Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1873-05-01
49,. - - ----'---'-p-.-
posi- OFFICE MATTERS.
Laws ana Regulations Thai Every body
Ought TO yntterstarst.

Ought 70 understand.
The following extracts from the new
postal code, approved June sth, 1872,
and the decisions of the Post Office
department, are published for the in
formation OF business men and the
public generally.
MANY persons are daily exposing
themselves to the severest penalties
iof VIOLATION of the postal laws, and a
careful study of the following sections |
will not only prevent serious incon-
venience and delays to business men,
but prevent the necessity of prosecu-
tons to enforce the provisions of the
law.
Section l42 Of the new postal code
says:
That any person who shall inclose
or conceal any letter, memorandum or
other thing in any mail matter not
charged with letter postage, or making
any writing or memorandum thereon,
and deposit or cause to be deposited.
for conveyance by mail at less rate
IMAM letter postage, shall for every
such oifense, forfeit and pay five dol
lars. and such mail matter or enclos.
ure shall not be delivered until the
postage is paid thereon at letter rates !;
but no extra postage shall be charged
for card printed or impressed upon
an envelope or wrapper" e
The following are among the decis-
ions of the Post Office Department.:
"Any communication wholly or
partly in writing, sent by mail, is SUBJ
Ject to letter postage, whether sealed
or unsealcd, except book manuscript
and corrected proofs passing between
the author and publisher
Circulars containing writing other
than the address are subject 10 letter
postage by MALL
Circulars may DC mailed at a pre-
paid rate of one cent for each two
ounces or fraction thereof in unsealed
packages. Any writing in addition to
the address would subject them to
letter postage"
ANY addition in writing other than
the address, whether by pencil or ink,
upon q circular, subjects it to letter
postage by mail"
Circulars enclosed in sealed envel-
opes with the corners cut are subiec,
to letter postage
IF circulars are mailed in bulk to q
postmaster, properly prepaid at the
mailing Office, and he is furnished with
postage stamps to pay the drop rate OF
postage thereon in addition, he can
distribute them to persons living with.
in the delivery Of his office. If the
drop rate is not paid, he should place
them with other dead printed matter
Letter postage must be collected on
all matter passing at less than letter
rates, upon which there is any writing
IN addition to the address.
Packages of papers or circulars adj
dressed 70 q postmaster, prepaid can
not DC delivered to persons through
his Office without cent stamp being
put on each, in addition to the postage
paid on the original package
"The insertion of date or any 9th.
er writing in a printed date. subjects
1t to letter postage. Only the address
may be written"
AN address in writing on circulars
ls allowable; but any other writing
such as date, signature, or any Other
alteration. subjects them to letter post
age"
mo circular, or notice of any kind
containing any writing other than the
address can be sent by mail, except a,
letter postage
Section ITO Of the new Postal Code
provides:
| ''That to facilitate letter correspon.
dence and provide for the transmis.
sion OF the mails, at q reduced rate Of
postage, of messages, orders. notices
ana other short communications. eth
er printed or written in pencil Of ink
the Postmaster General shall be, ani
is hereby authorized and directed t
furnish and issue to the public, witt
postage stamps impressed upon them
postal cards manufactured of good
still paper, of such quality, form and
size as he shall deem best adapted fol
general use; which cards shall be used
as means of postal intercourse under
rules and regulations to be prescribed
by the Postmaster General, and wher
SO used shall be transmitted through
the mails st postage charge of ono
cent each, including the cost of their
manufacture a
DECISIONS.
The only postal card authorized by
| law. is the one about to be issued bv
the department. Writing other than
the address upon any other card SUBJ
Jects them to letter rates OF postage.
Cards wholly printed may be mailed
for one cent for each two ounces, or
traction thereof tnNy prepaid by post
age stamps affixed"
"No postal cards except those issued
by this department can be recognized
or admitted into the mails as such. The
Postmaster General will at an early
day. cause suitable postal cards to be
issued, under the provisions of the law
for the accommodation of the public y
There is no provision in the postal
code allowing the use of postal cards,
other than such as may be furnished
by the department, with stamps i'm.
pressed upon them. Substitutes for
them are subject to letter postage"
"The only postal cards authorized
by law are those to be furnished by
the department; private parties cam
not issue them"
"Ihc only postal cards containing
writing, authorized by law, are those
to be furnished by the department.
private parties cannot issue postal
cards, but business cards, containing
no writing or memorandum other
than the address may be mailed at
cent for each Two ounces or fraction
thereof, prepaid by stamps"