The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-02-06
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Tho Now Postage Law.
An AcT To reduce and modify the rates Of postage
the United States, and to provide for the coinage


Az Acr To reduce and modify the rates Of postage
the United States and to provide for the coinage OF
Be it enacted by tho ssnsts and House of Repre-
sentative: ofthe United States Of In Congress
eightesn hundred and fifty all letters carried In
the mail shall be charged with postage as follows
been prepaid mot werhins over one half ounce thrs
cents; and for each additional half fraction
Of halt an ounce, three cents upon each letter upon
weighing half ounce, and for each additional
hafor fraction OF half an ounce i've cents Provided
That no post office now In existence shall ba discon
tinued nor shall the mail service mail route in
any Of the states territories be discontinued
| of the revenues that may result from this act
hnd provided further that shall be the duty OF ths
plass ,ns General to establish new post and
OF that may hereafter be established, in the SANE
manner a. though this act had not been passed; and
proVioeu turther TO any postmaster whose
tioc may be reduced below the amount allowed him
Tor the year ending on the thirtsth OF June eighteen
hundred and fifty one, thsP ostmaster General shan be
authorized to make such additional allo vance as he
may deem just and proper, not to exceed the amount
OF compensation for the year ending on the thirtsth
ofJune, eighteen hundred and ifty one
Sec. And be IL further enacted That there shalt
cal ma zine book and every other description OF
printed matter which shall be unconuected with any
lawful to transmit through the mail, OF no greater
weigh than two ounces, cent and tor each addi-
tiona ounce or traction OF an ounce cent Bouad
books not weighing over thirty ounces, shall ba Deem
ed matter under the provisions Of this ssotion
provided, that newspapers delivered In the State or
territory where printed, shall be chargeabe with only
one half the foregoing rates provided, that in
certainipg the amount to be charged newspapers,
they shall be weighed when in dry state.
Sec. 8 And be it further ted That It shall bs
lawful to coin Mt tho mint the States and ite
branches pieces of thu aud legal yslu
OF three cents or three hu dredths OF dollar to Be
composed Of thresfourths silver and fourth con-
per- and to weigh twelve grains and three eghths of
grain; that the said coin shall be such devices
shall be conspicuously different from III Of the other
silver coins and OF the gold dollar but having the
lT.tta
nation and date and that IL shall be legal tender in
payment OF debts for All sums OF thirty cents and
under.
SEC. A. And be II further enacted That It shall BE-
the duty OF the Postmaster General to provide an fur
plying and paying therefor suitable stamps of the d.
nomination OF three cents TO ctate the prepayment
OF the postages provided for in this act And any
son who shall counterfeit, alter or forge, any letter
stamps or shall knosngly have in his possession any
false forged or altered letter stamps with intent to se
or use the same as genuine, shall be deemed to bs
guilty Of felony, and be punished by a fine not
ceedipg five hundred dollars or BY imprisonment not
Sec And be it further enacted That there Is here
by appropriated ont OF money ia ths treasury not
otherwise appropriated, the SUN Of one million five
hundred thousand dollars TO supply any deficiency
that may arise in the Post Office Department
Sec. And be 1t further enacted That lists Of let
tefs remaining allied for in any post ONCE for the
space Of six weeks in any city town village where
newspapor shall be printed shall hereafter be pub-
frequently any other shall the largest crcuis
ton within the range OF delivery OF said once to De
Cecldea the Postmaster "a, neral under sucn regu-
lations shall be prescribed By him a. charge not
exceeding cent each letter called for AMI the
postmaster at euch Office is hereby directed TO post In
"A conspicuous place In bis Office, copy of euch lise
On the day or dsy after the publication thereof Pre-
vided however, II the publisher OF paper herein
specified thsil refuse to publish the h.t OF letters
provided in this section ths shall desgnsts
other paper 10 which such lis shall be published
Sec. J. And be IL further enacted, That frolA and
after the passage OF this act all publishers Of pam
polets, periodicals, magazines and newspsper, shah
bs allowed to Interchange tasir publications reopro
rocsly, free OF postage Provided Thai such inter-
change shall be confined 10 single copy Of each pub
hceticn Ani provided also, That said publishers may
ncloee In their publications the bills fo- ptons
thereto, without any additional charge for postage.
Bee. ). And 30 II further enacted That II shall be
tho ausy Of all postnasters to all stamps at
tachsd TO Letters, In prepayment thereon, TO bs de-
faced In passing through their respective offices, In
ruch manner as may be directed bv the Postmaster
General, and any postmaster who shall fail perform
this duty, rhall be fined not less taan dvs
han hfty dollars In esch case atthe discretion Of the
Postmaster General.