existence, under construction, or under contract for construction on the date the act became effective (August 24, 1912) may be continued in service, but no other steel-underframe full cars shall be authorized or paid for.

(d) Apartment mail cars intended for operation in trains where a majority of the cars in the train are of steel construction shall be of steel construction. Steel-underframe mail apartment cars shall not be operated between adjoining steel cars or between steel car adjoining and the engine. The underframes of steel-underframe mail apartment cars shall conform to specifications for full all-steel postal cars. (See par. a.) The superstructure of such cars shall conform either to the specifications of August 25, 1914, for the construction of wooden mail apartment cars, reinforced by metal vertical end members, or the framing of the superstructure may be of steel. In both types the section moduli of the vertical end members shall be not less than 65, distributed as provided in section 18 of the standard construction specifications.

Sec. 1581. (b) When it is desired to operate former plan 1 cars or cars built to the plans of August 25, 1914, in connection with all-steel or steel-underframe cars, they shall have steel underframes applied as provided in paragraph (d), section 1580. *** Where cars are equipped with steel underframes and the requirements set forth are not fully met, such cars shall be regarded as reinforced wooden cars only and not acceptable for operation with steel or steel-underframe cars adjoining, or in trains in which 50 per cent or more of the other cars are of steel or steel-underframe construction.

(c) In the reconstruction of wooden apartment cars which are to continue as such, it is required that they be sound in material and construction, and that they substantially conform to former plan 1 or the specifications of August 25, 1914, for wooden cars. They shall be reinforced by metal members when necessary to make them acceptable for operation under the provisions of section 1583.

(d) Narrow-gage apartment cars shall be constructed in accordance with the requirements contained in departmental circular of May 31, 1916.

Sec. 1583. (a) Steel underframe cars constructed in accordance with the foregoing regulations shall not be operated between adjoining steel cars or between steel cars adjoining and the engine or in a train where the majority of the cars are of steel construction.

(b) Wooden railway post-office cars (either wooden apartment cars or wooden full cars in apartment-car service) shall not be operated between adjoining steel or steel underframe cars, or between such cars adjoining and the engine, or in a train where the majority of the other cars are of steel or steel underframe construction. In no case shall the mail car be of less strength than a majority of the other cars in the train.

(c) In apartment-car service, wooden cars for main-line operation in heavy trains (more than four cars) or on fast schedule (averaging more than 27 miles per hour between terminii) must be constructed substantially in accordance with former plan 1 or the specifications of August 25, 1914. Wooden cars with limited reinforcements on longitudinal sills, but having suitable reinforcement on ends, may be operated in branchline trains, also in light trains (not exceeding four cars) on the main line when average speed does not exceed 27 miles per hour. In light trains running partly on main lines, with an average speed of less than 27 miles per hour, wooden cars without metal reinforcements on longitudinal sills may be operated, provided such wooden cars are reinforced on ends by the four track rails as per print of May 8, 1914, revised April 6, 1915.

NOTE. When reporting the improper operation of full and apartment R. P. O. cars, clerks in charge will note the train consist on their trip reports, giving the car numbers in order in which operated, beginning with the car next to engine and the apparent class of construction of each car.

(d) Mail cars, whether of steel, steel-underframe, or wooden construction, which have the letter cases in the end shall not be operated with the letter end next to the engine when it is practicable to turn the cars so as to run the storage end forward.

(e) Wooden mail apartment cars intended for operation in mixed trains on side lines, or as trailers to self-propelled cars, must be substantially equal in construction to former plan 1 or the specifications of August 25, 1914. In the mixed trains the mail car must be operated in rear-end consist, followed only by passenger coach or caboose, and shall have full-length metal draft gear applied when deemed necessary.

Sec. 1584. (a) Hoppers shall be constructed and installed in accordance with the standard fixtures specification. Flushing hoppers are required in all new and remodeled cars, and shall be installed in old cars when deemed advisable by the Railway Mail Service. Toilet paper shall be provided in all cars.

(b) Drinking-water containers shall be installed in accordance with the standard fixtures specification, and must be of

a type approved by the Railway Mail Service. Drinking water shall be furnished in accordance with United States Public Health Service requirements. Ice shall be supplied as frequently as climatic conditions render it necessary.

(c) Full and apartment cars, including drinking-water containers and hoppers, shall be thoroughly cleaned before each trip; and when cars are in use continuously for more than 24 hours, not more than 24 hours shall elapse until they are again cleaned. Under the latter conditions the cleaning en route may be limited to cleaning the hopper (when the construction thereof makes it necessary) and providing fresh water and ice.

(d) Heating of full and apartment cars shall be in accordance with the standard construction specifications. Guards over heat pipes and radiators in all cars shall be installed as required by the specifications, in order to obviate damage to mails.

(e) Stoves are not to be installed in full and apartment mail cars without the approval of the Railway Mail Service, and shall not be accepted as the auxiliary heating system unless of a safety type approved by the department. The safety features include automatic fastening for stove door, with double doors preferred, baffle plate to prevent fire or live coals escaping through the smoke-flue opening, and metal casing to prevent overheating of closely surrounding objects.

Sec. 1585. (a) All cars or parts of cars used in mail service shall be adequately lighted in accordance with departmental specifications. A light failure is defined as a condition when for a period exceeding 30 minutes the primary lighting system fails to provide sufficient illumination to permit the distribution of mail to be continued. Whenever the above condition obtains it shall be reported as a total failure. If such failure is for 30 minutes or less or if there is such deficiency of light for any period wherein distribution is not necessarily stopped but is rendered difficult a partial failure shall be reported. There shall at all times be in the cars some means of providing light in emergencies when the regular lights fail. When the car is not equipped with a secondary lighting system there shall be at least a suitable supply of candles and candleholders provided for emergency use.

(b) When any of the passenger, baggage or express cars regularly operated in a train are lighted by electricity, the mail car or apartment shall be lighted by electricity as the primary system.

(c) Electric fans shall be installed in all electrically lighted full and apartment mail cars.

(d) Each electrically lighted full or apartment mail car shall be equipped with storage battery in accordance with the standard construction specifications.

Sec. 1586. (a) All full and apartment mail cars shall have lettering painted on the outside in accordance with the standard construction specifications. Such cars, and parts of cars, bearing the legend "United States Mail", or "U. S. Mail", are reserved exclusively for carrying the mails and shall not be used for any other class of traffic.

See Sec. 1632 as to penalty for unlawful use of sign "U. S. Mail ".

(b) Two" 'No admission notices, properly framed, shall

be placed in full cars, and one notice in apartment cars. Such notices shall be located in cars so as to be readily observed on entering at side doors.

Sec. 1589. Postmasters and all other employees of the Postal Service shall report to the proper inspector in charge any violations of the postal laws, or other laws herein referred to, that may come to their notice, not otherwise specifically provided in these regulations.

Sec. 1593. Whoever shall embezzle, steal, or purloin any money, property, record, voucher, or valuable thing whatever, of the moneys, goods, chattels, records, or property of the United States, shall be fined not more than five thousand dollars, or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.

Sec. 1595 Whoever shall receive, conceal, or aid in concealing, or shall have or retain in his possession with intent to convert to his own use, or gain, any money, property, record, voucher, or valuable thing whatever, of the moneys, goods, chattels, records, or property of the United States, which has theretofore been embezzled, stolen, or purloined by any other person, knowing the same to have been so embezzled, stolen, or purloined, shall be fined not more than five thousand dollars, or imprisoned not more than five years, or both; and such person may be tried either before or after the conviction of the principal offender.

Sec. 1596. Whoever, being a postmaster or other person employed in or connected with any branch of the Postal Service, shall loan, use, pledge, hypothecate, or convert to his own use, or shall deposit in any bank, or exchange for other funds or property, except as authorized by law, any money or property coming into his hands or under his control in any manner whatever, in the execution or under color of his office, employment, or service, whether the same shall be the money or property of the United States or not; or shall fail or refuse to remit to or deposit in the Treasury of the United States or in a designated depository, or to account for or turn over to the proper officer or agent, any such money or property, when required so to do by law or the regulations of the Post Office Department, or upon demand or order

of the Postmaster General, either directly or through a duly authorized officer or agent, shall be deemed guilty of embezzlement; and every such person, as well as every other person advising or knowingly participating therein, shall be fined in a sum equal to the amount or value of the money or property embezzled, or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both. Any failure to produce or to pay over any such money or property, when required so to do as above provided, shall be taken to be prima facie evidence of such embezzlement; and upon the trial of any indictment against any person for such embezzlement, it shall be prima facie evidence of a balance against him to produce a transcript from the account books of the Auditor of the Post Office Department (General Accounting Office). *

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Sec. 1603. Whoever, being a postmaster, or other person authorized to receive the postage of mail matter, shall fraudulently demand or receive any rate of postage or gratuity or reward other than is provided by law for the postage of such mail matter, shall be fined not more than one hundred dollars, or imprisoned not more than six months, or both.

Sec. 1615. Whoever, being an officer of the United States, or a person holding any place of trust or profit, or discharging any official function under, or in connection with, any executive department of the Government of the United States, or under the Senate or House of Representatives of the United States, shall act as an agent or attorney for prosecuting any claim against the United States, or in any manner, or by any means, otherwise than in discharge of his proper official duties, shall aid or assist in the prosecution or support of any such claim, or receive any gratuity, or any share of or interest in any claim from any claimant against the United States, with intent to aid or assist, or in consideration of having aided or assisted, in the prosecution of such claim, shall be fined not more than five thousand dollars, or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.

Sec. 16162. Whoever shall rob another of any kind or description of personal property belonging to the United States, or shall feloniously take and carry away the same, shall be fined not more than $5,000, or imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both.

Sec. 1617. Whoever shall steal, purloin, or embezzle any mail bag or other property in use by or belonging to the Post Office Department, or shall appropriate any such property to his own or any other than its proper use, or shall convey away any such property to the hindrance or detriment of the public service, shall be fined not more than two hundred dollars, or imprisoned not more than three years, or both.

Sec. 1618. Whoever shall tear, cut, or otherwise injure any mail bag, pouch, or other thing used or designed for use in the conveyance of the mail, or shall draw or break any staple or loosen any part of any lock, chain, or strap attached thereto, with intent to rob or steal any such mail, or to render the same insecure, shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars, or imprisoned not more than three years, or both. Sec. 1619. Whoever shall steal, purloin, embezzle, or obtain by any false pretense, or shall aid or assist in stealing, purloining, embezzling or obtaining by any false pretense, any key suited to any lock adopted by the Post Office Department and in use on any of the mails or bags thereof, or any key to any lock box, lock drawer, or other authorized receptacle for the deposit or delivery of mail matter; or whoever shall knowingly and unlawfully make, forge, or counterfeit, or cause to be unlawfully made, forged, or counterfeited, any such key, or shall have in his possession any such mail lock or key with the intent unlawfully or