Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1851-01-21
NEW posrAGE !

E-. -r ~
The House Off Representative res has main
ly engaged for the last several weeks in rcmod-
ling the Postage Bill The contests has been
wagcd with considerable warmth by the con'eP t-
ing parties, but the resalt in the Hoose, as there
seems to be little doula entertained VIII &c the
case in the Senate, has been a complete tFarnPh
for The advocates of cleaP postage. On Friday,
the bill az appended, reducing the rates 10 three
GEMS for letters not Weighing over half onpce,
for all distances, passq!1 the House BY a gotc Of
1870 for, 10 rs against. The following is 6 sum
mary OF it, provisions
Sector! fret rro7ides that after thHx coil, June,
1851, tie: postage On + letter sent through the
mail, ard: not weighing more t'an,hE$fa an ounce,
shall be three cents: and tn" same Fnr every ad-
ditional itsIf ounce or:traction Of a half ounce ;
that TO p5st- Office or flaii route shall DC Giseon-
| tinued and that the compensation OF no post
| master shall be diminished in consequence otthc
| passing Of this act.
Section the secOnd fXcs the postage on,Rews-
papers, magazines ai:d other peTlsdlcats ana
| printed hooks, at oDc cent for every ne W. 9a per,
| &c, weighing two ounces, and an additional
cent for every atdi;io'aal ounce, and that books
weighing not over iIjSty ounces be deemed mail
able mailer. II iuri}er provides, tat nawspa-
peIs circulated within the State Gr TERRITORY
where printed, shall Jay hall such Posta &c, and
NtIen -In6lIeO WltLIln ltc county, vi "IliI't 'hI'tf
miles Of the place wl.are printed, STALL circulate
free or postage, when:zent to subscribers direct;
and further that wheG the postage on ma gaines
and other periodicals. shall lave baeu Pte+paiG,
such postage shall Je:reduced one half.
Section the third P:escri6es thata:cOin eftnree
cents in value shall !le prepared, with n metallic
inscription, tlree.lodflhs OF silver and oFe.fOurth
OF copper, TO wcigll twelve and three.eighLhs of a
fgrain ,5hich shall E2 legal tender in oil sums
under thirty cents.
Section fourth requires the Postmaster Gene
raj 10 furnish the sc;i:ral PnsimastP:s with :hrce
cent stamps, 10 be supplied 10 persons wishing Il;
purchase and d~eclaras that persons forging suct:
stamps, OF having ar;y in his possession Tor tho
purpose Of passing them as genuine, shall pay q
fine OF $500, or be Imprisoned five years in lIer
thereof.
Section the fifth authorizes the appropriate ton o.
a million and a halo. dollars, 10 meet anvtempo"
rary reduction OF the revenue th8t may arise
owing to Tie p~assing;uf this act.
Section the sixth provides for tge publication
Of lists Of unclaimed letters in q paper having
the greatest circulation, and that should the
publisher Of such paper refuse TO Insert The LIST,
lie shall be deprivciI of the frec7exchangc Of
papers and other benefits which ithe act may
confer.
Section the seventh authorizes tie Postmaste!
General TO establiel. post routes and Offices of de-
poaite and delivery, and the appolptmentof car
riers in cities aud large towns, wing shall deliver
letters Ht a charge not exceeding $50 cents EACH;
provided The Compensation allowed shaiI:not en-
coed The receipts.