The daily Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1862-1863, 1863-07-01
For the Evansville Journal.
Changes in Post Offiee Laws and
Regulations.

act was passed, approved March 3,
1861 amending the laws governing the
Post Office Department. Radical and
extensive changes are made. The off,
cial Instructions, predicated on the act
alluded to, have just been received at
this office; and for the information of
the public the following summary is
given. All persons using the mails
should inform themselves of the provis-
ions of the amended postal law, and
carefully observe them, to prevent mis-
understandings.
The amending Act goes into effect
July l, 1868.
POstmasters are required to retain all
kinds of unpaid mail matter until it is
paid for. Collections will be made on
delivery, as a rule; and in cases where,
owing to a want of time, tickets for small
amounts are placed in the glass-boxes,
or charged to lock-boxes, holders will be
required to pay these arrearaees promptly
and not allow them to accumulate. The
P. NJ would much prefer to have nothing
charged to boxes.
Postmasters are required to effectu-
ally cancel all postage stamps; and there
is very severe penalty affixed to the
offense of washing the cancellng marks
from postage stamps with the intent to
use the same again or cause them to be
so used, or to buy or sell such stamps.
The system of advertising letters and
sending them to the Dead Letter Office,
is radically changed
Letters at this Office will hereafter be
advertised sceekly-ou Tuesdays-the
German letters in that language as here
tofore Unclaimed letters will be sent
to the Dead Letter Office eUery meek, and
about fire 1ceekS after their receipt, ex-
cept letters which their writer's request
t. have returned TO them; or letters
bearing requests to be retained a speci-
fed time: or letters which there is spe-
cial reason to believe can-he delivered
by holding more than month, and not
exceeding three months from the date
of receipt
Letters of the following descriptions
must be sent within week after receipt
to the Dead Letter Office:
l. Letters having on stamps previ-
ously used or stamps cut from stamped
envelopes. 3. Unpaid letters for foreign
countries ON which prepayment is re-
quired by postal treaties g. Letters not
addressed, or so badly addressed that
their destination cannot be ascertained.
4. Letters directed to places where there
are no post Offices. 3. Letters intem-
tionalLy unpaid Except certified sol.
diers and naval letters)
Valuable letters returned to the writer
or the person addressed, are rated at
cents each half ounce instead of 9 cts.
as heretofore Dead letters returned for
delivery to the writer are rated at cts.
each half ounce instead of 6 cts. as here
toiore.
When periodicals or newspapers are
refused or uncalled for, for month, the
publishers are to be notified.
The system of free delirery of letters
is to be introduced in the larger cities
where the population will iustifyIt. The
carriers will be selected with great care
and will not be subject to removal on the
advent of new administration. Fitnes:
will be the only test in their case
Branch post Offices and pillar boxes fol-
large cities are also provided for Pro
vision is also made for the carriage anC
delivery by letter-carriers, in large cities
of newspapers, periodicals, circulars
and small packages. Special effort viii
be made to render this carrier system
effective and popular.
No package over four pounds ir
weight. exeept bqaJongress, can pe COZ
veyed in the mail.
Under the new law all postage must b'
prepaid except on
/. Matter lawfully .franked. 2. For
eign letters regulated by special col
ventions. 3. Printed matter regularl
issued and sent to regular subscribers
4. Certified soldiers and naval letters.
Postage on regular publications mus
be paid for an adUdnce for not less tina
three nor more than twelve months, eithe
at the mailing office or office of delivery
The postage on letters mailed will b
three cents per half ounce or fractio
thereof, to all places in the United State
including the Pacific coast Recolle'
that, after July lst, letters to and froi
the country beyond the Rocky Mountain
WlJnln the OullcQ OtdICoi VIII OS OIiy
cents per half ounce or fraction thereo
, instead of 10 cents as heretofore.
Letters are for,cdrded as heretofor
Drop or local letters will be 2 cents f
4 each half ounce or fraction thereof, /
stead of cent as heretofore. Bear tn
iis mind especially.
Letters which are not prepaid as t
law requires, shall be sent (unless
, tentionally dropped into the post Off
unpaid), and double postage charg
thereon, to be collected on delivery. L
practice of notifying the person addre
, ed is abolished If postage is partly p
paid, the unpaid postage will be charg
double rates. Certified soldiers and l
s' val letters do not come under this p
vision. They are sent, and 3 cents |
half ounce collected on delivery.
to On regular publications, issued ono
=. neck or oftener, the following rates v
" be charged;
ok Weekly paper Zone copy only), sent
actual subscribers living in the coul
70 ! where printed and published, free.