Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 74.djvu/626

 586

PUBLIC LAW 86-682-SEPT. 2, 1960

[74 S T A T.

(B) commissioned or warrant officers of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard who have been designated custodians of postal effects by the appropriate commanding officer. (2) funds expended by the Post Office Department in payment of claims arising through negligence, errors, losses, or defalcations by persons listed in paragraph (1) of this subsection, (g) The Secretaries of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Treasury shall take action to recover from the persons responsible for the losses or shortages the amounts paid under the provisions of this section. CHAPTER 9—PRIVATE CARRIAGE OF LETTERS Sec.

901. 902. 903. 904. 905. 906.

62 Stat. 777.

Letters carried out of the mail. Foreign letters out of the mails. Searches authorized. Seizing and detaining letters. Searching vessels for letters. Disposition of seized mail.

§ 901. Letters carried out of the mail (a) A letter may be carried out of the mails when— (1) it is enclosed in an envelope; (2) the amount of postage which would have been charged on the letter if it had been sent by mail is paid by stamps, or postage meter stamps, on the envelope; (3) the envelope is properly addressed; (4) the envelope is so sealed that the letter cannot be taken from it without defacing the envelope; (5) any stamps on the envelope are canceled in ink by the sender; and (6) the date of the letter, of its transmission or receipt by the carrier is endorsed on the envelope in ink. (b) The Postmaster General may suspend the operation of any part of this section upon any mail route where the public interest requires the suspension. § 902. Foreign letters out of the mails (a) Except as provided in section 901 of this title the master of a vessel departing from the United States for foreign ports may not receive on board or transport any letter which originated in the United States that— (1) has not been regularly received from a United States post office; or (2) does not relate to the cargo of the vessel. (b) The officer of the port empowered to grant clearances, shall require from the master of such a vessel, as a condition of clearance, an oath that he does not have under his care or control, and will not receive or transport, any letter contrary to the provisions of this section. (c) Except as provided in section 1699 of title 18, the master of a vessel arriving at a port of the United States carrying letters not regularly in the mails shall deposit them in the Post Office at the port of arrival. § 903. Searches authorized The Postmaster General, by letter of authority filed in the Department, may authorize any postal inspector or other officer of the Department to make searches for mailable matter transported in violation of law. When the authorized officer has reason to oelieve that mailable

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