The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1845-02-10
THE POST OFFICE BILL.

We stated, in our Congressional abstract Of
Saturday, that the bill reducing the rates OF
postage and modifying the ranking privilege,
had passed the Senate by vote of SO to -
more than three TO one. The bill, Of course,
will have 10 be acted ON by the House, before il
can beeUme law. There is, however, already a
bill in the House, reported by Mr.. Hardin, OF
the Committee ON the Post Office and Post
Roads, and which, from the gentleman's own
words. is entirely different from that Of the Sc
nate. We were about TO prepare an abstract Of
the bill passed by this body, but were relieved
by finding the following in the Baltimore Sun
of this morning, viz
"The main feature of the bill is the establishment
OF uniform rate Of postage on single letters Of hye
cents to any part Of the United States Should the
low rate OF postage-that is, uniform charge of i've
cents for letters OF half ounce and ten cents Tor an
ounce weight, and on in the same ratio TO any part
sf the United States materially reduce the revenues
Of that department, and throw 4 upon the common
treasury, there could be no better time TO make the
experiment. Drop letters, according to the BILL that
Is letters for delivery the city where they de-
posted IN the post office, To be charged two cents.
IL letters advertised they are TO be charged with
The costs OF advertising 1.-TWO cens) in addition to the
postage when delivered.
Newspapers, of no greater size than nineteen hun
dred square inches (Which will cover all the BaltI-
more city papers) can be transmitted through the
mail TO within lLIrty miles Of where they pub
lshed, free Of postage; If sent over thirty niles the
same postage charged as at present,
Printed circular letters, unsealed are subject to
postage Of two cents.
81 he ranklng privilege, as II now exists is totally
repealed, and rticers OF Government required 10
keep account Of the business letters which they
ceise, the postage which is TO be paid by the de-
partment TO which they are attached The assistant
postmasters general are allowed TO frank, but must
endorse their letter packages "oficial business"
and If they should not be official business, they
are liable 10 penalty Of three hundred dollars for
each offence Deputy postmasters are 10 have all the
postage they pay on business letters refunded, and
their commissions do not amount 10 twenty five dol
lars per annum, then the Postmaster General is al
lowed 10 increase them.
"GUyeTnors of States are allow ed 10 transmit thro
mail, Tree OF postage certain books and documents
and members OF Congress, the Secretary OF STATE ami
Clerk Of the House OF Representatives, can frank all
public printed documents, and leaves the frankiug
privileges of the Senators and Representatives on all
letters and packages not exceeding two ounces In
weight, the same as It now il, and hey also al
lowed TO receive letters and packages during the SEES
sion as well for thirty days before and after the
same. The Postmaster General is TO keep an ac-
count Of the charge on all matter that goes through
I
Ingen fund, or from the Treasury.
Newspapers, pamphlets, books and periodicals.,
can he cent Of the mall the mail routes, by
publishers, agents, others, without hindrance from
the Department.
Private expresses, to perform regular trips on
mail routes, and transport mailable matter, are eI
pressly prohibited under a penalty of one hundred
| and htiy dollars for each offence. Stage coaches,
steamboats, railroad cars, packet boats &c, with their
| owners, managers, servants, crews &c, performing
regular trips post routes are prohibited from carry
ing letters mailable matter, excepting newspapers,
paDPhlets,"r magazines, uDe stey relate TO the cargo
or some part of it, or to the articles conveyed in the
stage coach, car other vehicle under penalty of
hundred dollars for each offence 10 be paid by The
owner, and fifty dollars by the captain, driver, or
other person IN charge, not being an owner in whole
or in part.
"Seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars is APP
propnated from the Treasury TO be applied to the De-
partment, 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 carry
ing out the provisions above mentioned, and Is not
therefore of any Importance to the general reader"