The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1871-06-13
Rulings of the Department, in Answer to
Questions OF POstmasters.

A postmaster cannot give credit for post
age.
The postal laws do not permit semi-week-
ly or daily newspapers to circulate free of
postage to subscribers residing in the county
where printed and published. Weekly pa
pers alone have the privilege
Cloth when sent by mail, is subject to
letter rates of postage. Small pieces when
sent as samples should be charged two cents
for each four ounces or fraction thereof
Under no circumstances can postmaster
be allowed to open letters not addressed to
himself.
The law requires that weekly newspapers
must be both printed and published in the
county where the subscriber resides, in Or
der that he may receive it through the
mails free of postage.
The postage on package of shirts, or
any other article of clothing, Except when
sent to soldiers in the United States SER
vice. is three cents for each half ounce or
fraction thereof.
Newsdealers may pay the postage on
theirpackages of newspapers and periodicals,
as received, at the same rates that actual
subscribers thereto pay quarterly in adj
vance.
Publishers cannot wrap their newspapers
]
per upon which has previously been writ
ten editorial and other matter, without
subjecting the package to letter postage
All communications on official business
of whatever origin, addressed to heads of
the Executive department of the Govern
ment, or heads of bureaus, or to chief
clerks of Departments shall be received and
conveyed by mail free of postage without
! being franked or endorsed " official bust
ness"
A person residing in one county with
his post-offce in an adjoining county may
receive at said office free of postage the
weekly newspaper printed and published in
his own county, but cannot receive the pa
per printed and published in the county in
which his post-ofiice is located without pre-
payment of postage.
Either the publisher of, or q subscriber
to a newspaper or a magazine has right
to prepay the postage at the mailing office.
1t is the duty of n postmaster, in regis
tering letter to place thereon sufficient
stamps to cover the postage, and in addi-
ton, fifteen cents in stamps to pay the
registration fee.
1t is the duty of postmaster to hand out
to regular subscribers residing in the coun-
! ty one copy of each weekly newspaper
are properly folded and addressed.
| Postmasters are exempt by the postal
laws from militia duty and from serving on
juries, but not from service on the public
road
Under no circumstances must a postmas-
deliver letters bearing the endorsement of
the Pension Office, or its agents to any at
| torney, claim agent or broker Such let
ters are to be delivered to the person adj
dressed, or to member of his or her fam
lily, or to legal guardian of the pensioner
A pencil mark drawn over the advertise
ment in newspaper does not subject it to
additional postage.
When unmailable articles reach q post
Office with less than letter rates of postage
prepaid thereon, it is the duty of the post
master to collect the postage due before
delivery thereof.
Newsdealers have the same rights as
publishers, as regards the mailing of news
papers to regular subscribers. The postage
in such cases may be paid either at the of
flee of mailing or delivery as may be ar
ranged between the newsdealer and sub
scriber at the rates prescribed by section
POI and POP, postal regulations 1866.
| 1t is the duty of a mail carrier to receive
and convey letters delivered to him more
than one mile from a post office, when the
money or stamp to pay the postage is tend
cred Herewith said letter must be deposit
ed ut the next Office of mailing. He can
also receive letters at any point on his
route, provided they are enclosed in the
stamped envelopes issued by the Depart
ment.
| Letters addressed to n drawer, box, ini-
tial, or fictitious name, or to no particular
| person or firm, are not deliverable.
1t is required that every assistant in a
post Office shall execute an oath before en-
tering on the duties of his office.
1t is the duty of the postmaster to sell
the undelivered printed matter at the end
of each quarter for the highest attainable
price, and enter the proceeds in the quar-
terly account.
All mail matter mailed at less than letter
rates must be so wrapped or secured as to
admit of being conveniently examined by
the postmasters, otherwise letter postage
must be charged.
Married woman and minors are not per-
mitted to hold the Office of postmaster, but
may act as assistants if over sixteen years
of age.
A postmaster is not required to keep his
office open on Sunday, unless a mail arrives
on that day, or on Saturday night after the
closing of the office, and even under such
circumstances it should hot be open during
public service.
A postmaster having no right to give
credit for postage cannot detain mail mat
ter upon which he has permitted the post
age to remain unpaid because the subscrib-
er refuses to pay and the postmaster who
gives credit for postage, or in any way al
lows the subscriber to "run up" an ac-
count for postage is guilty of. violation Of