Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-09-24
CHAPTER X.
POSTAGE STAMPS

Sec. sc. and be 1t further enacted, That to
iscllltate tie transportation of letters in the
mail, the Postmaster General be authorized to
prepare postage stamps, which when attached
70 any letter or packet, shall be evidence of
the payment Of the postage chargeable on
such letter, which said stamps the Postmaster
General may deliver to any deputy postmaster
who may apply for the same, the deputy post
master paying, or becoming accountable for
the amount of the stamps so received by him.
and If any Of said stamps shall not be used,
but be returned to the General Post Office, the
amount so returned shall be credited to such
deputy postmaster; and such deputy postmas-
ter may sell or dispose of any stamps SO re-
ceIved by him, to any person who may wish to
use the same; but it shall not be lawful for any
deputy postmaster to prepare, use, or dispose
OF any postage stamps not authorized by and
received from the Postmaster General; and any
person who shall falsely and fraudulently
the intent to defraud the Post Office Depart
ment, shall be deemed guilty of felony, and
on conviction shall be subject to the same pun
ishment as is provided in the twenty first Sec
ton of the act approved the 81 day of March,
1926, entitled % An act to reduce into one the
several acts establishing and regulating the
Post ONCE Department. Sec. ii, act Of
Sec 81. And be 1t further enacted, That it
shall be the duty of the Postmaster General to
provide and furnish to all deputy postmasters
and to all other persons applying and paying
therefor, suitable postage stamps, of the de-
nominations Of three cents and of such other
denominations as he may think expedient to
facilitate the pre- payment Of the pOstages pro-
vided for in this act; and any person who
shall forge or counterfeit any postage stamp
provided or furnished under the provisions of
this or any former act, whether the same are
impressed or printed on or attached to enyel-
opes or not, or any die, plate, or engraving
therefor, or shall make or print, or knowingly
use or sell, or have in his possession with in
tent to use or sell, any such false, forged or
counterfeited die, plate, engraving, or postage
stamp, or who shall make or print, or author
iZe or procure to be made or printed, any post
age stamps of the kind provided and furnished
by the PostmasteH General as aforesaid, with
out the especial authority and direction of the
Post Office Department, or who, after such
postage stamps have been printed, shall, with
intent to defraud the revenues of the Post Of
fce Department deliver any postage stamps to
any person or persons other than such as shall
be authorized TO receive the same by an in
strument of writing duly execvted under the
hand OF the Postmaster General, and the seal
of the Post Office Department, shall, On con.
viction thereof, be deemed guilty of felony,
and be punished by fine not exceeding five
hundred dollars, or by imprisonment not ex-
SSONIhS hNS JSdle, UOSu euCu dDu
imprisonment; and the expenses of procuring
and providing all such postage stamps and |
letter envelopes, as are provided for or au-
thoriEed by this act, shall be paid, after being
adjusted by the auditor Of the Post Office De-
partment, on the certificate of the Postmaster
General, ont of any money in the Treasury
arising from the revenues of the Post Office De- |
partment See. 3, act of 3D. March, 1851.
Sec. IS. A,,d be it further enacted That it |
shall be the duty Of every postmaster to cause |
TO be defaced, in such manner as the Postmas-
ter General shall direct, all postage stamps at
tached to letters deposited in his office for de-
livery, or to be sent by mall and if any post |
master, sending letters in the mail with post |
age stamps attached, shall omit to deface the |
same, it shall be the duty Of the postmaster to |
whose Office such letters shall be sent for de- |
livery to deface the stamps and report the de- |
linquent postmaster to the Postmaster Ger
erai And if any person shall use or attempt |
to use, in prepayment of postage, any postage |
stamp which shall have been before used for |
like purposes, such person shall be subject TO |
penalty Of fifty dollars for every such offence,
to be recovered in the name of the United
States, in any court of competent jurisdiction. |
See. A, act Of March 3, 1851.
% ITO BE coSrIsuED.l