the post office dating stamp in the circles provided on the bond and its stub.

(vi) Be sure that all entries are legible and exactly the same on the bond and its stub.

(vii) Detach stub from bond. Deliver bond to purchaser and retain stub for submission by postmaster with his accounting period bond report.

(4) Errors on bonds. (i) If an error is discovered on a bond after it is issued, it should be returned to the postmaster for correction. If returned during the accounting period of issue, and if the error was made by the postmaster, he shall spoil the bond and stub, write the name of the office on them, and issue a new bond in its stead. He shall correct his records if necessary.

(ii) If an error is discovered after the accounting period of issue, or if the error was not the fault of the postmaster, the postmaster shall prepare a receipt for the bond in triplicate; give a copy to the owner; keep a copy; and send the original with the bond to the postal data center for reissue. The reissued bond will be mailed direct to the owner.

(5) Errors on stubs. If an error is on the stub only and the bond is correct, or if an inscription needs explaining (as when a feminine owner's given name is one generally accepted as masculine), an explanation shall be made on the stub. The postmaster or a designated supervisory official must initial the notation. If the address or date is omitted from a stub, the postmaster must find out from the purchaser whether the bond is complete and, if the bond is complete, insert the missing data on the stub. If the bond is not complete, the address or date must be filled in on the bond and stub. The addition shall not be initialed.

(e) Undeliverable bonds. Bonds issued and mailed by other agents, which are undeliverable by mail, shall be handled in the following manner:

(1) Bond shall be forwarded to the addressee if change of address is on file. If no change of address is on file or if addressee is deceased, bonds shall be returned to issuing agent without further action.

(2) Bonds that cannot be delivered or returned to issuing agent and unclaimed bonds found loose in the mail shall be held for 60 days. After 60 days, they shall be sent to the Treasury Department, Division of Loans and Currency, 536 South Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60605.

(f) Examination of stock of bonds. Clerks who issue bonds shall check each bond and stub to see that the denomination and serial number agree. If the stubs are attached to the wrong bonds, they must be reassembled so that the two parts of each assembly agree. The postmaster shall hold bonds that cannot be reassembled, report the discrepancy to the postal data center, and await instructions.

(g) Certification for payment—(1) What to certify. Postmasters shall not cash savings bonds but will certify them for payment if sufficient identification is furnished and if the bonds are to be forwarded by the owner to a Federal Reserve bank or to the Treasurer of the United States for payment. The certification may be made on the bond itself or on a detached request for payment, Treasury Department Form TD 1522. Bonds that are to be presented to banks or trust companies for payment shall not be certified.

(2) How to certify. The certifying offcer must require positive identification that the person presenting the bond is the person whose name is inscribed on the bond and must be sure there is no alteration or erasure on the bond. If the registered owner signs by mark, his mark must be witnessed by at least one disinterested person besides the certifying officer. All certificates must be in the name and title of the postmaster, followed by the certifying officer's signature and official title. The specially designated clerk or carrier must sign as designated clerk or designated carrier.

(3) Who may certify. The following persons may certify to requests for payment on bonds: Postmaster; assistant postmaster; any postal inspector; supervisor; or clerk temporarily in charge of the office, branch, or station; or any clerk or carrier specially designated by the postmaster.

§ 173.1 System discontinued.

The Postal Savings System was discontinued by Public Law 89-377, approved March 28, 1966. The effective date for closing the system was April 27, 1966. After that date no postal savings deposits were accepted. In accordance with the law, all funds remaining on deposit July 1, 1967, were transferred to the Treasury Department to be held there subject to proper claims. Interest ceased to accrue on postal savings certificates on the interest anniversary dates of the individual certificates occurring before April 26, 1967. No interest accrues after that date, but the face value of a certificate and the interest due to anniversary date will be paid whenever the certificate is surrendered. § 173.2

Records of accounts.

keep on hand a supply of Form 315. Depositor's Application to Withdraw Postal Savings, and other forms which have been used by the Postal Service in connection with the accounts of deceased depositors. They will supply applicants with Form 315 and any other necessary forms, assist them in completing them, and tell them to mail them with the endorsed certificates to the Treasury Department, Bureau of Accounts, Division of Financial Management, Postal Savings Section, Washington, DC 20226. A legal representative of a depositor should be advised to include a copy of his appointment with his application for payment on Form 315. If uncertain as to the requirements to be met for the Treasury Department to pay an account, the postmaster should advise the claimant to write the Treasury Department, Bureau of Accounts, for information.

§ 173.4 Inquiries from depositors and claimants.

If a person claims to have a postal savings account, but does not have any certificates evidencing deposits, or requests information about an account as an entitled claimant, the postmaster will tell the person inquiring to write the Treasury Department at the above address for information and assistance.

§ 211.1

The U.S. Postal Service.

(a) The U.S. Postal Service has been established as an independent establishment within the executive branch of the Government of the United States under the provisions of the Postal Reorganization Act of August 12, 1970, Public Law 91-375, 84 Stat. 719.

(b) As a complement to the information in the regulations in this part, a concise statement of the organization of the Postal Service can be found in the U.S. Government Organization Manual.

§ 211.2 Board of Governors of the Postal Service.

(a) The Board of Governors directs the exercise of the powers of the Postal Service. It reviews the practices and policies of the Postal Service and directs and controls its expenditures.

(a) The Postmaster General is the chief executive officer of the Postal Service and is responsible for its overall operation. He is named and can be removed by an absolute majority of the nine members of the Board of Governors, statutorily designated "Governors", who are appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate. He is a voting member of the Board of Governors.

(b) The Postmaster General determines appeals from the actions of staff and department heads, except that in cases where he has delegated authority to make a decision to a subordinate, such subordinate may also determine appeals within the authority delegated.

(c) The Board of Governors has directed that the Postmaster General exercise the powers of the Postal Service to the extent that such exercise does not conflict with power reserved to the Board by law. The Postmaster General is authorized to direct any officer, employee, or agency of the Postal Service to exercise such of his powers as he deems appropriate. For the direction of the Board of Governors that the Postmaster General exercise the powers of the Postal Service, see §§ 3.9 and 5.3 of this chapter. § 211.4 Deputy Postmaster General.

(a) The Deputy Postmaster General is the chief operating officer of the Postal Service and a voting member of the Board of Governors. He is appointed and can be removed by the Postmaster General and Governors.

(b) He directs all postal operations and delegates such of his authority as he considers appropriate. He is required to perform all tasks assigned him by the Postmaster General. He acts as Postmaster General in the Postmaster General's absence or whenever a vacancy exists in the Office of Postmaster General.

(c) During any period when, by reason of absence, disability or vacancy in office, neither the Postmaster General nor the Deputy Postmaster General is available to exercise the powers or perform the functions of the office of Postmaster General, the first official on the list in 212.1(c) of this chapter who is available to do so shall perform the functions of the Postmaster General.

(d) For delineation of authority of

the Deputy Postmaster General by the Board of Governors see § 5.4 of this chapter.

§ 211.5 Executive Assistant to the Postmaster General.

The Executive Assistant to the Postmaster General coordinates certain activities on behalf of the Postmaster General, directs the Postmaster General's office staff, and performs such additional duties as are assigned by the Postmaster General. He reports directly to the Postmaster General.

§ 211.6

Postal Service Advisory Council.

The Postal Service Advisory Council consults with and advises the Postal Service with regard to all aspects of postal operations. It consists of the Postmaster General who is Chairman, the Deputy Postmaster General who is Vice Chairman, and 11 additional members appointed by the President as follows: Four representatives of postal labor organizations, four representatives of major mail users, and three representatives of the public at large.

§ 211.7 Groups and Departments.

(a) Postal Service Headquarters is partially divided into three groups-Mail Processing, Customer Services, and Support. Each group is headed by a Senior Assistant Postmaster General who reports to the Deputy Postmaster General. Senior Assistant Postmasters General are responsible for the following activities with respect to Postal Service activities within their assigned areas:

(1) Program planning, direction, and review;

(2) Establishment of policies, procedures, and standards; and

(3) Operational determinations not within the full jurisdiction of field officers.

(b) Each group is in turn divided into departments or offices headed by either Assistant Postmasters General or Directors who report to the Senior Assistant Postmaster General. The heads of these departments and offices are responsible for assisting their Senior Assistant Postmasters General in carrying out the activities assigned their groups.

(c) In addition to the three operating groups under the Deputy Postmaster General, certain departments report directly to the Postmaster General. These are departments whose activities are not concerned primarily with day-to-day operational matters. They are the De

partments of Planning, Communications and Public Affairs, and Research, each headed by an Assistant Postmaster General; Government Relations, headed by an Executive Assistant to the Postmaster General; Inspection Service, headed by the Assistant Postmaster General and Chief Postal Inspector (sometimes referred to in the regulations simply as Assistant Postmaster General, Inspection Service); Law Department, headed by the Senior Assistant Postmaster General and General Counsel (sometimes referred to in the regulations simply as General Counsel); and Consumer Advocate. They are responsible for policymaking and overall direction within their assigned areas. There is also a Judicial Officer who performs such quasi-judicial duties as the Postmaster General may assign.

(d) Statements of the functions of the various groups, departments, and offices can be found in Part 222 of this chapter. Officers serve at pleasure of Postmaster General.

§ 211.8

The following officers, who report directly to the Postmaster General or Deputy Postmaster General, are appointed by the Postmaster General and serve at his pleasure: Senior Assistant Postmasters General (including the General Counsel), Regional Postmasters General, Assistant Postmasters General, Executive Assistants who report to the Postmaster General, the Consumer Advocate, and the Judicial Officer. The number of Senior Assistant Postmasters General and Assistant Postmasters General is set by resolution of the Board of Governors. § 211.9 Postal field service.

(a) Postal Regions. (1) There are five Postal Regions. Each region is headed by a Regional Postmaster General who reports to the Deputy Postmaster General and has overall responsibility for operational activities (except those reserved to Headquarters) of the Postal Service within his region.

(2) Each Regional Postmaster General's office includes three departments parallel to the groups at the Headquarters level-Mail Processing, Customer Services, and Support. Each regional department is headed by an Assistant Regional Postmaster General who reports to the Regional Postmaster General.

(3) In addition to the three departments, there is, within each Regional Postmaster General's office, a Regional

Counsel, and an office of Communications and Public Affairs which is headed by a Director. The Regional Counsel and the Director, Communications and Public Affairs, each report directly to the Regional Postmaster General.

(b) (1) Postal Regions are composed of Metropolitan Centers headed by Metropolitan Center Managers, Metropolitan Areas headed by Metropolitan Area Managers, and Districts headed by District Managers. Their organizational units are in turn composed of Sectional Centers headed by Sectional Center Managers.

(2) Each Metropolitan Center Manager, each Metropolitan Area Manager, and each District Manager reports to the Regional Postmaster General, and has line responsibility for postal operations (except those reserved to Headquarters) in the Sectional Centers within his area.

(3) Each Sectional Center Manager reports to a Metropolitan Center Manager, a Metropolitan Area Manager, or a District Manager, as appropriate, and has line responsibility for postal operations (except those reserved to Headquarters) at offices within his Sectional Center.

(c) Postal Data Centers. There are six Postal Data Centers, each under a Director who is responsible for:

(1) Accounting, disbursing, and data processing for assigned areas.

(2) Adjudication of claims pursuant to authority delegated to him by the Senior Assistant Postmaster General, Support.

(d) For a detailed statement of the organization of the Postal Regions see Part 223 of this subchapter.

§ 211.10 Conversion of terms.

(a) In any regulation of the Postal Service outside Parts 211, 212, 213, 222, 223, and 235 of this subchapter, unless the context otherwise requires, references to the:

(1) Assistant Postmaster General, Operations Department with regard to matters concerning mail processing shall be deemed to mean the Senior Assistant Postmaster General, Mail Processing Group;

(2) Assistant Postmaster General, Operations Department with regard to matters concerning customers relations and delivery shall be deemed to mean the Senior Assistant Postmaster General, Customer Services Group;

(3) Assistant Postmaster General, Operations Department with respect to functions of the Operations Department as liaison office with the Postal Regions shall be deemed to mean the Deputy Postmaster General;

(4) Assistant Postmaster General, Finance and Administration Department shall be deemed to mean the Senior Assistant Postmaster General, Support Group;

(5) Assistant Postmaster General, Personnel Department shall be deemed to mean the Senior Assistant Postmaster General, Support Group;

(6) Assistant Postmaster General, Facilities Department with regard to matters concerning procurement, shall be deemed to mean the Senior Assistant Postmaster General, Support Group;

(7) Assistant Postmaster General, Facilities Department with regard to matters concerning real property, equipment, and postal facility design and construction shall be deemed to mean the Senior Assistant Postmaster General, Mail Processing Group;

(8) Assistant Postmaster General, Research and Engineering Department with regard to matters concerning research and development shall be deemed to mean the Assistant Postmaster General, Research Department;

General,

(9) Assistant Postmaster Research and Engineering Department with regard to matters concerning engineering and processing of mail shall be deemed to mean the Senior Assistant Postmaster General, Mail Processing Group;

(10) Assistant Postmaster General, Research and Engineering Department, with regard to matters concerning procurement shall be deemed to mean the Senior Assistant Postmaster General, Support Group;

(11) Assistant Postmaster General, Planning and Marketing Department with regard to planning shall be deemed to mean the Assistant Postmaster General, Planning Department;

(12) Assistant Postmaster General, Planning and Marketing Department with regard to matters concerning marketing and customer services shall be deemed to mean the Senior Assistant Postmaster General, Customer Services Group;

(13) Chief Postal Inspector shall be deemed to mean the Assistant Postmaster General, Inspection Service;

(14) General Counsel shall be deemed to mean the Senior Assistant Postmaster General and General Counsel;

(15) Assistant Postmaster General, Bureau of Transportation shall be deemed to mean the senior Assistant Postmaster General, Mail Processing Group;

(b) The same conversion of terms applied in paragraph (a) of this section to officers enumerated there shall apply to the groups, departments, or offices which they head.

(c) Where the conversion rules stated in paragraph (a) of this section do not explicitly cover a particular officer, employee or organizational unit, references shall be deemed to refer to the officer, employee or organizational unit in the new organization performing functions most similar to those performed by the corresponding officer, employee, or organizational unit in the old organization.

212.9

Delegation of authority to the Senior Assistant Postmaster General, Support Group.

AUTHORITY: The provisions of this Part 212 issued under 39 U.S.C. 203, 204, 401(2), 402, 403, 404, 409, as enacted by Public Law 91-375, 84 Stat. 719.

SOURCE: The provisions of this Part 212 appear at 36 F.R. 19473, Oct. 6, 1971, unless otherwise noted.

§ 212.1 Authority for delegation.

(a) The Postmaster General is empowered to authorize any employee or agency of the Service to exercise any function vested in the Postal Service, in him, or in any other Postal Service employee.

(b) The Deputy Postmaster General is the full alternate to the Postmaster General.

(c) When, by reason of absence, disability, or vacancy in office, neither the Postmaster General nor the Deputy Postmaster General can act as Postmaster General, the first available official on