The Kansas herald of freedom., 1855-04-07
Post once Law.

An ACT fnEtheT 70 amend the act entitled a An
aet 70 sednce and modify the rates of postage
- 'he sated states, and for other parposes,n
passed March 5, 1s5i.
Bs 1t enacted By the Senate and Hov.e
l.eprese'9al.sss Of The United SGafes
q Amersea ia Congress asseH5ed. That
U lieu Of the rates of postage now es.
tabllshed by law, there shall be charoed
the following rates, to wit.
For every single letter in msnusc-;r.
or paper of any kind in which inforrs'
ton shall be- asked for or. eonmua;ca.
ted In writing. or BY marks or signs. con.
veyed in the mail for any distance Be-.
tween places in the United States not ex-
Ieeeding three thousand miles, thfeecents;
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 quadruple letter quadruple,
those rates; and every letter or parcel
not exceeding half an ounce in weight
shall be deemed a single letter; and ever
additional weight of half an ounce, OF.
additional weight of less than half an
ounce, shallbe charged with an sdditional
single postage and upon allletters pass
ing 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 or 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 Janu-
airy. eighteen hundred and fifty-six, the
Postmaster General may require post
masters 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 ali letters which
shall hereafter be advertised as remaining
over, or uncalled for in any post-ofice.
shall be charged with ono cent each, in
addition to the regular postage, both to bc
accounted for as other postages- -now ars.
Sec. 2. That it shall not be lawful for
any postmaster OF. ether 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 there
for by the Post Office Department; and
any person who shall violate this proyis-
ion shall be deemed guilty of a inisde-
meanor, 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 and
after the commencement of the next fiscal
quarter after its passage: Provided, That
nothing herein contained shall be so con-
strued as 10 alter the laws in relation 70
the franking privilege. -.
SEC. 3. That for the greater security
of valuable letters posted for transmits
sion in the mails of the United States,
the Postmaster General be, and hereby
is, authorized to establish uniform plan
for the registration of such letters on ap-
plieation of parties posting the same, and
to require the prepayment of the post.
age, as well as registration fee of Eve
cents on every letter or packet, 20 be ac-
counted for by postmasters receiving the
same in such manner as the Postmaster
General shall direct: PrOpidsd. Aoseeuer.
That such registration shall not be COM
pulsory: and it shall not render the Post
Office Department or its revenue liable
for the loss of such letters or packets, or
the contents thereof. alE'-ei
Approved March 8, 1855. 7sas