The Trinity times., 1855-04-21
The New Postage Law.

The following is the new Postage Bill as
passed by both Houses of Congress ON the
Sd of March:
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of
Representatives of the United States Of
America IN Congress assembled, That, in
lieu Of the rates Of postage now established
by law, there shall be charged the following
rates, to wit:
For every srgle letter in manuscript or
paper of any kind in which information shall
be asked for or communicated in writing, or
by marks or signs, conveyed in the mail for
any distance 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 treble letter, treble those rates; and for
"A quadrupe letter, quadruple those rates; and
every letter or parcel not exceeding half an
ounce in weight shall be deemed single let
ter; and every additional weight of less than
half ain ounce. shall be charged with an ad-
ditional single postage; and upon all letters
passed through or in the mail of the United
States, excepting such as are to or from
foreign country, the postage as above speci-
fed shall be prepaid, except upon letters and
packages addressed to officers Of the govern
ment on Official business, which shall be so
marked on the envelope. And from and az
ter the first day of January, eighteen hun
dred and ffty-six, the Postmaster General
may require Fostmasters to pace postage
stamps upon all prepaid letters, upon which
such stamps may not have been placed by tho
writer's.
And all drop-letters, or letters placed in
any post ofiice not for transmission through
the mail, but for delivery only, shall be char
gcd with postage at the rate of one cent eli;
and all letters which shall hereafter be ad-
vertised as remaining over, or uncaled 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 are.
SEC 2. And be it further enacted, That
il 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 a larger sum than that charged
therefor by the Post Office Department; and
any person who shall violate this provision
shall be deemed guilty of misdemeanor, and
on conviction thereof shall be fined in any
sum not less than ten, nor more than five
hundred dollars. This act to take effect and
be in force from aud after the commence
ment Of the next fiscal year after its passage.
Provided, That nothing herein contained
shall De 50 constructed as to alter The laws in
relation 70 The frankng privilege.
SEC. And be it further enacted, That
for the greater security Of valuable lettcrs
posted for transmission in the mails of the
United States, the Postmaster General be
and hereby is au; u;horized to establish n uni
form plan for the registration of such letters,
on application Of parties pos ing the same, and
to require the prepayment of the postage, as
well as registration fee of five cents on ev-
cry such letter or packet to be accounted
for by Postmasters receiving the same in such
manner as the Post. Gen. shall direct: Provi-
dcd, how ever, That such registration Shall
not be comPu' ~, and it shIl not render the
Post Office Department or its revenue liable
for the loss Of such letters or packets or the
contents thereof,
Approved March 3, 1855