Interstate Commerce Commission the classification, weight limit, and conditions of mailability hereby established, by further provisions of this section, post, § 7323.

§ 7320. (Act Aug. 24, 1912, c. 389, § 8.) (2) Postal zones established.

For the purposes of this section the United States and its several Territories and possessions, excepting the Philippine Islands, shall be divided into units of area thirty minutes square, identical with a quarter of the area formed by the intersecting parallels of latitude and meridians of longitude, represented on appropriate postal maps or plans, and such units of area shall be the basis of eight postal zones, as follows:

The first zone shall include all territory within such quadrangle, in conjunction with every contiguous quadrangle, representing an area having a mean radial distance of approximately fifty miles from the center of any given unit of area.

The second zone shall include all units of area outside the first zone lying in whole or in part within a radius of approximately one hundred and fifty miles from the center of a given unit of area.

The third zone shall include all units of area outside the second zone lying in whole or in part within a radius of approximately three hundred miles from the center of a given unit of area.

The fourth zone shall include all units of area outside the third zone lying in whole or in part within a radius of approximately six hundred miles from the center of a given unit of area.

The fifth zone shall include all units of area outside the fourth zone lying in whole or in part within a radius of approximately one thousand miles from the center of a given unit of area.

The sixth zone shall include all units of area outside the fifth zone lying in whole or in part within a radius of approximately one thousand four hundred miles from the center of a given unit of

area.

The seventh zone shall include all units of area outside the sixth zone lying in whole or in part within a radius of approximately one thousand eight hundred miles from the center of a given unit of

area.

The eighth zone shall include all units of area outside the seventh zone. (37 Stat. 557.)

See notes to first paragraph of this section, ante, § 7319.

The Postmaster-General was authorized to reform, with the consent of the Interstate Commerce Commission, the zones hereby established, by further provisions of this section, post, § 7323.

§ 7321. (Act Aug. 24, 1912, c. 389, § 8.) (3) Rates of postage. The rate of postage on fourth-class matter weighing not more than four ounces shall be one cent for each ounce or fraction of an ounce; and on such matter in excess of four ounces in weight the rate shall be by the pound, as hereinafter provided, the postage in all cases to be prepaid by distinctive postage stamps affixed.

That except as provided in the next preceding paragraph postage on matter of the fourth class shall be prepaid at the following rates:

On all matter mailed at the post office from which a rural route starts, for delivery on such route, or mailed at any point on such route for delivery at any other point thereon, or at the office from which the route starts, or on any rural route starting therefrom, and on all matter mailed at a city carrier office, or at any point within its delivery limits, for delivery by carriers from that office, or at any office for local delivery, five cents for the first pound or fraction of a pound and one cent for each additional pound or fraction of a pound. For delivery within the first zone, except as provided in the next preceding paragraph, five cents for the first pound or fraction of a pound and three cents for each additional pound or fraction of a pound.

For delivery within the second zone, six cents for the first pound or fraction of a pound and four cents for each additional pound or fraction of a pound.

For delivery within the third zone, seven cents for the first pound or fraction of a pound and five cents for each additional pound or fraction of a pound.

For delivery within the fourth zone, eight cents for the first pound or fraction of a pound and six cents for each additional pound or fraction of a pound.

For delivery within the fifth zone, nine cents for the first pound or fraction of a pound and seven cents for each additional pound or fraction of a pound.

For delivery within the sixth zone, ten cents for the first pound or fraction of a pound and nine cents for each additional pound or fraction of a pound.

For delivery within the seventh zone, eleven cents for the first pound or fraction of a pound and ten cents for each additional pound or fraction of a pound.

For delivery within the eighth zone and between the Philippine Islands and any portion of the United States, including the District of Columbia and the several Territories and possessions, twelve cents for the first pound or fraction of a pound and twelve cents for each additional pound or fraction of a pound. (37 Stat. 557.)

See notes to first paragraph of this section, ante, § 7319.

These provisions superseded those fixing the rates of postage for fourthclass matter of Act March 3, 1879, c. 180, § 21, post, § 7328.

The Postmaster-General was authorized to reform, with the consent of the Interstate Commerce Commission, the rates hereby established, by further provisions of this section, post, § 7323.

Quantities of not less than 2,000 identical pieces of fourth-class matter may be accepted for transmission in the mails, without postage stamps affixed as was required by Act March 3, 1879, c. 180, § 21, 20 Stat. 360, which was superseded by this section, by Act April 28, 1904, c. 1759, § 2, post, 7364.

§ 7322. (Act Aug. 24, 1912, c. 389, § 8.) (4) Equipment for par

cel post.

The Postmaster General shall provide such special equipment, maps,

stamps, directories, and printed instructions as may be necessary for the administration of this section. (37 Stat. 558.)

See notes to first paragraph of this section, ante, § 7319.

A further provision of this paragraph made an appropriation for the purposes of this section, and to supplement existing appropriations.

Subsequent provisions authorizing the Postmaster-General to provide equipment and supplies for the parcel post system were made by Act March 4, 1913, c. 149, post, § 7327.

§ 7323. (Act Aug. 24, 1912, c. 389, § 8.) (5) Readjustment of classification, zones, rates, etc.

The classification of articles mailable as well as the weight limit, the rates of postage, zone or zones and other conditions of mailability under this Act, if the Postmaster General shall find on experience that they or any of them are such as to prevent the shipment of articles. desirable, or to permanently render the cost of the service greater than the receipts of the revenue therefrom, he is hereby authorized, subject to the consent of the Interstate Commerce Commission after investigation, to reform from time to time such classification, weight limit, rates, zone or zones or conditions, or either, in order to promote the service to the public or to insure the receipt of revenue from such service adequate to pay the cost thereof. (37 Stat. 558.)

See notes to first paragraph of this section, ante, § 7319.

§ 7324. (Act Aug. 24, 1912, c. 389, § 8.) (6) Regulations for insurance of parcels, and collection of postage on delivery, authorized.

The Postmaster General shall make provision by regulation for the indemnification of shippers, for shipment injured or lost, by insurance or otherwise, and, when desired, for the collection on delivery of the postage and price of the article shipped, fixing such charges as may be necessary to pay the cost of such additional services.

558.)

See notes to first paragraph of this section, ante, § 7319.

(37 Stat.

(Act Aug. 24, 1912, c. 389, § 8. (7) Transferred to Chapter 8.) This paragraph provided for readjustment of the compensation of star route and screen wagon contractors if it should appear that as a result of the parcel post system the weight of the mails handled by them had been materially increased. It is placed, with other provisions relating to such contracts, post, under chapter 8 of this Title, "Contracts for Carrying the Mails," 7446.

§ 7325. (Act Aug. 24, 1912, c. 389, § 8.) (8) Time of establishment of zones and postage rates.

The establishment of zones and postage rates of this section shall go into effect January first, nineteen hundred and thirteen. (37 Stat. 558.)

See notes to first paragraph of this section, ante, § 7319.

§ 7326. (Act Aug. 24, 1912, c. 389, § 8.)

(9) Rate on seeds, plants,

etc., not affected by parcel post system.

This Act shall not in any way affect the postage rate on seeds, cut

tings, bulbs, roots, scions, and plants, as fixed by section 482 of the Postal Laws and Regulations. (37 Stat. 559.)

See notes to first paragraph of this section, ante, § 7319. Postal Laws and Regulations, § 482, mentioned in this section, as fixing the postage rate on seeds, etc., contained the provision relating thereto of Act July 24, 1888, c. 702, set forth post, § 7363, subsequently included in Postal Laws and Regulations of 1913, § 457.

A further paragraph of this section provided for an inquiry and report by a joint Congressional committee into the general parcel post and all related subjects. The final paragraph of the section repealed all laws in conflict with its provisions. These paragraphs are omitted, as temporary merely and executed.

§ 7327. (Act March 4, 1913, c. 149.) Purchase or rental of equipment and supplies for parcel post system authorized. To enable the Postmaster General to carry out effectively the provisions of section eight of the Act approved August twenty-fourth, nineteen hundred and twelve, making appropriations for the service of the Post Office Department for the fiscal year ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred and thirteen, and for other purposes, he is hereby authorized to provide by purchase, rental, or otherwise, such equipment and supplies, including vehicles, maps, stamps, directories, and printed instructions, as may be necessary, and to appoint and compensate such additional employees as may be required, including employees in the Post Office Department at Washington, District of Columbia. * (37 Stat. 928.)

These were provisions of the deficiency appropriation act for the fiscal year 1913, cited above.

Act Aug. 24, 1912, c. 389, § 8, mentioned in this section, is set forth ante, 88 7319-7326.

A further provision of this paragraph made an appropriation for the purposes mentioned in this section and to supplement existing appropriations. It is omitted, as temporary merely.

§ 7328. (Act March 3, 1879, c. 180, § 21.) Disposition of nonmailable matter at office of destination.

All matter of the fourth class shall be subject to examination and to a postage charge at the rate of one cent an ounce or fraction thereof, to be prepaid by stamps affixed. If any matter excluded from the mails by the preceding section of this act, except that declared non mailable by section thirty eight hundred and ninety three of the Revised Statutes as amended, shall, by inadvertence, reach the office of destination, the same shall be delivered in accordance with its address: Provided, That the party addressed shall furnish the name and address of the sender to the postmaster at the office of delivery, who shall immediately report the facts to the Postmaster General. If the person addressed refuse to give the required information, the postmaster shall hold the package subject to the order of the Postmaster General. All matter declared non mailable by section thirty eight hundred and ninety three of the Revised Statutes as amended, which shall reach the office of delivery, shall

be held by the postmaster at the said office subject to the order of the Postmaster General. (20 Stat. 360.)

See notes to section 7 of this act, ante, § 7302.

The preceding section (20) of this act, mentioned in this section, was reenacted by Act June 8, 1896, c. 370, post, § 7330.

R. S. § 3893, mentioned in this section, as amended by Act July 12, 1876, c. 186, declared obscene books, etc., non-mailable, and prescribed a penalty for depositing such non-mailable matter in a post-office, etc. It was expressly amended by Act Sept. 26, 1888, c. 1039, § 2, 25 Stat. 496, and, as so amended, was incorporated, into the Criminal Code, in section 211 thereof, post, § 10381, and was repealed by section 341 thereof, post, § 10515.

The provision of this section which fixed the rate of postage for fourthclass matter at one cent an ounce or fraction thereof and required it to be prepaid by stamps affixed was superseded by the provisions of the act establishing the parcel post system which prescribed different rates, Act Aug. 24, 1912, c. 389, § 8 (3), ante, § 7322.

§ 7329. (R. S. § 3879.) Limit of weight of mail package.

No package weighing more than four pounds shall be received for conveyance by mail, except books published or circulated by order of Congress.

Act June 8, 1872, c. 335, § 134, 17 Stat. 300.

This section was superseded, in so far as it applied to fourth-class matter, by the provisions of the parcel post law, Act Aug. 24, 1912, c. 389, § 8 (1), (5), ante, §§ 7319, 7323.

Certain exceptions to the four-pound weight limit, in addition to those contained in this section, were made by Act June 8, 1896, c. 370, post, § 7330.

§ 7330. (Act June 8, 1896, c. 370.) Limit of weight; exceptions; nonmailable matter.

Mailable matter of the fourth class shall embrace all matter not embraced in the first, second, or third class which is not in its form or nature liable to destroy, deface, or otherwise damage the contents of the mail bag or harm the person of anyone engaged in the postal service, and is not above the weight provided by law, which is hereby declared to be not exceeding four pounds for each package thereof, except in case of single books weighing in excess of that amount, and except for books and documents published or circulated by order of Congress, or printed or written official matter emanating from any of the Departments of the Government, or from the Smithsonian Institution, or which is not declared nonmailable under the provisions of section thirty-eight hundred and ninety-three of the Revised Statutes as amended by the Act of July twelfth, eighteen hundred and seventy-six, or matter appertaining to lotteries, gift concerts, or fraudulent schemes or devices. (29 Stat. 262.)

This was an act entitled "An act to regulate mail matter of the fourth class."

It was a re-enactment of Act March 3, 1879, c. 180, § 20, 20 Stat. 360, with the words "printed or written" were inserted after the words "by order of Congress or."

R. S. § 3893, as amended Act July 12, 1876, c. 186, § 1, 19 Stat. 90, mentioned in this section, rendered obscene books, etc., not mailable. It was further amended by Act Sept. 26, 1888, c. 1039, § 2, 25 Stat. 496, and as so amended was incorporated into the Criminal Code in section 211 thereof, post, § 10381, and was expressly repealed by section 341 thereof, post, § 10515.

The matter to be admitted to the mails under a penalty privilege was re