, 1855-09-28

CBAP. CLXXlIl.--An Act further to amend the Act
entitled An Act to reduce and modify the Rates Of
T. stage in the United States, and for other Pur-
p,scs," passed Mar,h thhd, eighteen hundred and
PcH tHacira 6C he Senate aud House Of Rsprcsen-
tat,rt Of the United Sffffs Qf AMefoa in COngrsss
sfaLid That In lieu OF the rates Of postage now
tabl-hed by law, there shall Le charged the following
rates, viz -
For every single letter in manuscript, or paper oi
any kind IN wbich information shall be asked Tor or
communicated In Whiting, or by marks or signs, con
ycyed IN the mail for any distance between places In
three cent aud Tor any distance exceeding three thou
sand miles, ten cent.
And for sd,ube letter there shall be charged double
the rte abuye slccied and for treble letter, treble
those rates ald for a Quadruple letter, qnadmple
those rates ard every letter parcel not exceeding
half an ouute in Wegh ht shall be deemed single let
ter; and every additional weight Of half an ounce
hal le charged with an additional single postage
aud upon all etters passing through OF in the mail ol
the United states, excepting such 70 or fron
foreign country, the postnges above specified shall
be prepaid, except upon letters and pa kuges address
ed u officers Of the government on oicial business
which shall be marked on the envelope. AEd from and
after the hrst day Of January, eighteen hundred and
hftyx, the Postmaster Generd may require postmas
upon which such stimps may not have been placed by
Aud ali dropIetens, or letters placed in any postof
fee not for transmission thru1gh tho mail, bot for de
oi per rent each and all letters which shall here
after be advertised remaining overor uncalltd oT in
any postoire, shall be charged with cent each In
addition 20 the regular postage, both to be accounted
for Us other postages now.
SIC. a And bt q further enacfed That il shall not he
awnl for any postlnaster other person " sell any
postage stamp stamped envelope ior any Afger sum
than that indicated upon the faeo OF such postage
stamp or for larger sum than that charged therefor
by the Post0nice Department and any person who
shall violate this provision shall be deemed guilty of
misdrmeanor, and conviction thereof shall be fined
In any not less than ten, than i've hun
dfed dollar. This act 10 take eject and he In force
from aud after the commencement Of the nrxt fiscal
quarter after H. passage. PTsridsd That nothing
heein contained shall he constructed 10 alter the
the laws In relation 10 the Thinking privilege.
Sgc .. fRd be Il farther epaced, That for tho great
security VI valuable letter. lled fur transmission
In the mails o the United States the Postma Gen.
erl be and hereby is authorized to etahsha anifom
plan for the registration OF ch letters application Of
parties posting the ane and N require the repayment
Of the postage well registration fee Of i've cent
on every such letter packet TO be accounted for by
postmasters receiving the samc in Ench manner a. the
PostmastcrAiencnl shall direct ProUidfd hoturrer
That such registration shall not be compulsory and
Il shall not rndtr the Posi-Ohce Department or IL
revenue Liable for the loss Of sueh letters or packets
the cfnlents thereof
Approved, March ,, 1855.