Tri-weekly journal. (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1847-188?, 1847-06-22
NEWSPAPER POSTAGE.

IMPORTANT VIOLATIONS OF THE LAWS, BY The
PosrMAsTER GESERAL.-The Indiana State
Journal says: eve have before referred to the
exactions of the late Post Office Law, and re-
Elected somewhat uponwhat appeared to us the
illiberality and self.hness of Congress for pass
ing it. So far as that reference related to the
prepayment of 3 cents postage on transient
pears that 10 such requirements are made by
the law We trust the next Congress willlook
over and investigate Mr.. Cave Johnson's in
structions to his deputies, and if made contrary
to law, handle him without gloves. People of
all parties will uphold them in SO doing" =
The ''Missouri Republican" ofthe 9Th inst,
remarks: ''Being sure that the Postmaster
General was violating the Post office Law in
the instructions he had given to his subordin-
ates, we have awaited with some anxiety the
official publication of the Laws of the United
States The pamphlet came to hand yesterday:
and we take this, the first opportunity, there
fore, to show what the law is in the matter of
newspaper postage, and to advise the public no
longer to submit to animposition. That part
of the new Post Office Law which relates to
newspapers is officially published, as follows
punctuation ct literatim:
SECTION 49, And be it further enacted,
that it shall. not be lawful to deposit in any
post office, to be conveyed in the mail, two or
more letters directed TO different persons enclos-
ed in the same envelop or packet; and every
person so offending shall forfeit the sum of ten
dollars, to be recovered by action qui tam, one
! half for the use of the informer, and the other
half for the use of the Post Office Department:
| Prouided, that this prohibition shall not apply
to any letter or packet directed to any foreign
country; and all newspapers conveyed In the
mail shall be subject to postage, except those
sent by way Of exchange between the publish
ers of newspapers, and except those ranked
by persons enjoying the ranking privilege. and
newspapers not sent from the office of publica-
ton; and all handbills or cir :ulars printed or
Autographed, not exceeding one sheet, shall be
subject to three cents postage, each, except
those ranked BY persons enjoying the ranking
privilege, and newspapers not sent from the
Office of publication; and all handbills or circu-
lars printed or Autographed, not exceeding one
sheet, shall be subject to three cents postage,
each, to be paid when deposited in any post
office to be conveyed in the mail.
This is the official law, publishe by author
ity, with the punctuation preserved in every
respect. 1t will be seen, it enacts that all
newspap ers are free, except those sent from the
office of publication; that in no case can pre-
payment be demanded except for circulars and
handbills of one sheet each. No provision OF
the old law is changed except for such circu-
lars and handbills as are composed of one sheet
each.
This law, as we have mentioned, has just
been published. To show to what extent the
Postmaster General has carried his outrageous
violations of this law, before its publication,
we copy the following from his circular of in
structions issued on the l2th of March, -four
days after the adjournment of Congress. 1t will
be recolIeted- that he had the law before him Of
ficially at that time:
| "SEc. s. Transient newspapers, Che says, J
or those not sent from the office of publication
to subscribers, handbills or circular letters.
printed or Autographed, not exceeding one sheet
in size, will pay three cents, upon delivery al
the office, and before they are put in the mails,
and all such will be charged by deputy postmas-
tiers as prepaid matter in the way bills, and up
on their accounts of mails sent, and stamped OF
marked "paid, with the name of the office from
which sent"
The Postmaster General here directs the fol
lowing gross violations:
lst. That transient newspapers, or those not
sent from the office ofpubliction to subscribers
shall be subject to three cents postage. The law
says, that newspapers not sent from the Office
of publication are excepted from payment Of
postage; and in no case demands prepayment
Of postage upon them, whether sent by publish
ers or Others.
I'd. The Postmaster General directs the
postmasters to demand postage on all papers
not sent to subscribers from the office of publ
cation.
This is another usurpation. The law does
not require, as will be seen above, that newspa-
pers shall be sent to subscribers. Neither the
! word nor the substance CT the law authorizes
, any such exactions. 1t is gratuitous usurp-
alton, then. Let the reader compare the law
and the instructions, and he will justify cul
conclusions.
| And now the public will ask for remedy
andif they will act, they will have it speedily
Let every postmaster who withholdsa paper no
sent from the office of publication, be required
todeliver the paper free, and in case OF refusal
. let him be prosecuted before a Justice of thC
: Peace, for the paper. Whenever paper il
: sent from the Office of publication, and NOR
0 than the old rates are demanded, let the post
e master be prosecuted in the same manner. LIE
e every postmaster who refuses to receive news
: paper, be also prosecuted before Justice o
/ the Peace, and we shall soon see whether Mr.
= Cave Johnson is to make laws, or whether the!
are to be passed by Congress.
ARREsT.-A chap was arrested few mile
from town about daylight this morning, charged