New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-02-25
Cheap PostnSe-Rusk's Amendments.


The following are the leading provisions
in the amendments to the Cheap Postage
Bill, as now engrossed before the Senate.
They have been but slightly altered from
the original form in which they were intro
duced by Mr.. Rusk:
Strike out all after the enacting clause, and in
sert
That from and after the thirtieth day of June,
eighteen hundred and fifty one, in lieu OF the rates
of postage now established by law, there shall be
charged the following rates, TO wit For every
single letter in manuscript. or paper OF any kind
upon which information shall be asked for or COM
municated, in writing, or by marks or signs con-
veyed in the mail, for any distance within the
United States, three cents when the postage up
on such letter shall have been prepaid, aud five
cents when the postage thereon shall NOT nave
been prepaid for every such single letter or paper
when conveyed wholly or In part by sea, aud TO,
FROM or through, a foreign country, for any DIS
lance over twenty-five hundred miles, fifteen
cents. and for any distance under twenty-five
hundred miles ten cents, excepting, however, all
cases where such hostages have been or shall be
adjusted different rates by Posta treaty or con-
venton are sdy concluded hereafter 10 be made y
and for double letter the shall be charged double
the rates above specified and for treble letter.
treble those rates and for aquadruple letter quad
ripple those rates and every letter or parcel not
exceeding half an ounce in eight shall be deeme I
single letter, and every additional weight OF hai
an ounce or additional weight OF less than hall an
ounce, shall be charged with an additional single
hostage And all drop letters, or letters placed
in any post office not for Transmission bat for de-
livery only, shall be charged with postage at the
rate of one cent each aud all letters which shall
hereafter be advertised as remaining over or I'M
called for in any post Office, shall be charged with
one cent IN addition to the regular postage, both
to be accounted for as other hostages now are.
And the Postmast T General SHAH be, aud ne IS
hereby, authorized, whenever the revenue OF the
Post Office Department shall have exceeded the
expenditures by more than five per cent, for one
fiscal wear. TO reduce the postage on letters con.
veyed any distance within the United States to
two cents the single rate, when such postage
shall be prepaid.
And be Il further enacted, That all newspapers
not exceeding three ounces in weight sent from
the Office of publication to actual and bona tde
subscribers, shall be charged with postage as fol-
lows to wit: The postage on the regular num-
beers of a newspaper published weekly, for any
distance not exceeding fifty miles. shall be i've
cents per quarter for any distance exceedlng
fifty miles and not exceeding three hundred miles,
ten cents per quarter; for any distance exceed
ing three hundred miles and not exceeding one
thousand miles, fifteen cents per quarter Tor any
distance exceeding one thous and miles aud not ex-
ceedH two thous and miles twenty cents per quar-
ter for any distance exceeding two thousand miles
apd not exceeding four thousand mics, twenty
FIVE cents per quarter; and Tor any distance eA-
ceeding four thousand miles, thirty cents per
quarter and papers published semi weekly snalI
be charged double those rates trl.weekly, treble
those rates; and oftener than til weekly, hve
times those rates. And there shau De charged
upon every other newspaper, and eacn circular
not sealed, haRdbi, engraving pampneI Pc
riodical, magazine, book and every o1ner de
scription Of printed matter when snail De
uuconnected with any manuscript or written
matter, and which it may be ia"iui 20 trans
nit through the mail of no greater weight than
enc ounce for any distance not exceeding
three hundred miles, one cent, anu Tor each ad-
ditional ounce or fraction Of an ounce, one cent
for any distance exceeding three nunored mics
and not exceeding one thousand mules, double
those rates for any distance exceeding one thou
sand miles and not exceeding two thousand miles,
treble those rates; for any distance exceeding two
thousand miles aud not exceeding three Thousand
miles four times those rates; Tor any distance
exceeding three thousand miles and not exceed
ing four thousand miles, five times those rates
for any distance exceeding four thousand miles,
six times those rates Bound books not weighing
over thirty.two ounces shall be deemed malaole
matter underline provisions ofthis section. Andthe
Postmaster General shall require regular sub
scribers to periodicals, who receive the same
by mail, and on which the postage shall not
have been prepaid. to pay the amount OF one
quarters postage In advance, aud the postage on
all printed after, other than newspapers aud
periodicals published at intervals lot exceed
ing three months and sent from the office OF pub
LEGATION TO sctual and bona hde subscribers,
to be pre- paid; and in ascertaining the weight
Of newspapers for the purpose Of determining
the amount Of postage chargeable thereon they
shall be weighed when in a dry state. And
whenever any printed matter on which the post
age is required by this section 10 be prepaid shall
through the insttention OF Postmasters or other
wise be sent without prepayment, the same shall
be CHARGED with double the amount Of postage
which would have been chsrgeahle thereon If the
postsge had been prepaid; but nothing in this act
which is exempted from the payment Of postage
by any existing law. And the Postmaster GEN
efal. by and with the advice and consent OF the
President Of the United States shall be aud be is
hereby authorized to reduce or enlarge, from time
Al. - a q Ind