The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1845-03-07
PUBLIC-NO. 81

AN ACT 10 reduce the rates of postage to limit the
and correct the abuse of the frankIng privilege
and for The prevention of frauds the revenues OF
the Post Office Department.
Be ii enacted by the Senate and House Of Representa-
tires Of the United States Of America in Congress assem-
bisd, That from and after the first day OF July next
members OF Congress and delegates from Territories
may receive letters, not exceeding two ounces m
weight free of postage, during the recess of Con-
gress, anything TO the contrary in this act notwith
! standing and the same ranking privilege which IA
granted by this act to the members of the two Houses
of Congress- hereby extended to the Vice President
of the United States and in lieu of The rates Of post
age now established by law, there shall be charged the
following rates. viz: For every single letter in manu-
script paper of any kind by or upon which inf,-
nation shall be asked for or communicated in rng
or by marks and signs, conveyed IN the mail for any
distance under three hundred miles, five cents: and
for any distance three hundred miles ten cents
and for double letter there shall be charged double
these rates. and for treble letter. treble these rates
and for quadrupe letter, quadruple these rates and
every letter or parcel not exceeding half an ounce in
we ght shalt be deemed a single letter, and every nd
diiona weight OF half an ounce, additional weight
less than baif ounce shall be charged with an ad
dItional single postage. And all drop letters or let
tiers placed In any post office, not for transmission By
mall but for delivery only, shall be charged with post
age at the rate OF two cents each. And all letters
which shall hereafter be advertised as remaining over
in any post office shall, when delivered out be charg
eo WIN TUG CosS Oi advertising the aUuiIIOn
to the regular postage, both TO be accounted for as
other hostages now
Sec. q fnd be II further enacted, That all newspn-
pers OF no greater size or superfices than nineteen
hundred square inches may be transm,tted through
the mail by the editors or publishers thereof TO all
subscribers or other persons within thirty miles of the
city town, other place in which the paper is or NAV
be printed, free of any charge for postage what
and all newspapers of and under the SIZE aforesaid
which shall be conveyed in the mail any distance be-
yond thirty miles from the place which the same
may be printed shall be subject TO the rates of postagr
chargeabe upon the under the thir,ieih section
OF the act OF Congress approved the third Of March,
one thousand eight hundred and twenty five ep,uIed
act to reduce into one the several for estab-
fishing and regulating the Post Office Department :"
and upon all newspapers of greater SIZE or superficial
extent than nineteen hundred square inches there
shall be charged and collected the same rates of post
age as are prescribed by this act TO be charged on ma
gaines and pamphlets.
Sec g. And be further enacted, That all printed or
Autographed circulars and handbIs or advertisements
printed or autographed quaIto post or single CAP
paper, or paper not larger than single cap folded d.
reced, and unseaed, shall be charged with posOoe ot
the rae OF two cents for each sheet and no more
whatever be the distance the may be sent and
all pamphlets, magazines, periodicals. and every other
kind and description of printed or other matter (er
cept newspapers which shall be upeonneo,ed vim
any manuscript communication whatever and when
II is or may be lawful to transmit by the mail of the
chheu o'ates, snau De charged with postage AT the
rate OF two and half cents for each copy sent of no
greater weight than ounce and one cen addition.
al shall be charged for each additional ounce OF the
weight OF every such pamphlet, magazine matter. or
thing, which may be Transmitted through the mail
whatever be the distance the may be transport
"a and any fractional excess Of not less than one
half of an ounce, in the weight of any such matter VI
thing, above one or more ounces shall be charged for
as " SAID excess amounted 10 full ounce.
sec IND De " further enacted, 4 hat the Post
master General be and he s hereby authorized upon
all mai routes over or upon which the amount OF
matter usually transported, or which maybe offered
or deposited m the post Office post offices for trans
portstion, Is or nay become great to threaten
materially to resrd the progress endsnger the
curity OF the letter mail, any considerable
augmentation Of the Of transporting the whole
mail at the present rate Of speed, to provide for the
separate and more conveyance o. the letter
mail, at speed at least equal to that at which the
mail is now transported over such route taking care
10 allow IN Of any greater delay, in the trans
portaon Of the other matters and things TO be trans
ported in the mail on any such route than moy appear