Lottery Matter. That is, letters and circulars known to be 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 purpose of obtaining money under false pretenses. Scurrilous Matter. That is, matter which is defamatory or threatening written on a postal card; or matter upon an envelope which is calculated to reflect injuriously upon the character or conduct of another. Penalty. The penalty for depositing in or taking from the mails for the purpose of circulating or disposing of any obscene, scurrilous, threatening, or lottery matter is a fine not exceeding $5000, imprisonment at hard labor not exceeding five years, or both, at the discretion of the court. Stamps. Stamps are issued in denominations from 1 cent to $5 as follows: 1 cent, 2 cents, 3 cents, 4 cents, 5 cents, 6 cents, 8 cents, 10 cents, 10 cents special delivery, 13 cents, 15 cents, 50 cents, $1, $2, $5, newspaper wrappers 2 cents. Stamps cut from stamped envelopes are valueless, but postmasters are authorized to give good stamps for stamped envelopes or newspaper wrappers that may be soiled in directing, if they are presented in whole condition, and with satisfactory evidence of not having been used. The value given is in postage stamps, stamped envelopes, or postal cards, not in money. Books containing postage stamps interleaved with non-adhesive paper are issued. The books are made up of 2-cent stamps, and cost 1 cent more than their postage value. A book of 12 stamps costs 25 cents. Stamped Envelopes. Stamped envelopes are issued by the Postoffice Department, and are known as,— a. "Ordinary," of various sizes, qualities of paper, and denominations, and either "plain" or "printed," that is, bearing a blank return request. 1. To be entitled to the privileges of private mailing cards the cards must conform to the following conditions: (a) Each card must be an unfolded piece of cardboard not exceeding the size fixed by the convention of the Universal Postal Union (9 x 14 centimeters, which is approximately 3 by 5 inches) nor less than the minimum size of domestic postal cards (218 by 48 inches), as shown by the following diagram: Maximum size Minimum size (b) The form of card and the quality and weight of paper used in its manufacture must be substantially that of the government postal card of like size. (d) Each card must bear the words "Post Card" at the top of the address side, unobstructed by any other matter. These words are to be placed in conspicuous letters and in such manner as not to interfere with a perfectly distinct address and post mark. (e) The address may be in writing, printing, or by means of a hand stamp, or adhesive label of not more than of an inch by 2 inches in size, and the sender may, in the same manner, place his name and address on the back or the face of the card. b. " Special request," bearing a printed return request, with name and address, but not business. In lots of 500 or more the government prints these envelopes free. They are sold at from $1 to $1.20 per thousand. Stamped envelopes are issued in all the standard sizes with stamps of the value of 1, 2, 4, and 5 cents. Envelopes bearing the embossed stamps do not stick together and are not liable to be missent, as frequently happens where ordinary stamps are used. Stamped envelopes are redeemable. The value given is in postage stamps, postal cards, or other stamped envelopes. Postal Cards. Postal cards are the cards issued by the Postoffice Department, and they are of two kinds, viz.:— a. Single cards 1 cent each. b. Double cards, or return message cards, 2 cents each. Postal cards (except double ones) are not returned if undeliverable. They are sent to the Dead-letter Office. Anything but the address upon the address side of a postal card renders it subject to letter postage. Postal cards "uncanceled " are redeemable at 75 per cent of their value in stamps, postal cards, or stamped envelopes or paper. Postal cards to foreign countries cost 2 cents each. Private Mailing Cards. Since July 1, 1898, it is lawful to transmit by mail, at the postage rate of a cent each, payable by stamps to be affixed by the sender, and under such regulations as the Postmaster General may prescribe, written messages on private mailing cards, such cards to be sent openly in the mails, to be no larger than the size fixed by the agreement of the Universal Postal Union, and to be approximately of the same form, quality, and weight as the stamped postal card now in general use in the United States. How to recall Letters. It sometimes happens that after one has posted a letter or package he desires that it should not be delivered. Many people do not know that a recall may be effected before the final delivery. The post office permits mail matter to be withdrawn or recalled. This may be done by filling out the official application blanks issued for that purpose. There are two blanks, one to be used for the withdrawal of mail before it has left the office of mailing, the other to be used for withdrawal of mail when it is necessary to telegraph to the postmaster at destination to intercept and return the mail in question. When one desires to recall a letter or package, he should fill out one or the other of the blanks and file it immediately with the postmaster. Copies of the blanks above mentioned are shown on pages 196 and 197. General Delivery. For the convenience of persons temporarily sojourning in a city, or for those whose address is not certain, the post office has established the "General Delivery" through which letters having as a part of their address the words "General Delivery," "Transient," "To be called for," etc., indicating that they are intended for transient persons, are delivered on application and after proper identification. Mail intended for general delivery should have that fact indicated, otherwise an attempt may be made to deliver it. Such letters should not be addressed, "Care of the Postmaster." Sunday and Holiday Mail. Where mail arrives on Sundays, and where the public convenience re and in same handwriting, which was written by me or by my authority, and which I do not desire forwarded to the addressee for the following reasons: RECEIVED,. (Address). 190 of the Postmaster at San Francisco, Cal., the above-described letter for the account of sender. WITNESS: (Address) [Recall of letter when same has not left office of mailing.] |