DOMESTIC MAIL MATTER

I General Provisions

Section 271. Classification of mail Mail matter is divided into 3 classes, viz:

a. First class mail matter includes letters, post cards and all other matter wholly or partly in writing (except as hereinafter specially provided), or which is sealed or otherwise closed against inspection or which is not wrapped and packed as prescribed by the regulations of the Bureau of Posts for matter of the class to which it would otherwise belong.b. Second class mail matter includes all newspapers and other publications within the conditions named in Section 287.c. Third Class mail matter includes all matters not declared non-mailable by law or regulation the same not being included in the first and second class.

Section 272. Rates of postage

Section 273. Enclosing higher class in lower class matter When an article belonging to a higher class is enclosed in a lower class matter the higher rate of postage for the former shall be charged the mail containing the combined article.

Matter of the second or third class containing any unauthorized enclosure or alteration or any additional writing or printing that changes its character into that of a higher class shall be charged at the rate of the higher class.

II Official Mail

Section 274. Franking privilege of the bureau This privilege (franking) shall not extend to any Department, Bureau, or Office of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines except the Bureau of Posts. In view of this provision only the Congress of the Philippines may grant the franking privilege to other offices or parties. In every case the privilege shall only apply to domestic mail.

Official envelopes or labels shall be used only in connection with the business of the bureau. The use thereof in any other manner to avoid payment of postage shall subject the offending officer or employee to appropriate administrative discipline and criminal prosecution.

Postmasters and other employees having good reason to believe that any person is using official envelopes, labels or franks to cover private matter in violation of law shall promptly report the matter to the postmaster general.

Section 275. Franking privilege of other offices and persons The franking privilege of other government offices and other parties shall be subject to the conditions provided in the laws granting said privilege and the implemental regulations. When the mail of such office is exempt from ordinary postage only and the same is sent as registered, special delivery or air mail the charges for such services shall be collected but not the ordinary postage.

When the franking privilege of a government office or agency is intended to apply to its official mail only the exact nature of all franked mails of such office or agency shall be indicated on the cover in addition to other required notations. If the contents thus described are not official in character or if the cover bears no indication of the contents the mail matter shall be returned to sender with notation of the reason for its return. When re-mailed with proper notation the matter shall be given due course after the endorsement thereon that are no longer necessary or applicable have been crossed out. Utmost care should be exercised in determining whether or not the contents of franked mails are official in character and in no case where such mail is posted as first class and sealed should it be opened.

The franking privilege being strictly personal to the grantee it shall not be delegated by him to any other person or office nor use in any manner for the mail of such other person or office. If a matter is used in obvious violation of this prohibition it shall be transmitted to the postmaster general with a report stating all relevant circumstances. If the matters are many and identical only one should be enclosed with the report and the rest held in the post office pending receipt of the instruction from the postmaster general.

Section 276. Official mail of other offices Official envelopes heretofore prescribed must be used in the transmission of official mail matters and the sending department, bureau, office or officer must fully prepay all postage charges (EO No. 44 s 1905).

Postage on official mail of government offices not enjoying the franking privilege shall be prepaid with G.O stamps issued for the purpose by the bureau. Such mail must be plainly marked with the words, Official Mail and the name of the department, bureau or office from which it originates.

The Postmaster General is authorized to decline to transmit any mail offered by private individuals or firms when any part of the postage thereon is paid with G.O stamps affixed to the letter or parcel or when the letter of parcel to which such stamps are affixed is not marked as herein provided.

When the matter referred to in the next preceding paragraph is found in the mail box and the sender is a private individual or firm, it shall be transmitted to the postmaster general by registered mail. If the matter is a letter or first class mail and the sender is not known it shall be given due course and upon receipt at the office of address the postmaster thereat shall deliver it to addressee and ascertain from him whether it contains official matter of a government office or agency. In the negative, the postmaster shall secure the envelope, wrapper or container and transmit it to the postmaster general by registered mail after requesting the addressee to write on it the name and address of the sender and the nature of the contents.

If such matter found in the mail box is a third class it shall be opened and examined and it the contents are not official matter pertaining to the government office or agency, it shall be transmitted by registered mail to the Postmaster General. If the contents are official matter pertaining to the government office or agency, it shall be repacked and given due course with the following notation on the address side: Opened for Postal Inspection and Please advice sender to use G.O stamps on official mail or please advice sender to mark his official mail accordingly with his name and address as the case may be.

III Matter of the First Class

Section 277 First class mail includes letters, postal cards, and all other matter wholly or partly in writing (except as hereinafter provided) or which is sealed or otherwise closed against inspection.

The following are examples of first class matter:

a. Handwritten or typewritten matter including identical copies prepared by automatic typewriter and manifold or carbon copies of such matter. Handwritten or typewritten matter does not include matter produced by computers.b. Completed forms, reports, etc., partly printed and partly written whether sealed or unsealed.c. Autograph albums containing writing.d. Notebooks or blank books containing written or typewritten entries or stenographic or shorthand notes.e. Blank printed forms filled out in writing, such as notices, certificates and checks either cancelled or un-cancelled.f. Printed price lists containing written figures changing individual items.g. Printed cards or letters bearing a written date, where the date is not the date of the card but gives information as to when something will occur or has occurred.h. Printed matter such as receipts, orders and printed letters not sent in identical terms to several persons that by having a signature attached are converted into personal communications. This does not apply to Christmas and similar greeting cards.i. Bills and statement of accounts.

A bill is a request or demand for payment of a definite sum of money claimed to be owing by the addressee either to the sender or to a third party. A statement of account is generally the assertion of the existence of a debt in a definite amount without necessarily containing a request or demand for payment. Neither a bill nor the statement of account need state the precise amount if it contains sufficient information to enable the debtor to determine the exact amount of the claim asserted.

Section 278. Letter defined A letter is generally defined as a message in writing and maybe in any language or in code. To be written it need not be in handwriting but may be written by a system of checking from a list of printed statements, or punching holes, or by point print or in raised characters used by the blind. It may contain inside a sealed envelope, or in unsealed envelope, or not in an envelope at all. However, writing is not a letter unless addressed to or intended for some particular person or concern. In addition to communications of a purely personal nature, the word letter includes any matter conveying live and current information between the sender and the addressee. If the sender expects or intends the addressee to act, rely or refrain from acting on the information, the information is live and current.

Section 279. Postage on first-class matter see revised rates

A letter which is returned to the sender after a proper effort has been made to deliver it shall not be re-mailed without prepayment of new postage and preferably enclosed in a new envelope to secure prompt transmission.

Section 280. Letters in bulk Postmasters shall not accept for transmission in the mail, letters under cover with postage prepaid on the bulk package unless each letter is prepaid at the regular first class rate. This prohibition applies to big envelopes containing letters, notes of documents whether enclosed in a smaller envelope or not, addressed to or intended for persons who are not the addressees of the big envelopes or who are not living with the latter.

Should such big envelopes containing several un-prepaid letters be found in the mail box, the matter should be brought at once to the attention of the senders, if known, who shall be required to pay the corresponding postage on each letter, note or document, and first class postage of the package containing them. If the senders are unknown, the big envelopes shall be forwarded to destination marked on the address side with the words, Supposed to contain several letters, and there treated in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 4 hereof.

Big envelopes containing several un-prepaid letters, notes, or documents which have not been detected at the office of mailing shall not be stopped in transit. The postmaster at the transit office shall forward them to destination whether or not the sender is known after marking the cover on the address side with the words, Supposed to contain several letters.

If such big envelopes reached the destination inadvertently or with the notation required in the preceding two paragraphs, the addressee shall be required to open the same and to pay double postage on each and every letter, note or document mailed in violation of these regulations.

Section 281. Postage on postal and post cards - see postage rate for first class mail.

They must be sent unenclosed that is without envelope or wrapper.

Section 282. Additions to postal cards Postal cards issued by the Bureau may bear written, printed or other additions as follows:

a. The face of the card may be divided by a vertical line placed approximately one-third of the distance from the left end of the card; the space to the left of the line to be used for message and the space to the right for the address only.b. Addresses upon postal cards may be written, printed, or affixed thereto at the option of the sender.c. Advertisements and illustrations may appear on the back of the card and on the left third of the face.

Section 283. Post cards Private mailing cards (post cards) shall conform to the following conditions:

a. A post card shall be the size authorized for postal card issued by the Bureau (see Section 284).b. It shall in form and in quality and weight and paper be substantially the same as the postal card.c. It may be of any color not interfering with a legible address.d. It may or may not at the option of the sender bear at the top of the face the words, post card.e. The face of the card may be divided by a vertical line; the left half shall be used for a message, etc., and the right half for the address only.f. It may have the same additions authorized for postal cards

Post cards may bear in the upper right corner of the face a square or oblong diagram containing the words, Place postage stamp here, and at the bottom of the space to the right of the vertical dividing line the words, This space for the address.

Section 284. Violation of restriction on cards A postal card or post card exceeding the maximum dimensions prescribed therefor shall be charged the postage for letters. If a post card is smaller than the minimum dimensions prescribed, it becomes non-mailable.

No sample of merchandise or similar article shall be attached to a postal card or post card otherwise it shall be charged the corresponding higher rate of postage.

Section 285. Gold bullions and coins Gold bullion, gold dust and packages of coins shall be accepted in the domestic mail only when enclosed in sealed packages not exceeding for the maximum weight authorized for the office of address, fully prepaid at the first class rate of postage and registered or insured.

IV Matter of the second class

A. GENERAL PROVISIONS

Section 286. Second class matter includes all newspapers and other publications within the conditions named in the next succeeding sections hereof.

Section 287. Conditions for second class matter The condition upon which a publication shall be admitted to the second class are as follows:

a. It must be issued at stated intervals as frequently as four times a year and bear the date of issue and be numbered consecutively.b. It must be issued from a known office of publication.c. It must be formed of printed paper sheets, without board, cloth, leather or other substantial binding, such as distinguish printed books for preservation from periodical publications.d. It must be originated and published for the dissemination of information of a public character, or devoted to literature, the sciences, arts or some special industry and have a legitimate lists of subscribers.e. It must be sent by the publisher thereof, and from the office in which it is printed in the case of government publications, or from a news agency to actual subscribers thereto, or other news agents.

Nothing in this section contained shall be so construed as to admit to the second class rate regular publications designed primarily for advertising purposes, or for free circulation, or for circulations at nominal rates.

Dissemination of information of a public character means communicating to the public intelligence of passing events or any other information or discussions of questions which may be of interest to the general public so long as it is not subversive in character.

Section 288. Government publications Periodical publications issued by or under the auspices of the government of the Republic of the Philippines, or any of its different branches and subdivisions, for the purpose of furthering the objects of the government may be admitted to the mail as second class matter, except when such publications contain any commercial advertising matter.

Periodical publications mentioned in the preceding paragraph may be admitted to the mail as second class matter regardless of whether or not they are intended for free circulation or for circulation at nominal rates, except when such publications contain any commercial advertising matter.

They shall be issued from a known place of publication at stated intervals as frequently as four times a year, be formed of printed paper sheets without board, cloth, leather or other substantial binding such as distinguish printed books for preservation from periodical publication and bear a date of issue and their pages numbered consecutively. Such publications may be mimeographed or produced by a similar process provided all pages are clear and readable.

Section 289. Foreign publications Newspapers and other periodicals published in foreign countries of the same general character as those admitted to the second class in the Philippines may, under authority to be obtained from the postmaster general, on application of the publishers thereof or their agents be transmitted through the mail at the same rate applicable to the second class publications, provided that the countries in which such newspapers and periodicals are published grant the same privilege to publications issued in the Philippines and provided further that approximately 50% of the total number of copies of such foreign publications sent to the Philippines are intended to individual paid subscriptions. Nothing in this section shall be so construed as to allow the transmission through the mail of any publication which violates any copyright granted by the Republic of the Philippines or by the government of the country in which the newspaper or periodical concerned is published.

B. ADMISSION OF PUBLICATIONS AS SECOND-CLASS MATTER

Section 290. Newspaper and periodical defined. a newspaper is held to be a publication regularly issued at stated intervals of not longer than one week and having the characteristic of second class matter. A periodical is held to be publication regularly issued at stated intervals less frequently than weekly and having the characteristic of second class matter.

Section 291. Publications produced by stencil. Alleged periodical publications produced by stencil or hectograph process shall not be admitted to the mail as second class matter, except when they are published by a government office or instrumentality.

Section 292. Frequency of issue. The regular issue of publication shall be not less than four times a year as prescribed in Section 287 and shown by the publication itself; but no publication regularly admitted shall be excluded by reason of omission to state such period in a particular issue.

Should an issue be omitted for an unavoidable cause the first succeeding issue shall bear the serial number of the omitted number.

The periods of issue of a second class publication may be changed with prior approval of the Postmaster General subject to such adjustments as may be necessary to protect the interest of subscribers.

Publications of schools and other educational institutions otherwise admissible as second class matter shall not lose such privilege by the suspension of their issues during vacation provided their frequency is not thereby reduced to less than four issues a year.

Section 293. Extra editions. extra edition of a publication admitted as second matter manifestly issued for the purpose of communicating additional news and imparting information germane to the publication but received too late for insertion in the regular issue shall be accepted at the second class rate provided the same are not issued for advertising purposes.

Section 294. Office of the publication. A known office of the publication is a public office where the business of the newspaper of publication is transacted during the usual business hour and such office shall be shown by the publication itself. In large towns, the street and number of the office of publication shall be indicated.

Newspapers and periodicals may have more than one office for the transaction of business but may be entered and mailed as second class matter only at post offices approved by the Postmaster General. The names of the post offices shall be placed first and given greater prominence in all printed notices relative to the offices of publication. When a periodical publication is issued at a place that is not a post office the post office at which it is entered shall be shown in the publication

Section 295. List of subscribers. Publications must have a legitimate list of persons who have subscribed by paying or promising to pay at the prescribed rate for copies to be received during the stated time. Such persons must have personally assumed the obligation for paying for their subscriptions.

Section 296. Information relative to the subscription list. - For consideration in determining whether a publication has a legitimate list of subscribers, the publisher shall be required to furnish information as to the following:

a. Number of copies printed of the issue of publication nearest to the date of the application for its entry as second class matter.b. Number of subscription made direct to the publisher by the persons to whom the publication is sent at the full advertised subscription price without any extraneous inducement.c. Number of subscription made direct to the publisher by persons to whom the publication is sent in connection with the offer of a premium, prize or consideration and the value of such premium, prize or other consideration (if more than one, the value of each shall be given).d. Number of subscriptions made in connection with the clubbing arrangement with other publications with full particulars of such arrangement.e. Number of subscriptions received through club raisers or others and detailed information as to terms.f. Number of copies furnished advertisers to prove insertions of advertisements.g. Number of copies sent as bona fide exchanges with other publications admitted as second class, one copy for another (if more than one, state how many).h. Number of copies sent to persons whose subscriptions were paid for by others.i. Average number of copies regularly sold over the publishers counter.j. Average number of copies regularly sold by newspaper boys.k. Number of copies of consecutive issues purchased by news agents for re-sale by them without the return privilege.l. Number of copies of consecutive issues consigned to news agents for the purpose of sale with the return privilege.m. Number of copies purchased in bulk by other than news agents and news boys.n. Number of copies sent in fulfilment of subscriptions obtained in a manner other than as provided in this section and the terms under which such subscription were made.

Section 297. Methods of obtaining subscriptions.- The right of a publisher to fix the price of his publication or to induce subscription by the giving of premiums, prizes of other considerations, or by clubbing his paper with other papers, or by commission upon subscriptions obtained by agents is not questioned but such methods will be carefully scrutinized in respect to their effect upon the legitimacy of the subscription list as a whole and upon the question of the primary design of the publication.

Section 298. Renewal of subscriptions. a reasonable time will be allowed the publishers to secure renewals of subscriptions but unless subscriptions are expressly renewed after the terms for which they are paid within the following period:

Dailies- within one month Tri-weeklies- within two months Semi-weeklies- within two months Weeklies- within three months Semi-monthlies- within three months Monthlies- within four months Bi-monthlies- within four months Quarterlies- within six months

They shall not be counted in the legitimate list of subscribers and copies mailed on account thereof shall not be accepted for mailing at the second class rate of postage but may be mailed as third class matter with postage stamps affixed. The right of a publisher to extend credit for subscription to his publications is not denied or questioned but his compliance of non-compliance with this regulation will be taken into consideration in determining whether the publication is entitled to transmission at the second class rate of postage.

Section 299. Requirements for legitimate lists of subscribers. In enforcing the requirements as to legitimate list of subscribers the following will be recognized as constituting actual subscriptions in the proportions indicated in paragraph 2 hereof:

a. Direct subscription to the publisher by the subscribers when paid for by him.b. Subscription to the agent of the publisher when actually paid for by the subscriber himself.c. Copies regularly sold by newsboys or local agents or newsagents.d. Copies regularly sold over the publishers counter.e. Copies sent as bona fide exchanges with other publications admitted to the second class, one copy for another.f. Individual subscriptions designed as bona fide gifts when paid for by the donors for the benefit of the recipients. Such subscriptions will be strictly limited to those coming within that definition and will not be permitted to be used as a cover for advertising purpose by the publisher or donor nor as a cover for other purposes inconsistent with these regulations. Subscriptions paid for by advertisers or other interested persons to promote their own interests and subscription given free by the publishers are not gift subscriptions.

Subscriptions under items a and b shall be approximately 50% of the number of copies issued and circulated (see section 305). Subscriptions under item f together with a sample copies shall not exceed 10% of the total number of copies mailed of each issue. In other words the combined copies under items c to f shall only be the difference between the total number of copies issued and circulated and the copies under items a and b or approximately 50% also. Hence, if there are 10% of the copies under item f the combined copies under items c to e shall not exceed 40%.

Section 300. Publications primarily for advertising purposes. The question of whether a publication is designed primarily for advertising purposes or for free circulation or for circulation at nominal rates is one of fact and will be determined in each case from the evidence.

The word, primarily is intended to indicate the chief or principal object of a publication.

Among regular publications designed primarily for advertising purposes within the meaning of the law will be included:

a. Those owned or controlled by one or several individuals or business concerns and conducted as an auxiliary to and essentially for the advancement of the main business or calling of those who own or control them.b. Those which having a few or no genuine or paid up subscriptions, insert advertisements free on the condition that the advertiser will pay for a number of copies which are sent to persons whose names are given to the publisher.c. Those which do advertising principally and the pages of which are filled up with editorial puffs of firms or individuals who buy a certain number of copies for distribution.d. Those devoted largely to advertising and having a nominal list of bona fide subscribers but the circulation of which is mainly gratuitous.e. Those which restrict advertisement to a single one in a given line of business to the exclusion of all competitors or which contain the price lists or advertisement of certain business houses while refusing similar advertisements of competing houses.f. Those having advertising in excess of 75% in more than one half of their issues during any 12-month period.g. Those published under a license from individuals or institutions and that feature other business of the licensor.h. Those devoted in large measure to publishing news, articles and information concerning the affairs and activities of a business concern, its owners, officials and employees.

Section 301. Nominal rate publications. a publication the subscription of which is low and from the subscription list the publisher does not regularly exclude expired subscription with the same care and accuracy as is exercised by a publisher whose rate is evidently more than nominal or where the subscription is not considered material in the business of the publisher will be considered as circulated at nominal rate within the meaning of the law. Nominal rate subscriptions include those which are sold:

a. At a token subscription price that is sol low that it cannot be considered a material consideration.b. At a reduction to the subscriber under a premium offer or any other arrangements of more than 50% of the amount charged at the basic annual rate for a subscription which entitles the subscriber to receive one copy of each issue published during the subscription period. The value of a premium is considered to be its actual cost to the publisher the recognized retail value or the represented value whichever is highest.

C. APPLICATION FOR ENTRY AS SECOND CLASS MATTER

Section 302. What applications may qualify. Only newspapers and other periodical publications maybe mailed at the second class rate. The copies may not contain obscene, treasonable, lottery or other kinds of material that would cause them be non-mailable under the provisions of Section 398.

Section 303. application for entry as second class matter. - When a domestic publication is offered for mailing for the first time as mailable matter of the second class the postmaster shall required the publisher or his duly authorized representative to file an application on the prescribed form in duplicate accompanied with two representative copies of the publication nearest to the date of the application and a list certified under oath of all subscribers showing their names and addresses and the inclusive dates of their subscriptions. Such application with the representative copies shall be forwarded to the Postmaster General.

If the application is approved the publisher and the postmaster at the office of entry shall be notified accordingly. If the application is denied the publisher shall be notified with specification of the reasons for the denial. The same procedure shall be followed with respect to the applications for additional offices of entry.

Section 304. Additional office of entry. When the publisher of a publication entered as second class matter at any post office desires an additional entry at another post office an application on the prescribed form shall be filed in duplicate and forwarded to the Postmaster General. Such application should be accompanied with a certified list of subscribers in the territory to be served from the office of the additional entry. To be entitled to this privilege there shall be at least 100 copies of the publication to be distributed through the additional office of entry to subscribers, newsboys or agents.

All copies for delivery at the office of original entry shall be mailed at that office and all copies for delivery at each office of additional entry shall be mailed at the latter office. If the mailability of any issue is questioned in one of said offices no copies of the same issue shall be mailed by the published in the other offices of entry until that question is decided by the Postmaster General.

Section 305. Number of subscribers required. Except when the circulation of a publication is mainly through news agents it shall not be accepted for entry under the provision of Section 303 unless the publisher possesses a legitimate list of individual subscribers approximating 50% of the number of copies regularly issued and circulated, evidence of which the publisher may be required to furnish by submission of his subscription books and original orders for subscriptions for examination of the Postmaster General or his representative at the office where the application is made.

Section 306. Postage required pending consideration of application. When an application has been made for entry of a publication as second class matter the postmaster shall require the publisher to affix postage stamps at the third class rate on all copies offered for mailing pending consideration of such application. The postmaster shall take note of the weight of the copies so received at the third class rate and the cost of postage stamps affixed thereto. If the application is admitted as second class matter the postmaster shall ascertain the excess cost of postage paid by the publisher as shown in his record and said excess shall be deducted from the postage required for the nest or subsequent mailings at the second class rate. Such excess is not refundable should the application be discontinued.

Section 307. Indicia in publications. The following indicia shall be conspicuously printed in publications admitted to the second class of mail matter:

a. Title of the publication.b. Date of issue.c. Regular periods of issue; i.e., frequency.d. Serial number.e. Known office of publication.f. Subscription price.

Section 308. Notice of entry on publications. The publisher shall upon admission of his publication to the second class of mail and upon approval of each additional office of entry therefor, print upon every issue preferably on the front cover, first page or editorial section, the notice Entered as second-class mail at ___________________, on______, and at______________, on____________, indicating the names of the offices of entry and the date when each entry was authorized. The insertion of such words or their equivalent in publication before the application for entry has been duly approved will be considered not only in relation to said application (see Section 315) but also in relation to other laws thereby violated, if any.

Section 309. Determination of mailability of publication. When a matter of doubtful mailability under Section 398 belongs to the second class mail, the acceptance or rejection thereof shall be decided within two days from the time it is offered for mailing; Provided, further, That if no decision is reached or moved within two days herein provided the mail shall be given due course.

The preceding paragraph applies only to periodical publications registered as second class mail in the Philippines. When copies of such publications are offered for mailing they shall be scrutinized and shall not be accepted if found to contain anything that is clearly violative of Section 398, the publisher or his agent to be informed of the reason or reasons therefor.

Section 310. Change of name, frequency or location. In case of a change of name or of the frequency of issue of a publication entered as second class matter or of the transfer of its known office of publication to another post office the postmaster shall require the publisher to apply for re-entry. In such cases, the requirement of Section 306 as to the rate of postage will on the application to the Postmaster General be waived if the conditions appear to warrant such action.

Section 311. Publications discontinued and resumed.- Discontinued publications and those the entry of which is cancelled for violation of any regulation are subject, when they are resumed and again offered for mailing, to treatment as new publication and they shall be formally re-entered only after complying with all requirements.

Section 312. Publications suspended and resumed. Publications suspended, except for an unavoidable cause shall when they resumed and again offered for mailing be treated as new publications and formally re-entered after complying with all the requirements, except that upon application to the Postmaster General, the provisions of Section 306 as to the rate of postage will be waived if the conditions appear to warrant such action.

Section 313. Suspension or cancellation of entry. When any publication has been accorded second class mail privilege the same shall not be suspended or annulled until a hearing shall have been granted to the parties interested, except in the case of failing to file the sworn statement required by Section 339 which automatically renders further circulation of the publication unlawful. At least one notice to file such sworn statement shall be sent to the publisher before of after the date for the filing thereof.

Section 314. Record of second-class publications. In the Central Office, the Inspection and Investigation Division shall keep a record of publications registered as second class matter showing the date of entry and the date when the entry was revoked as well as other data which may be useful for statistical and other purposes.

Section 315. Report of false evidence to secure entry of publications. When a postmaster has good reason to believe that a publisher has submitted to him or to the Postmaster General or his representative any false statement or evidence as to his publication to have it transmitted as second class mail matter, he shall report the matter to the Postmaster General with the evidence in his possession substantiating it.

D. POSTAGE ON SECOND-CLASS MATTER

Section 316. Postage on second-class publication. (see actual rates)

Section 317. Matter transmitted by printer to publisher. Periodical publications registered as second class matter are not entitled to such privilege until they are issued from the known office of publication. When sent by a printer to the publisher they shall be prepaid at the third-class rate of postage.

Section 318. Manner of collecting postage. (prevailing practice)

Section 319. Publications subject to third class.

Section 320. Back numbers of publications.

E. SAMPLE COPIES OF SECOND CLASS PUBLICATIONS

Section 321. Sample copies of publications.

XI. PROTECTION AND TREATMENT OF DOMESTIC MAIL IN POST OFFICES

A. PROTECTION OF MAIL MATTERS

Section 408. Privacy of sealed first-class mail. - Save as provided in Section 719 (Opening of 1st Class mail at the Dead Letter Office), no person other than the addressee or sender or the duly authorized agent of such shall open or break the seal of any envelop or wrapper containing mailable first class matter.

No postmaster, postal inspector or any employee of the corporation, or officer of the law without legal warrant therefor has authority to open under any pretext a sealed letter or first class matter while in the mails not even though it may contain improper or criminal matter, or furnish evidence for the conviction of the offenders.

Section 409. Unsealed matter suspected unmailable. Postal cards, private mailing cards, and any unsealed matter may when suspected to contain unmailable matter be examined for the purpose of ascertaining their character. In the examination of the contents of matter enclosed in an unsealed wrapper or container the procedure outlined in paragraph 2 of Section 383 shall be followed.

Section 410. Prohibited treatment of mail. No postal employee shall place in his pockets or other part of his clothing any mail which in the custody of the postal service nor shall he have in his possession any mail which he should not handle by reason of his duties.

No postmaster or other postal employee shall wilfully remove from any mail matter any stamp attached thereto in payment of postage or anything affixed to the cover that may be of value to the sender or the addressee.

No postmaster or other postal employee shall place personal or unofficial endorsements or messages of any kind on mail matters handled by them in their official capacity.

Section 411. Information regarding mail. Postmasters and other postal employees shall not give out information to unauthorized persons regarding mail matter, amount of mail, the origin of mail, destination of mail, the contents of letters or parcels, ect. All such information that may be in the possession of the postmasters and other postal employees shall be treated as absolutely confidential.

Postmasters and other postal employees shall not furnish to any other than duly authorized representatives of the Bureau the names or addresses of patrons of their office nor shall give any information whatsoever to publishers, editors or managers of newspapers or periodicals regarding the names of the subscribers, names of newspapers or periodicals subscribed for by the patrons of their office or the number subscribed for or received or posted at their office.

Postmasters shall transmit to the Postmaster General all communications requesting information the divulgence of which is prohibited. The parties concerned should state the reason for their request and the purpose for which they need the desired information. If said information is available it shall be furnished by the postmaster in his endorsement or letter of transmittal to the Postmaster General.

A postmaster or other postal employee summoned as a witness shall obey the summons and go into court but shall refuse to testify in regard to the mail matter at the same exhibiting this regulation. He shall then testify if so directed by the court.

Section 412. Mailing lists of private persons.- Postmasters will correct mailing lists sent to them for that purpose by persons or firms mailing great quantities of mail matter. Corrections will consist of crossing out the names of persons to whom mails cannot be delivered or forwarded and adding correct address (including names of barrios, names of streets and post office box numbers). Initials will also be corrected where apparently there has been a bona fide intention to write a name known to the owner of the list provided that said name belongs to one who can be definitely identified from among two or more persons with the same name and initials. The new addressees of the persons who have moved to other places will be furnished when reliable permanent forwarding orders are on file. New names shall not be added to a list.

A fee of ______ for each address corrected, crossed out or added will be charged and an official receipt issued therefor on Form 13-A. If the mailing list is received by a postmaster from the central office and the party requesting correction is not in the same locality, the corrected list shall be returned to the Central Office.

Section 413. Unauthorized persons to be excluded from mail room. that portion of the post office where mails are kept, received, opened, sorted, or dispatched shall be closed to the public and no unauthorized person shall under any circumstances and regardless of his standing in the community be permitted by the postmasters to enter it. It shall be so arranged that patrons can conveniently transact business at the windows and not inside the post office.

Mails shall only be made up or handled in that portion of the post office set aside for that purpose and accountable forms shall not be placed in any part of the office where they may be accessible to the public.

Section 414. Matter unsealed or in bad order. - Mail matter of the first or third class deposited in or received at any post office unsealed or in bad condition shall be stamped or marked with the words, Received unsealed or Received in bad order, as the case maybe and be officially sealed before being forwarded or delivered.

When matter in bad condition is so mutilated that its contents may fall off in transit, it shall be rewrapped, officially sealed and marked Received in bad order. As much as possible the exact condition of such matter shall be preserved but if the contents are already exposed or have fallen off they shall be listed on the outside wrapper and the total weight of the matter shall also be indicated thereof together with the original weight or any accompanying form.

Official seal shall be used in repairing matter in bad condition. If such seal is not available, gummed tape paper or clean sheets of paper and paste shall be used instead. The seals shall be postmarked or cancelled in such a way that cancellation covers part of a seal and part of the envelope or wrapper so that the matter cannot be reopened and resealed without showing sign of tampering.

The repair of matter in bad condition shall be undertaken immediately by the postmaster himself or an employee designated by him and in the presence of at least one other employee as witness both of whom shall sign or initial the matter repaired. I a complaint about the contents is made by the addressee upon delivery, it shall be referred to the postmaster general with the envelope or wrapper and all the packing materials used and a statement of the weight and the condition of the matter when received at the office of address.

Section 415. Mail from infected localities. -