Postmasters are specially enjoined to examine the circular of the Third Assistant Postmaster General respecting the use of the Postage Due Stamps to be found below. The law is plain and specific as to their use, especially that provision that prohibits them being sold to the public, or received for prepayment of postage. The Department will regard any violation of the terms of this circular as good grounds for the removal of the offending postmaster. Postmasters will be expected to read carefully the "Special Instructions to Postmasters" to be found upon pages 29, 30. As they have been entirely re-written, postmasters must familiarize themselves with the various provisions thereof, and will then be expected to follow them out to the letter. SPECIAL STAMPS FOR POSTAGE DUE. POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, OFFICE OF THE THIRD ASSISTANT POSTMASTER GENERAL, DIVISION OF POSTAGE STAMPS, STAMPED ENVELOPES, AND POSTAL CARDS, WASHINGTON, D. C., May 5, 1879. By sections 26 and 27 of the act of Congress "making appropriations for the service of the Post Office Department for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1880, and for other purposes," approved March 3, 1879, it is made the duty of postmasters to affix to all mail-matter that has arrived at destination without full prepayment of postage, and before delivery of the same, an amount of stamps equal to the postage due the stamps to be of such special design as the Postmaster General may direct. To avoid any confusion in the accounts of postmasters with the Auditor, and on account of the length of time necessary to prepare for the change contemplated by the above sections in the mode of collecting and accounting for short-paid postage, it has been decided to have the same go into practical operation on the 1st of July next. The Department, however, will begin issuing, some time during the present mon h, in anticipation of the wants of postmasters, special stamps for the collection of postage due, of the denominations of 1, 2, 3, and 5 cents, and of the following general description: A large figure, representing the denomination, is placed in the centre of the stamp, and is surrounded by an oval of very delicate lathework. On the upper border of this oval the words "Postage Due' are printed in white letters; on the lower border is the denomination, in letters of the same kind; on either side of the oval are the letters "U. S." in small white shields. Around the oval is a form of complex character, described upon an oblong tablet. The general design is the same for all the stamps, the only difference being in the figures and lettering for the several denominations. The color of all is the same -a reddish brown. These stamps are intended exclusively for the collection of postage due on matter arriving at destination through the mails, and are to be used in combination wherever required to cover unusual amounts of postage. They are to be canceled in the customary way after being attached to mail-matter, and are never to be sold or received by postmasters for prepayment of postage. Postmasters must distinctly understand that these stamps are not to be used until the 1st of July, 1879. A supply of them will be sent at first to all post offices in advance of requisitions from postmasters, and charged to their account; but afterwards they must be ordered on blank forms (No. 3285) to be furnished by the First Assistant Postmaster General. With the first supply of stamps, however, blank requisitions for future use will be inclosed. The stamps will be accounted for to the Auditor the same as other stamps, and will enter into the monthly report of stamps, etc., received, sold, and on hand, required by the Regulations to be made by postmasters at presidential offices to the Third Assistant Postmaster General. A. D. HAZEN, Third Assistant Postmaster General. NOTE. The Laws and Regulations governing the use of postage due stamps will be found on pp. 89, 90 (sections 270-274), new edition P. L. & R., which will shortly be in the hands of all postmasters. REGULATIONS CONCERNING SPECIAL REQUEST ENVELOPES. CIRCULAR TO POSTMASTERS. POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, OFFICE OF THE THIRD ASSIStant Postmaster General, WASHINGTON, D. C. The law provides "that no envelope, as furnished by the government, shall contair any lithographing or engraving, and no printing except a printed request to return the letter to the writer," in conformity to which provision the " Regulations respecting Special Request Envelopes" have been modified as follows, viz: 1. No order is to be taken on credit except at the postmaster's own risk, and in no case for less than 500 of any specified denomination bearing the same printing. Special Request Envelopes must, in all instances, be ordered on the blauk form furnished by the Department (No. 51 b). 2. Special devices and the address of correspondents will not be printed under any circumstances whatever, and no envelopes will be ruled or black-lined. 3. The printing of cards and requests across the end has been discontinued. In future they will be printed on the upper left-hand corner only. 4. Business avocations or employments will be excluded from cards and requests. The name of the writer only should be given, without any reference to his occupation. 5. Should it be desired to leave in blank the post office address of the party to whom the envelopes are to be made returnable, it must be so stated. 6. When the name and post office address only are desired, without a request to return, the order must so specify. By law all letters bearing the name and address of the writer on the envelope are required to be returned if not delivered within thirty days. 7. No variations will be made in the style of type, the color of ink, or the form of request, adopted by the Department; neither will cards or requests be surrounded by borders of any kind. 8. If possible, a printed card should always accompany the order; if not, the matter desired to be printed must be plainly written, in order that mistakes may ɔe avoided. 9. Envelopes that may be refused on account of a misprint that has occurred through no fault of the Department will, if returned, be treated as spoiled in directing, and only the value of the postage on the same be placed to the credit of the postmaster by whom they were ordered. 10. Envelopes of the first quality, except the note and extra official sizes, will be fur nished of either white or amber color, as may be preferred. In the absence of any instructions to the contrary, they will be supplied in equal proportions of white and amber. Envelopes of the second quality will be of cream color only; and of the third quality, blue only. Of the note and extra official sizes only the first quality will be furnished, which will be of white. 11. Cards or requests will not be printed on newspaper wrappers, or on envelopes for covering circulars. CARDS and REQUESTS must be limited to the following matter, or so much thereof as may be desired, to wit: First. The name of the writer, whether individual, firm, company, or corporation. Second. The post office address, including number and name of street, name of city or town, county and state. Third. A request to return if not delivered within a given or blank number of days, as: "Return to Jacob Williams, Providence, R. I., if not delivered within 10 days." The occupation of the writer, as "merchant,' "claim agent," "attorney at law," "dealer in dry goods, groceries," etc., etc., must be rigidly excluded. This prohibition does not, however, apply to cases in which an employment may be indicated by a corporate name, or by the usual style of an individual, firm, or association, as "Baltimore and Ohio Railroad," "Treasurer's Office, Erie Canal," "Washington Lime and Cement Co.," which may be printed as the name of the writer; but the name of any individual or individuals will not be printed apart from and in addition to such recognized business appellation. The Department must also exclude such names as "Law Office of John Brown," "Henry Smith's Store," etc. No requisition will be filled that may in this manner attempt to secure envelopes containing the occupation or business of the party for whom they are ordered. Any order in conflict with these regulations that may be received at the Department on and after this date will be returned unfilled. It must be understood that the provision of law quoted restricts the action of the Department only, and does not, of course, prevent parties from having stamped or other envelopes purchased by them printed in any manner they may desire, at their own ex pense. A. D. HAZEN, Third Assistant Postmaster General. |