The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1851-01-25

The following is a copy of the new
postage bill, which has passed the House,
and is now before the Senate for concur
rence:--
AN ACT REDUCING POSTAGE.
Sec. 1. Be 1t enncted, Sc, That let
ters carried in the mails of the United
States shall be charged with postage as
follows:
Upon each letter not weighing over
one-half ounce, three cents; and for each
additional half-ounce or fraction Of half
an ounce, three cents.--Prorded, That
no post office now in existence shall be
discontinued, nor shall the mail service
on any mail route in any Of the States
or Territories be discontinued or dimin-
ished in consequence of any diminution
of the revenues that may result from this
act And prorided further, That it shall
be the duty of the Postmaster General
to establish new Post-otilces and place
the mail service on new mail routes Is
tablished, or that may hereafter be estab-
lished, in the same manner as though
this act had not been passed. Ind pro,
rded further, That the compensation of
the postmasters shall not be diminished
in consequence ofthe passage of this act.
Sec. .. .7nd be 1t further enacted,
There shall be charged upon each
newspaper, pamphlet, periodical, maya
zine, book, and every other description
Of printed matter, which shall be uncon-
nected with any manuscript or written
matter, and which it may be lawful to
transmit through the mail, Of no greater
weight than two ounces, one cent, and
for each additional ounce or fraction of
an ounce, one cent. Bound books, not
weighing over thirty ounces, shall be
deemed maiable matter under the pro-
visions of this section: Prorided That
newspapers delivered in the State where
printed shall be chargcablc with only
one-half the foregoing rates: Proridcd
further, That no postage shall be charg-
ed upon any newspaper mailed and de-
livered within the county where print
ed, or within thirty miles of the place
where printed.
ProviIcd FURTHER, That the free cir
culation of newspapers within the coun-
ty of their publication, or the distance
of thirty miles of the place Of publica-
ton, as hereinbefore provided, shall be
confined to actual subscribers receiving
their papers from the office of publica-
ton.
Prorided furthcr, That fifty per cent.
shall be deducted from the postage on
magazines, when the postage shall be
prepaid.
Sec. 3. .7ndhe it further enacted, That
it shall be lawful to coin at the mint of
the United States and its branches,
piece, of the denomination and legal
value Of three cents or three hundredths
of dollar, to be composed of three
fourths silver and one-tourth copper, and
to weigh twelve grains and three-eights
of a grain; that the said coin shall bear
such devices as shall be conspicuously
different from those of the silver coins,
and of the gold dollar, but having the
inscription "United States of America"
and its denomination and date; and that
it shall be legal tender in payment of
debts for all sums ofthirty cents and un-
der.
Sec. 4 ind be 1t further enacted,
That it shall be the duty of the Postmas-
ter General to provide and furnish to
all deputy postmasters, and other persons
applying and paying therefor, suitable
stamps of the denomination of three
cents, to facilitate the prepayment of
the hostages provided for in this act.
And any person who shall counterfeit.
alter or forge any letter stamps, or shall
knowingly have in his possession any
false, forged or altered letter stamps,
with intent to sell or use the same as
genuine, shall be deemed to be guilty of
felony, and be punished by fine not
exceeding five hundred dollars, or i'm
prisonment not exceeding five years.
Sec. $. find be 1t further enacted,
That there is hereby appropriated out of
any money in the Treasury not other.
wise appropriated, the sum $ 100000,
to supply any deficiency that may arise
in the Post office Department.