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the instruction of any person or classes of persons, with a view to their special preparation for the examinations of the United States Civil Service Commission. The fact that any officer or employee is found so engaged shall be considered sufficient cause for his removal from the service.

Sec. 376. Mailable matter shall be divided into four classes:
First. Written matter.

Second. Periodical publications.

Third. Merchandise and printed and other mailable matter, except that of the first and second classes, not exceeding 8 ounces in weight. Fourth. Merchandise and printed and other mailable matter, except that of the first and second classes, exceeding 8 ounces in weight. (Acts of Mar. 3, 1879, Aug. 24, 1912, and paraphrase of act of Feb. 28, 1925.) Sec. 378. Postage on all mail matter must be prepaid by stamps at the time of mailing, unless herein otherwise provided for.

Sec. 380. Mailable matter of the first class shall embrace letters, postal cards, and all matter wholly or partly in writing, except as hereinafter provided.

2. All matter sealed or otherwise closed against inspection shall be treated as first-class matter.

Sec. 382. It shall be lawful to transmit by mail, at the postage rate of a cent a piece, payable by stamps to be affixed by the sender, and under such regulations as the Postmaster General may prescribe, written messages on private mailing cards, such cards to be sent openly in the mails, to be no larger than the size fixed by the convention of the Universal Postal Union, and to be approximately of the same form, quality, and weight as the stamped postal card now in general use in the United States. (Act of May 19, 1898.)

2. The rate of postage on private mailing cards (post cards) described in the act * * * approved May 19, 1898, shall be 1 cent each. (Act of May 29, 1928.)

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Sec. 384. Upon all matter of the first class postage shall be charged * * at the rate of two cents for each ounce or fraction thereof; and drop letters shall be mailed at the rate of two cents per ounce or fraction thereof,

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Sec. 385. The Postmaster General, in his discretion, may require the payment of postage on mail carried by airplane at not exceeding 24 cents per ounce or fractions thereof., (Act of May 10, 1918, 40 Stat. 548.)

2. The rates of postage on air mail shall not be less than 5 cents for each ounce or fraction thereof. (Act of May 17, 1928.)

3. The rate of postage on mail carried by airplane shall be 5 cents for the first ounce or fraction thereof and 10 cents for each additional ounce or fraction thereof, regardless of distance. Such postage includes the transportation of the mail to and from the air-mail route.

4. Special air-mail stamps are issued for the payment of postage on air mail, but ordinary postage stamps may be used. Air-mail stamps should not be used on other than air mail. All mail intended to be carried by airplane should be plainly marked "VIA AIR MAIL" in the space immediately below the stamps and above the address. Envelopes of

distinctive design approved by the department for air mail may be used for air mail only.

5. The postage on all air-mail should be fully prepaid in order to expedite its handling, and postmaster shall make every effort to have patrons prepay the full amount on such matter. Nevertheless, shortpaid mail intended to be carried by airplane shall, if it bears at least 5 cents postage, be rated with the deficiency and dispatched as intended by the sender, the amount due to be collected on delivery of the matter.

See section 450 as to limit of weight and size; section 861 as to registration; section 1330 as to airplane mail service.

Sec. 386. Postal cards shall be transmitted through the mails at a postage charge of one cent each, including the cost of manufacture. 2. Private mailing cards (post cards) shall be transmitted by mail at a postage charge of 1 cent each. (See sec. 382.)

Sec. 387. All mail matter of the first class upon which one full rate of postage has been prepaid shall be forwarded to its destination, charged with the unpaid rate, to be collected on delivery. If the postage is short paid one rate, the additional charge shall be 2 cents, or the deficient postage. If it is short more than one rate, the deficient postage and an additional charge of 1 cent for each ounce or fraction thereof shall be collected. (Sec. 3, act of May 29, 1928.)

Sec. 389.-2. Letters sent by soldiers, sailors, and marines in the United States service, located in the United States or any of its possessions or other places where the United States domestic mail service is in operation, addressed to places in the United States or any of its possessions, when indorsed "Soldier's letter," "Sailor's letter," or "Marine's letter," and signed thereunder either with facsimile hand stamp or in writing, with his official designation, by a field or staff officer, post or detachment commander, to whose command the soldier belongs, or by a surgeon or chaplain at a hospital where he may be; and in the Navy and Marine service by any commissioned officer attached to the vessel or officer commanding a hospital or detachment ashore, may be dispatched to destination without prepayment of postage, and only the single rate of postage shall be collected on delivery.

Sec. 391. Weather Bureau reports shall be treated as letter mail, whether sent by officers of the service under penalty envelopes or by private persons and prepaid by stamps.

Sec. 393. Mailable matter of the second class shall embrace all newspapers and other periodical publications which are issued at stated intervals and as frequently as four times a year.

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Sec. 419. The rate of postage on publications entered as second-class matter, when sent by others than the publisher or news agent, shall be 1 cent for each 2 ounces or fraction thereof. (Act of May 29, 1928.)

3. Newspapers and periodicals which have been admitted as second-class matter may be sent to any place in the United

States, Canada, Cuba, Mexico, Panama, and certain other countries designated in the current Postal Guide, without regard to the place of mailing or destination, at the rate of postage herein provided.

Sec. 435. Mail matter of the third class shall include books, circulars, and other matter wholly in print (except newspapers and other periodicals entered as second-class matter), proof sheets, corrected proof sheets, and manuscript copy accompanying same, merchandise (including farm and factory products), and all other mailable matter not included in the first or second class, or in the fourth class as defined in section 207. (Act of Feb. 28, 1925.) (See sec. 442.) (Third-class matter does not include any matter exceeding 8 ounces in weight.)

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2. The rate of postage thereon (on third-class matter shall be 11⁄2 cents for each 2 ounces or fraction thereof, up to and including 8 ounces in weight, except that the rate of postage on books, catalogs, seeds, cuttings, bulbs, roots, scions, and plants, not exceeding 8 ounces in weight, shall be 1 cent for each 2 ounces or fraction thereof, except as herein (sec. 4442) provided for library books: Provided, That * * * the rate of postage on third-class matter mailed in bulk under (regulations prescribed by the Postmaster General, sec. 4352) shall be 12 cents for each pound or fraction thereof, except that in the case of books, catalogs, seeds, cuttings, bulbs, roots, scions, and plants, the rate shall be 8 cents for each pound or fraction thereof: Provided, however, That the rate of postage on third-class matter mailed in bulk under the foregoing provisions shall be not less than 1 cent per piece. (Sec. 6, act of May 29, 1928.)

3. On hotel and steamship room keys with metal or fiber tags securely attached thereto, there being indelibly stamped upon such tags explicit post-office address and instructions directing that key and tag be returned to the hotel or steamship of their origin, postage shall be charged at the rate of 5 cents for each 2 ounces or fraction thereof if postage be collected on delivery. (Act of July 3, 1926.)

4. When hotel or steamship room keys conforming to the conditions prescribed in paragraph 3 of this section are presented for mailing or deposited in the mails without prepayment of any postage, they shall be dispatched to the post office of address and delivered to the hotel or steamship of origin in accordance with the instructions on the tags attached to the keys on payment of postage thereon at the rate of 5 cents for each 2 ounces or fraction thereof. Postage-due stamps representing the amount of postage collected shall be affixed to the tags in accordance with the general procedure governing the collection of postage due set forth in sections 571 and 574.

Sec. 436. The term "circular" is defined to be a printed letter which, according to internal evidence, is being sent in identical terms to several persons. A circular shall not lose its character as such when the date and name of the addressee and of the sender shall be written therein nor by the correction of mere typographical errors in writing.

2. When a name (except that of the addressee or sender), date (other than that of the circular), or anything else is handwritten or typewritten in the body of a circular for any other reason than to correct a genuine typographical error, postage shall be charged at the first-class rate,

Sec. 438. Typewriting and carbon and letter-press copies thereof are first-class matter. Facsimile copies of handwriting or typewriting, produced by a mechanical process, such as the printing press, mimeograph, multigraph, etc., shall be treated as matter of the third or fourth class, according to weight, provided they are presented for mailing at the post-office windows, or other depositories designated by postmasters, in a minimum number of 20 identical unsealed copies. If mailed elsewhere, or in less number, payment of the first-class rate of postage shall be required.

Sec. 439. All letters written in point print or raised characters used by the blind, when unsealed, shall be transmitted through the mails as third-class matter.

Sec. 441. 2. There may be placed on such mail matter (of the third class), or on the package, wrapper, or envelope inclosing the same, or on a tag or label attached thereto, either in writing or otherwise, the words "Please do not open until Christmas," or words to that effect.

3. It is permissible to place on third-class matter, or on a card inclosed therewith, a written designation of contents, a serial number, and such simple inscriptions as "Merry Christmas," "Happy New Year," "Dear Sir," "My Dear Friend," "Sincerely yours,' ""With best wishes."

Sec. 442. Mail matter of the fourth class shall weigh in excess of 8 ounces, and shall include books, circulars, and other matter wholly in print (except newspapers and other periodicals entered as second-class matter), proof sheets, corrected proof sheets, and manuscript copy accompanying same, merchandise (including farm and factory products), and all other mailable matter not included in the first or second class, or in the third class as defined in section 206 (act of Feb. 28, 1925), not exceeding 70 pounds in weight (when mailed for delivery within the first, second, or third zones, nor exceeding 50 pounds in weight when mailed for delivery within any of the other zones), nor greater in size than 84 inches in length and girth combined, nor in form or kind likely to injure the person of any postal employee or damage the mail equipment or other mail matter, and not of a character perishable within a period reasonably required for transportation and delivery. (Act of Aug. 24, 1912, orders of Postmaster General, and act of Feb. 28, 1925.)

Sec. 444. On fourth-class matter the rate of postage, except as herein (sec. 4442) provided for library books, shall be by the pound as hereinafter provided, the postage in all cases to be prepaid by stamps affixed thereto or as otherwise prescribed by the Postmaster General.

NOTE. The "rates" above referred to are the pound rates for local delivery and the respective zone rates set forth in paragraph 2, section 444.

4. Whenever, in addition to the postage as hereinbefore provided, there shall be affixed to any parcel of mail matter of the fourth class a special handling stamp of the proper denominations, or the equivalent thereof in ordinary postage stamps with the words "Special handling" written or printed upon the wrapper, such parcel shall receive the same expeditious

handling, transportation, and delivery accorded to mail matter of the first class: Provided, That to procure special handling treatment of mail matter of the fourth class weighing not more than 2 pounds stamps to the value of 10 cents shall be affixed (in addition to the regular postage), weighing more than 2 pounds but not more than 10 pounds stamps to the value of 15 cents shall be affixed (in addition to the regular postage), and on such matter weighing more than 10 pounds stamps to the value of 20 cents shall be affixed (in addition to the regular postage). (Act of May 29, 1928.)

NOTE.-See Section 1557, paragraph 2, as to acceptance of fourth-class matter in postal cars or station letter boxes from the public.

Sec. 445. The eighth zone rate of postage applies to fourth-class matter between any point in the United States and any point in the Hawaiian Islands; between any point in the United States and any point in Alaska and between any two points in Alaska. This rate also applies to parcels mailed in the United States for delivery in the Canal Zone, and to parcels between the Philippine Islands and the United States or its possessions. (See sec. 444.)

Sec. 447. 2. There may be placed on such mail matter (of the fourth class), or on the package, wrapper, or envelope inclosing the same, or on a tag or label attached thereto, either in writing or otherwise, the words "Please do not open until Christmas," or words to that effect.

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4. Inscriptions such as Merry Christmas," "Happy New Year," "With best wishes," and the like, may be placed on matter of the fourth class or on a card inclosed therewith.

Sec. 450. The weight (of mail matter) * * * is hereby declared to be not exceeding four pounds for each package thereof, except in case of single books weighing in excess of that amount; (fourth-class mail matter not exceeding seventy pounds in weight when mailed for delivery within the first, second, or third zone, and not exceeding fifty pounds in weight when mailed for delivery within any of the other zones, nor greater in size than eighty-four inches in length and girth combined), and except for 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 the Smithsonian Institution.

2. The limit of weight of mail matter of the first class shall be the same as is applicable to mail of the fourth class.

6. Mail carried by airplane shall not exceed 50 pounds in weight and shall not exceed 84 inches in length and girth combined.

See section 385 as to postage.

Sec. 452. The Postmaster General, under such regulations as he may prescribe for the collection of such postage, is hereby authorized to accept for delivery and deliver, without postage stamps affixed thereto, mail matter of the first class on which the postage has been fully prepaid at the rate provided by law.

NOTE--Matter mailed under the provisions of this section shall not be accepted by railway postal clerks. If such matter is offered for mailing at the car, it shall be refused, or, if deposited in the car or depot letter

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