Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-12-30
PROPOSED REDUCTION OF POSTAGE.

The following is a copy of the Sill winch was
reported to the Senate by Mr., NILES, on Thurs
day last, proposing to reduce the present rates of
postage
bill to reduce the of postage and for other purposes
Be enacted de- That from and alter the first day of July
eighteen hundred and forty nne the postage letters shall
as follows all letters not exceeding half III weight
conveyed distance in the United States shall be charged
with three cents postage, and like for every additional
half ounce fractional part thereof the postage being pre-
paid and If not prepaid, then the postage shall be five
cents for each letter weighing not than half ounce,
and like sum for every additional hal ounce fractional part
thereof and all dropetter letters be delivered the
office where deposited shall be charged with passage,
TO be prepaid, and two cents il not SO prepaid
Sec. 2. And be IL further enacted, That il shall be the
duty OF the Postmaster General all post Offices where the
postage amounts to thousand dollars annually pro-
vide for conveying letters to the post Office, by establishing
suitable and convenient places OF dpo and by employing
carriers to receive and dpose them in the post Office free
charge and all such occs shall also be his duty to
letters be delivered by suitable carriers be appointed by
him for that purpose for which exceeding for each
letter shall be charged and advertised letters there shall be
an additional charge not exceeding cent.
Sec. g. And be further enacted, Tha, from and after
the period aforesaid the postage newspapers and other print
ed matter shall be follows all newspapers exceeding
weight (when dry) and half shall pay
postage and like fer additional ounce or frac
tona part thereof Provided That newspapers not weigh
ing and half and not than eighty
miles from the Office Of publication shall be charged with
hall cent postage only pamphlets, magazines, and books
whether periodicals not shall be charged with postage
the rate OF one cent the bat any fractional part Of
ounce shall be charged cent The postage newspa-
pers and other periodicals from the Office of pubca.
ton must be prepaid, and ell handb circulars and printed
letters not sealed shall be charged with oneha the Of
letter postage.
Sec. a. And be further enacted That all letters
weighing than half conveyed from any
foreign country the territories Of the United States the
coast Of the Pacific in the mail lines Of the United States
shall he subject to postage Of fifteen cents and the like
sum for every additional half the fractional part there
Of and that all newspapers and other printed matter convey
ed to from foreign counes the territories Of the United
States the Pacific coast shall be charged with postage
the rate Of two the ounce and the like for any
ona part Of Proridd That the President the
United States may and be hereby authorized raise
duce the rates Of postage letters to from any foreign
country, conveyed in the mails Of the United States the
mails Of any foreign country when any change Of the
postage Of foreign country may in his judgment render
il eIpeden
Sec. 5. And be IL further enacted, That the sum Of
$780, be and the hereby appropriated from any
moneys in the treasury otherwise appropriated for the
service Of the Post Office Department for the year ending
the 30h day Of June $780, should the ordinary revenues
the Department be insufficient sustain the service now
horzed, which may hereafter be authorized by law
Sec. g. And be further enacted That all parts
Of inconsistent with the provisions Of this be and the
same hereby repealed.