The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-10-13
new POSTAL RULES.
INCREASE IN RATE OF POSTAGE
WILL GO INTO EFFECT ON
NOVEMBER =.
Instructions as to Changes Have
Been Received From Postmaster
General.

local postoffice regarding the increase
in postal rates, which is one of the
means adopted by the United States
| for raising revenue with which to
! meet the expenses of the war The
orders, of course, are of direct and
vital interest to every class of the
public, and it is the desire of the post
| office department to disseminate as
widely and as quickly as possible
knowledge Of the changed procedure
which, beginning on November 2, must
be followed by all who use the mails.
The following excerpts from the Off
cial daily bulletin Of orders affecting
the postal service set forth cOncisely
the most important changes of which
the public must take note:
Order No. 775:
Section 399, postal laws and regula
tions, is amended to read as follows,
effective November 2, 1917.
399. Upon all matters of the first
class postage shall be charged
at the rate of three cents for
each ounce or fraction thereof and
drop letters shall be mailed at the rate
of two cents per ounce or fraction
thereof. including delivery at letter
carrier Offices. (Acts Of March 8, 1885,
and October 3, 1910
Note-A drop letter is one address
ed for delivery from the office at
which it is posted. There is no drop
rate on any matter except letters 3.
Section 100, postal laws and regula-
tions. is amended to read as follows.
effective November 2. 1917.
400. Postal cards shall be transmit
ted through the mails at a postage
charge Of two cents each, including
the cost Of manufacture (Acts Of
March 3. 1879, and October 3, 1917.
Section 400. postal laws and regula-
tions is amended to read as follows,
effective November 2, 1917.
402. 1t shall be lawful to transmit
by mail at the postage rate of two
cents apiece, payable by stamps to
be affixed by the sender, and under
such regulations as the postmaster
general may prescribe, written mes
sages 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 approximate
ly OF the same form, quality and
weight as the stamped postal card now
in general use in the United States.
(Acts Of May 10, 1898, and October 3.
1919
A. s. Burleson,
Postmaster General.
From the Office of the third assistant
postmaster general comes the follow
ing letter Of Instructions
Washington, Oct. 3, 1917.
Pursuant Of the foregoing amended
after November 2, 1917, see that post
age is paid at the rate of three cents
an ounce. or fraction thereof, on let
tcrs and other first matter ex-
cept drop letters. All drop letters,
that is, letters mailed for delivery
from the office at which posted, in
cluding those for delivery by city, ru-
raj or other carrier of such office, are
required to have postage paid on them
at the rate of two cents an ounce. or
fraction thereof. Post cards are re-
quired to be prepaid two cents, and.
therefore, the one-cent postal cards
must have one-cent stamp affixed
to them in addition to the stamp i'm
pressed on such cards. Post cards
(private mailing cards) bearing writ
ten messages must have two cents
postage prepaid on them. Postmas-
ters at offices of address shall be care
full to rate up with the proper amount
of postage due all mail matter reach
ing their office with the postage in
sufficiently prepaid.
"A. M. Dockery,
Third Asst. p. M. Gen."
Another letter of instructions con-
tanning information OF Importance is
tho following from the office Of the
first assistant postmaster general:
Washington, Oct. 5, 1917.
"POstmasters:
christmas parcels intended for our
soldiers, sailors and marines in France
should be accepted only at the main
postoffice and classified stations. but
not at contract stations 1t is neces-