Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1842-08-04
Correspondence Of TIE Baltimore Amersean.
The NEW POST OFFICE BILL.
WASHINGTON, JulY a5. Is42.

ia Tue SENATE, Inc vote was recO1S'dered.
Its provisions arc important TO many elias.
ses Of citizens, and should therefore be
known to them:
/ The first section enacts that the follow
ing shall be the rates Of postage charged
IN future upon all letters and packets tex
| cept such as may be exempted BY law J
conveyed in the mail Of the United States,
VIZ 4: For every letter composed of a sin
gle sheet Of paper, conveyed not exceed
ing thirty miles, five cents; over thirty,
and not exceeding one HUNDRED and filiy
miles, ten cents; over one hundred and
fifty, and not exceeding three hundred
miles, fifteen cents; over three hundred
and not exceeding five hundred miles,
twenty cents over five hundred miles,
twenty five cents; and for every double
letter, or letter composed of two pieces Of
paper, double those rates and for every
triple letter, or letter composed of three
pieces OF paper, triple those rates and
every packet composed offour or more
pieces oil paper, or one or more other ar-
tlcles, and weighing one ounce avoirdu.
pois, quadruple those rates and in that
proportion for all greater weights; and all
way newspapers shall, in future, be sub
ject TO letter postage.
The next section Of the Bill enacts that
from and after the Both of September,
1912 there shall be paid upon newspapers
and periodicals mailed and sent TO sub
scrlbers, in lieu Of tie postage now paid
by law, the following rates of postage, To
wit: Upon all newspapers containing not
more than 1907 square inches, the same
rate of postage fixed by the thirtieth Sec
ton of the act approved third March,
eighteen hundred and thirty FIVE, entitled,
" An act to reduce into one, the several
acts for establishing and regulating the
Post Office Department !" and upon all
newspapers of greater size than 1907
square inches, there shall be imposed an
additional postage of one cent for every
five square inches over and above the said
number Of inches. The 1907 square in
ches are about the size Of the New York
Express and Courier.
1t is also enacted that it shall not be
lawful for any stage coach, railroad car,
steamboat, packet boat, or other vehicle
or vessel, nor any OF the owners, mana
gers, servants or crews Of either, which
regularly perform trips at stated periods
on post route, or between two or more
cities, towns. or other places, from one 20
the other Of which the United States mail
is regularly conveyed under the authority
of the Post Office Department, TO trans
port or convey otherwise than in the mail
any letter or letters, package or other mat.
ter whatsoever which should or ought TO
be transmitted through the mail, (except
such as may have relation to some part
of cargo OF such steamboat, packet
boat or other vessel, or to some article at
tho same time conveyed by the same
stage coach, railroad car or other yehi.
Gle y AMI for every such offence the own.
er or owners Of the stage coach, railroad
car, steamboat, packet boat or other We.
h!cle or vessel, shall forfeit and pay
the sum Of one hundred dollars and the
driver, captain, conductor, or person hav.
ing charge of any such stage coach, rail.
road car, steamboat, packet boat, or other
vehicle OF vessel. al the time of the COM
mission of any such offence, and who
shall not at that time be the owner there.
of in whole or in part, shall in like man
ner forfeit and pay, IN every such case,
the sum of twenty dollars.
Another section enacts that it shall not
be lawful for any person or persons to
establish any private express, or in any
other manner to cause to be conveyed, or
provide for the conveyance or transporta
ton Of letters by regular trips, or al stated
periods or intervals, from one city, town,
or other place, to any other in the United
States, between which the United States
Mail shall be regularly transported; aud
each and every person offending against
this provision, or aiding and assisting
therein, or acting as such private express,
shall, for each time any letter or letters
shall or may be, by him. her, or them, or
through his, her, or their means or ins,ru-
mentality, in whole or in part, conveyed
or transported contrary 20 the true in
tent, spirit, and meaning of this section,
forfeit and pay the sum of ono hundred
and fifty dollars and the owners of every
stage coach, railroad car, sleamb ,at, or
other vehicle or vessel, which shall, with
the knowledge Of any owner or owners in
whole or in part, or with the knowledge,
or connlvance of the driver, conductor,
captain, or other person having charge of
any such stage coach, railroad ear, steam
boat, or other vessel or vehicle, convey
or transport any person or persons acting
or employed as private express for the
conveyance of letters contrary to the
spirit, intent, and meaning of this law,
shall be subject TO the like fines and PEN
alties but nothing herein contained shall
be construed to prohibit the conveyance
or transmission of letters, &c. to any part
of the United States, by private hands, no
compensation being rendered or received
therefor, or by special messenger en-
ployed for the single particular occasion !;
and each and every other person who
shall send by any such conveyance, she!l
pay penalty Of twenty dollars.
The next section lorbds any foreign
ship, steamship or vessel Of any kind
whatever to convey letters from one port
of the United States to another, under q
penalty of five hundred dollars. II is fur.
Their enacted that nothing in this &c, con-
tanned shall have the effect, or be con-