The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1845-02-28
From na.i,iuxson,

give Synopsis OF the hlli nom the Baltimore
sun:
'fhe main feature Of the bin is the es.
tabiishmen, of uniform rate fl hostage
on single letters ol i've cents In my part
of Tie Unled States. Should the low
rate If pasta e--lhal Is, 4 uAirarm charge
ui Ave cents Tor letters ul half an ounce.
and ten cent, for an ounce weight, and so
"n IN tie sa'Ue ratiu, iu ANY pdTl OF tie
United SUBSTANTIALLY reduce the rev.
enues oi that departments, and throw ii
upon tie common treasury, there could
be no better Tine 10 make the experiment,
Drop letters, according ~ HE bill, that
Is letters for delivery in the cily where
they are deposited IN the post Office, are
20 be charged two cents. II letters are
advertised they are 10 be charged with tie
costs oil advertising (two ccnt>) in adli.
ZION 10 the postage when delivered
Newspapers, Of no greater size than
ninelcen hundred square inches, (Which
viii cover all the Baltimore city papers,
can be transmitted through the mail to
within thirty miles of where they are
published, free of postage if Sent over
thirty miles tho same postage charged as
al present.
Printed circular letters, unsealed, are
subject to "A postage of two cents.
The ranking privilege, as il now ex-
isis, is totally repealed, and officers of
Government are required to keep an ac-
count OF the business letters which they
receive, the postage on which is to be
paid by the department to which they are
attached. The assistant postmas,ers gem
eral are allowed to frank, but must en-
dorse their letters or packages official
business and If they should not be on
official business, they are liable to a pen
ally OF three hundred dollars for each Of
fence. Deputy pos,masers are TO have
all the postage they pay on bushes let
ters refunded, and if their commissions
do not amount 10 twenty-five dollars per
annum, lhen the Postmaster Gnneyal is
| allowed 10 increase them.
| Governors OF States are allowed 10
transmit through mail, free Of postage,
certain books and documents aud MEM
bers of Congress, the Secretary of State,
and Clerk of the House of Representa-
lives, can frank all public printed docu-
ments, and leaves the lranking privilege
OF the Senators and Representatives Oh
all letters and packages not exceeding two
ounces in weight, the same as it now is,
and they are also allowed 10 receive lel-
tiers and packages during the session as
well as for thirty days before and after
! the same. The Postmaster General is
to keep an account Of the charge on all
matter that goes through the mail free,
which is TO be refunded from the conlin-
gent fund, or from the Treasury.
Newspapers, pamphlets, books, and
periodicals, can be sent on, Of the mail,
over the mail routes, by publishers,
agents, or others, without hindrance from
The Department.
Private expresses, 10 perform regular
trips on mail routes, and transport malta
bic mater, are expressly prohibited under
penalty of one hundred and fifty dollars
for each offence. Stage coaches, steam.
boats, railroad cars, packet boats, &C.,
with their owners, managers, servants.
crews, &C., performing regular trips on
post loutes, are prohibited from carrying
letters Or other mallable matter, excep-
ting newspapers, pamphlets, or maya
zines, unless they relate Ia the cargo or
some part Of it, or to tie articles convey-
ed in the stage coach, car, or other vehi-
Gle, under a penalty of ono hundred dol
lars for each offence, TO be paid by the
owner, and fifty dollars by the captain,
driver, or other person in charge, not be-
ing an owner in whole or in part.
Seven hundred and fifty thousand dol
lars is appropriated from the Treasury to
be applied to the Department, in case of
any deficiency in its income caused by
the general reduction OF postage made by
this act.
The remainder of the bill provides for
the carrying out Of The provisions above
mentioned and is not therefore OF any i'm
ponance 10 the general reader.
There is probability that both the
Texas and Oregon bills will pass the
Senate. In case Of the former, it is I'M
ders,ood that Gen. Almonte, Mexican
Minister, will demand his passports. In
case of the latter, il is understood that
Mr.. PackiNgham, the British Minister.
will demand his.-li both pass, then Mex
leo and Great Britain. allied, will endeav-
or to lrighien us. But, in spite Of every
thing, Texas and Oregon will both be
ours.
Mr.. Calhoun's health is improving. If
he should die, those politicians who are