St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1879-07-11
deduction of Postage.
+. MATTER OF IMPORTANCE TO BUSINESS
MEN

a
MEN.
Business men may effect a considera-
BILE saving in their postage bills, by
taking advantage of new regulation
of the department, which has just been
brought to the attention of postmasters
by the new postal regulations. A num-
Der of articles that have hitherto paid
higher rate may now be sent at the
rate of one cent for each two ounces,
provided no package exceeds four
pounds in weight. These articles are
thus described in the official regula-
tions:
l. The signature of the sender or the
designation of his name, of his profess
sion, of his rank, of the place of origin
and the date of the despatch. z. A
dedication or mark of respect offered
by the sender. 3. The figures or signs
merely intended to mark the passage OF
text, in order to call attention to them.
A. The prices added upon the quota
tions of prices current of exchange or
markets, or in book. 5. All printed
commercial papers filed out in writing,
such as papers of legal procedure,
deeds of all kinds, way bills, or bills OF
lading, invoices, and the various decu-
ments of insurance, circulars, handbills,
ETC. 6. Instructions or requests to
postmasters to notify the sender in case
of the non-delivery of other than first
class matter, so that he may send
postage for its return.
The fifth item is the most important.
Under it considerable saving will be
effected by insurance companies, who
will hereafter send their policies, daily
reports, etc.,-matter not in the nature
of personal cOrrespondence,-a the low
rate.
The subject is further elucidated by
letter from Postmaster General Key.
He says that the department follows
as nearly as possible in its domestic
regulations, those adopted by the con-
ventiOn of Paris for the Universal Pos
tai Union. Mr.. Key further says:
ga printed promissory note or an in
surance policy filled out ready for sig
nature, may be mailed as third-class
matter, but when they have been final
ly executed or countersigned by the
signature of the person who finally ap-
proves them, so that they become the
representative of a monetary value,
they are subject to letter rates of pos
tage, as being in the nature of purely
personal correspondence between the
two parties interested. The same rule
will apply to printed commercial pa
pers, such as drafts, checks, etc., and to
deeds, bonds, ETC., whether drawn
by public functionaries or private
parties. A partly printed bill fill
ed out in writing may be sent as
third-class matter, but when received
can only be admitted to the mails at
letter rates of postage. The written
matter, under the head remarks, upon
the various documents of insurance
companies, must be confined strictly to
the subject matter of the document"
First-class matter upon which one
full rate of postage has been prepaid
and all other fully prepayed matter
may be forwarded from one post office
to another at the request of the party
addressed; but matter of the second,
third and fourth classes can only be re-
turned to the sender when the postmas-
ter at the post Office of its destination
is furnished with return postage. A re-
quest may be written or printed upon
such matter that the postmaster will
notify the sender of nOn-delivery- and
of the amount of postage which must
be forwarded to insure its return. A
request to return such matter cannot
be regarded.
Matter which is in writing, or other
matter containing a written inscription
in the nature of personal correspond
ence, and matter which is sealed against
inspection, are alone, by their nature
and the intent of tho law first-class
matter.
Postmasters should consider the pre-
sumption to be in favor of the admis-
sion of all unsealed printed matter sub
ject to inspection at third-class rates,
and should not rate it up on account of
written inscriptions thereon unless the
inscription is clearly in the nature of a
personal correspondence.