 152 
 
 Horse-ron tes, direct packages to be made for post-offices on, ofmail to be forwarded by. 391 105 
 
 Hotel card!«, letters bearing, not to be returned to hotel, except 404 117 
 
 Hotel matter. (<S>e Deah .^[AT•rI■■.^{.) 
 
 to be sent weekly to Dead-Let t<r Otliee, when 476 118 
 
 stamped with date of original di'livery and return 477 119 
 
 unclaimed, uot to be held at hotels longer than ten days 18 30 
 
 when rediiected. to be forwarded without additional postage 476 119 
 
 Hour.s of bn!<ines!«, at post offices the usual, in the place 525 125 
 
 Hou!$e of Representatives, members and Clerk of, are entitled to send and re- 
 ceive j.ublic documents free 245, ^16, 248 84 
 
 Identity, proof of, mav be re(iuired by postmaster before delivering mail 277 90 
 
 Ignorance of rides no i xcusi- for violaticm by employC'S of Railway Mail Service 793 173 
 
 Imprisoned judgment debtors, discharge of 41 43 
 
 discharge of. no~l>ar to exi cution on property 42 43 
 
 Incidental expenses at jiost-ofHces, allowance for 124 62 
 
 Inclosiires, jienalty for euil>czy.liiig letters containing 1230 308 
 
 Increased celerity on mail-routes, determination of compensaticm for 620 145 
 
 increased couiix-nsatiou for 619 145 
 
 Increased service OH mail-routes, inereu.sed compensation for ObS 145 
 
 Indebtedness of postmasters, sureties not responsildc for, when suit is not instituted 
 
 within three, years after elo.se of accounts 115 58 
 
 Indemnity, bond of, to accompany ai>]»lication for renewal of lost warrant or draft . . 1201 300 
 
 Indictment for enibez/leuunt of ietters containing inclosures, how drawn 1230 308 
 
 Information concerning letters, etc., not to be given to unauthorized persons by era- 
 
 liloy6s of Kailway Mail Service '64 170 
 
 Informer to receive half of penalties and forfeitures recovered for violations of postal 
 
 laws 63 50 
 
 Initial post-oflices, mails to and from, to be accompanied bv employ6s of Hallway 
 
 Mail Service ... • 755 169 
 
 Injunctions of courts to be respected by postmasters in the delivery of mail 290 92 
 
 Inland transportation. (&e JfAli- cONTltAi 1^.) 
 
 Insane persons, uioney-(nders for. how paid 1028 210 
 
 registered matter for, how delivered ''73 184 
 
 Insolvency, in case of, of sureties, new bonds required 109 .57 
 
 Inspection l>i vision, business of 27 40 
 
 duplicates of reports to. to be preserved in post-offices 601 155 
 
 reports ot arrivals and departures of mail, of failures and complaints, to be made to. 6.")8 155 
 
 to. how and when to be forwarded 660 155 
 
 special reports of mail-service to be made to, when 659 155 
 
 Instructions for opening mail and placing same on deliverj' 265 88 
 
 to fourth-class jiost masters for keeping accoiu\ts 1178 292 
 
 jiost masters concern lug delivery of niailiuatter in dispute 289 91 
 
 Insufliciently prepaid matter. [See rNi'AiD maitek,) 
 
394 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 Sec. Page. 
 Insurance companies, printed documents of, filled out in writing, third-class 
 
 matter 232 81 
 
 Insurance policy, printed, flUed out in writiug, third-clsvss matter 232 81 
 
 Interest not to be drawn by postmasters on deposits of postal funds 73 51 
 
 rate of, on balances due Department 1220 304 
 
 International postal cards to be issued by Postmaster-General 141 65 
 
 to 1 )»' used for card coiTespondence within Universal Postal Union 1119 266 
 
 Intoxicating liquors, use of, on duty, by employes of Railway Mail Service for- 
 bidden ". 768 171 
 
 Inventories of public property at post-offices by incoming postmasters 515 124 
 
 of public property at post-ollices, how disposed of 516 124 
 
 to be kept by the Postmaster-General 30 42 
 
 Investment of proceeds of attached property to be in what 1211 302 
 
 Ireland. (See Great Britain.) 
 
 Irregii larities hi distribution of mail received to be reported by poi^tmasters 402 106 
 
 ii? forwarding the mail to be reported to Division Superintendent by employes of 
 
 Kailway Mail Service - 774 171 
 
 Italy, money-orders exchanged with 1055 217 
 
 prohibiteii matter in the mails to 1121 266 
 
 Jeivelry. (/See Unjiailable matter.) 
 
 cannot be registered to foreign countries 904 189 
 
 Judges, district or cu-cuit, to make preliminary examination of persons arrested for 
 
 mail depredations 495 121 
 
 .iurisdiction of, over offenses against postal laws 16 37 
 
 of any court of record in the United States are authorized to administer oaths in re- 
 lation to settlement of accounts 1149 286 
 
 Judgment at return term iu suits under postal laws 1219 304 
 
 may be compromised by Auditor, when 1147 285 
 
 Juries, postmasters not exempted from serving on 6 27 
 
 Jurisdiction of justices of the peace, magistrates, or other judicial officers over 
 
 offenses against the postal laws 52 47 
 
 of United States courts of causes arising under postal laws 1206 301 
 
 over offen.ses against postal laws 16 37 
 
 Justices of thepeace are authorized to administer oaths in relation to settlement 
 
 ofaccoimts 1149 286 
 
 jurisdiction of, over offenses against the postal laws 16 37 
 
 may examine persons arrested'lbr violations of postal laws 15 36 
 
 postmasters may hold office of, without violating President's order 321 
 
 Keys {see M.vil keys) 1243 313 
 
 mail, penalty for stealing or forging 1243 313 
 
 Ij abcls, applic"ations for, by postmasters, to whom made 409 107 
 
 on mail-bags to be returned to post-ofhce of origin 408 107 
 
 to be returned to Office or post-office whence received 736 167 
 
 Iiaud Grant Railroads must carry mails at rates fixed by Congress 637 151 
 
 latis fixed by Congress for carrying mails on 638 151 
 
 iia'w clerk of Dejmrtment to supervise correspondence on postage and classifi- 
 cation of mail-matter 27 39 
 
 IiaiTs, changes in, how noted 353 
 
 lieares of absence of local agents, how obtained 803 174 
 
 of letter-caiTier.s, how obtained 325 96 
 
 of ctnploy6s of Eailway MaU Service, how obtained 747 169 
 
 Ijcdger account, amounts of Auditor's drafts collected by postmasters tobe entered 
 
 upon 1194 299 
 
 Auditor will charge upon, amount of collection-drafts neglected to be collected by 
 
 postmasters '. 1197 299 
 
 blanks for, furnished to Presidential post-oflices only 118" 297 
 
 form of, for fourth-class post-olfices 1190 297 
 
 postmasters to compare with Auditor's statement of 1186 297 
 
 quarterly statement of, how different from quarterly account-current 1183 296 
 
 never to bo inclosed with quarterly account-current 1184 296 
 
 not required from fourth-class post-offices 1188 297 
 
 to be sent to Auditor by postmasters at Presidential post- 
 offices only 1180 296 
 
 transmitted to Auditor before 20th day of next quarter. 1189 297 
 
 to bo kept by postmasters with the United States 1179 296 
 
 what to be entered on credit side 1182 296 
 
 debit side 1181 296 
 
 retained by postmasters as vouchers to 1185 296 
 
 IiCgal tender, no money not, to be received by postmasters, except national bank- 
 notes .' ; '. 89 53 
 
 liCtter-balances, tests of, by standiird weights, how made 18 28 
 
 Iietter-box. {See Eeceivixg-box.) 
 
 for mail at third and fourth class post-offices, fonn of 528 126 
 
 Iictter-boxes. (See Stueet jiailixu coxes.) 
 
 penalty for injuring , 334 98 
 
 mail-matter deposited in 1229 308 
 
 street, establishment of 333 98 
 
 injuries to, to be reported by carriers 335 98 
 
 Iictter-boxcs iu post-ofBccs, amount t£ rent for, to be reported quarterly by post- 
 master; penalty for failing to report 299 93 
 
 erected by holders at their expense', rent to bo collected as long as used 305 94 
 
 list of holders of, to be ke))t by postmaster 298 93 
 
 may bo erected by box-holders at their own expense 296 93 
 
 postmaster at his own oxi)onse 295 92 
 
 names of holders not to bo disclosed by postmasters 306 94 
 
 not to bo rented for imi)ropcr puiposes 304 93 
 
 record of receipts for rent of, to be turned over to successor by retiring postmaster. 303 93 
 
INDKX. 
 
 395 
 
 £<ettoi'-boxcs in |ios(.oilli<-rM— ('oiitinin'il. 
 
 rent loi-, 1)1111 ol' liM.sis c.r .salary i)( Pn-siili'iitial iiD.sfniastfrs Uf, 
 
 salary of roiiitliilaHs ixMtmii.sU^r!) 117 
 
 to lie lolU't'lcd (luaitt'ily in ailvanco '_' yoo 
 
 lostiictioiis on iiso (if '. [ '.'.'...'... 302 
 
 iini)ai(l for tin days al'ti r in<l t)l»|niiiti'r, toUiuIeclnrtMl vacant "..!!!!..!!!!. 301 
 
 wlio may use '''* 097 
 
 L.cticr-<:ii-ri<-r |«iNi olUcf^H. (.S'w Kkek-keuvkkv r»)«T-OFFicKS.) 
 
 Hietn-r-riirriri-s, aildiiiimal, not to bi> I'mploycd uutil n])poiiitcd by Department 323 
 
 apiilicalioiis lor appointiiii'nt as, how made ." 319 
 
 applications for (.vet 1''jii;i;-iii;liv!;hy s^vsikm) .'.'.'.'.'.'.".'.. 3l(( 
 
 ajipointnu nts and iiroinotioim of, how niadu 11] 3pj 
 
 auxiliary apiiointmcnt of, autliorized .'.'.'.'. 311 
 
 bonds and oaths of olliii- of, to bo returned to First Assistant Postmastcr-Genorai. . 3'2<J 
 
 recjiiindof , 315 
 
 rant ion to be iist'd in delivery of registered matter by 361 
 
 <'lassilii-ation of 3(){) 
 
 deliveriu.ir rc-iisteied matter by gQ«j 
 
 eflicieney of, t o b(> tested frequently 351 
 
 how appointed 317 
 
 leaves of ahscnee of 305 
 
 may be eniphiyed in post-ofliee durimr iutei-vala between trips 324 
 
 sell stamps in limited (inantitics, when S.IS 
 
 must beware of doiis 3f>} 
 
 not contract debts on their routes 331 
 
 deliver mail-matter before it has passed through post-oftice 348 
 
 mat ter iu 1 lie strei^ts 344 
 
 deviate from routes, must not show letters, etc 348 
 
 receive money to pay iicisTaL;e on inatti r handed Ibeni for mailing 347 
 
 return to any person ht tci s ilejiosited in street mailing-boxes 300 
 
 solicit couiribiitions, I'fc 332 
 
 receive properly-stamped letters for mailing 347 
 
 report injuries to s( net mailing-boxes 3.3.") 
 
 retui-n mail-keys and s.vtehels to post-office after last delivery 35!) 
 
 supply their own uuifonus '. 32t) 
 
 Wear uniform on duty, etc 330 
 
 write reason for iion-di'livery on undeliveied matter 349 
 
 names of, must apjiear in legistrv-delivery-book 8fi7 
 
 no fees to be ])aid to, iqion matter delivered 337 
 
 not to dili ver matter at unoccupied premises 343 
 
 number of, limited 314 
 
 penalty for absence without leave by 326 
 
 assaulting, when on duty and in uniform 334 
 
 qualifications of, for ajipointiuent 3I.S 
 
 salaries of 310 
 
 substitutes, how a])pointed 321 
 
 temporary, may be ajipoiuted by postmasters 322 
 
 must take oath of oihcc 322 
 
 to be employed in what cities 307 
 
 obey orders of postmasters 31J2 
 
 make lirst trip as early as possible 342 
 
 uuifonu, penalty for unlawfully wearing 327 
 
 prescribed for .' 3".'8 
 
 Kiettcr-cuvcloiics, return, retui'ii stamps, when to be canceled 376 
 
 IjTttrr of tj-aiimniittal, piiri)ort of, to accompany deposits 79 
 
 liOiicrsheel envelopes, rostmaster-General may issue 143 
 
 IjCtlcrs. (,SV(; First-class .MA riF.i:.) 
 
 addressed to a ilefunct lirm or <-orpoiatiou. to be delivered to representatives 287 
 
 dissolved tinu or partneiship, how disposed of 288 
 
 deceased persons, how tn^ated ; 28.'J 
 
 minors, to be controlled by parents, guardians, etc 284 
 
 after stamjis are canceled, not to be retui-ued for mailing on train 40(j 
 
 allowance for advertising 1171 
 
 carried by foreign vessels, must be received from and delivered to post-offices 1138 
 
 containing inclo.sures, penalty for embezzlement 1230 
 
 dead, containing money, to be returned to owners 484 
 
 when to be sent to Dead-Letter Office, and how 485, 486, 487 
 
 when to be forwarded by postmasters to other offices, and when not 488, 489 
 
 delivery of. {See Dklivehy ok matteu.) 
 
 incloseil in stamped envelopes, may be conveyed outside the mail, except ^. .. 568 
 
 for foreign countries, can only be sent from post-offices 5«'.l 
 
 from Pension Office, to be (hdivered to address 281 
 
 local, (jnl.y returned to writer at other pest-office, when luopaid 403 
 
 may be conveyed out of the mail without conipen.sation by private hands 567 
 
 registered, to wliat foreign countries '. 900 
 
 witlidra^Nai from mailing post-office in certain cases 201, 292 
 
 must not Ix; delayed on account of other mail 369 
 
 placed in pouch loose 395 
 
 loo.se in jiouches by eiuployfis of the Eailway Mail Service 727 
 
 not to be placed under straps of pouches '. .' 407 
 
 of 11 dep.'irt ment, bureau, or office of the government, free of postage 2 19. 250, 251 
 
 declared value, not admissible, to Po.stal Union mails 1124 
 
 officially addressed, must be delivered to person holding the office 283 
 
 of postmasters to Department 538 
 
 opened by mist ake by person of same name 278 
 
 outside of' or under strap of pouches, to be reported to Division SuperintendejQt by 
 
 employes of Eailway Mail Service 740 
 
 Pago. 
 
 59 
 CO 
 03 
 03 
 03 
 03 
 
 00 
 
 06 
 
 00 
 
 95 
 
 05 
 
 90 
 
 00 
 
 101 
 
 95 
 
 184 
 
 100 
 
 90 
 
 06 
 
 00 
 
 100 
 
 101 
 
 08 
 
 100 
 
 09 
 
 100 
 
 100 
 
 101 
 
 101 
 98 
 98 
 
 100 
 
 184 
 99 
 09 
 06 
 07 
 08 
 90 
 05 
 06 
 96 
 90 
 94 
 
 101 
 09 
 97 
 97 
 
 103 
 52 
 65 
 
 91 
 
 01 
 
 91 
 
 91 
 
 107 
 
 289 
 
 283 
 
 308 
 
 120 
 
 120 
 
 120 
 
 134 
 132 
 
 01 
 117 
 IM 
 188 
 
 02 
 102 
 106 
 167 
 107 
 
 85 
 207 
 
 91 
 127 
 
 90 
 
 168 
 
396 
 
 POSTAL LAWS AND EEGULATIONS. 
 
 Ijetters— Continued. 
 
 penalty for detention of, by postmaster 
 
 intercepting, embezzling, destroying, etc., by persons not in the postal 
 
 service 
 
 opening, destroying, secreting, or embezzling, by persons in the postal 
 
 service 
 
 sending, through the mails with intent to defraud 
 
 prepayment on, optional to Postal Union countries 
 
 received unsealed, to be sealed and .stamped by postmaster 
 
 registered, rules for senders of 
 
 relating only to cargo of vessel, may be carried outside of mail 
 
 seized for violation of law, how di.sposed of 
 
 ship, addressed to a foreign country, no fee on • 
 
 brought by jjassengers or sailois, no fee allowed 
 
 to be delivered "to legal assignees or receivers 
 
 withoilt opening 
 
 to have preference over other matter in dispatch 
 
 unlawfully carried out of the mails may be seized or detained 
 
 concealed in goods, entail forfeiture of goods 
 
 valuable dead, record of 
 
 when to be marked ' ' ship " 
 
 "steamboat'' 
 
 withdrawal of, after mailing. (See Withdraw.\l of jiatter. ) 
 
 beyond mailing post-office only allowed by authority of Postmaster- 
 General .' .' 
 
 from maUing post-ofBce may be refused 
 
 with one full rate prepaid forwarded at request of person addressed 
 
 liights, allowance for, only made to post-offices of first and second classes 
 
 liiiuit of salaries of postmasters 
 
 liiiuit of ■»veight to four pounds for thii'd and fourth class matter only 
 
 r^iq uor. intoxicating, not to be sold in post-office room 
 
 l.ilhogi-apIis. (/S'ee Pelxtetj jiatter.) 
 
 lioca I agents, courtesy in dealing with the public enjoined upon 
 
 daily reports of, to Division Superintendents 
 
 examination of 
 
 fovemed by general instructions to employes of Railway Mail Service 
 andling of registered matter by T \ 
 
 leaves of absence of, how procured 
 
 record of arrivals and departures of 
 
 mails transferred at stations by 
 
 report in-egularities in mail-messenger service to Division Supeiintendent 
 
 to assist in transfer and delivery of mails, dispatch missent mails by proper trains, 
 notify DiN-ision Sviperintendeiit.s t)f changes of schedule 
 
 tinder supervision of Division Superintendent only 
 
 vigUancc required of, in guarding the mails 
 
 Ivoclis. {Sec Mail-locks.) 
 
 Hiock-boxcs. (&e Letter-boxes in post-office?.) 
 
 erected by box-holders at their own expense are property of the Department 
 
 Hiondon international exchange post-office for money-orders - 
 
 lioss of quarterly returns in transmission 
 
 Kiosses in tlu- mails to be promptly reported to Chief Special Agent 
 
 what facts reports of, must state 
 
 Ijost matter, inquiries for, to be addressed to Chief Special Agent 
 
 IjOsI postage-stamps to be charged to postmasters 
 
 liotteries. ( .SV e Fraudulext schemes.) 
 
 jjostmasters forbidden to act as agents for 
 
 l<otter y advertisements, in second-class matter, are not excluded from mails 
 
 Iiottery eireiilars prohibited in the mail 
 
 JLottery matter. (See Ux.mail.^ble matter. See, also, Dead matter.) 
 
 proliibited in foreign mails IT 19 
 
 lioiiiigers not permitted in post-offices 
 
 liunatie, delivery of letters addressed to 
 
 ITIagazines. (See Second-class matter.) 
 
 Magistrates may examine persons arrested for violations of postal law 
 
 jurisdiction of. in suits under the postal laws 
 
 over ofleuses ngaiust the postal laws 
 
 mail, meaning <>f words in law ■ iiitcinleil to l)e conveyed by'' 
 
 ITlailable njatter, iinstiuastc-vs uliliuid to register . ." 
 
 sent to Division Superintcndtut by tniploy^'S of Railway Mail Service as immaila- 
 
 blc to be cbi'cked as errors '. ". '. 
 
 mail-agentM. loieigii, appointment and payment of 
 
 in (Jhiiia .mil Japan ". 
 
 on 00 fill 1 .'^tiaiiiers 
 
 route, > iiijilcjyment and pay of 
 
 Mail apai-tiueiits to be provided on mail steamboats (see Offices) 
 
 Mnil-bags, applications for additional, to state what 
 
 applications toi-, to be made to Second Assistant Postmaster-General 
 
 state what 
 
 communications concerning, to be addressed to Second Assistant Postmaster-Gen- 
 eral 
 
 contents of one, to be distributed before another is opened by employes of Railway 
 Mail Service . .'. 
 
 canvas, to be turned inside out when emptied by employes of Railway Mail Service. 
 
 damaged, to bo sent to established repair shops' 
 
 dcpositoiics of, to render accounts to Second Assistant Postmaster-General 
 
 list of 
 
 different kinds of 
 
 eqnal exchange and reciprocal return of 
 
 Sec. Page. 
 
 310 
 
 1233 
 
 309 
 
 1246 
 
 314 
 
 1108 
 
 264 
 
 382 
 
 105 
 
 814 
 
 177 
 
 561 
 
 132 
 
 566 
 
 134 
 
 259 
 
 87 
 
 260 
 
 87 
 
 286 
 
 91 
 
 282 
 
 91 
 
 369 
 
 102 
 
 564 
 
 133 
 
 565 
 
 133 
 
 483 
 
 119 
 
 259 
 
 87 
 
 262 
 
 87 
 
 294 
 
 92 
 
 293 
 
 92 
 
 371 
 
 103 
 
 129 
 
 63 
 
 122 
 
 62 
 
 221 
 
 79 
 
 523 
 
 125 
 
 804 
 
 174 
 
 799 
 
 174 
 
 eOO 
 
 174 
 
 805 
 
 174 
 
 802 
 
 174 
 
 803 
 
 174 
 
 801 
 
 174 
 
 798 
 
 174 
 
 797 
 
 173 
 
 795 
 
 173 
 
 794 
 
 173 
 
 796 
 
 173 
 
 296 
 
 93 
 
 1045 
 
 214 
 
 1169 
 
 289 
 
 490 
 
 120 
 
 491 
 
 121 
 
 20 
 
 31 
 
 173 
 
 70 
 
 541 
 
 128 
 
 227 
 
 80 
 
 226 
 
 80 
 
 1132 
 
 279 
 
 524 
 
 125 
 
 10 
 
 37 
 
 52 
 
 47 
 
 16 
 
 37 
 
 1231 
 
 309 
 
 809 
 
 176 
 
 742 
 
 168 
 
 19 
 
 37 
 
 21 
 
 38 
 
 20 
 
 38 
 
 22 
 
 38 
 
 608 
 
 144 
 
 691 
 
 160 
 
 674 
 
 158 
 
 673 
 
 158 
 
 705 
 
 162 
 
 732 
 
 167 
 
 734 
 
 167 
 
 679 
 
 159 
 
 684 
 
 109 
 
 683 
 
 159 
 
 671 
 
 157 
 
 681 
 
 159 
 
. INDEX. 397 
 
 Seo. Paga 
 J?Iail-bngs — Coutiuuod. 
 
 every niail-ronte to bo siipiiliod with 072 168 
 
 faatcniutrstiap of, never to be cut 70« 102 
 
 found in bad order in transit, to bo repaired 876 1G8 
 
 hooks ])rolubitcd in handling, by eiuployfs 789 172 
 
 potttniaatcrs 405 106 
 
 in which Congressional docunientti were sent, to bo returned to Waaliington, D, C. . 678 158 
 
 mutihitiou of, forbiiklen 077 158 
 
 only to be used for transmission of niail-niattor 086 160 
 
 penalty for ihutilating with intent to steal or rob the mail 1242 312 
 
 stealing or diverting, from proper uso 1241 312 
 
 pouches to be thoroughly examined wucn emptied by employes of Railway Mail 
 
 Service .-.." 735 107 
 
 purchase of, by jiostnuistors forbidden 689 ICO 
 
 record of outgoiiiL: ;iih1 incoming, to bo kept 682 150 
 
 repairs of, by ])ostiii;ist(T'8 675 158 
 
 surplus at dei)ositoriis, to bo kept apart from current stock 685 160 
 
 surplus of, not to bo accumulated at jjost-oflices 680 150 
 
 to bo carefully handled by mail-carriers 614 146 
 
 unlawful use "of, to be reported to the I)ei)artment 704 162 
 
 waste and abuse of, to be prevented 688 160 
 
 when opened at ])08t-oftices, to be carefully examined 4)1 107 
 
 supplied to pultlisliers 687 160 
 
 Mail-carriers ex(iii]itiil from militia duty 6 27 
 
 must lie over sixteen years old 604 156 
 
 need nut leave team to deliver mail at way post-offices 662 155 
 
 not allowed to receive or deliver obscene matter, etc 225 70 
 
 not to be entrusted with registered matter outside pouch 833 170 
 
 penalty for desertion of mail by 1240 312 
 
 postmasters to report delinipient 663 156 
 
 special delinriueneies of, to l)e reported 664 156 
 
 to receive properly prepaid matter and deliver it for mailing at next post-office at 
 
 which they arrive 628 148 
 
 ITIail-cars. (See Offices.) 
 
 Mail-catchers, how funiished 690 160 
 
 Mail-coutractors combining to prevent bids for carrying the mail, to forfeit contract 
 
 and Ite disqualified for five years from caixying the mail 589 140 
 
 debts due the Department may be transferred to 60 49 
 
 failing to perform sei-^'ice, Postmaster-General may contract with next lowest bid- 
 der; etc 604 142 
 
 to carry all mails and care for mail-bags 614 145 
 
 s])i-(ial agents and ]>ostal siqudics free 615 145 
 
 Mail-contracts, annulment of, for what causes 613 144 
 
 assignment or transfer of, prohibited and null 023 146 
 
 awarded to lowest bidder 001 141 
 
 between Fnited .Stares and foreign ports limited to two years 607 144 
 
 copiis t<i 1i,. eertitied to Auditor 37 43 
 
 made hi name of the United States 601 141 
 
 may be made with railroad companies and ownersof steamboats without advertising 607 143 
 
 new sureties on, may be aoeepted or required by Postmaster-General 002 142 
 
 notice of change of, and leadvertisinieut 576 136 
 
 not to be awarded to persons who have failed on former contracts 601 141 
 
 made in less than sixty days after lirst publication of advertisement 578 137 
 
 with persims making combinations to prevent bids 589 140 
 
 subletting, forbidden without consist of Postmaster-General 624 146 
 
 temporary, not to bo made by post mast ers after expiration of contract-term 617 145 
 
 -when to be made by jiosl masters, when made to bo reported to Second 
 
 Assistant Postmaster-General 616 145 
 
 without advertisement, when authorized 605 143 
 
 tfirm of, limitetl to ftmr years 010 144 
 
 time of executing Oil 144 
 
 times of payment on 012 144 
 
 to be executed in duplicate C09 144 
 
 tijiou water routes may be made without advertising 607 144 
 
 who may unt b(^ interested in 599 141 
 
 Mail depredations, unclaimed money recovered from, turned in to Treastiry 56 49 
 
 monev recovered from, to be returned to owners 497 121 
 
 reports of, to be made to Chief Special Agent 492-496 121 
 
 Mail-keys, defective, to be reported to t he Department - - - 698 161 
 
 furnished emjiloves of the Kaihvay Mail Service, to be kept in Otfice for which origi- 
 
 nallv funiished 695 161 
 
 how funiished 693 160 
 
 penalty foi- loss of 693 161 
 
 for stealing or forging l'^43 313 
 
 receipt to be taken for, not to be transfeiTed without permission 696 161 
 
 repairs of. prohibited 697 161 
 
 safety chain for, to be used by employes of Railway Mail Service 784 172 
 
 specihc number upon each • 694 168 
 
 to he turned over to Division Superintendent on resignation, etc., of employ6s of 
 
 Railwav Mail Service - -- •- 705 170 
 
 when defective, will not open lock, mail-bag to be sent to nearest post-office to be 
 
 opened - 700 102 
 
 Mail-lettings, advertisement of general, how made ^'^ |~ 
 
 advertisement of routes omitteu in general °75 ISO 
 
 annual, of general 574 136 
 
 contract terms of general ^* |^^ 
 
 miscellaneous, detinition of 577 JdO 
 
 form of advertisement of 578 ido 
 
398 
 
 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 Sec. 
 
 mail-Iocke, brass, not to he sent to iron-loct post-offices 699 161 
 
 communications concerning, to be addressed to Second Assistant Postmaster-General. 705 162 
 
 how furnished 692 160 
 
 must be used with economy and be equally exchanged 703 162 
 
 not to be left in Offices '. 784 172 
 
 penalty for stealing or forging 1243 313 
 
 repaii's of, prohibited 697 161 
 
 when defective, staple of mail-bag may be cut 701 362 
 
 Mail -matter addressed to a jjerson in care of another, should be delivered to address. 280 90 
 
 addressed to deceased persons, how treated 285 91 
 
 fictitious persons, etc.. to be returned at end of each week 276 90 
 
 minors, to he controlled by parents, guardians, etc 284 91 
 
 advertised, list of, to be displayed in post-offices 446 115 
 
 to be .so marked . . . .' 453 116 
 
 advertisement of, in new.spapers 452 115 
 
 authority of Postmaster-General to kill 468 117 
 
 cannot be delivered by postmasters when not addressed to their post-office 279 90 
 
 carried by foreign vessels, must be received from and delivered to post-offices 1138 288 
 
 classification of 176 72 
 
 dead, definition and classification of 433 112 
 
 printed 478 119 
 
 domestic 480 119 
 
 foreign 479 119 
 
 retnm of 482 119 
 
 delivery of {see Delivery of Matter), injunctions of courts to he respected by post- 
 masters 290 92 
 
 to representatives of a defunct firm or corporation 289 91 
 
 when addressed to a dissolved firm or partnership 288 91 
 
 deposited for mailing or delivery, and letteis received for delivery or distribution, to 
 
 be postmarked at po.st-offices' .' 379 104 
 
 dii'ect packages for horse-routes 391 105 
 
 disposition of destructive 440 113 
 
 fictitious, not to he advertised 455 ne 
 
 foreign letters, advertisement of 445 115 
 
 form of advertisement of unclaimed . 451 115 
 
 fully prepaid, forwarded from one post-office to another at request of person ad- 
 dressed 371 103 
 
 held for postage, how treated 437-439 113 
 
 hotel, how to be stamped 477 119 
 
 to be sent weekly to Dead-Letter Office, when 476 118 
 
 local, to railroad and sfianiship lines, how dispatched 388 105 
 
 lost, to be reported to ("liiif Special Agent 490 120 
 
 facts to be stated by iiostmaster in report 491 121 
 
 uiquiries for, to be addressed to Chief Special Agent 1T20 31 
 
 inadvertently forwarded without proper payment, how treated 436 112 
 
 in dispute, instruction with regard to delivery of 289 91 
 
 injuring of, deposited in street mailing-boxes, penalty 1229 308 
 
 in transit, delivery of, by employes of Railway Mail Service forbidden 769 171 
 
 missent, dispo.sition of '. ". 467 117 
 
 manner of making up, for railway lines 390 105 
 
 must not be carried in Offices outside of regular mail-bags, except 778 171 
 
 not of first class, sender may have returned by sending postage 465 117 
 
 I0 be delivered at places not post-offices by employes of Railway Mail Service. . 772 171 
 
 offered for registration, becomcsregistered when a, registry receipt is given therefor. 821 178 
 
 officially addressed, must be delivered to the person holding the office 283 91 
 
 of first class, definition of 177 72 
 
 how to be treated when in bad order 382 164 
 
 not to be held on mere suspicion 434 112 
 
 fourth class, definition of 221 79 
 
 postage upon 229 80 
 
 that might dam.age the mail, how to secure same 223 79 
 
 second class, definition of 184, 1 85 73 
 
 disposition of refused '471 118 
 
 entry of, at post-offices 199 75 
 
 essential characteristics 185 73 
 
 free county publications must be mailed by themselves 242 83 
 
 in county, except at carrier post-office's 239 83 
 
 foreign publications may pass as 212 77 
 
 form of bill which may be attached to 234 82 
 
 how to be, ofi'ered at free-delivery post-offices 241 83 
 
 in doubtful cases postmasters must appeal to First Assistant Postr 
 
 master-General 188 73 
 
 inspection of foreign publications 213 77 
 
 may be examined 209 77 
 
 must be pr<»j)erly folded and addressed 236 82 
 
 wrapped and sufficiently dried 235 82 
 
 postage on [ 190 74 
 
 upon at free-delivery post-offices 240 83 
 
 postma sters may grant temporary permit to pass new publications as . 1 96 75 
 
 re(juire evidence of subscription list 194 74 
 
 publications not granted free county delivery when claiming two 
 
 offices of publication in dift'erent counties. . . ^ 243 84 
 
 rate of jjostagc upon 190 74 
 
 record to be kept by postmaster 189 74 
 
 rule regarding Jott<>ry advertisements in 227 80 
 
 eaniple copies not entitled to free county delivery 244 84 
 
 ofnewsp:ii)er8, etc., allowed to be sent by newe-agents 195 74 
 
INDEX. 
 
 399 
 
 S.-C. 
 niail-ninltor— Continiii'd. 
 
 s*"coiul class, scpMriiU'iulvortlKfiiKiit slu'Ctn in iu'Wh|iU)ii'1m, etc., uol allowed Ht'Cuiiil' 
 
 <'lii88 riit<-s 210 
 
 siH'Oiul I (IIii-hIvc Htamp for 191, 192 
 
 how used 1.10 
 
 to lie wii^ilicd ill bulk 19a 
 
 wlifii HusiKictcd to t'oiitiiin unlawful inattf>r abould bo dctuincd 211 
 
 of third class, dctinitioii of aift 
 
 manner of present iiig for mailing 237 
 
 iniiy contain what , 238 
 
 permissible writing on , 232 
 
 other than letters, may be delayed when ncressary to expcdit« letter-mail HOO 
 
 local, sent to railroad and Hteamsbi]) lines 389 
 
 penalty for bein;|; accessory after t lie fact to stalling of 1248 
 
 detaininjr, in a post-otlice 12.TJ 
 
 inteicei)ting or secreting y>'M 
 
 stealing, delainintr, or destro^ving newspapers 12J7 
 
 or wi<ingfiilly obtaining, from Department 1235 
 
 nnlawful detention of," by postma'ster 370 
 
 place for. at fourtbclass post-otlices .129 
 
 jiostmasters not to give iiit'(Uiiiation concerning .131 
 
 to receipt for copyriiilit matter 374 
 
 proof of identity iii.iy bi> reiniiieil before delivering 277 
 
 recei%'ed for regislialioii, to be entered on registration-book, numbered, and receipt 
 
 therefor to be given the sender 819 
 
 refused, disposition of 471, 472 
 
 returned from Dead-Letter Office should be advertised 454 
 
 return of diad, to lie forw.-irdcd even when there is none to be sent 473 
 
 second, third, and fourth class may be examined by receiving postmasters 26C 
 
 not to contain proliibiti'd writing 233 
 
 IKiniissiblo additions to (in writing, etc.) 231 
 
 to be open for examination 182 
 
 sent Irom post-office on stage-i'oute to go bey<md last po.'-t-office 392 
 
 statement of unclaimed 474 
 
 stolen, penalty for receiving or concealing 1236 
 
 that should not be advertised 450 
 
 to be delivered to legal assignees or receivers 280 
 
 made up by States 387 
 
 whom to be delivered 275 
 
 unclaimed, after returning to sender, how treated 4(>C 
 
 and undelivered, advertisement of 444 
 
 fin.Tl di.sposition of 469 
 
 official, to be treated as card-matter 4.59 
 
 nndelivered, reasons to be shown for iion-dclivery 470 
 
 unlawfully detaining, opening, or destroying, penalty 1233 
 
 nnmailabfe, definition and classification of 432 
 
 how to make up, and transmit retums of 443 
 
 reaching destinat ion, lu)W treated 475 
 
 received from railway 'Offices, how treated 435 
 
 to bo returned to sender, when 437, 438 
 
 .sent to Dead-Letter Office 431 
 
 how often and in what manner 441, 442 
 
 nnpaid, double postage to be charged on delivery 267 
 
 how to be treated at free-delivery post-offices, if unable to deliver 273 
 
 not to be delivered until post-agc is paid 268 
 
 penalty for failing to affix poatage-due-stamps to, before delivery 271 
 
 postagc-dut-stamps to be affixed to, before delivery 270 
 
 time of affixing postage-due-stamps to 272 
 
 valuable dead, record of 483 
 
 weight at time of mailing determines rate of postage on 269 
 
 who may have access to, in post-offices 520 
 
 withflrawal of, beyond mailing post-office only allowed by authority of Postmaster- 
 
 Ceneral " 294 
 
 when permitted 291, 292 
 
 when refused 293 
 
 miail^nirsiiien^crs, postmasters to report to Thiril Assistant Postmaster-General 
 
 amount paad to 81 
 
 registered matter not to bo intrusted to, except, in pouches 833 
 
 when and how employed; how paid; duties of; no compen.sation to postmaster acting 
 
 as ; must take oath of office 627 
 
 under super visiim of local agents 797 
 
 IVaiUrobbcrH, arrest of, to be reported to United States district attorney 494 
 
 postmasters must try to apprehend, when 496 
 
 preliminary exiiniination ot 495 
 
 inail-robbefy , in vicinity of post-office, duties of postmaster 496 
 
 penalty for ." 1238 
 
 attempting 1239 
 
 punishment of accessory to, after the fact 1247 
 
 recovery of money in case of, how disposed of 497 
 
 to be immediately reported 492 
 
 reported to Chief Special Agent 493 
 
 mail-route messengers, (see Emi-loyes ON THE Railway Mafl SKR\acE) 709 
 
 ITIaiUroutcs (see Post Roai'8), special service on new, may be extended one year 
 
 inails, attempt to fob, penalty 1239 
 
 Canadian and other foreign', may be transported through the United States 650 
 
 not to be opened within reach of unauthorized persons 621 
 
 Page. 
 
 77 
 74 
 6H 
 74 
 T7 
 78 
 M 
 83 
 81 
 103 
 105 
 314 
 309 
 310 
 311 
 310 
 103 
 12ft 
 12S 
 103 
 90 
 
 178 
 
 118 
 
 116 
 
 118 
 
 88 
 
 82 
 
 81 
 
 72 
 
 105 
 
 118 
 
 311 
 
 115 
 
 91 
 
 100 
 
 90 
 
 117 
 
 114 
 
 117 
 
 116 
 
 117 
 
 309 
 
 111 
 
 114 
 
 118 
 
 112 
 
 113 
 
 111 
 
 113 
 
 88 
 
 89 
 
 88 
 
 89 
 
 119 
 
 92 
 92 
 92 
 
 .52 
 179 
 
 147 
 173 
 121 
 121 
 121 
 121 
 312 
 312 
 314 
 121 
 121 
 121 
 164 
 354 
 312 
 153 
 125 
 
400 POSTAL LAWS AND EEGULATIONS. 
 
 Sec. Page. 
 
 Alails — ContiuueLl. 
 
 on railroads to be weighed under instructions from Postmaster-General 633 150 
 
 opening of, instructions for 265 88 
 
 penalty for desertion of, by person in charge 1240 312 
 
 Postmaster-General may contract for carrying domestic mails through a foreign 
 
 country 649 153 
 
 robbery of, penalty for _ 1238 312 
 
 stopping over night must be kept in post-ofiice ' 412 107 
 
 time of closuig, prescribed by law 368 102 
 
 regulation under law 410 107 
 
 to be accompanied in transfer by local agents 796 173 
 
 to and from initial and teiininal post-offices by employSs of the 
 
 Eail way Mail Service 755 169 
 
 carried by ships 252, 253 86 
 
 vigilant guard over, by employes of Railway Mail Service 738 168 
 
 ]TIail-steauiboa.t!s, lett"ers on, how disposed of 261 87 
 
 ITIail-ti-ains, accidents to, to be reported to Division Superintendents 788 172 
 
 I?£ail ve-sscls, no fees to, for ship-letters 263 87 
 
 Manifolding not printing, and therefore first-class matter 220 78 
 
 ITIaiiiiscript of all kinds tirst-class mail-matter 177 72 
 
 Maps fourth-class matter when made with pen 221 79 
 
 post-route, prepared by Topographer for use of Department, for sale to indi- 
 viduals when, titc 27 39 
 
 Marking stamps. (See Dated stamps.) 
 
 Married >vonien may be appointed postmasters 105 50 
 
 not accepted as mail-contractors 595 141 
 
 Marinc'8 Icttcris may be forwarded unpaid, how 179 72 
 
 Masters of vessels shall not receive ships fees on printed matter 264 87 
 
 shall Deceive mail 252, 253 86 
 
 Mayor of city authorized to administer oaths in relation to settlement of accounts . . 1149 286 
 
 may examine persons arrested for violation of postal laws 16 37 
 
 Marshals to make returns to Auditor of proceedings upon process of execution 1225 306 
 
 Member of Congress. (See Fkankinu pkivilege.) 
 
 Merchandise. (Sec Fourth-class matter. See Samples of merchandise.) 
 
 cannot be registered to foreign countries 904 189 
 
 not admissible to foreign mails except as bona-flde samples without salable 
 
 value.Tr22 , 1132 280 
 
 Metals, samples of. (See Fourth-class matter.) 
 
 Metric system of weights and measures used for foreign correspondence 1105 262 
 
 Mexico, cxchanso post-offices for 1125 273 
 
 Militia duty, jioshnasters and mail-carriers exempted from 6 7! 
 
 Mincralogical s]>«-ciincns. (»S'(?« FouitTH-CLASS MATTER.) 
 
 Minor.s c;i'uuut lie niijioiiited postmasters 108 57 
 
 letters to, to be controlled by parents, guardians, et<! 284 91 
 
 Misdemeanors. (See Offenses against postal laws.) 
 
 Misdirected matter. (Sec TJnmailable matter.) 
 
 address of, not to be changed by employes of Railway Mail Service v 740 168 
 
 not to be forwarded by postmasters on trial 467 117 
 
 Misdirected registered packages of common matter to be returned for better di- 
 rection 850 181 
 
 of postage-stamps, etc., to be stopped and held for instructions from Third Assist- 
 ant Postmaster-General 851 181 
 
 Missent niattrr, postmasters not to correct addresses on, except 467 117 
 
 to be postmaikcil with date of receipt at post-office 379 104 
 
 so stami)ed l)v employes of the liailway Mail Service 775 171 
 
 Mistake, letteis ojjeued by, by person of same name, how remailed 278 90 
 
 Moieties, half of all fines and penalties recovered to go to informer 63 50 
 
 not turned into Treasury 56 49 
 
 to officers seizing letters on board of vessels 562 133 
 
 Monetary ralue, printed representations of, in Postal Union mails subject to letter 
 
 postage 1116 265 
 
 Money belonging to post-office to be kept separate from private cash .529 126 
 
 collection of, irom postmasters, by Auditor's drafts, in favor of other postmasters . 1192 299 
 
 contractors' orders 60, 1191 49, 299 
 
 counterfeit, received by postmasters must be replaced by genuine 91 53 
 
 current, funds to bo kept in 95 54 
 
 foreign, not receivable for postage-stamps or dues 97 54 
 
 how to be deposited 73 51 
 
 must be safely kept 72 51 
 
 not paid directly to Department 75 52 
 
 to be received by postmaster from predecessor unless 517 125 
 
 paid in consequence of fraudulent representation, how to be recovered 61 49 
 
 into the Treasury subject to draft by the Treasurer 71 51 
 
 postmasters may deposit in national banks, when 73 51 
 
 public, for deposit may be transmitted by postmasters in free registered letter 80 52 
 
 recovered from mail robbers, disposal of 497 121 
 
 return of dead letters containing, to owner 484 120 
 
 stolen, to bo delivered to owner when recovered 62 50 
 
 to be frequently deposited 74 51 
 
 tinclaimed, in dead letters, or from mail depredations, how to be disposed of 56 49 
 
 Money-order accounts, cash-book, how written up 1077 223 
 
 cash-book to show transfer of postage funds 1079 . 223 
 
 Moncy-oriler advices, blank forms for, how treated when spoiled 991 ' 2()3 
 
 contents of, to be kept strictly secret 1018 208 
 
 correctness of, to bo verified by postmaster 1002 205 
 
 date of payment of money-order to bo stamped upon 1026 210 
 
 examined and tiled alphaoetically as soon as received 1017 208 
 
INDKX. 401 
 
 S^'«-. Page. 
 .TIoiiey-or«l<>r ntlvii-cH — ('(iiitiiiiiiil. 
 
 cXHiiuiii'il ■!• a wei-k tor those inuii' tliun il yi-ar olil 
 
 instructions for nuikiiii; out ". 
 
 invalid, uion- thiin a yi-iir olil. rctiinieil to I>i-|iartiiii-nt 
 
 niissent to wron;^ iiost-otHi-r, to lir |iruni|itly rcniaili'tl to ilfstination 
 
 niissin>;. in<|uirv tor, to \>e niaiU- " 
 
 name ofiiayini; post-otHcc to In- written in full u]ion ■- 
 
 omitted anil defect ivi- Idanks tor, to lie report I'd 
 
 receijit of neiessary liefore money -oriler ran lie paid 
 
 repayment of money-order, liow noted upon 
 
 rejieated failure to receive, from any one po.st-oHice must lie reported 
 
 retained upon tile for four years 
 
 special iiistru<-tions for forwardini; - 
 
 of rejiayment of money-order, ■when sent 
 
 to be sent without delay to iiostiuasters upon wiiom money-orders are drawn 
 
 stamped with a sjieiial stamp 
 
 imiiaid. less than two weeks olil, how lejiorteil in weekly statements 
 
 ITIoiK-y-ortlrr biiMiiirMM. a< counts of how to lie kept \iy Auditor 
 
 domestic, compensation to ] post masters for transacting 
 
 international, ;;eiieral rules for compen-sation for 
 
 letters upon. toSupcriiiti iideut, to lie in separate envelopes without other iuclosiirus. 
 
 net proceeds of. turned into Treasury 
 
 jiayiuents on account of. not to lie entered on account-current 
 
 3Iouf'>--ortl<-r roiivciitioiini, Postma.ster-General may conclude with foreign postal 
 
 aclministiatioiis '. 
 
 Moncy-ortler fiiiKlH. credits for, on Xew York, how drawn upon 
 
 ciedits on Xew York allowed for 
 
 collection-drafts not drawn upon, suit ajrainst late postmaster for 
 
 daily remittances of, how made 
 
 receipted for 
 
 not credited until receipt is obtained 
 
 i-ejiorts of remittances received 
 
 deliuition of. Assistant Treasurer of tlie United States to open an account for 
 
 deposit of, in national banks iiemiitted 
 
 other than national banks forbidden. 
 
 drafts for, must be on iirinteil forms only 
 
 embezzlement of, penalty for 1 
 
 fixed reserve, how determined 
 
 not to be paid out upon contractors' orders 
 
 posta-ie funds, how transfeired to 
 
 receipts and pajinents of, how entered on ca.sh-book 
 
 regulations for postal funds do not apply to , . 
 
 remittances and deposits must be promptly made of.... l(j.S.'> 
 
 of, special iiistrmtions for making 
 
 special drafts for, in emergencies 
 
 drawer to be provided for, to keep .separate from all other cash on hand 
 
 transfer of postal revenues to, by Postuiastir-General 
 
 to postmasters and creditors by Postmaster-General 
 
 transferred from postage a<-count. how enteied in cash-book 
 
 unpaid advices less than two weeks old. how rejiorti-d in weekly statement of 
 
 weekly statements of, at close of (piarter. how made " 
 
 form for 
 
 how transmitted 
 
 made up every Saturday 
 
 must be promptly transmitted 
 
 "no business'' 
 
 reiiuired from postmasters 
 
 to 111' numbered consecutively from January 1st, each year .. 
 
 vouchers, accompanying 
 
 Money-order Post-ofllceiii, account-books, blanks, and circulars, furnished to 
 
 bond reipiired of postmasters at 
 
 circulars and instiaictions received by postmasters at, to be kept on file for reference. 
 
 cla.ssification of '. 
 
 has no referen.-e to classification of iiost-orti<-es under laws fixing 
 
 salaries 
 
 clerks and ])ostmasters at, prohibited from filling up apjilications for money -orders . 
 
 at, paiil out of postal funds, not to be employed in money -order business 
 
 compensation to postmasters at, limit of ". T 
 
 discontinuance ot. to be carefully noted 
 
 expenditures at, for money-order business, not allowed without authority from De- 
 partment I 
 
 gold premium to be kept on file at what 
 
 incidental exjienses at, liow allowed 
 
 new po.stmasters at, todiOiit themselves with funds received from late postnuister.. 
 
 receive what, fiom outgoing jiostnnister 
 
 official M. (). B. envelopes, furnished to 
 
 retiring postmasters at, to deposit funds with, and turn over blank circulars, etc., 
 
 to succ«'ssor 
 
 stationery and clerk hire at, may be allowed out of proceeds of money-order business. 
 
 sur]ilus leceipfs at. from money -order bnsin-«ss, to be accounted for 
 
 ITIoney-ordcr necoinl adriccs, entry of. by receiving iio.^fmaster. uimn register. .. 
 
 to lie furnislifd. win ii needed, to .secure issue of a duphcate money-order 
 
 when and how to he made 
 
 iUout^y-order system, accounts and records reipiired by, furnisheil on ajiplication 
 
 to Superintendent of 
 
 design of Congress in establishing 
 
 establishment of 
 
 net proceeds of, turned into Treasury 
 
 20 P L 
 
 lo:{3 
 
 211 
 
 OtH 
 
 204 
 
 H)Xi 
 
 211 
 
 loiu 
 
 208 
 
 W£i 
 
 2o!» 
 
 w: 
 
 204 
 
 99-J 
 
 204 
 
 lolti 
 
 20X 
 
 1<»4U 
 
 212 
 
 ll7:t 
 
 20o 
 
 1017 
 
 20.K 
 
 9M} 
 
 20.-< 
 
 103t( 
 
 212 
 
 Hsl 
 
 2ir2 
 
 987 
 
 203 
 
 lOKti 
 
 22.S 
 
 ll-J.-i 
 
 28.". 
 
 WW 
 
 200 
 
 1070 
 
 221 
 
 1»7."> 
 
 201 
 
 .')« 
 
 49 
 
 117:; 
 
 2iH 
 
 97C 
 
 201 
 
 loati 
 
 228 
 
 109,5 
 
 228 
 
 ]2<Hi 
 
 300 
 
 1081 
 
 224 
 
 1082 
 
 224 
 
 1U83 
 
 224 
 
 1084 
 
 224 
 
 1074 
 
 221 
 
 1076 
 
 222 
 
 1100 
 
 229 
 
 1098 
 
 228 
 
 1076 
 
 222 
 
 loso 
 
 224 
 
 1191 
 
 29*.* 
 
 1078 
 
 223 
 
 1U77 
 
 223 
 
 1087 
 
 22."« 
 
 108.1 
 
 224 
 
 1099 
 
 228 
 
 1097 
 
 228 
 
 1089 
 
 22-'> 
 
 1073 
 
 221 
 
 1072 
 
 221 
 
 1079 
 
 223 
 
 1086 
 
 22.'> 
 
 1093 
 
 225 
 
 1093 
 
 227 
 
 1088 
 
 225 
 
 1091 
 
 225 
 
 1101 
 
 229 
 
 1092 
 
 225 
 
 107,j 
 
 222 
 
 1090 
 
 225 
 
 1094 
 
 228 
 
 965 
 
 199 
 
 964 
 
 19;i 
 
 965 
 
 199 
 
 963 
 
 199 
 
 !)«3 
 
 199 
 
 979 
 
 202 
 
 970 
 
 20O 
 
 968 
 
 200 
 
 998 
 
 205 
 
 971 
 
 200 
 
 1064 
 
 219 
 
 971 
 
 20O 
 
 967 
 
 199 
 
 966 
 
 199 
 
 971 
 
 200 
 
 9C6 
 
 195) 
 
 969 
 
 200 
 
 070 
 
 200 
 
 1020 
 
 208 
 
 1008 
 
 206 
 
 99.-. 
 
 204 
 
 977 
 
 201 
 
 9.->8 
 
 198 
 
 9.-* 
 
 197 
 
 :>*i 
 
 49 
 
402 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 Sec. Page. 
 Money-order systciu — Continued. 
 
 objects of, safety of how secured 957 197 
 
 regulations of, must be strictly confonned to by postmasters 973 200 
 
 safety of, to be commended to the public, by postmasters 972 200 
 
 superintendent of, how appointed 5 35 
 
 Money-ordcri^, acts of clerks designated to sign, covered by postmasters' bonds 961 198 
 
 amounts of, to be expressed in writing upon 996 204 
 
 aiiplicants for, to be instnicted upon wha't post-offices to draw 999 205 
 
 apjilications for blank forms supplied by Postmaster-General 978 202 
 
 upon Great Britain, form of ; 1047 214 
 
 must be filled up by api)licant only 979 202 
 
 blank fomis for, liow f leated when 'si)oiled 991 203 
 
 must be securely kept: po.stmasters responsible for fraud com- 
 mitted by lost or stolen monej-order blanks 993 204 
 
 Canadian, applications for, how made 1062 218 
 
 curiency or coin, value of, to be decided by postmaster at New York 1061 218 
 
 duplicates, how obtained 1069 220 
 
 how stamjyed and forwarded from exchange post-offices 1065 219 
 
 inquiries concerning, how made 1U68 220 
 
 international exchange post-otHces for 1059 217 
 
 invalid, how repaid 1067 220 
 
 jiayment of how made 10C3 219 
 
 repayment of lo66 220 
 
 I'nited States " inland " post-offices may issue 1060 218 
 
 clerks designated to sign, to write signature, how. 962 198 
 
 in post-olfioes ma v be desiauated to issue 960 198 
 
 date of payment to be staiiiiied mxiu 1026 210 
 
 deliverable to ap])lieant only ( m payment therefor 986 203 
 
 differ from drafts and cheeks in wliat respects 9.57 197 
 
 disagreeing witli advice, to be refused payment, except 1024 209 
 
 duplicate cannot lie issued by ]iiistiiiasteis ■ 1011 207 
 
 having been applied for, orighial may be paid wlien 1009 206 
 
 postmasters must certify to non-payment of 
 
 original .' 1010 207 
 
 issued by Superintendent Money-Order System ; under "what conditions. 1006 206 
 
 issue (if how and when permitted 1005 205 
 
 notiie of receipt of to be sent bv po.stmaster to pavee 1042 212 
 
 postmaster ajiplying for issue (if. to .state what . ..". 1007 206 
 
 to be drawn only u)i(iu issiiiui; or ]iaying pdst-oftices , 1012 207 
 
 erroneously made out must lie eaueeled and new mouey-order issued 990 203 
 
 paid, how recovered for owner 1031 211 
 
 fees charged for issuing 983 202 
 
 forgery o^ penalty for 1226 307 
 
 fractional paits of a cent not to be included in 984 202 
 
 improperly issued, to be refused payment 1022 209 
 
 indoised more than once become invalid 1014 208 
 
 indorsement upon, pennitted only once 1014 208 
 
 international, coin value of, in cun'ency, decided bv postmaster at If ew York 1049 215 
 
 not to be decided by issuing po.stmasters . . 1048 215 
 
 drawn upon international exchange post-office at Xew York 1045 214 
 
 duidicates how olitained 1054 217 
 
 exchange po.st-offices for, in Germany, Switzerland, and Italy 1055 217 
 
 fees for (except Genuany ) 1046 214 
 
 from Great Britain, imiuiry for, how made 1052 216 
 
 jjayment of 1051 216 
 
 how drawn 1046 214 
 
 issue of, when gold and currency are at par 1071 221 
 
 on Germany, fees for 1057 217 
 
 Switzerland, and Italy, how forwarded from international 
 
 exchange post-office at New York City 1058 217 
 
 Great Britain, form of application for 1047 214 
 
 how forwarded from international exchange post- 
 office at Xew York City 1050 215 
 
 Switzerland and Italy 1056 217 
 
 repayment of ." 1053 216 
 
 issued bj- acting postmasters, how signed 962 198 
 
 desigTiaf ed clerks, how signed 962 198 
 
 issue of, by clerks designated for that purpose 960 198 
 
 for more tlian $300 upon any other tlian a flr.st-class post-office, to be spe- 
 cially reiM.rted .' 1001 205 
 
 in one day forbidden (if more than three of fifty dollars each to one remitter 
 
 in favor of sauie ]i;iyee 985 203 
 
 of, on Sunday foi hidden 974 200 
 
 ])rohibited on ciedit or for anv money not legal tender except national- 
 bank notes \ '. : 982 202 
 
 to be lecorded in "register of money order.s issued." .sub.sequent action 
 
 upon, to be noted therein 1000 205 
 
 ujion branch post-otfices-. etc 959 198 
 
 invalid, illegally indorsed, diiiilicates for, how obtained 1 0.32, 1034 211 
 
 (more than a year old), dniilicates for. liow obtained 1032, 1034 211 
 
 limited to fifty dollais, fees for issuing 983 202 
 
 may be diawn only by, and u])on money-order i>ost-ofHces 963 199 
 
 must be payable to onei)erson or firm onlv 994 204 
 
 truly dated and stami.ed ' 986 203 
 
 name of ])0s1 -office drawn upon, to be written in full upon 997 204 
 
 omitted and defective blanks for. to be reported 992 204 
 
 paid, not coirectly receipted and sf amiied, charged to i>aying-postmaster 10'.29 211 
 
ITIon«>y-or(i<<rM— Coiitiinii'tl. 
 
 IMil'.X. 403 
 
 IMl 
 
 212 
 
 U-V* 
 
 I UK 
 
 lois 
 
 208 
 
 1027 
 
 210 
 
 1044 
 
 2n 
 
 lolf, 
 
 20H 
 
 |0.'<0 
 
 211 
 
 1031 
 
 211 
 
 1U4.-I 
 
 21. J 
 
 10.W 
 
 212 
 
 102« 
 
 210 
 
 1U-'.J 
 
 210 
 
 1044 
 
 21.3 
 
 tMi 
 
 20:j 
 
 1021 
 
 20» 
 
 m\ 
 
 198 
 
 l"-.'l 
 
 20« 
 
 »X*) 
 
 202 
 
 UM 
 
 20:{ 
 
 lOO.T 
 
 20.-. 
 
 1004 
 
 20.-. 
 
 1024 
 
 200 
 
 102.'. 
 
 210 
 
 95H 
 
 19H 
 
 103K 
 
 212 
 
 ]o:i7 
 
 212 
 
 io:{!( 
 
 212 
 
 io:iO 
 
 212 
 
 io:t5 
 
 211 
 
 95!) 
 
 1M.<< 
 
 101.-. 
 
 20S 
 
 9fl!) 
 
 203 
 
 9«7 
 
 203 
 
 1013 
 
 207 
 
 162 
 
 CS 
 
 94 
 
 .■4 
 
 9:t 
 
 .-4 
 
 |i<iyiil>li- only at post-iitticfH iii.oii wliicli ilniwn 
 
 piijco of, caiinnt bi- ]>r«- vi'iitcil fvinu r<<ci viii;j |mviiii-iit 1>\ n'mittrr 
 
 til lie iili-nlirtfil In- ton- |>ayiiiriit of 
 
 payiiieiit of. I.y diipliratf. liow notcil 
 
 I.y posliiia.HtiT at Iiih own risk wlii-ii Staff of payiiii; |HiHl.»ttii-<' im 
 
 riToiifOii.sly yivcii 
 
 forliiddfii until advices ai<> n-ccivrd 
 
 on day of i.-»suf 
 
 tcnninate.s n-.sponsibility of Department 
 
 to fr.iudnli-nt coMicni.'* may l>i-Hto)>pfd Ity orilerof I'ostnia.Ht«?r-(ii'inT.il. 
 
 l>aycf at post-otlicf of i.-*.snc 
 
 upon powiT of attorney, upon indorsement, and to leyal repreKenta- 
 
 tives of dci-ea.si'd jiayee 
 
 upon presentation to lie provided for 
 
 withheld li.v po.stniaster.s under what eireumstani-es 
 
 ]iii>ta<:e..stamps not receivable for fee.s upon 
 
 piistnia.ster resjtonsible for jiaynieut of. to wron^ jh-i-xou 
 
 postnia.ster.s to desijniate i-lerk.s to si;tn. when 
 
 precautions to be taken before paying 
 
 printed foruis for. to be furnished by the I'ostnia.ster-Oeneml 
 
 ]»urcha.sers .should carefully examine 
 
 rei.ssue of, paynnent of uew fee required 
 
 rules for 
 
 reissued on account of fault of issuing po.stma.ster, fee upon to be ]>:M by jiost- 
 
 nnvster in fault 
 
 lefu.sal of [lostma.ster to pa.v. except from lack of fund.s, cause for his removal 
 
 remitter of. cannot revoke after receipt by payee 
 
 rei>aid, how to be si^ied 
 
 to be so stain])ed 
 
 t.epa,vnient of. by dn^ilicate. how noted 1039 
 
 niles tor •..•..• 
 
 To applicant, fee not returned 
 
 responsibility of )iostniasters for money received for i.s.sue of 
 
 .signature f<i receij.t upon face of. must be that of ](er.son presentini: for jtayment. .. 
 
 upon, of postnia.ster or issuing clerk must be written, not stam))ed 
 
 to be stamped with a sjiecial .stamp 
 
 valid and payable onlv one year from date 
 
 monthly report of po.stajie-stamj.s, etc., to be rendered by po.stniastTs at Presiden- 
 tial post-ottices '. 
 
 ITIiitilatrd 4-oiii.«. ix.st masters must not acce])t 
 
 .Tlutiialril ciirrf iicy, iMistuiasteis not required to redej-m 
 
 3luiilnt<-il niaitor. (>'<■»• Un.mmi..\ht.f. .M.vrrKU.) 
 
 >'aiur of post-oflir*", clian<;e of. necessitates new In mils 114 
 
 IVauiP« of post-offices, when new iiostottices are ajiplied lor. iio.stma.ster at neijjhbor- 
 iuz posT-iittice not to approve application if name sidected has already beeu given 
 
 to another post-ottice *^17 
 
 Xegleet of postmasters to promptly collect drafts may be considered .lust ground for 
 
 removal 
 
 IVe^v foil lift land, money-orders exchanged with 
 
 Xew pub I ir at ions, how admitted to second-class rates 
 
 3fews agents, detiuitionof 
 
 how fhey can obtain second-class rates 
 
 may inciose bills, receipts, ami subscription orders, in second-class matter 
 
 Send and receive seciiml-ilass matter, including sample copies, at ]iound i-ates . 
 
 rar.st verity character of matter utiiiiil as second-class 
 
 Xe^r Mouth Wales, special postal ariauueinents with. 
 
 Newspapers carried out of the mail and i.laced in po.st-otlice for delivery must have 
 
 postage paid 
 
 extra numbers of. are not sample coi)ies 
 
 may be carried out.side of the mail 
 
 entered at ])ost-otlice as seiimd-class mail-matter 
 
 sent to subscribers in Canada at ]iound rates 
 
 (ireat I'.ritain at pound rates 
 
 tile Sandwich I.slands at pound i-ates 
 
 inisceilaneons mail-lettings to be ailvertised in 
 
 new. how to pass as se<'ond-class mail-matter 
 
 not granted free county delivery when claiming two offices of publication in dillercnt 
 
 counties 
 
 mailable to Russia, except 
 
 penaitv for stealing, destroying, or detaining 
 
 regular sub.scribers to. detinecl 
 
 secoud-class mail-matter, free countv publications mu.st be mailed by tliem.selves... 
 
 must be proi)erl y folded and addressed 
 
 wTapi>ed and suthciently dried. 
 
 postma.ster nia.v reipMre evidem'e of subscrijition-list 
 
 .sample copies allowed to be sent by and to news-agents 
 
 not entitleil to free i-ountv delivery 
 
 sent to foreign countries .shonld be in single wrapper.s, excejit. * 11 
 
 when ti-ausii-nt. are thinl-class mail-matter 
 
 to pass as second-class mail-matter 1 ■"*-•. •<>•"' "3 
 
 IVevrspapers and periodicals. (.See SF.roxr>-ri..\.s.s M.\rrEH.) 
 
 doubtful publications referred bv po.stmasters to First Assistant Postma.ster-den- 
 
 eral... :.! l"^ 'S 
 
 ])03tage collected from j.ublishers of. how rejmrti-d ICl 6S 
 
 on .second-cla.ss to be cidlecled in money K'-o t'^ 
 
 119.'=: 
 
 300 
 
 10(°K) 
 
 218 
 
 liW 
 
 7.'. 
 
 202 
 
 ve 
 
 200 
 
 T.'* 
 
 233 
 
 S2 
 
 19.-. 
 
 7.1 
 
 201 
 
 ".^ 
 
 11 20 
 
 **7*> 
 
 .-.72 
 
 134 
 
 204 
 
 7r. 
 
 -.71 
 
 134 
 
 199 
 
 7;'> 
 
 1121! 
 
 274 
 
 1118 
 
 2tW 
 
 112»; 
 
 27.-. 
 
 .-.78 
 
 I3t; 
 
 190 
 
 < J 
 
 24-1 
 
 R4 
 
 11-23 
 
 207 
 
 1237 
 
 311 
 
 193 
 
 74 
 
 242 
 
 S3 
 
 236 
 
 82 
 
 23.-. 
 
 82 
 
 194 
 
 74 
 
 19.-. 
 
 74 
 
 244 
 
 .<4 
 
 11.T2 
 
 279 
 
 21.-. 
 
 78 
 
404 
 
 POSTAL LAWS AXD REGULATIONS. 
 
 Sec. Page. 
 
 Newspaper and periodical stamps accounted for as postage-stamps l.ifi 68 
 
 how used l.J9 68 
 
 supply of, to lie kept up IfiO 68 
 
 Newspaper wrappers. (See Po.stage-stamps for general provisions concerning.) 
 
 postage on .s])oile(l. refunded h'ow 170 69 
 
 po.stniasters not to lose fraction of cent on sale of 16<i 69 
 
 re(iuisition for. how to be made 147 66 
 
 to be sold at cost and postage 174 70 
 
 IVcw York City, gold premium at, to be telegraphed rlaily to "inland" post-offices. 1064 219 
 
 international exchange post-office for British money-orders 104.'> 214 
 
 German, Swiss, and Italian money-orders 1056 217 
 
 .salary of postmaster at 122 62 
 
 IVe-»v Zealand, special postal arranginients with 1126 276 
 
 IVigiit, luail stojiping over, to be kejit in post-office 412 107 
 
 IVight runs, duties of emjdoy^s of the Kailway Mail Service on 783 172 
 
 IVixcs (matter addressed to ]iiaces not post-offices or to States in which there is no such 
 po.stoffice as that named in the address) to be returned to publication office by post- 
 masters 4:iK 113 
 
 to Division Superintendents by enijiloy^s of Railway ^fail Service 740 168 
 
 IVotary public, postmasters may hold office of without violatiiiLi I'resideufs order. . 321 
 
 Oath, blank form of to be furnished to postmasters upon their apiioiutmcnt 107 57 
 
 may be aibniniste red by whom, in regard to accounts before Auditor 1149 286 
 
 no allowance to i>ostmasters for fees paid for, being sworn to accounts 1174 289 
 
 of bidders for cariving the mail 581 138 
 
 postmasters' qiuuteily returns to be accompanied by 1152 287 
 
 sjiecial agents auflKirizcd to administer 8 35 
 
 Oath of office, before whom taken 25 38 
 
 must be taken liy mail contractors before drawing pay 25 39 
 
 of assistant postmasters and clerks in post-office to be" sent to First Assistant Post- 
 
 ma.ster-General 519 125 
 
 letter-caniers to be returneil to Fiist Assistant Postmaster-Genei'al 320 96 
 
 omission to take, not to affi'Ct liability , 51 46 
 
 to be taken befoi-e entering upon duties and recei^-ing salary 24 38 
 
 by mail messengers 627 148 
 
 Obscene matter. (See Uxm.vil.vble .matter. See. also. Dead .matteu.) 
 
 jjenalty for abetting trade in, by officers of the government 1253 316 
 
 mailing, etc '. 225 80 
 
 jiostmasters responsible for admission of, to the mails 228 80 
 
 l)rohibited in domestic mails 225 79 
 
 foreiiin mails, U 19 1132 279 
 
 Obstructing the mail, penalty for ; what is not. within the statute 553 130 
 
 Ocean mail service. (See Foreign mails and M.vil costkacts.) 
 
 Ocean steamers, mail agents on, appointment and salaries 20 38 
 
 OAeuses against postal laws. (AVe Penalty.) 
 
 aiding or abetting ia trade in obscene matter, penalty 1253 316 
 
 assaulting letter-carrier on <luty, penalty 334 98 
 
 attempt to rob the mail, jienalty 1239 312 
 
 being accessory to robbery of the mail, )ienalty 1247 314 
 
 stealing mail-matter, penalty r24>i 314 
 
 breaking into post-office with intent to steal, penalty 1244 313 
 
 carrying letters on board a mail vessel mitside of the mail, penalty 560 132 
 
 outside of the mail, ]ptnalty 559 132 
 
 per.sons acting as private ex])ress, penalty 557 132 
 
 combinations to nTcvent bids for carrying mail, penalty 589 140 
 
 counterfeiting bids, bonds, etc, penalty 1245 313 
 
 delaying mail at a feny. penalty S.'H 131 
 
 depositing lottery circulars, etc., for transmission in the mails, penalty 226 80 
 
 obscene matter for transmission by the mail, penalty 225 79 
 
 deserting the mail, penalty 1240 312 
 
 detention of mail-matter iii ]K>st-offi(es, penalty 1232 309 
 
 embezzlement of letters containinn inclnsures, penalty 1230 .308 
 
 not cdiituiuinu inclnsures, penalty 1233 309 
 
 establishing or abittiuj; private cx|iri'sses, penalty 5.55 131 
 
 failure to affix jiostajre-due stamps wlien required, penalty 271 89 
 
 deliver mail tn ])ostoffi(e by masters of inland .steamboats, penalty 2.53 86 
 
 fal.se returns by postmasters, ])enalty 118 61 
 
 failure to receive mail from I'nited States consuls, etc.. or to deliver mail to ])ost- 
 office by masters of ves.sels arriving in the United States or dei)arting from for- 
 eign jxirts. i)enalty , 2.52 86 
 
 false statements of .sureties on bidders' bonds, penalty .582 138 
 
 forging iir counterfeiting foreign postage-stamps, penalt.v : 1228 308 
 
 money-order, penalty .■ 1226 307 
 
 United States postage-stamps, etc., penalty 1227 307 
 
 stealiug mail locks or keys, jjcnalty 1243 313 
 
 fraudulent receipt of i)o.stase, penalty 1250 315 
 
 illegal approval of bidders" bonds b.v postmasters, penalty ,5X7 1.39 
 
 injuring mail-bags, with intent to rob the mail, penalty 1242 312 
 
 matter in street mailing-box, etc,, iienaltv 1229 308 
 
 .street mailingbnxe.s, ])enalty ' 3:i4 9« 
 
 interceptiu'j; lettiis, |)eualtv 1234 310 
 
 issue of nioney-ordeis on credit, penalty 982 202 
 
 iurisdietiiiu (if Federal and State courts over .52 47 
 
 laws relati\e to, ajijdy to foreign mails in transit 651 1.53 
 
 making straw bids, jienalty 603 143 
 
 nia.ster of vessel Ureakin;; bulk before delivering letters to nearest jiost-office 562 133 
 
 may be trieil in St ite enurts 52 47 
 
 moieties of penalties and foifeitures for, to be paid to informers 63 50 
 
INKl.X. 405 
 
 Svr. I'aj;i*. 
 OilVii'^t'H tiuiiiiiNl |>i>«liil liitVM— I 'iiiitiiiiii'il. 
 
 ii<';:lii ( li\ iMPsiniii.stiis 111 iiiiiliT iiriiiiiiils. |ii'iinlty IIM 2^7 
 
 iKi;!"' tiiil; to ili'i»>sil pnsiiil nviim.'s. iiciialty 1240 aU 
 
 iilistriirliiii; i)iissii;;n of the mail. |ii'iialt v V^J ]'.W 
 
 |)aiutiM'j: ii|inii vfssrls. dr.. tin- winds I'liitrd Stati's Mail. |)cii»lt,v 1-'>1 'tl'> 
 
 lirrMiiiis I'liipliiyi-il ill )i<iHial scrvic)' ln'i'iiiiiiiiir intrri'sti-il in rmitrai'tH. penalty...... 4:t 43 
 
 jiostinasti IS acting a.s l(itliT.\ a;:iiits. |ii-ii:ilty ,... .VII \2X 
 
 IMistal i-iii|>li)V(''s LCiiilty of. lialilr to |ii'iiallifs wlii-tlicr lliuy liavi- taki'ii tlit'oatliornot 'il 4<l 
 
 picliiiiiiiary licariii^ of pcisuiis ai tiisimI of , 1<1 .17 
 
 piori'cdiii'^s ill trial of. lirfoic wlmiii Hi 'i7 
 
 ircoiviii;jf aitiili's stolon iVoni the mail, pi'iially l-^Mi 311 
 
 lofiisal of lolciiiaiili ciimpaiiirs to transmit lioviTiiinciit tilo;;iiliiis at iiiIi'n fLxcil l)V 
 
 flu-I'ostiiiast.TtJiinral. piiialtv .'. 12W 318 
 
 rolil).-iy of tin- mail, penalty IZ-'W :n2 
 
 sindinir Iftteis liv privati- oxpn-ss. jionaltv •'>.">M 132 
 
 tl'iroimh tin- mails with iiitoiit to (li-frainl. pi-inilty 124f. 314 
 
 stealing;, ilitainini:-, or distroyinji' ni'wsiiapi'rs in tin- mail, pt-iialty 1237 311 
 
 luaillia^sor otln r iiost-ollii'i' piopiitv, penalty 1241 312 
 
 the mail, iionalty ". " 123.'> 310 
 
 siililcttinii mail rimtiait.s witlmnf cnn.sent of rostiiiastpr-Gi-nt-ral 024 146 
 
 snlmiission liy iiulilislicis of false evideiiee a.s to oliavactor of a jmlilicatioii, i)enalty. 11»7 7.^ 
 
 trial of, ill Federal and State courts -VJ 47 
 
 unl.iwfiil eaiiiaiieof letters to or from the I'liited States liy foiei<;ii vessels, penalty . I13H 2K2 
 
 detention of mail matter by ]iostiiiasters. penalty 37«( _lt)3 
 
 removal of po.sta^ie-.stamjis from mail-matter, penalty ]2."ii; 31."> 
 
 sales of stamiis. etc.. iieiialty ll** '>1 
 
 use of ottieial en veloiies. penal tv 249 >*5 
 
 <iv ille-al dei.osil of nmney.order fund.s. penalty Ili7t; 222 
 
 wearini; of letleriarrieis' uiiifonn, ])enalty 327 97 
 
 w lit in;; or iniiitiui; upon mailniatter. penalty 233 K2 
 
 unlaw fully iirofes.sinn to keep a imst-otliee, iienalty fl^ •'>■} 
 
 OnU-c hoiirw at iidst-oliiees. the usual liusiiiess hoins of the place '>-■> 125 
 
 Onifcrw' leltevs delivered aeeoidinu to ottieial desijpiation 2i<3 01 
 
 mnst Vie prepaid - • '•"*" '- 
 
 "Olllces." applied in Tiailway ^lail Service as a general term for jmstal ears and mail 
 ajiartnients in ears and on steamlmats. desijniated by I'ostmaster-General as imst- 
 offices for the distribution of mail in transit {eee E.\ii-i.ovi-.s of Ji.\ii.WAV ^I.\ii. 
 
 Seuvick) "*"^ 'C3 
 
 <'ancellation of postage-stani])s in 721 ]6<j 
 
 Division Su]ierinteii(lents to be notified of chanses needed in 7Hr> 172 
 
 eiiiploy6s in charne of. designation and duties of ^2" '?' 
 
 list of exchaniie iiouches to be ki])t by eiiiiiloye in charge of 773 171 
 
 mail to be received foi' niailinii at; matter bearing canceled stamjis not to be re- 
 ceived at "20 lOfi 
 
 mail-locks not to be left in - J'^-* ^ '.^ • 
 
 postmarking .stani]) not to be used for canceling postage-stamps in -• 722 UMt 
 
 ]irinted labels received from, to be returned to <3*> ^^' 
 
 registered matter found in bad order in. to be turned in at terminal post-ottices H.">2 181 
 
 responsibility of em))loyes in charge of l\*^ ^I|V 
 
 .s lie of postage-.stani])s at T .^ ; '*>- 1'" 
 
 second-class matter not to be receivcnl for mailiiiL; at. without certificate of postmas- 
 ter that postal;.- has been jiaid Jr'l - 
 
 to be examined bv emjiloves at i-nd of runs, to see that no mail is left therein, etc .. 7."iC. I'O 
 
 provided on' board mail steamboats [j'.'J* If-* 
 
 trii> permits to ride in, how liianted '•'■• ^i** 
 
 tobetakeiinp :-■.■■•■. "''" ^'" 
 
 "waste paper and twine in", to be (-xamined by employes of Kail way Mail Service and 
 
 turned in to terminal iiost-otHces ^39 1C8 
 
 who m.iy liave access to 'J'^ ' '^2 
 
 Oflicial <-ii-ciiIariii from nepartment to be treated as letters ••■3' |"-j. 
 
 Oliirial corrcNpoiidoiifr, conduct of. bv postmasters •>34 li.< 
 
 replies to. bv emploves of liailway Mail'Service "•'" ''!? 
 
 to be conliiied to one subject iu eacli letter -I*"* ]'-L 
 
 liostmastcrs must not allow, to pass into the hands of the iiiiblic ->33 lli 
 
 Ollicial «'iivoloi»0!>i. reipiisitiiiii for. for use of postmasters, how to be made 147 66 
 
 Ollii-ial lettcrsiif the United StatestJovernmeiit fret- of po.stage in penalty envelopes. 24'.t )<■> 
 
 no limit of weiiiht for "-^21 j^9 
 
 of the Post-Ottice Department free of po.stage and registration fee ^^12 1<6 
 
 nnclaimed. to be treated as card matter f .';' '3- 
 
 Oflicinl pnprrH, retiiiTi of. by postmasteis. not to be given to the public -^ 12i^ 
 
 Oftirial penally enrclopcN, penalty for uiilawfnlly using 249 ft> 
 
 to be iirovided'by <-a<li Department'. '. 2-j" ^2 
 
 used by all oth<ers of I lu' government -•'', ^j 
 
 Oflicial NiampN and en vrloprx, I'ostmaster-General to issue, to Depaitments 13»* 6.> 
 
 Opening of ieltera strictly luohibited '-^^z ^^ 
 
 Openinjs the mail, instructions for -*'•' ^ 
 
 Opinions of Assistant Attorney-tJeneral for Tost-Dllice Department 32-'> 
 
 Order-book. em]ili>yes of Railway .Mail Service must examine 777 171 
 
 of postmasteis at iiost-ottiees of the fir.st and second class 421 108 
 
 Ordert* to be certitied to .\uditor •'•'* •♦•' 
 
 trulv dated ^■' •'2 
 
 what to be earned bv emploves of the Kailway Mail Service 714 ]6"> 
 
 Organization ot ]'ost-( »ltice i)ciiarfmeiit )iro))er 27 39 
 
 OvercharseN of iiostaKeon domestic mail-matter cannot be remitted by postmasters; 
 
 1 i- "»'l-> 1 '^7 
 
 remedv tor • •'- '-' 
 
 of posta-re on foreiim matter must be refunded bv the iiostma.stei-s who demandt-d 
 
 them, 'in t ■- 11-t^ 279 
 
406 
 
 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 Sec. Page. 
 
 Overpayiiirntii, mode of lecovery of, by tlie Department 61 49 
 
 Packages, limit of weight of 221 79 
 
 of a department, bureau, or office of the government, free of postage 249, 2.'}0, 251 85 
 
 third-class mail-matter may contain what 238 <33 
 
 sealed, to be forwarded as lirst-class mail-matter, if at least one full rate of postage 
 
 is prepaid 183 73 
 
 I»ackct, word, as used in postal law equivalent to letter o'jo 131 
 
 JPaiiania, registration of letters to, permissible 1129 278 
 
 Papyrographic process, matter produced by, printed matter 219 78 
 
 Parents, right of, to control coi-respondence of minor childien 284 91 
 
 Paris Convention. {See Convextiox of Pauis.) 
 
 does not govern exchange with Canada 1 107 263 
 
 Partial duty of employes of Ilailway Mail Seixice to be noted on record of arrivals 
 
 and departures 751 169 
 
 Partnership, delivery of letters to members of 268 91 
 
 Payments, all, by postmasters for <iuarter expired to be made before transmitting 
 
 quarterly returns and statements to Auditor 1189 297 
 
 by postmasters and others of collection drafts must be prompt 1193 299 
 
 failure to make, on draft, cause for removal of postmaster 85 .53 
 
 for advertising letters 447 115 
 
 clerks at separating post-offices 121 62 
 
 postal service to be made on Auditor's certificate 59 49 
 
 letter-carriers not to receive, when on leave of absence on account of illness, etc.. . 325 96 
 
 must be in what kind of money 89 53 
 
 out of appropriaticms by warrants countersigned by Auditor 65 50 
 
 no allowance for expense in making 90 -53 
 
 of employes of the Kailway Mail Service 510 123 
 
 foreign mail-agents 19 37 
 
 letter-carriers 310 95 
 
 mail-agents on board ocean steamei's 20 38 
 
 messengers 627 147 
 
 postmasters j)ro te^a 135 63 
 
 railway postal clerks 23 38 
 
 route-agents - 22 38 
 
 special agents employed in certain duties 10 36 
 
 on collection-drafts to iiiclude all money except monej-oi der funds 86 .53 
 
 mail-contracts, times of 612 144 
 
 leceijjts for, on collection-drafts to be sent separately to Auditor 86 53 
 
 to mail-messengers and sincial cairieis to be reitorted quarterly 81 52 
 
 masters of ships carrying mail on their vessels 252, 253, 2.54 86 
 
 want of funds no excuse, for postiiia.ster failing to make 83 53 
 
 wrongfully made may be recovered by suit 61 50 
 
 Penalties and forfeitures, half of amounts recovered to be paid to informer 63 50 
 
 how and by whom remitted 40 43 
 
 imposed for violation of postal laws ; collection of, to be superintended by Auditor. 1144 285 
 
 to be turned into the Treasury 56 49 
 
 Penalty. (See OfI'Knses ag.^ix'st Postal Laws.) 
 
 for abetting trailc in olisi tiic matter 1253 316 
 
 absence witlmnt leave, of Irtter-carriers 326 97 
 
 altering, forging, etc., of bonds, bids, etc 1245 313 
 
 attemi)tiug to rob the mail 1239 312 
 
 being accessory to mail robbery, after the fact 1 247 314 
 
 stealing mail-matter, after the fact 1248 314 
 
 breaking and entering post-offices 1244 313 
 
 carrying letters on board a mail vessel out.side of the mail 560 132 
 
 outside of the mail • 5.59 132 
 
 persons aitiug as private exi>resses 557 132 
 
 combinations to ])veveiit bids for earrving the mail .")89 140 
 
 coucealiu;>' anv i>riihil)iled writing iu uiuil-matter of second, third, and fourth 
 
 cla,ss..f... ...'.. : 233 82 
 
 conveying through the United States, outside of the mails, letters intended to 
 
 be conveyed in a foieign vessel 1138 282 
 
 delaying niail at a ferry 5.54 131 
 
 deserting tlie mail by person in charge 1240 312 
 
 detaining, opening, or destroying letteis 12,33 309 
 
 embezzlement of letters eontainiiig iuclosurcs 1230 308 
 
 establishing or abetting ])rivate e\])resses 555 131 
 
 failing to affix postage-dm- stanqis to unjiaid matter 271 89 
 
 false statements of sureties on bidders' bonds ,582 138 
 
 forging money-orders 1226 307 
 
 or counterfeiting ])ost age-stamps 1227, 1228 307, 308 
 
 fraudulent receipts of posl age, etc 12,50 315 
 
 iUegal a]ii)r(ival of bidders' bonds by postmasters 587 139 
 
 injuring ui;al-bags 1242 312 
 
 matter dejiosited in stieet mailin^-bo.x 1229 308 
 
 street letter-box. s '. 334 98 
 
 inteice])ting or secieting letters 1234 310 
 
 issuing money-orders on credit 982 202 
 
 mail robbery 1238 312 
 
 making straw-bids 603 143 
 
 masters of ships who refuse to aeee|)f mail 252,253 86 
 
 master of vessel breakinu bulk before delivering letters to nearest post-office ... 562 133 
 
 neglect to render ipiarterly return by postmasters 11.53 287 
 
 obstructing jiassage of the mail -553 130 
 
 liostmaster. acting as a lottery agent 541 128 
 
 receiving articli's stolen from t hi' mail 1236 311 
 
 refusal of telegra]>h companies to transmit government telei;iams at rates fixed 
 
 bv Po.stmaster-Gencral 1260 318 
 
INDEX. 407 
 
 Sijc. Page. 
 Peiinlty — CciHtimicd. 
 
 icinoviiiy; rniiii inail-iiinttvi', or iiHiii};, waMliiii-i. or wflliiii: |)iMtii:;f'Hlaiii|iH. iift«-i- 
 
 caii.rll:iti..n 12.'.2 .iV, 
 
 i-fiiiliTiiiK I'alsr ii-tmiis iir unlaw fully sclliii-r ))ostai;f-.>ttniiii)s Hi 01 
 
 n-fitsiil liv ti'|i'^ni]>li ri>ni|iaiii('M to traiiHiiiit ;;ovci-uiiii'iit t)-li-;;raiii.i at riilcn Hx«mI 
 
 by tlir roslinast.i (Mii.ial 1200 3H 
 
 srniliiin k-tttTs liv inivati- cxiivc-is 55M ITJ 
 
 tim.u:;li til.' iiiMil with iiitiiit to (Ift'i-Jiml 1240 314 
 
 stfaliuj:, (li-tainiliL:. or distroyiii;; iii-w«)ia|ii-rs 12:J7 311 
 
 or ili vert inn t'loin ]iro]M'r u.if tlir iiost-olHcc iiropcrt v 1241 'M2 
 
 lorj:iiiu mail IimUh ami krys ". r.'43 313 
 
 wroii nil illy olitaininn niailniattrr tVoiii I)i'|iartiiifiit . rj:i."> 310 
 
 siililcttin;; inail-ioiitrarts without tin- consent of tin- I'o;'tina«tt'r-(;i'iifral 0'J4 140 
 
 nuliniittini; false I'viilcnrr as to a puliliiation (second-class matter) 11>7 7.*> 
 
 unlawful carriage of letters to or from the I'nited States hy forei^jn vessels IKW 2*J 
 
 use of or illegal dejiosit of moni'y-order t'tiud.s lOTO 2VJ 
 
 wearin}; of lettercairiers' uniforni 3'J7 97 
 
 unlawfully detrtiiiins mail matter 370, 1232 103,3iK> 
 
 paiutinn the words '■ r. S. Mail " on stt-amlioats, etc 1251 31."> 
 
 willful neglect of deposit iiig postal revenues 1249 314 
 
 of bonds recpiired with bids for carrying tlie mail .Wl 137 
 
 Penalty envelopes, reipiisitions for, how to be iiiaile 147 Wi 
 
 must be furnished bv Deiiartmeiits in Washington 2r)l 8'» 
 
 Pennion Ollice, letters from, must be delixered only to person adrtresHcd 281 11 
 
 Periodicals doubtful in character to be referred by postmasters to First Assistant 
 
 rostmaster-General 1*8 73 
 
 extra numbers of, are not sample copies 204 76 
 
 may be entered at jhisI -offices as second-class mail-matter 199 7.5 
 
 new, how admitted as .secoml-class mail-matter 190 75 
 
 not granted free county delivery wlu'n chiimiug two otBces of publication in different 
 
 counties 243 84 
 
 po.stage collected from publishers of, how reported 101 fW 
 
 rejrular subscribers to, defined 193 74 
 
 second-class mattei-, free county cojiies mii,st be mailed by themselves 242 83 
 
 uuist be properly folded and addressed 230 82 
 
 wrapped ami sufficiently dried Xi'> 82 
 
 sauijile copies allowed to be .sent by and to news agents 19.") 74 
 
 not ent itled to free county delivery 244 84 
 
 postmaster nuiy reciuire evidence of subscription-list 194 74 
 
 when to pass as second-class mail-matter 181. 18."> 73 
 
 third-class mail-matter, when not sent to subscribers 21."> 78 
 
 Periodical slain p!«. how used ^'>'-> 68 
 
 when exhausted, jiostage should be collected in money 100 OH 
 
 PermilM, temiiorarv, for new second-class publications, blanks for. Low procured 17 2 27 
 
 to ride in Ottices ". J-^j^ ^I" 
 
 not good for transportation 701 l^o 
 
 to be taken up if not annual 700 17.1 
 
 PerniOiial correspondence, negatively defined, for domestic mails 232 81^ 
 
 negatively detiued under Postal I'nion regulations, for foreign mails only 1113 205 
 
 Plank roads, mail may be carried on 540 130 
 
 Poisons, uumailable --- '^ 
 
 Poslagc collected from publishers to be reported by postmasters 101 68 
 
 collection of, on shoit-])aiil returned card-matter 402 llti 
 
 cim.snls may pay. on foreign letters for the I'nited States 1130 281 
 
 determined by weight of matter at time of mailing 2t)'.t 89 
 
 double, to becharged on letters carried by certain ships 2."i5 86 
 
 unpaid matter ; ;''" ^ 
 
 excessive, on domestic matter cannot be remitted by postmasters. reiiiedy_l'or o32 V-i 
 
 on matter addressed to foreign countries may be refunded, ' 17 1132 2. J 
 
 first-class rate charged cm second, third, and fourth cla.s's mail-matter when unlawful ^ 
 
 writing is ailded -^^ _- 
 
 foreinm. Postal Guide to be consulted for rates of 1131 -<» 
 
 fraudulent demand or receipt of excessive, by postmasters, penalty 12.50 31.> 
 
 letters, packages, etc.. of a depai-tment or office of the goveniuient, free 249, 250, 2ol 8o 
 
 must be paid before delivery of mail 208 8» 
 
 prepaid in full on legistered matter - 812 1 1 
 
 none recpiired on registrv-bills and registry -return-receipts b<2 Hi 
 
 not fully prei)aid oii regi'.stered matter must be paid to the Department by the post- 
 
 master who received it -. , ™- 1'^ 
 
 not to be charged cm public documents sent by members of Congress, etc 24j, 240, U^ 84 
 
 cidlected upon delivery of registered" mat ter *61 18.3 
 
 on first-class matter !'•; '"- 
 
 fourthclass matter 22'» ^^ 
 
 matter forwartleil to a country within the Postal Fuion 11-" -2*J 
 
 postal cards, when leposted iifter delivery 1^1 ;|."- 
 
 secoud-class mail- matter •_ ly '.* 
 
 at free delivery post-offices |-|*'j 5-* 
 
 third-class mail-matter •■•• 21 j lO 
 
 postmasters collecting Cfcessivo, on matter for foreign countries may he compelled ^ 
 
 to refund, 1 17 -. -- 1'-*- "'■' 
 
 Postmaster-General may impose retaliatory, upon matter earned in toreigu vessels, 
 
 when •,-•■•. • • • ■ 11"*' -' '■ 
 
 prepayment, conditions of, for articles exchanged wth couutriea ot Universal Postal 
 
 rnion • -.•■■■••••-. •, "°* -" 
 
 mode of. for- coiTespondence exchanged with countries ot Uui versa! 
 
 Postal Fniou \\09 264 
 
 rates of on .ship-letters -•" *'* 
 
408 
 
 POSTAL LAWS AXD REGULATIONS. 
 
 Sec. Page. 
 
 I*ostag?— Contiiuu'il. 
 
 rates of, fin various articles of mail-matter exchaiijieil with countries of Fiiiversal 
 
 Postal Unicm 1108 
 
 to countries of Universal Postal Union 1104 
 
 foreign countries with whom no convention exists 1127 
 
 non-convention countries, on matter not sent direct 1130 
 
 sent direct 1128 
 
 I*o«tage-fIiic stamps accounted for as postage-stamps 156 
 
 how used 158 
 
 must not l)e aflixcd to matter forwarded, returned to writer or sent to Dead Letter 
 
 Otiicc. exi<])t at frit- delivery post-offices T" 14 
 
 not re<i);:iiiz('d in pn-]iayni<-nt of postage 378 
 
 to be sold oi- used for prepayment of po.stage 270 
 
 on forwaidid matter, how refunded to postmasters of free-delivery post-offices only. 274 
 
 undelivered matter, how treated at free delivery post-offices only 273 
 
 penalty for failing to affix 271 
 
 time of affixing 272 
 
 to be usi'd on unpaid matter reaching destination 270 
 
 Postage-fiiiids, how trausfeiTed to money-oi'der account 107K 
 
 I*oatage>.<!itaiup Diviaion, business of 27 
 
 PoKtagc-staiiipiii, accountability of jiostmasters for 145 
 
 auirotlur su]>iilies, record of, to be kept by postmasters 514 
 
 cancellation of, in Offices 721 
 
 in i)ost-offices upon matter deposited for mailing or delivery, failure 
 
 to cancel to be reported by postmaster at destination 375 
 
 credit for bunied or destroyed, how obtained 167 
 
 detailed statement of, received, to accompany quarterly returns from Presidential 
 
 post-offices IIGI 
 
 forgery of foreign, penalty 1228 
 
 or countei-feiting of United States, penalty for 1227 
 
 how accounted for. on quarterly retura - 154 
 
 disposed of by late po.stmaster at discontinued post-office 164 
 
 kinds of '. 137 
 
 matter Ijearing, previously used, to be held for postage 378 
 
 money not to be sent to Department for •- 157 
 
 monthly i'ei)oits of. fiom Presidential post-offices 162 
 
 mu.st be sold for ca.sh only 166 
 
 mutilated and fractional, not receivable for postage 378 
 
 no percentage allowed postmasters for sale of - 165 
 
 not fiuoiished to postmasters failing to make quarterly returns to Auditor 155 
 
 until they are commissioned 150 
 
 to be exchanged 1G9 
 
 penaltv for removing from mail-matter, or using, washing, or selling after cancella- 
 tion: f. - 12.52 
 
 persons using, a second time, to be re])orted to United State/? district attorney 378 
 
 Postmaster-General may adopt improvements in, etc 144 
 
 postma.sters to be ehariied with value of lost or stolen 173 
 
 keep sujiply of 146 
 
 receipt foi'. to be sent to Third Assistant Postmaster-Geneial 151 
 
 received damaged, proper course of postma.ster 152 
 
 record of receipts of. to be kept by postmasters 1168 
 
 requisition for, by postmasters, how made •- 147 
 
 when to be made 148 
 
 sale of, by employes of Railway Mail Sei'V'ice 762 
 
 sold at discount to designated agents .- 175 
 
 stolen friiui iiiist-iiffice, no credit allowed for 168 
 
 to be counted by ]iiistmasteis when received 151 
 
 issued by Postmaster-General 136 
 
 sohl at post-offices 145 
 
 turned over to successor by retiring postmaster 163 
 
 tracer to be sent when receipt of registered packages of, is not acknowledged 885 
 
 unlawful sale or hypntlieiatiim of. penalty 118 
 
 unserviceable, acquired by exchange, not to lie returned to Department 169 
 
 valid for postage in countiy of oiigin alone, to be used in Postal Union correspond- 
 ence 1109 
 
 Postal ageuts in China and Japan 21 
 
 Postal arrangements (see Akkaxgemen'ts) 1 126 
 
 Postal cards cannot be issued except by Department 142 
 
 cannot be sent to countries not in Postal Union except at letter rates, IT 18 1132 
 
 domestic, to be issued by Postmaster-General 140 
 
 for use in Postal Union correspondence 141 
 
 how redeemed when si)oileil 171 
 
 international, to be issued by Postmaster-General 141 
 
 used for Postal Union correspondence 1119 
 
 postage on, when reposted after delivery 181 
 
 requisition foiv how to be made 147 
 
 return, return stamps, when to be canceled 376 
 
 to be issued by Postmaster-General 141 
 
 tracer to be sent when receijif of registered packages of, is not acknowledged 885 
 
 when dead to l»e sent to Dead Letter ( )ffice if wholly in writing 481 
 
 spoiled, and redeenu-d by imstiiiaster. how to be returned for 172 
 
 (f^cc I*cisr.\i.i;-sTA>fP.s for general provisions concerning.) 
 Postal cars. (See Okfices.) 
 
 additional i)ay for. not afl',?cted by act of July 12. 1876 633 
 
 to i-ailroads for; surplus approiuiations for. may be used to meet 
 
 deficiencies for railway transimrtatiou of the mails 631 
 
 railways refusing to furnish, not entitled to extra eomiiensation for 630 
 
 264 
 262 
 
 277 
 278 
 277 
 68 
 68 
 
 28 
 104 
 
 8» 
 89 
 223 
 40 
 66 
 124 
 166 
 
 103 
 69 
 
 308 
 
 307 
 67 
 69 
 64 
 
 104 
 68 
 68 
 69 
 
 104 
 69 
 67 
 67 
 69 
 
 315 
 
 104 
 66 
 70 
 66 
 67 
 67 
 
 288 
 66 
 66 
 
 170 
 70 
 69 
 67 
 64 
 66 
 69 
 
 186 
 61 
 6» 
 
 264 
 38 
 
 274 
 65 
 
 279 
 65 
 65- 
 70 
 65 
 
 266 
 72 
 66 
 
 103 
 65 
 
 186 
 
 119 
 TO' 
 
 1.50 
 14i> 
 
IMiKX. 
 
 409 
 
 StT. I'agi*. 
 
 PoNliil <'l<-ri4H, railw.iv. iippiiinl mint ami ]>:\\ nf "JS M 
 
 tin cliiti<s. ,ii-.. 111'. Ki'i' EMri.uvi;s <iK Uaii.wav Mail Skkvk k. 
 
 PoMlnl fOiiVfiitloilN, {See CoXVlCN TlnNs) 112(1 274 
 
 topics iii; to \<>- siiil to Srcn-tiiryofStati- M 42 
 
 I'ostiiiasti'i-i iiiiciiil iiiiiv ni:ikc. with Imri^ii c'oiiiitrii-H :tl 42 
 
 jiioofslicits of, to l)c rc'vis.'il at I'osI (mire I), partiiient :i2 42 
 
 PoMtnl fiiiKln (xce ^luNKY), rulUction ol', tVoiii poMtiiuirttt-rM by AiuliloVHilrnnH In fuvor 
 
 ol ot li.i postiuasti'is 1 102 29f> 
 
 to lii> paid out by postmasti'is upon pfcs-ntationof fontnirtoi-M' onlcrH lllil 21tO 
 
 PoHtnl iiiiiitle, ("'noi's in, to lie icpoitcd bv (■Miploy6!4 of thi; Uailway Mall SiTvire... "!.'> IWl 
 
 supjilii'il to iiostinasti'i'H unil to be consulti-il XIS 127 
 
 to I.,' consiiltcl for lati-.s of Ionian posti^is ll:il 278 
 
 PoMtnl laMM, oti'cnsi's av:ainsf (xcc Oikknsics aijaisst Postai.-Laws) ; pifliiiiiiiary 
 
 ]iiortMMlini;s in trial, iiy wlioni 10 :i7 
 
 PoHtnl lawM nncl regiilntioii**, constiiirtioii oT, to be made by iiostinuHtrrrt in tin- 
 
 tiist iiistaiuc .suliji-.<t to appeal tu I'o.stma.ster-Geueral 10 2)* 
 
 changi's in, ]io\v noted XU 
 
 PomIrI monopoly {see Puivate Exi-IlESSlis), violations of, to be reported by itost- 
 
 masters Tm 134 
 
 PoMtnl rorenues {see MoxEY), failure to deposit, in Treasury constitutes embezzle- 
 ment 1240 314 
 
 Postal iiintioiia. {Sec BitAxni rosT-oi'-rifi-.s.) 
 
 ai)plioati(iu for estalilisliineiit of. how made 3.'>4 IfMI 
 
 eonveyance of mail between ;;eneial post-otliie anil 3.'>.'> KMi 
 
 PohIrI fiiipplicH earried by railway companies witliont extra cbary.e t>44 152 
 
 traiis])i>rteil free by mail-contractors lil.-i 14.'« 
 
 PoMtnl lelrgraphy, authority for introduction of 12.>« 31« 
 
 Poiiilal Union. (.See Tnivkksal Postal rxioN.) 
 
 Poste rcstantc letters) to be held two iuoutlis before advertising 4."0 lir. 
 
 Posters are not sujiplements -'"^ "" 
 
 PoMtmarking, how to secure leirible 381 104 
 
 required on all but second-class matter deposited for mailing; or delivery 379 li»4 
 
 dead matter sent to Dead-Letter C )ttice 442 113 
 
 reipiiremeuts of, in Postal ruion correspimdenee r-- HH 2ri4 
 
 PoMtiuarking stamp. {See Dated sta.mi-.) 
 
 not used in Ortices for caiieelinu; postaffe-stamp.s 722 IW 
 
 Postmasters, accounts of expeuses by, to be stated quarterl v bv Auditor to Postmas- 
 ter-General A -■ 1140 2?.-. 
 
 aflidavit made by, to loss of collection-drafts 1 20.1 .'{ol 
 
 alli iwance to. lor'ad vert isiiif; letters 1171 280 
 
 all pavnieuts tor quarter to be made by, before trausmittin.g quarterly returns and 
 
 statements to Auditor 11«0 297 
 
 application by, fc <v \ iriuTed labels 409 107 
 
 appointments of, issued by First Assistant Postmaster-General 102 ^>6 
 
 are responsible for admission of impro])er mail-matter 224 70 
 
 at delivery post-ottice. to lu)Iil unmailable matter 230 81 
 
 fourth-class post-otlices may transact other business than that pertaining to office 
 
 in ))ost-otiice room ^20 12.> 
 
 notreqiiired to uuike quarterly statement of general jiostal 
 
 account excejit by special itireetion of the Auditor 1188 207 
 
 to]uovide separate drawers •''20 12t> 
 
 Presidential post-otfices must remler monthly report of postage-stamps, etc 11)2 68 
 
 \vitb quarterly return a detailed .statement 
 
 of iiostage-stamps. etc., and vouchers ... . IICI 2S.^ 
 use the i)rinted labels for transmitting quarterly 
 
 returns 1160 2S7 
 
 only, to send quarterly statement of general postal ac- 
 count to Amlitor ..-■ - 1180 206 
 
 blanks for it.se of, how procured 1 ; ' 
 
 bonds of, to be given before entering upoii their duties 105 56 
 
 l)u,sinc.ss hours ot •>25 12.' 
 
 by whom appointed 101 •_'•' 
 
 removed 101 ■''' 
 
 cannot deliver mail-matter addressed to anntlier i)o.st-oHice. except in certain ca.ses. 270 90 
 cause of failure to collect amount of collection-iliafts to be rejiorted by. to Auditor. 1196 299 
 collectinu excessive iiosta^e ou matter addressed to f.)reiu:n countries must reim- 
 burse the sender, 1117 ..:... - "•''2 2.0 
 
 collection of postal funds from, by Auditor's drafts in favor of other po.stnmsters.. . 1102 200 
 
 b"y contractors' orders 1101 299 
 
 commissions, how recorded and signed 103 j^ 
 
 of. how to be made out and recorded 1"3 •_><> 
 
 compensation of, at Presidential post-othces H'' -'^ 
 
 fourth-class H' t! 
 
 course of, in case of publishers entering second-cla.ss mail-nnitter 100 i^ 
 
 to be taken in case of receiving misprinted special-request envelopes l->3 ^67 
 
 deceased, who may render accounts for l}*^' -^^ 
 
 delivery of niail-n'iatter to legal assignees or receivers 2Sr> ^91 
 
 directions for obtaining blank forms 11''' -?? 
 
 disposition of destructiye matter ■"'! l, 
 
 duties of, in case of mail robbery in vicinity of post-office — - 40t) V-l 
 
 errors in their quarterly returns to be corrected by Auditor lljj' -'''^ 
 
 evidence of demand upim. for balances due t lie Department 12J.4 30.> 
 
 execution of new bond by. does not clian-e m inner of rendering quarterly retunis . 1164 -8^ 
 
 exempted from militia diit v. but not from .jury ami road duty -•.- ' " '-• 
 
 tailing to dej.osit postal revenues in the Treasury guilty of embezzlement, penalty. r-40 .114 
 
410 
 
 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 PostinasterM — Continued. 
 
 litiliug to sc-c propff i)ostiiu:e and fees aiv preiiaid on registered matter must pay it 
 themselves '. .. 
 
 forbidden by President to iiarticijiati- in ]iolitieal eampalsns, etc 
 
 failing lo to address or seal nuisteieil litti-rs or to i)Ut postaji;e-stamps thereon 
 
 rejnimand other postmasters for violations of rej^istry regulations 
 
 wiite to foieign postmasters upon registry business except at exhange 
 
 post-othcc-s' 
 
 fraudulently api>rovini; bidders' bonds to be dismissed from office 
 
 frequently to inspect branch offices 
 
 jleueral or ledger account with United States to be kept by 
 
 how to act when forwarding or returning registered matter on request 
 
 address the Department 
 
 classified 
 
 to conduct official correspondence 
 
 deliver mail-matter to rejirestntatives of a defunct firm or corporation 
 
 deliver matter addressed to them under cover 
 
 dispose of duplicate inventories of property 
 
 facing-slips 
 
 postage-stamps, etc., when post-office is discontinued 
 
 indorse quarterly returns 
 
 registered package 
 
 keep credit side of general postal account 
 
 debit side of general postal-account 
 
 mail quarterly returns 
 
 make requisition for postage-stamps, etc 
 
 up uumailable matter and transmit returns •. 
 
 note errois on fa<iu<;-slips 
 
 l)ouch registered liiatter sent to an Office from a distant post-office 
 
 proceed when newspaper and periodical stamps are exhausted 
 
 return for stamped envelopes and postal cards spoiled and redeemed 
 
 .stamp hotel matter 
 
 treat damased supplies of postage-stamps, etc 
 
 secure legil)le stamping 
 
 treat letters opened by mistake 
 
 mail-matter addressed to deceased persons 
 
 inadvertently forwarded 
 
 of first class when in bad order 
 
 turn over money received fiom .sale of postage-.stam])s, etc 
 
 treat uumailable matter received from railway Offices 
 
 unpaid matter, at fi-ee-delivery post-offices, if unable to deliver 
 
 use newspaper and periodical stamps 
 
 jjostage-due stamps 
 
 in case of death of, responsibility of sureties 
 
 lost mail-matter, facts to be stated in repoi t 
 
 in coming to account for balance of quarter, except at fourth-class post-offices un- 
 der special arrangement 
 
 in distribution and dispatch of mail to be governed by orders from the Department. 
 
 instructions concerning delivery of mail-matter in dispute 
 
 of. for opening mail 
 
 letters from, to be treated as card-matter 
 
 limits of salaries 
 
 may allow box-holders to erect lock-boxes at theii' own ex])ense 
 
 ■withdr'awal of mail-matter mailed at their post-offices 
 
 appoint temporary letter-caixiers 
 
 be removed for failing to collect drafts 
 
 deduct salaries and expenses from receipts 
 
 erect letter-boxes at their own expense 
 
 forward not valualile dead-letters to other post-offices 
 
 grant temporary permit to pass new publications as second-class matter 
 
 make temporary mail-contracts when 
 
 not be interested in mail-<-outraets nor act as agents for mail-contractors 
 
 require appointment of reeei\er in case of dissolved partnership 
 
 evidence of subscription-list for mail-matter of second class 
 
 proof of identity before delivering mail 
 
 must affix postage-due stamps to unpaid matter 
 
 be able to ]jr(]ve disjiatch of registered matter 
 
 cancel ]iostage-stMmps 
 
 certify to jpidjier tlispat<-h of registered matter 
 
 deliver letters from INnsion ( IfHie to address 
 
 demand credentials of Speeial Agents 
 
 detain second-chiss mail-nuitter, in what case 
 
 examine waste jiajjcr. and us<' same again 
 
 exclude from the post-office all unauthorized persons when making up or open- 
 ing mail 
 
 forward dujilieates of (juarterly retuins lost in the mail 
 
 give new bonds in case of death, removal from State, or insolvency of sureties. 
 
 not allow official corresjiondence to pass into tin? hands of the public 
 
 deliver mail-matter until i)ostage is paid 
 
 detain mail-matter 
 
 give infoniiation respecting mail-matter 
 
 notify contractors of failures to arrive on sche<lule time, when 
 
 not make changes in distribution and dispatch of mail, except in case of emer- 
 gency 
 
 pay attention to official printed circulars 
 
 collection-drafts pi'om])tlv 
 
 receive at all times registereil matter from employes of Railway Mail Service.. 
 
 Sec. Page. 
 
 862 
 
 183 
 
 
 323 
 
 816 
 
 177 
 
 896 
 
 188 
 
 914 
 
 190 
 
 587 
 
 139 
 
 3.58 
 
 101 
 
 1179 
 
 296 
 
 881 
 
 185 
 
 538 
 
 127 
 
 100 
 
 55 
 
 534 
 
 127 
 
 287 
 
 91 
 
 373 
 
 103 
 
 516 
 
 124 
 
 398 
 
 106 
 
 164 
 
 69 
 
 1175 
 
 289 
 
 845 
 
 181 
 
 1182 
 
 296 
 
 1181 
 
 296 
 
 11.56 
 
 287 
 
 147 
 
 66 
 
 443 
 
 114 
 
 397 
 
 106 
 
 835 
 
 180 
 
 160 
 
 68 
 
 172 
 
 70 
 
 477 
 
 119 
 
 152 
 
 67 
 
 381 
 
 104 
 
 278 
 
 90 
 
 285 
 
 91 
 
 436 
 
 112 
 
 382 
 
 104 
 
 157 
 
 68 
 
 435 
 
 112 
 
 273 
 
 89 
 
 159 
 
 68 
 
 158 
 
 68 
 
 111 
 
 58 
 
 491 
 
 121 
 
 1162 
 
 288 
 
 283 
 
 105 
 
 289 
 
 91 
 
 265 
 
 88 
 
 460 
 
 116 
 
 122 
 
 62 
 
 296 
 
 93 
 
 291, 292 
 
 92 
 
 322 
 
 96 
 
 1198 
 
 300 
 
 132 
 
 63 
 
 295 
 
 92 
 
 489 
 
 120 
 
 196 
 
 75 
 
 616 
 
 145 
 
 599 
 
 141 
 
 288 
 
 91 
 
 194 
 
 74 
 
 277 
 
 90 
 
 270 
 
 89 
 
 834 
 
 179 
 
 375 
 
 103 
 
 834 
 
 179 
 
 281 
 
 91 
 
 540 
 
 128 
 
 211 
 
 77 
 
 522 
 
 125 
 
 521 
 
 125 
 
 1169 
 
 289 
 
 109 
 
 57 
 
 533 
 
 127 
 
 268 
 
 88 
 
 370 
 
 103 
 
 530 
 
 126 
 
 666 
 
 156 
 
 384 
 
 105 
 
 537 
 
 127 
 
 1193 
 
 299 
 
 853 
 
 182 
 
imjkx. 411 
 
 S»-v. I*i«iJo. 
 I'OKllllilKUTN — ('(inl Jllllrll. 
 
 liter (l(iiil)iriil iiiililiiMtioiiH til Kiist A KM i. -4 til lit I'o^ttiiiiiHlfi (ii-iicnil Hh 7.1 
 
 n-liiliv iiii)iillil\ iiiHiit lit' iiiirifi-sy stem '.Hit 99 
 
 leiu-w liiiiiils « lifii iiaiin- of piist-i)tli<-c is I'liaiitifd 114 T>a 
 
 n'l>0lt liilsf I'Viilriiri' siiliiiiiltfil by l)ul>llsliel« 1!»M 7.') 
 
 r. iits oflitliilioMs '. '.".f.i 93 
 
 risiilc within ililivciv iif jxiHtotlicc 104 3« 
 
 s.iul allidavit fur iinsiaui-staniiiH. rtr., di-Htioyfil 167 flft 
 
 (|iiaiiiTly iftuiii and Iiaiisrii|it lii;rftlu'r 11." -M7 
 
 tniii ovcv all imlilic iiiopcity on hand to sni'frssor MB l'J7 
 
 uocd not notit'v inihlisln-rs of foicigii iicw8iia|Mi-.s and iicriiMliralH, wlii'ii tlii'V un; not 
 
 taken on t."' -'4 '. 1l:i:t 2*) 
 
 no allowanee to. for fees paid for lieini; sworn to aceonnt.t 1174 "J^ll) 
 
 credit allowed to. when iinsta^ie-.stanip.s, ete., are .stolen from tlic'in Uiii <V.i 
 
 iKin-iiayinent of eoUeetion-diafts to. to lie rejiorted Iiy, to Auditor lltt.'. '.'9'.» 
 
 not alloweil (oniiiensation tor .sale of iiostairc-staiiips". ete lli.'i 6!» 
 
 to elianj:!' site of ]i<ist-otliee without perniiasion from the Depart iiieiit . . .V.'V r.'ti 
 
 deliver oliseene matter, ete 'S-'i 73 
 
 exihan.-iv )io.sta;;c-stamps. ete Ifi'.l 6!> 
 
 c'oiiniiissioned until after approval of bond 107 .I" 
 
 furuisbed with postage-stamps, ete., if failing to render <iiiaiterly returus I."> 67 
 
 until eominissioned l.'iU 67 
 
 required to receive matter for rejristration on Sunday.s and letjal holiday.s Mil 176 
 
 to act as lotter.v agents, penalty for 541 12X 
 
 allow letter-boxes to be rented for iin]>roiier puri)()ses ;t04 9:i 
 
 eluirffe fee to carriers on shiiiletters addressed to a foreign country 2-">9 S7 
 
 collect postage or fee u|>i>ii delivery of registered matter Stil l<: 
 
 dis<do.se uam%s of box bolders. 30H 94 
 
 employ additional letter-carriers 3'.':{ 9«; 
 
 enter certain moiu'v on (piarterly returns 117"J 2H9 
 
 forward valuable dead letters to'otlier ]iost-olliee8 4HX rjO 
 
 hold tirst-elass matter on mere suspicion 4;i4 112 
 
 make througli iioiiebes for nniil-trains 40:! 106 
 
 receive money from jit cdecessor, unless '>\' 1-'^ 
 
 return letters after laneeling of stamps 40li 107 
 
 retain more than salaries and commission on money-order business i:U 6:1 
 
 of the fourth class, form of general postal account for...." 1190 297 
 
 instructions to. for kei'jiing their accounts 117x 292 
 
 on receiving second, third, or fourth <lass matter must examine same 266 Si* 
 
 outgoing, to ren(br aeeounts to incoming, how 1162 2H8 
 
 payments for former nuai ters not to appear on cpiarterly returns 1 17ii 289 
 
 payment of ((dleetion-drafts t<i. to be reiiorted by, to Auditor 1194 299 
 
 jH'ualty for failing to attix ])osiage-diiestamps to nn|)aid matter 271 1*9 
 
 render quajterh returns ll.i^; 28 7 
 
 fraudulent collect ion of p'l istage 12.'>i) 31.'> 
 
 jiowerless to remit <ivercharges on mail-matter 5:12 126 
 
 precaution against in.jurv to the mail 223 ~'i 
 
 prohibited b.v President's order from holding State and municipal oftices, excejit at 
 
 fourth-class post-otbees 321 
 
 punisbnieiif of. for detaining mail-matter 1232 309 
 
 quarterly rejxirt of ex]ienses 341 99 
 
 returns not to include more than one ([uarter 11 •"«9 287 
 
 to be forwarded bv, when n.'>4 287 
 
 remUre<l by'. 1 l-'d 286 
 
 receive facing slips and schemes from Superintendent of Kailwa.y Mail Service ' 400 106 
 
 1 ecord of. of second-cla.ss mail-matt er 189 74 
 
 to be kept bv. of receii)ts of postage-.stamiis. blanks, books, box-rents, etc .. 1168 288 
 
 receiving matter for registration to enter and number it and give receipt to sender 819 178 
 
 missent re.iiisterecl matter, dutv of 882 186 
 
 legi.steretl matter for dcOiverv. duties of 8.i6 1.82 
 
 registered package in transit, how to sign reccijit 838 18o 
 
 reiiuiremeuts to be made by, of senders of registered Ictter.s 814 177 
 
 third and fourth cla,s.s matter. 815 177 
 
 refntisition for special-ref|nest eiivelojies 149 66 
 
 responsible for failing to cidlect .Auditor's drafts 1197 299 
 
 receiving oliseene matter in the mail 2'.'8 80 
 
 wrom; deli\ erv of resist eri'd matter 8ti9 184 
 
 salaries of, at Presidential ]io.st-(ilhees 116 .i9 
 
 biennial read.justment of 119 61 
 
 fourth class '. 1 1 i[ 5*' 
 
 second-class matter : samjile copies allowed to be .sent bj' and to uews agents 195 74 
 
 shall not allow louniicrs at their post-offices 5J4 12.> 
 
 open letters 2.-12 91 
 
 should deliver to address mail-matter addre.s.sed toa iierson in caro of another 280 90 
 
 suggest advantageous changes in forwarding mail 404 106 
 
 special instructions to zi 
 
 for registration of currency sent for redemption 818 1 1 1 
 
 statement of unclaimed ntatter ■♦"■' H'l 
 
 snit pending against, for delinquencies. Auditor to furni.sh papers, et<- 1148 286 
 
 their quarterly returns must be signed by whom 1 166 288 
 
 to be accom])anied by atHdavit 1152 287 
 
 time of affixing postage-due-stamps to unpaid matter 272 89 
 
 closing mail, r ' 368,410 102,107 
 
 to appoint assistants Jl8 l_.-> 
 
 be charged with valiu» of lost or stolen stamps, etc 173 70 
 
 charge double iiostage on unpaid matter _ 267 88 
 
 themselves with postage-stamps, etc 1.54. 156 C7 
 
412 
 
 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 Sec. Page. 
 Postina!>iter« — Coiitiiiueil. 
 
 to collect lent tor boxes erected b\ linx-holtlers at tlieiv own expense as long as used. 305 9^1 
 
 comiiitie ireneral ] ostal ii<cooiit with Auditor's statement of 1186 2! 7 
 
 count posta;;e-sta)iiips. ct<-.. wlien received 151 t7 
 
 decide iiuestions ot construction of the postal laws and regulations, subject to 
 
 aj>i)eal to tlic Postmaster-(Teneral 19 28 
 
 deliver o^<iany-addressed mail to the person holding the otHce 283 91 
 
 display lists of advertised letters 446 115 
 
 distribute mail by schemes 385 105 
 
 forward oath of office of assistants, clerks, etc., to First Assistant Postmaster- 
 General 519 125 
 
 . immediately notify Auditor of collection of drafts 1194 299 
 
 report lobbery of ixist-ortices 492, 493 121 
 
 keep a post-otfice for distribution and dispatch of the mail 367 102 
 
 sui)ply of ]postagestami)s and stamped enveloi)es 146 66 
 
 account of sliii) and steamboat letters 262 87 
 
 list of box-hcdders 298 93 
 
 record of projierty and suy)])lies 514 124 
 
 leave lecoid of bo.v-receipts with successor 303 93 
 
 make application for readjustment of salai'ies to Fii.st Assistant Postmastei- 
 
 General 123 62 
 
 make inventories of property, etc., in duplicate 515 124 
 
 notify publishers when subscribers lefuse second-class matter 471 118 
 
 to observe tlie registry s<'heme 844 181 
 
 receijit for copywrij;ht matter 374 103 
 
 record resist ered (packages in transit and retimi receipt 839 180 
 
 refuse withdrawal of matter mailed at their offices 293 92 
 
 render quarterly returns upon regular blank forms only...; 1158 287 
 
 report irretriihirities in mail 402 106 
 
 lost mail matter to Chief Special Agent 490 120 
 
 postage collected from publishers 161 68 
 
 unworke<l mail 401 106 
 
 require quarterly ]>repayment for letter-boxes 300, 301 93 
 
 respect injunctions of courts relating to delivery of mail 290 92 
 
 retain original of (juarterly return and forward copy thereof 1165 288 
 
 return registered matter that cannot be delivered ti'i mailing po.st-office 876 185 
 
 to writers thereof only legisteied letters addressed to persons conducting 
 
 fraudulent lotteries, etc 875 184 
 
 unmailable matter to sender 437, 438 113 
 
 wooden labels, etc 408 107 
 
 sell postage-.stamps for ca.sb only 166 69 
 
 and stamped envelopes and to be I'esponsible, etc . 145 66 
 
 send receipt for jiostage-stamps to Third Assistant Po.stmaster-< Jeneral 151 67 
 
 unmailable matter to Dead-Letter Office 431 111 
 
 sign registcied-paekage receipts addressed to their post-offices 837 180 
 
 supervise letter-cairiers 362 101 
 
 take impressions of dated stamps 380 104 
 
 receipts for pay to .lerks 128 63 
 
 transmit quarterly returns and general accounts in separate envelopes 1184 296 
 
 regular return of dead matter, even if there be none 473 118 
 
 use facing slips for letters and <irculars 396 106 
 
 weigh second-class mail-nuitter in bulk and to attach .special adhesive stamps. . . 191, 192 74 
 
 unmailable matter to be sent to Dead-Letter Office by 1 441, 442 113 
 
 vouchers to general postal account to be retained by 1185 296 
 
 when in doubt as to law, must ask for instructions from the Department - - . . 536 127 
 
 lecjuired to give new bonds 112 58 
 
 retiring, must turn over ])Ostage-stamps, etc., to successor 163 69 
 
 to make distribution of mail by States 386 105 
 
 requisition for postage-stamps, etc 148 66 
 
 redeem stamped envelopes and postal cards which liavi' been spoiled 170, 171 69, 70 
 
 where to reside 104' 56 
 
 w eight of matter at time of mailing determines rate of postage 269 89 
 
 who may be appointed as 108 57 
 
 PoMtiiiaster-Ciriicral, appeal to, from decisions of jiostma-sters 19 28 
 
 appointment and t<rin of office : how removed 1 33 
 
 authority of, to prescribe regulations 26 39 
 
 authorized to make advan<'e payments in certain cases .59 49 
 
 cannot open adjustment of his predecessor 29 42 
 
 review decision of his predecessor ^ 29 42 
 
 foreign money-order conventions may be made by 976 201 
 
 in case of absence of. who may act as 1 3 34 
 
 may discontinue post-offices where postma.sters are appointed by President 29 42 
 
 make postal conventions with foreign countries 31 42 
 
 retaliatory postage to be iniposerl by. wlnii 1137 281 
 
 money-order system to be establishi-d and maintained by 9,56 197 
 
 office of, under supervision of chief clcik 27 39 
 
 prescribed annual estimates of 46 45 
 
 reports of 44 44 
 
 rates for transniitt'ng government telegrams to be fixed by, annually 1257 317 
 
 shall keep inviiitoiy of i)ublic property '. 30 42 
 
 statutory duties of.' 29 41 
 
 to furuish cojiy of aiuiual estimates to Secretary of Treasury 47 46 
 
 PoMlma««ters-Ci<eneraI, Assistant, aiqijiointiiient and teriu of office and Iiow re- 
 moved 2 33 
 
 PoNtinastera pro tent.. com])ensation of 135 63 
 
 Post-OtHce I>fpartm<>iit, accounts of to be kiqit by (Sixth) Auditor (of tlie 
 
 Treasniv) .' 1143 285 
 
'.'7 
 
 .i;» 
 
 I 
 
 .la 
 
 1224 
 
 au.> 
 
 812 
 
 l7r, 
 
 J 
 
 :t4 
 
 
 .T'.-. 
 
 1220 
 
 3U4 
 
 2*< 
 
 41 
 
 aan 
 
 OH 
 
 m 
 
 .V. 
 
 OH 
 
 .V. 
 
 iw 
 
 .'l.'l 
 
 IHCT 
 
 190 
 
 Ott 
 
 .Vi 
 
 OH 
 
 .l.-. 
 
 112.-. 
 
 2H7 
 
 307 
 
 114 
 
 rf.'Hi 
 
 lii» 
 
 1244 
 
 :n:t 
 
 9H 
 
 .■i.'i 
 
 1, 7:iH l(t7 
 
 . Iti7 
 
 :{H7 
 
 102 
 
 123.-, 
 
 :tli 
 
 .542 
 
 I2!t 
 
 .>i:{ 
 
 129 
 
 .-,.V2 
 
 i:«i 
 
 .->.->l 
 
 i:u) 
 
 .>4!) 
 
 i:<o 
 
 r>.-io 
 
 i:«) 
 
 27 
 
 33 
 
 INDEX. 4 1 3 
 
 l*OMf-<|||ici- l>f|tni-liii<'iil— Ciintiiiiii'il. 
 
 ilisti iliutiiiii i)f liu.siiicss <)(' 
 
 .•.stiil.li.sliin.iit of ' 
 
 fviili'iu'c of ilciiianil ii|i<>ii iiii.'ttiiia.sti-i'.s for lialniK'c ilin- 
 
 Icttfi-.s uinm otliiial liiisiia-ss of, ivfjistfix-d iVei- of cliur;;)- and \nins tlinmsli '••'• 
 
 mails IVff III' cliaijic 
 
 oIlicci-M of, a]i|ioiiit<'il liy PoNtnia.stcr-Crfiifral 
 
 o)iinioiis of A.ssiHtaiit .Vttonwy-Geuenjl for 
 
 latc of iiitiTi'.tt on lialaiicf.-i iliie 
 
 s.al of 
 
 I'osi-ollirrN, liraiicli. Postiiiastfr-Gfiirral may estuliliiih 
 
 li\ \\ hose aiitlioritv ili.scoii tinned '. 
 
 fstal.llshcd 
 
 ila.ssiticatioii of 
 
 for nioiu'v-didiT bnsim-ss 
 
 (liscontinnancf of. to be (•crtitied to Auditoi' 
 
 istablishnient of, to lie (cititifd lo Auditor 
 
 ixcLansf for all forcij;n mail A, list of 
 
 tiinuH-ially dosifrnated a:id rlassilied 
 
 33().1[ fiee-drlivcry, cstalilislimcnt of 
 
 holiday and evening delivery at 
 
 penalty for linakini; inti> '. 
 
 nnlaw fully jiiofcssin^ to keep 
 
 l>rinted labels received frt>m, to lie returned to 4{)K, ' 
 
 to be kept open for re<ei\in;;, deliveriiifi, making np, and forwarding mail 
 
 what constitutes, under Revised Statuti's, § .34G9 
 
 I'osl-roacis, definition of 
 
 I'ostmaster-Geuoral may establish service on 
 
 • teniiiorarily 
 
 service on. may be discontinued 
 
 I'o.stniasti-r-fteiieial may select 
 
 when terminus of, may be chauired 
 
 Post-route iiiapN, for sale by topographer 
 
 Pouches, exchanue of letter-mails by einplov6s of Railway Mail Service to be in 
 
 locked ' ." .' '. 771 171 
 
 interior of. to be thoroughl.y examined when emptied by euiplo.v6s of Railway ilail 
 
 Service ' .' 7;i.-| 1»>7 
 
 letters not to be ]>la<'ed loo.se in. by eniploy6s of the Railway Mail Service 727 167 
 
 received outside of one, to be reported to Division Superintendent of Jtailwav 
 
 Mail Service '. 74ti I «-i 
 
 list of exchange, to be kept by employes in charge of Offices 771:1 171 
 
 Prepayuieut compulsory on correspondence to foreign countries with which no 
 
 convention exists ]12j< 277 
 
 ulitioiial within Postal I'nion on letters only 11U8 2»>4 
 
 Pre»ii(lont, order of, forbidding postal officers to jmrticipate in ])olitical cami)aigiis 323 
 
 ur<ler of, forbiilding postmasters to hold State and municipal offices, excejit at 
 
 fourth class ]iiistothces 321 
 
 PriceM.rurrrul ,ind circulars may be ,sent to Guatemala at newspaper rates of 
 
 jiostai;e. but to all otlier foreign countries as "' other printed matter ' 1'23 
 
 (■(irrecticms in printed, with ]ii-n or ])< mil dn not subject them to letter-postage 
 
 Printed labels to lie returned to postortice of oriiiin by postmasters 
 
 employe's of Railway Mail 
 
 Service 
 
 Printed matter. {.Sec TlllKIi-(i,.\ss .M.viTKi;.) 
 
 detinitiou of 
 
 uiuler Postal I'nion regulations for foreign mails onl.v 
 
 except newspapers, etc., sent to regular subscriber.s. is third-class mail-matter .... 
 
 fi-om foreign countries free from duties, except Ixioks 
 
 icjiresentinu' monetary value jiays letter-postage in Postal Union mails 
 
 Private expresses for carrying letters outside of nuiil over post-roads prohibited. . 
 
 penalty for aiting as 
 
 carrying letters on Ijoaid a mail-vessel 
 
 ))ersons acting as 
 
 sendiui; letters by 
 
 ]Mistni:isters to ri'port existence of 
 
 Probationary appointees in Railway Mail Service 
 
 in Kail way ^lail Service to be examined mimthly 
 
 Promotion**. Division Suiierinteudt'Uts of Railway Mail Sen-ice, in recommending. 
 
 to state what '. ." 
 
 of eniidoyes of Railway Mail Service based ui)on reports of Division Superintend- 
 ents 
 
 letter-carriers 
 
 Proof-sheets of jiostal conve!>tions to bo revised at Post-OtHce Department 
 
 permissible writim; upon, as tliird-class matter 
 
 Property, holders of (b tiudanl's. after |)ublication of attachment proceedings to 
 
 account for it 
 
 of Post-Ottice De])artment, penalty for diverting, from proper use 
 
 ownership of, attached how to be determined 
 
 proceeds of, held ot- sold under warrant of attachment how to be invefjted 
 
 public, to be turned over by iMistniaster to successor 
 
 rec(ud of, to be kept tiv ]iost masters 
 
 Proposals for carrying the mail, alterations and modiffcations in, pridiibited .. 
 
 aniouut of, not to be diviili^id li\ jMistuiasters who approve them 
 
 assignment of, pi obi bit ed 
 
 how witlidrawn 
 
 penalty for altering or counterfeiting 
 
 rei-eived too late not considerefl 
 
 ri::ht to reiert nil, reserved bv tin- Postmaster-General 
 
 1132 
 
 2H0 
 
 232 
 
 Hi 
 
 408 
 
 107 
 
 219 
 
 7S 
 
 1114 
 
 2fi.T 
 
 21.-. 
 
 7H 
 
 1134 
 
 2H1 
 
 lllfi 
 
 2ti.- 
 
 ,->.■>.-> 
 
 131 
 
 .-»9 
 
 L!2 
 
 560 
 
 132 
 
 .V)7 
 
 132 
 
 .=i.V* 
 
 132 
 
 .'•|69 
 
 134 
 
 710 
 
 Hi4 
 
 782 
 
 172 
 
 710 
 
 1(>4 
 
 312 
 
 9.- 
 
 32 
 
 42 
 
 2IH 
 
 78 
 
 1213 
 
 .103 
 
 1241 
 
 312 
 
 1210 
 
 302 
 
 1211 
 
 302 
 
 5.39 
 
 127 
 
 11«H 
 
 2H.'< 
 
 5!»4 
 
 141 
 
 591) 
 
 140 
 
 fiOO 
 
 141 
 
 .->H0 
 
 137 
 
 124.-) 
 
 :il3 
 
 59ti 
 
 141 
 
 .197 
 
 141 
 
414 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 Sec. Page. 
 Proposals for carrying the mail — Coutiuned. 
 
 tu lie accompanied by bond.? 581 137 
 
 certified check or draft 58.5 1.39 
 
 filed and recorded 5«8 140 
 
 to be .sealed : how and when opened 580 137 
 
 tran.sfer of, prohibited 600 141 
 
 unaccompanied by bond not considered 581 138 
 
 what are the only lejjal 591 140 
 
 withdrawal of, not allowed later than twenty-four hours before time of opening 594 141 
 
 Prosecution of oti'enders again.'*t the postal laws ." .52 47 
 
 ProNpecliises not allowed on bills or receipts for .suh.scriptions 233 82 
 
 Piibliratiou office, definition of 186 73 
 
 Pub lice tiouK, defiuitioii of supplements to 2U7 76 
 
 (kiulitful. to Vie referred to First Assistant Postmaster-General 188 73 
 
 foreign, may pass as sec iind-< lass mail-matter 212 77 
 
 violating United .States cuiiyri^ht. not sectmd-class matter 214 78 
 
 when otiered as second-class matter, how inspected 213 77 
 
 free county, defined 239 83 
 
 must be mailed by themselves 242 83 
 
 new, how to be admitted to seconil-ehiss rate 196 75 
 
 l)eualty for publisljer subiriittiiii; false evidence as to character of 197 75 
 
 not granted free eoinity delivery when elainiing two oifices of publication in differ- 
 ent counties 243 84 
 
 sample copies of. second-class, definition of 203 76 
 
 how to be mailed 205 76 
 
 second-class mail-iiuitter, not entitled to free county delivery 244 84 
 
 jKistujasters may require evidence of subscriptiou-list of . 194 74 
 
 rejiular suliscriliers to, defined 193 74 
 
 samiile lopies allowed to he sent by and to news agents .. . 195 74 
 
 suindements to regular, may be mailed as secoiid-ilass matter 206 76 
 
 Public docuuient>> jtublislied by Cont;ress free of postage 245 84 
 
 Public fuutlH for dejxisit may be transmitted by postmasters in free registered letter. 80 .52 
 
 must be safely ke))t (.sy<' McixEV) .' "^ 72 51 
 
 Public property, inventories to be made of. by i)ostma.ster taking charge of a post- 
 
 ottice .' - - 515 124 
 
 mutilation of, by employes of Railway Mail Service prohibited 776 171 
 
 not t o be used for private pui'iioses by employes of Railway Mail Service 770 171 
 
 to be turned over by postmasters to sueeessors includes what .539 127 
 
 Publishers allowed to mail su]i]ilei]ients as second-class matter 206 70 
 
 form of bill they may attach to secondchiss mail-matter 234 82 
 
 how to enter seconil-class mail-matter at post-otfices 199 75 
 
 pass new i>ublicatiuns as second-class mail-matter 196 75 
 
 mail sample cojiies of jiublications 205 76 
 
 mail-baiis su])plied to. when 687 160 
 
 maniiei' of ]ireseuting third-class matter for mailing 237 83 
 
 may inclose bills, receijits. and subscription-orders in second class matter 233 82 
 
 must properly ft )Id and address mail-matter of secoiul class 236 82 
 
 not allowed tii iiass extra numbers of publications as .sample copies 204 76 
 
 not to sulmiit false evidence 197 75 
 
 oflice of to entitle to second-cUiss po.stage-rates 186 73 
 
 postage collected iVoiii. how to hi- rejioited by posttnaters 161 68 
 
 sec(md-class mail-mat t-er must be properly wrapped by. and sufficiently dried 235 82 
 
 4(ualitications of sureties on more than one bidder's bond 584 138 
 
 of sureties on biddeis bonds 582 138 
 
 <|uarterly returns, accompanied by aftidavit to what eflVct 11.52 287 
 
 blank form for. how ])rocured 1176 289 
 
 composed of account-current, tran.scripts. and vouchers , 1155 287 
 
 copies only of, to be sent to Auditor ; originals to be kept by postnuister 1165 288 
 
 distinct from ipiarterly statement of general postal account 1 183 296 
 
 indorsement on back of, how filled up 1175 289 
 
 errors in, corrected by Auditor: notification to postmasters of corrections 1167 288 
 
 forms for, at fourtli-<iass post-otfices 1178 292 
 
 at I'lesidential |iost-oltices 1177 289 
 
 from Presidential othces, <U-tailed .statements of .stamps, etc., received to accom- 
 pany 1161 288 
 
 lost in transmission, postma.sler must send duplicates of 1169 289 
 
 must be forwarded to Auditor bv postmasters in one unbroken bundle, with no 
 
 papers that do not strictly lielon'g to it 11.56 287 
 
 neiilect to render, by ])ostmaste7, ])enalty 1153 287 
 
 never to ln> iiulosed will] (juaiterly statement of general postal account 11S4 296 
 
 new bond given by ])ostniaster does not change manner oi rendcrini^ 1164 288 
 
 no mention to lie made in, of registiation fees 889 187 
 
 not upon riguhir blanks will not be audited 1158 287 
 
 outgoing jiostma.ster at fouitli-ilass posl-ottices nuiy make special arrangements 
 
 with successor about leuderiiig 1162 288 
 
 payments for former <iuarter not to ajipear on 1170 289 
 
 tm account of wbat not to lie entered on 1172 289 
 
 printed lab.-ls fuiiiisli.d foi-, to I'residcnlial iiosi -oifices 1160 287 
 
 signature of l)V whom, blank beading, liow lille<l up 1166 288 
 
 to be lendered'bv post masters '. 1151 286 
 
 to be transuiitted to Auditor before 20th day ot ne.xt quarter 1189 297 
 
 to include oidy business of one quarter 11.59 287 
 
 transcript and account current nni.st always be sent together ll"'" 287 
 
 when to be t'orwaiileil to .Auditor by postmasters U.'-l 2^7 
 
 who may ailiuiuistei- oath to ! 1149 280 
 
 <|neenslanrt. sji'-cial postal airaiigements with 1126 276 
 
 KaiUvay cars used for transjiortation of the mails to be constructed, etc.. atexpense 
 
 of lailroail coiiip.inies as i'e,|nired liy J'osim ister-tjenerai isri' Oi'i'UKs) 632 150 
 
INDKX. 
 
 410 
 
 ICailtvny foinpaiiirn aitU'tl by liiiiil-!:niiitH to ciiirs iniiil-. ;it iiiti-M t\\t'i\ liv <°<iiiui< n*. 
 
 iiidfd by liinil-giiiiits. nitcs Hxcd liy Ciiii^M'mh to br |iiii(l Im iiiiryiiiij iiiiiilH by 
 
 t'uiiiiiiuiiicatioiiH iiH'crtiiit: pay lur canyinn tlif iiiailM by, to hi- ail<it'i>HHril tii S»Tond 
 Assistant PostinastordciKTal 
 
 ooiupi'Usatiou of, for carry iug the mail n-iluccd five jier n-iit. additional 
 
 ten ]«Tr«-iit 
 
 liiips may bo impo.si'd upon 
 
 uiay bf coutracted witb for raiiyinv; tin- mail wit bout s)dvcrtiH<-iiii-nt 
 
 must cany mails on any trains witlimil extra clia !■;.'»• 
 
 sjn'cial ajients and postal siiiipiii-s witliont extra olinrye 
 
 not to carry mails beyond termini of route 
 
 I'ostmastcr-Ueneial to deeidi- niion wbat trains nuiil shall be canicrt by 
 
 readjustment of pay to. for carry in;; the mail ". 
 
 refusinjr to provnle jxmtal cars not to lie jiaid for 
 
 reciuested to consult Deiiartmcnt about naiiu-s of station:) 
 
 re(iiured to deliver mails to jMist otbces, when 
 
 rules of, to be observed by ein]>loye8 of Railway Mail Scl^'ico 
 
 sjieeilic reiiuiremeiits of I)ci>aitment to be made known to, through (leneral Super- 
 intendent of Kail way Mail Service 
 
 to (It'sijrnate to Auilitor a financial a};-ent to receive and receipt f(»r pay for carryinc 
 the mails 
 
 to rcjiort operatinsr exitenses to Postmaster-CJeneral 
 
 to Second Assistant I'ostmaster-ticneral their readiness to have nniils 
 
 weiu.lled 
 
 RnilM-ny iiiail-reijislry book to be turned over to Division Superintendent by 
 
 ri' tiring empbiyes 
 
 use of, by emidoy^s of Kailway Mail Service 
 
 KiiilM-ny ITInil Service, chief head clerks of 
 
 division superintendents of. as.siijnincnt of 
 
 employes of, ai)]>ointiuent. duties, .'te. {Sep EMI'I.OVKS.) 
 
 (ieucral Superiutendcnt of a]ipointment, pay and allowances 
 
 duties of 
 
 Rnilwny poi>itaI clerks, Postmaster-General may appoint. (See EMi'i.OYts of 
 
 Kah.way M.mi, Sekvice) 
 
 Railway service,- compen.sation for, reduced five per cent, additional 
 
 ten ]>er cent 
 
 conditions of, rate of pay, and a(\justmeiit of pay for 
 
 on land-frrant railroads, rates for, as fixed by Congress 
 
 to be at rates fixed by Conirress 
 
 •specific requirements of the Department for, made known through General Snipcrin- 
 
 tendent of Railway ]\Iail Service 
 
 Rales of postage detenu ined by weight of matter at time of mailing 
 
 on first-class niail-iuatter 
 
 on fourth-class domestic matter 
 
 on matter sent to countrii-s not in Postal I'nion 
 
 within Postal I'nion 
 
 on second-class mail-matter 
 
 on ship letters 
 
 on third-class domestic matter , 
 
 ReadjiiNiment of jiay to railway comiianies for carrying the mail 
 
 of po.st masters' salaries, biennial 
 
 salaries, ajiidication for, to whom made 
 
 Receipt for ]iiista;;i'-stamps to be si-nt to Third Assistant Postniaster-GeLcral 
 
 to \n- given by new ]iof,r master to (predecessor for public property 
 
 Receivers, legal, delivery of mail-matter to 
 
 Receiving box for mail at third and fourth class jiost-ortices. form of 
 
 Kecorfi. C'ongressioual, five of postage when sent by niembeis of Cimgress. Ac 
 
 Rccoril of arrivals and departures of emiiloyes of Kailway Mail Service, 
 
 where ke))t and how ])osted 
 
 of local agents, liow kept 
 
 till' m.iil. how ke])t by jtostmasters 
 
 Record of registered iuatter received and delivered, entries upon, how 
 
 made 
 
 Record of registeretl matter in tran»iit must be carefully preserved and open 
 
 to in^iieetiou of s])ecial agents 
 
 Records, jiature of to be kept at post-offices 
 
 of Iie;)artment and Auditor to be evidence in suits 
 
 Redemption, currency .sent to Treasurer of the United States for, to be registered 
 
 free of cliarge ' 
 
 special instructions for registrati<m of currency sent for 
 
 ReforM-nrding permitted of all matter within tlie Postal Tnion 
 
 Refused nialter. (Ser Dk.\D M.VTTEli.) 
 
 Return of dead matter to state when nonc> to send 
 
 to be sent to Dead-Letter Ortiee witli unelainu-d matter 
 
 Registered fourt ■■•class matter, rules to be observed by senilers of 
 
 Registered letters addressed to persons conducting fraudulent lotteries, ic, may be 
 
 returned by oi-der of the I'ostmaster-deni'ral 
 
 arriving in bad order, treatment of by receiving jiostma.ster 
 
 unsealed. Ireattnent of bv receiving ]iost master 
 
 control of writer ceases after dis]>ateh, withdrawal of by writer before dispatch 
 
 not subject to attachment in the hands of postmasters before delivery 
 
 rules to be observed b.v senders of 
 
 S.C. 
 
 I'agC 
 
 «KI7 
 
 1.11 
 
 «nx 
 
 l.'.l 
 
 047 
 
 I.VJ 
 
 KU\ 
 
 I.-.l 
 
 H3.'. 
 
 l.V» 
 
 tr7i) 
 
 1.'.7 
 
 nn 
 
 u:{ 
 
 IH-A 
 
 I.V.' 
 
 im 
 
 I.V.' 
 
 (MO 
 
 I.'SI 
 
 «4'.' 
 
 l.'.l' 
 
 OVO 
 
 14» 
 
 t«0 
 
 149 
 
 26 
 
 .-(I 
 
 (t:{9 
 
 l.-.l 
 
 792 
 
 17:5 
 
 (l.-.l 
 
 ft4X 
 
 }r,2 
 
 lAV, 
 
 I.V.' 
 
 rat 
 
 1.-.0 
 
 70.-. 
 
 17f) 
 
 !I40 
 
 1!>4 
 
 71H 
 
 104 
 
 71)7 
 
 ](i.{ 
 
 9 
 
 3.-. 
 
 70(5 
 
 lo:{ 
 
 2.T 
 
 38 
 
 036 
 
 l.-.l 
 
 tar, 
 
 ^■A) 
 
 029 
 
 149 
 
 crt8 
 
 1.51 
 
 037 
 
 lil 
 
 041 
 
 l.-.l 
 
 •J(>9 
 
 89 
 
 178 
 
 72 
 
 **20 
 
 SO 
 
 112."^ 
 
 277 
 
 llllS 
 
 2(H 
 
 I'M) 
 
 74 
 
 2.i»< 
 
 s, 
 
 215 
 
 78 
 
 629 
 
 149 
 
 119 
 
 61 
 
 123 
 
 62 
 
 l.il 
 
 67 
 
 .^.16 
 
 124 
 
 2«6 
 
 91 
 
 .-)28 
 
 126 
 
 24G, 248 
 
 84 
 
 749-7.il 
 
 109 
 
 sol 
 
 174 
 
 0.-.7-(J01 
 
 1.-.:. 
 
 841 
 
 l.«0 
 
 .-.14 
 
 124 
 
 1223 
 
 304 
 
 817 
 
 177 
 
 818 
 
 177 
 
 112<l 
 
 20(> 
 
 473 
 
 118 
 
 472 
 
 118 
 
 81.-. 
 
 177 
 
 87.'. 
 
 l.'i4 
 
 .<-.9 
 
 183 
 
 800 
 
 l.SJ 
 
 883 
 
 18(i 
 
 874 
 
 184 
 
 814 
 
 177 
 
 * The title " Railway Service " refers onl v to the tiansportation of nuiils by n»iln>ad companies under 
 contract or otherwi,se,' and should not be confounded with the h'aitiray Mail Sen-ire. by which is under- 
 stood the distribution and dispatch of mails in tran.sit upon railroails and steamboats in "(iHices" by 
 route-agents, postal-clerks, and other postal employes denominated in these regulatinns " Kniployes of 
 tlie IJail'W.iv Mail Service.' 
 
416 
 
 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 Sec. Page. 
 
 Rcsjistered matter, accouuts of, to bo preserved in post-oftices 890 187 
 
 becomes so wlieu postmaster gives a registry receipt therefor 821 178 
 
 care required iii delivery of 868 184 
 
 Department not liable for loss of 806 176 
 
 delivery of, by can'iers , 866, 867 184 
 
 duty of postmasters in 865 183 
 
 on order of tlie addressee 870 184 
 
 foreign, forwarded within Postal Union 912 190 
 
 liable to custdiiis duty, liow treated : 910 190 
 
 post marked at exchange post-otfices 913 190 
 
 specially held for delivery, bow long 911 190 
 
 undelivered tliirty days "to be seut to Dead-Letter OiBce, except request 
 
 matter from Canada 908 190 
 
 for insane or dead persons, how delivered 873 184 
 
 found among ordinarv matter, treatment of 886 186 
 
 handling of, bv local agents 802 174 
 
 how prt'paivd i\ ir dispatch 828 179 
 
 to be dis].at( lied 831 179 
 
 misseut, duty of postmaster receiving 882 186 
 
 missing or lost, to be reported to Chief Special Agent 887 186 
 
 may be forwarded from one post-olHce to another on request 881 185 
 
 returned to sender on reiiuest 881 185 
 
 never to be sent direct o vei' railway-mail routes 836 180 
 
 no charge to be made on delivery of 861 183 
 
 notification to box -h(dder of arrival of 864 183 
 
 not reaching destination, to be reported to Chief Special Agent 849 181 
 
 to be intrusted to mail-carriers or messengers 833 179 
 
 tied with ordinary mail-matter 832 179 
 
 original record of, returned, must show what 878 185 
 
 po.stage-stamps on, to be canceled; matter to be marked '•Rkoistered" 822 l78 
 
 l)ostmaster8 failing to see that proper postage and fees are prepaid on, must pay the 
 
 ditterence '..... 862 183 
 
 responsible for wrong delivery of 869 184 
 
 proper dispatch of how and when to be certified to 834 179 
 
 received for delivery at a post-office, treatment of 856 182 
 
 from foreign countries, delivery of 906 189 
 
 receii)t to be taken upon delivery of 824 178 
 
 record of, in transit 841 180 
 
 refused by addressees to be letumed to mailing post-office 877 185 
 
 registry notice to be sent of arrival of 863 183 
 
 safety of, how secured 808 176 
 
 sent to an Otfice from a distant post-office, how to be pouched 835 180 
 
 Dead-Letter Office, how to be indorsed 880 185 
 
 must be rcgisten-d free 880 185 
 
 to be accomjianicd l)y what 880 185 
 
 or from foreign countries to be postmarked at exchange post-offices 913 190 
 
 tliat cannot tie <li4i\ered to be leturued to mailing post-office 876 185 
 
 to be pouched between post-offices and Offices 939 194 
 
 kept apart from oi<liuMry matter 823 178 
 
 without postagestamiis affixed to cover postage and fee, to be reported to Third 
 
 Assistant Postmaster-Oeneral 862 183 
 
 when sender of leturned. cannot be found, must be sent to Dead-Letter Office 879 185 
 
 too large to go in registered-package envelopes, how tieated 829 179 
 
 Registered third-class matter, rules to be observed by senders of 815 177 
 
 Registered-package envelopes to be consecutively numbered, commencing each 
 
 ([uarter with Number 1 820 178 
 
 used np, to be kept one year and then sold as waste paper 891 187 
 
 to be used only in covering registered mail-matter in transit 827 179 
 
 Registered-package receipts of rcgistiTcd untter in transit, liow to be signed.. 838 180 
 
 record of examination and iudorsemeut of, must be continuous 840 180 
 
 returned to mailing post-office to be filed 846 181 
 
 to be examined and siirned by receiving postmasters and returned 837 180 
 
 when and how to Im- used 830 179 
 
 not returned, duidicate to be sent out 847 181 
 
 R egistercd packages inclosing foreign matter to be marked foreign 905 189 
 
 found in bad order, treatment of 852 181 
 
 how to be indorsed liv postmasteis, etc 845 181 
 
 in transit, to be recorded hy jiostiuaster and receipts returned 839 180 
 
 misdirected to foreign countries sliould be sent to e.xchange ^)ost-offlce 901 189 
 
 must be received bypostmastersatall timesfi'om employes otRailwayMail Service. 853 182 
 
 seut by most secine loutes 843 180 
 
 of postage-stamps, etc., found damaged in transit, treatment of 855 182 
 
 in transit, to be misdirected to bo stopiied and held 
 for instructions fiom Third Assistant Postmaster- 
 
 (Jeneral 851 181 
 
 of private matter found misdirected in transit to be returned for better directions. 850 181 
 
 to go in way-l>ouclies, wlien 842 180 
 
 uniform rules for treatment of, except 854 182 
 
 Registration, duty of postmasters to encourage 809 176 
 
 matter admitted to 810 176 
 
 matter not admitted to, wlien addressed to certain foreign countries 904 189 
 
 received for, to be entered, uuudxred. and receipt given therefor 819 178 
 
 not allowed on Sunday nor re(iuire<l ou le^al liolidays 811 17'> 
 
 of currency sent for redemjition, special instructions for 818 177 
 
 toTreasurerofthe FnitedStatesforredemption to be freeof charge. 817 177 
 
 letters only to Aspinwall permissible 1129 278 
 
 Panama permissible 1129 278 
 
 Shanghai iieruiissilde 1129 278 
 
iM>i:x. 
 
 417 
 
 Ki^giHlriilioii — ( onl inui'tl. 
 
 •f mutt IT iidtliTsscd to I'difi^tii I'oiiiitricN, jji-ucral nili'8 tin- 
 
 to I'osliil I'liioii coiiiitiius 
 
 what niiitttcr lu'iinittrd i 
 
 liimrtorly rfi>orts of, to Tliiifl Asuistnut I'osliiiaMtfr-tiriii'rnl 
 
 v) Australia (New South WaU-a. (^iUM-ii«laiiil. and Virtoriu) ]u-riiii8Hil>le 
 
 Ecuador not pfruiissildc 
 
 (Juatcniala not pcrniis.siblf 
 
 Nrw Zialaud pc rniissiliU- 
 
 Sand\\ iili Islands (Ilawaiiau Kin<^duni) not piTiniHsibk! 
 
 \'tni-/inla not iiirinissil)l(' _. 
 
 R« KIN t rat ion book to lie nunilicrcd 1 at c'onnncuct-nn'Ut of each iinaHtT 
 
 KcKiKtrulion frv lixid at ten rents for caili letter or narccl 
 
 Uniit of. none rcqiiirid on oltiiial niattir of the Post-Onicfi Department 
 
 on matter addressed to forei'in (■inmtriis 
 
 to countries of I'niveisal Postal I'nion ... 
 
 RfKislry bill, al)sinee of, to lie rei)orted by jiostmaster receiving re^iiMterud matter 
 
 to Til i rd .\ ssistant I'ostmasti'r-t ienei'al 
 
 directions for mal^ini^ out 
 
 lailiu-; to return, circular of iuipiiry to be .sent out 
 
 no postage retpiired on, when returned 
 
 receivius; postmaster to sui)ply omissions lui 
 
 RcgiHiry diMt-, usc> of, upon throughrejiistered-iiouches 
 
 KcKiHtry notice to lie sent to persons to whom registered niatt«r is addressed 
 
 K^HiMtry rcc«'il»t to be signed and returned without d«day 
 
 Kf'KiMtry return receipt, ali.sence of to be repoitcd by postmaster receiving refjis- 
 
 tered matter, to 'I'hird Assistant l'ostmaster-( Jeneral 
 
 .Utached to foreign undelivered matte)- to be leturned to exchange post-offlco with 
 
 indorsement, etc 
 
 directi<ms for filling out 
 
 I'or registered matter sent to foreign countries, to be made out at exchange post- 
 office : 
 
 may be demanded on registered matter sent to foreign countries 
 
 must be i)ostnuirkcd with date of deliv ery 
 
 remaUed to the sender 
 
 no postage reciuired on, when retuiued 
 
 of foreign origin, how to l>e signed and returned 
 
 receiving ))Osfmaster to sujijily omissions on 
 
 Kegistry schemes to be comi)lied with by postma.ster 
 
 Kegistry system, envelopes used iu, how pivcured 
 
 •>8tablishmeut of 
 
 through-registered-pouch service. (-See Thuough-kegistehkk- 
 
 POUCH.) 
 
 List of blanks used in 
 
 <il>ject of _■ 
 
 postmasters, except at exehange post-offices, forbidden to write to foreign post- 
 masters upon matters conceming ;-- 
 
 fiostmasters in doubt as to regulations of, to submit the question to Third Assist- 
 ant Postmaster-General ._ 
 
 posttnasters not to reprimand other postmasters for violation of regulations of 
 
 to Interest themselves iu success of 
 
 supplies used iu. to l>e kept up 
 
 Registry tracers must receive immediate attention of receiving postnni8t«r 
 
 to l)e sent when receipt of registereil postage-stamp, etc., i>ackage is not acknowl- 
 edged • ; 
 
 Regular subscribers to newspapers and periodicals defined 
 
 Regulations, alterations in, how noted 
 
 examination of employes of Railway Mail Service in _ - 
 
 mi.scellaueiMis, and suggi stions in ivgard to mailing matter to foreign countries 
 
 postal, by whom to be prescribi-d 
 
 Rejection, right of, nserved on all bids for carrying the mail 
 
 Keiuoval, in case of, frcmi State of sureties new bonds re(iuired 
 
 of postmasters, by whom made • 
 
 ftjr neglecting to promptly collect drafts 
 
 Rene vfal of lost warrant or draft, how obtained 
 
 of i>ostniaster's bond, how made 
 
 Rent of letterboxes in post-offices to be prepaid quarterly 
 
 of letter-boxes nnist be reported by jjost masters 
 
 of jiostotlices. aUowance tor, onlv made to tirst and second class post-offices 
 
 Reports, annual, of Auditor of the Treasury forjthe Post-Office Department 
 
 annual, of Postmaster-dcueral ,- 
 
 monthly, of postagi-.stamps, &c., to be made by postmasters at Presidential offices. 
 
 luartcrl v. of exjien-ses to be made by postmasters 
 
 • >f local agents to be made daily to l')ivision Suiierintendent of what 
 
 Representatives in Congress are entitled to send and receive public documents 
 
 free ol iharge -*•'• 
 
 Request matter must have one full rate of postage prepaid 
 
 not tirst class, sender may have returned by sending postage 
 
 to be returned to writer , 
 
 ReNidenrp nt postmaster must be within delivery of iiost-office 
 
 Resignations of cmi)loy6s of Kailway Mail Service to be forwarded to Divisnm Su- 
 
 ]ierinti>ndents .' -.-,•••• 
 
 Responsibility for uncollected drafts, sureties of postmaster to be held to, it the 
 
 Matter fails lo jmmiptly collect drafts 
 
 .Return of dead matter 
 
 Ret urn- letter envelopes, cancellation of return stamps on 
 
 Postniaster-Oencral may issue 
 
 27 P L 
 
 1112 
 MlU 
 
 1126 
 1120 
 1120 
 1120 
 1120 
 1120 
 H20 
 MKI 
 t*12 
 HW 
 1104 
 
 858 
 826 
 848 
 872 
 8.->7 
 92G 
 H&'l 
 830 
 
 8o8 
 
 909 
 825 
 
 903 
 902 
 871 
 871 
 872 
 907 
 85" 
 844 
 893 
 806 
 
 188 
 2IH 
 176 
 187 
 276 
 275 
 275 
 276 
 275 
 277 
 178 
 177 
 176 
 188 
 262 
 
 182 
 178 
 
 181 
 184 
 1><2 
 192 
 
 la-j 
 
 179 
 182 
 
 190 
 
 178 
 
 189 
 189 
 184 
 184 
 184 
 189 
 182 
 181 
 187 
 176 
 
 892 
 807 
 
 914 
 
 897 
 896 
 895 
 894 
 
 884 
 
 885 
 193 
 
 716 
 
 1132 
 
 26 
 
 597 
 
 109 
 
 101 
 
 1198 
 
 1201 
 
 112 
 
 300. 301 
 
 299 
 
 129 
 
 45 
 
 44 
 
 162 
 
 341 
 
 799 
 
 246, 248 
 4.Vi 
 465 
 456 
 104 
 
 76*5 
 
 1197 
 482 
 376 
 143 
 
 187 
 178 
 
 190 
 
 188 
 188 
 187 
 187 
 186 
 
 186 
 
 74 
 
 353 
 
 166 
 
 278 
 
 39 
 
 141 
 
 57 
 
 56 
 
 300 
 
 300 
 
 .58 
 
 93 
 
 93 
 
 63 
 
 45 
 
 44 
 
 68 
 
 99 
 
 174 
 
 84 
 116 
 117 
 116 
 
 56 
 
 171 
 
 299 
 
 119 
 
 103 
 
 65 
 
418 
 
 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 Return posstal cards, caiKellatiou of return stanijis on 
 
 Postmastfi -(it-iieral may issue 
 
 Return requesiit. (.SVcEKiiUEST Matter.) 
 
 Returns, quarterly,. blauk forms for, and instructions for keeping, at fourth-class 
 
 post-ottices 
 
 composed of what 
 
 copies of, to he forwarded and originals to he retainecl by postmasters 
 
 errors in, corrected by Auditor 
 
 forms for, at Presidential ]»o.st-ortices 
 
 how to be mailed 
 
 indorsement on back of, how filled up 
 
 not to include more than one fniartci' 
 
 not upon regular blanks will not be audited 
 
 payments for former (|uai ters not to appear on 
 
 on account of, wliat not to be entered on 
 
 penalty for failing tn render 
 
 penalties for rendering fal.se 
 
 printed labels to he used liy postmasters at Presidential offices 
 
 rendition of, not changed on account of a postmaster giving new bonds 
 
 time of rendering 
 
 to he accompanied by attidavit 
 
 rendered by postni;isters 
 
 signed by whom 
 
 transcript to be sent wit li .. .. 
 
 when lost in the mail postmasters must forward duplicates 
 
 Revenues, how covered into the Treasury 
 
 from postage c(dlected fiom publishers, how to he i-ejtorted 
 
 postal, to be deposited b,\' certain po.stmasters at least once a week 
 
 surplus, to meet exi)euses at first and second class post-otMces 
 
 to he paid into tin- Treasury ... . 
 
 uncollected at i>iist otiici's to Imj eharged against postiuaster.s 
 
 Road duty, postma.stirs not cxeiiipt from 
 
 Robbery of post-otticc to 1><- reported to Chief Special Agent, how 
 
 Robbery of the mail, attempt at, penalty for 
 
 penalty for '. 
 
 punishment of accessory to, after the fact 
 
 to he reported to Chief Special Agent 
 
 Roster of clerks at post-othces of first and second class 
 
 Route agents. {ISee EMi'i.dV^s ok the Railway Mail Service.) 
 
 on steamboats to receive and take charge of letters 
 
 Postmaster-( jcneral may appoint 
 
 to he provided with apartments on mail-.steamhoats 
 
 Russia, correspondence to. liow addressed 
 
 newspapers not allowed to be mailed to, except 
 
 Sacks, (iiee Mail-kacs.) 
 
 Safety chain for mail-keys to he u.sed by employes of Railway Mail Service 
 
 Sailors' letters may he forwarded unpaid, how 
 
 Salaries, no postmaster to retain more than 
 
 of clerks at jiost-othces 
 
 foreign mail-agtuts 
 
 fourlh-class ](ostmasteis 
 
 letter-carricns 
 
 mail-agents on board of ocean steamers 
 
 postmasters, applications for readjustment of, to First Assistant Postmaster- 
 General 
 
 postmasters at Piesideiitial post-otHces 
 
 biennial, readjustment of 
 
 limit of 
 
 may be dated back, when 
 
 may be deducteil from receipts 
 
 (uders ati'ectiiig, to l)e reported to Auditor 
 
 pro teiii 
 
 of special agents 
 
 Sale of i(ostan('-stai\i]iK and stamjied envelopes 
 
 of ))ostagestinii|is, etc., tn lie nia(h' by postmasters for cash only 
 
 unlawful, of poHtage-staiiijis ; iiiiialties tlu'refor ' 
 
 Sample copies, definition of 
 
 manner of iiuiilin'.i 
 
 not entitled to free county delivery 
 
 of scicnidelass mattei- nia\ be mailed at ])ound rates 
 
 Samples of iiicrciiandi-k<> (kcc CfiNVKN iion ok Paris, regulations ai>oi'TKI> r.Y) 
 admissilile to mails for Canada, New SouthWales, Xew Zealand, Qneenslan<l and 
 
 Victoria, Australia .... 
 
 (■onditioiis of mailing to Postal Union countries 
 
 not a<hiiissilile in mails to Ecuador 
 
 < Guatemala 
 
 Sandwich Islands 
 
 resti'ii-l ions on, wlien sent to ('anada 
 
 Sandwic-li Islands, siiecial [postal arrangements witli 
 
 Satchels lor mail -carriers, liow obtained 
 
 Seliedule, c^hanges of, liy railroad lompanies to be reported to Division Superintend- 
 ents liy employes 
 
 S<-hedule of arrival and departure, when clianges may not be made in 
 
 Selietliiles of arrivals and deiiartnifs of the mails to be furnished postmasters 
 
 Seliemes, lacing slijis witli errors noted timw post-otticcs to he compared with 
 
 how olitained l)y jiostmasters 
 
 to be fuinislieil to employ ('s of Pail way Mail Service 
 
 Sec. 
 
 Pa.-, 
 
 376 
 
 Ids 
 
 143 
 
 65. 
 
 1178 
 
 292 
 
 115.-> 
 
 287 
 
 116.^) 
 
 288 
 
 1167 
 
 288 
 
 1177 
 
 289 
 
 1150 
 
 287 
 
 117.) 
 
 289 
 
 ll.'ifl 
 
 287 
 
 115(< 
 
 287 
 
 117U 
 
 289 
 
 1172 
 
 289 
 
 11.-.:! 
 
 287 
 
 lis 
 
 61 
 
 llOU 
 
 >«7 
 
 1164 
 
 288 
 
 11. -.4 
 
 287 
 
 115-.' 
 
 2>*7 
 
 11. -.1 
 
 236 
 
 1166 
 
 288 
 
 1157 
 
 287 
 
 1169 
 
 289 
 
 39 
 
 3 
 
 161 
 
 68 
 
 74 
 
 ?,l 
 
 1-J7 
 
 62 
 
 66 
 
 50 
 
 57 
 
 49 
 
 6 
 
 •fi 
 
 492 
 
 121 
 
 1239 
 
 312 
 
 123.'* 
 
 312 
 
 1247 
 
 :!14 
 
 493 
 
 121 
 
 131 
 
 es 
 
 261 
 
 87 
 
 22 
 
 38 
 
 608 
 
 144 
 
 1122 
 
 266 
 
 1123 
 
 267 
 
 784 
 
 172 
 
 179 
 
 72 
 
 134 
 
 6S 
 
 131 
 
 6S 
 
 19 
 
 37 
 
 117 
 
 60 
 
 310 
 
 95 
 
 20 
 
 ■J» 
 
 123 
 
 62 
 
 116 
 
 .19 
 
 119 
 
 61 
 
 122 
 
 62 
 
 12» 
 
 61 
 
 132 
 
 65 
 
 120 
 
 61 
 
 135 
 
 63 
 
 6 
 
 3.=. 
 
 145 
 
 6^^. 
 
 166 
 
 65> 
 
 118 
 
 6! 
 
 203 
 
 76 
 
 205 
 
 76 
 
 244 
 
 84 
 
 195 
 
 74 
 
 1126 
 
 274 
 
 1113 
 
 264 
 
 1126 
 
 275 
 
 1126 
 
 275 
 
 1126 
 
 275 
 
 1126 
 
 274 
 
 1126 
 
 2T5 
 
 365 
 
 1'>1 
 
 745 
 
 168 
 
 622 
 
 145 
 
 657 
 
 1S4 
 
 42:: 
 
 \m 
 
 400 
 
 lOri 
 
 731 
 
 ; V' 
 
iM>i:\. 419 
 
 Ncollllllfl. (.SVi- CKKAr Ukiimn.) 
 
 SonI «)t I'omI otlicc I)«'i>iirtiii<iH 
 
 W«>ulo(l lotHTJ* never to lie o|iiuii| i>rililiiitii<l mi hiihiim ii>ii tliiil tliiv idiitnln tiiiiiiall- 
 
 ;llili- iiiMlt.T ... . ■ 
 
 Nealc'd piK'kiijfi'H siilijcrf to liistiliis.-i lalt-s ul' iiciHtaKc 
 
 til 111- CiiiNwnilid MS liist rliisH matti-i' il'iiiir lull talc <»(' |ioHta;;c in paiil 
 
 Nfiilx, Niiiiflity ot\ iiiisliiiaMli'i.s In iirfSfivc inviiilalc 
 
 Wi>nr«'ln'"i I'm- iii;iil iiNitli'i trMiis|iiiT tcil in viiil:iliiiii <il' law 
 
 Mi-coiid AHHi«<innl l*o*<liiiaMtrr (a«*iii>rnl, ii|i|iliratiiins I'lir iiiHiMtaiiH lu Im> iiiadf 
 
 to 
 
 luisiiicss orotliee of 
 
 iiiav j;iiint Icavc.-i of absi-iicc to ('in|)lo\ es of Kailway Mail Si-i'vifC on hiii');cou'ii cer- 
 
 t'iliiatc of ilisaliilit.v ' " 
 
 may siiTli wliat contiacts 
 
 railway roiii]iaiii<'s to icpoif to. wlion ready li> liave niailH weijjlied 
 
 to he fiiinislied witli Inventoiy of what |iiil)lie jiroperty at jiost-oltices 
 
 Net'Oiid clnNN iiinil'iiiitlf<>r. a|i|>ea'l of postmaster in iloiilitliil cnHex to Fh'Hl As- 
 sistant I'ostiiia.stii-CMiiiial 
 
 1 tills, rt'ceiiits. and indeis tor suliscriiition may lie iiirlosed in 
 
 deliuition of ' 
 
 entry of, at iiost-ottiees 
 
 essential eharaeteristies 
 
 foreiftn publieatioiis, liow iiiNiH-eted 
 
 may In- admitted as 
 
 form of tiill foi- to aeeom)iany 
 
 freeeonniN |iul>lieations must lie mailed liy themselves 
 
 must not claim two oltiees of |>nblicatioii in dift'erent oouii- 
 
 ties 
 
 free in county exee)it at carrier post-oltices 
 
 how to be ottered for mailiujr at m'c-deli very iiost-oftices 
 
 loses its cliaracter when iirobibited matter is found therein 
 
 uianm-r of colleitini; )Mistairi- on 
 
 may be carried in otti<es outside of rejiular mail-ba.sis 
 
 ixamined at mailint; )iiist-oftiee 
 
 must be opeTi for exam iiiat ion 
 
 limiierlv folded and addressed 
 
 linijieily wrajiped and Kufticieiitly dried 
 
 m)t to be received at oftices for mailiug without ccrtiticat* of postmii8ter that post- 
 age has been ]iaid 
 
 of foreijin nviuiii tinclaimed, jiostmaster uetMl not notify i)ublisher id' 
 
 ponaltv for pnibiliited writ in.;;' or print in ji npun 
 
 peniiissiblc additions to 
 
 (lostafte on. at free-delivery post-ottiees 
 
 to bi- reported to Tliird Assistant I'ostmaster-deneral 
 
 postnutsters may examine, on receipt, for iirohibited writing, ett' 
 
 require evidence of subscription list 
 
 to notify jiublishers when not taken from post-ottice 
 
 rates of jiostajre on 
 
 record of. to be kejit by iiostmaster 
 
 rule re<;ar<Uuii lottery advertisements 
 
 sauiple co]iics not entitled to free count.v delivery 
 
 of new siiapers. etc.. allowed to be sent by and to iiublisliers and 
 
 news airenls 
 
 .sejtarated advertisement sheets in magazines, eti'., not allowed 
 
 special adhesive stamps for postage <m 
 
 arrangement for mailing to (ireat Britain at pound rates 
 
 Cana<la at iiound rates 
 
 Sandwich Islands at pound rates 
 
 susp<'cted to contain unlawful matter should be detained 
 
 to be wi'ighed in bulk at mailinii post-otli<e 
 
 teni]! irary permits for iie\N. blanks for, how proiuri'd - '^1 
 
 |iermit uuiy be granted by iiostmasters for new ]iublications to pass as.. liHi 7.' 
 
 S«'t'relary of Mciiatr entitled to "send anil receive public documents free of 
 
 postage 245.246,'J4S M 
 
 McrdM from Aiiricultural Dciiai'tment free of postage "-47 fi4 
 
 may be mailed in .sealed envtdopes, how -'^ "* 
 
 Seiieurcs of packaiies containing letters unhiwfull.v concealed, forfeited to United 
 
 States ■ ■'*.'. 1X1 
 
 Menate, Seci-elarv of, entitled to .semi and receives public documents free of post- 
 age ". 245,24«.24f S4 
 
 Meiiatoi-N arc entitled to send and receive public documents free of postage 245, 246, 24X S4 
 
 W<>pai-atiiig jtOKl-oHi<-<>M. allowance for clerks at 1-1 Oi 
 
 Mliausliai, registi-ition of letters to. penni.ssible 1121> 27K 
 
 Nliip I<>tl<-ri4. account of. kept by postniiister '-K iS7 
 
 de tin it ion of -■j'j "^ 
 
 double postage on --^2 'IH 
 
 manner of collecting fees on '-{'" ■*'2 
 
 no fee on. addressed to foreipi countries --'^ '^ 
 
 no fees to mail vessels for bringing "-'•'■' ".i. 
 
 no fees to passiiincrs or sailors for bringing -'(JO ». 
 
 payment for carrying [-■}^ ";* 
 
 ratini; ii|i postiiL:e on -•'*' •"'' 
 
 to In- ni civi-il liv masters of all I'nited States v<-ssels 2">2 ^i 
 
 Wliip prill |«-<I iiiaticr may be forwarded charged with double postage 
 
 Nhip.o, m-iil to be received on board of -•''-• 
 
 Migiialiire on circulars, etc., does not make tUeni subject to letter postage 
 
 Wilvev cannot be registered to foreii;n countries 
 
 
 l'ai;e. 
 
 2« 
 
 41 
 
 4.-M 
 
 112 
 
 IKI 
 
 73 
 
 IKt 
 
 ~.t 
 
 :<m 
 
 \M 
 
 .'.70 
 
 m 
 
 074 
 
 l.W 
 
 **7 
 
 40 
 
 74K 
 
 100 
 
 4U 
 
 40 
 
 CU 
 
 I.V) 
 
 .-.IB 
 
 124 
 
 IMH 
 
 73 
 
 •s:a 
 
 «2 
 
 l'^ 
 
 7a 
 
 uw 
 
 7."> 
 
 ik:. 
 
 73 
 
 2ia 
 
 "" 
 
 •SM 
 
 «2 
 
 242 
 
 1*3 
 
 24.t 
 
 »* 
 
 2:t'.l 
 
 K3 
 
 241 
 
 «« 
 
 20}) 
 
 77 
 
 l.W 
 
 68 
 
 77« 
 
 171 
 
 209 
 
 77 
 
 1X2 
 
 72 
 
 2:m 
 
 "2 
 
 2:1.'. 
 
 s2 
 
 723 
 
 160 
 
 irjH 
 
 280 
 
 2n:t 
 
 82 
 
 2.11 
 
 81 
 
 240 
 
 83 
 
 101 
 
 6« 
 
 2l!«i 
 
 88 
 
 1!M 
 
 74 
 
 471 
 
 118 
 
 190 
 
 74 
 
 IS!) 
 
 74 
 
 22»; 
 
 SO 
 
 244 
 
 .<4 
 
 19.-. 
 
 74 
 
 210 
 
 77 
 
 192 
 
 74 
 
 lilt* 
 
 2C0 
 
 112»i 
 
 •274 
 
 112ti 
 
 **7."i 
 
 211 
 
 77 
 
 191 
 
 74 
 
 2«M 
 
 .xT 
 
 253 
 
 80 
 
 2:« 
 
 SI 
 
 9m 
 
 189 
 
420 
 
 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 Site of post-ofliccs uiit tu be changed by iiostinasters 
 
 Size of pai-kageM in jtostal union mails 
 
 Skelehes, foiiith-tlass matter, being unclassified 
 
 ^Iide-label!4. {See Labels.) 
 
 Smithsoniau Institution allowed to send package.-* iu excess of four pounds as 
 
 t'imrth class matter 
 
 Soldier!<i' and sailors' letters may be forwarded unpaid, how 
 
 to be forwarded when mailed in oftices 
 
 Special agents' accounts referred to Division of Special Agents and Mail Depreila- 
 
 tions 
 
 ajipointed by Postmaster-Geueial 
 
 authoiized to administer oaths 
 
 authority and i>owei-s of 
 
 bond required of 
 
 carried by railway companies without extra charge 
 
 cases, when allowed per diem pay 
 
 certain officers of Dei)artnu-nt may act as 
 
 communications from, confidential 
 
 credentials of, always sigmd by whom 
 
 should l)e di luandid by postma.sters 
 
 employed in certain duties, paid out of what appropriations 
 
 employes of Railway Mail Seivice must assist j must not report presence of 
 
 instructions to, by whom given 
 
 mail rn tiansit may be delivered to. by employ6s.of the Railway Mail-Service 
 
 may be authorized to make searches for mail matter transported in violation of law 
 
 placed in charge of post-offices 
 
 open mails 
 
 seize letters unlawfully carried out of the mails 
 
 must be obeyed by postmasteis, contractors, and other postal employes 
 
 persons autliorized to be ap])ointed 
 
 presence in offices not to be noted on employes' record of arrivals and departures.. 
 
 regardeil as iitrsonal reiii escntatives of Postmaster-General 
 
 report to l)e made to, when registered packages fail to reach their destination 
 
 responsible only to Postmast .-r-General 
 
 salaries of 
 
 transported free by mail contractors 
 
 to have access to offices 
 
 to notify .justices of the peace of their right to examine persons arrested for viola- 
 
 ti(ms of postal laws 
 
 to search vessels for letters unlawfully carried 
 
 Special mail carriers, postmasters to reports amount paid for, to Third Assistant 
 
 Postmaster-General 
 
 Special post-ofBccs, nature of 
 
 postmasters at, to report to Auditor balance over amount due mail-caiTier 
 
 notify Second Assistant and Division Superintendent when point 
 
 of supply is changed 
 
 must pay mail-carriers promptly 
 
 RU)>plying mail to 
 
 Special request envelopes, accounted for as postage-stamps 
 
 requisitions for 
 
 spoiled in ))rintiug, proper course of postmasters 
 
 Special service, on new mail-routes may be extended one year 
 
 Specimen papers. {See Sample coi'if.s.) 
 
 Spoiled neivspaper wrappers, postage only on, refunded, how 
 
 Spoiled postal card.>t, how redeemed 
 
 Spoiled stamped envelopes postage only on, refunded, how 
 
 Stage-coach, penalty for falsely advertising, as carrying the mail 
 
 Stage-rou tes, direct packages i o be made for post-offices on, of mail to be forwarded 
 
 by 
 
 Stamp Division. {See Posi AiiK SxAivir Division.) 
 
 Stamped envelopes {see Voi^v XkiKifix'sn'S for general provisions concerning) kinds of 
 
 letters inclo.sed in, may be conveyed outside of the mails, except 
 
 mode of making reijuisition liv postmasters 
 
 postage on spoiled, refumbil. how 
 
 Postmaster-General authorized to adopt improvements in 
 
 postmasters not to lose fraction o " cent on sale of 
 
 to be issued by Postmaster-C ;<neral 
 
 sold at cost and postage 
 
 when redeemed to be sent to Third Assistant Postmaster-General 
 
 tracer to be sent when receijit of registered packages of, is not acknowledged 
 
 Stamping, {See Dateu sia.mi'.) 
 
 Stamps, newsi)a|)er and i>eriodical, how used 
 
 newspaper aiul jx i iodical, i>ost,masters how to proceed when exhausted 
 
 penalties for unlawful sab- of 
 
 postage, and other supj)lies, record of, to be kept by postmasters 
 
 credit for, when dist roved, liow oiitained. ." 
 
 forging or couutei feit ing of, penalty for 1227, 1228 307, 308 
 
 how to be disposed of when post-oftice is discontinued 
 
 kinds of 
 
 lost or stolen, to be charged to postmasters 
 
 manner of canceling 
 
 monthly report to be made by nostmasters at Presidential offices 
 
 no coniiieiisaticm allowed for sale of 
 
 no cre(lit allowed when stohm 
 
 not to be exchanged 
 
 l(enalty for removing, from mail-matter, or using, washing, or selling after 
 cancellation 
 
 Sec. 
 
 Page. 
 
 527 
 
 126 
 
 1113 
 
 265 
 
 221 
 
 79 
 
 221 
 
 79 
 
 179 
 
 72 
 
 7-14 
 
 168 
 
 27 
 
 39 
 
 6 
 
 35 
 
 8 
 
 35 
 
 13 
 
 36 
 
 11 
 
 36 
 
 644 
 
 152 
 
 6 
 
 35 
 
 7 
 
 35 
 
 14 
 
 36 
 
 040 
 
 128 
 
 540 
 
 128 
 
 10 
 
 36 
 
 786 
 
 172 
 
 12 
 
 36 
 
 769 
 
 171 
 
 570 
 
 134 
 
 110 
 
 58 
 
 13 
 
 36 
 
 564 
 
 133 
 
 13 
 
 36 
 
 12 
 
 36 
 
 787 
 
 172 
 
 18 
 
 37 
 
 849 
 
 181 
 
 18 
 
 37 
 
 6 
 
 35 
 
 615 
 
 145 
 
 758 
 
 170 
 
 15 
 
 36 
 
 563 
 
 133 
 
 81 
 
 52 
 
 76 
 
 52 
 
 87 
 
 53 
 
 4 
 
 27 
 
 88 
 
 53 
 
 548 
 
 130 
 
 156 
 
 68 
 
 149 
 
 66 
 
 1.53 
 
 67 
 
 
 354 
 
 170 
 
 69 
 
 171 
 
 70 
 
 170 
 
 69 
 
 1251 
 
 315 
 
 391 
 
 105 
 
 139 
 
 65 
 
 568 
 
 134 
 
 147 
 
 66 
 
 170 
 
 69 
 
 144 
 
 6G 
 
 166 
 
 69 
 
 138 
 
 64 
 
 174 
 
 70 
 
 172 
 
 70 
 
 885 
 
 186 
 
 159 
 
 68 
 
 160 
 
 68 
 
 118 
 
 61 
 
 .514 
 
 124 
 
 167 
 
 69 
 
 1228 307, 308 
 
 164 
 
 69 
 
 137 
 
 64 
 
 173 
 
 70 
 
 377 
 
 103 
 
 162 
 
 68 
 
 165 
 
 69 
 
 168 
 
 69 
 
 169 
 
 69 
 
iNi»i:.\. 
 
 421 
 
 MinuipH — ( 'oiitiiiiicil. 
 
 postage, I'o.stiiiii.Htir(!iiicial aiilhi>ii/.i'<l to adopt iiiiprovciiii-ntii in 
 
 rcroi<l of iiTciptH of, to l)c ki'id liv poHtniaHtiT, how 
 
 ifqiiiHition for, liow to \iv niailr l).v postiiiaHt<Ts 
 
 sohl at (liscouiit to (lfsi;;natcil af;<'iits 
 
 to 1(0 caiicclcil bv post mast CIS 
 
 issuiMl by I'ostiiiaster-tioiuinil 
 
 soltl for cash only 
 
 lurniMl over by reliriii{{ postniaxtrr to HiicccMHor 
 
 treat incut of matter beariiin eaneeleil or improper 
 
 ilili'. how to be used 
 
 im fiirw anbil Utters, how refiincleil 
 
 on undelivered matter, how treated at free- delivery offleex 
 
 penalty for failinjj; to at!ix .' 
 
 time of atlixiufi 
 
 to be used on \inpni<l nuitter roneliin;; destination 
 
 KtAiKlartl weiK'lllN furnished for testing; letter-balanees in post-otHi'es 
 
 Ktar routes, delivery of mails to way iiost-olliecs on 
 
 <tire(t jiaekajres to be made for post-olliees on, of mail to be forwarded by 
 
 Ntar service, form of eontiaet for 
 
 State eoiirtN, jurisdietion of. over oflenses against the postal laws 
 
 State Itepartiiieiit will refund to consuls posta<!;e advanced by them on letters for 
 
 the Tnitiil States 
 
 State laws ri';;iilate juri.Hdiction of State coui'ts over trial of postal utfenses 
 
 States, mail to be made uji by. in OtKces 
 
 ))ost-ottices 
 
 Stationery, allowaiu:o for, only made to ])ost-otiices of tirst and second class 
 
 Statioiiiii. (See Kii.vxcii i-ost-okkice-s.) 
 
 St<>aliiii$' mail-matter, i)enalty 
 
 Steamboats, mail apartments to be furnished on 
 
 mail, letters on, how disposed of 
 
 penalty for uidawfully ]>aiiitiui;- the words "U. S. Mail" upon 
 
 Steamboat letters, liiiount oi', to be kept 
 
 on mail steamboats to ;;o into hands of route-agent 
 
 to be received by nuisters of inland steamboats 
 
 Steamboat service, contracts may be made for. without advertising 
 
 Steamers, ocean, mail agents on. appointment and salaries 
 
 Stolen money to be delivered to owners 
 
 Stolen postage-stamps to be charged to postmasters. ... 
 
 Straw-bi<ls for carryings^ the mail, failure or refusal to contract or to perform 
 
 service prima facie evidence of 
 
 penalty for 
 
 Street niailing'-boxes, ane.st of persons found tampeiiug with 
 
 earners must rejiort injuries to 
 
 how obtained 
 
 may be placed in hotels and commercial exchanges 
 
 not to be placed inside of any but public buildings or railroad stations 
 
 penalty for injuring 
 
 injuring mail-matter deposited in 
 
 l'<istniasf ei -( i'eneral shall establish, etc 
 
 to be kejit in re])air : list of to be kept in post-otKce 
 
 l^ubcontracls for carrying tiie mail, ap])lieation for. to be made separatelv 
 for each route : eojdes (d'. to be tiled with Second A. ssistaiit Postmaster-tJenenif: 
 
 subi-ontract to be with original contractor (mlj' 
 
 form of, coj)ies of. to be tibMl with Auditor; .subcontractor to be jiaid by Auditor be- 
 fore contractor 
 
 Miibletling mail contracts without con.sent of Postmaster-General prohibited. .. 
 
 Subscriber to newsjiaiiei-. eti-.. detinition of 
 
 Subscription list of second-class matter, evidence of. may be reijuired 
 
 Subslilute employes of Railway Mail Service to sign name of employe for whom 
 they are seivin^ 
 
 Subslilute letter-carrierx, how apjiointed 
 
 Suggeslious, miscellaneous, in regard to mailing matter to foreign countries 
 
 to the public ill legal d to using the mails 
 
 Siiggetitions to th«' public in regard to transaction of business with the IJepavt- 
 
 nient 
 
 Suits against iiidi\ iiliials. what credits allowed in . . 
 
 claims for credit not allowed in. unless presented tirst to Auditoi- 
 
 .judgliient in. at r<tuin tciiii unless 
 
 may be brought in ehanceiv. when 
 
 records of Di'partiiient to be evidence in 
 
 under the jiostal laws to be biouglit in name of United States 
 
 Sunday, deli\eiy of tlie mails only (lermissible on 
 
 matter not be received for registration on -•• 
 
 no money-order business to be transacted on 
 
 Superintendent anil Disbursing Clerk, office of. duties of 
 
 Superintendents «»f iiiaiN, appoint menf of at jiost-otttees 
 
 at post-olhces. general duties of 
 
 to examine facing slijis on which enors have been noted 
 
 funiish iiostmasters with record of errors 
 
 record errors in distiiliiilion ; 
 
 SHperintenilent of Railway .Ylaii Service, appointuunt and duties of 
 
 Supplements, deliiiition of 
 
 peiinitted ill second-class iiialter 
 
 Supplies for postal service carried by railway companies without extra charge 
 
 Sureties, in ca.sc' of death, removal from State, or inmdveney of new bonds are ri'- 
 ijiiired 
 
 144 
 
 (Hi 
 
 1168 
 
 2*i»* 
 
 147 
 
 m 
 
 17.'. 
 
 7u 
 
 :v;:i 
 
 103 
 
 136 
 
 <H 
 
 ItHl 
 
 tK( 
 
 IfU 
 
 69 
 
 .•t7« 
 
 1U4 
 
 i.'* 
 
 68 
 
 •.'74 
 
 90 
 
 273 
 
 >« 
 
 271 
 
 H9 
 
 272 
 
 «9 
 
 270 
 
 ■<>j 
 
 lt< 
 
 2^ 
 
 (K12 
 
 Wo 
 
 391 
 
 105 
 
 601 
 
 141 
 
 ."•2 
 
 47 
 
 U3(i 
 
 •JHl 
 
 52 
 
 47 
 
 724 
 
 167 
 
 387 
 
 11)5 
 
 129 
 
 •KJ 
 
 123.'; 
 
 :!iii 
 
 60tl 
 
 144 
 
 261 
 
 s7 
 
 12.^il 
 
 :il.-. 
 
 262 
 
 
 261 
 
 s7 
 
 253 
 
 HI) 
 
 607 
 
 143 
 
 20 
 
 ;jf 
 
 .62 
 
 .'HI 
 
 173 
 
 7o 
 
 600 
 
 143 
 
 t>06 
 
 143 
 
 36:< 
 
 101 
 
 33.-. 
 
 9K 
 
 :t6J 
 
 101 
 
 313 
 
 96 
 
 312 
 
 95 
 
 334 
 
 98 
 
 1229 
 
 308 
 
 333 
 
 98 
 
 357 
 
 101 
 
 625 
 624 
 193 
 ISM 
 
 751 
 321 
 1132 
 
 1217 
 12Ii> 
 1222 
 1223 
 12tM! 
 
 si'l 
 
 974 
 
 ■r^ 
 
 413 
 414 
 416 
 
 417 
 415 
 •t. 706 
 207 
 20«! 
 IM4 
 
 10'.» 
 
 141! 
 141! 
 
 16!) 
 96 
 
 278 
 29 
 
 29 
 
 104 
 :w.\ 
 :;it4 
 :iU4 
 ;!i)4 
 :(01 
 125 
 176 
 201 
 
 39 
 107 
 107 
 108 
 108 
 108 
 , 16:t 
 
 7«! 
 
 76 
 l.VJ 
 
422 
 
 rOSTAL LAWS AND REGULATION'S, 
 
 Siirrtics — Continued. 
 
 may render accounts of deceased postmasters 
 
 (in bidders' bonds to l)e ai)])roved by a postmaster ; 
 
 bonds of bidders for cairjing must qualify: penalty for falsely swearini; to value 
 
 of propeity, etc 
 
 more tlian one bond, qTialification of 
 
 piistiiiasters' bonds, how released 
 
 limit of liability 
 
 not liable -when suit for indiTbtedness is not instituted within 
 
 three years after close of accounts ... 
 
 res]iousibh- foi their neglect to collect Auditor's drafts 
 
 responsibility after jiosfniaster's death 
 
 to apply to I'iist Assistant I'ostmaster-deneral for release.. 
 
 to be notitied by .\uditor of deticieucy in accounts 
 
 Surplu.s revenue, allowances for e.\]ienses at first and second class post-ottiees to 
 
 to be made out of . . 
 
 fS^'itzerland, money-orders exchanged with 
 
 Telegrams on government business, rates to be paid for . 
 
 Telegraph companies, lines of may be juirchased by United States 
 
 may take buililing materials from ])ublic lands 
 
 must accept obligations before exercising rights ccmferred . . 
 
 give priority to govoi'un;ent messages at lates tixed by the I'ostmastor-Gcn- 
 
 eral '. ' . . . . 
 
 penalty for refusing to transmit government telegrams at rates fixed by Postmas- 
 ter-General 
 
 lates to be charged by, for tran.smitting government telegrams 
 
 rights and privileges gTanted, not to be transferred 
 
 of way over public domain granted to 
 
 subject to government rates, li.st of 
 
 Temporary contracts for carrying' the mail, no higher payment than last 
 
 contract-price autliori/.ed for 
 
 not to lie made by jiostuiasters after expiration of contract-term 
 
 to be for not exceeding one year 
 
 when authorized to be made without advertising 
 
 when to be made by po.stmasters : when made to be reported to Second Assistant 
 
 Postmaster-General 
 
 Temporary permits for new second-class j)ublication.s, blanks for, how procured. 
 Terminal post-offlce.>», mails to and from, to be accompanied by employes of Rail- 
 way Mail Service ' 
 
 Third Assistant I»ostmasterOeneral. ab.scaice of registry-bill and return- 
 registry-receipt on domestic registered matterto be reported to. by receiving 
 
 postmaster 
 
 luisincss of office of 
 
 doubtful iiuestions under registry regulations to be submitted to 
 
 iiKluiries for dead matter to be addressed to 
 
 may sign what contracts 
 
 uiisdireeted registered packages of po.stage-stamps, etc.. from Stamji Division to be 
 
 reported to 
 
 iiuarterly reports to, of matter registered at all ])ost-offices 
 
 regi.Htered packages of po.Htagc-stamps. etc., found danuiged in transit to be re- 
 pented to ' 
 
 i-ep(Mt to be made to. l)y postmasters of registere<t letters arriviu'.: unsealed 
 
 of registeied matter arriving without |)ostaj;e- 
 stamps atKxed to cover ))ostage and fees. . . 
 
 of Ihrough-registered-pouches to arrive 
 
 Thirtlciass matter, definition of and lates of ])o,stage thereon 
 
 dis])osition of dead. (.Vfc I)|-..\i) I'lflXTKH maiticu.) 
 
 manner of preseuting. for nniiling 
 
 may be carried outside of tlu^ mail 
 
 r(!gistered 
 
 to wliat fori'iyii countries 
 
 packages of, may coutain wliat" 
 
 penalty fin- prohibited writing ujion 
 
 jierniissilile writing on 
 
 postmasters may exan inc. on receijit for pridiibited writing, etc 
 
 lules to be oliserved by jiersons ott'ering. for registration 
 
 size of sent to ( ireat Ihitain and < ieruiany. liow limited 
 
 undelivered valualde. to l)e ad\ci tised 441 
 
 wfi^iit «if. limited to fill IV I inn nils, exeejit for single liooks 
 
 Thrituurh poiichCM of ordinary mail not to lie f<irwarded by mail trains 
 
 Throiiuh registerc*! itonJ*hei", bills for. must be signed and copied 
 
 contents of, not agriM ing with j much -bill, report to be nuide 
 
 delays in transmission of, to be recoidi'd 
 
 di.sks used to indicate dispatch of extra 
 
 upon, must be carefully noted, etc 
 
 disjiositiou of damaged locks and keys of 
 
 exchange of, must be ni variable ■. 
 
 extra, must he piomptlv returned 
 
 failure of. to ariive to be repoited to Third Assistant Postuiaster-tieneral 
 
 found damaged in transit, disjiosifion of 
 
 iuspe<tiou of helbre closing. 
 
 in transit, when to be ojiened 
 
 locks and ke\ s of. how protected 
 
 must be labeled. <iinteiits compared, etc 
 
 opened on receipt by two clerks and contents checked, etc 
 
 preparation of for dispatch .' 
 
 1 1 ceii cd in liad order, how treated 
 
 Sec. Page. 
 
 11()3 
 
 28« 
 
 .381 
 
 138 
 
 582 
 
 138 
 
 ',Ki 
 
 138 
 
 IKi 
 
 58 
 
 110 
 
 57 
 
 11. ■. 
 
 58 
 
 HOT 
 
 299 
 
 111 
 
 58 
 
 iiy 
 
 58 
 
 lOti 
 
 0( 
 
 127 
 
 62 
 
 lO.'-.ti 
 
 217 
 
 1261 
 
 318 
 
 12.58 
 
 318 
 
 12.'-).1 
 
 317 
 
 1259 
 
 318 
 
 12t)(i 
 
 318 
 
 12ti1 
 
 318 
 
 125(i 
 
 317 
 
 1254 
 
 317 
 
 1262 
 
 319 
 
 605 
 
 143 
 
 (il7 
 
 145 
 
 605 
 
 143, 354 
 
 605 
 
 143 
 
 8.>« 
 
 182 
 
 27 
 
 40 
 
 .897 
 
 188 
 
 21 
 
 31 
 
 ,50 
 
 46 
 
 851 
 
 181 
 
 888 
 
 187 
 
 855 
 
 182 
 
 860 
 
 183 
 
 862 
 
 183 
 
 !i:!(i 
 
 194 
 
 215 
 
 78 
 
 23; 
 
 83 
 
 572 
 
 134 
 
 810 
 
 176 
 
 000 
 
 188 
 
 238 
 
 83 
 
 23:! 
 
 82 
 
 232 
 
 81 
 
 2(i6 
 
 Sfi 
 
 815 
 
 177 
 
 1118 
 
 266 
 
 , 451 
 
 115 
 
 221 
 
 79 
 
 40:! 
 
 106 
 
 922 
 
 192 
 
 932 
 
 19:i 
 
 933 
 
 193 
 
 925 
 
 192 
 
 92() 
 
 192 
 
 934 
 
 193 
 
 917 
 
 191 
 
 !I27 
 
 192 
 
 936 
 
 194 
 
 9:!8 
 
 194 
 
 923 
 
 192 
 
 031 
 
 m\ 
 
 9:i0 
 
 19:i 
 
 924 
 
 192 
 
 929 
 
 193 
 
 921 
 
 191 
 
 928 
 
 192 
 
iM>i;\. 
 
 423 
 
 I ki-iMij^jli r<'^iNl<-i-4-il |iom<'Im-<> — ( 'mil iniiiil. 
 
 takiii ill 1 11 1 II 111 iiMl iiustiiHiccs, when 
 
 MiniHiiiisHiDii (if. Ill list lir rc;;iilin- iiiiil invariiiltlu 
 
 wluil matt IT III list 111' iiii'liisi-il in 
 
 'rhr<»iiu'li rt'K-iNtrml-iioiifii o(IU-«>it, t'lir wliiit piirpnitc i-Htitliliftlifil 
 
 »|Mcial sii|i|ilitH lor 
 
 iinist In- kf|il II 1 1 
 
 iisr anil rair of. spi't'ial sii|i)ilii's for 
 
 Tiitif ol allixiii!; |iostaK>'<l"f flaniiiH 
 
 To|>(>K'ra|>li<>r. ilisliniscincuts I'ov otlirc of, liow iiiadr 
 
 uoik nlollir. ol' 
 
 Trallif aii«l triKliii;; by i-iiiplovi's of Kailwnv Mail Scivii-i- on dutv fni'liiilikin 
 
 TraiiiM. ro>tiiias!(i -Ccncral tti iliViilc wliat. shall cairy mails ' 
 
 TriiiiMOriplM iiui.st acconiiiany iioslniastirs' i|iuirtt'rly ivtuni 
 
 al\va\s 111- SI 11 1 w illi ai rininl-cili'VOlit 
 
 uot upon rii;iilar Iilanks will imt In- a ml it id 
 
 t4) iiiilmli' only )iusiiiiss iif mil' iiiiaitcr 
 
 TrniiMcripf N of refortlM of Amlitor'.s 1 ks prima facie i-vMciu-e iii trials for em- 
 
 lif/,/.li'iiiiiit of nioniviinli'i' fmi(ts 
 
 "f till' D.'paitni.'ut, liow aiitlii'iitiiattMl 
 
 TraiiMlVr of dciiuHits liv post mast its to be niailf iironiptly 
 
 "f mail 11 111 tracts ]iiiiiiiliiti'il 
 
 liostal ili'piisits. how made 
 
 liosf-ottiii's from oni' tinaucial ilass to auotlu^r 
 
 |iioiiosals for canyi:!^ the mail proliibiti'd 
 
 pulilir funds by jiostinastii' in tVii' ri'^jistind Ictti-r 
 
 TraiiMt'rr «f drbtw due tlir Di'partniint to contiactors 
 
 to lontractors only in aciordanrt' w itli approjiriatioiis 
 
 TrHnwftT of iiiailw at stations, rerord of. to In- ktipt by local agents 
 
 '.lual a;:i'iits to assist in and siipi-iinti'ml 
 
 TraiiNii-iit ii4-u><pa]t(>rM. [See 'riiiicDci.Ass mattek.) 
 
 TranNiiiillal It-llfr, iiiii|iiiit of. to ari'onipany dciiosits 
 
 TrauMitorlaliou «-iir4>lop«-H for sii'ds, itc. may lie scaled 
 
 TraiiNporlalioii of iiiailN. (See Maii. iciN iijact.s.) 
 
 Trea»iii'«'r of llic I' ■■ileal MtaleM, riirn-ni-v sent to. for rc(li'iii]>tion to be rejristcred 
 tVei- of .liar^i- ' 
 
 may draw upon postal dipositaries 
 
 '1 rials of otfinsi's a<;ainst postal laws in Federal and State courts 
 
 of owiu'isliip of attaibed pio|ii'rty bow to be conducted ^ 
 
 Trip peri^^it!!i, in ride in ( Ittiies. ..' 
 
 Trip reporl»>, acridiiits to mail-trains to be noted in 
 
 to be made li\ em|iloyes of the Uailway Mail Service to Division Superintendents.. 
 
 Turi^i, inti'iiiatioiial exebauiic iiost-ortiee for money-orders 
 
 T v»-iii<> in ( tftices to be examineil by empbiyes of Ka'ilway Mail Service and tunicd iu to 
 
 terminal iiostottiees 
 
 T j'pe-writiiig not printing:, and therefore tirst-class matter 
 
 I'nclaiiiieal leltcrn not to be held at lioteks loiifrer than ten days, to be then redirected 
 
 ami ntiinied to ]iiist-otHee 
 
 I.'i»«.-lai>^i<-<l ■■■alter. (Sec Dkah .mattek.) 
 
 .idvertisemint of. at fourf li-class jiost-ofKees 
 
 ifter return to sendei-. treatment of 
 
 form of advertisement of 
 
 'nay be jiratuitoiisly advertised in newspapers 
 
 secouit-ilass. of foreij;!! origin, postmasti'rs need not notify publishers of. \\ 24 
 
 ■itatiiiiiiit ot. to aeeom]iaiiv. when sent to Dead Letter Office 
 
 wbi'ii to lie SI lit to Dead Letter Otliie 
 
 l'ni-lai^^^e<l iito^^ey in dead letters turned into Treasury 
 
 reeovered I'roiii mail depnilatious turned into Treasury 
 
 I'nclaiiiioified ■■■atier. {Sec Fuiim ii-n.Ass MArn-.u.) 
 
 rated as fourtli class, not subject to letter liostajlC _ 
 
 I'ndrlivered matter, registered doniestic. to be "returned to mailing luist-oflice .... 
 
 ■egistered foreign, sent to Dead Letter Office 
 
 returned to post-oftiee by letter-can ieis must be indorsed with rea.son for non-de- 
 livery ' 
 
 To be stani|(ed with reason of non-delivery 
 
 l' niforiti for em]iliiVL's of Itailway Mail Service 
 
 of letter-carriers ; " c 
 
 8«o. Page. 
 
 !I37 
 
 IM 
 
 ;i3:> 
 
 liKI 
 
 •.r»} 
 
 191 
 
 UI.'. 
 
 191 
 
 UlU 
 
 101 
 
 UIO 
 
 191 
 
 ftlM 
 
 101 
 
 •-TJ 
 
 80 
 
 .'.3 
 
 47 
 
 'Si 
 
 89 
 
 763 
 
 170 
 
 ftt'J 
 
 152 
 
 iir.r. 
 
 287 
 
 1157 
 
 287 
 
 IIM 
 
 287 
 
 1150 
 
 287 
 
 1076 
 
 222 
 
 28 
 
 41 
 
 78 
 
 52 
 
 623 
 
 146 
 
 m 
 
 51 
 
 77 
 
 52 
 
 600 
 
 141 
 
 80 
 
 52 
 
 60 
 
 49 
 
 60 
 
 49 
 
 7tf8 
 
 174 
 
 795 
 
 173 
 
 7n 
 
 .•SS 
 
 •1-i'i 
 
 79 
 
 1 
 
 SIT 
 
 177 
 
 71 
 
 51 
 
 52 
 
 47 
 
 1210 
 
 302 
 
 759-761 
 
 170 
 
 788 
 
 172 
 
 727 
 
 168 
 
 1055 
 
 217 
 
 739 
 
 168 
 
 220 
 
 78 
 
 • if littercarriir.s to be siip|died bv themselves .. 
 I'niverMal Po.>itai t'nio^^. (.SVc (■(ixvENriox of 
 
 (See (■(iXVEXriOX OF Pakis.) 
 
 onditions of form and weight for matter addressed to coiiut-.ies in 
 
 couiitrii s and colonies embraced in. names of 
 
 postage and registration fee to countries of 
 
 registered matter to be forwarded in 
 
 i'niiiailable luatter, addressee of. to be notitied, when 
 
 ■annot be registered 
 
 •letinition anil ilassification of 
 
 deiiosited in Offices to be jiostmarked, etc 
 
 tlestriictivc, disiiositiou ot 
 
 -numeration of 
 
 forwarded to Division Superintendent to .show name of emi>loye sending: 
 
 found in ( Iffices, disposition of 
 
 bow sent to Dead Letter Office 
 
 ■uadvertently forwaided, how treated at jiost-oltices 
 
 reaching destination, how treated 
 
 must be .sent pronii>tly to Dead Letter Othce 
 
 (■recautious to lie taken by ]iostniasters against receiving 
 
 •each inn destination, bow disjiosed of 
 
 449 
 
 115 
 
 406 
 
 117 
 
 451 
 
 115 
 
 452 
 
 115 
 
 1132 
 
 280 
 
 474 
 
 118 
 
 469 
 
 117 
 
 56 
 
 49 
 
 .56 
 
 49 
 
 13 
 
 27 
 
 876 
 
 185 
 
 908 
 
 190 
 
 :f49 
 
 100 
 
 470 
 
 117 
 
 711 
 
 164 
 
 r. :i28 
 
 97 
 
 329 
 
 98 
 
 1113 
 
 264 
 
 1106 
 
 262 
 
 nm 
 
 262 
 
 912 
 
 190 
 
 439 
 
 113 
 
 810 
 
 176 
 
 432 
 
 111 
 
 743 
 
 168 
 
 440 
 
 113 
 
 •>•»•» 
 
 79 
 
 741 
 
 168 
 
 740 
 
 168 
 
 442 
 
 114 
 
 436 
 
 112 
 
 230 
 
 81 
 
 441 
 
 113 
 
 224 
 
 79 
 
 475 
 
 118 
 
424 
 
 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 Uniuailable matter — Continued. 
 
 received from railway Offices by postmasters, how treated 
 
 returns of, to Dead Letter Office 
 
 to be returned to senders by postmasters, when 
 
 sent to Dead Letter Office 
 
 under Postal Union regulations, defined for foreign mails only 
 
 when returned to senders at distant jiost -offices 
 
 Unpaid matter, double postage on wholly, wlien inadvertently reaching destination 
 
 failure to affix jiostage-due stamps, penalty therefor 
 
 how to be treated at free-delivery post-offices if unable to deliver 
 
 not to be delivered till postage i.s paid 
 
 postage-due stamps to be affixed before delivery of 
 
 time of affixiua: postajic-diic stani jis on 
 
 Unworlied mail received at jMist-offices to be reported 
 
 Vacancy of office of jiostmastpr to be tilled without delay 
 
 Vacancies in jiost ottitts. bow tilled, duties of sureties in case of 
 
 in the Railway ilail Service, eni]iloyes not to give intVmuation concerning 
 
 Valnable matter received at Dead Letter Office, record to be kei)t of . . . ." 
 
 registration of, should be encouraged by postmasters 
 
 Value, letters of declared, not admissible to Postal I'liion mails 
 
 Vehicle, jienalty for falsely advertising, as carrying the mail 
 
 Venezuela, special postal arrangements with , 
 
 Vessels carrying letters contrary to law not to be granted clearances 
 
 may be searched bv Siiecial Agents for letters unlawfully carried 
 
 penalty for unlawfully painting, etc., words U. S. Mail upon 
 
 to deliver all letters at post-offices 
 
 Victoria, special postal arrangements with 
 
 Vouchers acconi]ianyinj.; general postal account to be retained by postmasters 
 
 for deductions on account of ex]ienses to be sent to Auditor 
 
 for only one (juarter to be sent with (piarterly return 
 
 nuist acc(>m]iany iiostniasters' tjuarterly return 
 
 no allowance toi- exjienditures without 
 
 not upon regular blanks will not be audited 
 
 Wales. (.SVf i iKKAT P>I{IT.\1X.) 
 
 Warrant, aii]ili<atii>n to Auditor for renewal of lost, must jirove non-]iaynieut 
 
 ap])lication to Audit(U- for dujdicate of lo.st, how made 
 
 du])licatc. tencu. force, and effect of 
 
 Warrant ot attachment. {See Attachmext.) 
 
 W^aste paper and tTV'ine in Offices to be examined by em])loyes of Railway Mail 
 Service and turned into terminal post-offices 
 
 in post-offices to be examined for letters, etc 
 
 sent to postmaster at Xew York to be sold 
 
 Water-route.'ii, contracts for mail-service upon, made without advertisement 
 
 mail may be cat ried on 
 
 Way post-otHces on star routes, driver not required to leave his team to deli^■er mail 
 
 to 
 
 Way pouches, registered packages must be sent in, except 
 
 Weight, conditions of, for matter addressed to Postal TTniou coiuitries 
 
 limit of four pounds for third and fourth class matter in domestic mails 
 
 no limit of, for official matter 
 
 Weight of mails, compensation of railroads based ujion 
 
 on railroads to be ascertained, liow often 
 
 W^eight of matter to be determineil at post-office of mailing 
 
 Withdra^val of matter, ajiplication for, to be refused when 
 
 hejond mailing post-office only peimitted Ijy special order of the Postmastei'-den- 
 eral 
 
 proof of identity to be re(iuired befoi'e 
 
 registered first-class by writer before dispatch 
 
 when i)ermitted 
 
 Witnesses in trial of otfenses against postal laws, when to give bond 
 
 'Wooden labels. (-See Lauf.ls.) 
 
 W^rappei-s, postmasters may remove, from matter not charged with lettei-postage 
 to ascertain whether it contains an.vthing liable to higher rate 
 
 stamped newspajjer, to be issued by Postmaster-( ieneral , 
 
 requisition for, how to be made 
 
 to be sold at cost and postage 
 
 when sjioiled postage only refunded, how 
 
 Written inscriptions, third-class matter not to be rated up for, unless they are 
 
 clearly in the nature of ])ersonal coiTes])ondence 
 
 Written matter. (.S'ec Fikst-class mattkk.) 
 
 Writing, tliird-class matter cimtaining, may i)ass tbrougli the mails at third-class 
 rates, wlien ' 1 
 
 Sec. 
 
 PasP. 
 
 435 
 
 ■12 
 
 443 
 
 114 
 
 437 
 
 113 
 
 431 
 
 111 
 
 1117 
 
 265 
 
 438 
 
 113 
 
 267 
 
 88 
 
 271 
 
 89 
 
 •273 
 
 89 
 
 268 
 
 88 
 
 270 
 
 89 
 
 272 
 
 89 
 
 401 
 
 106 
 
 110 
 
 .57 
 
 110 
 
 .5T 
 
 767 
 
 171 
 
 483 
 
 119 
 
 .«;09 
 
 176 
 
 1124 
 
 267 
 
 1251 
 
 315 
 
 1126 
 
 276 
 
 .-.61 
 
 1.3& 
 
 563 
 
 133 
 
 12.51 
 
 31» 
 
 .562 
 
 13a 
 
 1126 
 
 277 
 
 1185 
 
 296 
 
 133 
 
 63 
 
 1159 
 
 287 
 
 11.55 
 
 287 
 
 1173 
 
 289 
 
 1 1.58 
 
 287 
 
 1202 
 
 300 
 
 1201 
 
 300 
 
 1204 
 
 300 
 
 739 
 
 168 
 
 .522 
 
 12.5 
 
 ■)9 
 
 28 
 
 607 
 
 144 
 
 •547 
 
 130 
 
 662 
 
 155 
 
 842 
 
 180 
 
 1113 
 
 264 
 
 221 
 
 79 
 
 221 
 
 79' 
 
 (129 
 
 140 
 
 (i33 
 
 150 
 
 269 
 
 89- 
 
 293 
 
 92 
 
 294 
 
 !t2 
 
 292 
 
 92 
 
 .«:83 
 
 186 
 
 291 
 
 92 
 
 17 
 
 37 
 
 266 
 
 .18 
 
 138 
 
 lU 
 
 147 
 
 66 
 
 174 
 
 70 
 
 170 
 
 6!^ 
 
GLOSSARY 
 
 WORDS HAVING A TECHNICAL MEANING IN THE POSTAL SERVICE. 
 
 Ai-liiig Posliiirtsler. A inison in iliMim- i.f n piist-i>Hiic l»y aiilliority rVmn tin- I'lrrtiilinl in .•««.• 
 lit' llic iciiii)\;il. oi- liy aiitliiiiity nftlic suii-ticti nf tlio ixistniastcr in liim- «if tin- iiiMroniliiiK. ar- 
 ifst, insauilv. or ilcatli ol' tile latttT. |)( ndin-; tin- a|))iiiintin('nt of a n«w {mstniarttcr. Sc»- ner 
 
 tions 111, i:{rj. nt)2. 
 Address. iSyji. Direclinn.) Tlip siipeisoTi)itiiiii of mail. 
 Iddresst-e. The person or care to wlioni matter is aililicsscil tor delivery. 
 AdjiistiiK'iil. A])iilie(l to railroa<l serviee means tlie tixinj^ol' tlie rate ot'coiii|ienriation allon;tl>1e for 
 
 the amount and <hara<-ter of tlie serviee rendered under seetion 62!). 
 Advance Migiiatiire. Tsed in railway mail serviei- to desi;;nate the action of an eniployu in aisn 
 
 ing the re<'ord of arrivals and departures, as liavin^ departed on his iiin at a •■(.riain day and 
 
 hour, in advance of tlu' actnal time of liis departure-: as. lor instance. .>ignin;; the niiiht liifoi. 
 
 for his morniniT nin. This jiraetice is strictly prohihited. 
 Advice of a .llouey-Order. A letter or notice, jiartly printed and partly wiitleii. Iiearin;: tin 
 
 same number and date as its correspondinji nuuu'V.order, sent bv the iHsnin<: to the paying iMistt- 
 
 master Ibr the |)ur]iose of informing the latter as to the name and re.sideuce of the remitter aud 
 
 payee of the order. I'sed to assist tlie paving postmaster in tUo identitication of the owner of 
 
 thJ' order. (S.-ctions 981, OSO. 00], !l!l+.) 
 Advioe-Foriit. The jirinted form. ))rescribed by the rostmaster-tieneral, uikhi wiiieli a letter i>f 
 
 advirc is made out. (Si<tion 991.) 
 Advertised. l'ul)lisiieil thiough the jiress or posted eonspienou.slv in the jiost-ortice. 
 .\dverliscd liClter. .\ lettir whicli. remaining in a ])ost-oltice tuK-laimed or undelivered, is adver- 
 tised in accordaiK-e with regulations. 
 Agency. Koute. A railroail oj- steamboat r<uite on which the way service, or ."(erviee for the mail 
 
 supply of ))ost-ottices located tlu'ieoii, lu- interchange between tlie sanu*. is perfornii-<l liy m\ 
 
 eni]doye of tin- railway mail service known as a route agent. 
 Agent, Local ITIail. An I'luidoye of the railwa\ mail serviee to wlioni is agsigm-d the duty ot 
 
 supervising transfers of nuiils at union depots, .juuetions. &c. 
 Agent, Konte. (Syn. Mail Agent.) An emido.v6 of the railwa.v nniil s.'rvi<-e in inuni-diati- eliarjje 
 
 of a route agency. 
 .4ntedate. To date errom'Onsly before the correct day. usually ftu- fraudulent pnrpo.ses : as to ant«-- 
 
 date a mcmey-iu-der or a remittance letter. (Section 10>>.").) 
 Application. Apajx-r. jiartly printed aud )>aitly written, upon whieii tli.- remitter has stated the 
 
 anuiuiit for which lu- desires a nioneyor<ler to be made luit. and the particulars neces.sary to be 
 
 known at tlie jiaving otlice in order to secure pa\iui-nt to the right person. (Sections ItT.s. 979. > 
 Application. Form of. Form 60(11, upon wliicli tin- remitter of a money ordi-r is retpiired to nnikf 
 
 out his ai)plieatiou. (Seetion 97S.) 
 Badge. A mark or insignia designed to distinguisli otticials or i-mploy^-s id' any branch "f tin- pi«st 
 
 ottiee serviee. 
 Bag. (.sVc M.ui. H.\(;.) 
 Bag. Di!«patcli. A leather pouch witli spi( ial 1." U. in which is forwarded the foreign lorresjionil 
 
 ince ot' the Department of Stat ■. 
 Beneficiary. The jiavee, <>v i»erson for win m the anuiuut of a moneyonlui is intended. Cenei-ally 
 
 used to designati' the iiavee of an inteinatioual uu>ncy-order. (Solicn 1(146.) 
 Blind Keadcr. Tin- clerk in'tlu' lan^.r post-otiices to whom is referretl leu tinal interpretation. beforr 
 
 forwarding to tlie I)eail-L>tter Oliice. su<h mail as may be received illegibly addre.s.sed. "r the 
 
 )Mi)per de.stinatiiui of w liicli is ihuibtful. 
 Bond of Indemnity. .V bond or L'uarantv reipiired hv the I'osl-Ortiee lV|«artnient from tli.- r.-mif 
 
 ter w ho applies lor a duplicate of a lo.st money-onler. of wliieli nidllier the pavie nor his legal 
 
 re|iresentativ.- i an bi- found. The condition of this bond is sit fnrtb in seetion 1(MI6. 
 Box, Street-mailing. A box placeil at street corners or other favorable lo.ation for the recption 
 
 of mail to be taken thiiefroni at certain intervals to the general or branch postothce: n.seil only 
 
 in ]io.st-o|}iees where the free deliverv service is established, ami gemially at tachi d to lamp-post.- 
 Brass Lock. A mail lock id' more intricate construclioii than the ordinary iron lock, u.-ed only ou 
 
 long star muti s for direct pouches, between separating post-othees. whieli are not to be i.pi-ned 
 
 '■/( 7n„(f. , . 
 
 Bnllelin of Veritiealion. A blank for the correction and the statement ol the i-rrors and ij regu- 
 larities of all kinds di.seovered in the mails ixchanged between eomitries of the I niveisal rost.-ii 
 1 "ion. ,. . , 1.1 
 
 Bnllctin, PoNl.Ofliee. A printed schedule for the information of the imbhe, ol cIoms and arrivals 
 of mails at iiostoltices. . ....<• 
 
 Canceled .Yloney-Ordcr. A niouev-order. supposed to have been lost, lor which an applicatiou lor 
 a duplicate has been made aud forwarded to the Post-Ottiee Deiiartment. (Section lOOlM 
 
 Cnneeler. (Svn. Killei: Oblitci-afoi:) A liandstanip for the eancellation of iiostagestanips. It .some- 
 tinns forms a tixed attachment to the iiostinarkiiig stamp. lu all cases it should be u.seil m eon- 
 uictiou therewith. . ,. ., . .. ., 
 
 I'ase. .\ frame contaiuiui; a number of boxes for the a.s.sortiiig, separatuui. or distribution ot mail. 
 
 I'ase. Assorting. A piece of ].ost otlice fiii-uiture designed for a general sepanitmn ol letter mail 
 preliininarv to a tinal disposition of the same for forwanlinfj. 
 
426 POSTAL LIWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 Case, Oeuci-al Di^iitriburioii. The piece of fimiiture used at small post-offices for the ^eueial 
 assoitiiij;' of mails received and dispatched. 
 
 Case, lietter Carrier's. A case consistiiii; of ]iinc(iii-li(>les placed over a letter can'ier's table to 
 assist liim in anaiiuiuir his mail lor ronsciutive delivery. 
 
 Case. Letter- ]>i<«tribntion. A piece of fiunit lire arr;uij;ed and intended to facilitate the distribu- 
 tion of letters. Four cases, eacli comiirisin" from 100 to 200 separate boxes, are usually com- 
 bined in one i)ieie of furniture. 
 
 Case, Paper-Distribution Platform, (^yu. Platform Oven.) The same as the last named with 
 the exception that a workino; platform i.s raised to the level of the lower tier of boxes, thus 
 aflbrdini; ^i.rcatcr facilities where many divisious on one case is necessary — consistinii of from 
 300 to .j.50 divisions, oi' boxes. 
 
 Case, Paper Distribution, Cprighl. iSyn. Oi-cn.) An iiprislit caseof horizontal tiers of boxes, 
 oiilinarily VI' x 10", fidiit openiii'.; aiiaimed to facilitate llie distribution of 2d, 3d, ami 4th class 
 matter. Consisting of froui .jl) to 17') divisions or boxes. 
 
 Case. Registered. {See KKinsi'EUEii.) 
 
 Case Kxainination, Offices by Counties. An examination conducted in the railway mail 
 service anil distribution divisions of ]>ost-offices. consistiuji of the separation of cards repieseut- 
 ini; tlie ]iost-otli(es of a State or section, into lioxes labeled for the counties in which such post- 
 otHcesaiv locatiMJ. 
 
 Case Kxaniiualion, Offices by Sicbenie. An examination peculiar to the railway mail service 
 and distriliution divisions of post-oltices. consistinj: of the separation of cards representing 
 tile ])ost-ottiees in a State or section into boxes labeled for the mails directed by .scheme or order 
 to l)e made II)) for such .section. 
 
 Case Examination. Ti-anscript of Sehome. An examination somewhat similar to the alwve, 
 l)ut in wlii( h the cards lepreseut only the offices ap])earing on the face of a scheme in which 
 only a ))ortion of the offices in such county are specitically given. 
 
 Cash-Book. The book in whiih the daily cash receipts and disbuisements of a money-order ix)st- 
 offiei' aic entered. (Section 1077.) 
 
 Cateh. To seize a mail wliile a train is in motion. 
 
 Catcb-Crane. A crane erected by the side of a railroiid track on which to suspend ])onclies contain- 
 ing niail to be taken by a train in motion at any rate of speed. 
 
 Catch-Pouch. (>SV(' Maii,-('.\T(HEk PorcH.) 
 
 Catch-!<(talion. A mail-station at which a mail-train iloes not stop, and mails are necessarily 
 taken on trains w itli the catclier. 
 
 Catcher. An iron instrument used on trains in connection with the fixed catch-crane, to take on mail 
 at mail-staticms wliire no stoji is made. 
 
 Catcher-Arm. The part of tlie catcher resting in sockets at either end and parallel with the side 
 of the ciii at all times. Tlie short arm of tlie catcher as distingni.shed from the trip or long arm. 
 
 I'atcher-IiCver. The wooden handle or lever by which the trip is worked or raised to a position on 
 a horizontal liiii; with the arm, for taking the ponch from the crane. 
 
 Catcher-Sockets, Tlie sockets on either side of the car door in which the catcher works and is 
 supDorted. 
 
 Catcher-Trip. Tlie long or rather the outer ann of the catcher, which, when riiised by the lever, 
 trijis the l)ag froio the crane and secures it near the intersection with the ann. 
 
 Certificate. Interuaiioual. (See Inteknationai..) 
 
 Certificate of Deposit. A receipt made out by the postmaster of a money-order post-office of the 
 ■'tirst 1 lass" ill aekiiowledgment of the deposit of a remittance of monev-oider funds. (Sees. 
 1(IS2, 10S3.) 
 
 Certificate of Inspection. A certiflcjite of tlie Second Assistant Postmaster-General to the Au- 
 ditor of the Treasury for the Post-Office Dejiartment. certifying that mail-service has been per- 
 formed for a s]>e(itied peiiod liy the ])er,soii or by the mail-contiactor named therein. This cer- 
 tificate also shows the amount of tiius and deductions, if any. which should be charged to con- 
 tractor, or jiersiui pirforiiiing the service, beiause of failures or delinipiencies during the period 
 of time covered liv such certificate, and is called a ■certiticate of inspection" because it is pre- 
 Ijared after careful iiispeeti<in of the piiiofs of ])eiformance of m.iil-service. 
 
 Certificate of Service. A certihcateof a postmaster, or other officer of the department, certifying 
 to the iiirformaiiie or non-perfo •mance^of iii lil-service by a mail-ciuitractor or other ])er.son 
 authorized to cany the T'nited States mails, to be filed in the offire of tlie Second Assistant 
 Postiiiasrer-(ieiieral. Division of Inspection. This certiticate is occasionally accepted in lieu 
 of the register of arrivals and deiiaitui'es 
 
 Certified I/ist. (See LsrEHXA iicinat.'PLm ii ANi.r, List.) 
 
 Certified .TIoney-Ord'*r. A moiiey-ojibr. or the listed parficulars of a money -order, which has 
 been eertitied 1)\ nil iuternatioiia! exchange office as correct and entitled to be paid in a foreign 
 couiiri>. lSecl:oiis ]049, KKi.'). ( 
 
 Chargex. Aiiiouiits due and collectible at the post-office of delivery on mail insufticiently prepaid, 
 but foiwaiileil in aceordaiice with regulation or treaty stiiiulation. 
 
 Cleat. An Mttaclimeiit of metal device to a sack to which the drawing-card is fastened in closing the 
 .sack. 
 
 Clerk. Ciiief Head — (R. M. S ) A head railway i)ost office clei-k detailed to take immediate charge 
 of the general ditails of serviie of a route or number of routes, to arrange for changes wlien 
 necessary. >.V.c. 
 
 Clerk. Dispatch. .\ clerk at a post-olbce to whom is assigned the special duty of dispatching and 
 receiving mails. 
 
 Clerk. Tally. .\ clei U lo wb>)iii is assigned the duty of tallying and checking made-up mails and 
 niakiiiu for tile a jieriiianeiif rccoid of the same.. 
 
 Clerk's I\ limber. .\ number stamped or written on the face of a facing-slip to indicate the clerk 
 making ii]i the mail such faciiig-slii) accompanies. 
 
 Close. The time spcciticMl and publicly aiinouiieed as the latest that mail can be ri'ceived at a post- 
 office tor dispatch 1).\ any given mail. 
 
 Closed .TIail. Corii'spondeiice si'iit in sealed hags in transit through one or more intermediary 
 
 colllUries. 
 
 CoIU'Clor. A lett<r-earrier detailed to the sjiecial iluty of collecting mail from street mailing-boxes, 
 
 hotels, and other designated public' mailing-places and conveying the same to the post-office or 
 
 luaiich post-office. 
 Combined Register. (.SW- lJEfasii':u.) (Section 1002.) 
 Coiiiiecti<>:i. .\ term used to indicate a liausfer or coiitiiiuatiiui in transit without delay from one 
 
 route lo another. 
 Coiiiicctioii. Clos4-. .\ term used win n tin ditVerem c in time between the arrival at a ]>oint of mail 
 
 on one route ami its ilejiaiture on another is only what is rcciuisitc to make all transfers. 
 
(JI.OSSAKY. 127 
 
 I'oniicctioii fVoiii. iTlH<l«-. A Imii iist'il tii iiiiliciili' tlnil n i (•iiiii-iliiiii iiiwiiiil im rmm ii iDiiiimi 
 
 IMilillmili' llIlN lircli l<Tii\ r(l llV tllC otlllT Vlillll', lllllllTKtiHill III' lll-Ki)(lllllfll. 
 
 < oniirclioii I'l-oiii. .VIi<«>i<Ml. A tcnii iisi-il in tin- miiiih- rfliitimi. In iliMriHif ii fiiiliiii- to riM-<-lvn 
 
 >lll'll t'lllllll'i lion 
 
 <'oiiii<-<-lioii M illi. Tliiilo. \ ti'i'iM iisfil to iiiilii':iti> tliiil rniiiiiTtinii ■nitwiiril m witli ii iiuiiii-ii tiinll 
 
 icilllr li:i> Ii 111 iIiIImiimI liy till" rouli' llliili-l'Htiioil or ilf-iiv:ii'lt<'>l. 
 t'onnorlioii willi. .TIisN«><l. A tciin iiscil in tin- Hiiiin' relation to ili-Kriilir ii railiiir to ili>lfri-r Htirh 
 
 roinii'ctiiili. 
 
 Coiilrnflor. Om- who imliv idiiMllv or iis m linn ■ onlrarlM to pcrloriii rrrtain si'rvii'i. of tin- iiuturi' of 
 tr:iiis|)orl:il ion. in ;iri onl;inri- willi nilniii s|ic<'iH('iitioin4 anil lor a ili-tliiiti- Hinonnt nnincil !■ 
 
 (■OIlllM.I, 
 
 C'oiilriK-lor. Tlnil-Koiilc. A rontrartor witli tin- I'osi (Mlio Ii<'|inrlniinl tor liani)ii>rlatiiiii i>( 
 
 111.' ni:iil on :i .-.t;i;:c (star) of ini-ssi'n;:rr rinilr. 
 l'oi-il«-<l ^iiick. i.V(. .h iiCaw AS MailSaiK.) 
 <'orr«'> |ioii<l4>ii<'«'. A- used in loiiinii mail Hir\ ici' ami in postal c on \inl ions. s\ non_\ moiis with niHil 
 
 malti'i': anv niatirr ailmittril to tlii' mails. 
 I over. Ki|iii\ ali'iit or(ii\i|o|ii- or wiaiiprr. 
 ( oiiiili-y »(' l^rMliiinlioii. Saini' as ]iayin'.: roniiliN . 
 Coiiiili') of nrifiitt. Saiiii' as issnini; roiintry. 
 Coupon. A iiMiiioiamliini of jiaiiiiiilars 111' an iiili'nialiunal moiii\ orilir. |iiirfl,\ prinliil ami paitly 
 
 written in tlir iiiaii;in tliereof in smli a manner that it ma\ lie iletailieil leailih . anil tlleil by 
 
 itself for t'litiire ret'erenee. Seet ions 1047. Ill4i». lOPo. 
 <'r«'«lit. A speeitied aniiiiinl of nionev-orihr fiimls in the eiistoil> ol the poslniHster at New York. N. 
 
 v.. ajiainsi wliieh llie postmastei- at some other otliee has lieen anthotizeil liy tin- superintend 
 
 ent of the moiie.x oilier system to ilraw ilralts. IfSeetion l(l!t.'i.» 
 I'rcw. (Smi.. ,S'«'/.) The men lompo.sini: a jiartN of employes worUinii in a ear. 
 Dra«l. Sneh nail matter as has lieen aiivertiseil and remained iinelaimed oin- month after the date ol 
 
 adverti.seineiit. or has lieen relii.sed, or for any reason has not reached the party addresse<l 
 
 (See Seetion 4:!:!.l 
 Ortiiirlioii. The sum forfeited In a mail eontiaetoi for the failure to peifonn a trip or any part of 
 
 a trip. 
 Dflivfi-y. riie act of plaeiii;; mail in the |)ossessioii of t he parties add nssi-d or snlijeel to their order 
 
 The district contiunoiis to a jiost ofKce over which the postmaster at sneh otiice has iininiMliat'- 
 
 siipeiv ision and eliart;e in all malteis of a local natnie connected with the m-ueral mail service. 
 
 The mail made up in an oHice for the ileli\erv of another: a direct package. 
 Orlivf'i-y WiiidoM'. The idaie in a luist -otiice while delivery of letteis is made, nimn a]>plicatioii, 
 
 to persons, not liox-holders. or not receivin'_' their mail liv aiilhori/ed Ictlcrcarrier.s. 
 1>f-po«it. .\ remittance of nionev-ordi-r fluids after its receipt at the ilesiL;ii iteil money order post 
 
 otiice of the '• first class ' to which it was addressed. Such receipt i ntitles the n-mittiii!: pi^t 
 
 maslei to a ceititicate of deposit therefor from the reieiviiiL; ]mstniastei . 
 Oopos'l, C'frlificute of. (,Vc Ci-.uiii-u ai i-; nv Dki-osi i.) (Section Kix:; i 
 DepoNii. Omc«-ol'. (Ncc MoM.v-OiMii'.it Oi'i-iiK ni-' IHK Kik.st Class.) 
 DppoMiliiig Ollicc. .V post-ottice from which a remittance of nioney-onln funds is received for fie 
 
 jiosit. (Section KIS.) 
 Of'poMiliiijS PoslmasiHT. (,»(• KK.MlTTlSii rosf.MAsri-.ii.) 
 D<>po«iloi-y. .\ iiostoflice designated liy the deiiartinenf for tin- repair ol mail iioiiches and sack.*. 
 
 for the rri eijit and storage of new pouches and .sacks, and for the issue of same on onler.— l'. 
 
 .\ jiosi -office ilesi;:nated for the depiisil of postal funds liy other iiostmasters, 
 l>f*lriifliv«'. Matler which hy reason of its hiiitfiil nature is lialile to injure the ]iersiins of jiostal 
 
 i-mploMs 111 daiiMLie other mail matter. 
 l>ir«Tlorv Nfnrt'lior. .\ (lerk to whom is assigned the duty of searcliinj; eitv directories for tbo 
 
 full ]iriiiiii address on mail matter, the address of which' when rceeivi d is inconiidete or iucor- 
 
 rect. 
 1>ire(*l Pouch. A poinli labeled to a post-oliice or route understood or named. 
 I>i!!>rrf*paii4'y. A difference : generally iisci! to siyiiify a ditl'erence in number, date, or aiuount a.<« 
 
 statid ill a mone\ -Older and in its eoi responding advice. (Section 1(IS4.) 
 Di«pat«-h. .\ term ii.scd to indicate all tin- mail forwarded bv a routi- at aii.\ one time. It nicluae.-« 
 
 the close, the actual leaving from llie poslolhce, the train, boat. stai;e, or coiiveyaine forwaijled 
 
 by, the depot or station-hmdinu such train or boat leaves from, and the time tixed ior each ol 
 
 these nioNelllelllS. 
 
 1>i«pnl<-li. .-IdTniifC. A dispatcli made to a train or l«iat in aihaiice of the last and regular di.s- 
 patch lor the same train or boat. The advame dispatches are nninbi reil in reverse oitler. or in 
 iet;iil:ir iiiinierical order from the regular (or standardi dis|iatch. 
 
 I>i«pnlfh, K«>siilar. Tin last ordiiiarv wa'ion from a post-oltice to a train or boat, and whu-li in 
 eludes all mail deiiositcd in the post-olti.-e to time of closiiiLi for sneh dispatch. 
 
 Dixpalrh. N<-li«-tlulc. .\ sch.-dule showinj: the dispatches of mails from a piist-otlice. witli »l"j''."ji 
 time. lea\ ill" time of the \aiioiis waeons, route, train, and leaving; lime of the same, by which 
 ilis|iatelie(l.~ , ,- . 
 
 T>ii»palrli. !i*iippleiiirillai-y. .\ sjiecial dispatcli oceasionally made alter the rei;nlar di.siiatcli. 
 
 Diwpatcli .>iinibri-. A number indicatin,^ a certain dispatch. 
 
 niMlribulioii. (Svii I>ix.. I>i.-^f.. 1>. I'. <>.) -Ml ordinarv mail received at :;iiy po.stothce addri-sseil 
 lo other post-'otlices. not delivery malli-r. -J. Matter sent to a iiost-offiee to be forwarrted thero 
 from to other iiost-ollices to which addre.s.sed. . , .. , . 
 
 Diilvibiilioii Uivi.iioii. That iioition of the service of a iiost-ottice to which is a.ssmneil theUuty 
 of aiiaii'in ■ for and inakin" the separation and dispatili of all mails other than those for IiM-al 
 deliverv." 
 
 Ui«lribuliiii; PoHl-Omcr.>« are abolished. (.sVc S|.;i-ai;atim. I'usr-On k i->.» 
 
 DraJ'l. An order fill the iiavimiit of a sum of inonev. In nioney-order business. ;;enerjilly na.;<t I" 
 si..nifv an ordei from a postmaster drawn auain.st his ■ credit ■ with tlie vostniaster at >ew 
 York or an order on the iiostniaster at New York for an amount of money older funds drawn 
 in favor of another postmaster by the I'ostina.stpr-t J.iieial. (,V<c flil-.l>l r. ) (Setious \W\ Iif.Mi. 
 
 I>i-op. i'lie opi-nin'.; in a posl-olhee or mail apartment of a ear for the inailin;i of lett.-rs and other 
 
 niailalile matter liv tin- imblii-. . , ,. ... ^ a^ i _ i. 
 
 Dfop-lirt((-i-. A letter intended for a i>erson residing within the delivery ot the post-ottne where St 
 
 Our Freqiu'iicy. Applieil to railioail service iiu-ans that the rostinaster-Cenenil is to detennine 
 what number of nips per week will constitute due freiiiieiicy on any lonte. 
 
428 
 
 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 Due Speed. Means that the Postmaster-General .shall determine what rate of .sijceil of railio.iil 
 trains will be accepted, as a comijliance with the law in e%'erv case. 
 
 Duplicate. An exact copy. The use of a duplicate is .sometimi's to supply the place of a document- 
 lost or destroyed, and .sometimes to furnish or prisirvc iutnrmution in rt place from which ac- 
 ces.s ti) the ori>iiual is inconvenient or impossible. (Sections Ui:!l», 10.')4.) 
 
 Duplicate Advice. (.sv« Second Advice.) 
 
 Duplicate ilertitlcate of Deposit. The coi)y of a certificate of deposit which the receiving 
 postmaster is recjuired to transmit to the superintendent of the monev-order svstem. (Sectioii 
 1082.) 
 
 Duplicate Itloney-Order. A second order furnished to the owner of the original by the Po.st- 
 Oliice Department of the payinji country' in cases where sudi original has been invalidated by 
 reason of loss, destruction, mutilation, or more than one indor.sement. (Sections ]0.39, 1054.1 
 
 Euibezzlciiient. Criminal use of money order or ])ostal funds bv a per.s<m to whom thev are in- 
 trusted by the iio.st-omce authority.' (Section 1(126.) 
 
 Eiuployrs. A' general term for all cimnected with the railway mail .servh-e, except superintendents 
 and local mail agents. 
 
 £qllipiueut. All material, except that foi' clerical use, such as stationery, blank.s, &<•.. necessary lor 
 the proper dispatch, security, and transportation of the mails. 
 
 Error. (Syn. J.) Indorsement made on the face of " facing-slips to call attention to misseiit mattei 
 noted on reverse side. 
 
 JExchange. The value of the currency or money of one conntrv ex](res.sed in the terms or denomi- 
 luitiims of anotlier. In tlie transactions of the mon(?y-order system the term is used to denote 
 the value, in the money of the United States, of a specified unit of a foreign currency as fixed 
 by convention between the postal administrations of the two countrie.s. Whenever the com- 
 mercial value of this unit is e((ual to its lonveution vahie, exchange is said to Vie at par : when 
 greater, at a premium ; when less, at a discount. (.Sections 970. 104."), 1055.) 
 
 Kxchange liii^t. (/SVe Inteijxatioxal Exchasuk List.) (Section 976.) 
 
 Exchange Office. {See Ixterxatioxal Exchaxoe Post-Offke.) A po.st-otHce through which 
 the interchange of i-oiTespondence or money-orders with a foreign country is conducted. 
 
 Exchange PoMtniasiter. The iiostmaster of an international exihaiige jiost-ottice. (Section 1u45.> 
 
 Exchange, Sysleiu of. A mutual agreement between the postal administrations of two countries 
 for the issue of money-oiders in either anil their payment in the other country, together with 
 detailed arrangements for the transaction of the bu.siness and for the settlement of the accounts 
 arising therefrom. (Section 976.) 
 
 Extra National. Correspondence exchanged in the mails between two countries, which is either 
 received from or addresseil to a third country. 
 
 K<°acing-.mip. A ])ieceof ordinary wrapijing-iiaper accompanying all packages of first-class matter anil 
 circulars. The sli]) shouhl be in size about4by 2.\ inches, and bear cm its face, either printed ov 
 written, the deseri)itive title of tlie mail forwarded under it. the postmark of the ottice or post- 
 office in which it is made up. and the name or number of theelerk orem))liiye of the railwaymail 
 service making up the mail. In addition to the above, faciugslijjs usiil in postotfices will in- 
 dicate the liour of elosing the mail forwarded under them; those used in the railway mail 
 service will indicate the direction ,in which tla^ office is moving at the time the package is- 
 made uj). Emi)loyes of the railway mail service place facing-slips for direct packages inside 
 such ]iackages. and omit the descri])tive title. 
 
 Fictitious. Matter addres.sed to a.ssumed names or initials without any ilesignated place of de- 
 livery. 
 
 Fine. The sum deducted fioni the pay of a mail-c«nitractor for a \ iolation of the terms of his contract. 
 
 Fixed Reserve. (.Vcc Eeserve.) 
 
 Foreign ^lail Sack. Fsed without lock and oidy for dispatching mails to fmeign countrie.s. They 
 are made of blue and H-hite striped cotton canvas; are of four sizes. Xo. Vicing the largest and 
 No. 3 the .smallest. No. is .50 inches in length and tW inclics in circumferem e. Xo. 1 is 43 
 inches in length aiul 62 inches in circumferen<-e. Xo. 2 is 4] inches in length :iud 4f< inches in 
 circumference. X'o. 3 is 32 inches in length and 3H inches in cinumferi'uce. 
 
 Farm. A piece of fumiture arranged foi the general office separation of mails received from otlier 
 offices. 
 
 Frank. To exem])t fiom postage. A signature apjiearing on mail-uiatter which exempts it fiom 
 postage. 
 
 Fraudulent. Registered letters the delivery of which luis been tiubidden by ;i sp.-i ial order of the 
 Postmaster-Cieiiernl. 
 
 Free-Delivery Divii^ion. That portion of tlie service of a ]iosto1iice relating to tlie five delivery 
 of mail by letter-carriers at residences or jdaces of business. 
 
 General Delivery. The delivery of mail from the delivery-window of a post-otVice upon application 
 of the jiartv to whom addressed. 
 
 Hards. (Syu. Queers, Xires, X<i,i<h'!iCi-!pty. l.iiiik-iijis. and .Ik!(Ii'».) Mattel- so addressed th;it the proper 
 ilis]iositioii to be made of it is not readily discernible. 
 
 Held for Postage. Matter wliicli is not siilticieutly iirejiiiid to entitle it to tran.smi.ssion in the mails. 
 
 Horse .Ylail-Bags. T'.sed, with lock, for liorsebac'k service only, iind made of leather in s:iddle- 
 bag form. There are three sizes, the largest being Xo. 1 and the smallest X^ii. 3. Xo. 1 is 4* 
 inches long in the longest part and 21 inches wide in the widest part. Xo. 2 is 45 inches long 
 in tlie longest ]);irt and 18 inches wide in the widest jiart. X"o. 3 is 42 in<hes long in the lon.£e«f 
 part and 1(> incbes wide in the widest )(art. 
 
 Hotel. Matter refuiiieil to the post-ntVice from a hotel. h(ispit;il. i-.illege. ;ind other similar institutions 
 or by a public tunctionai\ or consignee ;icci\stoiiied to nceive mail for third jiarties. 
 
 Incidental Expense. An ex])eiise of occ;isional and irregular (xeiirrence. not otherwise s))eciried 
 in instructions, which lias been incurred iieccss;irily in the tiiinsaction of post;il or money-order 
 business. (Sections 966. 971.) 
 
 ■ flentitication t'lieck. A slip of iiajier given by an examining clerk in the paying-ollicc to the 
 owner of a money-order presented for payment. ;is evidence thiit the latter has been identified 
 as the jierson he represents himself to be. 
 
 Indorsee. The iierson named in the indorsement, by the payee, as the one to whom payment is to 
 be made. The person to whom the jiavee of a money-order transfers his right to receive i>ay- 
 ment thereof. (Section 1028.) 
 
 Indorsement. Something written across a document, previously comidete, exidaining, extending, 
 or changing its sco))e. or as a refeience. In numey-order business, an in,struction upon the 
 back of the order, tilled ii|i and signeil by the payee thereof authorizing its payment toanorbm- 
 persoji. (Sectioii 1(114.) 
 
fu.ossAin. 429 
 
 tiilaiKl Moiiry-Oi'ilcr An iiitiniutioiiiil in \ nnl.r ImhihiI a) <.i ilinuii ii|miii uii IiiUikI iin.in>r 
 
 ..1.1, 1 ..tin.-. IIS .lisliii^msliod IVoiiiii ■ ci-Hitlril oicl.i. ' III ..ii)- whirli lian 1 ii . <-rtitli-il nnil mini 
 
 li.'ic.l l.y nil cx.Ikiii.:'' "Ili.c with ii •• intitiiil iiitii initinniil iiiiiiiImt. " 
 
 Inlnntl :»loiiey-«i«l«T <»lii<'r'. A p..st olli.-,- iiiith..! i/iil t<> iMHin- iinil |.av inl<-nniti»nnl iin.mv 
 ..nil IS as ilistiiii;iiisli. <1 lr..iii iiii i-xrlmiiKi-otlirc. «lii<li . .ilili.H llii-ii vh1iii-» anil alltxi-. t.-tliii* 
 111.' •■ . iitilic.l iuti Tiiat ii.iiiil iimiil>i-i-." (Scctioii KMill.i 
 
 InlniKl l*o«tliiiiiMl<-i-. 'I'lic pLsiiiiMstrr ot'aii inhiiul inoiicN onlii ..Hi.. 
 
 Irr«"»|»«'«'liv«' Kc««'rv«'. (Sir Kksikvk.) 
 
 tnK'rnnlioiinl <'<-rlili«-nl«>. A nrci|il. i>aitl\ inintiil ami wriii.n. mi flu- niuiuin nl' ami iMMiinc 
 till' saiiii' 111 nil III r as an iiit.iiiatiinial iiiinicx ..iiIit. .if wlij.li ii r.nniMa |iai I 'riii-. n-n-liit wlilrh 
 is lill.-.l Ml., il.'ta. lu.l. ami yiv.n to the n-niitt< r ..C tlii> nr.li-i l.v tin- inlanil iHMiiIni: iiOMtniii»l.T 
 slii.ws (hr aimiunl <it tlir .inlcr 'in Ciiitfil Statis ciini-nr.v. tin- valin- .if wliii li tin- iMmtnintt.r 
 at till' iiilcniatiiinal cxrlianiii'-ottici- " will transmit in its riincm-v fn tin- imviiii: roimtn' (S««-- 
 tioii 1047.) ■ < ■ " 
 
 InU'i-iinlionnl ('oi'r<-M|toii<l<-ii<-<v ()i i'_'inatin<: in ami aildrcsHi-il tn the (-uniitiioH Im-Iwi-i-ii wliii-h 
 mails an- i-\<liaiit;i.l. 
 
 Inrri-iinlioiinl Kxt-hnii^r I>omI-OIH<-c. A post-otlin- ilc.Mij;nati-(l in an inti-niatiiinal rnnvi-ntiun 
 lii-tW(-«-ii tin- piislal ailmiiiistraliiiiis of two lomitiii-.s ti. ptrfunii tin- uniit- of i-i-i-tlfviiij: thi< 
 valm-.s ami tin- ..iricctm-ss ofimnit-y-oiili-rs issm-il in i-itln-r i>t° tin- i-intnlrii-.s lor |iayni<-Mt in tin- 
 otiior. Sm-li (inlcis arc mit valiil iir jiavalili- until s.i rt-ititii-d. (Si-i-tiuiis '.»\'>, UMlt.) 
 
 Inlrrnntioiinl lOxrhanec liJMt. t A list nt'tlii- nnnilii-rs. annnintH. dati-s. and otin-r pni-tii iihirri 
 
 Intrrnnlional lAnt. ^ of moin-y-i.nli-rs issm-d and rci-titicil as roir.rt, in any <■ itrT 
 
 for iiayniciit t.i licmtii-iarii-s in a forei).ni <-oiintry. Th(-nr list.-* an- madi- out, ci-rtiflcd as roni-ct. 
 and tian.smitti-d liy .■\i-Jian<:(--otli(-(-s only, 'riu-v arc Hi-nt to, and for tin- infonnntion of. thi'< 
 i-\(-lianj;i--otti(-i- in iln- ]iayiii!r nnmtry in oi-di-r to soc-iin- iiaynu'iit to Ilit- pci-Hon dl•^il;nat<■ll in 
 till' oiiuinal iiilami i.rili-r. (Si-ction KK'id.) 
 
 lnl<'rni<-<linry Offlce. .\ii ..tlicc which receives and reforwaids for(-i>rn correspondence to iti* 
 nltiiiiat.- ilcstinati.ni. 
 
 I nfrrnntioiinl ITIoiiry-Ordrr. A iiionev-order issued in one coiintr\ for pavnieiit in a loreii^a 
 .■..iintry. (Section l(l4ti.) 
 
 invalid Adrif*-. 'i"li.- advice of an invalid money-order. 
 
 Inralid .Hoiify-Ordrr. A money-order, the payment of wliii-h, by reason of its a;;c. mutilation, 
 suriilusane of imlorsemcnts, or other (-au.<ie, i.s prohiliited, except liv dnplicate. (S«'ctioii« 10.12 
 io:!3, i();!4.i 
 
 lr*u liock. The ordinaiy mail-lock iiseil on poncliesexeliaiiKed or intei-chanj;ed between office.-* and 
 lontes. 
 
 f «.»ued Ord«'r. A money-order which has been tilled up ami delivered to the i-emitter. and whoa* 
 advii-e (or advi<-e. coupon, ami cei-titicate) has been tilled up and forwarded to destination by 
 the issiiinji jiostmaster. (Sei-tion 98G.) 
 
 .luir Canvas ITInil-Sark. (.\lso called ••Tie-Sack.") Used -without lock for printed and other 
 mailable matter not of the first class. They are made iii' hliii' striped .jute canvas, fasti-ned 
 with cord. There are three sizes, the largest beini; No. 1 and the .smallest Xo. :t. No. 1 is 43 
 inches iu lenjith and &2 imiies in circumfereme. No. '2 is 41 inches in length and 48 inches ia 
 circumference-. No. :! is :i2 imiies in length and IIH in<-lies in circumference. 
 
 I'.abel. i'ard Mlide. A small jiiei-e of card-board of a size to tit an attachment on the pouches of 
 the uiimbered classes. When in use as a label on a jionch it bears in writin}; or printing the 
 a.ldress of tlie oflice for which the pouch is intended. 
 
 lyabel. M'ootirn Printed. A small piece of hardwood bearing a printed address, for use exclu- 
 sively on xcirl,:-- .oiitaiiiing mail. 
 
 lyRbrl, Registered ••i<iit. Around brans label attached to each registered pouch or gold-lwix in 
 transit, to indicate- bv the number and letters stamped thereon how many .separate pouches or 
 boxes are forwardi-d at any single dispatch to any one ottice. 
 
 Lap. "Where two or moie trains of «-ars starting from a common terminus and destined for different 
 points are iiiii foi- any distance over one railroad track. 
 
 Lap-Service. Where two or more post-rvmtes are maintained over one railroad track. 
 
 Legal Representative. The iierson anthoriz.Hl by law to act fin- or in the |ila<-e of another. !■ 
 money-order business, used to designate the person .so authorized to act for the remitter, payee. 
 or imiorser of a mom-y-order. (Section lO'JH.) 
 
 Letter of Adviee. (See Ahvick.) 
 
 Letter of Inquiry. A ciri-iilar letter (Form tiOOO) addressed by the iiaying to the is.suing postmas 
 ter asking f.ir a second advice, or for an exiilanation of an alleged discrepancy between an 
 advice and its i-oriespouding order or the statement of the jiayee. (Section !)i).'>. ) 
 
 Limit of Dimension!!!. The maximum length, breadth, and deiitli allowed for certain postal 
 packets. 
 
 Limit of Weight. The iiiaximnm weight allowed for certain postal pai-kcts. 
 
 Line. Ni arlv a svnonvm of "Koiite." I'suallv a]i]ilied to distinguish route-service perfonned dur- 
 ing the dav' from that perlornied during' the night: as Wash. & Peters. K. I". O. • IHiv-I.ine,' 
 Wash, .y Peters. Ii. P. (t. • Night-Lim-.' 
 
 Liwl. Weekly Canadian. A list of Canadian international money -orders cerlitied during a given 
 week by a Canadiaii international exchange post-oftii-i-. (Section IOG.1.) 
 
 I.>«ral. I'.-rtaining or contined to the delivery distri<-t of a post-olliee. 
 
 Loral .TIail. Useil in railway mail .service to indicate mail for post-othces between the initial and 
 terminal ))<ist-orti<-es of a railway route. 
 
 Local Pomt-Ollire. I'sed in railway mail service to denote iiost-oftices supplied b\ a railway routo 
 between the initial and terminal post iiltices of the route. 
 
 Local Service. A term used in tin- railway mail service to indicate the service of a roiite-aceney 
 or railway postolhre in tin- making np. delivering, and exchanging mails between the terminal 
 oftiees of its route, and all the duties relating to handling of such mail. 
 
 Lock. (Sec luMN LiM-K. IJh.xss I.nrK.l 
 
 Flail. (Syni. roxliuntter. For syn. Cnrri'xjiDiiileiiri: nfe (.'(ikkksI'OMiEMV.) Divided into ordinary. 
 deliveix , disiiibiition. foreign, and registered. 
 
 Rfail, Advance. A mail f.irwarded. sent, dispatched, or received in advance of and in addition to 
 its tiiial i.-unlar semliiig or leceiviiig. 
 
 W ail. Bag. A ;;iiii-ial term compiehending all the sorts and styles authorized to be used in convey- 
 iii" th.- mails. F.ir the speciti. stvles and sizes adaptid to particular uses and modes of con- 
 veyam-,-, -ser M.Mi.-'.'i.irii, M .vn.-C.vnriKi; I'lUi 11. Tiiltnn.li KK.iisTKltKH M.vil.-Pniili. HoitsK 
 M'mi.IVvi;. .IiriM'ANVAs M.vii. Sack. Fokkh.x Mail Sack, mi./ Rki.isikhki' Kouki.:n Maii. Sack. 
 All mail-iiouchcs are locked and have a ci »•(•)»/(»(- /»)//</i/i .- all hor.se nniil-bags are locked, nrr 
 ni Kftddle-haijform. atiil liarr I'tlijitlral hultoiiix ,- and all sacks are fastened with i-ord and have a 
 )itr((ifiht or,foltling bottom. 
 
430 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 Mail-catcher Pouch. Used exclusively for exclianjiitiu: mails on railways where niail-eatcliers and 
 cranes an- eini)l(iye«l therefor. Tliey are made of eottou canvas, with leatlier Imttimis. locked 
 at tile mouth and strai>]n-d in the middle. Tliey are oidy of cine size — :^(i inelies in lentrth and 
 3tj inciies in eiic iiniferenee. 
 
 Mail, dosed, (.svc Closkii Mail.) 
 
 Mnil, Delivery. Mail for tlie local delivery of a iM.stollice. 
 
 jTIail, Direct. .\.s ap])lied to foreijiii (^xchanjies. is a mail transpdrted diicctly to its destinarii>u 
 without usin^' the iutejDiediary service of a third countiy. 
 
 Mail. Direct. ^lail made up direct for an ottice. It may be either '"deliverv"' or ■•distriluition" 
 matter. 
 
 Mail, DiiiitribiilioM. ^lail addressed to other ofiices than that at whicli it is I'eceived: not delivery 
 mail. 
 
 Mail. Exprciis. Mail sent hy train on whicli there are no emph)yes of the railway mail service. 
 
 Mail, E.xtra Dislribiilioii. Sometimes ai)i)lied in the .same sense for ordinary mail, as extra-in- 
 ternational for freight. 
 
 Mail, foreign. Mail received from foreisu countries or colonies : or, asdistini;nished from 'mail 
 domestic," mail for or from foT-eign countries or c(donies. 
 
 Mail, liOcal. .\ term used in the railway mail service to indicate mail deliven-d hetweeii tie- rt-r- 
 mini of the i-oad as distinguished from throujiii mail. 
 
 Mail-Me««Pllgcr W«M-vice. 'fhe service to \\ liic-li is assiyiied tlit- duty of transiiortation of the 
 mails from a ni-neral post -ottice to adjacent dejiots, landings. \<-,. oi- lii-twi-en lirancli post-oflices. 
 (u- trains, or intenhanseahly. under the direction of the jiostmaster at such general post-otlice. 
 
 Hail IVuiiiber. A numlier jiiven to a mail for convenience in scheduliuf; or i-efereuce. 
 
 Mail, Ordinary. All mailable matter suliject to domestic rates of postage and intended for the de- 
 liverv of post-oflices in the T7nited States and Dominion of Canada : luit rciii.stered mail. 
 
 9Eail Pockets. {.Ser IluusE Mail- Bag.) 
 
 Mail-Pouch. Adai)teil to any mode of conveyance exceptini; horseback. Has locked mouth and 
 circular bottonr 1'here an- five sizes, the largest beini; S'o. 1. and the smallest Xo. .'>. Xo. 1 is 
 48 inches iu leuiith and 60 inches in circumfcrciu-t^ Xo. - is 41 inches in leniitli aiul 48 inches 
 in circumference. Xo. 3 is .36 inches in len^ith and 42 inches iu circumference. Xo. 4 is r;0 
 inches in length and 36 inches in circumference. X'o. 5 is 26 inches in length and 28 inches in 
 circumference. 
 
 Mail, Registered. Mail for which a receii)t is jiiven to tli(> sender and by each jiostmaster I'V eui- 
 )doye into whosi- hands it passes until it itailies its destinatiiui. 
 
 Mail, Regular, 'flu- mail seiit out at a regular disjiatch, and in<ludinLi all deposited in a post-ortice 
 l)r<^vious to the ri ijiilar close thercfoi-. (,SVc IMsl'ATCH.) 
 
 Mail, Mupplenientary. 'I'he mail .sent at a suiiidementary dispatch. (See Dispatc ll.) 
 
 Mail, Through. .\ t. rm u.sed in the railway mail service to indicate mail intemled for the terminus 
 of the loute or points be\(ind; not local mail. 
 
 Mail. Tie. A term used in the distribution division to indicate such mails as, after beini; onci- sepa- 
 rated or boxed, are aijain assorted and tied out se]iarately for each post-ottice. » 
 
 Maps, Post-Route. .Maps prepared for the use of the I'ost-Otlice Dejiartment, sliowin;: tin- loca- 
 tion of postotticcs, jiosf-rontes, frequency of service, intermediate distances, Ac. 
 
 Mass. To coml)ine one or more mails with another. 
 
 MasKed States. Stales, the mail for which is forwai'ded from a p<pst -ottice or route without any .sep- 
 aration or distribution. 
 
 Massing. The act nl' i cmibininji a mail or mails with another distinct mail, sending mail to an oltice 
 or lonte from which it is not directl.v .supplied. 
 
 Massing ^chenif. (,SVe SfilKMl^..) 
 
 Messenger, Mail. .\n emjiloy^ of the de]>artmeiit ai)pointed at a fixed salaiy. to perform service 
 somewhat similar to that )ierformed by a contractor, the latter not l)ein<;' appointed and his 
 coni])en.sation difirniined by contract. 
 
 Messenger, Mail-Route. An otticial desinnation for an employe of the railway mail service iu im- 
 mediate cliai;:!' of the way service or short routes : an inferior urade of roiitc-anent. 
 
 Messenger .^Service. 'I'he duties devolvinji upon a nnul-messensier or contractm- for local messen- 
 ger ser\ ice. 
 
 Messenger Service, I,<ocal. The wagon or transfer service bt^tween a post-oftice. its bianch po.st- 
 oftice. and adjacent dejiots. landings. &c. Usually cmitracted for. 
 
 Misdirected. Mattel- so insutliciently, iUegibly, or incorrectly addressed that it cannot be forwarded; 
 to destination. 
 
 Money-Order. An oiiler for a specified sum of money, not less than one cent nor greater than lift.y 
 dollars, made out at a unmey-<uder iiost-oflice upon a blank form prescribed by law and post- 
 otiice regulations, and payabh- at s(une other nmney-iu-der jiost-ofiice. The purchaser of a 
 money-<n-der is known as the remitter, and the ))ers(in to whom it is made jpaxable as the inkvee 
 or beneticiary. The tax exacted from the remitter is called the lee. (Seitioiis it.'iO. '.•.'"i7.) 
 
 Moucy-Or«Ier Accoiint. An ai-count of the cash transaifious of a monev-orcler jKist-otficr. (Si-.-. 
 ti(m 107.').) 
 
 Money-Order Advice. (,s'i'c Auvici-:.) 
 
 Money-Order Blank. .\ blank form useil in tin- transaction of nione\-order business. (Section 
 ftlif,. ) 
 
 Money-Order Book. .V blank bo(dv used in the transactiiui of moncv-order busim-ss. (Sei-tions 
 mr^. !I77. ) 
 
 Money-Ortler BHsiiie.<ss. Tlu- transactions, orauortioii of tin- trausai-tions, of the money .order 
 sysli-ni. 
 
 Moncy-Or«ler Circulars. Letters, usually iirinfed. cmitaining spi-(-itic instrm-tiims of general Ap- 
 lilicafion to nuineycirder post-oflices. (Seclicm iKi.'i.) 
 
 Money-Ortler Clerk.' \u em|)loye of a mouey-oidi-r post-ollicc, (Sections 1018, losll,) 
 
 ttloney-Orilcr Convent ion. A written a;;ree,mi-nt bet ween tin- posl,-il administrations oC two coun- 
 trii-s. aiijuox i-d by llii-ir res])ecti\e govc-rnnn-nts, for the issue of mom-y-orders in cil licr country, 
 and tlic-ir payment hi the- other, with the gcnt-ral rules liy which sucli issue and payment are to 
 be govern(-d'. (Sect ion !t7(i.) 
 
 Money-Order Credit, (.s'cc CuKiii'i'.) 
 
 Money. Order Division. The division of a postollice to whicli is assign(-<l r\i-lusivi-ly tin- diii i- 
 tion. manau.uii-nt, and working cd' tin- Mn)in-\ -order system. 
 
 Money-Order FuikIn. Moneys re(^eivcd and dishuised in the ti-ansactions of the Mnim-\ -ordi-i 'i:;-ii- 
 m-ss. (Sc-ction l((7-l.) 
 
 Money-Order Forms. (AVc MiiNKV-OmiKii Hl.wks,) 
 
 Money-Order Inslructions. instructions from tin- l'os)-( jllici- l>i-partm.-iil rdativi- to tin- i- !-.- 
 acti(m 111' iin>Me\didi-r liiisim-ss. (Sc<'liou !l."i(i. Xv.} 
 
GLOSSARY. 431 
 
 MoMOy-OnU-r I.iiwm. .Vtta«l'C'im)rr«sH icliitiv.- 1.. the iii..ii.\ onl. i nVKtoiii »i iln lr'.iii*>urti<>ti. (.V« 
 
 Kfvi.s.il Sl;iliii(s. siTtioiiH !t'i«-l»7:i.) 
 Ifloiicy.Ordcr OtlUt-. I'lu! «.tlice ol tin- Mii|Mi'iiiti'ii<li'iit t,( llir tii v-iiiiUt KVHhiii in U'H»liliii't..ii 
 
 D.C. 
 !nuii<>>-Or<l<-i- PoKl-Omre. A post ollirr .l<Hi;;iintc.l l.\ tli. I'.mtiiiiiHlcM mimthI to Nhik- iitiil iiu> 
 
 liiiPIHN (iiilii s. (Sci tiiiiis ll.'.il, ".KiCi, !Mi7.) 
 I»Ioin-j-Oril«T PoMl.OtHrt' of the "llr«l rlnMM.'> A iinuicv i>ril« r ii.ml offln- i|.„ii.'n«r«il liv Ihi 
 
 l'<istiM:isti I (m 11. Till to I'.Tiivc on <l<'|i<>si( ami nccmiiil li>i- ninittiiiKi-H of nioiKv-oiiU-r riiiiil* 
 
 iVimi iillii T |Misl iilliiis. (Siiiii.n !ni:!. ) 
 ITIoney-Ordrr PoHf.Ollit-c oI'iIk' ••Hcroiid cIiihm.** A inoii. y oiilir pimt <>|»in- wliiili i» not uii 
 
 thoii/.cil to i.Tiixi- (.11 ilciH.sil rtiiiillaiu I-. (.1 inoiii-v-oiilcr !'iih<1h IVoni ntlii-r rHmt-iimrfK iStn'. 
 
 ti<.iisi>(;:{ 1(101.) 
 ITIoiif>y>Ordrr I»ro«-»'«'«l»t. K.v.iiius jiiisiii;; lr..iii tin- lr:insii.ti..Tis i.f tin- nii.n.v -<>itli-r iiriit4«in 
 
 (S.-<ti<iii !>7(l.) 
 JTIoil<'y-4>ril<<r NywH'iii. Tin- phtii ami an aiimni.-iil, imlmliii'^ tli.' n'-ni'ial |.i«\ i.|i.|i,t miil oim-. itlr 
 
 ililails. u.iv.iiiiiii; tlic issiii- and payimiit of mom y<.ril. is. tli.' <'..rri-M|.i.n>li-iii'(' iii< iil.-iit tli.'ii-f.. 
 
 ami till' .s.'lll.im lit ol all i|ii( si ioii.s and ai.-oiinls arisinu tlicictVoiii. ( Si. t ions lt.'i<>. H.'iT.) 
 ITIonrv-Wrdi-r 'I'riiiiMHclioii. An itrnii/.id unit ol' iii -y-.n-diM Inisiniss imludiiii: alt IiiIhh' and 
 
 liiatilial iiiiid.nt to or rii|iiir.il lor its roiii|il(t ion : as, the is.nm- ot'ii im vordil , til*- piiyniflit 
 
 ol a inomy oidiT; tin' i.-ci-iiit of a riiiiittam f nion.'y-oi.l.-i- funds. A. . (Si'ttion I09:i.i 
 
 ITIutilntrd. Matt, r .so daiua;:('d in llii' mails liv .'a.siinltii'S tliiit it cann.it )><• furwaiilt-d to di-tthiR' 
 
 tion. 
 IVrvvMpnpcr Train. A very faily train, sfaitinv; fr.ini a lar.i;<' ••ity. tin- w liiih st'coM.I riass niatt.-r ir> 
 
 inadf iij. dii-.'.-t at ixil.liiation otli.-.'s for tlic fiiiploy^s on tlic ti-ain. wliirli niatti-r is not HIh 
 
 triliiitcii in a |i.isl oltic- lul'or.- start ini;. 
 IXIxe*!. I's.'d in railway mail s.-ivicc to .(.•not.- iiiattcr. i-liictly of the first and Hi-rond rIasH. ndiln-it.'<).-<i 
 
 to i)la<is wlii.li aif not post-ottii.s, or t.i States, it... in wliii-li tlu-n- is no sn.'li poHt-otfiN- ai> 
 
 that indiiat.-d in tli.' aildi.ss. 
 OIHcr. U.sfil in railway mail scrvirc to d.-notf a postal car or mail apartni.-nl in n <-ar .ir on lumnl a 
 
 steamboat, wliicli have all Vieen di'sijiuaf.-.l liy the I'ostniastcr-tJcncral as po<)t-<tflic<-s for the .lis 
 
 tribntion of mail in transit. 
 Open Mail, ('nrr.'siiondi'ncf sent to an intormcliary .■.(iiiitry for .list ribiitinn and r.'forwarded t<.> 
 
 the .■ouiitry of .Icstinati.ni. 
 Paid Order. A iiiiinL'y-or.ler. projierly riTcii>t.»'d. which has lii'cn pai.l t.i the own.-r thcn'of ut the 
 
 ottii.- named tli.'r.-ou as the ]iayin<r oftice. (Section KUti, etc.) 
 Particulars, 'rii.- it.'ms of information entered in the ajiplicati.in, advic.-. or r«iupon of a nii>n<-y- 
 
 order, by ni.-ans of which the payinfr posttna.ster is assisted in seciirin;: payment to the [MTsi'in 
 
 t.) whom th.' oilier bel.mss. (Seiti.ins fl7H. it7!l, !t!t4. ) 
 Payee. The person named in the advic .m- ciiii)i.in of a mom-y-order as th.- one entitl.'.l t.i r.-ct>i\-e 
 
 anil receipt lor tli.' amount of such order. (Se.tioii !t.'')7.) 
 Paying Country. The country in which a iiioiiev -ordei- is due and payald.-. 
 
 Paying OtHre. The po.st-oflice at which a inoney-oiiler is made payable, or upon which it is dniwn. 
 Paying PoxtinaMter. The postmasterof a payiiii; oliice. 
 Penal Sum. The ;:ros.s amount forfeitable by tlie luincijial and sureties th.-ri'.if. as s.'t forth in thi- 
 
 terms of a bon.l of indemnity, in case of failure oii the part .if the fomier t«i comply with m 
 
 execute the atipulatious therein written. (Section louti. I 
 PoHt-Offiee drawn upon. (.Vf P.wixi; Oki-kk.i (Section lo:iU.) 
 
 PoNtal .Arrangement. Syn. • J'/ixtnl ('(inventlnti." but .sonu-timesappli.d to an informal au:reenipnt.. 
 Ponttal Code. Tin- code of laws rtdatinu to (lostal matters. 
 Postal Card. A card with po.sta^c-atiiiii]) eiuliosscd thereon, issued by the i;overniiient. n.sed for 
 
 semliuj; shoit written .■onimunications. 
 Postal Conrentiou. .\ formal atiT'eeimnt or arranjicuieut with a fore.inn coiinti-y .ir .-onntries for 
 
 the recii>r.iial ex.hanuf <>! c(>ne.s[)iindenc.' at tixed rates of postage and other eondiriniiA. nogo- 
 
 tiated and ((included by the Postmastet -(Jcneral. in virtue of the powers veste.l in him liy law. 
 
 by and with the advice and consent of the I'resi.leiit. 
 Postal Order, or f o.>ttal ITIouey-Ordcr. {Si-c Monky-Okhkh.i 
 Postal Regulations. Decisions, rulings, and j^eneral orders of the I'ostmaster-t Jeiienil lins.il on 
 
 the postal laws (code). 
 Postal Service. Diit.v jierfonned in or pertaining to the reception, distriluiti.tn. and dispatch, trans- 
 
 portation and dtdiv.-iv .if mail-matter, in.ludin;; ever\ tiling that is neee.ssary to seciin- the 
 
 .safety of the mails and the celerity and certainty of tlieir dispatch. 
 Postal I'nion, Universal. The title liiveii to the single postal t.'rrit.iry formed by the countries 
 
 and .(iloiiies which Jire now, or may hereafter liecdiiic. jiaitics to the postal conv.-nl ion of Paris. 
 
 sisueil .lime 1. li^78. 
 Post. To imt in tlie mail. (Syn. Mail.) 
 
 Postage. Established fee for tlie convevance ami )>ro|ier delivery of mail. 
 Poslage-Fuufls. .Mon.'ys .lerived fr.)ni box-rents, )iosta'.:es. sales .if stamjis. \c.. in .listin.tion fmiii 
 
 moneys ilenoniinat.'d nioucy-ojder funds. (Section ]()7H.) 
 Postage-Rates. Iietincl amounts for whi.h mail is c.mveyed and ilidiver.-d. 
 Postage-Mlamp. A )irinted fonn for the iire])ayment of posta.i:e issued an. I sold by the Post-tJltii-t 
 
 I'epartnieiit to be athxe.l to mail matter. 
 Postage, Ciipaid. .Vdilitional postajie due and payable at delivery. 
 Postage Out' Stamp. A printed foini to b.-athxi'd and .ancide.l u|i.in tlu'.lelivery .'f iusiitH.'ientlv 
 
 pr.'paid matter, showinj;- the anmunt of posta^f .liie and <-.)llect.-.l thereon. 
 Post-Bills are ab.ilished. 
 Poster. (1) Til.' si nder of mail: the one wli.i posts mail. 
 
 (li) -\ larj;.' jirinted shi.t intende.l t.i Im- displaye.l in a iMihlie jila. .' as an adv.i li- .,.. ,.i 
 Poste Restnutc (Fr). A .lii.ction to the i>ostniaster at the ileliv.'ry .>tti.-e. jilaced on mail b\ tin 
 
 seii.ler or iiostcr. to indicate that such mail is to be held until call.-d tor. 
 Postmark. Mark .ir stamp of a p.ist-otti. n mail-matter jiostetl thereat, sometimes written. T.> 
 
 mark with a postmarkin-; standi or in.licat.' the .iltice an.l .late of mailinu in writing. 
 Postmarli, Backing. A u.neral term lor all p.istmarks on the back or reverse side of tn«il. in- 
 cluding tiaiisit. rec.'ivinir. branch, carri.'rs p.istmark. Arc. 
 Postmark, Brnncli. Tti.' (lostmark of a brancli ]iost-.>tti.'e. 
 Postmark, Carri«'r's. The imstniark in.li.'atin^ the carrier tiip on which fli.' mail on whiih it 
 
 apjiears was sent out. 
 Postmark. Day (of month). The ]iortion of tin- general p.istmark indi.atinir the .lay .>f the month. 
 Postmark, Directory Searcher. A p.istnnuk indi.atin^ that the ni8il on which it npi>«'ar,« hft.'» 
 
 bieii haiidl.'il an.l treated by a certain directory searcher. 
 Postmark, Hour. That portion of a general pos(n\ark intUoatiug the hour of the day. 
 
432 
 
 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 Postmark. .Tloutli. That portion of a general postniarlc indicatino' the month of the year. 
 
 Postmark. Office. That imrtiou of the general postmark indicating tlie office or post-ottice at 
 wliieli such postmark is made. 
 
 Postmark, Bating. The postmarking stamp used to indicate the amount of postage due on mail 
 before dilivery is made. 
 
 Postmark, Receiving. Tlie postmarli made on the back of mail received from other offices, to in- 
 dicate the time of such receipt. 
 
 Postmark, Steamer. The postmark, nsually consisting of the post-office name or abbreviation, 
 date, anil a number, used in the New York post-office to indicate by what steamer foreign mail is 
 reci'ived. 
 
 Postmark, Transit. A backing postmark u.sed to indicate the time letter mail in transit through 
 an office is received at such office. 
 
 Postmark, If ear. That portion of tlie general postmark indicating tlie year. 
 
 Postmaster. The officer of tlie Post-Offiie Department having immediate charge and supervision 
 of a post-office and of all postal matters connected witli its delivery district. 
 
 Postmaster, Assistant. (Syn. Depiitii.) An otticer of flu- Post-Office Department assisting the 
 postmaster in the supervision of flie business of a iiosf-office, and in his absence acting as post- 
 master. 
 
 Post-OHice. A local governmental office where mail is received, handled, and delivered, dispatclied 
 or forwarded. 
 
 Post-Office, Brancii. (Syn. Stati<in. Suh-I'dxt-Ojlice.) An outlying station in the delivery of a 
 central or main office, hicafed thus for eonvenii nee of the public and the service in facilitating 
 and expediting the collection and delivery of mail. 
 
 Post-Office, First-l'Iass. A post-otiice at which the .salary allowed to the postmaster, baaed on 
 the business tiansacted, ajnounts to $3,000 or more. 
 
 Post-Office, Fourth-Class. A j)ost-office wheie the i)ostmaster's salary is less than $1,000. 
 
 .Post-Office, Free-I>elivery. An office at which the free-delivery service is in oi)eration. 
 
 Post-Office, Oeneral. A central or main post-office in cities where branch post-offices are estab- 
 lishiHl. 
 
 Post-Office, Head. A post-office located at a terminus or intersection of a star route, through 
 which mail is forwaided to other jiost-offices on the same or connecting routes. The first post- 
 ofli<e named in the contract for carrying the mail over a route. 
 
 Post-Offlec, Initial. The first office named in the teiininal-route titles of the railway mail service. 
 The office first named in contracts or proposals for service on star routes, usually designated on 
 post-i'onte inajis by a short double turn {| crossing the route terminus at right angles. 
 
 Post-Office, Local. iPost-office on a railroad route between the initial and tenninal ])ost-officej». 
 
 Post-Office, Money-Order. A po.st-office at which money-orders are issued or paid upon applica- 
 tion or ])re.sentati(ui. 
 
 Post-Office of Destination. The post-office to which made-up mails are labeled and where they 
 are to be first assorted, .sepaiated, delivered, or distributed. 
 
 Post-Office of Dispatch. The office from which mails made up as received are dispatched. 
 
 Post-Office of Origin. The post-office in which mail originatea or at which it is mailed. 
 
 Post-Office, Railway, {Abb. and syn., R. P. O.) A railway car, or portion of car, fitted and fur- 
 nished for the distriluition of mail, and in which such distribution is made. A i-oute on which 
 such cars are run and distribution made. 
 
 Post-Office, Second-C'lass. A i)08t-office where the postmasters salary is $2,000 or more, but less 
 than $3,000. 
 
 Post-Office, Special. A post-office not located on a i-egular mail I'oute. but which receives its mail 
 from a post-office selected by the postmaster and under a schedule arranged by him as to time, 
 fre(iuency, and mode, the compensation of the special canier conveying the mail to be fixed at 
 two-thirds of the salary of the postmaster, both being paid out of the gioss receipts of the post- 
 office. 
 
 Post-Office, Terminal. The last named in the terminal-route titles of the railway mail service, 
 and the contracts of the Post-Office Department for star service, indicated on postal railway 
 maps by a single chai't line crossing an end of a route at right angles. 
 
 Post-Office, 'Thir«I-C'Iass. A post-office where the postmaster's .salary is $1,000 or more, but less 
 than $2,000. 
 
 Post-Office, Traveling. The designation given in Europe to railway post-offices. (Styled Offices 
 in regulations of United States railway mail service.) 
 
 Post-Roads. All railroads that are now or may hereafter be ])ut in operation, and all letter-carrier 
 routes establishe<l in any city or town: all the waters of the United States, all lanals, and all 
 plank or public loads during the time the mail is carried theieou. 
 
 Pouch. (5fc JMA)l--P(jr(M.) 
 
 Premium. Excess, in commercial value, over legal or conventional value. In money-iu'der transa*'- 
 tions usually ai)|)lied to denote the (>xce.ss in the c(nnmercial value of gidd coin or exchange over 
 their legal or conventional value. (Sections 1004, 1077.) 
 
 Prepaid. Mail on which all ]>()stage-<lues thereon have been paid at the office of posting. 
 
 Prepaid, Insufficiently. Mail on which only a i>ortion of the po.stage-diies thereon has been paid 
 at the office of ])osf ing. 
 
 Prepayment. The payiuent of all iwstage-dues at the ]»o.st-office where mail is posted. 
 
 Prepayment, 4j4»nipulsory. Full prepayment of postage fees, absidutely necessary, and without 
 whi<h mail cannot be forwarded. 
 
 Prepayment Optional. Paynu-nt of ])ostage may or may not Xm made. 
 
 Prima Vacie. On tlu^ tirst view. Evidence, "generally documentary, which is to l)e taken aa con- 
 vincing unless rebutted. (Section 1070.) 
 
 Railway ITIail Service. The service to which is assigned exclusively the immediate supervision 
 of the traiis|H)rtation of domestic mails, of their distribution in transit, and of all matter's per- 
 taining to file ilisfribution ami disjjatch of domestic mails beyoml the delivery of a post-office, and 
 also the Weighing of mails on railroad routes. 
 
 Rate, Foreign. Kale of iiostage due to the foreign reforwarding office. 
 
 Rate Liimit. The uiaximum weight tor a single rate of |^o.stag(^ 
 
 Readjustment. Api)lied to railroad serxiee means a revision id' the lates of pav. 
 
 Receipt Return. A fonu tif acknowledgnunf to b(> signed by the addressee ot a registered article 
 on its <lelivery. and retuini-d by mail to the sender. 
 
 Recognized Service. Tin- transportation of the mail by a railroad company for which no contract 
 has been c-ntered into, but the servi<-(- is accc)ited by the dei)arf uient and pajnneut authorized 
 th(-refbr under the laws and the regulations of the deparfuu-nf.' 
 
 Register of Arrival an«l Departure. A ri-cord kejit by a iK)stnuister or other officer of the 
 Post-Office Department, showing the exact time of each arrival and each departure ()f a mail - 
 carrier at a tej-minal iiost-oflice, or at a way post-office on a mail-route. 
 
GLOSSARY. 433 
 
 RoKiKlrrod Fort-iK" .'Inil Hinh. V»<t\ ixcIiikIv.Iv C.r traiminlltiiiK rrtfUUred mnllx t« for.i'ii 
 
 romiti lis, nia.l.' ..I />■./ im.l irhil,- «tii|MMl (-..ft. .11 .iinviis. Tli.-r.- iin- tlir.-i- Hi;!rit.tlM- InrKi.t I» liiK 
 No 1. aii.l f li.- smaU. si N,.. :t. Xo. ] !« :t6 inchi-H in l.iiirth. iiikI 4H iniliiN in rirminf.T.-nrf No 
 •2 IS 24 iiiili.s III Irnntli, iinil SO im-lu!>* in cin iniifir.nii- . Xo. .1 in IH inrlii-N |ji li-ni:th ami 24 
 inclics m ciri-iiiiili'ii-nic. ' 
 
 RrgiciU'r of AdviteH IC<>r<>irr<l A book kijtt h.v 11 j.avin^' ii<mtninht«T, in whirli ]„■ \h r«'«iiiii. <I to 
 mak.- .laily .iitius nl tin- i.ai ti.iilniM of tli<- advir.-M, iim n-roivcd, of nil monevonl.TH dniwn «.n 
 lilsiillirc (>i-(tliiiis llTil. 1017, lOlMl.) 
 RcKinK-r of ITIoney-OrdrrN IitMiird. A Ixidk kept l>v nn isHiiinK i...»tninMt.r in wlilrh ht- in 
 r.iiuinil to make daily cnliiis of tin- imrtiiiilais of the ndviicM. iim JMMii.d, of all nion<'v-<>rd<r» 
 ihawii liy him. (Sections i)77, 1000.) 
 Rf^iNK-r, Coiiibiiird. A fonn of n-^ist<r ol' inoin-y-oidfrs i.Hsii.-d or of ridvi.cs rcciiv.d. in whirh 
 isioiiiliiiiid tile iiaitiiulaisof liotli donicslir and' iiilcrniitional ndvii i.s oionlirs. {S4Ttion lo«i2 ) 
 Rri.xMiK-. i'lif issiif of a now nioncy-oidfi- in lini of om- in wliicli Monir .nor hau li.cn diHiovi-n d 7ir 
 
 ill ■irliicli Thr remitter desires some moditiention. (Seetioii 1003.) 
 Rp${i!tti-y pi viHioii. The division of a jiostothre to wliiih Is asniirned the rerpivinc, mnkine np.nnd 
 ilisjiateli ot all rejiistered mail, anil the lilin;; of records coneemin;; the .same. 
 
 ltt'iiii!i«Nioii. The al.atement of 11 tine <n deduction, or of that part of 11 fine or dediution shouii to 
 have been erroiiiously imposed or made. 
 
 Roiiiillt-r. Tlie jieisoii who takes out or purelia.ses a money-order. (Soetion 0.19.) 
 
 Reiiiittiiis PoslmiiMKr. A iiostniaster who send.s moiiev-order funds for deposit at a moneT- 
 _ Older post-olhee of tlie "tirst ela.ss." (Seetioii 1081.) 
 
 Rciiiitlaiirr. A sum of iiioiicy-order funds forwarded for deposit, bv mail or otherwise, bv a post- 
 master to a iiioiiex -nrder postotliee of the first ela.ss. (Section 1(1X1.) 
 
 Repayuirnt. The i>ayiin: of the amount of a money-order at the oftiee where it was issued. An 
 order may be repaid to the remitter, the payee, or the indorsee. Fees are not reiiaid. (Seetiona 
 1035, 1039.) 
 
 Reserre. A limited amonnt of tnoney-order funds allowed by the superintendent of the noney-onler 
 system to be retained at certain dcsif^natcd money-order otHces to insure the prompt pa>-inent 
 of money-orders. Reserves are of two kinds, ■'Fixed'" and "In-espeetive. A "fixed re- 
 serve' is one which may be exceeded when the amount of unpaid advices on hand is tjreater 
 than the amount of the reserve. (Sections 1080 and lOSl.) An "irrespective nsen-e" is one 
 which is iiTespective of the amount of unpaid advices, and may not be exceeded under any cir- 
 cumstances. 
 
 Return. The acctimulation of dead or unmailable matter transmitted at regular inter\-iils to the 
 Dead-Letter Otlice. 
 
 Return Card. A business card (except that of a hotel, college, or other public institution wliieh 
 furnishes envelopes for indiscriminate use of patrons), a post-ottice box, street and number, or 
 other designation, printed (ui an envelope, by which the latter may be restored to the writer 
 unojiened. 
 
 Return Request. A request printed or written on the envelope of a letter that it be returned to 
 the writer if not delivered. 
 
 Renevv'al of Credit. Where a credit has been exhausted it may be renewed by application to the 
 Superiuteudeut of the money-order system. (See Cueoit.) (Sectitm 1095.> " 
 
 Route. A post-road between au.v two jiost-oftices (intermediate post-otticcs may or may not bi- in- 
 cluded) on which transportation of the mails has been ordered and contracted for. 
 
 Route-Agents. {See Agent.) 
 
 Route, Carrier's. The district within the delivervof a free-delivery office in which delivery of maila 
 i.s made at residences or places of business by any one letter-camer. 
 
 Route, Railroad. A railroad on which transportation of the mails and sei^ice has been ordered by 
 the department. 
 
 Route, i^tar. A jiublic highway or other road on which transportation of the mails has been ortlered 
 and cimtracted for by the Post-Ottice Dejiartment. 
 
 Route, Steamboat. A water-route on which transportation of the mails and service by steamboat 
 has been ordered bv the I'ost-Ottice Department. 
 
 R. P. O. (Abb. for Railwan FostOMce.) 
 
 Run. Xearly a synonym of "Triii," but applied generaUy to the starting out of an employ^ on duty, 
 a.s. "Mr. Jones takes the "run' west to-uight.'' 
 
 Saek. (See Mail-Bag.) 
 
 Satchel. A unifonn leather bag used by letter-carriers, and in which the.v place mail for delivery or 
 di'posit at the post-oftice. 
 
 Scale IVumber. The number assigned to any issue of authorized scales, letter-balances. (Stc. used 
 in weighing or rating mail. It should be used in connection with the date of order authoiizing 
 such ihanged issue. 
 
 Schedule Point. A po.st-office on a mail-route where a .specified time for the airival and departure 
 of the mail has been fixed by the Second Assistant Postmaster-Genenil. Each terminus of a 
 mail-route is always a "schedule point.'" 
 
 Scheme. An nftieial and formal jdan or di-sign of di.stribution or assorting. 
 
 Scheme of Distribution. A scheme for the distribution division of post-offices or for employ68 
 of the railway mail service. 
 
 Scheme of Distribntion, General. A distribution scheme issued by the railway mail service 
 ffir general adajitation to any standpoint, and in which all routes and inethmls of supply are 
 indicated. 
 
 Scheme of Distribution, Oeneral .4i:i;{li> Supply. A distribution .scheme issued by the 
 railway mail service for general adaptation, in which only the best single supply for an office 
 is given. 
 
 Scheme of Distribution, ^Tlassing. A sni)]denientary .scheme directing the disposition to be 
 made of The ilivisiinis of the u ni king iiliice scheme. 
 
 Scheme of Distribution, Post-Ollice. A distribution scheme jinblished by a post-otfii'e for 
 its ilisnilmtiiin ilivisioii and ariaiigcil to secure a uniform casing or assiu'tingof mad at all times. 
 
 Scheme of Distribution, MInndpoinl. .V distribution scheme issued by the railway miiil 
 service for the iliicctinn and from the staniljmint of a route or other standpoint. 
 
 Second Advice. A letter of advice, ujion a distinct form, sent by the issuing postmastiT in lieu of 
 an original advice which has been mutilated or which is otherwise ille-xible. or which has failed 
 to reach the paying otiiie. or which is alleged to be defective or manifestly incorrect in any of 
 its particulars. A second advice is not neces.sarily an exact copy of the original. It may be a 
 conectiou thereof. (Section 995.) 
 
 28 P L 
 
434 
 
 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 Separating. A term used in the district divisions of post-oifices and in the railway mail service to 
 indicate the act of dividing mail for the convenience of a post-office or route making the fina. 
 distribution of the same. 
 
 Separatiog Post-Offices. Post-offices where mail is received for distribution and dispatched to other 
 post-offices. Before the introduction of the railway mail service all mail was either sent direct 
 or to a distributing post-office, but now the largci' part of tlic distiibutiou is done en route by 
 the employ68 of the railway mail service, and mily mail for post-offices on star-routes is sent to 
 separating post-offices. Distributiug po.st-officis are abolished. 
 
 Service. A biancli, division, or subdivision of the business of the Post-Office Department. The spe- 
 cial duties of any such branch or division. The general duties of the department. 
 
 Set. {See Crew.) 
 
 Special Agent. A confidential agent of the department, the personal rr])resentative of the Post- 
 master-General, acting undir siiicial or scaled in.structions in the adjustment of business which 
 it is impossible or impracticable to adjust by means of correspoiuU-nce. Special agents assigned 
 to the money-order system receive their instructions from and report to the su)>eriutendent of 
 the money-order system; those to the free-delivery system from the superintendent of free de- 
 livery, &c. 
 
 Special Draft. A draft on the postmaster at New York for a designated sum, furnished by the 
 superintendent of the money-order system to meet a special emergency, to a postmaster who 
 does not require a standing credit. (See Creutt and Draft.) (Section 1097.) 
 
 Special IVotice of Overdraft. A notice (Fonu tiiiHT) sent by an issuing to a paying postmaster 
 at a second-class office to inform him tluit the amount of money-orders drawn upon his office in 
 a given day eqnals or exceeds $200. (Section 1001.) 
 
 Special Notice of Repayment. A notice sent by the issuing to the paying postmaster to in- 
 form him that a money-order, the advice of which has gone forward, has been repaid. (Sections 
 1004, 1040.) 
 
 Stamp. To impiess with some mark or postmark. An instrument with which such marking is made. 
 To affix postage-stamps to mail. 
 
 Star Service. Contracts for carrying the mail, other than by railway or steamboat, " without other 
 lefereuce to the mode of transportation than may be necessary to provide for the due celerity, 
 certainty, and security thereof." So called from the fact that the printed contract forms are 
 
 headed with stars in the following manner : * * * * * *. The three groups of 
 
 stars represent the words "celerity, certainty, security." 
 
 Sterling. The designation given to the lawful money of Great Britain. Money computed in pounds, 
 shillings, and ]ieuce. (Sections 1049, 1050.) 
 
 Stra'w Kids. Bid.* for carrying the mail made with the intention of failing to perform service after 
 the awarding of the C(mtract, so that a new contract will liave to be made with a higher bidder 
 with whom a combination has been made by the lowest bidder. 
 
 Safficieut and Suitable Rooms, Fixtiircisi, and Furniture. Applied to railroad service 
 means That the Postiiiastei-( ieiieial is to determine what sj)ace is required formailsand agents, 
 what tixturos art^ rei|iiiied to facilitate distiibutiou, and what furniture is necessary to render 
 the department convenient and comfortable. 
 
 Superintendent of t lie Money-Order Syistem. The officer at the seat of government charged 
 by the Postmaster-General with the general supervision and management of the business of the 
 money-order system. 
 
 Sureties. Persons who sign or indorse the bond of a postmaster as guarantors for the faithful per- 
 formance, by the latter, of the duties of his office, and who biiid themselves {see Penal Sum) 
 to make good the whole or a designated portion of any lo.ss that may accrue to the postal or 
 mouev-order funds by reason of the negligence or malfeasance of the postmaster, or of any of 
 the eini.loyes of liis office. (Sections 960. 964.) 
 
 Surname. The family name or designatiim, usually inherited from the father, as distinguished from 
 the given or Christian name. (Seetion 1063.) ' 
 
 Terminus. One of Tlie emls of a post -route. {See Txitiat, Office, Terminal Offipe.) 
 
 Through Registered ITIsiil Pout-hes. Fsed exclusively for domestic exihauges of through 
 registrieil mails lietwceii siieli post oliiees as are autlioHzed to make such exehan^es; nulde of 
 red-stii]H(l idttou eaii\as of tliree si/.es. tlie huLLCst lieing No. 1 and the smallest No. 3. No. 
 1 is 4.S inches in h-uu'tb and Oil inelies in circuiiifereuce : No. 2 is 41 inches in length and 48 
 inches in circumferen<'e ; No. 3 is 36 inciies in leugtli and 42 inches in circumference. 
 
 Tracer. (Syu. Searclw)-. Imjuirii.) A ]>rinted form foi' ascertaining the disposition made en route 
 at each succeeding stage or transfer of missing ordinary or registered mail. 
 
 Transfer. The loan of funds from one account to another by authority of the Postmaster-General. 
 (Section 1072.) 
 
 Tic-Sack. (,S'('e Jute-canvas Mail-sack.) 
 
 Treaty. {See Postal Convention.) 
 
 Trip. The performance of service one way over a route. 
 
 Trip, Round. The ])erfoiniauce of service both ways over a route. 
 
 Uniuailablc. Matter whicli by law, regulation, or treaty stipulation is excluded from the mails, or 
 wlLich by reason of illegible, incorrect, or insufficient address cannot be forwarded to destina- 
 tion. 
 
 Toucher. The evidence of the payment of money upon which credit is taken in an account. Paid 
 and repaid money-oidei-s, receipts for stationery and incidental expenses, receipts for the salai'- 
 ies of clerks, and certificates of deposit are anumg the vouchers to a money-order account. 
 (Sections 971, 1086, 1094.) 
 
 Way. (See Likal.) The term " way " sliould be apjdied only to po.st-offices on star routes and mail 
 sent to them. The term ■'loi nl" should be anplieil only'to po.st-offices on railroad or steamboat 
 routes, and to mail intended for them. 
 
 ■H'ayjTIail. IMail for a way post-office. 
 
 ■W^ay Po.st-Ofliee. On a star route, a post-office between the termini of the route. 
 
 Weekly I^i.st. (-sv-f List, Canadian'.) 
 
 ■Weekly Statement. A dctaili'd ri'Cord of the money-order transactions of a nost-ofiice reiiuired to 
 be sent to tlie su]ierintendi'nt of the money-order system on Saturday at the close of each 
 week's business. Tlu' first weekly statement in each fiscal (|uarter includes tlie business of 
 all the days of the (|uarter prior to till' second Sunday, anil the last weekly statement in eacli 
 fiscal (juarter includes the business of all the days subsequent to the .Sunday next before the 
 last in the quarter. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 AN ABSTRACT 
 
 OF THE 
 
 FORMER POSTAL LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES, 
 
 SHOWING 
 
 THE VARIOUS CHANGES IN THE CLASSIFICATION OF MAIL 
 
 MATTER, DOMESTIC RATES OF POSTAGE, AND IN THE 
 
 FRANKING PRIVILEGE, FROM 1789 TO MARCH 3, 1879. 
 
 435 
 
AN AHSTKACT OF THi; I'OK.MKi; POSTAL LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES, 
 SHOWING THE VAKIOls CILVNCiKS IN THE CLASSIFICATION OF MAIL 
 MATTER. DOMESTIC HAIES OF FOSTACIE, AND IN THE FRANKING PRIVI- 
 LEGE, FROM 1789 TO MARCH 3, I.-^71). 
 
 Act September '2-2, 17r*l».— For the tviiiiimary (.■st:il>li>liinciit of tli.' itost-office, to con- 
 tinue in force until the end of llic next session of Conj;r<-ss, and ni> lon;^cr. 
 
 Jet August 4, 17t)(1. — Continues in force tiie act of 8ei>teiul>er 2J, 17-'J, until the end 
 of the next Congress, ami no longer. 
 
 Act March ^^, 1791.— Continn«»s in force the act of September 2i, 17^9, until the end 
 of the next Congress, and no longer. 
 
 This act (March 3, 1791) provides that all letters to and from the Treasurer, Comp- 
 troller, and Auditor of the Treasury, and th(^ Assistant to the Secretary of tlie Tre.i.sury, 
 on public service, shall be received and conveyed by the i)ost free of postage. 
 
 Act Filn-uanj 'JO, 1792. — Continues in force the act of Marcli :{, 1791, until the 1st of 
 June, 1792, and no longer, and provides that this act (Februarj" 20, 1792; shall con- 
 tinue in force for the term of two years from June 1. 1792, and no longer. 
 
 This act (February 2(1, 1792) was the first act fixing rates of postage on domestic 
 letters, and established the following rat<'s, to take effect .June 1. 1792: 
 
 Act Februurii 20, 1792, Hection 9. — By land. — For every single letter not exceeding 30 
 miles, 6 cents. 
 
 For every single letter over 30 miles, and not exceeding 60 miles, 8 cents. 
 
 For every single letter over 60 miles, and not exceeding 100 miles, 10 cents. 
 
 For every single letter over 100 miles, and not exceeding 150 miles. 12A cents. 
 
 For every single letter over 1.50 miles, and not exceeding 20i) miles, 15 cents. 
 
 For every single letter over 200 miles, and not exceeding 250 miles, 17 cetits. 
 
 For every single letter over 2.50 miles, and not exceeding 3.50 miles, 20 cents. 
 
 For every single letter over 350 miles, and not exceeding 450 miles, 22 cents. 
 
 F^or every single letter over 450 miles, 25 cents. 
 
 For every double letter, double the said rates. 
 
 For every triple letter, triple the said rates. 
 
 For every packet weigliing 1 ounce avoirdujiois, to pay at the rate of four single 
 letters for each ounce, and in that proportion for any grt;ater weight. 
 
 Act Feb r liar !i 2i), 1792, -section 10. — Letters ami packets i>assing by sea to and from 
 the LTnited States, or from cme p(nt to another therein, in ])acket-boats or vessels, the 
 property of or provided by the United States, shall be rated and charged as follows: 
 
 For every single letter, 8 cents. 
 
 For eveiy double letter, 16 cents. 
 
 For every triple letter or packet, 24 cents. 
 
 For every letter or packet brought into the United States, or carried from one port 
 thereinto another by sea. in any i)rivate ship or vessel, 4 cents, if delivered at the 
 place where the same shall arrive ; and if directed to be delivered at any other place, 
 with the addition of the like postage as on domestic letters. 
 
 Act Fcbrnarn 20, 1792, .section 13.— The i)ostmasters to whom snch lettei-s may be 
 delivered shall ]iay to the master, commander, or other person delivering the same. 
 except the commanders of foreign packets, 2 cents for every such letter or packet. 
 
 Act Fchritarii 20, 1792, section 19. — Letters and packets to be received and conveyed 
 by post, free of i»ostage,5under certain restrictions: 
 
 President of the United States I ^^„ ,,,^^,.^.^ „j. ,,.,ekots to or Iron.. 
 
 V lee-President ot the I nited btates, ^ ' 
 
 Senators, ) All letters or packets to or from, not ex- 
 
 Representatives, ( cceding 2 ounces in weight, duriujj their act- 
 
 Secretarv of the Senate, ual attendance in any session ol Congress, 
 
 Clerk of'the House of Representatives, J and 20 days after such session. 
 
 Secretary of the Treasury, 
 
 Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, 
 
 Comptroller, 
 
 Register, 
 
 Auditor, 
 
 Treasurer, 
 
 ^Secretary of State, 
 
 All letters to or from. 
 
 437 
 
438 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 Secretary of War, ^ 
 
 Commissioners for settling accounts between the United States ] 
 
 and individual States, } All letters to or from. 
 
 Postm aster- General, 
 Assistant Postmaster-General, 
 
 Provided, No person shall frank or inclose any letter or packet not Ms own ; but pub- 
 lic letters or packets, from the Treasury Department, may be franked by the Secre- 
 tary, Assistant Secretary, Comptroller, Register, Auditor, or Treasurer. 
 
 Each person shall deliver to post-office every letter or packet inclosed to him for 
 other persons, that postage may be charged. 
 
 Act February 20, 1792, section 21. — Printers of newspapers, authorized to send one 
 paper to every other printer of newspaper, in the United States, free of postage, imder 
 regulations of the Postmaster-General. 
 
 All newspjipers conveyed by mail for any distance not more than 100 miles, 1 cent; 
 and over 100 miles, 1^ cents ; if any other matter or thing be inclosed, it is subject to 
 letter rates of postage. 
 
 Act February 20, 1792, section 26. — Postmaster-General to make provision for receipt 
 of letters and packets, to be conveyed beyond the sea, or from one port to another in 
 the United States ; and for every letter so received, a postage of 1 cent shall be jtaid. 
 
 Act May 8, 1794. — To take effect June 1, 1794, without limit as to time. Establishes a 
 General Post-Office. Section 9, 10, and 13 of this act re-enacts sections 9, 10, and 13 of 
 act of February 20, 1792. 
 
 Section 19 of tMs act re-enacts section 19 of act of February 20, 1792, except that it 
 omits the Assistant Secretary of the Treasury and commissioners for settling accounts 
 between the United States and individual States, and adds the Commissioner of the 
 Reveniie and postmasters ; the letters and packets of postmasters not to exceed one-half 
 ounce in weight. 
 
 Section 26 of this act re-enacts section 26 of act of Fel unary 20, 1792. 
 
 Act December 3, 1794. — Confers franking privilege on James White, Delegate to Con- 
 gress from the Territory of the United States south of thei"iver Ohio. 
 
 Act February 25, 1795. — Confers franking privilege on purveyor of public supplies, 
 as to letters to or from. 
 
 Act March 3, 1797. — That all letters or packets to George Washington, now Presi- 
 dent of the United States, after the expiration of his term of office, and during his life, 
 shall be received and conveyed by post, free of postage. 
 
 Act June 22, 1798. — Extends the privilege of franking letters and packets to the Sec- 
 retary of the Navv, uuder like restrictions and hmitations as are provided in act May 
 8, 1794, section 19. 
 
 Act March 2, 1799, section 7. — Establishes a General Post-Office at the seat of Govern- 
 ment of the United States. 
 
 For every letter composed of single sheet of paper conveyed not exceeding 40 miles, 
 8 cents ; over 40 miles and not exceeding 90 miles, 10 cents ; over 90 miles and not ex- 
 ceeding 150 miles, 12| cents ; over 150 miles and not exceeding 300 miles, 17 cents ; 
 over 300 miles and not exceeding 500 miles, 20 cents ; over 500 miles, 25 cents. 
 
 Double letter or 2 pieces of paper, double rates. 
 
 Triple letter or 3 jiieces of paper, triple rates ; and for every packet composed of four 
 or more pieces of paper, or other thing, and weighing 1 (mnce avoirdupois, quadruple 
 rate, and in same proportion for greater weights : Provided, No packet of letters con- 
 veyed by the water-mails shall be charged inore than (jTiadrnple postage, unless con- 
 taining more than four distinct letters ; no package to be received weighing more 
 than three pounds. 
 
 Act March. 2, 1799, section 8. — Every packet or letter brought in the United States, 
 or carried from one jtort to another in private ship or vessel, 6 cents, if delivered in 
 office where received; if to be conveyed by post, 2 cents added to ordinary postage. 
 
 Act March 2, 1799, section 11. — Authorizes postmasters, to whom letters may Tie deliv- 
 ered by masters or commanders of any shij) or vessel arriving at any port within the 
 United States, where a post-office is established, except foreign packets, to pay two 
 cents for each letter or jtacket. 
 
 Act March 2, 1799, section 13. — Postmasters aiithorized to pay mail-carriers one cent 
 for each way-letter delivered to them, also mail-carriers authorized to demand and 
 receive 2 cents in addition to the ordinary postage, for every letter delivered by them 
 to persons living between post-offices on their route. 
 
 Act March 2, 1799, section 17. — Letters and iiackets to be conveyed free to and from 
 the following : 
 
 Postmasters. — Not exceeding J ounce in weight. 
 
 Senators, "j 
 
 Representatives, ( Not exceeding 2 ounces in weiglit. during actual attend- 
 
 Secretary of the Senate, ranceinanysessionof Congress, and 20 days after such session. 
 
 Clerk of the House, J 
 
APPENDIX l(>K'Mi:i.' I'osiAL LAWS. 
 
 439 
 
 ) All Ifttois iiiid pai-kt'ts. 
 
 Pn'si«l«^iit of till- Uiiifml 8fat«s, ) 
 
 Vicc-Picsidfiit lit' tin- I'liittMl StutoH, 
 
 Si'c Tftiiry of tlif Tifasmy. 
 
 Coiiiiitrollfi" of I lie 'rrrasiiry, 
 
 Auditor of the Trcasiiiy. 
 
 KcfjisttT of tin- 'rrt'asiiiy. 
 
 Tivasmcr of tin- I'liittMl States, 
 
 Ct>iiiiiiis.sioiM'r of till' Kevi'iiiic, 
 
 SiijKTvisors of tho Kinfuue, 
 
 Iiisi>citois t>f the Reveime, 
 
 t'oiiiuiissioiK'is, 
 
 Pnrvi-yur, 
 
 SecTctaiy of War, 
 
 Accountant of War Office, 
 
 Secretary of State, 
 
 Secretary of Navy, 
 
 Acoouiitanf of Navy, 
 
 Postmaster-General, 
 
 Assistant Postmaster-General, 
 
 All may receive their newspaiiers free of jiosta*:;!' : I'mridtd, Senators. Kcpresenta- 
 tives. Secretary of Senate, and Clerk of the House siiall n-ceive newspapers free dur- 
 ing session of Congress, and 20 days after. 
 
 Letters or jiackets from any pnlilic otHicer to In- franked l»y person sending. 
 
 All letters and packets to and from George Washington, late President, to be re- 
 ceived and conveyed free. 
 
 Act March "i, \''M, neciion 19. — Re-enacts section 21 of act Feltruarv '20. 17i»2. 
 
 Jet Mttrcli "i, 1799. xiction W. — Fixes postage on newspapers at 1 cent each for not 
 more than one hundred miles, and 1^ cents for any greater distance, Single news- 
 papers from one ])lace to another in the same State shall not exceed 1 cent. 
 
 Concealing a letter, or other thing, or any memorandum in writing in a newspaper, 
 subjects each article in packet to a single letter postage. 
 
 Magazines and pamphlets, 1 cent a sheet, for not exceeding fifty miles; 1^ cent« 
 for over fifty miles, and not exceeding one hundred miles ; and 2 cents for any greater 
 distance. 
 
 Act March 2. 1799, fcection 25. — Postmaster-General authorized to provide for receipt 
 of letters or packets, to be conveyed by^ sea to any foreign i)ort or home port. Every 
 letter or packet so received, suVtject to a postage of 1 cent. 
 
 Act Januari) 2, IHOO, ncction 1. — Confers franking i)rivilege on William Henry Harrison, 
 Delegate to Congress from Territory northwest of the Ohio River, to send and receive 
 letters free of ]iostage. 
 
 Act April 3. 1800. — Confers franking privilege to Martha Washington, to send and 
 receive letters and packages free of postage during her life. 
 
 Act December 1.5. 1800, fiection 1. — Confers franking i)rivilege on Delegate from Terri- 
 tory northwest of the Ohio River, to send and receive letters free of postage. 
 
 Act February 25, 1801. — Confers franking iirivilege on John Adams. President of the 
 United States, after the expiration of his term of othce, and during his life, on ail let- 
 ters and packets to him. 
 
 Act February 18, 1802. — Confers privilege of franking and receiving letters free of 
 postage to any person admitted, or to be admitted, to take a seat in Congress as a 
 Delegate. 
 
 Act May 3, 1802, section o. — Franking privilege extemled to tho Attorney-General, to 
 send and receive all letters, packets, and newspapers, free of postage. 
 
 Act March 26, 1804. section 3.— Letters, returns, and other papers on pnblic service, 
 sent by mail to or from Offices of Inspector and Paymaster of tho Army, to be received 
 and conveved free of postage. 
 
 Act JHne'^29, 1809. — Letters and packets from Thomas .Tetferson, late I'resident of the 
 United States, to be received and conveyed l>y post, free of postage, during his life. 
 
 Act April 30, 1810, section 1.— Establishes a General Post-Otfice at the seat of Gov- 
 ernment. 
 
 Act April 30, 1810, section 11.— Rates of postage on letters and packets: 
 
 Single sheet of paper less than 40 miles 8 cents. 
 
 40 to 90 miles 10 cents. 
 
 90 to 150 miles 12^ cents. 
 
 150 to 300 miles 1" cents. 
 
 300 to 500 miles 20 cents. 
 
 over 500 miles 25 cents. 
 
 Double letters or two pieces of paper, double rates: triple letters or three pieces of 
 paper, triple rates ; every packet composed of foiu- or more pieces of paper or other 
 
440 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 tiling, auci weigliiug one ounce avoirdupois, quadrnple rate ; and in same proportion 
 for greater weight : Provided, No packet of letters, conveyed by the water-mails shall 
 be charged more than ([uadruple postage, nnless containing more than four distinct 
 letters. Weight of packet limited to three pounds. 
 
 Jet A})ril 30, 1810, section 12. — Letters or packets brought into the United States, or 
 carried from one port therein to another, shall be charged 6 cents, if delivered at the 
 post-office where the same shall arrive ; and if to be conveyed by post to any other 
 place, with two cents added to the ordinary rates of postage. 
 
 Act April 30, 1810, section 1.5. — Postmasters authorized, on the receipt of letters fi'om 
 any ship or vessel arriving at any port within the L^nitcd States, where a i)ost-office is 
 estaljlished, to pay to the master, commander, or other person delivering the same, 
 except the commanders of foreign packets, two cents for everj- letter or packet. 
 
 Act April 30, 1810, section 17. — Postmasters authorized to pay mail-carrier one cent 
 for every letter brought into their office ; also mail-carrier authorized to demand and 
 receive two cents, in addition to the ordinary postage, for every letter delivered by 
 them to persons living between post-offices on his route. 
 
 Act April 30, 1810, section 24. — Letters and packets to and from the following officers 
 of the United States to be received and conveyed through the mails free of postage : 
 Postmasters, not exceeding I oz. in weight : 
 
 Senators, ^ 
 
 Members, 1 Limited to two otmces in weight, and during their actual 
 
 Delegates, / attendance in any session of Congress and twenty days there- 
 
 Secretary of the Senate, after ; excess of weight to be paid for. 
 Clerk of the House, J 
 
 President of the United States, 
 
 Vice-President of the United States, 
 
 Secretary of State, 
 
 Secretary of Treasury, 
 
 •Secretary of War, 
 
 Secretary of the Navy, 
 
 Attorney-General, 
 
 Comptroller, 
 
 Treasurer, 
 
 Re^ist"er ' ^^^ letters and packets. 
 
 Supervisor of direct tax of district of S. C, 
 
 Superintendent of Indian trade. 
 
 Purveyor, 
 
 Inspector and Paymaster of the Army, 
 
 Accountants of War and Navj^ Departments, 
 
 Postmaster-General, 
 
 Assistant Postmastere-Geueral, 
 
 John Adams, 
 
 Thomas Jefferson, 
 
 All may receive their newspapers free of postage. 
 
 Senators, Representatives, Scrretary of the Senate, and Clerk of the House of Rep- 
 resentatives shall receive their newspapers free of postage only diu'ing any session of 
 Congress and twentj' days thereafter. 
 
 Act April 30, 1810, section 2.5. — Secretaries of the Treasury, State, War, Navy, and 
 Postmaster-General authorized to frank letters or packets on official business, pre- 
 pared in any other public office, in the absence of the principal thereof. 
 
 Act April ZO, 1810, section 2G. — Printers of newspapers authorized to exchange one 
 copy free, of newspai>ers, under regulations of the Postmaster-General. 
 
 Act April 30, 1810, section 27. — Newspapers by mail, one cent each for not more than 
 one hundred miles; one and one-half cents for any greater distance. Single news- 
 papers, from one place to another in the same State, not to exceed one cent. 
 
 Act April 30, 1810, section 32. — Postmaster-General authorized to ])rovide for the 
 receipt and transmission of letters and packets beyond sea, or from any port in the 
 United States to any port therein ; every letter or packet so received subject to a 
 postage of one cent. 
 
 Act April 30, 1810, section 34. — Drop or local letters, one cent each. 
 
 Act April 30, 1810, section 39. — Adjutant-General of the militia of each State and 
 Territory has the right to receive by mail, free of postage, from any major or briga- 
 dier general thereof, and to transmit to said generals, any letter or i)a('kot, relating 
 solely to the militia of such State or Territory, under certain restrictions. 
 
 Act Ajml 18, 1814, section 4. — Secretary of State authorized to transmit by mail, free 
 of i>ostage, one copy of documents ordered to be printed by either House of Congress; 
 namely, of communications, with accompanying documents, made by the President to 
 
APPENDIX FORMER POSTAL LAWS. 441 
 
 Coiifjrt'ss orcitluT Iloiisc tlurcof; of rei»i>it.s iiuuh- 1»\ the Siinlary of Slalo, Tn-iiMiiry, 
 War, Navy, Postiiiastci-CifinTal, or coiiiiiii.ssiuni r.s nt tin- .siiikiiiii-fiiiiil. to ('oiijxri'M.«», or 
 eitlicr llou.sc tlicnof, in pursuaiur of any law or rcMoliition or<itliir IIoii«c ; atlirinativc 
 reports on snlijccts of a fiencral naturi' niadi- to ('on;;rf.s.s, or citlirr Ilon-w tlicD'of, liy 
 ;iiiy coniniit ti'i- ri'si»i'ctivcly ; for catli of tlic.jnil^r.sof tli<- SuprcnH- Con it, of tin- dint rid 
 i-onrts, and of tlir Tt 1 1 itoriis of llic I'nilrd Statrs, to any iio.>t-ollicc within the CnitiMl 
 .States tlu'V may rcsiifctivcly desijinatc. 
 
 Act Dcccinlxr 2'.i, 1-11, -srction 2. — I'roni and after I'elirnary 1, 1:^1.'>, tln-re hliall Im* 
 add«Ml to tile rates of postage estaMislied l»y law 'tit per eentnin on tlie anionnt of hiicIi 
 rates res))e(tively. 
 
 Act Fihnitiiji I, 1H1(). — Rei)caLs so nineh of aet of Di-eeniliei 'S'>, \^14, as inipose.H 50 
 per eentnin additional postage. 
 
 Acl Jpril It, 181(i, nn'tioii 1.— Rates of i)ostag»' after Mav 1, I-IC: 
 
 (•.•II tn. 
 
 Every letter e(nnposed of a single sheet of jiaper, les.> tiian '.'^> miles I> 
 
 Over '.iO miles and not exceeding CO miles ID 
 
 Over 60 miles uiid not exceeding ir)0 miles 12^ 
 
 Over loO miles and not exceeding 400 miles 1^4 
 
 Over 400 miles 2.') 
 
 Every donhle letter or two pieces of jiajier. doiihle rates. 
 
 Every triple letter or three pieces of pajn-r, tri]d<' rates. 
 
 Every jiaeket containing four or more pieces of paper or one or more other articles, 
 and weighing one onnce a\oir(lu]iois, ([uadniide these rati's, and in that i)ro]>ortioii 
 foi- all greater rates. No packet of letters conveyed by water-mails to he charged with 
 more than (|uadrni>le postage, nnless the same shall i-ontaiii nnire than four di>tinct 
 letters. 
 
 Any memoraiidnm written on a newspaper or other jninted i»a\ier, ami transmitted 
 l>y mail, to he charged with letter-postage. 
 
 Jet April 9, ISlfi, xvctio)! 'i. — Letters and jiackets to and from Seuators, Memhers, and 
 Delegates of the House, Secretary of the Senate, and Clerk of the Ihmse, to lie con- 
 veyed free of ])ostage for thirty days jncvions to each .session of Congress and for 
 thirty days after the termination thereof; limited to two ounces in weight ; excess to 
 be paid for. 
 
 Act March 1, 1817. — Letters and packets to and from .lames Madison, President of 
 the Ignited States, after the expiration of his term of oftice and during his life, to lie 
 cari'ied l>y mail free of jiostage. 
 
 Act March V.\, 1"^-J(l. — Letters and packets to and from the President of the Senate 
 2)ro tempore, and Sjieaker of the Honse for the time being, to be received and conveyed 
 by mail, free of ])ostage, during the session of Congress, nnder certain restrictions. 
 
 Act March 3, 1825. — Au act to reduce into one the'several acts establishing and regu- 
 lating the Po.st-Otlice Department. 
 
 .Section 1 establishes at the seat of government a general post-ofiice, under the 
 direction of the Postmaster-General. 
 
 Act March o, 1^2."), .section 5. — Authorizes the Postmaster-General to have mail carried 
 by any steamboat or other vessel which shall be used as a packet in any waters of the 
 United States, on .such terms and conditions as shall be con-si<lered expedient: Pro- 
 vided, That he does not pay more than three cents for each letter, nor more than one- 
 half a cent for each newspaper. 
 
 Act March 3, 182;'), >^ectioii ti.— :Master or manager of any steamboat pa.ssiug froin one 
 port or place to another port or ]daee in the I'nited States, where a post-othce is es- 
 tablished, to deliver all letters or packets addressed to such port or place, to the i>ost- 
 master there, for which he shall receive of such postmaster two cents for every letter 
 or packet .so delivered, unless the same shall be conveyed under contract with the 
 Postmaster-General. 
 
 Act March 3, 1825, section 13.— Rates of po.stage <>ii letters and packets couv<-yed in 
 the mail of the United States : 
 For every letter of a single sheet of paper, conveyed not exceeding 30 miles . »1 cents. 
 
 Over 30 miles and not exceeding 80 miles 1" cents. 
 
 Over K> miles and not exceeding 150 miles 1-i ceiit.s. 
 
 Over 1.50 miles and not exceeding 400 miles 1""^ cents. 
 
 Over 400 miles -•' *"^""ts- 
 
 Every double letter or two pieces of paper, double th.'si- rates : every triide letter or 
 three lueces of paper, triple these rates: every i)acket cdt'our or more i.ieces ot i>aper, 
 or one or more other articles, and weighing one ounce av<.irdupois, <|ua«lriiple these 
 rates ; and in that proportion for all greater w eights : I'rovided, That no packet of 
 letters, conveyed bv the water-mails, shall be charged more than 4ua<lru].le iiostage. 
 nnless the same shall ccnitain more than four distinct letters ; weight of packet limited 
 to three pounds. 
 
442 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 Unbound journals of legislatures of the several States liable to same postage as 
 pamphlets. 
 
 Memorandum written on a newspaper or other printed paper, pamphlet, or magazine, 
 and transmitted by mail, to be charged with letter-postage. 
 
 Act March 3, 18'25, section 15. — Every letter or package brought into the Ignited 
 States, or carried from one j)oint therein to another, in any private ship or vessel, to 
 be charged six cents, if delivered at the post-office where the same shall arrive ; and 
 if destined to be conveyed by post to any other jjlace, Avith two cents added to the 
 ordinary rates of postage. 
 
 Act March 3, 1825, section 18. — Postmasters authorized to pay to the master or com- 
 mander of any vessel, exce^it the commanders of foreign packets, arriving at any port 
 in the United States where a post-oftice is established, two cents for every letter or 
 packet delivered l)y them to the jiostmaster. 
 
 Act March 3, 182.5, section 27. — Letters and packets to be conveyed by post, free of 
 postage, to. and from the following: 
 
 Postmasters limited to ^ ounce in weight. 
 
 Members, | Ljjjjj^^p^i ^„ 2 ounces in weight (exceiit documents printed 
 
 ~^^^^^*^^'^' I by order of either House of Congress), and during their 
 
 L>eiegates, o + f actual attendance in anv session of Congress and sixty 
 
 secretary 01 tne ^enate, ^ heioxe and after ; excess of weight to be paid for. 
 Clerk of the House, J • ' « 1 
 
 President of the United States, "i 
 
 Vice-President of the United States, 
 
 Secretary of State, 
 
 Secretary of War, 
 
 Secretary of Treasury, 
 
 Secretary of Navy, 
 
 At torney-General, 
 
 Postmaster-General, \ All letters and packets. 
 
 Assistant Postmasters-General, 
 
 Comptrollers of Treasury, 
 
 Auditors of Treasury, 
 
 Register, 
 
 Treasurer, 
 
 Commissioner General Land-Office, 
 
 Ex- Presidents and Presidents of United States, J 
 
 All of the above to receive newspapers free of postage : Provided, That postmasters 
 shall not receive, free of postage, more than one daily newspaper each, or what is 
 equivalent thereto ; nor shall members of the Senate or House, Clerk of the House, 
 or Secretary of the Senate receive newspapers free of postage after their franking 
 privilege shall cease. 
 
 Act March 3, 1825, section 28. — Secretaries of Treasury, State, War, Navy, and the 
 Postmaster-General may frank letters or packets on official business, prepared in any 
 other public office, in the absence of the principal thereof. 
 
 Act March 3, 1825, section 29. — Printers of newspapers authorized to exchange one 
 paper, free of postage, under regulations by Postmaster-General. 
 
 Act March 3, 1825, section 30. — Newspapers, conveyed by mail, one cent for any dis- 
 tance not more than 100 miles; 1^ cents for any greater distance. Single newsjjapers 
 from one place to another, in the same State, one cent. 
 
 Inclosing or concealing a letter or other thing, or any memorandum in writing in a 
 newspaper, pamphlet, or magazine, subjects it to single letter postage for each article 
 of wliicli the package is composed. 
 
 When mode of conveyance and size of mail will admit, magazines and pamphlets 
 published periodically may be transported in the mail to subscribers, at 1^ cents a 
 sheet for any distance not exceeding 100 miles, and 2| cents for any greater distance. 
 And such magazines and pamphlets as are not published periodically, if sent in the 
 mail, shall be charged four cents on each sheet for any distance not exceeding 100 
 miles, and six cents for any greater distance. (Section 13 of this act dehnes a sheet 
 to be four folio yyages, 8 qviarto pages, Iti octavo pages, or 24 duodecimo ]iages, or 
 pages less than that of a pamphlet size or magazine, whatever be the size of tlie ]tai>er 
 of which it is fiumed. The surjiliis pages of any pamphlet or magazine shall also he 
 considered a sheet. ) 
 
 Act March 3, 1825, section 34. — Postmaster-GeneraT authorized to make provisions 
 for the receii)t of letters and packets, to be conveyed by any vessel beyond sea, or 
 from one port tf> another in the United States, and the postmaster receiving tlu' same 
 at the port to which such vessel shall be bound shall be entitled to a postage of one 
 cent on each letter or packet received. 
 
 Act March 3, 1825, section 36. — Droj) or local letters delivered at the post-office, one 
 cent each. 
 
APPENDIX FOh'Mi;i.' l-oSTAL LAWS. 44S 
 
 Act Murrli 3, 182.'), .■iertiiiu 4(i. — The a(lintiiiil-KOiiiial of tin- iiiilitiii of cucli Stfit*- and 
 Tt'iritoiv aiithoiizi'd to rccfivf liy iiiiiil, fitt- of postajif, Ironi any niajor-nornTal or 
 l)rif>a(lit'r-v;<'in ral then-of, ami to tiansiiiit to said <;cinTalH any h-f t<T or packet n-lat- 
 iiif:; solely to tin- militia of snch State or Tcrritoiy, inMlcr ccitain lomlitions. 
 
 Act Murrh :?, If^'J.'i, sicliiiii M>. — KNjK'als all aits and jiarts of arts wliirli have l»efli 
 passed for the esta'dislimeiit and ic<iiilatioii (d' tiie (Jeiiera! Post-Ollli-e. 
 
 Jet March 'J. l^'iT, kccHoii "J. — (>n<' cent to lie allowed eaeli postnnister for every let- 
 ter recei\('il from any ship or vessel and mailed i>\ him. 
 
 .((7 March '2, 1""27, ncdioii 4. — Anthorit.\ to frank and receive letters and |iaeket.M free 
 of postajje extended to the eomnussioners of the navy hoard, .Ad.intant-(ietieral, C'»»iii- 
 nnssary -General. Insi»eetor-(;enerai. C/nartermaster-tJeneral, raymaster-tJeneral, .Sec- 
 retary of the Senate. Clerk (dthe Ilonse. Snjierintendent of the I'atent Otliei-. 
 
 No other ]>ei'son or otlieer, except those ennnieratcd herein and in tin- act of March 
 3, IS'ia, sliall he anthorized to frank or ri'ceive letters liy mail free of posta^^e. 
 
 Act March *J, 1S27, .vec^/o;/ .">. — One or more ]iieces id' |iaper mailed as a h-tter and 
 wcifihinf;- one onnce avoirilni»ois, shall he charged with i|nailrii)(lc posta^^e, and at 
 the. same rate slionld the wci^^iit Vte j^reater. I'aeka^ics containinii four pieces of 
 paper, nuadrnide. rates. 
 
 Every printed ]iamphlet or niatiazine, containing more tlian t w enty-fmir pa^es on 
 a royal sheet, or any sheet of less dimensions, shall he charj^cd hy tiic sheet : and 
 small pamjihlcts, ])rinted on a half or ipiarter sheet of royal, or less size, shall l>e 
 charged with one- half tlie amonnt of postage on a fnll slu'et. Donhle postage siiall lie 
 charged, nnless there shall hi- printed or written on one id" the outer ]iagesofaIl 
 l>aniplilets and magazines the uumher <d" sheets they contain. 
 
 Act Jinic ;UI, lr<:U. — (Jovernori* of the several .States anthoiized to transmit hy mail, 
 free of postage, all laws and re))orts hound or unhound. and all records and documents 
 of their respective States, which may he directcil hy the several legislatures of the 
 States to he transnutted to the executives of other .'^tates. 
 
 Act July 2, lS3t;. NcctioH "^.—Auditor of the Treasury for the Post-Ottice Dejiartment 
 authorized to frank and receive, free of postage, letters and jiackets, under regulations 
 provided hy law for other otiticers of the (ioverument. All letters or packets to or 
 from the Chief Engineer, which may relate to the Im.siness of his Office, free of post- 
 age. 
 
 Act Juhi 2, 18:^(i, section 20. — Postmaster General anthorized to employ a Third Ajs- 
 sistaut Postmaster-General, who may receive and send letters free of postage. 
 
 Act Julji 2, 1836, section :U;,— No postmaster shall receive, free of postage, or frank 
 any letter or packet composed of or containing anything other than money or paper. 
 
 All letters and packets to and from Dolly P. Madison, relict of the late James Ma«l- 
 ison, shall he received and conveyed hy post, fiee of postage, for and during her life. 
 
 Act Jul !i 4, 18:\6, section 1. — Patent-Ottlce estahlished and the Connnissioner entitled 
 to receive and send letters and packages hy mail, relatitig to the husiness of his Office, 
 free of ])ostage. 
 
 Act September 9, 1841. — All letters and packets carried hy post to Mrs. Harrison, 
 relict of the late William Heurv Harrison, to he conveved free of postage during her 
 life. 
 
 Act January 20, 1843, section 3. — Commissioner of Pensions anthorized to send and 
 receive letters and packets hv mail, free of postage. 
 
 Act February 1.5, 1843, xectioii 1.— Authorizes the chief clerk of the office of Secretary 
 of State to frank all puhlic and official documents sent from that Ottice. 
 
 Act March 3, 184.5, section 1.— After July 1, 1845, Memhers of Congress and Delegates 
 from Territories may receive letters not exceeding two ounces in weight, free of post- 
 age, during the recess of Congress, anything to the contrary in this act notwithstand- 
 ing; and the same franking privilegeVhich is granted hy this act to the nieml»rs id 
 the two Houses of Congress is herehy extendeil to the Vice-President of the United 
 States. . 
 
 Postaqe on letters.— For every single letter in mann.script, or marks and signs, by- 
 mail, under three hundred miles, five cents: over three hniulred nules. ten cents; 
 donhle letter, donhle rates; trehle letter, trehle rates; iiuadruple letter, iinadruple 
 rates; and every letter or parcel not exceeding one-half ounce in weight shall he 
 deemed a single "^letter, and every additional weight of one-half ounce or less shall he 
 charged with an additional single postage. Drop or local letters shall he charged a 
 postage rate of two cents each. 
 
 Act March 3, 1845, section -i.—rostaqe on Hcirsjw^jcrs,— Newspapers of not more than 
 1,9(10 siinare inches in size may be transmitted through the mails hy the editors or 
 puhlishers thereof to subscribers or other persons, within thirty nules of the city, town, 
 or place in which the paper is i)iinted, free of i.ostagc Newspapers of less size, con- 
 veved hv mail hevoiid thirtv miles from the i-lacc at which they are printed, shal lie 
 subject to the rates of postage chargeable under the thirtieth section, act March .^._ 
 1825. Newspapers of greater size than 1,900 stpiare inches sul>.iect to same rates ot 
 postage as are prescribed hv this act on magazines and pamphlets. 
 
 Act March Z, 1845, scc^iou '3.— Printed or lithograph circulars, hand-bills, or adver- 
 
444 POSTAL LAWS AND EEGULATIONS. 
 
 tisemeiits, printed or lithograplietl on qnarto-post or single-cap paper, or paper not 
 larger than single-cap paper, nusealed, shall he charged with postage at the rate of 
 two cents for each sheet, without regard to distance. Pamphlets, magazines, peri- 
 odicals, and all other printed or other matter (except newspapers) unconnected with 
 any writing, sliall be charged with postage at the rate of two and a half cents for each 
 copy sent, not exceeding one ounce in weight, and one cent additional for each addi- 
 tional ounce, without regard to distance ; and any fractional excess of not less than 
 one-half ounce above one or more ounces shall be charged for as if said excess amounted 
 to a full ounce. 
 
 Act March 3, 184.5, section o. — Repeals all acts and parts of acts conferring upon any 
 person the right or privilege to receive and transmit through the mail, free of postage, 
 letters, packets, newspapers, periodicals, or other matter. 
 
 Act March 3, 1845, section 6. — All officers of the Government of the United States, 
 heretofore having the franking privilege, shall be allowed and paid quarterly all post- 
 age on official letters, packages, or other matter received by mail. 
 
 Postage upon official letters, packages, or other matter received by the three Assist- 
 ant Postmasters-General shall be remitted, and they shall be authorized to transmit 
 by mail, free of postage, official letters, packages, or other matter under certain regu- 
 lations. 
 
 Deputy postmasters allowed all postage which they may have paid or have had 
 charged to them for official letters, packages, or other matters, and they are authorized 
 to send by mail, free of postage, official letters and packets, under certain regulations. 
 
 Act March 3, 1845, section 7. — Continues in force act of June 30, 1834, authorizing 
 the governors of the several States to transmit by mail certain books and documents, 
 and authorizes Members and Delegates, Secretary of the Senate and Clerk of the House, 
 to transmit by mail, free of postage, any documents printed by order of either House 
 of Congress. 
 
 Act March 3, 1845, section 8. — Senators, Members, Delegates, Secretary of Senate, and 
 Clerk of the House authorized, during each session of Congress, and for thirty days 
 before and after every session of Congress, to send and receive through the mail, free 
 of postage, any letter, newspaper, or packet, not exceeding two ounces in weight. 
 Postage-charge for excess of weight on official letters, packages, &c., received during 
 any session of Congress, to be paid out of the contingent fund of the House of which 
 the person may be a member. Authorized to frank written letters from themselves 
 during the whole year, tSrc. 
 
 Act March 3, 1845, section 13. — Transmission of letters by steamboats, under act of 
 March 3, 1825, section 6, not prohibited: Provided, That the requirements of said 
 sixth section shall be strictly complied with by the delivery of all letters so conveyed, 
 not relating to the cargo or some part thereof, to the postmaster or agent of the Post- 
 Office Department, at the port to which said letters may be delivered, and the postmaster 
 or agent shall collect upon all letters or other mailable matter so delivered to him, 
 except newspapers, pamphlets, magazines, and i)eriodicals, the same rates of postage 
 as would have been charged upon said letters had they been transmitted by mail from 
 the i)ort at which they were placed on board the steamboat from which they were 
 received ; weight of packet limited to three ])0unds. 
 
 Act March 3, 1845, section 15. — Mailable matter defined. — Letters, newspa]»ers, maga- 
 zines, and pamphlets pericxlically published or puldished in regular series, or in suc- 
 cessive uunibcrs, under the same title, though at irregular intcLvals, anil all other 
 written or iirinted matter, whereof each copy or number shall not exceed eight ounces 
 in weight, excejrt Ijank-notes sent in packages or bundles, without written letters 
 accompanyiug them. Bound books not to be included within the meaning of these 
 terms. 
 
 Act March 3, 1845, section 16. — Xcwspapers defined. — Any printed publication issued 
 in numbers, consisting of not more than two sheets and published at short stated in- 
 tervnls of not more than one month, conveying intelligence of passing events, and 
 hona-fide extras and supplements of any such puldicatlons. 
 
 Fre_e exchange of newspapers between publishers as provided for by act ]SIarcli 3, 
 1825, section 29, not prohibited. 
 
 Act March 3, 1845, section 23. — Franking i)rivilege conferred l>y former acts on the 
 President of the United States when in otiice, and- to all Ex-Presidents, and to the 
 widows of the former Presidents, Madison and Harrison, continued in force. 
 
 Joint resol II lion of March 3, 1845. — Provides that act of March 3, 1845, shall go into 
 effect on and after July 1, 1845. 
 
 Act Mail 29, 1840, section 3. — Same rates of i)ostage to T»e charged in Texas as in other 
 States of the United States. 
 
 Act All fi list G, 1846, section 18.— On and after January 1, 1847, postage shall be paid 
 in gold and silver only, or in Treasury notes of the United States. 
 
 Act March 1, 1847, section 3. — Members and Delegates in Congress, Vice-President of 
 the United States, Secretary of the Senate, and Clerk of the House to have power to 
 
APPENDIX — roi.'.MKlJ I'OSIAL LAWS. 445 
 
 sj'IkI an<l roccivi* imhlic (lociinicnts diiriiijf tlit-ir ti-nn of onirciiiil up t<> ili«- 111-1 Mr. inlay 
 of Dirt'iiiluT followiiiy,- tin- expiration of their term of oilier. 
 
 Act Mdicli 1. 1S47, .sceNon 4. — Seeretaiy of the Senate ami Clerk of the IIoiih*- to 
 reeeive and send all letters and ]»ackaj;e,s free of posta;ie, diirinj^ their term of otllce; 
 limited lo two ounces. 
 
 .lit Murcli 1, 1H47. mrllon '». — Members of Coiif^ress to ri-eeivc and send all li-lt<TH and 
 l)iiekanes free ot posta;:;"'. up to the first Moinlay in J>eeeml»fr followin;; tin- expirii- 
 tion of their term of oHice. 
 
 Act March ti, IsJT, sccliaii 1. — Postnnisters, whosr eom]iensation forthehi.st pri-eediiij; 
 year did not exeeed iJiJOO, to send all letters written by himself ami reeeive all addressed 
 to himself, on his jirivate business, free of postajie; limited to one-half oiim-i- in weight. 
 
 ^Ict Murch :!, 1H47, section 4. — [getters, news]>aiters, and patkits. not exercdinn oiio 
 ounce in wei^jht, directed to any ollicer, nnisieian, or pri\ ate of the Army of the I'nited 
 States in Mexico, or at any i)lace on the frontier of the Unilt^d States bordering; on 
 Mexico, shall be conveyed in the mail free of )>ostaj^e. 
 
 Act March :?, It^ 17, section 5. — Continues in force section 4 of this Act dnriii;; the 
 present war and three months thereafter. 
 
 Act March'.i, lSi7, section!. — Postmaster-tlcneral aiitliorized to establish a iiost-othce 
 at Astoria, and other places on the Paeitie : 
 
 Cents. 
 
 All letters conveyed to or from Cha^res 20 
 
 All letters conveyed to or from Havana - Ivj^ 
 
 All letters conveyed to or from Panama 151) 
 
 All letters con veye<l to or from Astoria 4i • 
 
 All letters conveyed to or from any other ]ilace on tin- Pacific 4i) 
 
 Act Murch :?, 1847, section Vi. — Repeals so much of section (i of act March :5, \'*\'^, as 
 requires postage to be paid on free matter from the contingent fund of the two Houses 
 of Congress and the other Departments of the Government, and in lieu thereof ])rovides 
 for an annual appropriation of two linndred thousand dollars, to be paid to the Post- 
 Office Dei>artuU'Ut. 
 
 Act March :?, 1"'47, section l'^. — Newspapers by mail (except exchanges between pub- 
 lishers), except those franked by those enjoying the franking privilege, and news- 
 papers not sent from the office of publication, and handbills or circulars printed or 
 lithograjdied, not exceeding one sheet, shall be subject to three cents pi-epaid postage 
 each. Postnuister-General authorized to jtay not exceeding two cents each for all 
 letters or packets conveyed in any vessel, iu>t employed in carrving the mail from one 
 place to another in the I'nited States, under such regulations as he may i)rovide. 
 
 Publications, or books juiblislied, procuicd, or iturcliased by either House of Con- 
 gress, shall be considered public documents and entitled to be franked as such. 
 
 Act March :?, 1847, section 14. — Rei)eals so njuch of act of March 3. 1845, and of all 
 other acts relating to the I'ost-Ofhce Department as is inconsistent with this act. 
 
 Act March 9, 1H4S'. — Letters aTid packets by mail to an<l from Louisa Catherine 
 Adams, widow of the late John Quincy Adams, to lie free of jiostage during her life. 
 
 Act May 27, 1848, section 4. — Commissioner of Patents authorizeil to send by nniil 
 free of postage the annual reports of the Patent Office. 
 
 Act June 27, 1848, section 1. — Postmaster-General authorized to charge and collect 
 upon all letters aud other mailable matter, carried in foreign packets, the same rate 
 of i>ostage which the governments, to which such foreign packets belong, impose upon 
 letters, Ac., carried in American packets. 
 
 Act June 27, 1848, section 2. — All letters and other mailable matter conveyed by any 
 foreign ship to or from any jiort of the I'nited States, to be subject to postage charged 
 as in above section, except letteis relating to the vessel or cargo. 
 
 Act Auf/usf 14, 184S, section '.i. — Postmaster-tieneral authorized to establish a jwist- 
 olfice at San Diego, Monterey, San Francisco, and other places on the Pacific, in Cali- 
 fornia, and all letters conveyed to or from any of the above i>laces on the Pacific, from 
 or to any place on the Atlantic, to be chargeil forty cents jxistagc : all letters con- 
 veyed from one to any other of said places on the I'acilic. twelve ami a half cents. 
 
 Act March A, 1849,' xe ■/((*» 1.— Kates of letters transported under the (.ostal treaty 
 with Great Britain : 
 
 Letters not exceeding one-half ounce, one rate of postage. 
 
 Letters exceeding one-half ounce avoirdupois, and not exeeetliug one ounce, two rates 
 of postage. 
 
 Letters exceeding oiu; ounce avoirdupois, and not exceeding two ounces, four rates 
 of postage. 
 
 Letters exceeding two ounces avoirdupois, and not excL-eding three ounces, six ratts 
 of postage. 
 
 Letters exceeding three ounces avoirdupois, and not exceeding four ounces, eight 
 rates of postage. 
 
 And in like progres.sion for each additicmal ounce or fraction of an ounce. News- 
 papers not sent from the office of ])nblication to be charged with the same rates of 
 postage as other papers; to be prejiaid. 
 
44G " POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 Act January 10, 1850. — Fraukiug privilege grauted Sarah Polk, relict of the late 
 James K. Polk, duriug her life, to cover all letters and packages to and from. 
 
 Act May 23, 1850, section 17. — Marshals aud their assistants, authorized to transmit 
 papers and documents relating to the census through the post-office free. 
 
 Act March 23, 1850, section \9. — Secretary of the Interior required to appoint a clerk 
 to superintend the census, who shall have the privilege of franking aud i-eceiving, free 
 of charge, all official documents aud letters connected therewith. 
 
 Act Jnlij 18, 1850. — Franking privilege granted to Margaret Smith Taylor, relict of 
 Zachary Taylor, same as granted to widows of deceased Presidents. 
 
 Act September 27, 1850. — Third section act of August 14, 1848, extended to Terri- 
 tories of Utah and New Mexico, and Postmaster-General authorized to establish such 
 rates of postage in said Territories as may to him seem proper, not to exceed those 
 authorized iu said act. * 
 
 Act March 3, 1851, section 1. — Bates of jfostage on letters — From and after June 30, 
 1851, in lieu of rates of postage now fixed by law, there shall be charged the follow- 
 ing rates : Every single letter, in writing, marks, or signs, by mail, not exceeding 
 thi-ee thousand miles, prepaid postage, 3 cents ; not prepaid, 5 cents ; for any greater 
 distance, double these rates. 
 
 Every single letter or paper conveyed wholly or in part by sea, and to or from a 
 foreign country over two thousand five hundred miles, 20 cents ; under two thousand 
 five hundred miles, 10 cents (excepting rates fixed by postal treaty); double letter, 
 double rates ; triple letter, triple rates ; aud every letter or parcel, not exceeding i 
 ounce in weight, shall be deemed a single letter, and every additional weight of^ 
 ounce or less shall be charged with an additioual rate. Drop or local letters, 1 cent 
 each. Letters uncalled for and advertised, to l)e charged 1 cent in addition to the 
 regular postage. 
 
 Act March 3, 1851, section 2. — Newspapers not exceeding 3 ounces in weight sent 
 from the office of publication to hona-fide subscribers shall be charged with postage as 
 folloAvs : 
 
 Weekly newspapers free, within the county where published, and for not exceed- 
 ing fifty miles out of the county where published, 5 cents per quarter ; exceeding 
 50 miles, and not exceeding 300 miles, 10 cents per quarter ; exceeding 300 miles, and 
 not exceeding 1,000 miles, 15 cents per quarter; exceeding 1,000 miles, aud not ex- 
 ceeding 2,000 miles, 20 cents per quarter; exceeding 2,000 miles, and not exceeding 
 4,000 miles, 25 cents per quarter ; exceeding 4,000 miles, 30 cents per quarter. 
 
 Newspapers published monthly, sent to hona-fide subscribers, one-quarter of the 
 foregoing rates ; puldished semi-monthly, one-half of the foregoing rates ; published 
 semi-weekly, double the foregoing rates ; published tr'-weekly, treble the foregoing 
 rates; aud ofteuer than tri-weekly, five times the foregoing rates; on other papers, 
 unsealed circulars, haudliills, engravings, pamphlets, periodicals, magazines, books, 
 aud all other printed matter, Unconnected with Avritteu matter, of notniore fhanoue 
 ounce in weight, and not exceeding 500 miles, one cent ; and for each additional 
 ounce or fraction thereof, one cent; exceeding 500 miles, and not exceeding 1,500 
 miles, double these rates; exceeding 1,500 miles, and not exceeding 2,500 miles, treble 
 these rates; exceeding 2,.500 miles, and not exceeding 3,500 miles, four times these 
 rates ; exceeding 3,500 miles, five times these rates. 
 
 Subscribers to iicriodicals required to i)ay oiie-(iuarter's postage in advance ; post- 
 age one-lialf the furcgoing rates. 
 
 Bound books aud parcels of printed matter, not over thirty ounces, made mailable 
 matter. 
 
 Postage on printed matter, other than newspapers, aud periodicals published at in- 
 tervals not exceeding three months and sent from office of i>ublicatiou to hona-fide 
 subscribers, to be prei)aid. 
 
 When print(nl matter, on which jiostngc is required by this section to be ])repaid, 
 shall be sent without pre])aynient,The same shall bcclnirged witlidoul)lethepi'ei)aid rate. 
 
 Nothing iu this act shall subject to postage any matter exempted from i)ostage by 
 existing law. 
 
 Publishers of ]iamphlefs, periodicals, magazines, and uews])apers, which shall not 
 exceed sixteen ounces in weight, allowed to interchange their publications free, con- 
 fined to a single copy of each publication. Publishers allowed to inclose in their ])ub- 
 lications bills for subscription without additional postage. Newspapers not containing 
 more than three hundred s(|uaie inches, maybe transmitted to &o««-^V/<' sul>scribers 
 at one-fourth the rates bxed by this act. 
 
 Act March 3, 18.M, section 8. — Provides for the annual approi)riationof $500,000 to the 
 Post-Office Dejiartnieut for mail-servi(M> for the two Houses of Congress, and other De- 
 partments, and ofticers of the govi^niment, in the tr;ins])ortati()U of free matfer. 
 
 Act Aiit/usl 30, bsr)2, section I. — It'dlex of poxiiKje on printed mutler. — l<''roni and after Sep- 
 tember 30, 1S52, posfjige on all printed matter passing by mail, instead of the rates 
 now charged, shall be as follows: Each nt^wspaper, periodical, unsi'aled circular, or 
 otlu^' article of printed matter, not ''xceeding three ounces iu weight, to any part of 
 
APPENDIX FOIv'MKl,' PosiAL LAWS. 447 
 
 tho I'uitt'd Stiitos, one ci-nt ; and tor i'\< r> aililiiinii.il oiiiicr or tVartioii tln-rt-of, uue 
 cent additional. 
 
 Postajjc on any iifw.spaiMrs or |>iTiodiral.H paid i|iiai'tcrly or yearly in iidvan<c at 
 the ortici' ofdi'livt-ry, or at tlu- otlitc ol' niailin;;, one-half iit" said rates only shall he 
 charj^ed. 
 
 News))ai>tis an<l jieriodirals not weifjhinn "mt li mun-es. when einnlated in th« 
 State wneie ]inl>lished, one-half the rates liefore mentioned. 
 
 Small iiewspain'rs and i>eiioilii;ils, imhlished monthly or oftener. and )).'tmphletH of 
 not more than sixteen oet.avo pa^^es, sent in siiij^le paekam-s. wei^hinji at least eiyht 
 ounces, to one address, and prepaid hy ]iosta;;e-stamps atli.\e<l. only one-half ei-nt for 
 each onnee or fraction of an ounce. 
 
 Postajie on all transient matter shall he prejiaid or ch.trj^ed donldi* tin- rates first 
 ahove mentioned. 
 
 .-/(•/ Aiitiii-st :?0, 1S.V2, acctiiiii 2. — I'oxtufjr (HI hiiokx. — Utioks. hound or nnhonnd, not 
 weighing more than four pounds, will he deemed m.ailahle matter and snhject to |»ost- 
 ajje at one cent an ounce for all distances under :{,Hii(( miles; two cents for all dirt- 
 tauces over :},00(t miles; to which lifly per centum shall he added unless |ire|iaid. 
 
 Publishers of news)>ai>ers and ]>eriodi<-als may exchange, free of postagi-. one copy 
 of each imhlication, aiul may send to actii.il siii>scril)eis. in their pnldieatioiis, hills 
 and receipts for the same free. I'uhlisheis of weekly ni-wspajieis may send to each 
 actual subscriber within the county where their papers are printed and imldished one 
 copy free of postage, nniler certain conditions. 
 
 Act AiifiHst '.?0. 18;V2, section '.\. — Prescribes certain conditions, which, if not com|died 
 with, sul)ject printed matter to letter-)>ostage. 
 
 Matter sent by mail from one part of the I'nited States to another, the jio.stage of 
 Avhich is not fixed by this act, shall, unless entitled to be sent free, be chargeil with 
 letter-jtostage. 
 
 Act J/itniist 30, 18.52, section'). — Rei)ealssomnchof the second section of act of March, 
 3, 18.')1, as relates to the postage ov free circulation of newspapers, jieriodicals. and 
 other printed matter, and all other jnovisions of law inconsistent with this act. 
 
 Act Aiif/iist 30, lSo2, section 8.— Postinaster-tiencral authoiized to provide stamp.d 
 letter envelopes. Letters when inclosed in such envelojxs [ with stamps thereon eipial 
 iu amount to the i>ostage to which such letters would he liable if sent by mail) may 
 be sent and delivered otherwise than by mail under certain conditions. 
 
 Act Fcbniarii 2. \i')i. — The .Superiiitei'ideiit of the Co.-ist Survey and the .assistant in 
 charge of theOthce of the Coast Survey, authorized to transmit freeof post.ige. by the 
 mails, all letters and documents iu relation to their public ilnties. 
 
 Act March 3. 1<).'). section I.— In lieu of the rates of ]>ostage now tixeil by law. there 
 shall he charged the following rates: 
 
 For every single letter, in manuscript or ]>ai>er of any kind, in writing, marks, or 
 signs, coiiveyedin the mail beTween i)Iaces in the rnited States, not exceeding three 
 thousand miles, three cents: and for .my greater distance, ten cents; for a double let- 
 ter, double rates: trelile letter, treble rates; (inadrnide letter, i|uadrui»le rates; every 
 letter or parcel not exceeding one-half ounce in weight .shall be deemed a .single let- 
 ter, and every additional weight oi' one-half ouiu-e or less shall be <harged an aildi- 
 tioual rate: the foregoing rates to be i»repaid on dtmiestii- letters, except <»ii h tiers and 
 packages to officers of the government on otlicial business, and e\ci'i>i on letters to or 
 from a foreign country. 
 
 Postage ou drop or local letters, one cent each. 
 
 Nothing in this act to alter the laws in relation to flu- franking juivilege. 
 
 Act March 3, ISoo. section 4.— Franking privilege, of ^'ice-l'residellts continued to 
 those who have held <n- shall hold that office, during life. 
 
 Act March 3, 18.j5, sictiim .">.— IJooks, maps, charts, or other i>nblications, entered by 
 cojtvright, and Avhich. under act of August 10. l-4(i. are required to be deposited in 
 the Library of Congress and in the Smithsonian Institution, may be sent hy mail, tree 
 of postage, under regulations to be jncscribed by the Postniiister-lJeneral. 
 
 Act Januar}/ 2, 1.-.57.— Repeals the inovision in the act of August :!U. l-.Vi. permitting 
 tran.sieut printed matter to be sent through the mail, without prep.iymeiit ot postag.- ; 
 the pfistage on all such nnitter shall In- paid by stamps or otherwise, as the Postmaster- 
 General mav direct. 
 
 Act April 3. 1830, section 1.— Modities sectmd clause, section 3, of act Augu.st 30, 18.»2, 
 establishing the rates of postage on ininted matter, so as to allow only the name, the 
 date when the subscrii)tion expires, and the addn-ss of the per.son to whom sent. 
 
 Act April 3, 1860, section 2.— Postage on tiro), or local letters deli vere 1 by earners, one 
 cent each. 
 
 Act Fchrnari/ 27. 1861, section -.—That upon all letters returned from the deail-ietter 
 office there shall be i)aid the usual rate of postage ; to he paid on delivery. 
 
 Act Fehrnarii 21 , l-^Hl. section ".i.— That upon every letter or pa.kit brought into the 
 United States, or carried from <me port therein to auotln-r. in any private sh.p or ves.sel, 
 five cents if delivered at the po^t-office where the same shall arrive, and it destined to 1)6 
 
448 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 conveyed by post, two cents shall be added to tLe ordinary postage : Provided, That 
 upon all letters or jiacliets conveyed in whole or in part by steamers over any ronte 
 npou which the mail is regnlarly conveyed in vessels nnder contract with the Post- 
 Office Department, the same charge shall l)e levied, with the addition of two cents a 
 letter or jtacket on the domestic rates. 
 
 Act Fehruari/ 27, 1861, section 10. — Repeals all acts or ^larts of acts inconsistent with 
 section 9 of this act. 
 
 Jet Feirx (()•}/ 27, 1861, section 12. — That maps, engravi)igs, lithographs, or photographic 
 prints, on rollers or in paper covers, books, bound or unbound, phonographic paper, 
 and letter envelopes, shall l>e deemed mailable matter, and charged with postage by 
 weight, not to exceed four pounds, at the rate of one cent an ounce or fraction of an 
 ounce, to any place in the United States under 1,500 miles; two cents an ounce or 
 fraction of an ounce over 1,.500 miles, to l»e prepaid hj postage-stamps. 
 
 Act Fehrnarji 27, 1861, xeetion 1?,. — That cards, blank or printed, blanks in packages 
 weighing at least eight ounces, and seeds or cuttings in packages not exceeding eight 
 ounces, shall also lie deemed mailable matter, and charged Avith postage at the rate 
 of one cent an ounce, or fraction thereof, to any place in the United States under 1,500 
 miles, and two cents an ounce, or fraction thereof, over 1,500 miles, to be prepaid by 
 postage-stamits. 
 
 Act February 27, 1861, section 14. — Modifies the act of March 3, 18.55, so as to require 
 the ten-cent rate of postage to be prepaid on letters conveyed in the mail from any 
 point in the United States east of the Rocky Mountains to any State or Territory on 
 the Pacific, and vice versa. 
 
 Drop-letters shall be prepaid by postage stamps. 
 
 Act February 27. 1861, section 16. — The postage over the overland route, between any 
 State or Territory east of the Rocky jNIountains to any State or Territory on the Pacific, 
 on each newspaper, periodical, unsealed circular, or other article of jirinted matter 
 not exceeding three onnces in weight, shall be one cent; and every additional ounce, 
 or fraction thereof, one cent additional. 
 
 Act February 27, 1861, section 17. — Rate of letter-iiostage between any State or Terri- 
 tory east of the Rocky Mountains and any State or Territory on the Pacific, ten cents 
 for every 4 ounce. 
 
 Act March 2, 1861, section 9. — Contractors on overland routes to San Francisco re- 
 quired to rnn a pony-express during the C(mtinuance of their contract or until the 
 completion of the overland-telegra]>li, at certain times, carrying for the Government 
 free of charge five jiounds of mail-matter, with the liberty of charging the public for 
 transportation of letters by said express, not exceeding one dollar for -k ounce ; to com- 
 mence before the 25th day of March, 1862, and expire July 1, 1864. 
 
 Act July 22, 1861, .section 11. — Letters written by soldiers in the service of the United 
 States may be transmitted by mail without prei>ayment of postage, under regula- 
 tions of the Post-Office Department ; postage to be paid by the party receiving. 
 
 Act July 24, 1861. — Prepaid letters to soldiers in the service of the United States, 
 and directed to a point where they have been stationed, may be forwarded without 
 further charge. 
 
 Act January 21, 1862, section 1. — Postnuister-General authorized to return all dead- 
 letters to writers, except those containing circulars and other worthless matter. 
 Valuable letters to be charged treble, and all others double the ordinary rates of post- 
 age, to be collected from the writers. 
 
 Provisions of act of .July 2, 1861, section 11, extended to sailors and marines in the 
 service of the United States. 
 
 Act Aiyril 16, 1862, section 1. — Postujaster-General authorized to establish branch 
 post-offices in cities, and to charge one cent in addition to the regnhtr postage for 
 every letter de])Osited in them, to Ite forwarded by mail, to be prepaid l)y stamps ; 
 and one cent for every letter delivered at snch bi-anch office, to be ]iaid on delivery. 
 
 Act May 15, 1862, section 1. — Establishes the DepartnuMit of Agricultnie. 
 
 Act May 15, 1862, section 2. — Provides for the appointment of a Commissioner of Agri- 
 culture, ami confers franking privileges on said Connnissioner to send and receive by 
 mail, free of postage, all con)nninications and other matter pertaining to the business 
 of his Depart iiieiit ; weight limited to thirty-two ounces. 
 
 Act July 1, bSi'i, scctiiin 1. — Creates the Oltice of Connnissioner of Internal Revenne, 
 and confers on the Connnissioner the ]ii-ivilege of franking all letteis and docnments 
 pertaining to the duties of his Oflice, and of r<'ceiving free all snch letters and docu- 
 ments. 
 
 Act July 5, 1862, section 6. — Chii'fs of the bureaus of the Navy Deiiartment authorized 
 to frank all comnnmications from their respective bureaus, and all conununications to 
 their bureaus on the business thereof shall he free of jKisfage. 
 
 Act Marcli :i, 1^6'.!, xectiun 16. — r<istuiasters of any ofliee where letter-carriers ai'e em- 
 ployed authorized to contract with ]iuldishers of newspapers, periodicals, and circu- 
 lars, for delivery by carrier of any such i>uhlications not received by nniil, at rates 
 and terms to be agreed upon. 
 
APPENDIX POKMKU roSTAI- I-AWS. 449 
 
 Cniitrarts liiive in» forct- until ni)prov<Ml liv tin- 1Vstiii:istcr-(H-ii<-riil. 
 
 Pi)stm»sjcr-({t'ii»'ral aiitlinri/vd to nidvidf for dclivcrv Ity <-;irri«T i>f Hiiiitll ]i!i<'ki-tH, 
 c>thi»r than IrttiMs «>r ]>iH»tTs siml not «'xc<'c<liiiii tin- niuxiniiiin wi-i^lit of niailuhlc 
 liackafTcs ; sncli pafka^ii-s t^> !»»' ]n'c|taiil l»y |»osla;if-.staiM|i.H at tin- rat<- of two ci-ntH for 
 t'ac-li 1«iMii' omicf.s or lra<'lioii tlififoi". 
 
 Jr-f Mttnh :?. 1H(>:?, srrliiin H). — Limits wcifilit to lour oiimcs. f\(ci»t 1mm. U.H |)iiliiiH|ic<| 
 or <'ln-ulattMl l>_v onl«'r of <'<Mi;;rcss. 
 
 Act Mtinli 'A, 18t>:i, m-vtwii V.K — l>ivi(l»s inailaMc inattt-r into tlin-r ilaM«-H. FirHt 
 class, Irttrrs: sct-ond clnss, rc^iular inintcd matter; tliini class. nii.s4'i>||jinr'on.s nialti'r. 
 
 .IH March :?, 1"'6:{, Hfctioti "JO. — I'irst-class rniliraccs all lorn-spoinli-nrr wholly or 
 ]>artly in writin;^. fx<-<']»t that niciitiont-d in tin- third class. 
 
 S('( onil class tinluaccs all niailahlc matter exclusively in |»rint ami re)j;uhirly inMU'- 1 
 at stated ))eriods, without additimi l>y writinji. mark, or si^;n. 
 
 Third class euihraces all other matter which is or may hereatler he hy law declared 
 luailalde. 
 
 Act March 'A, Idfti, .iccl'ioii 2\. — I'ixes the maximum standard weight for tlie Hin^lp 
 rate of letter-i)Ostai;t' at one-half ounce avoirdnixus. 
 
 Act March 'A, lHfi3, xcctinii "ix;. — Fixes the rate of jiostaye on domestic letters not ex- 
 ce»'din<^ (uie-half ouiu-e in weii^ht at three cents, and three cents additional for each 
 additional half-ounce (U- traction thereof, to he ]u'e]i;iid h\ iiosta;ie-st:ini|is atlixed. 
 
 Act March W. l>*i}',i. section ^'.i. — Fixes the rate of posta;;!- on ilrop-htters not exceeding 
 one-half ounce in wei-iht at two cents, and two cents added f(u- each additional half- 
 ounce or fraction thereof, to he pre]taid by postajie-stamps ;if1ixed. 
 
 Act March :>. l-^i;:?. i^ection '24. — Mailahle nuittcr wholly or p.irtly in writin;;. or so 
 iiuirked as to convey further information than is conveyed hy the original juint incase 
 of printed mattei-, or sent in violation tif law oi- rejiulations touchin;^ the inclosure of 
 matter which may he .sent at less than letter-rates, and .ill matteron which iioditferent 
 rate is provided hy l.iw, suhject to letter-iiosta;ie : I'roridcd, That hook-manuscript 
 and corrected proof, passiuj; hetween author an<l i)ublisher, may ]iass at the rate of 
 ])rinted mattei-: And J'rnridcd, That tln' imldishers of newspapers and jjcriodicals may 
 print or w rite u])on their ])ul)licati(uis sent to suliserihers the address .-ind the date 
 "when the subscrijition ex])ires, and may inclose receipt for payment and hills for sub- 
 scription. 
 
 Act March A. 18(>;i, section '25. — All uuitter not enumerated as mailable, and to which 
 no si)ecitie rates of i)osta;ie are assiij;ned. subject to letfer-postajie. 
 
 Act March 'A. 18<>:?, section '2ii. — Double rates of jiostaj^e to be collected on deliveiy on 
 any matter on which ]iostaiie is required to be prepaid at the mailin.n-ottice : I'ror'uled, 
 Such nuitter reaches its destination without smli ]>re])aymeut. 
 
 Alt Marcli ;!. If^iVA. section 27. — I'ostniaster-tiencral .luthorized to j»rovi(h' for tran.s- 
 mittini; uni)aid ami duly-ccrtitie<l letters of scddiers. sailoi-s, and marines, ami all 
 other lettei-s which, fiom accident, appear to have been dejiosited without jirep-iyment 
 of postajie : but in all cases of letters not prepaid, exeejtt ceititied soldiers', and naval 
 letters, the same shall be charjt>ed witli d<uiV)le rates of i)0.staj;e, to be collected on 
 delivery. 
 
 Act March 3, 1863, section 29. — Postage on return deadlettei-s. not rejjistered as vain- 
 able, three cents for the sinj^le rate: rejiistered as valuable, double rates. 
 
 Act March 3, 18(>3, section 30. — Lettci-s may be forwarded from otlice t>f destination to 
 any other ottice. with additional charjie of postaj^e therefor. 
 
 Act March 3, IdtU?. section 31. — Postnutster-General autluuized to jiay two cents each 
 for all letters conveyed in any vessel, not einidoyod in carryiuff the mail from one 
 pla<<' to another in the United States, or from any forei<j:;n jiort to any jtort within the 
 I'nited States and deposited in the post-otlice at the port of arrival. If for delivery 
 within tli<' I'nited States, double rates of postajje. 
 
 Act March 3. 1863, section 33. — Fixes the maxin\um stauilard rate for the sinjjle rate 
 of postajie on printed matter, and also oujmiscellaneous nuitter, at four ounces avoirdu- 
 pois, subject to the excejition in the next section. 
 
 Act March 3. 1863, section 34. — The rate of posta,u;e cm transient matter of the second 
 class, and on miscellaneous matter cd" the third class (except circulars and books), shall 
 be two cents for each four oinices or fractions thereof on one packa;:e to one address, 
 to be prepaid by stami>satlixe<l : double these rates tor books. I'usealed circulars, not 
 exceeding tluee in number, two cents, adding <uie rate for three additional circulars or 
 less number to one address. 
 
 Act March 3, 1863, section 35. — Postage on matter of the second class, issued once a 
 week or more frequently, from a known ottice of publication, and sent to regular sub- 
 scribers, shall V>e as follows: For newspap<-rs and oilnr jx-riodical imblications. not 
 exceeding four ounces, and ])assing through the mails or post-otlices of the I'nited 
 States, the rate for each ([uarter shall be. for publications is.sued once a w« ek. 5 cents; 
 twice a week, 10 cents; three times a week, 15 cents; six times a week, 30 cents; 
 seven tinu-s a week, 35 cents; and in that ]>ropoi-tion. adding one rate for each issue 
 more frequent than once a week. For weight exceeding four ounces and not exeeed- 
 
 2<) P L 
 
450 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS, 
 
 iu<^ eig-lit oiiucus, ai aldiioiial rate, and an adrlitioual rate for eacdi additioual four 
 oimces or fraction thex-eof; postage to be jirepaid for uot less tliau one quarter uor 
 more tliau one year, at either the office of mailing or dehvery, at the option of the 
 subsci'iber. 
 
 Weekly newspapers, to each subscriber within the county where the same are 
 l)rinted and published, one coi>y free of postage. 
 
 Act Manli ?>, 186:5, section 36. — Postage on mailable matter of the second class, issued 
 less frequently than once a week, issued from a known office of publication, and sent 
 to subscribers, shall be as follows: Upon newspapers, magazines, and other periodical 
 publications, not exceeding four ounces, passing Through the mails or post-offices 
 of the United States, the rate for each such i)aper or periodical shall be one cent, and 
 an additional rate of one cent for each additional four ounces or fraction thereof; Pro- 
 vided, That the Postmaster-General may provide for the transportation of small news- 
 l)apers in packages, at the same rate by weight, when sent to one addi'css ; postage 
 must be prepaid at office of mailing or delivery, at option of subscriber, for not less 
 than one quarter nor more than one year. 
 
 Act March 3, 1863, section 37. — Publishers may inclose in their publications to sub- 
 scribers bills for siibscrijition, and may write or print on their ]tublications or their 
 wrapjiers name and address of subscribers and the date when subscriptioa expires; 
 but any other inclosure, or addition in writing or in print, shall subject the same to let- 
 ter-postage. 
 
 Act MarcJi 3, 1863, section 39. — Postmaster-General authorized to prescribe the manner 
 of wrai»ping all matter uot charged with letter-postage nor lawfully franked; if not 
 so wrapped and secured, the same shall be subject to letter-postage. 
 
 Act March 3, 1H63, section 42. — Confers the franking privilege upon and limits it to 
 the following persons : 
 
 President of the United States. 
 
 Vice-President of the United States. 
 
 The chiefs of the several Execiitive Departments. 
 
 The heads of Bureaus or chief clerks of Executive Departments, to be used only for 
 official communications. 
 
 Senators, Kepresentatives, and Delegates in Congress, Secretary of the Senate, and 
 Clerk of the House ; to cover correspondence to and ti'om tliem, and all printed mat- 
 ter issued by authority of Congress, and all speeches, proceedings, and debates in Con- 
 gress, and all printed matter sent to them ; to commence w'ith the term for which they 
 are elected, and to expire on the first Monday in December following the expiration of 
 such term. 
 
 All official communications to any of the Execiitive Departments, by an officer re- 
 sjionsible to that Dei>artmeut, the envelope to be marked "official," with the signature 
 of the officer thereon. 
 
 Postmasters, for their official communications to other postmasters, the envelope to 
 be miirked "official," with the signature of the i)ostmaster thereon. 
 
 Petitions to either House of Congress, free. 
 
 The franking privilege granted by this act, limited to four ounces, except petitions 
 to Congress, congressional or executive documents, and publications or books pub- 
 livshed, procured, or purchased by order of either House of Congress, or joint resolution 
 of both Houses, which shall be considered as piiblic documents, and entitled to be 
 franked as such; and except, also, seeds, cuttings, roots, and scions, the weight of 
 packages to be fixed by regulations of the Postmaster-General. 
 
 Act March 3, 1833, section 43. — Publishers of periodicals, magazines, and newspapers 
 allowed to exchange their publications free of postage ; confined to a single copy, and 
 not to exceed sixteen ounces in weight. 
 
 This act to take effect June 30, 1863. 
 
 Act March 3, 1863, section 45. — Repeals all acts and parts of acts inconsistent with the 
 provisions of this act. 
 
 Act January '22, 1864. — Clothing of wool, cotton, or linen, in packages not exceeding 
 two pounds each, addressed to any non-commissioued officer or private in the Army, 
 may be transmitted by mail at the rate of eight cents for every four ounces or fraction 
 thereof, under regulations of the Postmaster-General ; postage to be prepaid. 
 
 Act March 16, 1864. — The franking priAnlegeof the President and Vice-President shall 
 extend to and cover all mail-matter sent from or directed to either of them. 
 
 Act March 25,1864, .sec//oH 4. — Mailable matter conveyed by nmil W(^stward of the 
 "western boundary of Kansas, and eastward of the eastern boundary of California, sub- 
 ject to prepaid letter-rates, except newspajters sent from a known oifice of ])ublication 
 to subscribers, not exceeding one copy to each, and franked matter to. and from tlie 
 intermediate points between the boundaries named, which shall be at the usual rate. 
 
 Act June 1, 1864. — Official (•ommunications to heads of Departments or heads of Pu- 
 reaus or chief clerks or one duly authorized by the Postmaster-General to frank official 
 matter, shall be received and convoyed by mail free of postage, without being indorsed, 
 "official business," or with the name of the writer. 
 
APPENDIX I'OlfMKU Posi.vr. LAWS. 451 
 
 Act Juiii'M), ISfU, Hfction 1.— Tin' fiankiii;; |»ri\ ilfjii- to tin- CiiiniiiiMHiiiniT of Internal 
 RevoiiiK', cxtciKkHl to h'ttciM iiiiil tlociiinints iH-rtaiiiiiij^ to tin- diiticM of liiHOnicft an<l 
 to recoiviiifj; fn-i' ol" jiostafje all such Ifttois iintl iloiimu-Mfs. 
 
 Act June Mi, H()4, mrtion M.— Confers on the Deiinty (.'oniniisMioniT of Intennil Kov- 
 onue the privilcf^e of frank inf;; all letters and liocnnients pertaining to the Otlieo of 
 Internal K'rvcnne. 
 
 .1(7 ./nil/ 1, 1H()4, xrclhtu H. — The rates of postage mm litters and other inailahle matter 
 addressed to or received from foreijiii conntries and carried liy sessels rej^ulariv ein- 
 pUtycd in transportation of tlic mails, shall he as fnllows: Ten cents forone-half oniue 
 or under, on letters: two eenls on each newsjiaper, and tlie estahlishe<l donicMtie rates 
 on pamplilets, jieriodicals. anil other articles of printed matter, to he ]>r'ep:iid on niat- 
 ti'r sent, and collected on matter received ; suhject to rates estahlished or to l>c e.stah- 
 lished hy inteniational jiostal convention. 
 
 Art Jaiinarn vJO, lS(;.',._Aminil8 section 4 of art March 2'>, lHf,4, ho as to inHort in th« 
 proviso in said sccriim after the word "newspapers," the words *' periodicals, maga- 
 zines, and exchanj^es.'' 
 
 Act March 3, IHiio, scclion 20. — Pri vilejie of frankinji letters and docnments pertaining; 
 to the duties of the Otiice of Internal IJevenue and of receiving; free of jiosta^e all such 
 letters and documents, is extended to the Commissioner of that ( )llice. 
 
 Act March :?, IS65, .section 15. — Fixes the prepaid postage on drop letters, at all otHees 
 excei)t free delivery, at one cent. 
 
 Act Fcbriiarji Id, ISGti. — Confers franking i)rivilege on Mary Lincoln, widow of the 
 late Ahraham Lii'.coln, to cover all letters and i)ackets hy mail, to and from. 
 
 Act June 12, IHIifi, nection 1. — Provides for the forwarding of prepaid and free letter-i 
 at the request of the party addressed, from one post-otlice to another without addi- 
 tional postage and the return of deail-lettera to the writers free of postage. 
 
 Act June Vi, X^iW), flection 2. — Request letters to he returned to the writers without 
 additional postage. 
 
 Act Jul If 13, 18()6, xectioii (55. — That all official communications made by ass«»ssors to 
 collectors, assessors to assessors, collectors to collectors, collectors to assi-ssors, assess- 
 ors to assistant assessors, assistant assessors to assessors, collectors to their deputies 
 or deputy collectors to eollectors, may he othcially franked hy the writers tlu>reof and 
 trausmitted hy mail free of i)ostage. 
 
 Act .full/ \:\. l.-'lili, .section ()(). — Authorizes tlie Secretary of the Treasury to appoint a 
 Special Commissioner of the Kevcnue; and all letters and docements to and from said 
 Commissioner, relating to the duties and husiness of his Office, shall he transmitted by 
 mail free of postage. 
 
 Act ./'iilji 2!*, MH'^ section I'.l. — Establishes the Hureau of Statistics, and authorizes 
 the Secretary of the Treasury to aiqioint a Director to su)ieriiitenil the husinessof 
 said Hiui-au, and provides for the transmission by mail, free of postage, of all letters 
 and documents to and from him, relating to the liusiness of his (Hhce. 
 
 Act March 2, l*'!!'*.— The adjutants-general of the States and Territories authorizetl 
 to transmit by uuiil, free of postage, any medals, eertilicates of thanks, or other testi- 
 monials awarded, or that may be awarded, by the legislatures of .said States aud 
 Territories, to the soldiers thereof, under regulations to be prescribed by the Post- 
 master-General. 
 
 Act March 9. I8f)8. section 3. — Letters and doeuments to and fiom the Congressional 
 Printer, relating to the business of his OHice, shall be transmitted by mail, free of 
 postage, under regulations to be prescribed by the Postmaster-tJeneral. 
 
 Act June 2:\ li^lH.— That the operations of "section 4, act of M.inli 25, 1S(V1, shall 
 cease on ami after September 30, IHtiS. 
 
 Act Jnlji '27. ]^6)^, section 1. — Pri'iiaid letters, having the name and address of the 
 writer in writing, f)r in ]>rint on the outside, after remainiug uncalled for at the post- 
 office to which ilirecteil, thirty ila\s, or the time the writer may direct, shall lie nv 
 turned to the writer without additional iiostagc 
 
 Act Jiili/ 27, 1868, section 3. — Weekly uewspajtius. sent to subscribers in the county 
 where printed and ]iublished, to be delivered free of postage, when deposited in the 
 office nearest the othce of ])ulilication ; but they shall not be distributed by letter- 
 carriers unless ]iostage is |uepiiiil thereon at the rate of live cents per quarter, for not 
 less than one (|uartcr nor more than one year, at the office of nniiling or delivery, at 
 the option of the subscriber. 
 
 Act March 1, 18(59. — Kequires the franking privilege to be exercised, by jiei-sons en- 
 titled to it, by the written autograi>li signature njiou the nuitter franked : let t ere or 
 other mail-matter iu)t thus franked, tiv he charged with ])ostage. 
 
 Act July 8, 1870, section H. — Pro\ iiles that the Comiuissioner of Patents may send an\f 
 receive by mail, free of jiostage, letters, jirinted nniiter. and packages, relating to th ■ 
 business of his Ottice, including Patent-Office Rejiorts. 
 
 Ad Ji'hi ~. I^'TO. section i'."). — Au.v copyriLi'i' liin.Iv or nilier ;ufirlr nia\ b,- sini i ■ 
 Li'i- ' ongress, by mafl, free e 
 
 iiiai' ,iinly written or printwl < 
 
452 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 Act June 1, 1872, section 4. — Reiieals section 12, act March 3, 1847, and section 8, act 
 March 3, 1851, so far as said sections provide for s})ecitic permanent appro}>riations for 
 carrying free matter in tlie mails for tlie several Departments and Members of Con- 
 gress; hereafter payment for carrying snch matter shall he made out of the annnal 
 appropriations. 
 
 Act June 8, 1872, section 99. — The rate of postage on newspapers (excepting week- 
 lies), periodicals not exceeding two onnces in weight, and circnlars when deijosited 
 in a letter-carrier office for delivery hy the office or its carriers, shall l)e uniform at 1 
 cent each ; but periodicals weighing more than two ounces shall be subject to a post- 
 age of 2 cents each ; these rates to be prepaid by stamps. 
 
 Act June 8, 1872, section 127.— Letters upon the official business of the Post-Office 
 Department may be registered free of charge and pass liy mail free of charge. 
 
 Act June 8, 1872, section 130. — Divides mailable matter into three classes: First 
 
 class, letters ; second class, regular printed matter; third class, nuscellaneous matter. 
 
 Act June 8, 1872, section 131. — Mailable matter of the first class shall embrace all 
 
 correspomlence wholly or i)artly in writing, except book manuscript and corrected 
 
 proofs x>assing between authors and publishers. 
 
 Act June 8, 1872, section 132. — Second class, to embrace all matter exclusively iu 
 print and regularly issued at stated periods from a known office of publication, with- 
 out addition by writing, mark, or sign. 
 
 Act June 8, 1872, section 133.— Third class, to embrace all other luailable matter. 
 Matter of this class, except books, and other printed matter, book-manuscripts, 
 proof-sheets, and conected proof-sheets, shall not exceed twelve ounces in weight. 
 Sanii)les of metals, ores, and mineralogical specimens, limited to twelve ounces. 
 
 Act June 8, 1872, section 134. — Limits weight of packages to four pounds, except books 
 published or circulated by order of Congress. 
 
 Act June 8, 1872, section 13(i. — Matter not charged with letter postage, nor lawfully 
 franked, subject to letter-postage, unless wrapped in accordance with regulations of 
 the Postmaster-General. 
 
 Act June 8, 1872, section 141. — Publishers of newspapers or periodicals may ]mut or 
 write upon their publications to regular subscribers the address, the date when the 
 subscription expires, and may inclose therein bills and receipts lor sultscription, Avith- 
 out extra postage. 
 
 Act June 8, 1872, section 142. — To inclose or cancel any letter, memorandum, or other 
 thing, in any mail-matter not charged with letter-postage, or to write thereon, sub- 
 jects such matter to letter-postage. 
 
 Act June 8, 1872, section 152. — Mail-matter on which postage is required to be prepaid, 
 reaching its destination, by inadvertence, without such prepayment, shall be subject 
 to double the ]>repaid rates. 
 
 Act June 8, 1872, section 15H. — That on all mattei' wholly or partly in Avriting, except 
 book-manuscripts and corrected proofs passing between author and jiublisher, and 
 local drop letters; on all printed matter, so marked as to convey any (jther iuformation 
 than is conveyed by the original print, except the correction of a mere typt>graphical 
 error; on all matter sent in violation of law or regulations respectiug inclosures; and 
 on all nuitter to which no specific rate of postage is assigned, postage shall be 3 cents 
 the half ounce or fraction thereof. 
 
 Act June 8,1872, section 157. — Fixes the ))ostage on droj) or local letters at letter- 
 caiTier offices at 2 cents the half ounce or fi'actiou thereof, and 1 ceul the half oimee 
 or fraction thereof at all other otiflees. 
 
 Act June 8, 1872, section 158. — Quarterly postage on news])apers and othei- periodical 
 ])ub]icatious, not exceediug four ounces in weight, sent to subscribers, shall be at the 
 following rates: On publications issued less fnuiuently than once a we«'k, 1 cent for 
 each issut^; issued once a week, .5 cents; ami 5 cents additional for eai'ii issue more 
 irequent than onc*^ a week; an additional rate shall be charged for eacli additional 
 four ounces or fraction thereof. 
 
 Act June 8, 1872, section 16t). — Small newspaix-rs issued less fre([uently than onco a 
 A\ eek, in ])ackages to <)ne address, to subscribers, 1 cent for each four ounces or frac- 
 ii<m theri'of. 
 
 Act June 8, lf<12, section Kil. — K(^gular dealers in newspapers and periodicals may re- 
 ceive ami Iraiismit by mail such i|uanlities of eiilier as they may re(iuire, and ]t;iy the 
 ]iostage as receive<l, at the same I'ates ;is subscribers who ])ay (]uarterly in advance. 
 Act June 8, 1^72, .section 1(53. — Postage on mailable nuitter of the third class shall be a 
 the rate of 1 cent tor each two ounces or fraction tliei-eof, exc(^])t that double these 
 r:ites shall be charged for books, sani|ilcs of nietals, ores, minerals, and merchandise. 
 .let June >^, \>^72, xeelion 1()4. — Packages nl' woolen, cotton, or linen clothing, in jiack- 
 aj;cs not exceediug two poumls, may l>c sent by mail to any noii-comnnssi(uied otHcer 
 or jirivate in the Army, if j>repaid, 1 cent each ounce or fraction thereof. 
 
 Act June 8, 1^72, section Itlti. — Letters con vey<^d in vessels not regularly employed in 
 irryiug the njail, slmll, if for delivery in the United States, be rated with double 
 p.'ttage. 
 
APPENDIX FoKMKIi I'OSTAI, LAWS. 453 
 
 Acl June rt, 1872, Hcvtioii 170. — l'ro\ idi's ((ir l lir issue ami triiii.siiii.s.Hiitn liy mail of pont.-il 
 tanls at 1 cciit each. 
 
 .tcl .Innc S, \r<7"i, mi-liim isii.. — ( 'onlVrs tlic tVaiiUin;; piiv ilr^ic ii|inii ami limits if, to tho 
 following pcrsoiis : 
 
 First. 'I'lic PifsitU'iit, l>y liiiiist'lf nr priv att- sec ri'tarv, to ((ivcr all mail-matter. 
 
 Secoml. \'i('t' I'lfsidcnt, to covt'r all mail-inatt< r. 
 
 Third. T\w chiefs of the several executive Departllleiils. 
 
 Fourth. Senators, ) 
 
 Koiirescutatives. I 'I'o covei- tlieir e(irres|iomleuce, all printed mat- 
 
 Dele<rali's. J ter issued l>y aiitlicuity of Con^Tess, anrl all 
 
 Secn'tarv of the Senate, s|>eeelies. |Udceedin^s,anddebatcsin(J(>uin-CH,s. 
 Clerk ol the House, j 
 
 Fifth. Such heads of Hureaus oi- chief clerks as the PoKtmasfer-fieucrul may <lesig- 
 iiate, to cover otiicial eomuuiuications only. 
 
 Sixth. Postmasters, to cover otiicial <()mmnnications to other |io8tniaHtcrH only. 
 
 Written anto<i,ra])h signatures, of all iiersiuiscntitled to frank, required; mail-matter 
 not thus franked to lie cliar.i;ed with ))cisla^t'. 
 
 Act ■lum 8, L"*7"J, xiclion |sl. — The frankinj; luivile^c of Senators, Representatives, 
 Pelofiates, Secretary of the Senate and Clerk of the House, to connnence with the term 
 for which they are elected and exi)ire the first .Monday in Dccemher foll»)wiu^ such 
 term. 
 
 Act June S, 1872, section \r^'2. — Hooks or |>ul)li< ations, ))rocured or published by order 
 of Conjjrcas, to be public documents, an<l may be ranked as such. 
 
 Act Jh»c S, 1872, xcctioii l-^:{. — Maximum weiuht for franked and free nnitter shall be 
 four ounces, except petitions to C<ui^ress, Conj;ressi(uial and Kxecutive public docu- 
 ments, i»eriodical luiblicatious interchanj:;ed between i)nblishi'rs, and packajics of seeds, 
 cuttings, roots, and scions, the wei<;lif oi' which latt<'r may be fixed by the Postmaster- 
 General. 
 
 Act Jinic 8, 1872, section 184. — Free imtil-mdllcr. — The fniiuwin;; mail-mattei- shall be 
 allowed to pass free in the nuiil : 
 
 First. All mail-niiitter sent to the President or Vice-President. 
 
 Second. Orticial coTumunications to chiefs, heads of IJureaus, chief clerks, or frank- 
 iiig-ofhcer of any of the Executi\e Deparfnu-nts. 
 
 Third. Letters and printed matter scut to Senat<)rs, Kc(irc8entatives, Delegates, 
 Secretary of the Senate, and Clerk of the House. 
 
 Fourth. Petitions to Con.i;rcss, 
 
 Fifth. Copyright matter to the Librarian of C'onjjress, if nnirked ''coityright matter." 
 
 vSixth. Publications sent and received by the Smithsonian Institution, if msvrked 
 "Smithsonian exchange.'' 
 
 Seventh. Xe\vsi>apers, periodicals, and magazines, exchanged between ]>ublishers, 
 DOt exceeding sixteen ounces in weight. 
 
 Eighth. Weekly newspa|)ers, one copy to each subscriber within the county where 
 the, sauii' is jniuted and ]>ui)lished. 
 
 Ninth. Notice to the publishers of the refusal or neglect of subscribers to take newa- 
 pajters, magazim's, or other ])eriodicals from the jtost-oftice. 
 
 Tenth. Dead-letters returned to the writers. 
 
 Eleventh. Medals, cintitiiates of thanks, or other testimonials awarded by tho legis- 
 latures of States and Territories, to the soldiers thereof. 
 
 Act ./tine !^, 1872, Kection 18.'). — All mail-mat ter to or from Mary Lincoln, widow of late 
 President Lincoln. 
 
 Act JaniKirii H, 187:3.— Auu'uds scition \'X\ ot' act of .lune ^^, 1872, so as to authorize 
 the transmission by mail of jiackagesof seeds, cuttings, bulbs, roots, and scions, of any 
 weight. For each package not exceeding four pounds, the jiostage shall be 1 cent for 
 each two ounces or fraction of an ounce; to be |ire]>aid in full. 
 
 Act Janiiaii/ M, 187S. — Aliolishes the franking juivilcge from anil after July 1, 1873. 
 
 Act March ii, 187:3. — Repeals, from and after June :{((, l-^7:{, all laws and parts of laws 
 permitting the transmission by mail ot any free matter whatever. 
 
 Act June 2'.i, 1-74, section a. — (>;i and alter January 1, l'^7r), all newsi)apei's and peri- 
 odical publications mailed from a known othce of luiblicafion or news agency, and ad- 
 dressed to regular subscribers or news agents, postage shall be charged at the follow- 
 ing rates: On newspapers and periodical luiblications issue<l weekly ami nnu-e fre- 
 quentl.v, 2 cents a pound or fraction thereof; and on those issued less fre(|Uently than 
 once a week, :i cents a i)ound or tVactiim thereof: I'lorided, That nothing in this act 
 shall be held to change section Hi* of the act of June 8, ls72. 
 
 Act June 2'.i, 1874, section 7. — Newspaix'rs, one copy to each subscriber residing iu the 
 county where same arc priute<l in whole or iu jiarf, and published, shall go free in tho 
 mails; but thi'y shall not bo delivered at letter-cairier otlices, or be distributed by 
 carriers unh^ss postage is paid thereon. 
 
 ActJune2'i, 1874, section 8. — Mailable matter of the third class referred to in section 
 
454 POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 133 of act of June 8, 1872, may weigh not exceeding four pounds to each package, 
 and postage shall be charged thereon at the rate of 1 cent for each tM^o ounces or 
 fraction thereof. 
 
 Act June 23, 1874, section 13.— Fixes the postage on pnbhc documents mailed by any 
 member of Congress, the President, or head'of any Executive Department, at 10 
 cents for each bound volume, and unbound documents the same rate as that on news- 
 papers mailed from a known office of publication to subscribers ; and the postage on 
 the daily Congressional Record, mailed fi-oni the city of Washington as transient mat- 
 ter, at one cent. 
 
 Act March 3, 1875, section 3. — Extends the provisions of section 13 of act of June 23, 
 1874, to ex-Members of Congress and ex-Delegates, for nine months after the expira- 
 tion of their terms, and postage on public documents mailed by them shall be as pro- 
 vided in such section. 
 
 Act March 3, 1875, section 5.— The Congressional Record, or any part thereof, or 
 speeches or reports therein, shall, under the frank of a Member or Delegate, written 
 by himself, be carried in the mail free of postage ; and iiublic documents, jirinted or 
 ordered to lie printed for the use of either House of Congress, may pass free by mail 
 upon the frank of any Member or Delegate of the present Congress, written by him- 
 self, nutil the first day of December, 1875. 
 
 Act March 3, 1875, section 7. — Seeds transmitted by the Commissioner of Agriculture, 
 or by any Member or Delegate receiving them for distribution from said Department, 
 together with the Agricultural Reports, shall pass free in the mails under regulations 
 of the Postuuister-General, and the provisions of this section shall apply to ex-Members 
 and ex-Delegates for the period of nine months after the expiration of their term. 
 
 Act March 3, 1875, volume 18, jyagv 377. — Amends section 8 of act of June 23, 1874, 
 by inserting the word "ounce" in lieu of the words "two ounces." 
 
 Act July 12, 1876, section 15^ volume 19, jyac/e 82. — Rates on all printed matter of the 
 third class, except unsealed circulars, fixed at one cent for each two ounces. Permits 
 limited inscrij)tions and addresses on third-class matter. 
 
 Act March 3, 1877, sections 5 and 6, volume 19. page 335.— Provides for official penalty 
 envelopes and free transmission of same in mails when sent by Executive Departments, 
 and containing iuclosures relating to Government business. 
 
 Act March 3, 1879, section 29, volume 20, page 362. — The provisions of the xjrecediug 
 act extended to the Smithsonian Institution and to all Government offices. 
 
 Act March 3, 1879, sections 7-27, volume 20, j)«//fs 358-362.— General act repealing all 
 former laws relating to classification of nuiil-uuitter and rates of postages. Makes four 
 classes of nuiil-nuitter, to wit : First-class, written matter at three cents each half 
 ounce ; second class, periodical pul)lications regularly issued for general information 
 at two cents per pound, including sample copies ; third class, miscellaneous printed 
 matter at one cent for each two ounces ; and fourth class, merchandise, all matter not 
 included in the otlier three classes, at one cent each ounce. Liberalizes the provisions 
 of former laws respecting written inscriptions on i)rinted matter, defines printed mat- 
 ter generally, and permits second-class matter to be delivered through the boxes or 
 general delivery at letter-carrier pcxst-offices ;it two cents per pound. 
 
• 
 
 r 
 
/ 
 
 iir BERKELEY LIBRARIFS 
 
 llllllllllll 
 
 CDE5M2bab5