Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1850-11-07

Letters, each IL OF. or less, over 3oo
miles, ~
Drop letters,
Circulars, handblls, &c., printed or
Autographed, per sheet, prepaid,
Pamphlets, magazines, and other mat
ter, one ounce or less, 2I-2
Each additional ounce or fraction,
Newspa'ers not exceeding 900 square
inches, sent from office of issue, 100
miles or less,
Newspapers over 100 miles, ana out
of State, liz
Newspapers sent by other person than
publisher, prepaid,
These are the present terms for those
who pay postage; but the number OF
those who do not, and The extent Of their
privileges, are subjects worthy atten-
ton. These persons are the President
of the United States, the ex-Presidents,
the widows of Presidents, the Vice
President, Senators, Representatives,
and Delegates in Congress, Governors 81
States in their correspondence with each
other, the Postmaster General and As
sistants, editors and publishers exchang-
ing papers, postmasters writing on OIL
cial business and those whose compen-
sation does not exceed 5000 may cores
pond generally free of charge.
The requests in the petitions called
for the reduction of letter postage for
any distance to tlcO cents, half ounce
being fixed upon as the weight of sim
gle letter. In accordance with these
requests, bill was presented in the
Senate, on the 3D. of April last, by SEN
ator Rusk, fixing the rate at fteo cents if
prepaid, and fre if not; but, subsequent
iy, this Senator submitted an able report
on the subject, and changed his plan,
recommending uniform rate Of tIUo cents i,
prepaid. This bill was not acted upon
by the Senate. But in the House of
Representatives on the Oath of July,
Judge Potter, the chairman of the Post
Office Committee, presented report and
bill in which three cents, prepaid, and tre
if not, were recommended This bill
failed TO receive the attention Of the
House during the session. We are in
formed by writer, whom we believe TO
be correct, that the committee were d.
vided in opinion respecting their propo-
si,ion. He states that four Of its mem
bers were in favor of fire cents; tleo were
for three and fpe; and three for uniform
rate Of tpo cents, prepaid.
The following is synopsis Of this
bill:
The first section fixes half an ounce
as the weight Of single letter, and
makes the charge three cents, if pre-
paid, and five if not, to any part of the
Union.
The second charges upon newspapers
not exceeding 1000 square inches sur
face, half a cent within the State of pub
lication, and one cent beyond it. Pamph-
lets, books, periodicals, &C., to be charged
two cents per ounce; bound books, of
not more than thirty-two ounces weight,
TO come within the class.
The third authorizes the minis to coin
three-cent pieces.
The fourth authorizes stamps repre-
senting three cents TO be issued by the
Postmaster General, and to be sold by
Postmasters, TO whom, as well as 10 9th
or persons, a discount of ten per cent. is
TO be made, when fifty dollars worth are
purchased.
The .ffM appropriates half million
Of dollars 10 supply any deficiency that
may arise in the Post Office Depart
ment.
A minority report was submitted by a
single member, (Mr. Durkee,) which
embodies in comprehensive manner the
arguments in favor Of the adoption of fro
cents, prepaid, as the just price of post
age throughout the Union, and the re-
duction Of the charges upon newspapers,
books, sc. Ii declares that the people
of the Union were never more united in
any purpose than in calling upon Con-
gress for this reduction, and sets forth
many facts in illustration of the advant-
ages Of the measure.
We will endeavor TO state substantially
the provisions of the bill accompanying
this report.
The first section fixes two cents, pre-
paid, as the uniform postage of letter
sent any distance, the weight not ex-
ceeding half an ounce, and one cent for
eat drop letter.
The second orders the sale at all post
offices of stamps representing two, four,
and ten cents.
The third makes the postage on news
papers uniformly one cent; and on pc
riodieals and pamphlets half cent an
ounce handbills and circulars TO be
charged as letters, and bound books at a
cent an ounce.
The fourth allows a discount of fifty
per cent. TO publishers who prepay the
postage on their publications.
The fffh allows salary 10 any post.
master whose income is by this act re.
duced below the present rate.
The sirh provides for the appoint
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