Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-03-10
TUESDAY MORNING, MARCH 10. 1868.

q week, from known office of publication
and sent to regular subscribers, shall be as
follows: Upon newspapers, magazines, and
other periodical publications, each not ex-
ceeding the standard weight of four ounces.
and passing through the mails or post offices
of the United States, between any points
therein, the rate for each such paper OF peri
odical shall be one cent, and an additional
rate of one cent for each additional weight of
four ounces or fraction thereof; Provided,
that the postmaster general may provide by
regulation for the transportation of small
newspapers in packages at the same rate by
the standard weight of the package when sent
to one address and the rates herein provided
must be prepaid at either the office of mailing
or of delivery, at the option of the subscriber,
Tor a term not less than one quarter nor more
than one year, except that news dealers may
pay the postage upon their packages as re-
ceived, at the same rates pro rata as yearly or
sem-annual subscribers who pay postage
quarterly in advance.
Sect. 81. And be it further enacted, that
publishers may enclose in their publications
sent to regular subscribers the bills for sub
scription thereto without any additional
charge for postage and may write or print
upon their publications, or upon the wrappers
thereof, the name and address of the sub
scribers thereto, and the date when the sub
Scription will expire; but any other enclosure
or addition in writing or in print shall subject
the Same to letter postage, which shall be col
lected before delivery thereof.
Sect. 50. And be it further enacted, that
the postmaster general may from time to time
provide by order the rates and terms upon
which route agents may receive and deliver
at the mail car or steamer packages of news
papers and periodicals delivered to them for
that purpose by the publishers, or any news
agent III charge thereof, and not received
from, nor designated for delivery at, any post
Office.
Sect. 80. And be it further enacted, that the
postmaster general has authority to prescribe
by regulation the manner of wrapping and Sc
curing for the mails all matter not charged
with letter postage nor lawfully franked so
that the same may be conveniently examined
by postmasters; and if not SO wrapped and Sc
cured, the same shall be subject to letter
postage. He may also provide by regulation
for ascertaining by furnished lists, by aiiidav-
it or otherwise, whether publishers send or
have sent their publications unpaid through
the mails to other than their regular subscrib-
erS.
Sect. 40. And be it further enacted, that
p0stmasters, at the Office of delivery, are au-
thOrZed, audit shall be their duty, to remove
other matter not charged with letter postage,
nor lawfully franked, for the purpose of as
pertaining whether there is upon, or connected
with, any such printed matter or in such
package any matter or thing which would au.
thorize or require the charge of higher rate
Of postage thereon.
Sect. Al. And be it further enacted, that
the postmaster general may require an affida-
Wit in form, to be prescribed by general regu-
lation, to be taken by any publisher or any
clerk, agent, or servant of such publisher of
any paper or periodical, which, by the tie rms
of this act may be sent to regular subscribers
without prepayment Of postage at the mailing
office, to the effect that neither he nor any
other proprietor, clerk, agent or employee,
within his knowledge, has sent, or caused or
permitted o be sent, through the mails, with
out prepayment by postage stamps, any copies
of such paper or periodical, (naming it, ex-
cept the same were sent to bona fide and reg
uar subscribers thereto And if it be ascer-
tanned that such papers or periodicals have
been thus unlawfully sent, with the knowledge
or consent of such proprietors, or of the agent
or clerk in charge of that business, or if such
affidavit, when required by the postmaster
general, or by special agent of the post office
department. shall be refused the person guilty
of such offence, or refusing such oath, shall
be liable to fine Of fifty dollars in each case,
to be recovered by suit before any court of
competent jurisdiction, one-half of which
when recovered shall be paid to the informer.
Sect. ~. And be it further enacted that
authority to frank mail matter is conferred
upon and limited to the following persons:
First. The president of the United States,
by himself or his private secretary,
Second. The vice president of the United
States. Third. The chiefs of the several
H.
cipal officers, being heads of bureaus or chief
clerks of each executive department. to be
used only for official communications, as
the postmaster general shall by regulation
prescribe. Fifth. Senators and representa-
tives in the congress of the United States in
Guiding delegates from territories the secre-
tary of the senate and clerk of the house of
representatives, to cover correspondence to
and from them, and all printed matter issued
by authority Of Congress, and all speeches pro-
ceedings, and debates in congress, and all prin-
ted matter sent to them; their ranking privi-
lege to commence with the termfor whichthey
are elected and to expire onthe first Monday of
December following such term of office
Sixth. All official communications addressed
to either of the executive departments of gov
eminent by an officer responsible to that de-
partment: Provided, that in all such eases
the envelope shall be marked ''offical," with |
the signature thereto of the officer writing the |
communication. Seventh. Postmasters have |
also the ranking privilege for their official
communications to other postmasters; Pro-
vided, that in all such cases the envelope shall
be marked ''official," with the signature of the
writer thereto, and for any and every such
endorsement of "official" falsely made, the |
person making the same shall forfeit and pay |
three hundred dollars. Eighth Petitions
to either branch of congress shall pass
free in the mails Ninth All COM
munications addressed to any of the frank
ing officers above described, and not
excepted in the foregoing clause, must be pre-
paid by postage stamps. The franking privi-
lege hereinbefore granted shall be limited to
packages weighing not exceeding four ounces,
except petitions to congress and Congressional |
or executive documents, and such publications
or books as have or may be published,
procured, or purchased by order of either
house OF congress, or a joint resolution of
the two houses, which shall be considered as
public documents, and entitled to be ranked
as such and exceptalso seeds, cuttings, roots,
and scions, the weight of the packages of
which may be fixed by regulation of the post
master general.
Sect. -. And be it further enacted, that all
publishers of periodicals, magazines, and
newspapers which shall not exceed sixteen
ounces in weight shall be allowed to inter
change their publications reciprocaly free of
postage: provided that such interchange