tents, that is, its inability, due to its nature, to withstand the ordinary incidents of the contemplated carriage.

(14) When full compensation or reimbursement has otherwise been made by the U.S. Postal Service or by any outside firm or corporation whatsoever except on a prorata basis as coinsurer.

(15) For sentimental values arising from association of articles. Also, in the absence of a complete description, the claimant must satisfactorily establish the ordinary market value at the time of mailing, particularly in the case of heirlooms or antiques.

(16) For an amount in excess of the maximum prescribed for the insurance or registry fee paid, unless responsibility rests with the United States and it shall be shown to the satisfaction of the Postmaster General that the mailer was charged a fee less than that required to cover the amount of indemnity desired, through error on the part of the Postal Service. On such a showing, the deficiency in fee may be collected from the mailer and postal indemnity paid within the limit fixed for the higher fee. If full or partial responsibility rests with the other country and the mailer requested full coverage at the time of mailing, but a deficient and unauthorized insurance fee was collected, he may be paid for full value, less the amount of the deficient fee, but not exceeding the limit fixed for the appropriate insurance fee.

(17) For loss of articles registered fee or for official registered mail.

(18) When evidence of insurance coverage has not been presented.

(19) In excess of the limits prescribed in paragraph (a) of this section for domestic registered letters bearing foreign return addresses which are forwarded pursuant to § 23.4(b) (2).

(e) When to be instituted. Claims for indemnity involving international registered mail, and insured mail for which inquiry concerning disposal has been made, shall be instituted only on instructions from the postmasters at the appropriate adjusting exchange offices shown in paragraph (f) of this section, except as otherwise specifically provided for in § 71.5(a) (2) (i) of this chapter for insured mail to Canada.

(f) Adjusting exchange offices. Indemnity claims relating to international insured or registered mail shall be adjudicated and approved by the adjusting

Post offices will process applications as prescribed in § 147.2(e) when the request relates to mail orginating in the United States, unless there is reason to believe that the other country is at fault. Forward application with the wrapper and all supporting papers to the Classification Division Office of Rates and Classification, Finance Department, U.S. Postal Service, Washington DC 20260, when there is reason to believe that the other country is at fault or when the request relates to mail originating in another country.

[36 F.R. 4149, Mar. 4, 1971]

APPENDIX-INDIVIDUAL COUNTRY
INFORMATION AND RATE TABLES

NOTE: The provisions of this Appendix were published at 36 F.R. 4149, Mar. 4, 1971. The substance of this Appendix was amended for a temporary but indefinite period by a document published at 36 F.R. 8331, May 4,

1971. See also 36 F.R. 11505, June 15, 1971. In light of these amendments, the Appendix has been deleted from this volume.

Miscellaneous information respecting international mail service, including restrictions imposed by foreign countries on mail

matter imposed by foreign countries on mail matter for those countries, is contained in Postal Service Publication 42, available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402.

PART 111-WHAT THIS CHAPTER

§ 111.1

COVERS

What this chapter covers. Chapter I provides regulations of the U.S. Postal Service to assist users of our domestic services in obtaining maximum benefits from our personnel and facilfties. It includes rates for postage and restrictions on its use; descriptions of the classes of mail and conditions governing their use; requirements for wrapping and mailing; an explanation of our collection and delivery services; and details of special mail and nonmail facilities. Regulations not directly affecting mailers, such as those dealing with mail transportation, are published in the FEDERAL REGISTER. The FEDERAL REGISTER contains additional regulations of little interest to the general mailing public, such as rules of procedure. Notwithstanding any statement contained in this chapter, the burden rests with the mailer to assure that he has complied with prescribed laws and regulations.

(39 U.S.C. 401) [35 F.R. 19399, Dec. 23, 1970]

§ 113.1

Establishment of post offices.

(a) Where established. Post offices, and branches and stations, are established and maintained at locations considered necessary for the convenience of the postal customer.

(b) Requirements-(1) Post Offices. While there is no fixed minimum population requirement for the establishment of an independent post office, we consider this factor. Post offices are established when we cannot give adequate service through the post office, station or branch now serving the area; through a new station or branch; or by an extension of city, rural or star route delivery. Post offices are not established solely for community identity.

(2) Stations. Classified, contract, and rural personnel and nonpersonnel stations are established where needed within the service limits of an independent post office. Units established within the corporate limits of the city, town or village where the main post office is located are designated as stations.

(3) Branches. Classified, contract, and rural personnel and nonpersonnel branches are established within the service limits of an independent post office.

Units established outside of the corporate limits of the city, town or village where the main post office is located are designated as branches. Classified and contract branches cannot be established at locations more than 20 miles outside the corporate limits of the city, town, or village where the main post office is located and must serve a population of not less than 1,500 persons. The 20-mile limitation and 1,500 population requirement do not apply to airports, military installations, rural personnel, and/or nonpersonnel branches. Where the parent post office is located in an unincorporated city, town or community, all postal units administratively attached to that post office are designated as branches. § 113.2 Hours of business.

(a) Business Days, First-, Second-, and Third-Class Offices. (1) Provide window service, including registry service, 81⁄2 continuous hours, unless otherwise authorized by the Regional Director, during the business portion of the day. Consolidate money order service with other window service; except that an exclusive money order window may be provided when more than 350 orders a day are issued, provided the transactions are spread over the entire day and are not concentrated during a brief rush period. Limit exclusive money order windows to 8 hours service a day, usually from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. When these services are consolidated with others, transact money order business during the hours the joint window is open.

(2) Extend window service whenever it is specifically determined to be in accordance with the needs of the community. If additional expense is involved, prior approval must be obtained from the Regional Director. Auxiliary money order windows may be opened during rush hours where this service is consolidated with other window services.

(3) If there is a total or partial suspension of general business on Saturday afternoon, or on some other workday, reduce window, collection, delivery, and other services accordingly. However, an employee shall be on duty when the rural carriers return.

(4) Obtain approval of the Regional Director before inaugurating night service at post offices, stations, or branches when this service involves expense for clerk hire, fuel, or light. Some post office

lobbies are open at night to permit customers to deposit mail and obtain mail from lockboxes.

(5) If special instructions on hours of window service are desired, send request to Regional Director.

(6) The agreement for conduct of a contract station or branch provides that the contractor will transact specified postal business during the hours his establishment is open for business or during such hours as the postmaster may designate. However, for the convenience of the public, the contractor may, on his own initiative, sell postal money orders and stamps at other than the hours designated by the postmaster.

(b) National holidays. Post offices are kept open on holidays for such time as necessary to meet reasonable requirements of the public. Receive, collect, and dispatch mail in accordance with holiday schedules. Distribute incoming mail to post office boxes at the main office and, generally, to post office boxes at stations and branches. Only special-delivery matter shall be delivered. The following holidays are observed:

(1) New Year's Day.

(2) Washington's Birthday.
(3) Memorial Day.

(4) Independence Day.
(5) Labor Day.

(6) Columbus Day.
(7) Veterans' Day.
(8) Thanksgiving Day.
(9) Christmas.

(10) Other days set aside by the Presi-dent as holidays.

(c) Local holidays. (1) Post offices shall not be closed on local or State holidays. Mail shall be received and dispatched as usual. Make city, village, and rural deliveries in regular manner. Window services may be reduced.

(2) Do not release regular employees from duty on State or local holidays if substitute replacements are necessary or if their absence would result in the use of substitute time or overtime on that or any later date.

(3) Do not grant other time off for service performed on local or State holidays.

(4) Keep record of service curtailment.

(d) Sundays--(1) First- and secondclass offices. First- and second-class offices shall not be opened on Sunday to deliver mail to general public. Sunday duty

PART 115-MAIL TREATED IN CONFIDENCE

§ 115.1

Mail treated in confidence. First-class mail is given absolute secrecy while in our custody. No persons in the Postal Service, except employees of

dead-mail offices, may open first-class mail without a legal warrant, even though it may contain criminal or otherwise unmailable matter or may furnish evidence of the commission of a crime. (39 U.S.C. 401, 3623 (d)) [35 F.R. 19401, Dec. 23, 1970]

121.6 Marking by the mailer.

AUTHORITY: The provisions of this Part 121 issued under 39 U.S.C. 401.

SOURCE: The provisions of this Part 121 appear at 35 F.R. 19401, Dec. 23, 1970, unless otherwise noted.

§ 121.1 Adequacy of packaging standards.

(a) Inadequate preparation. Articles not prepared under the general guides and specific regulations in this part may be refused.

(b) Improperly prepared package reports. On business mailings, when packaging or closure deficiencies are noted that are not of such serious nature to require removal from the mails, a postal employee will complete Form 3837, Improperly Prepared Package Report. Postmasters will then contact the business mailer to have him take corrective action on future mailings. Record these contacts and the results obtained on form 3837 which will be retained for 1 year. § 121.2 Containers for mailing.

(a) Types of containers. Containers must be strong enough to retain and protect contents during normal mail handling. Boxes or cartons of the following materials are commonly used: Corrugated or solid fiberboard, kraftboard, chipboard (for small items), fiber mailing tubes with metal ends, metal, and wood. Heavy wrapping paper or burlap or similar cloth may be used for parcels containing unbreakable goods which would not be damaged by the weight, of other mail. The strength of carton required will depend on the weight, size, and nature of the article shipped.

(b) Size of container. The outer shipping container should be the proper size

to hold the goods shipped plus enough space for cushioning material inside. If the container is too large, the contents are apt to shift while in transit. If it is too small, or if too much is put into it, there will not be enough room for protective internal cushioning.

(c) Chipboard boxes. Small rigid telescoping chipboard boxes are usually used for small articles such as watches, jewelry, pens, etc. Those boxes, equipped with metal clasps which hold the two parts together, ordinarily need no further reinforcement.

(d) Used containers. A used container as described in § 121.21 in good rigid condition with all flaps intact is acceptable. If a box of the desired size cannot be found, a larger one may be cut down as shown in Illustration 1. Bend the four sides over the articles which have been cushioned in the box. Illus