The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1879-09-11
NEW POSTAL RULES.
Notifications IN Rates of Postage an
Classification of Matter.

Notifications IN Rates of Postage and
classification Of Matter.
BY the provisions Of recent acts Of
Congress. as construed by the Postofiice
Department, various important moditicat
tions have been made in rates Of postage
and in the classification of mail matter.
AS these changes will largely affect the
mercantile, insurance and other interests
and us they are at present but imper-
fectly understood. the subjoined detailed
information upon the subject has been
obtained by 4 New York paper through
inquiry 1t the postoflicc. 1t may be re-
lied upon as being in accord with the
latest official rulings and decisions OF the
department, and us absolutely correcs
The rate on commercial papers, insur-
ancc documents, papers in legal proceed
ings, etc. when partly IN print and partly
in writing. has heretofore been the same
us on letters, viz, three cents per hal
ounce. All such articles have now, with
the exceptions mentioned, been assigned
to the third class Of mail matter, and rs
such are chargeable with postage ut the
rate of one cent for each two ounces,
when sent in unSealed envelopes or
wrappers The exceptions are: II such
articles contain writing in the nature OF
personal correspondence, or are in them
selves the representatives OF monetary
value. In these cases they become first
class mail matter, and, as such. are
chargeablc with letter rates OF postage.
According 70 the last rulings Of the de-
partment (Which reverse Il number OF
thoscreccntly made under the same law,
the specific examples ofthe exceptions to
third class matter are: insurance poll
cieS signed and in force, daily insurance
reports, insurance transfers, notices OF
premiums due, assignments, transfers,
applications for insurance, promssory
notes. attached to premiums or not, and
all notices from local agents to policy
holders respecting renewals, cancella-
tions, receipts or other kindred matter;
also, all signed notes, checks, drafts.
dec,ls, bonds, bills of lading, recelpted
bills, and signed receipts Of all kinds.
Insurance policies, cancelled or lncom-
plcte; unreceipted bills, invoices and
monthly statements may ali be sent ut
third class rates OF postage.
The former restrictions rs 10 writing
in books have been removed, to the eX-
tent of permitting n simple manuscript
dedication, or form OF presentation, to be
written on the covers or blank pages.
Manuscript for publication, when ac-
companicd by proof sheets, may be sent
at third class rates; but, unless so ac-
companicd, is chargeable at letter rates.
Architectural and other drawings made
by hand. heretofore charged at letter
rates, are now assigned to the fourth
class, and may be sent on payment Of
postage ut one cent per ounce, rs may
also original paintings in oil or water
colorS, etc. Chromos are rated rs third
class matter unless mounted on cloth or
pasteboard, in which case they belong
to the fourth class. Postage and revenue
stamps are now in tie fourth class.
Articles of glass, formerly excluded
from the mails, may now be sent ut fourth
class rates Gone cent per ounce), provided
they are secured so rs to guard against
injury to other mail matter in case OF
breakage, and are boxed in accordance
with certain MISUNDERSTANDING IN
the United States Postal Guide. Original
packages Of tobacco and boxes Of cigars
and other articles sealed by internal rev.
cnue stamps. which were formerly
charged Ut letter rates, are now placed
in the fourth class by a decision :of the
department, which states that they" vii:
regard the stamp placed over the cover
or opening Of such packages rs eviden+ G
that no matter is contained therein which
is subject to letter rates of postage.
All persons who desire to avail them
selves Of the concessions noted above
will understand that they involve certain
drawbacks. For example, with the
single exception Of the packagesisealed
by internal revenue stamps, all mail
matter not sent Mt letter rates must be
left open to inspection by the postotlice
authorities. No articles, other han let
tars and postal cards, can be returned to
the senders on request; nor forwarded
to other offices, unless again fully pre-
paid. in'casc.thePcrsons addressed have
removed; nor can they be advertised;
but, if found unbelievable or unca!led
for. they will be sent to the dead lleiter
Office. Mail matter Of the third and
fourth classes is not assorted and put up
with, or in the same manner, as letters,
being placed loose in canvas sacks and
not in locked pouches; and, Of course,
whenever it is necessary, on account of
unusual accumulation of mail matter or
for other reasons, to give preference in
dispatch, it is always accorded to letter
mail.