Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-04-10
INSTRUCTIONS.


coed 5000, can send through the mail, free Of
postage, all letters written by himself on his
own private business the weight of each letter
not to exceed half an ounce. He cannot re-
ceive free, nor frank printed matter Of any
kind; nor letters addressed to his wife or any
other member of his family; nor can he frank
letters to editors or publishers containing
money in payment Of subscription.
The ranking privilege Of Postmasters whose
yearly compensation exceeds 5000, is restricted
to sending and receiving free, ac,itten commu-
nications relating exclusively to the business of
their Offices, or Of the Post Office Department.
If Postmaster, having the ranking priv.
lege, franks matter which exceeds half an
ounce in weight, and which does not relate ex,
clusively to the business of his Office, or of the
Post Office Department, the excess is charge.
able with postage; and if not so charged at
the mailing office, the charge should be made
at the Office of delivery. Postmasters' assist
ing privilege under any circumstances
No.. II any person shall counterfeit the
hand writing or frank of person entitled to
the ranking privilege, or cause the same to be
done in order to avoid the payment of postage,
each person SO offending is liable to fine of
$500.
No. 3. Letters enclosed in stamped envelopes
may be carried out of the mall provided such
stamps are equal in value and amount to the
rates Of postage to which such letters would be
liable if sent in the mail and provided, also,
that the envelopes are duly sealed, &c. lSee
law annexed.
NO. 4. letter bearing stamp cut or sepa.
rated from astamped envelope, cannot be sent
through the mail as prepaid letter. Stamps
so cut or separated from stamped envelopes
lose their legal value. Stamped envelopes, as
well as postage stamps on prepaid letters,
should be cancelled Immediately on the letters
being placed in a Post Office.
No. 5. When letter is delivered and the
postage paid thereon, the postage should not
be returned after the letter has been opened,
except in cases where the Postmaster is salts
fed it has been opened by the wrong person
through mistake, in which event the letter
should be resealed and n memorandum Of the
mistake made thereon in writing.
No. 6. 1t is violation of law to enclose or
conceal letter or other thing, Except bills
and receipts for subscription or to make any
memorandum in writing, or to print any word
of communication, after its publication, upon
any newspaper, pamphlet magazine, or other
printed matter. In all such cases letter post
age should be demanded, and, if the person adj.
dressed refuse to pay such letter postage, the
package should be returned to the Postmaster
from whose office it came, to prosecute the
sender for the penalty of So, prescribed by the
3Oth section Of the act of 1875 and all iran.
silent printed mailer should be distinctly post.
marked at the mailing office.
No. Z. Any memorandum in writing or by
marks or signs upon the cover or wrapper of
newspaper, pamphlet, magazine, or other print
cd matter other than the no mo al oJJuaa.o
the person to whom it is to be sent, subjects the
package to letter postage; but, in such cases,
should the party addressed fail to pay letter
postage, further proceedings should be waived
and the package placed with the other refused
matter in the office, there being no conceal.
ment nor attempt at fraud
No. 8. Contractors and mail carriers mav
carry newspapers out of the mails, for sale or
distribution among regular subscribers but
when such papers are placed in post Office
for delivery, postage must be charged and col
lected. Contractors and other persons may
also convey books, pamphlets, magazines, and
newspapers mot intended for immediate distri.
bution) done up in packages as merchandise,
and addressed to some bona fde agent or dealer.
No. 8. 1t is proper to forward letter when
requested in writing. When forwarded, no adj
ditional postage should be charged, if the let
ter, contrary to its address, has been mis- sent.
If it has been sent according to its address,
and then forwarded, it must be charged with
additional postage, at the prepaid rate, accord
ing to distance, established by the act ofMarch
3, 1855.
No. 10. Books, not weighing over four
pounds, may be sent in the mail prepaid, at
one cent an ounce any distance in the United
States under three thousand miles and at two
cents an ounce over three thousand miles, pro
vided they are put up without cover or wrap.
per, or in cover or wrapper open at the ends
or sides, so that their character may be deter
mined without removing the wrapper If not
prepaid, the postage under three thousand
miles is one cent and half, and over three
thousand miles in the United States, three
cents an ounce.
No. III. Publishers of newspapers NAV. with
out subjecting them to extra postage. fold
within their regular issues a supplement, pro-
vided the weight OF the whole does not exceed
one and halt ounces within the State where
printed, or three ounces when sent out of the
State But in all such cases. the added matter
must be genuine supplement- or appendage
70 the newspaper in question, and of the same
essential character, conveying intelligence or
passing events of general interest.
No. IL. Money and other valuable matters
sent by mail, are at the risk of the owner.
No: 10: Payment Of postage on newspapers.
and magazines, quarterly or yearly
advance, may be made either at the office Of
mailing, or office of delivery. When made At
he mailing Office it is the duty of the Post
naster.to send to the Office of delivery evidence
hereof. The receipt Of the Postmaster of The
mailing Office is sufficient evidence Of payment,
No. Ia. Postmasters, assistants and clerks
egularly employed in Post Offices, are exempt
rom militia duty, and from serving on uries
,ut not from working on roads, nor from obev.
ng summons to appear in court rs witnesses.
" to testify before Grand Jury. Justices Of
he Peace, unless excluded by their own State
avs, may serve also as Postmasters.
No. l5,-Dagusrreotypes when sent in the.