Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1847-03-18
NEW POST OFFICE LAW.

Some important amendments of the Post
Office laws, were made by Congress just
previous to adjournment, a synopsis Of
which we find in the n. Y. Express:
The Post master General is authorized
to establish branch Post Office in any city,
when in his judgement the public interes
may require,-and no increase of postage
can be charged for such convenience.
The Postmaster General may also furn-
ish postage stamps, TO be sold to those wish
ing them, as under the English law.
The bill also apprOpriates 100000 for
the payment Of hostages of members of Con-
gresS and Congress generally.
Il is also made illegal TO deposit tuo let
ters in the same enrelop, directed TO different
persons. The penalty is $40, one half TO
the informer. There is however proviso
that the law shall net apply to packages sent
10 foreign countries.
Newspapers not sent form the office Of pub
lica,ion are to be charged with three cents
hostage. So also all hand bills and circu-
lars.
Newspapers may be carried out of the
mail by any contractor or mail carrier,
| when either for sale or for distribution.
Upon letters or packages sent by steam-
boats and vessels, not carrying the mail, two
cents will be charged under regulations 10
be prescribed by the Postmaster General.
All books and printed matter ordered by
Congress are 10 he regarded as public docu-
ments, and as such may be franked.
Postma>ters are not allowed any conpen-
sation for the delivery OF these documents,
but the amount received from boxes is for
the benefi, of the Postmaster, to the extent
of $4,000, and beyond this it must be appro-
priated to the support of the office. The
New York and Washington Post Offices are
made exceptions to this law.
Country POstmasterS receiving two hum
dred dollars, and under, are allowed to re-
ceive and send letters free Ct postage on
their own private business.
The compensation under the law will be
as follows
"That in lieu of the commissions allow
ed deputy post-masters by TIE fourteenth
section ofthe third of March, eighteen hun
dred and twenty five, the Postmaster Gener-
al may allow on the proceeds of their re-
off cir
the following rates on the amount received
in any one year, or due proportion thereof
for less than a year:
Son sum rot exceeding one hundred
dollars, forty per cent, (present 1ate, Thirty
per cent
"Jn sum over the first hundred and not
exceeding four hundred dollars, thirty three
and one-,hird per cent (prescntrate, twen-
.y-tive per cent?
"On a sum over and above the first four
hundred dollars and not exceeding two thou
sand four numbered dollars, thi!ty per cent.
(present rate, twenty Ter cent?
son any sum over two thousand four
hundred dollars, twelve and a half per cent.
(present rate, eight per cent?
Son all sums arising from the postage
on newspapers, magazines, and pamphlets,
fifty per cent, (prcsent rate fifty per cent?
"The amount Of hostages on letters or
packages received for distribution, seven
per cent, (prcsent rate, five per ccut
Provided, that all allowances, commits
sionS or other emolumenlS shall Re subject
to the provisions of the forty first section of
the act which this is intended to amend, and
that the annual compensation therein limit.
el shall be computed for the fiscal year COM
meHcing on the first Of July and ending the
thirtelh of June each year, and that for
any period less than a year the restrictions
contained in said section shall be he'll to
apply in due proportion for such fractional
period: And provided, further: That the
compensation TO any deputy postmaster I'M
der the foregoing provisions. to be computed
upon the receip, al his office Of larger sum
shall in no case fall short of the amount 10
which he would be entitled under smaller
sum received mt his office.
nISTPESSINH rACITAT ITv