The Daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1845-1850, 1847-03-11
THE POST OFFICE BILLS

Which have passed, are of the first importance
The ranking privilege to the members of Con-
gress, and officers OF Congress, is completely re-
stored.
The Post Route Bill covers thirty pages, and
to 1t are appended important sections, amending
the present law. The Post routes extended to
Oregon and to Mexico, with return mails, this
Mexican service Ito Tampico and Brazos,) to be
performed once week. During the war and
Tor three months after, the officers and soldiers of
the Army are to receive their letters and news
papers free OF postage.
Besides the important war steamer bill which
passed last night, the Post Route bill contains
section which enables the Post Master General
to appoint Deputy Post Master at Astoria, and
such other points on the Pacific within the u. S.
territory as the public interests demand. The
Post Master General in this bill is also authorized
10 send mail from Charleston to Chagres, touch
ing at st. Augustine and Key West and also at
Havana, and ii deemed expedient across the 18TH
mus OF Panama, and from thence to Astoria, at
the mouth of the Columbia river, touching at
Monterey and San Francisco One hundred
thousand dollars per annum is appropriated for
this service, and the Post Master General is au
thorized to make contract for the performance
Of the duty The Post Master General is also
authorized to establish a branch Post Office in
any city, when in his judgment the public inter-
est may require,-and no increase OF postage can
be charged for such convenience. Under this
part OF the law, the Post Master General NAV, if
ne will, establish one or more branch Offices in
the city of New York.
The Post Master General NAV also furnish
postage stamps, 10 be sold to those wishing them
as under the English law.
The bill also appropriates 100000 for the
payment OF hostages of members of Congress and
Congress generally.
Ii is also iIleUal tn danos;t fs,o Jo{toxo
same envelope or package directed to different
persons The penalty is $40, one half TO the in
former. There is, however, proviso that the
law shall not apply to packages sent TO foreign
countries
Newspapers not sent from The office of publ
cation are to be charged acith three cents most
age. So also all hand bills and circulars.
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 steamboats,
and vessels, not carrying the mail, two cents will
be charged under regulations to be prescribed by
the Post Master General.
All books and printed matter ordered by Con-
gress are to be regarded as public documents,
and as such may be ranked
Post Masters are not allowed any compensa-
ton Tor the delivery of these documents, but the
amount received from boxes is for the benefit OF
the Post Master, TO the extent OF $4,000, and be-
yond this it must be appropriated to the support
OF the Office The New York and Washington
postoffices made exceptions to this law.
AS the compensation for country Postmasters,
has been the subject of controversy, send you
the precise state of facts.
Country Postmasters receiving two hundred
dollars, and under, are allowed to receive and
send letters free of postage OIL their own private
business.