POSTAL LAWS IN FORCE, JANUARY 1, 1876.

Mailable matter is divided into three classes, viz

I. Letters. 2. Regular printed matter. 3. Miscellaneous

matter.

First class. This class embraces all correspondence, wholly or partly in writing, except book-manuscript and corrected proof-sheets passing between authors and publishers, local or drop letters and U. S. Postal cards. The postage on such first class matter throughout the United States is THREE CENTS for each half ounce or fraction thereof.

Second class. This class embraces all matter exclusively in print, and regularly issued at stated periods from a known office of publication, without addition by writing, mark or sign. The postage on second class is as follows:

On all newspaper and periodical publications issued weekly or oftener, two cents a pound or fraction thereof. On all newspaper and periodical publications issued less frequently than once a week, three cents a pound or fraction thereof. (See remarks relating to newspapers that go free, etc., page 179.)

Third class. This class embraces all pamphlets, occasional publications, transient newspapers, magazines, handbills, posters, unsealed circulars, prospectuses, books, book-manuscript, proof-sheets, corrected proof-sheets, maps, prints, engravings, blanks, flexible patterns, articles of merchandise, sample cards, phonographic paper, letter envelopes, postal

SUGGESTIONS TO THE PUBLIC.

Post all letters, etc., as early as practicable, first tying oirculars in bundles with the addresses all in one direction.

Make the address legible and complete, give name of Post Office, County and State, and number of house, if in a street. Letters for places abroad should have the name of the country, as well as county and town or city.

Dropping a letter into the letter box, see that it falls well in and does not stick in the passage.

Never send money through the post, except by money order or draft.

When complaint is made of letters lost, miscarried or delayed, state when, where and by whom posted, the exact words of the address, etc.; and in case of delayed letters, send the envelope.

envelopes and wrappers, cards, plain and ornamental paper, photographic representations of different types, seeds, cuttings, bulbs, roots, scions, and all other matter which may be declared mailable by law, and all other articles not above the weight prescribed by law which are not, from their form or nature, liable to destroy, deface, or otherwise injure the contents of the mail-bag, or the person of any one engaged in the postal service. Postage, one cent for each ounce or fraction thereof.

All packages of matter of the third class must be so wrapped or enveloped, with open sides or ends, that their contents may be readily and thoroughly examined by postmasters without destroying the wrappers; but seeds, and other articles liable, from their form or nature, to loss or damage unless specially protected, may be inclosed in unsealed bags or boxes which can readily be opened for examination of the contents and reclosed; or sealed bags, made of material sufficiently transparent to show the contents clearly, without opening, may be used for such matter. No writing will be permitted upon articles of this class, or their wrappers or envelopes, except the address of destination. Any other writing in or upon any package or article of this class will subject it to letter rates of postage. Matter of the third class inclosed in sealed envelopes notched at the ends or side, or with the corners cut off, cannot be mailed except at letter postage rates. Matter of the second and third classes, containing any writing whatever, except the address, will be charged with letter postage.

Sign full name and address to all letters to insure their return in case they miss their destination.

Return to Post Office all letters addressed to hotels and other places where letters are received, as soon as it is evident that they are not to be called for.

The Following Classes of Letters are not Advertised.

Drop Letters, unless a three cent Postage Stamp is affixed Letters bearing requests to be returned to writers, or bearing the name and address of the writer.

Letters returned from the Dead Letter Office to writers. Circulars, packets containing printed documents, speeches, and other printed matter.

Official letters from any department of the government.

DUTIES AND REQUIREMENTS OF POSTMASTERS.

WHERE POSTMASTER MUST LIVE.

Every postmaster shall reside within the delivery of the office to which he is appointed.

WHAT POSTMASTERS ARE EXEMPT FROM.

The new Postal Code exempts Postmasters from serving on juries and militia duty, but not from working the public roads.

WHAT IS REQUIRED OF POSTMASTERS. Postmasters are required to examine all matter passing by mail at less than letter rates of postage, to see that it is properly rated and to detect fraud.

POSTMASTERS IN COURT.

There is no postal law or regulation relieving a Postmaster, summoned as a witness in a civil or criminal case, from obeying the order of the court.

HOLIDAYS.

Postmasters are required to keep their offices open for business every day except Sunday, during the usual business hours of the place.

POSTMASTERS CANNOT GIVE CREDIT.

Postmasters cannot give credit for postage, nor deliver any letter, newspaper, pamphlet, magazine, or other package unless the postage thereon is paid.

Postmasters in Office.

The office of "Town Councilman" is one of a class which the Executive crder intends shall not be held by Postmasters whose salaries are $1,000 and upwards.

MAILING LETTERS.

A Postmaster is not required to mail letters after the regular time for closing the mail, nor should he delay a mail after the time fixed for its departure for the purpose of mailing or registering letters deposited after the closing of the mails.

POSTMASTERS AND LOTTERIES.

No Postmaster shall act as agent for any lottery, or under any color of purchase, or otherwise, vend lottery tickets; nor shall he receive or send any lottery scheme, circular or ticket, free of postage; and for any violation of the provisions of this section the person offending shall forfeit and pay fifty dollars.

POSTMASTER DETAINING LETTERS.

Any Postmaster who shall unlawfully detain in his office any letter or other mail matter, the posting 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, on

POSTAL CARDS AND OTHER MATTER.

The enclosure of a postal card with the address or other matter written upon it in any package of transient matter, will subject the entire package to letter postage.

FORWARDING POSTAL CARDS.

Postal cards may be forwarded from one office to another at the request of the addressed without any additional charge for postage. If they have been delivered to the party addressed, and again placed in the mails, they are subject to letter postage. What are Postal Cards?

Postal Cards are those only which are issued by the Department, with the stamp imprinted on them, and no card is entitled to pass by mail as a postal card which has not the imprinted stamp upon it.

ADVERTISING ON POSTAL CARDS.

A card impressed upon the face of a postal card is not allowable, and renders it unmailable, because the face side of a postal card is for the address only. There is no objection to a card being impressed upon the other side of a postal card.

POSTAL CARDS CAN BE USED BUT ONCE.

A postal card has served its purpose when it has once been transmitted by mail, and delivered to the party addressed, and it cannot be again transmitted as a postal card, but if remailed it becomes subject to the rate of postage that would be chargeable upon any other manuscript matter- -3 cents for each half ounce or fraction thereof.

SENDING POSTAL CARD FOR REPLY.

The mailing of two postal cards pinned or otherwise fastened together, one containing an inquiry, and the other in blank for a reply is impracticable, as the stamp on each must be canceled, thus rendering the one intended for reply useless. If so fastened together that the stamp on each cannot be canceled, they must be treated as a letter and held for postage.

OTHER MATTER WITH POSTAL CARDS.

The law authorizing the issue of postal cards, does not contemplate the addition of any matter other than a communication, which may be printed, or written with pencil or ink. If any matter is attached to a postal card, the card should be treated as a letter, and held for postage at the mailing office; but reaching the office of delivery, it should be treated as wholly unpaid, and double letter rates collected on delivery.

Articles of Merchandise.

By an act of Congress which became a law March 3, 1875, the postage on articles of merchandise was fixed as follows, viz.: One cent for each one ounce, or fractional part thereof, the weight to be limited to four pounds, as heretofore.

The law is that, "Mailable matter of the third-class shall embrace all pamphlets, occasional publications, transient newspapers, magazines, handbills, posters, unsealed circulars, prospectuses, books, book-manuscripts, proof-sheets, corrected proof-sheets, maps, prints, engravings, blanks, flexible patterns, articles of merchandise, sample cards, phonographic paper, letter envelopes, postal envelopes and wrappers, cards, plain and ornamental paper, photographic representations of different types, seeds, cuttings, bulbs, roots, scions, and all other matter which may be declared mailable by law, and all other articles not above the weight prescribed by law, which are not from their form or nature liable to destroy, deface, or otherwise injure the contents of the mail-bag, or the person of any one engaged in the postal service. All liquors, poisons, glass, explosive materials, and obscene books, shall be excluded from the mails."

WRITTEN MATTER AT LESS THAN LETTER RATES.

Mail matter, except postal cards, corrected proof-sheets and book manuscript, passing at less than letter rates of postage, must contain no writing other than the address. Any addition, in writing, subjects the package to letter postage.

OFFICIAL MATTER.

Packages of official matter sent from or mailed to the Executive Departments, at Washington, are considered as executive documents, and are not to be limited as to weight of packages to be carried in the mails.

CONCEALED MATTER.

Any person who shall inclose or conceal any letter, memorandum, or other thing in any mail matter not charged with letter postage, or make any writing or memorandum thereon, and deposit, or cause the same to be deposited, for conveyance by mail, at a less rate than letter postage, shall, for every such offense, forfeit and pay five dollars, and such mail matter or inclosure shall not be delivered until the postage is paid thereon at letter rates; but no extra postage shall be charged for a card printed or impressed upon an envelope or wrapper.