Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1847-05-21

the United States and foreign countries, and
for other purposes" approved the third day
of March, one thousand eight hundred and
| forty-fve ProUided, That the departure and
| return of said mail may, at the discretion of
the Postmaster General, be either from Charles
ton, New York, Savannah, Pensacola, or N.
Orleans, as may be deemed most consistent
with the public interest
SEC. g.. And be 1t further enacted, That the
sum of thirty thousand dollars be. and the
same is hereby. appropriated for the service
herein provided for, TO be paid from the gene
raj appropriation for mail transportation.
| SEC. 10. And be 1t further enacted, That
the Postmaster General be authorized and de
rected, when in his judgment the public inter-
est or convenience may require it, to establish
one or more branch post offices, to facilitate
the operation of the post Office in any city or
place which, in the opinion OF the Postmaster
General, may require such additional accom-
mediation for the convenience of the inhahi-
ttants; and it shall be the duty of the Postmas.
ter General to prescribe the rules and regula.
tons for the branch post Offices which may
be established by virtue of this act; and no
additional postage shall be charged for the re-
ceipt or delivery of any letter or packet at such
branch post office
Sec. H. And be At further enacted, That to
| facilitate the transportation of letters in the
mail, the Postmaster General be authorized TO
prepare postage stamps, which, when attached
to any letter or packet, shall be evidence of
the payment of the postage chargeable on such
letter, which said stamps the Postmaster Cen
eral may deliver to any deputy postmaster
who may apply for the same, the deputy post
master paying, or becoming accountable for
the amount of the stamps so received by him;
and if any of said stamps shall not be used,
but be returned to the General Post Office. the
amount so returned shall be credited to such
deputy postmaster; and such deputy pestmas-
ter may sell or dispose of any stamps so re-
ceived by him, to any person who may wish
to use the same; but it shall not be lawful for
Eany deputy postmaster to prepare, use, or dis
pose OF any postage stamps not authorized by
and received from the Postmaster General
and any person who shall falsely and fraudu-
lently make, utter, or forge any postage stamp,
with the intent to defraud the Post Office De-
partment, shall be deemed guilty of felony,
and on conviction shall be subject to the same
punishment as is provided in the twenty first
section of the act approved the third day of
March, eighteen hundred and twenty five, ems
titled can act to reduce into one the several
acts establishing and regulating the Post Office
Department"
SEC. r. And be it further enacted, That so
much of the sixth section of the act TO which
this is supplementary as requires the Postmas-
ter General to cause accounts of the postage
that would be chargeable by the rates prescri-
bed in said act upon all matter passing free
through the mail, and that the same shall be
paid 70 the Post Office Department from the
contingent funds of the two Houses of Con-
gress, and of the other departments of the gov.
eminent for which such mail service may
have been performed, be, and the same is
hereby, repealed and that in lieu Of such
payment, and in compensation for such mail
services as may be performed for the several
departments of the government, there shall be
paid to the Post Office Department, from the
Treasury, for each years service, the sum of
two hundred thousand dollars, which is here
by appropriated for that purpose, out of any
pnappropriated money in the treasury.
SEC. 10. And be 1T further enacted, That it
shall not be lawful to deposit in any post of
fee, to be conveyed in the mail, two or more
letters directed to different persons enclosed in
the same envelope or packet; and every per-
son so offending shall forfeit the sum of ten
dollars, to be recovered by action qua tam,
one half for the use of the informer,- and the
other half for the use of the Post Office De-
partment: Provided, That this prohibition
shall not apply TO any letter or packet direc-
ted to any foreign country; and all newspa-
pers conveyed in the mail shall be subject to
postage, except those sentby way of exchange
between the publishers of newspapers, and
except those ranked by persons enjoying the
franking privilege, and newspapers not sent
from the office of publication; and all hand
bills or circulars, 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;
and 1t shall be lawful for any contractor or
mail carrier to transport newspapers out of
the mail for sale OR distribution to subscribers,
and the Postmaster General shall have autho-
rity to pay or cause to be paid sum not ex-
ceeding two cents each, for all letters or pack
cts conveyed in any vessel or steamboat not
employed in carrying the mail from one post
or place to any other post OF place in the Uni
ted States, subject to such regulations as the
Postmaster General may prescribe; and such
publications or books as have been or may be
published, procured, or purchased by order of
either House of Congress, or Joint resolution
of the two Houses, shall be considered as pub
llc documents, and entitled to be frahked az
such; and it shall no: be. lawful 10 make any
allowance or compensation to deputy postmas-
|
rized by law, excepting the receipts from box
es, of which all beyond two thousand dollars
shall be applied in defraying the expenses of
their offices, and to be accounted for in the
same manner as they are required to account
tor their commissions, and excepting the spe-
ciaI allowance made by law to the postmasters
at Washington city and New Orleans.
SEC. IA. Ind be 1t further enacted, That so
much of the act approved the,N third day of
March, A. D. eighteen hundred and forty -five,
entitled can act to reduce the rates of post
age, 10 limit the use and correct the abuse of
the Thanking privilege, and for the preventa--
ton OF frauds on the Post Office Department"
and OF all other acts relating to the Post Office
| Department, or the service of that departments
as is inconsistent with this act, be, and the
same are hereby. repealed.
JOHN w. DAVIS,
| Speaker of the House of Representatives.
| G. NJ. DALLAS,
Vice President of the United States and
President of the Senate.
| Approved, March 8, lS47.
| III rAAxrsS, nnTU