US Postal Laws & Regulations
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Year: 1940 Franking privilege
Table Of Contents
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Accounts (32 pages)
Advertised (3 pages)
Air mail stamps (1 page)
Air-mail (23 pages)
Audits (2 pages)
Avis de reception (2 pages)
Bad order (7 pages)
Blind matter (7 pages)
Book rate (2 pages)
Bound printed matter (1 page)
Boxes (18 pages)
Business reply mail (2 pages)
Carriers (58 pages)
Certificate of mailing (4 pages)
Circulars (1 page)
Closed mails (1 page)
COD (15 pages)
Commercial papers (1 page)
Copyright (3 pages)
Crimes, postal (32 pages)
Customs (19 pages)
Dead letter office (29 pages)
Deliver to addressee only (6 pages)
Delivery of mail (100 pages)
Delivery offices (115 pages)
Demurrage (1 page)
Directory service (3 pages)
Distribution (5 pages)
Drop letters (3 pages)
Dutiable mail (19 pages)
Electric cars (7 pages)
Fictitious (4 pages)
First assistant PG (3 pages)
First-class mail matter (12 pages)
Foreign mails (57 pages)
Form 1510 (3 pages)
Form 1522 (1 page)
Form 2855 (1 page)
Form 2863 (1 page)
Form 2865 (3 pages)
Form 2985 (1 page)
Form 3435 (1 page)
Form 3437 (2 pages)
Form 3509 (1 page)
Form 3511 (1 page)
Form 3578 (1 page)
Form 3579 (1 page)
Form 3812 (1 page)
Form 3814-C (1 page)
Form 3815 (1 page)
Form 3818 (1 page)
Form 3853 (1 page)
Form 3854 (1 page)
Form 3867 (1 page)
Form 3870 (1 page)
Form 3951 (3 pages)
Form 3954 (2 pages)
Form 3955 (1 page)
Form 4233 (1 page)
Form 5161-B (1 page)
Form 5211 (1 page)
Pages
151-182
399-400, 419
249
8, 11, 248-249, 709-721, 801, 841-845
71-72
802, 809
358, 524-527, 793-794
283, 350-354, 800
290-291
288
238-242, 391-392, 439-444, 469-473
247-248
425-473, 542-550
293-294, 493, 558
282
808
13, 536, 556-562, 565-570
800
348-350
853-884
791-792, 813-829
8, 87-88, 330, 332, 355, 366-368, 397-399, 401-402, 415-424, 492, 542,
810-812
490-491, 532, 534-535, 537
388-399, 425-484, 528-550, 560-562, 809-810
377-406, 425-484, 528-550, 809-810
568
400, 416, 534
370-374
243, 249, 401
791-792, 813-829
8, 698-703
333-334, 416, 418
7-8, 201
243-251, 783, 785, 800
9-10, 368, 506, 791-792, 799-849
409-410, 833
420
835
805
413, 802, 807
826
819
821, 829
820
815
408
408
411
827
492
567
828
828
827
413
464, 479-480
464, 479
479
461
820
820
Form 5258 (2 pages)
Form 540 (1 page)
Form 541 (1 page)
Form 542 (2 pages)
Form 565 (2 pages)
Form 6423 (1 page)
Forwarding (11 pages)
Found in ordinary mail (4 pages)
Fourth Assist PG (4 pages)
Fourth-class mail (20 pages)
Franking privilege (25 pages)
Fraudulent (3 pages)
Free matter (25 pages)
General delivery (4 pages)
Held for postage (6 pages)
Hotel matter (3 pages)
Indemnity (14 pages)
Index (80 pages)
Infected mail (1 page)
Inquiries (13 pages)
Inspectors (5 pages)
Insufficiently paid mail (1 page)
Insured (12 pages)
Internal revenue stamps (6 pages)
International mails (57 pages)
International rates Part II (2 pages)
International reply coupons (7 pages)
Key rate (2 pages)
Keys (1 page)
Letter boxes (18 pages)
Letter carriers (58 pages)
Library rate (2 pages)
Lotteries (5 pages)
Mail equipment (11 pages)
Mail messenger service (8 pages)
Mailable matter (24 pages)
Mailing (Receiving) offices (52 pages)
Marines' letters (3 pages)
Metered mail (2 pages)
Migratory bird hunting stamps (3 pages)
Misdirected (7 pages)
Missent mail (4 pages)
Money orders (55 pages)
Money orders, domestic (44 pages)
Money orders, International (10 pages)
Newspaper (2 pages)
Newspaper wrappers (2 pages)
Nixies (2 pages)
Not in registered mail (2 pages)
Obscene (6 pages)
Ocean mail service (4 pages)
Official matter (6 pages)
Organization (68 pages)
Out of mails (3 pages)
Parcel post (4 pages)
Penalty envelopes (25 pages)
Periodicals (2 pages)
Possessions (4 pages)
Post cards (6 pages)
Post office hours (8 pages)
Post offices (185 pages)
Post roads (3 pages)
Postage due matter (8 pages)
Postage due stamps (12 pages)
Postage stamps (11 pages)
Postal cards (17 pages)
Postal savings (42 pages)
412, 820
836
836
413, 832
409-410
821
365-366, 382-386, 481, 530, 538, 566
490-492, 538
13-15, 201
243, 284-293, 300-306, 361, 783
337-354, 494-497, 540-541, 783
332-333, 530
337-354, 494-497, 540-541, 783
379, 390-391, 416
327, 365-367, 405, 789
401, 416, 418
486-488, 494, 553-557, 568-570, 837-838
893-972
359
409-414, 802, 832-837
23-27
800
13, 536, 559-565, 568-570
115-120
9-10, 368, 506, 791-792, 799-849
800-801
109-111, 113-115, 810
251-252
280
238-242, 391-392, 439-444, 469-473
425-473, 542-550
288-289
331-332, 415-416, 424
750-760
8, 703-709
243-244, 306-327
360-375, 491, 497-520, 772-773, 800-808
243, 250, 773
295-296
118-120
327, 366, 523-525, 787-788
376, 378, 523, 787
12, 560, 566, 571-622
571-599, 608-622
599-608
784-785
104, 107
789-790
491, 538
328-330, 415-416, 424
838-841
341-345, 400
4-71
665-666, 809
284-286, 800
337-354, 494-497, 540-541, 783
400, 424
243, 248, 285, 289
245-246, 252, 401-402, 800
200-206, 360
183-242, 360-484
663-665
280, 361, 377, 381-382, 417, 461-462
102, 109, 111, 113-115, 280, 381-382, 403, 405, 417
101-105, 109-111, 113, 115, 418
101-105, 108-109, 113-115, 244-246, 249, 401-402, 800
11-12, 623-662
Postmarking (6 pages)
Postmaster (61 pages)
Postmaster commissions (22 pages)
Postmaster General duties (181 pages)
Prepayment (2 pages)
Printed matter (3 pages)
Printing (2 pages)
Private expresses (6 pages)
Railway mail service (70 pages)
Rates, fees (42 pages)
Receipt, registration or COD (5 pages)
Received in bad order (7 pages)
Receiving (Delivery) offices (53 pages)
Refused mail (5 pages)
Registration, at delivery offices (23 pages)
Registration, at mailing offices (24 pages)
Registration, domestic mail (78 pages)
Registration, fees (3 pages)
Registration, foreign mail (81 pages)
Registration, indemnity (9 pages)
Reply-paid postal cards (3 pages)
Reregistered after delivery (2 pages)
Restricted delivery (7 pages)
Return postage guaranteed (1 page)
Return receipt (12 pages)
Returned for better direction (2 pages)
Returned mail (9 pages)
Revenues (36 pages)
Rural routes (34 pages)
Sailors' letters (3 pages)
Samples of merchandise (1 page)
Scurrilous matter (4 pages)
Sea Post offices (2 pages)
Second Assistant Postmaster General (4 pages)
Second-class mail (34 pages)
Ship letters (2 pages)
Short paid mail (19 pages)
Small packets (1 page)
Special delivery service (22 pages)
Special delivery stamps (10 pages)
Special handling (2 pages)
Special handling stamps (2 pages)
Special request envelopes (4 pages)
Stamped envelopes (11 pages)
Star routes (26 pages)
Statutes (5 pages)
Table of contents (15 pages)
Third Assistant Postmaster General (3 pages)
Third-class mail (9 pages)
Transient second-class rate (3 pages)
Transit mail (offices) (8 pages)
Transportation of the mails (98 pages)
Typewriting (3 pages)
Unclaimed mail (8 pages)
Undeliverable mail (26 pages)
Underpaid mail (26 pages)
United States savings bonds (7 pages)
Unmailable matter (64 pages)
Unpaid mail (21 pages)
Unsealed (7 pages)
Valuable letters (4 pages)
Waybills (1 page)
Weight (10 pages)
Withdrawal of mail (7 pages)
362-364, 531, 785-786
9, 183-242
193-200, 212-223, 231, 233
1-7, 183-242, 663-760, 799, 838-852
243, 249
282, 402, 424
86-87
665-670
8-9, 361, 670-698, 761-798
243-250, 264-275, 279-280, 282, 286-290, 399, 405, 408, 421, 424, 474,
486-488, 490, 556, 563, 800-801
491, 493, 558, 560, 807
358, 524-527, 793-794
377-406, 528-550
415-416, 531, 540-541
528-550
497-520
13, 378-379, 420, 464-465, 485-555, 794
486-488
13, 378-379, 485-555, 801-807
486-488, 494, 553-557
109, 401-402
539-540
490-492, 532, 534-535, 537
107
398, 400-401, 413, 491, 493, 498-499, 532, 558, 802, 809
366, 376
405-409, 538, 540-541, 568
87-101, 131-151
8, 11, 446-473, 543-546
243, 250, 783
800
328-329, 415-416
845-846
8-11
243, 251-279, 361, 783-785
250, 361
249, 379-382, 461-462, 475, 530-531, 539, 788-789, 800, 805-807, 809810
800
243, 378-379, 464-465, 473-484, 492-493, 788, 801, 807
102, 109-111, 113-115, 473-475
102, 288
102, 288
105-108
101-105, 109-111, 113-115
10, 722-746
887-891
i-xv
11-13
279-284, 300-301, 361
272, 405, 409
375-378, 492, 520-522
663-760
244, 282-283
365, 398-400, 415-418
386-387, 401-409, 415-424, 473-474, 481, 530, 561
102, 249-250, 295, 327, 361, 364-368, 379-382, 461-462, 475, 788-789,
800, 805-807, 809-810
120-126
8, 284, 286, 305-336, 361, 364-368, 376-377, 386-387, 398-399, 415424, 788-789, 801, 824, 830-832
244, 295, 327, 361, 364-368, 379-382, 788-789, 800, 805-807, 809-810
358, 523, 525-527, 789, 798
418, 420-422
808
263-264, 284-285, 294-297, 368, 789
368-370, 519-520, 812-813
§608
TITLE IV.-DOMESTIC MAIL M.ATTER
dressee to the satisfaction of the postmaster. The parcel may
then be delivered. A receipt therefor shall be taken and
retained in the files of the delivering post office for a period of
not less than three years.
9. Parcels containing unloaded firearms properly prepared
for mailing may be conveyed in the mails to manufacturers of
firearms or bona fide dealers therein in customary trade shipments, including such articles for repairs or replacement of
parts, from one to the other. At the time such parcels are presented for mailing there shall be filed with the postmaster a
statement signed by the sender that he is a manufacturer of
firearms or that he is a bona fide dealer therein and that the
parcels are customary trade shipments or contain such articles
for repairs or replacement of parts and that to the best of his
knowledge and belief the addressees are manufacturers of firearms or bona fide dealers therein. If satisfied that the sender
is a manufacturer of firearms or a bona fide dealer therein, the
postmaster shall accept the parcel for .mailing. Before making
delivery of any such parcel the postmaster at the office of
address shall satisfy himself that the addressee is a manufacturer of firearms or a bona fide dealer therein.
10. Parcels containing unloaded firearms properly prepared for
mailing addressed for delivery to officers of the Army, Navy,
Coast Guard, Marine Corps, or Officers' Reserve Corps; to officers of the National Guard or Militia of. the several States,
Territories, and Districts ; to officers of the United States or of
the several States, Territories, and Districts whose official duty
is to serve process of warrants of arrest or mittlmus of commitment ; to employees of the Postal Service; and to watchmen
engaged in guarding the property of the United States, the
several States, Territory, and Districts for use in connection
with their official duty, may be accepted for mailing when
oft'ered by an authorized agent of the Federal Government,
provided that such parcels shall bear plainly written or printed
the official title and address of the sender together with the
words "Official shipment." The postmaster before making delivery of any such parcel shall satisfy himself as to the identity
of the addressee.
Receipt to be
filed.
Manufacturer
or dealer.
Official
shipment.
See sec. 602 for treatment of matter when mailability is in question.
CHAPTER 4
FREE
MATrER
IN THE MAILS
MATl'ER TO BE FRANKED
608. The Vice President of the United States, and Senators, Representatives, Delegates, and Resident Commissioners in Congress, the Secretary of the Senate, and
160223°-41--23
337
Con&'reuional
documents..
39 u.
s. c. 326.
,_
§609
-maybe sent
and received by
mail free, bY
whom, and
when.
POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS
Clerk of the House of Representatives may send and
receive through the mail all public documents printed by
order of Congress; and the name of the Vice President,
Senator, Repreaentative; Delegate, Resident Commissioner, Secretary of the Senate, and Clerk of the House
shall be written thereon (except as provided in sec. 162
of title 44, U. S. C.), 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 30th
day of June following the expiration of their respective
terms of office. ·
See secs. 543 and 544 as to free county publications of the second
class ; sec. 2203 as to free matter in foreign mails.
Cong. Record.
39 u.
s. c. 325.
-carried free
under frank of
Member of
Congress.
Seeds and agricultural
reports.
39 u. s. c. 329.
-maybe sent
free .by Secretary of Agriculture, Members of Congress, and
Delegates.
Official correspondence by
Members of
Congress.
39
u. s. c. 327.
Letters exceeding 4 ounces in
weight to
Government
officials.
609. The Congressional Record, or any part thereof,
or speeches or reports therein contained, shall, under the
frank of a Member of Congress, or Delegate, or Resident
Commissioner from Puerto Rico or the Philippines, written by himself except as provided in section 185 of Title
44), be carried in the mail free of postage, under such
regulations as the Postmaster General may prescribe.
2. Seeds transmitted by the Secretary of Agriculture,
or by any Member of Congress or Delegate receiving
seeds for distribution from said Department, together
with agricultural reports emanating from that Department, and so transmitted, shall, under such regulations
as the Postmaster General shall prescribe, pass through
the mails free of charge. And the provisions of this section shall apply to ex-Members of Congress and exDelegates for the period of nine months after the expiration of their terms as Members and Delegates.
610. The Vice President, Members and Members-elect
of, Delegates and Delegates-elect to Congress, and the
Resident Commissioners from Puerto Rico and the Philippines, shall have the privilege of sending free through
the mails, and under their frank, any mail matter to any
Government official or to any person, correspondence,
not exceeding four ounces in weight, upon offiCial or departmental business (until the first day of December following the expiration of their respective terms of office).
2. Letters which exceed 4 ounces in weight to be entitled to
free transmission shall in every case be addressed, upon official
business, to a ().overnni.ent official, whose title shall be given in
the superscription of the letter, either .with or without his name.
338
§612
TITLE IV.-D-OMESTIC MAIL MA'I'TER
The term "any Government official" shall include only officers
of the United States, Senators, Members, and Delegates in Congress.
3. When letters to other than Government officials, weighing
over 4 ounces, are mailed without postage thereon, they shall be
held for postage and treated in accordance with the provisions
of section 723.
4. The name of the Senator, Representative, or Delegate, written or impressed, shall appear on the envelope of the letter, in
connection with the initials of his office, and be preceded by the
word "Free."
5. When any person is suspected of being guilty or known to be
guilty of forging or misusing the frank of any Senator, Representative, or Delegate, the fact shall be promptly reported to
the Third Assistant Postmaster General, Division of Classification. No letter bearing the frank of the Vice President, Member,
Member-elect, Delegate, or Delegate-elect shall be detained on the
mere suspicion that the frank is forged or misused.
Letters to persons not
Government
officials.
fr~~~ 1 ~forson
appear on
envelope.
Forgery or
misuse of
frank.
NOTE.-This section does not aft'ect secs. 608 and 609. relating to the Note.
franking of public documents, the Congressional Record, and seeds.
611. All mail matter sent by the post by Frances F.
Cleveland (Preston), widow of the late Grover Cleveland, under her written autograph signature or facsimile
thereof, and by Mary Lord Harrison, widow of the late
Benjamin Harrison, under her written autograph signature or facsimile thereof, and by Edith Carow Roosevelt,
widow of the late Theodore Roosevelt, under her written
autograph signature or facsimile thereof, and by Edith
Bolling Wilson, widow of the late Woodrow Wilson,
under her written autograph signature or facsimile
thereof, and by Helen H. Taft, widow of the late William
Howard Taft, under her written autograph signature or
facsimile thereof, and · by Grace G. Coolidge, widow of
the late Calvin Coolidge, under her written autograph
signature or facsimile thereof, will be conveyed free of
postage during the natural life of each, respectively.
612. No matter shall be admitted to the mails under an authorized frank unless admissible as ordinary mail matter.
2. To entitle matter to free carriage, it shall bear the word
"Free" and the signature, either written or printed facsimile,
of the person entitled to frank it, together with his official
designation, if any, on the address side of the package.
3. All franked matter shall be forwarded like any other, but
when once delivered to the addressee may not be remailed unless
properly ·· franked again. A bulk package of franked articles
may be sent by a person entitled to the franking privilege, to one
addressee, who, on receiving and opening the package, may, on
behalf of such person, place addresses on the franked articles
339
Special irrants
of franking
privilege.
Frances F.
Cleveland.
Mary Lord
Harrison.
1909, Feb. 1 ;
35 Stat. 591.
Edith Carnw
Roosevelt.
1919, Oct. 27 ;
41 Stat. 1449.
Edith Bolling
Wilson.
1924, March 4;
43 Stat. 1359.
Helen H. Taft,
1930, June 14;
46 Stat. 1906.
Grace G. Coolidge, 1934,
June 16;
48 Stat. 1395.
1940, .Apr. 30;
Public, No. 495.
Use of frankinir privileire.
What matter
may be
franked.
Name and
designation of
person franking matter to
be affixed.
Franked matter may be
forwarded, but
not remalled
without refranking.
Bulk packages
of franked
matter.
§613
POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS
and remail them for carriage and delivery to the respective
addresses.
Note.
NOTE.-This section relates to matter entitled to free carriage under
secs. 608 and 609 ; see sec. 2203 as to franked matter in foreign mails.
Prohibition
asainst loan,
of frank.
39 u. s. c. 335.
613. It shall be unlawful for any person entitled under
the law to the use of a frank to lend said frank or permit its use by any committee, organization, or association, or permit its use by any person for the benefit or
use of any committee, organization, or association. This
provision shall not apply to any committee composed of
Members of Congress.
614. Under such regulations. as the Postmaster Geneneral shall prescribe correspondence of the members
of the Diplomatic Corps of the countries of the Pan
American Postal Union stationed in the United States
may be reciprocally transmitted in the . domestic mails
free of postage. * * * The same privilege shall be
accorded consuls of such countries stationed in the
United States, and vice consuls when they are discharging the functions of such consuls, for the exchange of
official correspondence among themselves, and for that
which they direct to the Government of the United
States.
~tc.,
Pan American
diplomatic representatives.
39 u. s. c. 336.
-correspondence which
may be mailed
free.
2. The matter that may be sent free of postage in the domestic
mails under the provisions of this section shall embrace all correspondence of the members of the diplomatic corps of the Pan
American countries and Spain; and it likewise shall embrace
the official correspondence exchanged between the consulates of
such of these countries as have put this provision into e:lfect
in their own countries, to that which they address to the
Government of the United States (see current Official Postal
Guide for list of these countries), and to that exchanged with
their respective embassies and legations, whenever reciprocity
exists. These provisions shall not apply to merchandise (fourthclass or parcel-post matter) , or to articles other than written
or printed correspondence within the usual meaning of that
term. Such correspondence shall not exceed 4 pounds in
weight. (See sec. 577.)
-lndlcia on en·
3. The envelopes, labels, etc., covering correspondence of the
velopes, labels,
etc.
Diplomatic Corps mailed under the provisions of this section,
shall show in the upper left corner of the address side the
name of the ambassador or the minister, or the name of the
embassy or legation, as the case may be, together with the
post-office address, while in the upper right corner of the address
side shall appear the inscription "Diplomatic mail" · over the
word "Free."
340
§615
TITLE IV.-DOMESTIC M.AIL MATTER
4. The official correspondence of consulates mailed under the
provisions of this section shall show over the words "Official
correspondence" in the upper left corner of the address side the
name and address of the consul or consulate, as the case may
be, as well as the name of the country represented, while in
the upper right corner of the address side shall appear the
Inscription "Consular mail" over the word "Free."
See se<:. 1211 as to. free registration.
OFFICIAL MATI'ER
615. It shall be lawful (for all officers of the United
States Government) to transmit through the mail, free
of postage, any lett.ers, packages, or other matters relating exclusively to the business of the Government of
the United States; official mail matter of all officers of
the United States Government, not including Members
of Congress; a.II official mail matter of the Smithsonian
Institution; all official mail matter of the Pan .American
Union and the Pan American Sanitary Bureau; * * *
the envelopes of such matter in all cases to bear appropriate indorsement containing the proper designation of the office from which, or officer from whom, the
same is transmitted with the statement of the penalty for
their misuse. Every such letter or package to entitle it
to pass free, shall bear over the words "Official business"
an indorsement showing also the name of the department, and if from a bureau or office (or· officer), the
names of the department and bureau or office (or officer),
as the case may be, whence transmitted (with a statement of the penalty for their misuse).
2. All official correspondence of the superintendent of
documents * * * shall be entitled to free transmission by mail * * * (under the penalty clause).
3. Official correspondence concerning the ( Congressional) directory may be had in penalty envelopes under
the direction of the Joint Committee (on Printing).
4. The legislative counsel shall have the same privilege of free transmission of official mail matter as other
officers of the United States Government.
5. Any department or office authorized to use the
penalty envelopes may inclose them with return address
to any person or persons from or through whom official
information is desired, the same to be used only to cover
341
Official or penalty envelopes.
39 u. s. c. 321.
1940, June 29 ;
Public, No. 683.
-use of, who
entitled to.
-indorsements on.
39
u. s. c. 323.
44 u.
2
s. c. 149.
u. s. c. 277.
-retur n may
be used, when.
39 u. s. c. 321.
§616
-not to be
used by officers
receiving allow·
ances for
postage.
39 u. s. c. 321.
Fraudulent use
of ofllcial
envelopes.
-penalty.
18 u. s. c. 357.
POSTAL LAWS ·AND REGULATIONS
such official information, and indorsements relating
thereto. (See sec. 619, par. 2.)
6. (The privilege of using penalty envelopes) shall not
extend or apply to officers who receive a fixed allowance
as compensation for their services, including expenses of
postages.
7. Whoever shall make use of any official envelope,
label, or indorsement authorized by law, to avoid the
pay~nt of postage or registry fee on his private letter,
packet, package, or other matter in the mail, shall be
fined not more than three hundred dollars.
See sec. 764 as to delivery of part-paid matter to executive departments at Washington; sec. 2208 as to free matter In foreign mails; sec.
1211 as to reldstration of ofllclal matter.
Public docu-
ments.
44 u. s. c. 218.
--eompliments
not permissible on.
Census mail
matter.
13 u. s. c. 214.
-transmitted
free.
Penalty for use
of indorsement
for evasion of
postage.
Immigration
and Naturallzatlon Service.
39 u. s. c. 324.
Reorganlza tion
Plan No. V.
1940, June 14.
616. No report, document, or publication of any kind
distributed by or from an executive department or bureau of the Government shall contain any notice that the
same is sent with "the compliments" of an officer of the
Government, or with any special notice that it is so
sent, except that notice that it has been sent, with a, request for an a.cknowledgment of its receipt, may be given.
· 617. All mail matter, of whatever cla.ss or weight, relating to the census and addressed to the Census Office,
or to any official thereof, and indorsed "Official business, Census Office," shall be transmitted free of posta.ge, * * * and so marked : Provided, That if any
person shall make use of such indorsement to avoid the
payment of postage * * * on his or her private letter, package, or other matter in the mail, the person so
offending shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and subject
to a fine of $300, to be prosecuted in any court of competent jurisdiction.
2. All mail matter, of whatever class, relating to naturalization, including duplicate papers required by law
or regulation to be sent to the Immigration and Naturalization Service by clerks of State or Federal courts, addressed to the Department of Justice, or the Immigration
and Naturalization Service, or to any official thereof, and
indorsed "Official Business," shall be transmitted free of
postage • * * and so marked : Provided, That if any
person shall make use of such indorsement to a void the
payment of postage • * * on his or her private letter, package; or other matter in the mail, the person so ·
offending shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and subject
342
§618
TITLE IV.-DOMESTIC MAIL MATI"ER
, to a fine of $300, to be prosecuted in any court of competent jurisdiction.
618. No article or package exceeding 4 pounds in
weight shall be admitted to the mails under the penalty
privilege except postage stamps, stamped envelopes,
newspaper wrappers, postal cards, internal-revenue
stamps, single books weighing in excess of that amount,
and books and documents published or circulated by
order of Congress, or printed or written official matter
emanating from any of the departments of the Government, or from the Smithsonian Institution.
Penaltr
privilese.
39 u. s. c. 334.
Limitations.
See sec. 578 as to official matter to be mailed free only at Washington,
D. C.
2. Official matter exceeding 4 pounds in weight which is not -ceptions.
embraced within these exceptions shall not be accepted for mailing free of postage under a penalty envelope or label, but, if it
does not exceed the limit of weight prescribed by section 569,
shall be accepted at the rates of postage _prescribed for fourthclass matter, regardless of its character or kind, including written official matter, whether sealed or unsealed.
3. No article, package, or other matter, except postage
stamps, stamped envelopes, newspaper wrappers, postal
.cards, and internal-revenue stamps, shall be admitted to
the mails under a penalty privilege, unless such article,
package, or other matter, except postage stamps,
stamped envelopes, newspaper wrappers, postal cards,
and internal-revenue stamps would be entitled to admission to the mails under laws requiring payment of postage.
4. On and after July 1, 1939, no executive department
or independent establishment of the Government shall
transmit through the mail, free of postage, any book,
report, periodical, bulletin, pamphlet, list, or other article
or document (except official letter correspondence, including such enclosures as are reasonably related to the
subject matter of the correspondence ; informational releases in connection with the decennial census of the
United States, mail concerning the sale of Government
securities, and all forms and blanks and copies of statutes, rules, regulations, and instructions and administrative orders and interpretations necessary in the administration of such departments and establishments), unless
a request therefor has been previously received by such
department or independent establishment; or such transmission is required by law; or such document is trans-
343
-matter admitted restricted.
39 u.
s. c. 333.
Mailing under
penalty
privllege.
39U. S. C.
321b.
Supp. V.
'I
§619
POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS
mitted to inform the recipient thereof of the adoption,
amendment, or interpretation of a statute, rule, regulation, or order to which he is subject. For each quarter,
beginning with the quarter commencing July 1, 1939, the
head of each independent establishment and executive department (other than the Post Office Department) shall
submit to the Postmaster General, within thirty days after
the close of the quarter, a statement of the weight of the
mail matter by classes of mail that the independent establishment or department has transmitted free of postage
during such quarter, and he shall also certify to the Postmaster General at the end of each such quarter that nothing was transmitted through the mail free of postage by
the independent establishment or department in violation
of the provisions of this section: ProvUed, That nothing
herein shall be construed to prohibit the mailing free of
postage of lists of agricultural bulletins, lists of public
documents which are offered for sale by the Superintendent of Documents, or of announcements of publications of maps, atlases, statistical, and other reports offered
for sale by the Federal Power Commission as authorized
by section 825k of Title 16: Provided further, That this
prohibition shall not apply to the transmission of such
books, reports, periodicals, bulletins, pamphlets, lists,
articles, or documents to educational institutions or
public libraries, or to Federal, S'tate, or other public
authorities.
Quarterly
reports.
5. The quarterly reports and certificates required by paragr.a ph
4 of this section shall, for the purpose of uniformity, be submitted in such form as the Postmaster General may prescribe
and shall cover all matter mailed free of postage at Washington,
D. C., by the executive departments and independent establishments of the Government and also all matter so mailed by their
branches and officials at other post offices.
Use of penalty
619. Correspondence of persons not officers writing to the execu·
envelopes alld
labels.
tive departments or to officers of the United States concerning
- restrictions.
the business of the writers with the Government shall not be
accepted for mailing free in penalty envelopes. Officers authorized to use such envelopes shall not furnish them for use to
bidders, or to contractors with the Government, or to enable
private persons or concerns to send free repi)rj;s, etc., which they
are required by law to make.
.·
Return penalty
2.
Officers
desiring
ofiicial
information
from
or through persons
envelopes, etc.,
to be addressed not officers may furnish penalty envelopes or labels to cover the
before sending
same only with return address printed or written thereon.
out.
Where the information is to be forwarded periodically or on
344
TITLE IV.-DOMESTIC MAIL MATTER
more than one occasion the envelopes or labels bearing printed
return address may be furnished in quantities for the transmission of such information.
3. The right of an officer of the United States to use the
penalty envelope shall cease immediately upon bis going out of
office; and he shall not be permitted to use such envelopes in
transmitting papers connected with the settlement of his accounts
or other business pertaining to the office he has vacated, except
as he may receive them with requests for official information,
with return address thereon, from a department or officer of
the Government.
4. Postmasters shall not stop census matter or any mail
matter in an official penalty envelope or under a penalty label
upon the mere suspicion that the penalty envelope, label, or
census indorsement is being used to cover private matter ; but
if they have good reason to believe that any person is using
official envelopes or labels in violation of law, they shall promptly
report the matter to the Third Assistant Postmaster General,
Division of Classification.
§621
Officer not entitled to use of
penalty
envelope
after resignation, except.
Matter in
official envelope, etc., not
to be stopped
on suspicion.
See sec. 2!03 as to tree matter In foreign mails.
REPORTS AND BULLETINS OF AGRICULTURAL COLLEGES AND
EXPERIMENT STATIONS
620. An annual report by the president of each of said
(Government aided) colleges shall be made to the Secretary of Agriculture, as well as to the Secretary of the
Interior, regarding the condition and progress of each
college, including statistical information * * *, one
copy of which shall be transmitted by mail free to all
other colleges further endowed under sections 322 to 328,
inclusive, of this chapter (relating to Agricultural and
Mechanical Colleges).
Reports of certain airricultural
colleires, etc.
7 u. s. c. 325.
-free when
transmitted to
other such colleges, etc.
2. Postmasters at offices where colleges are established under -how malled.
the provisions of the act of July 2, 1862 (7 U. S. C., ch. 13),
shall receive from the officers thereof the reports referred to
addressed, one copy each, to other such colleges and to the
Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture, and
affix to each a penalty label or official envelope of the post office,
and forward them free.
62L All correspondence, bulletins, and reports for the
furtherance of the purposes of sections 341 to 348 of
Title 1 (Agriculture), may be transmitted in the mails of
the United States free of charge for postage, under such
regulations as the Postmaster General, from time to
time, may prescribe, by such college officer or other person connected with the extension department of such
345
Airricultural extension work.
39 u. s. c. 330.
§621
7 u. s. c. 341
and342.
POSTAL . LAWS AND REGULATIONS
college as the Secretary of Agriculture may designate
to the Postmaster General.
2. * * * . there may be inaugurated in coilnection
with the college or oolleges in each State receiving the
benefits of the foregoing provisions of this chapter,
agricultural extension work which shall be carried on in
cooperation with the United States Department of
Agriculture. * * * Cooperative agricultural extension work shall consist of the giving of instruction and
practical demonstrations in agriculture and home economics to persons not attending or resident in said colleges
in the several communities, and imparting to such persons
information on said subjects through field demonstrations, publications, and otherwise * * *
Correspondence, bulletins,
and reports.
- when to be
accepted by
postmaster.
3. Up0n designation to the Postmaster General by the Secretary of Agriculture of a college officer or other person connected
with the extension department of a State agricultural college receiving the benefits of the act of July 2, 1862 (7 U. S. C., ch. 13),
and the acts supplementary thereto, by whom the correspondence, bulletins, and reports mentioned in paragraph 1 of this
section are to be transmitted, the Third Assistant Postmaster
General, Division of Classification, shall authorize the postmaster at the post office where the extension department of such
college is located to accept from the officer or person so designated such correspondence, bulletins, and reports for free transmission in the malls.
-indicia on
4. In the upper left corner of the envelope or wrapper conwrapper or entaining such correspondence, bulletins, or reports shall be printed
velope to be
used.
over the words "Free-Cooperative Agricultural Extension
Work-Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914," the name of the agricultural college and the name of the post office at which the
matter is to be accepted free, followed by the name and title of
the college officer or person designated to transmit such matter,
and in the upper right corner the words "Penalty for private use
to avoid payment of postage, $300." _ The designated college officer
or person shall not furnish such envelopes for use as return envelopes by individuals or concerns from whom replies are
requested.
-restrictions.
5. Only such correspondence, bulletins, and reports as are for
the furtherance of the purposes of the act of May 8, 1914, set
forth in paragraph 2 of this section, and are mailed at the authorized post office by the college officer or other person duly designated may be transmitted free under the provisions of this
section. All such correspondence, etc., to be entitled to free
transmission, shall be conducted under the name of such designated college officer or person. Correspondence with autograph
signature may be mailed sealed, but all other matter shall be
presented unsealed.
346
§622
TITLE IV.-DOMESTIC MAlL MATTER
6. When in doubt as to whether any particular matter presented for mailing under the provisions of this section is entitled
to be transmitted free, the postmaster shall submit a sample to
the Third Assistant Postmaster General, Division of Classification, and pending decision may dispatch the matter if the sender
makes a deposit to cover the postage at the proper rate. The
deposit shall be refunded if the matter is held to be entitled to
free transmission.
--<1uestions as
to mailability
to be submitted
to Third
Assistant.
622. Bulletins or reports of progress * * * published at agricultural experiment stations (established
under the provisions of the act of March 2, 1887, in connection with colleges endowed under provisions of the
act of July 2, 1862), one copy of which shall be sent to
each newspaper in the States or Territories in which
they are respectively located, and to such individuals
actually engaged in farming as may request the same,
* * * and the annual reports of said stations shall
be transmitted in the mails of the United States free of
charge for postage, under such regulations as the Post. master General may from time to time prescribe.
Bulletins and
reports of certain airricultural
experiment
2. An agricultural experiment station which claims the privilege of transmitting free through the mails, under the provisions of this section, bulletins, reports of progress, or annual
reports, shall make application to the Third Assistant Postmaster General, Division of Classification, through the postmaster
at the office where such station is located, stating the date of
the establishment of the station, its proper name or designation, its official organization, and the names of its officers, the
n&me of the university, college, school, or institution to which it
is attached, if any, the legislation of the State or Territory
providing for its establishment, and any other granting it the
benefits of the acts of Congress referred to in this section, and
whether any other such station in the same State or Territory
is considered, or claims to be, also entitled to the privilege;
and also the ·place where such station is located and the name
of the post office where the bulletins and reports will be mailed.
The application shall be signed by the officer in charge of
the station.
8. If such privilege is allowed, the postmaster shall be instructed to admit such bulletins and reports to the mails free
of postage.
4. Only bulletins or reports issued after an experiment station
has become entitled to the privileges of this section may be
transmitted free ; and they may be inclosed in envelopes or wrappers, sealed or unsealed. On the exterior of every envelope,
wr.a pper, or package and over the words "Free--Annual Report,
or Bulletin or Report of Progress," shall be printed the name
of the station and the name of the post office at which the matter
347
1tations.
7 u.
s. c. 3611.
-maybe
sent free.
-application
for authority
to transmit in
the mails.
Admission of
bulletins a nd
reports.
-restrictions.
Manner of
wrapping, addressing, and
maiUng.
§623
Bulletins of
Department of
Agriculture
mailed with
station bulletins.
Station reports
printed by
State authority
and containing
extraneous
matter, etc.
Bulletins and
reports.
-to whom may
be sent.
POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS
is to be accepted free, followed by the name and title of the
officer in charge of the station, and in the upper right corner
the words "Penalty for private use to avoid payment of postage,.
$300." The designation of the bulletin or report inclosed may
be shown in lieu of the words "Annual Report, or Bulletin or
Report of Progress" following the word "Free." There may also
be written or printed upon the envelope or wrapper a request
that the postmaster at the office of delivery notify the mailing
station of the change of address of the addressee, or other reason
for inability to deliver the same, and upon a bulk package a request to the postmaster to open and distribute the matter therein,
in accordance with the addresses thereon.
5. Bulletins published by the United States Department of
Agriculture, and entitled to be mailed free under the penalty
envelope of that department, may also be adopted and mailed
by agricultural experiment stations, with such of their own publications as are entitled to free transmission in the mails, under
the same regulations ; and any bulletins or reports mailable free
by any agricultural experiment station under these regulations
may be so mailed by any other station entitled to such privilege.
6. If annual reports of an agricultural experiment station are
printed by State authority, and consist in part of matter relating
to the land-grant college to which such station is attached, then
said report entire may be mailed free by the director of the station, provided, in his judgment, the whole consists of useful
information of an agricultural character. But the reports of
State agricultural departments or boards may not be adopted
by agricultural experiment stations in order to secure free circulation of such State reports.
7. The bulletins and reports of progress issued by agricultural
experiment stations may be sent free only to the newspapers and
persons stated in this section. The annual reports may be sent
free to any address.
See sec. 2203 as to sending annual reports to certain foreign countries.
PUBLICATIONS FOR COPYRIGHT
Copyricht of
works of an
author, photocraphic print,
etc.
17 U.S. C. 11.
623. Copyright may * * * be had of the works of
an author, of which copies are not reproduced for sale,
by the deposit, with claim of copyright, of one complete
copy of such work if it be a ·lecture or similar production or a dramatic, musical, or dramatico-musical composition; of a title and description, with one print taken
from each scene or act, if the work be a motion-picture
photoplay; of a photographic print if the work be a
photograph; * * * or of a photograph or other
identifying reproduction thereof, if it be a work of art
or a plastic work or drawing.
348
'·<
§623
TITLE IV.-D-OMESTIC M.A.IL MATTER
2. After copyright has been secured by publication
of the work with the notice of copyright as provided
in section nine of this title, there shall be * * * deposited in the Copyright Office or in the mail addressed
to the Register of Copyrights, Washington, District of
Columbia, two complete copies of the best edition thereof then published, * * * which copies * * *, if
the work be a book or periodical, shall have been produced in accordance with the manufacturing provisions
specified in section .fifteen (see note) of this title; or if
such work be a contribution to a periodical, for which
contribution special registration is requested, one copy
of the issue or issues containing such contribution; or if
the work is not reproduced in copies for sale there shall
be deposited the copy, print, photograph, or other identifying reproduction provided by section eleven of this
title, such copies or copy, print, photograph, or other
reproduction to be accompanied in each case by a claim
of copyright.
NOTJD.-Sec. 15 of Title 17 U. S. Code, prescribes that books and
periodicals entitled to copyright, except works in raised characters for
the use of the blind or books of foreign orbdn in a language or languages other than English, shall be produced" within the limits of the
United States in respect of the following features :
~a} Setting of type.
b Preparation of plates, including setting of type therefor.
c Printing of text and illustrations, except where subjects represented are located in a foreign country and illustrate a scientific work or
reproduce a work of art.
(d) Binding.
·
3. In the case of the book the copies so deposited
shall be accompanied by an affidavit under the official
seal of any officer authorized to administer oaths within
the United States, duly made by the person claiming.
copyright or by his duly authorized agent or representative residing in the United States, or by the printer
who has printed the book, * * *
Copies to be
sent Copyright
Office.
17 u. s. c. 12.
Note.
Copies shall
be produced 1n
United States.
Affidavit to
accompany.
17 U.S. C.16.
NOTE. -The "affidavit" above referred to should set forth that the text Note.
of the book deposited has been printed from type set or plates made in What affidavit
the United States, or produced by lithographic or photo-en~raving process shall show.
wholly performed therein; that the printing and binding were done
therein; and also gives the names of the places (establishments) where
the printing and binding were performed, and the date of completion or
publication of the book.
Postmaster to
4. The postmaster to whom are delivered the articles give
receipt.
17 U.S. C.14.
deposited as provided in sections eleven and twelve of
this title shall, if requested, give a receipt therefor and
shall mail them to their destination without cost to the
copyright claimant.
349
§624
Dispatch
under penalty
label.
Fee tor copyright may
accompany
matter, when.
Registry fee.
Note.
POSI'AL LAWS AND REGULATIONS
5. A postmaster to whom are delivered with a claim for
registration of copyright copies of a lecture or similar production, a dramatic or musical composition, a photographic
print of a photograph, a photograph or other identifying reproduction of a work of art or a plastic work or drawing, a book
(accompanied with the affidavit prescribed by par. 3), or a
periodical publication, shall dispatch the same under a penalty
envelope or label of his office to the Register of Copyrights,
Washington, D. C.; and, when requested, shall give a receipt
therefor on a form furnished by the sender.
6. When persons presenting copyright matter for transmission
free of postage to the Register of Copyrights, Washington, D. C.,
desire to have such matter and the fee for copyright registration
mailed together, this may be done, provided the remittance for
such fee is inclosed in an envelope addressed to the Register
of Copyrights, Washington, D. C., and postage is prepaid thereon
at the letter rate, in which case the postmaster, after properly
canceling the stamps affixed to the envelope containing such
fee, shall inclose it in the penalty envelope in which the copyright matter is transmitted to the Register of Copyrights, or it
may be inclosed in a penalty envelope attached as a label to the
parcel containing the copyright matter.
7. Matter for copyright shall not be dispatched by registered
mail without the prepayment of the registry fee. When so dispatched, the sender is entitled to .the usual registry receipt in
addition to the rece_ipt provided for in· paragraph 5 of this
section.
NoTE.-No indemnity is payable for such mail unless both postage and
registry tee are paid. (See sec. 1382, par. 6 (a).)
READING MA'ITER FOR THE BLIND
Books, pam-
. phlets, etc., for
the blind.
39 u. s. c. 331.
Supp. V.
-requirements
to be entitled to
transmission.
624•. (a) · Books, pamphlets, and other reading matter
published either in raised characters, whether prepared
.by hand or printed or in the form of sound-reproduction records for the u8e of the blind, in packages not exceeding the weight prescribed by the Postmaster General, and containing no advertising or other matter
whatever, unsealed, and when sent by public institutions
£or the blind, or by any public libraries, as a loan to
blind readers, or when returned by the latter to such institutions or public libraries * * * shall be trans- .
mitted in the United States mails free of postage and
under such regulations as the Postmaster General may
prescribe.
( b) The weight of parcels acceptable free of postage under the
preceding paragraph shall not exceed 15 pounds.
Note.
NoTJD.-The provisions of law embodied in section 1166, paragraph 6
section 624, and paragraph 1, section 6211, were reenacted by the act of
May 16, l!t38.
350
§624
TITLE IV.-DOMESTIC M.A1L MATTER
2. Reading matter in raised characters, or in the form of
sound-reproduction records for the use of the blind, tO be entitled to transmission in the mails free of postage, shall not
contain any advertising matter, and shall in every case be sent
by or returned to a public library or public institution for the
blind.
3. WM!n mailed by a public library or public institution for
the blind, the matter shall be sent as a loan to a blind reader.
Such matter may be mailed for return to a public library or
public institution for the blind only by a blind reader.
4. The matter shall be wrapped so that it may be easily examined.
5. On the upper-left corner of the envelop or wrapper containing the matter the name and address of the sender shall appear,
and on the upper-right corner the word "Free" over the words
"Reading Matter for the Blind," or "Sound-Reproduction Records for the Blind."
NoTll.-Letters written in point
sound-reproduction records used by
reading matter entitledJ under the
transmission in the mal!s. (See sec.
--shall not
contain advertising or other
matter.
--shall be sent
by or returned
to public library or institution for
bllnd.
-shall be sent
as a loan and
returned by
blind reader.
-how
wrapped.
-superscription.
print or raised characters or on Note.
the blind are not included in the
provisions of this section, to free
566.)
6. * * * Magazines, periodicals, and other regularly issued publications in such raised characters,
whether prepared by hand or printed, or on sound-reproduction records (for the use of the blind), which
contain no advertisements and for which no subscription
fee is charged, shall be transmitted in the United States
mails free of postage and under such regulations as the
Postmaster General may prescribe.
7. Before a publication may be mailed free of postage, under
the provisions of the above paragraph, it shall be formally entered as free matter at the post oftlce at which the publisher
desirEls to mail it. To obtain such entry the publisher shall file
with the local postmaster a written application therefor, accompanied with a copy of the publication. The application shall
show : (a) The name of the publication ; ( b) the periods of its
issue; ( c) whether it contains advertisements ; ( d) whether
a subscription fee is charged. Upon receipt of such application
the postmaster shall forward it, together with a copy of the
publication, to the Third Assistant Postmaster General, Division
·of Classification. Pending consideration of the application by
the department, the postmaster shall accept the publication for
mailing under a deposit of money to cover the postage at the
rate which otherwise would be chargeable. If the publication be
admitted as free matter, the deposit shall be returned to the
publisher ; otherwise it shall be converted into ordinary postage
stamps and sent to the Third Assistant Postmaster General in
the manner prescribed by section 580.
8. On the first page of a publication formally entered as free
matter shall be printed, in ordinary type, the following: (a)
351
Publications
for the blind.
39
u. s. c. 331.
Supp. V.
-when ma.y be
mailed free by
publishers.
-mailed
free by
publishers.
Application for
privtlege.
Conditional
acceptance
under deposits
to cover
postage.
lndlcla on
publlcations.
§625
POsTAL LAWS! AND REGULATIONS
Name of publication; (b) place where published; (o) date of
issue; (d) frequency of issue; (e) the words "Entered______ .
at the post office at ------ as free matter, under the act of August 24, 1912." In the case of a publication on sound-reproduction records, such indicia may be printed on labels and atlixed
to the records.
Volumes of
Hol:r Scripture•
for the blind.
39 u. s. c. 331.
Supp. V.
-mailable
free.
-mailable at 1
cent a pound.
625. * * * Volumes of the Holy Scriptures~ or any
part thereof, published either in raised characters,
whether prepared by hand or printed, or in the form
of sound-reproduction records for the use of the blind,
which do not contain advertisements (a) when furnished
by an organization, institution, or association not conducted for private profit, to a blind person without
charge, shall be transmitted in the United States mails
free of postage; ( b) when furnished by an organization, institution, or association not conducted for private
profit to a blind person at a price not greater than the
cost price thereof, shall be transmitted in the United
States mails at the postage rate of 1 cent for each pound
or fraction thereof; under such regulations as the Postmaster General may prescribe.
-application
for privilege.
2. When any organization, institution, or association not conducted for private profit desires to mail volumes of the Holy
Scr.iptures (the Bible), or any part thereof, to blind persons
under the conditions mentioned in this section, a written application for such privilege accompanied with satisfactory evidence
that the organization, institution, or association is not conducted
for private profit and that the volumes when mailed free of postage will be sent without charge to a blind person or when mailed
at the rate of postage of 1 cent for each pound or fraction of
a pound will be furnished to a blind person at a price not exceeding the cost of the volumes, shall be submitted through the
postmaster at the office where it is desired to mail the matter, to
the Third Assistant Postmaster General, Division of Classification.
-how wrapped
3. Volumes of the Holy Scriptures or parts thereof to be
and indorsed.
mailed free of postage or at the postage rate of 1 cent a pound
to a blind person by an organization, institution, or association
under the provisions of this section shall be properly wrapped
in such manner that the matter can be easily examined, and
shall bear in the upper left corner of the address side of the
envelope, wrapper, or address label, the name and address of
the sender over the words "Holy Scriptures for tbe Blind,
act of June 7, 1924; sec. 625, Postal Laws and Regulations," and
in the upper right corner the word " Free," when the volumes
are furnished without charge. If the volumes are being furnished to a blind person at a price not exceeding the cost there-
352
§627
TITLE IV.-DOMESTIC MA.IL MATTER
of, stamps to cover postage at the rate of 1 cent for each pound
or fraction of a pound shall be affixed to the upper right corner
of the address side of the envelope, wrapper, or address label.
to .be ac·
4. Postmasters shall not accept any matter for mailing free or -not
cepted until
at the rate of 1 cent a pound under the provisions of this sec- authorized.
tion until authorized so to do by the Third Assistant Postmaster
General, Division of Classification.
626. Magazines, periodicals, and other regularly issued
publications in raised characters, whether prepared by
hand or printed, or on sound-reproduction records (for
the use of the blind), which contain no advertisements,
when furnished by an organization, institution, or association not conducted for private profit, to a blind person,
at a price not greater than the cost price thereof, shall be
transmitted in the United States mails at the postage
rate of 1 cent for each pound or fraction thereof, under
such regulations as the Postmaster General may prescribe.
Publications
for the blind.
39U. S. C.
293c.
Supp. V.
2. Any organization, institution, or association desiring to Application.
mail a publication to blind persons at the rate of 1 cent a pound
under the conditions mentioned In this section shall submit,
through the postmaster at the office where it is desired to mail
the matter, to the Third Assistant Postmaster General, Division
of Classification, a written application for such privilege accompanied with satisfactory evidence that the organization, institution, or association is not conducted for private profit and that
the copies of the publication will be furnished to a blind person
at a price not exceeding the cost price thereof.
3. Matter to be mailed under the provisions of this section Preparation
for mailing.
shall be properly wrapped in such manner that it can be easily
examined and shall bear the words "Periodicals for the blind, act
of April 15, 1987," below the name and address of the sender
which must appear in the upper left corner of the address side
of the envelope, wrapper, or address label, the postage stamps
to cover postage at the rate of 1 cent for each pound or fraction
of a pound to be placed in the upper right corner.
627. Reproducers for sound-reproduction records for
the blind or parts thereof which are the property of the
United States Government, when shipped for repair purposes by an organization, institution, public library, or
association for the blind not conducted for private profit,
or by a blind person to an agency not conducted for
private profit, or from such an agency to an organization, institution, public library, or association for the
blind not conducted for private profit, or to a blind per-
160223°-41--24
353
Rep roducers for
Sound-reproduction records
fo r the blind.
39 u. s. c. 331.
Supp. V.
§627
POSI'AL LAWSI AND REGULATIONS
son, may be transmitted thTough the mails at the rate
of 1 cent per pound or fraction thereof;. under such
regulations as the Postmaster General may prescribe.
2. The Postmaster.General may in his discretion extend
this rate of 1 cent per pound or fraction thereof to reproducers for sound-reproduction records for the blind, or
parts thereof, which are the property of State .governments or subdivisions thereof, or of public libraries, or
of private agencies for the blind not conducted for private
profit, or of blind individuals, under such regulations as
he may prescribe.
Evidence to
be furnished.
For repairs.
3. Organizations, institutions, libraries, or other agencies desiring to send or receive reproducers for sound-reproduction
records or parts thereof at the rate prescribed in paragraph 1
of this section shall furnish satisfactory evidence that they are
not conducted for private profit.
4. Parcels, not exceeding the limit of weight prescribed for
fourth-class matter, containing reproducers or parts thereof to be
acceptable for mailing under this section must be sent for repair
purposes only or returned after repair, shall be securely packed
or wrapped, and shall bear the words :
Sound Record Reproducer for the Blind
For Repair
Act of May 16, 1938
below the name and address of the sender which must appear
in the upper left corner of the address side of the envelope,
wrapper, or address label, the postage stamps to cover postage
at the rate of 1 cent for each pound or fraction of a pound to be
placed in the upper right corner.
354
§1210
Full value to
be declared.
39U.S.C.
381a.
Note.
Use of firm
malling sheets.
When ma«er
becomes resl1tered.
POSTAL LAWS AND RF.GULA.TIONS
(b) The full value of all registered mail or insured
mail treated as registered mail shall be declared by the
mailer at the time of mailing unless otherwise prescribed
by the Postmaster General, and any claim for indemnity
in any amount involving such mail, when the full value
knowingly and willfully was not stated at the time of
mailing, shall be invalid. * * *
See secs. 1203, 1880, 1381 and 1382 as to indemnity.
NOTE.-Declaration of value is not required if the article mailed ill
eptitled to free registration.
2. Mail for registration recorded by the sender on ftrm mailing
sheets shall, at the time of its acceptance at the post otD.ce, be
carefully checked as to registration numbers, amounts of postage
and fees (and surcharges if any) paid, and the names and addresses of the addressees, etc. Exception to these requirements
may be authorized by the Third Assistant Postmaster General.
Any discrepancies shall be noted on the malling list retained at
the post office and on the receipt issued to the sender.
1210. An article shall not be considered as regiatered until it
bas been accepted and a receipt therefor has been issued by the
postmaster or an authorized employee of his otD.ce. (See sec.
1205.)
RF.GISTRATION OF PENALTY AND FREE MA'ITER
Resletratlon of
omclal matter.
39 u. s.c.
321a.
-ofllcial
postal matter.
39 u. s. c. 384.
Not to be
registered
unnecessarlly.
-otHcial mail
of executive
departments.
--eensus
matter free.
13 u. s. c. 214.
1211. (a) Any official domestic letter or parcel to be
registered by any executive department or bureau thereof, or independent Government institution, located at
Washington, District of Columbia, or by the Public
Printer, which requires registration may be registered
without the payment of any registry fee.
(b) Mail matter upon the official business of the Post
· Office Department which requires registering . shall be
registered free of charge, and pass through the mails
free of charge.
(c) Postal employees must not register unnecessarily official
matter relating to the Postal Service.
2. All mail matter, of whatever class or weight, relating to the census and addressed to the Census Office, or to
any official thereof, and indorsed "Official business, Census Office," shall be transmitted free * * * by registered mail if necessary, and so marked : Provided, That
if any person shall make use of such indorsement to
a.void the payment of • • • registry fee on his or
her private letter, package, or other matter in the mail,
the person so offending shall be guilty of a misdemeanor
and subject to a fine of three hundred dollars, * * *
4'94
WITLE VII.-REGISTRY SYSTEM
3. All mail matter, of whatever class, relating to
naturalization, including duplicate papers required by
law or regulation to be sent to the Immigration and
Naturalization Service by clerks of State or Federal
courts, addressed to the Department of Justice, or the
Immigration and Naturalization Service, or to any official thereof, and indorsed "Official business," shall be
transmitted free • • • by registered mail if necessary, and so marked : • * *
§1211
-naturalization matter.
39 u. s. c. 324.
Reorganization
Plan No. V,
effective ·
June 14,1940.
NOTE.-The above laws, except those which relate to matter upon Note.
the official business of the Post Office Department, or the census, or that
relating to naturalization mai1 apply to such matter only as is registered
at the seat of government. uovernment officers located at Washington,
D. C., whose ofilcial mall may be registered free there, under the above
statutes, may have such mail registered free elsewhere, when they are
temporarily away from Washington ; but not those ofilcers who are permanenU.y away from that city, or who are engaged in field service for
their respective departments. Matter entitled to free registration by
ofilcers or employees of the Government temporarily absent from Washington should be indorsed over their sifnatures with the words "Temporarily absent from Washington, D. C.'
applicable
4. Free registration is not accorded to mail of the legislative Not
to legislative
or
judicial
or judicial departments nor to that of a State government or any
departments
of its branches.
nor to State
governments.
5. Letters or parcels relating exclusively to official business of Civil Service
Commission.
the United States Civil Service Commission, Washington, D. C.,
and addressed thereto, when presented for mailing by members of
local boards of examiners of the commission located permanently -registration
matter of
in the various cities, shall be accepted by postmasters, who shall of
local boards.
place them under the authorized official penalty envelopes or
labels and in their official capacity register them free, as from
the postmaster to such commission. If desired, an informal receipt shall be given by the postmaster to the official from whom
the matter is received.
See sec. 615 as to penalty for misuse of otncial indorsement: sec. 617
as to the free transmission of ordinary mail relating to the census or
naturalization ; secs. 1213 and 1214 as to currency for redemption.
6. Under such regulations as the Postmaster General
shall prescribe correspondence of the members of the
Diplomatic Corps of the countries of the Pan American
Postal Union (Postal Union of the Americas and Spain)
stationed in the United States may be reciprocally transmitted in the domestic mails * • • and be entitled
to free registration, but without any right to indemnity
in case of loss. The same privilege shall be accorded
consuls of such countries stationed in the United States,
and vice consuls when they are discharging the functions
of such consuls, for the exchange of official correspondence among themselves, and for that which they direct
to the Government of the United States.
See sec. 614 as to free postage.
495
Pan .American
Postal Union.
39 u. s. c. 336.
§1212
Ollieial matter
relli1tered in a
special man-
ner.
Special
envelopes.
-mail not
under cover
of, to be
marked "Registered."
-mail under
cover of, to be
delivered
Intact.
Free registration of United
Statea cur-
rency for redemption and
new currency
for carreney
redeemed.
39 u. s. c. 385.
POST.AIL LAWS A:ND REGULAT!IONS
1212. Specially printed envelopes and labels may be used in the
preparation and dispatch of ofilcial matter registered at the post
office at Washington, D. C., or elsewhere, but ofilcial matter included in such envelopes or to which such labels are attached,
malled at post offices other than Washington, D. 0., shall not be
registered free except as provided in section 1211. The rubber
registration stamp need not be used on registered ofilcial mail
under cover of such specially printed envelopes or labels, but
such mail not under cover of these envelopes or labels shall be
marked "Registered."
2. In delivering registered mail inclosed in such envelopes or
having such labels attached, the envelopes or labels shall not be
separated from the matter.
1213. Under such regulations as the Postmaster General may prescribe, all . postmasters 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 postmaster at
the city of Washington, in the District of Columbia,
shall register, in like manner, without charge, all letters
containing new currency returned for currency 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.
Note.
NoTB.-See sec. 518 relative to payment of postage at first-class rate
on such shipments.
Letter• con-
1214. When a letter containing currency to be sent to the
Treasurer of the United States for redemption is ofrered for
registration, the postmaster shall require the contents to be exhibited to him and a list furnished giving a detailed description
of the money to be remitted. In case of fractional currency, the
number and denomination of pieces will be sufilcient; but of currency of the denomination of $1 and upward the letter, number
of series, date, and denomination of each note .shall be given.
2. The list shall be carefully compared with the money to be
remitted, and when found correct shall be ti.led with the postmaster.
3. The money shall be inclosed and the letter sealed in the
presence of the postmaster, who, after postage is prepaid by the
sender, shall mark plainly upon the envelope the words "Accepted
without registry fee under section 1213," issue the usual registry
receipt therefor, and treat it as any other registered letter.
1215. When a remittance of postal or money-order or postalsavings funds is registered, the package shall be prepared as;
follows:
(a) If in bulk small enough, the money .shall be inclosed in a
strong envelope (such as the department provides expressly for
taining carrenq.
-registration
of.
--<!Ontents to
be exhibited.
-list of
contents.
-preparation
of.
Preparation of
PDltal or
money-order
fand1for
remittance.
-how
inclosed.
r:DITLE Vll.-REGISTRY SYSTEM
§1217
the purpose), which shall be securely sealed, and addressed. If
the remittance is of such a character that the envelope alone will
not safely carry it in the mails, the funds shall be wrapped in
material strong enough to carry them, the wrapper sealed, and
the remittance then securely inclosed in the ofilcial penalty remittance envelope.
( b) If in coin in bags or in currency in packages too large for -if in coin,
etc., how
inclosure in the official remittance envelope, the bag or package wrapped.
shall be rewrapped with strong paper, and this additional wrapper
thoroughly sealed. An official remittance envelope shall then be
pasted thereon in such manner as to expose the address. (See
sec. 111.)
CHAPTER2
'TREATMENT OF MA'ITER AT POST 0FFIOES OF M.An.ING AND
IN TRANSIT
PREPARATION OF MA'ITER FOR DISPATCH
1216. All registered matter shall be plainly marked in bold
letters, on its face, "Registered," and the original registration
number shall be placed immediately under such word. The regulation rubber stamp, reading "Registered No. - - - " should be
used for this purpose. This indorsement, if practicable, shall be
placed in the left portion of the address side of the article near the
address. Articles too small to contain the word "Registered" shall
be similarly marked with the letter "R," to be followed by the
original registration number.
2. A legible impression of the postmarking stamp shall be placed
twice on the back of each letter and other sealed article over the
cro(!Sings of the upper and lower 1laps. (See sec. 761 as to backstamping.) When the envelope is constructed in such a manner
that additional impressions of the postmarking stamp will render
rifting of the envelope more difilcult, such l.Dipressions shall be
placed across the 1laps at the ends of the envelope in addition to
those placed over the upper and lower 11aps. The postmark shall
not be placed on the address side of sealed registered mail unless
the article is sealed on the address side. All other registered mail
shall be legibly postmarked on the address side. Unless otherwise
specially authorized, the postmark of the office of mailing on all
registered matter shall show the date of registration as well as
the ofilce and State of origin.
Rel'istr;r mark.
See secs. 717 to 720 as. to canceling and postmarking.
of
1217. When a receipt has been inadvertently given for a regis- Correction
address before
patch.
die
unmallable,
be
to
found
is
dispatch,
tered piece which, before
either because . of noncompliance with the requirements of the
regulations or because it ls addressed to a place not listed in the
Omcial Postal Guide as a post ofilce, the sender shall be notified -shall be
and permitted to take appropriate action. In case the sender made by
is a local resident and does not respond to the notice within three sender.
160223°-41-.,- 33
497
§1330
-registration
receipt to be
issued.
-connection
between record
of delivery
and record of
reregistration.
-disposition
of when
refused.
-when sender
does not
desire reregistration after
proper delivery.
-manner of
lndorslng
when not
re1ristered.
omce of de-
llvery to keep
record showing registration and reregistration
after delivery
and deficiency
collected.
Articles not
marked
"Registered,"
treatment of.
POS'I'AL LAWS AND REGULA.TlONS
6. A descriptive registration receipt shall be issued to the
person presenting for reregistration a registered article once
properly delivered, which shall show by whom the article was
presented, postmark of issuing office, original number, name of
original . mailing office, names and addresses of original sender
and addressee, and be marked "Reregistered after delivery," followed ·by notation showing the amount of any additional postage,
fees, and surcharge collected, or collectible upon delivery. When
such an: article is returned to a letter carrier and subsequently
delivered by him to the post office or a station, receipt shall be
issued to the carrier on Form 3868, such receipt and office record
to show that the article was. returned after proper delivery.
7. Such notations shall be made as will connect the delivery
record of an article reregistered after proper delivery with the
record of the article made upon reregistration.
8. If neither the addressee nor the sender will accept an article
removed from the ordinary mail and reregistered and pay the
additional fee, surcharge, and postage, if any, required, the article
shall be disposed of as undeliverable.
9. If the sender of any registered article does not desire it
registered, if forwarded or returned after proper delivery, he
may indorse the article, when mailed, "Do not reregister after
proper delivery." When such an article is remalled after proper
delivery it should be indorsed "Remalled after delivery-Not
registered," unless the person presenting it, or the addressee or
his authorized representative, requests reregistration and prepays the fee and any postage required.
10. If for proper reason any article once registered is forwarded
or returned in the ordinary mail, it shall be marked "Remailed
after delivery,.....-Not registered." When such articles are received
from depot letter boxes or are deposited in railway post office
cars, railway postal clerks will make the required indorsement
thereon.
11. Offices to which articles removed from the ordinary mail
and registered and articles reregistered after proper delivery are ·
forwarded or returned marked to indicate that additional registry
fee and .postage, if any, is required, shall keep such record as
will· show that the articles were removed from the ordinary
mail and registered or remailed after delivery, how they were
disposed of, and the amount of any additional fee, surcharge or
postage actually collected on any particular article. (See sec.
1320.)
12. Registered matter which has not been marked "Registered"
by the mailing postmaster shall be so indorsed by the first postal
employee noting the irregularity.
See sec. 12011 as to matter Intended for registration found in the
ordinary mail.
Undelivered
and refused
matter.
-when to be
returned.
1330. Domestic registered letters and parcels which remain undelivered at either the office of their original address or the office
or station to which they have been properly forwarded for-
540
rnITLE VII.-REGLSTRY SYSTEM
(a) Five days if intended for delivery by village or rural carrier;
. (l>) Ten days if intended for box or general delivery at an office
having city-carrier service or for delivery by city carrier;
(c) Fifteen days at offices not having city-carrier service, unless
intended for delivery by village or rural carrier ;
( «O Such other period as may be named in the sender's return
request, if any, not less than 3 nor more than 60 daya, shall be
indorsed on the face with the reason for nondelivery and disposed
of as :herein provided.
2. Undelivered registered articles of the ftrst class and those
lnclosed in penalty envelopes, or under penalty labels or franks,
those of any class the delivery of which is forbidden by the Postmaster General (see sec. 60!l), shall be returned to the office
given in the sender's address by registered mail without charge
for returning.
3. Refused articles prepaid at the letter rate and all those whose
delivery is forbidden by the Postmaster General (see secs. 604,
1317, and 1320), shall be returned immediately.
4. At the expiration of the period mentioned in the sender's
return request, or, if the period is not mentioned in the return
request, at the expiration of the periods mentioned in paragraph
1 above, a notice shall be mailed promptly to the sender of undelivered or refused registered articles originally prepaid at other
than the first-class rate (unless the sender bas pledged payment
of return postage, in which case the matter may be returned without prepayment of postage), requesting him to send the required
amount in stamps to pay the return postage (see sec. 800), but not
registry fee or surcharge on .such articles. When the stamps are
received, they shall be affixed to the article and canceled, and ·
the article promptly returned. If the stamps be not furnished,
the articles shall be treated as prescribed in section 805. Undelivered or refused registered matter of other than the first class
originating in the Philippine Islands, or on board United States
naval vessels, shall be returned, through the proper post office at
division headquarters of·the Railway Mail Service, without notice
to the sender, unless provision has been made for the payment
of the return postage by either the sender or the addressee, in
which case the matter shall be returned direct.
§1331
-when to be
returned without charge.
Certain matter to be
immediately
retumed.
Other than
1lrst-dass
matter sender
required to
fumish postage.
-treatment
if ~~~~not
f:rnished.
•
Bee sec. 1328 as to dispatching matter for return to sender.
5. When a postmaster has good reason to believe that undelivered registered mail of domestic origin, bearing no time limit,
can be delivered properly if it is held longer than the periods
specifted in the first paragraph of this section, be may indorse it
"Specially held for delivery" and retain it not longer than 60
days, provided a written order to that etrect is obtained from
the sender verifted by the postmaster at the sender's address.
13:Jl. Undelivered registered articles at stations or branch post
offices shall be held for the period prescribed in section 1330, unless
there is good reason to believe that an article is not deliverable
541
Specially held
for dellvery.
Undeli'Hred
artiduat
atado1111.
.
-how treated.
TITLE XI.-RAILWAY . MAIL SERVICE
§2060
transit when received from mail messengers or from canceled
air mail trips. (See sec. 746.)
2. Railway postal clerks shall accept from the public, unless
otherwise ordered, all mail matter of the first class upon which
t.he proper rate of postage is paid ; all matter in penalty envelopes or bearing the frank of any person entitled thereto by law;
soldiers' and sailors' letters unpaid when duly certifted; and
matter of the first class upon which the stamps are canceled when
readdressed for forwarding. They shall not accept from the
public mail matter of the second, third, or fourth class except
that they may accept from representatives of manufacturers or
distributors of serums or pharmaceutical supplies shipments of
such articles when endorsed "Emergency-This package has been
weighed and necessary postage affixed. If any additional postage
is found to be due at destination, same is guaranteed by the sender."
2065. A correct list of pouches due to be received and dispatched shall be kept and checked as the pouches are delivered
from or received into the car, except at local offices where not
more than one pouch is exchanged. In cases where it is not
practicable to check pouches as they are delivered from or received
into the car, clerk in charge will check pouches to be delivered
from the car at the time piling is made for dispatch, and in case
of pouches due to be received, check shall be made immediately
after loading of mail is completed. When a railway post office
or a post office makes up two or more pouches for the same address, the pouch label shall indicate the sequence of the pouch in
the series, numbers to be used in regular order for that purpose,
thus, the first pouch "1," the second "2," the third "8," and so on,
the label of the last pouch to bear, in addition to its proper number, a cross, thus, "X," to indicate the last pouch of the series. In
case of failure to receive any regular pouch, and the cause of
the failure is not known, the chief clerk shall be immediately
notified by special report. In cases where it is known pouch bas
been lost, destroyed, or stolen, the chief clerk shall be notified b;v
telegraph.
2. If irregular or emergency pouches are received or dispatched Irregular or
entry thereof shall be noted on the record and proper check made. emergency
pouches.
3. Where it is necessary for a post office to use more than one
pouch for the same dispatch of air mail, and the pouches are
closed with rotary locks, or part are closed with rotary locks and
part with LA locks, all of the pouches comprising the dispatch
shall be numbered and marked as one series.
See secs. 753 and 762 as to record of pouches to be kept at post omce;
sec. 1734 as to railroad companies ; sec. 1779 as to mail messengers.
2066. The Postmaster General may provide by order
the terms upon which railway postal clerks may receive
from publishers or any news agents in charge thereof,
and deliver the same as directed, if presented and called
for at the mail car or steamer, packages of newspapers
783
Second-clu1
matter.
39 u. s. c. 639.
-Postmaster
General may
provide foi: receipt and delivery of, by
postal clerks.