New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-03-09
TIE POSTAL Laws.

aries are less than $1,000 the President al
above that figure: Postmasters to reside il
the delivery district OF their Office. Every
Postu raster and agent is to take the genera
oath OF July. 1862, aud special oath OF faith.
iuipess and honesty in his Office. No mai
matter shall DO delivered until the postage is
paid; box rent must be paid at least one quar-.
ter in advance. Strict rules are made rs Ia
keeping of accounts and records. When BUSH
ness is greatly Increased at pOst-oflice by
reason OF the presence Of a military force, the
Postmaster. General may allow reasonable extra
compensation. Quarterly accounts to the
Department are imperative, false swearing in
which is perjury. Dead letters, having valn-
able Enclosures, are to be registered, returned
when practicable, and if not, the value goes TO
the Department, subject to reclamation within
four years. The advertising of letters is left
to the discretion of the POstmaStcr-Genera,
with the restriction that publication shall DO
made in the newspaper having the largest
circulation within the special distrct--the pay
TO be no more than one cent per letter.
Publishers must bo notified when papers are
not taken out for ono month, which notice
may be sent free. Foreign dead letters sha
be subject to conventional stpulations with the
raspectiye Governments. The business OF local
delivery aud collection Of letters is to BIZ
regulated by the ostmastcr-Gencral; but car
riers are to be paid salary and give bonds
nj al
branch Post. Offices odd letter.bOxes in ctiesj
all accounts for local business to BIZ kept rep
arate Contracts may be made with publishers
for delivery by local carriers of papers, &c,
coming through the mails; the Postmaster-Gen-
era may also provide for the delivery Of small
packets, other than letters and papers, pro-
yided they are prepaid (ior deliyery) at the
rate of two cents for each four ounces. NO
package, weighing over four pounds, shall 90
through the mail, except books circulated by
order of Congress. Postage must be prepaid
by stamps on domestic letters, whether for
mail or local delivery, on transient printed
matter, and everything else, save newspapers
arranged for by the quarter or other period.
There are but three classes OF ma.aOle matters
viz: letters, regular or periodical printed matter,
ardmisceIlaneous matter. TIE first class embrace,
correspondence, wholly or partly in writing,
except that mentioned III the third class. The
second class embraces all mailabc matter ex-
cIusiyely IN print, and issued at stated periods,
without addition by writing mark, or sign.
The third class embraces all other matter de-
clared maiablc; embracing pamphlets, occa-
sonal publications, books, book manuscripts,
proof.sheets, maps, prints, engrayings, blanks,
flexible patterns samples and sample cards,
Photographic paper, letter envelopes, postal
envelopes or wrappers, cards, paper, photo
graphic representations of seeds, cuttings,
bulbs, roots, and sciOns. The maximum
standard weight for the single rate of letter
postage is one-half ounce eyo!rdupois. The
rate Of postage ON all domestic letters not ex-
ceeding one.haf ounce, shall be uniform at
three cents; and for each half ounce, or irac-
ton thereof of additional weight, an addi-
tional rate of three cents, to be in all cases
prepaid by postage STAMPS. Drop or local
letters, two cents per half ounce. prepaid
BY stamps; and no further fee can be charged
for delivery or for taking from street
boxes to the mas. Letter rates are to
be charged on irregular matter, part writ
ing and part print, except that publishers
may send aud secure proof sheets and
advice patrons by writing on papers, when
their subscription is up, at printed matter
rates. On unclassiiied matter, where no specific
rate is set down, letter postage is charged.
When mail matter that should be prepaid
goes forward unpaid, double rates are charged
at the delivery Office. Soldiers and sailors
letters are exempt from this extra charge, and
may 90 unpaid. On returned dead letters, II
valuable, double rates must be paid If no,
valuable, three cents only. Letters not finding
owners at the office named, must be- forwarded
when his place is known. without extra charge.
The General may pay not more
than two cents tor carrying letters in vessels
not carrying mails, such letters TO be put IN
Post Office on arrival in port; if for local de-
livery, another two cents should be affixed.
No fees are allowed for letters col
lected by carrier on mail
route. The registry system reiaains as worth
less Us ever the Government will take any
sum not more than 20 cents for registering u
letter, but will be in no manner responsible
for loss or miscarriage. Tho maximum weight
for single postage on printed matter IA four
ounces, aud the same tor miscellaneous or
third class matter; and the postage On such
four ounces is two cents, always prepaid by
stamps; double these rates are charged for