Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1863-07-30
erTha act n smsnd tbe Iavs reIa-

~ The act to amend the laws rela-
live to the Postofics Department.
which went into operation on the lst
inst, contains some provisions which
should be generally understood to pre-
vent difficulties in the transmission Of
important correspondence. By the
4zd section Of this act the authority to
frank mail matter is confined to the
President or bis private secretary. the
Vice President, the chiefs Of the Ex-
ecutive Departments; the heads Of bu-
reaus or chief clerks of executive de-
partments TO cover only official cores
pondence. with the words "oficial busi-
ness" upon the envelope. signed BY the
franking officer; for such official cor
respondence the frsnsing privilege is
limited to the following officers. 1st
and ed Comptroller of the Treasury,
its Solicitor and Auditors, United
States Treasurer. Register. Assistant
Secretary of State, of the Treasury,
Of the War Department and the Navy.
Commissioners of the General Land
Office, of Customs, Of Patents, Of In
dian Affairs and Of Pensions, one As
sistent Postmaster General. one Adju-
tant General, Quartermsster General.
Inspector General, Commissary General
of Subsistence, Psymsster General.
Chief Engineer, Surveyor General.
Colonel of Ordnance. chiefs of Naval
bureaus, Superintendent and Assistant
Superintendent Of the Coast Survey,
Superintendent of the Census, Commis-
sioner OF Agriculture. Commissioner
and Deputy Commissioner Of Internal
Revenue, Provost Marshal General.
chief clerks of Executive Departments,
Senators, Representatives, and dele
gate in Congress. the Secretary Of the
Senate, and Clerk Of the House Of Rep
resentatives. The congressional frank
ing privilege covers all correspon-
dence, printed matter authorized by
Con gress. speeches, proceedings, de-
bates in Congress. to commence with
the term OF election and expire on the
FIRST Monday Of December follow
ing the term. The clause regulating
official correspondence with the CabI-
net officers changes the old laws mate
rally. All correspondence Of that
character must now be prepared, ex-
cept official communications written BY
some officer of the Department or un-
der its control, and responsible to it.
and in such cases under the words "offi-
cial business" on the envelope the off.
GER must sign bis name with bis official
designation. All other persons and all
officers writing to departments with
which they are not connected must pre-
pay their postage. All communics-
iions to the President and Vice Presi-
dent, not written by a public officer,
must be prepaid. II such communica-
tions are mailed unpaid, by citizen,
we do not see that the instructions tell
what disposition should be made Of
them. Petitions to Congress pass free
in the mails. All communications to
the above named franking officers not
specially excepted must be prepaid
The franking privilege is limited to
packages not exceeding four ounces in
weight except petitions, public docu-
nents, and TO seeds. cuttings, roots and
scions, which may weigh twelve
ounces. The rate of ten cents on the
Pacific letters is abolished, and the sin.
yle letter rate will be three cents
throughout the United States. Drop
or local letters pay two cents for each
half ounce instead of one cent as here
.ofore. The postage on uusealed cir
,ulars not over 8 in number, TO one ad-
dress, is 2 cents; over 8 and not over
5. 4 cents; over 6 and not over g, 81
cents; over g and not over 12, 8 cents |
No extra charge rs made, as hereto
ore. for any business card or address
printed on the wrapper of circulars
Soldiers letters to be sent without pre-
payment must be certified as "Soidiers'
Letters" and signed with his official
designation by field or staff officer Of
he regiment to which the soldier be-
ongs, or by the officer commanding !
lis detachment, or of the post, or by a i
surgeon or chaplain at hospital
Sailors or marines letters of the same
lass must be certified appropriately by
he officer commanding the vessel, or
~ a surgeon or chaplain on board, or
~ the officer commanding q detach-
nent OF marines on shore. All militia
y or naval letters not so certified de-
posted for mailing shall be sent and
charged with double postage. Letters
written by military or naval commits.
'ionsd officers cannot be SO certified.
The fee for registsring letters is in.
,reasing from five TO t,Osnty cents each.
When a registered letter is receipted
or and mailed, a receipt therefor is
'ent with it, which, when signed by the
person addressed on receipt Of the let
er. is to be returned TO the mailing
to be delivered to the sen.
1er. This receipt shall be received in
he courts as prinaa taeis evidence of
he delivery of the letter. Registra.
ion is not compulsory, and the De.
oartment or its revenues are not liable
for loss. Postmasters are enjoined to
exercise the utmost care with this class
If letters, and new checks and guards
ire thrown around their custody, mail
ng, receipt. and delivery.
A provision exists in the new law for
he carriage and delivery BY route
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