Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1845-03-21
The Postage Reform Bill.

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Letters weighing less than half an ounce are tc
be accounted single, and every additional hal
ounce is to be charged single postage. DfoT
letters pay two cents, and letters advertised arc
to pay the cost OF advertisements.
2. Newspapers OF 1900 square inches, or less
go free within thirty miles Of where they are
printed: for greater distances they are subject
10 the rates OF the law Of 1926 and newspa-
pers of greater size are to pay the rates charg.
ed upon magazines and pamphlets.
8. Circulars, handbills, Sc, printed on single
cap paper. or M larger, and unseaIed, pay trc
cents each, whatever distance they may be
sent pamphlets, magazines, &c, pay tico and
a half cents per copy of an ounce weight, or
less, and one cent additional for each addition
al ounce, whatever be the distance. and irac-
tional excuses over an ounce, Of not less than
haitian ounce, are TO be charged as full ounces.
4. The Postmaster General, in case Of an o.
verloaded or retarded mail, is authorised To
send the letier.mail at IFS usual speed by scpar-
ate conveyance.
5. All the franking provisions Of former acts
are repealed, Though restored by subsequent
sections.1
6 All officers Of the government are to keep
account of hostages payable by them on mail
matter, touching the business of their Offices,
and these are 30 be paid quarterly out Of the
contingent fund of the department TO which
they belong. The three assistant Postmaster
Generals have the ranking privilege on all let
ters touching their business, and are required
to endorse all letters 'oficial business > and are
10 pay $500 for every such endorsement false
~ made. Deputy Postmasters have the same
privilege under the same restrictions and penal
ties. When the commissions of any Postmas-
ter are less than S25 per annum, they may be
increased by the Postmaster General, not 10
exceel 50 per cent on the letter postage receiv-
ed. The sums chargeahle on all ranked mat
ter are to be paid from the contingent fund Of
the two Houses and the Departments, or in de-
fault thereof, from the United States Treasury.
4. Public documents may be transmitted by
State Governors, members of Congress, Dele
gales from Territories, the Secretary of the
Senate and clerk Of The Housr, free Of puslage,
as heretofore.
8. The same persons may send or receive,
during the recess, letters weighing less lhan
two ounces, as heretofore; and postage charge
Hble on letters touching ofirial business, and
weighing more than two ounces, is To be paid
from The contingent funds of Congress.
D. No persons shall, in any way, be instru-
mental in conveying over mail routes, out of
the mail, any mailable matter except newspa-
pers, pamphlets, magazines and periodicals
AMI every person, offending against this pro-
vision, directly, or indirectly, is TO forfeit $3.50
for each offence.
10. Boats, Stages, cars, &c. are prohibited
fom conveying letters or any other mailable
matter, with the before specified exceptions,
and except such letters ms may relate 10 some
part Of the cargo or articles conveyed under the
Of 500 for each offence, to be paid by
the owners; and $50 to be paid by the driver.
aantai1,. conductor, &c. ltt
acting as private exprcssr~,-aEo subjected 10
fhemselves;-but nothing in the act is TO he
construed as prohibiting the conveyance Of let
tiers or packages BY priuate hands, when no
compensation IL rendered, or by a special mes
senger employed for The single occasion.
~. All persons who shall after The passage
Of The act, transmit by any prohibited private
mailable matter, or place al any desig-
spot, or deiiUer, such matter for such
transportation, fol(rit for each offence $50.
10. Letters may be conveyed by steamboats,,
as provided by the act Of 1926, provided they
Hre delivered on arrival, to the authorized agent
of the Post Office department, who shall charge
Upon them ordinary postage and no POST
shall receive, to be conveyed by mail,
any packet weighing over three pounds.
u. The Postmaster General has power TO
with steamboat owners, for extra oc-
c%asions, without the previous advertisements
by law, provided the price to be paid
does not exceed the average rate.
rs, Mailable matter is defined: and ii does
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not directed nor intended for dis
TO subscribers, but for sale as mcr-
sHt a5 8
l6. Forging, or uttering stamps provided
FOR in this law, is declared to.be felony, and 10
The offender To imprisonment for moi less
six months, nor more than five years, and
10 a fine of not over $4,000.
IL. Newspapers are defined, and a free ex-
change is allowed as heretofore.
A. 4 Do..ls... .-l cs.l.t.r1. $500. 49,. |
der this act, CO., half TO the informer and prose-
and The other half to the government
and all causes Of action may be sued before the
Judicial Courts Of the States and Territories.
& 10. Mail contracts are 10 be given 10 the
owest bidder, and advertisements of letters I'M
called for to be made in the newspapers having
the largest circulation, the fact 10 be decided
by evidence.
30. The Postmaster General is to divide the
railroad routes into three classes, according to
The size of The mails, the speed with which they
are TO be conveyed, and the importance Of the
and for conveyance on roads of the
first class not more than 5000 per mile per an
nun on the second class not over 500 and
on the third class not over $50, shall he paid.
And if the service cannot be obtained for these
rates, provisions NAV be made for separating
the letter from the general mail, and Tor the
proper conveyance Of each portion.
I'll. All causes Of action under this act may
be sued before any Circuit or District Court Of
the United States, or of the District of Column
bia, or the United States Territories.
~. The sum of $4,000 is appropriated to
supply any possible deficiency in the revenue of
the department under The operation Of the law.
%. Any further deficiency is to be paid out
Of monies in the treasury not otherwise appro-
"a. The Thanking privilege OF the widows Of
Madison and Harrison is continued.