Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1845-03-13
TIE POSTAGE REFoRM BILL.

tAsC paR'AoiOho osC 1stChf h%ACsC
/. After the Is. OF July next. all sin
gle letters sre TO be charged fire cents
for transmission under 800 miles, and ten
cents for over that distance. Double let.
ters pay double price treble letters ire
Bile price. &c. Letters weighing less than
half an ounce are to be accounted single,
and every additional bali ounce is 10 be
charged additional single postage. Drop
letters pay two cents, and letters adver-
iised are to pay the cost Of advertisement.
,. Newspapers Of 1900 square inches
or less, 60 free within thirty miles Of
where they are, printed for greater dis.
tances they are subject TO the rates of the
law OF 1925: and newspapers of greater
size are to pay the rates charged 1poR
magazines and pamphlets.
3. Circulars, handbils, &C., printed on
single cap paper, or no larger, and I'M.
sealed, pay tsco cents each, whatever dis
lance they may be sent; pamphlets, mag
aznes, &C., pay two and a half cents per
copy of an ounce weight, or less, and one
cent additional for each additional ounce,
whatever be the distance; and fractional
excuses over an ounce, of not less than
half an ounce, are to be charged as full
ounces.
4. The Postmaster General, 10 case Of
an overloaded or retarded mail, is author
lied to send the letter mail at its usual
speed by separate conveyance.
5. All the ranking provisions of for
mer acts are repealed. Though restored
by subsequent sections.
] 9. All officers OF tho Government are
to keep account of hostages payable by
them on mail matter, touching the bust.
ness Of their offices, and these are to be
paid quarterly out Of the contingent fund
Of the department. to which they belong,
The three Assistant P. NJ. G.'s, have the
ranking privilege on all letters touching
their bushes, and are required 10 endorse
all letters official business !" and are 10
pay $500 for every such endorsement
falsely made. Deputy Posimasters have
the same privilege under the same res.
trictlons and penalties. When the com.
missions oil any Postmaster are less than
S25 per annum they may be increased
by the Postmaster General, not to exceed
so per cent on the letter postage recelv-
ed. The sums chargeable on oil ranked
matter are to be paid from the contingent
fund Of the two Houses and the Depart.
ments, or in default thereof, from the II.
States Treasury.
Z. Public Documents may be transmit
ted by State Governors, Members Of Con.
g,ess, Delegates from Territories, The
Secretary oil the Senate and Clerk of the
House, free oil postage, as heretofore.
| s. The same persons may send or re-
ceive. during the recess, letters weighing
less than two ounces, as heretofore and
postage ohargeable on letters touching
Official business, and weighing more than
two ounces, is to be paid from the contin.
gent funds Of Congress.
8. No person shall, IN any way, be IN
strumental IN conveying over mail routes,
out Of the mail, any malaole matter ex-
cer newspapers, pamphlets, magazines
and periodicals and every person offend
ing against this provision, directly or indl-
rectly, is to forfeit $3.50, for each offence.
10. Boats, stages, cars, &C., are pro.
hiblted from conveying letters or any
other maliabe matter, with the before
specified exceptions, and except such let
tiers as may relate TO some part of the
cargo or articles conveyed, under the
penalty Of 500 for each offence, TO be
paid by the owners; and $50 TO be paid
by the driver, captain, conductor, &c.
IL. Owners of conveyances are SUBJ
jucled to the same penalties, for transport
ing persons acting as private expresses,
as the persons themselves-but nothing
in the act is to be construed as prohibit.
ing the conveyance OF letters or packages
6y private hands, when no compensation
is rendered, or By a special messenger en-.
ployed for the single occasion.
IL. All persons who shall after the pas.
sage Of the act transmit by any prohibited
private express, maiable matter, or place
at ang designated spot or dehver, such
matter for such transportation, forfeit for
each offence $50.
l3. Letters may be conveyed by steam.
boats, as provided by the act of 1925,
provided they are delivered on arrival, to
the authorized agent Of the Post Office
Department, who shall charge upon them
ordinary postage; and no Postmaster
shall receive, TO be conveyed by mail,
any packet weighing over pounds.
IA. The Postmaster General las pow
er TO contract with steamboat owners, for
extra occasions, without the previous adj
verlisemenis required by law, provided
the price TO be paid does not exceed the
average rate.
Is. Mailable matter is defined: and il
does no, include books, magazines,
pamphlets, or newspapers, not directed
nor intended for distribution, to subscr.
bers, but for sale as merchandise.
Is. Forging, or uttering stamps 2rovid.
ed for in this law, is declared TO be felony
and to subject the offender to imprison-
ment for not less than six months, ror
more than five years, and 10 fine OF not
over $4,000.
II. Newspapers are defined, and free
exchange is allowed as heretofore.
Is. All penalties and forfeitures incur
red under this act, go, half to the inform
or and nrosecuior. and the other half TO