The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1855-03-23
THE NEW POST OFFICE BILL.

ihb NEW EOc Ortl NE DILL.
We find in the Washington Globe a sy-
nopsis of this bill which is likely to work
many important changes, not to say improve
ments, in our postal system. Everything is
to be prepaid after July, and the postage to
Cali ornia is to be ten cents instead of six.
The bill provides that, in lieu of the rates
now established by law, there shall, after the
commencement of the next fiscal quarter, be
charged for every single Ietterin manuscript,
or paper Of any kind in which information
shall be asked for or communicated in writ
ing 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 ex-
ceeding three thousand miles, ten CENTS
For double letter the charge is to be dou-
Bile, for treble letter, treble, and for quad
ruple letter, qudruple these rates.
Every letter or parcel not exceeding half
an ounce in weight is to be deemed single
letter; and every additional weight Of half
an ounce, or of less than half an ounce, is TO
be charged with an additional single post
age. Upon all letters passing through or in
the mail of the United States, excepting
such MS are to or from foreign country, the
postage is to 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 January l, 1856, the
Postmaster General may require pestmasters
to place postage stamps upon all prepaid let
tersupon which such stamps may not have been
placed by the writers. All drop-letters, or
letters placed in any post Office not for trans.
mission through the mail, but for delivery on.
ly are to be charged with postage at the
rate of one cent each; and all letters which
are hereafter advertised as remaining over,
or uncalled for, in any post Office, are to be
charged with one cent each, in addition to the
regular postage, both to be accounted for as
other postages now are.
No postmaster or other person IL to be
allowed to sell any postage stamps or stamp
envelopes for any larger sum than that indi-
Gated upon their face, or for larger sum
than that charged heretofore by the Post
Office department.; and any person who vic.
lates this provision is to be deemed guilty of
misdemeanor and, on conviction, is to be
fined in any sum not less than ten, nor more
than five hundred dollars.
The following amendments were made to
il and accepted:
"Prouided, That nothing herein contained
shall be so construed as to alter the laws in
relation to the frankng privilege.
"And be ii further enacted,, That for the
greater security Of valuable letters posted
for transmission in the mails Of the United
States, the Postmaster General be, and here
bv is authorized to establish uniform plan
for the registration of such letters on applica.
ton Of the parties posting the same, to re-
quire the payment of the postage rs well as
registration fee Of five cents on every such
letter or packet to be accounted for by the
posimasters receiving the same in such man.
ner rs the Postmaster General shall direct:
Provided, however, That such registration
shall not be compulsory, and it shall not
render the Postoffice Department, or its rev.
enue, liable for the loss of such letters or
packets, or the contents thereof"