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 cor rected 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 ex cept 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 periodi cal publications issued as often as four times a year, which bear a date of issue and are num bered consecutively and issue from a known office of publication, and Nallich 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 there of. To actual subscribers within the county in which the paper is published postage is free ex cept at free delivery offices. To all other persons than publishers and newsdealer the rate of post age on second-class matter is one cent fen• 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, eireulars. 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. seed-, bulbs, roots. scions, and plants are also mailable at third-class rate-. The rate of postage on third-class matter is one cent for each two ounces or fractional part there of, 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. \o package of third or fourth class matter weigh ing more than four pounds will he received for conveyance by mail except single books. De structive articles, obscene and scurrilous matter, lottery circulars and tickets are excluded from the mails, and the Postmaster-General is empow ered 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.