The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1855-03-15
The New Postage Law.

4AAS ANSW = VSS<S0S @<s~"s
The following is the new Postage Bill
as passed by both Houses of Congress on
the Sd inst:
Be ii enacted 6y The Senate and House
of Representatives OF The United States q
America tn Congress assembled, That, in
lieu of the rates of postage now established
by law, there shall be charged the follow
ing rates, to-wit:
For every single letter in manuscript
or paper OF any kind in which information
shah be asked for or communicated in
writing, or by marks or signs, conveyed
in the mail for any distance between places
in the United States not exceeding three
thousand miles, three cents; and for any
distance exceeding three thousand miles,
ten cents.
And for double letter there shall be
charged double the rate above specified;
and for a treble letter, treble those rates;
and for a quaaruple letter quadrup!e
those rates; and every letter or parcel not
exceeding half an ounce in weight shall
be deemed single letter; and every ad'
ditional weight OF less than half an ounce,
shall be charged with an additional single
postage; and upon all letters passing
through or in the mail of the United
States, excepting such as are to or from a
foreign country, the postages as above
specified shall be prepaid. except upon
letters and packages addressed to officers
of the government on official business,
which shall be so marked on the envelope.
And from and after the first day of JAN
uary, eighteen hundred and ffty-six, the
Postmaster Genral may require postmas-
ters to place postage stamps upon all
prepaid letters upon which such stamps
may not have been placed by the writers.
And all drop-letters, or letters placed
in any post! Office not for transmission
through the mail, but for delivery only,
shall be charged with postage at the rate
of one cent each; and all letters which
shall hereafter tie advertised as remaining
over, or uncal!ed for, in any post office,
shall be charged with one cent each, In
addition to the regular postage, both to
be accounted for as other postages now
iage.
See. >. And lie it further enacted, That
It shall not be lawful for any postmaster
or other person to sell any postage stamp
or stamped envelope for any larger sum
than that indicated upon the face of such
postage stamp or for larger sum than
that charged therefore by the Post Office
Department; and any person who shall
violate this provision shall be deemed
guilty OF misdemeanor, and, on convic-
ton thereof, shall be fined in any sum
not less than ten, nor more than FIVE hun
dred dollars. This act to take effect and
be in force from and after the commence
meut Of the next fiscal year after its pas
sage. Proridcd, That nothing herein con-
tanned shall be construed as to alter the
laws in relation to the frankiug privilege.
Sec. 3. A3ad be II further enacted, That
for the greater security of valuable let
ters posted for transmission in the mails
Of the United States, the Postmaster Cen
eral be and hereby is authorized to estab
Iish uniform plan for the registration Of
such letters on application of parties post
ing the same and to require the prepay
ment cf the postage as we'll as regis
tTation fee of FIVE cents on every such let
terS or packet to be accounted for by.
postmasters receiving the same in such
manner as the Postmaster General shall
direct; Provided, however, That such
shall not be compulsory; and
it shall not render the Post Office Depart
ment or its revenue liable for the loss of
such letters or packets or the contents
thereof.
Approved March 8, 1855.