The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-09-09
PUBLIC ACT-N0. so.

PUBLIC ACT-N0. so.
and modify the rates of postage in the United States,
and for other purposes, passed March third eigh-
teen hundred and fifty-onc.
BE IL enacted By the Senate and House of Rep
reSentatiUes Of the United States Of America IN
Congress assembled That from and after the
thirtieth day of September, eighteen hundred
and fitty-two, the postage upon all printed mat
ter passing through the mail of the United
States, instead of the rates now charged, shall
be as follows, to wit: Each newspaper, period
ical, unsealed circular or other article of print
ed matter, not exceeding three ounces in weight
shall be sent to any part of the United States
for one cent, and for every additional ounce, or
fraction of an ounce, one cent additional shall
be charged; and when the postage upon any
newspaper or periodical is paid quarterly or
yearly in advance at the Office where the said
periodical or newspaper is delivered, or is paid
yearly or quarterly in advance at the Office
where the same is mailed, and evidence of such
payment is furnished to the Office of delivery
in such manner as the Post Office Department
shall by general regulations prescribe, one
half of said rates only shall be charged News
papers and periodicals not weighing over one
ounce and a halt, when circulated in the State
where published, shall be charged one-half of
the rates before mentioned: PrOu,ded That
small newspapers and periodicals, published
monthly or oftener, and pamphlets not contain
ing more than sixteen octave pages each, when
sent in single packages, weighing at least eight
ounces, to one address, and prepaid by afix-
ing postage stamps thereto, shall be charged
only half of cent for each ounce or fraction
of an ounce. notwithstanding the postage cal
culated on each separate article of such pack
age would exceed that amount The postage
on all transient matter shall be prepaid by
stamps or otherwise, or shall be charged d0u-
BILE the rates first above mentioned
SEC 3 Aad>be ii further enacted, That books,
bound or unbound, not weighing over four
pounds, shall be deemed mailable matter, and
shall be chargeablc with postage at one cent
All ounce for all distances under three thousand
miles, and two cents an ounce for all distances
over three thousand miles. to which fifty per
cent. shall he added in all cases where the
same may be sent without being prepaid, and
all printed matter chargeable by weight shall
be weighed when dry. The publishers of news
papers and periodicals may send to each other
from their respective Offices of publication free
of postage one copy o. each publication and
may also send to each actual subscriber. en-
closed in their publications. bills and receipts
for the same, free OF postage. The publishers
of weekly newspapers may send to each actual
subscriber within the county where their pa
pers are printed and published one copy there
of free of postage.
SEC. g. Ind be ii further enacted, That no
newspaper, periodical, magazine, or other print
ed paper or matter, shall be entitled to be sent
at the rates of postage in this act specified I'M
less the following conditions be observed
FIRST. 1t shall be sent without any cover or
wrapper, or in cover or wrapper open at the
ends or sides so that the character of the mat
ter contained therein may be determined with
cut removing such wrapper. Second There
shall be no word or communication printed on
the same after its publication, or upon the
cover or wrapper thereof, nor any writing or
marks upon it, nor upon the cover or wrapper
thereof except the name and address of the
person to whom it is to be sent. Third There
shall be no paper or other thing enclosed in or
with such printed paper and if these cond-
tons are not complied with, such printed mat
ter shall be subject to letter postage; and all
matter sent by mail from one part of the Uni
ted States to another the postage Of which is
not fixed by the provisions of this act shall, I'M
less the same be entitled to be sent free Of post
age be charged with letter postage.
SEC. 4. and be ii further enacted, That if the
publisher of any periodical, after being three
months previously notified that his publication
is not taken out of the Office TO which it is sent
for delivery continue to forward such publica-
ton in the mail, the postmaster TO whose Office
such publication is sent may dispose Of the same
for the postage, unless the publisher shall pay it
and whenever any printed matter of any descrip-
tion received during one quarter of the fiscal
year, shall have remained in the Office without
being called for during the whole Of any sue
ceeding quarter, the postmaster at such Office
shall sell the same, and credit the proceeds of
such sale in his quarterly accounts, under such
regulations and after such notice as the Post
Office Department shall prescribe.
SEC. 5. Ind he At further enacted That 80
much of the second section of the act entitled
4" An act to modify and reduce the rates of
postage in the United States and for other pur-
poses approved March third, eighteen hun
dred and iifty-one, az relates to the postage or
free circulation or transmission Of newspapers,
periodicals, and other printed matter and all
other provisions OF law inconsistent with the
provisions of this act are hereby repealed
SIC. g. And be ii further enacted, That when
a list of uncaled.for letters shall be published
in any newspaper printed in any foreign Ian
guage, said list shall be published in such
newspaper having the largest circulation with
in the range Of delivery OF said office.
Approved, August 80, 1852.