pro allowing optional prepayment, they did not come into general use until 1855, when the rates were reduced and prepayment required. In 1852 stamped envelopes were introduced and in 1872 postal cards were authorized. In 1879 double or reply postal cards were authorized, and in 1898 private mailing cards were allowed to be sent through the mails at the rate of one cent postage, subject to certain restrictions prescribed by the Postmaster-General.
Classification of Mail Matter. Domestic mail matter is arranged into four classes. The first class includes letters, postal cards, and all matter wholly or partly in writing, whether sealed or unsealed (except manuscript and corrected proof). The rate on all matter of this class is two cents an ounce or fraction thereof. On postal cards it is one cent each, the price for which they are sold. On ‘drop letters’ the rate is two cents an ounce at free delivery offices and one cent elsewhere. The rule is prepayment except where the amount of the postage exceeds two cents, in which case if the weight does not exceed four pounds the excess of two cents may be called for from the addressee. Second-class matter includes newspapers and other periodical publications issued as often as four times a year, which bear a date of issue and are numbered consecutively and issue from a known office of publication, and which are in the form of printed sheets without substantial binding. The rate of postage on second-class matter when sent by the publisher from the office of publication, or by a news agency to actual subscribers or to other news agents, is one cent a pound or fraction thereof. To actual subscribers within the county in which the paper is published postage is free except at free delivery offices. To all other persons than publishers and newsdealers the rate of postage on second-class matter is one cent for four ounces or fraction thereof to any place in the United States, Porto Rico, Guam, Philippine Islands, Canada, and Mexico. Third-class matter includes books, circulars, pamphlets, and other matter wholly in print (not included in second class), proof-sheets, corrected proof-sheets, and manuscript copy accompanying the same. By act of July 24, 1888, seeds, bulbs, roots, scions, and plants are also mailable at third-class rates. The rate of postage on third-class matter is one cent for each two ounces or fractional part thereof, to be fully prepaid by postage stamps affixed thereto. Fourth-class matter includes all not embraced in the first three classes 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 any one engaged in the postal service and not above the weight prescribed by law. The rate of postage is one cent an ounce or fraction thereof, to be prepaid by ordinary stamps. No package of third or fourth class matter weighing more than four pounds will be received for conveyance by mail except single books. Destructive articles, obscene and scurrilous matter, lottery circulars and tickets are excluded from the mails, and the Postmaster-General is empowered by Congress to direct any postmaster to withhold mail addressed to any person or firm conducting a business which he is satisfied is a fraudulent one.
Registered Letters. By an act of 1855 provision was made for a system of registration by which extra precaution is taken in the transmission of valuable letters and parcels upon payment of a fee. of eight cents in addition to the regular postage. The postal officials take special care of such letters, but the Government, until recently, refused to assume responsibility for such letters when lost. By an act of 1897, however, provision was made for indemnifying persons who lose registered letters and parcels of value, but the limit of indemnity is $25 or the actual value of the article where that is less than $25. In 1898, in more than 15,000,000 pieces of registered mail, there were but 504 cases of actual loss.
Money Orders. In 1864 the postal money order system was adopted, by which one is enabled to transmit money through the mails by making a deposit of the amount with the postmaster and receiving an order on the postmaster of the place to which the money is to be sent. No single money order for more than $100 may be issued. The fees charged range from five to thirty cents, according to the amount sent. For international money orders the fees range from 10 cents to $1.
Free Delivery. The system of delivering mail by carriers at the houses and offices of persons to whom it is addressed was first introduced on a small scale in 1863. In 1865 free delivery was extended to all places having a population of 50,000, and such other places as in the opinion of the Postmaster-General might seem expedient. In 1873 the system was extended to all places of 20,000 inhabitants and over, and in 1887 to cities of 10,000 inhabitants or whose postal receipts amounted to $10,000. Provision was also made in 1885 for special or immediate delivery of letters within certain limits upon the payment of a fee of 10 cents in the form of a special stamp. In 1896 an experiment of delivering mail to inhabitants of rural districts was tried. The results were so satisfactory that the system has been largely extended. In 1902 there were 11,650 established free delivery routes in the United States and preparations were being made to add many more.
Parcels Post. In the United States there is no distinct parcels post as in England, parcels being conveyed through the regular mails as fourth-class matter. Arrangements, however, exist with Mexico, certain of the West Indies, and certain Central and South American countries providing for a parcels post between the countries concerned.
The Franking Privilege. The privilege of sending and receiving mail free of postage was once enjoyed by the President of the United States, Vice-President, heads of departments, Senators and Representatives, and other officials of the Government during their official terms. For a time the privilege was conferred on all ex-Presidents and widows of ex-Presidents. By an act of 1873 this privilege was abolislied, but by later acts it was conferred on all officers of the Government in the case of official correspondence. In 1895 the privilege was voted to members of Congress for their official correspondence.
Growth of the Postal System. The growth of the postal business in its various branches has been almost phenomenal. The following table shows by decades the increase in the number of offices, receipts, and expenditures from 1792 to the present:
