(1) Postal Laws and Regulations § 531 (1879 ed.)

Section 531. Postmasters not to give Information respecting Mail-matter.— Postmasters and all others in the service are forbidden to furnish information concerning mail-matter received or delivered, except to the persons to whom it is addressed or to their authorized agents. The messages on postal cards must not be read, except when necessary to facilitate their delivery, or for the purpose of determining whether the same are unmailable by reason of the presence of obscene words or pictures thereon, nor made known to others. A disregard of this regulation will be considered a violation of official trust, and will render the offender liable to removal. Postmasters may, however, when the same can be done without interference with the regular business of the post-office, furnish to officers of the law, to aid them in discovering a fugitive from criminal justice, information concerning the postmarks and addresses of letters, but must not delay or refuse their delivery to the persons addressed.

(2) Postal Laws and Regulations § 507 1887 ed.)

Section 507. Postmasters not to give Information Respecting Mail Matter.Postmasters and all others in the service are forbidden to furnish information concerning mail matter received or delivered, except to the persons to whom it is addressed or to their authorized agents or post office inspectors. A disregard of this regulation will render the offender liable to removal. Postmasters may, however, when the same can be done without interference with the regular business of the post-office, furnish to officers of the law, to aid them in discovering a fugitive from justice, information concerning the postmarks and addresses of letters, but must not delay or refuse their delivery to the persons addressed. (3) Postal Laws and Regulations § 462 (1893 ed.)

Section 462. Postmasters not to give Information Respecting Mail Matter.Postmasters and all others in the service are forbidden to furnish information concerning mail matter received or delivered, except to the persons to whom it is addressed or to their authorized agents or post-office inspector. A disregard of this regulation will render the offender liable to removal. Postmasters may, however, when the same can be done without interference with the regular business of the post-office, furnish to officers of the law, to aid them in discovering a fugitive from justice, information concerning the postmarks and addresses of letters, but must not delay or refuse their delivery to the persons addressed.

Postmasters and other postal officers and employees are strictly prohibited from making public, names, addresses, or private information obtained by them in the discharge of their official duties.

The agents of the Post-Office Department are furnished with the names and addresses upon letters and other articles of mail matter for the sole purpose of enabling them to make delivery thereof to the persons intended. Such names and addresses are to be regarded as confidential, and this confidence must be respected.

Advertisers and others have no right to expect that their plans for canvassing shall be aided by lists to be obtained through knowledge gained by postmasters in the discharge of their official obligations, and it is no part of the business of the officials of the Post-Office Department to furnish such names and addresses for pay or favor.

This regulation is necessary because of the evils brought about by the infraction or relaxation of this rule unwittingly by postmasters who have assisted and encouraged fraudulent schemes, such as "green goods" and swindlers, who rely upon the credulity of persons whose names and addresses have been obtained and paid for without disclosing their object.

(4) Postal Laws and Regulations § 549 (1902 ed.)

Section 549. Postmasters and all others in the postal service must not furnish information concerning mail matter received or delivered, except to the persons to whom it is addressed or their authorized agents, or post-office inspectors.

2. When the same can be done without interference with the regular business of the office, postmasters may, however, furnish to officers of the law, to aid them in discovering a fugitive from justice, information concerning the postmarks and addresses of letters, but must not delay or withhold the delivery thereof to the persons addressed.

3. Postmasters must not furnish lists of the names of persons receiving mail at their offices; neither must such information be furnished by members of postmasters' families. When a request for such information is received, accompanied by a postage stamp, such stamp should be returned to the writer, under cover of a penalty envelope, with the information that the regulations forbid furnishing the information desired. Lists of names sent to postmasters for revision must be returned to the senders when postage stamps are inclosed for that purpose; but no new names must be added to the lists. Postmasters may, if they so desire, however, cross off the names of those persons who have moved away or are deceased.

(5) Postal Laws and Regulations § 523 (1913 ed.)

Section 523. Postmasters and others in the postal service shall not give to unauthorized persons information concerning mail matter. They shall furnish such information to post-office inspectors, and may furnish it also to the addressee of mail matter or his agent, and, in the case of registered mail, to the sender or his agent, and they may give to officers of the law to aid in the apprehension of fugitives from justice information regarding the addresses, return cards, or postmarks on mail matter, but must not withhold such mail from delivery to the addressees. Information concerning money orders shall not be given to any person except the remitter or payee or the agent of either or to a representative of the Post Office Department, or under special instructions from the department.

2. On written request, postmasters at offices of address may furnish a State officer of any State having a law regarding the inspection of nursery stock coming into the State the names of persons to whom are addressed parcels of nursery stock received from any point without the State, marked as provided in section 478; but there shall be no delay in the delivery of such nursery stock to the addressees.

3. Complete or partial lists of names of patrons shall not be furnished by postmasters, post-office employees, or members of their families, but lists sent to postmasters may be corrected by the crossing off of the names of persons to whom mail can not be delivered or forwarded, and the lists shall be returned. whether corrected or not, when postage stamps are sent for that purpose. New names or addresses shall not be added.

4. Postmasters shall acknowledge the receipt of letters of inquiry or request addressed to them in their official capacity, using the penalty envelope when postage is not furnished, and if the information asked for is such as it would he improper or impracticable to give, the reason for declining to do so should be stated.

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

(6) Postal Laws and Regulations § 508 (1924 ed.)

Section 508. Postmasters and others in the postal service shall not give to unauthorized persons information concerning mail matter. They shall furnish such information to post-office inspectors, and may furnish it also to the sender, the addressee, or the authorized representative of either, and they may give to officers of the law to aid in the apprehension of fugitives from justice information regarding the addresses, return cards, or postmarks on mail matter, but must not withhold such mail from delivery to the addressees. Information concerning money orders shall not be given to any person except the remitter or payee or the agent of either or to a representative of the Post Office Department, or under special instructions from the department. (See sec. 1533.)

2. Postmasters are permitted, though not required, to correct mailing lists, but the lists, whether corrected or not, shall be returned to the senders when postage stamps are furnished for this purpose. If a postmaster finds it practicable to correct a list he may cross off the names of persons to whom mail can not be delivered or forwarded; add the correct street, rural, or box number; correct initials where apparently there has been a bona fide intention to write a name known to the sender of the list; and when two or more names appear at any one address the head of the family may be indicated if known. Addresses of persons who have removed to other post offices shall not be furnished nor shall new names be added to the list.

NOTE. Under the limitations of paragraph 2 and with the consent of the owner of the list corrections may be made at first and second class offices by substitute clerks at the owner's expense, at the rate indicated in sec. 337. Postmasters of third and fourth class post offices are not prohibited from making a reasonable charge for such work.

3. Postmasters may furnish information as to the number of rural routes at their offices and the number of boxes served by each carrier, after satisfying themselves that such information is not to be used for any improper or unlawful puropse.

4. Postmasters shall acknowledge the receipt of letters of inquiry or request addressed to them in their official capacity, using the penalty envelope when postage is not furnished, and if the information asked for is such as it would be improper or impracticable to give, the reason for declining to do so should be stated.

5. 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 mail matter or money orders, at the same time exhibiting this regulation. He shall then testify if so directed by the court

(7) Postal Laws and Regulations § 702 (1932 ed.)

702. Postmasters and others in the Postal Service shall not give to unauthorized persons information concerning mail matter. They shall furnish such information to post-office inspectors, and may furnish it also to the sender, the addressee, or the authorized representative of either when satisfactory identification has been established and the request is limited to information proper for the applicant to receive, and they may give to officers of the law upon proper identification to aid in the apprehension of fugitives from justice information regarding the addresses, return cards, or postmarks on mail matter, but shall not withhold such mail from delivery to the addressees.

See sec. 489, prohibiting the disclosure of names of boxholders; sec. 1404, of information concerning money orders; sec. 1625, of information relative to postal-savings accounts; and sec. 2061, of information regarding mail passing through hands of railway postal clerks.

2. Postmasters shall acknowledge the receipt of letters of inquiry or request addressed to them in their official capacity, using the penalty envelope when postage is not furnished, and if the information requested is such that it would be improper or impracticable to give, the reason for declining to do so shall be stated.

See sec. 1218, relative to furnishing receipts showing to whom, when, and where registered matter is delivered; sec. 442, as to prohibiting giving indorsements or testimonials. 3. Postmasters shall furnish, upon request, information as to the number of rural routes at their offices and the number of boxes served by each carrier; and,