The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1864-08-25
The New Postal Law,


On looking over the act Of Congress
which was approved July 1, and now &C
by the notes of the Postmaster
General, we find several sections Of great
Importance generally. First, we notice
the
LETTER-CARRIER SYSTEM.
Letter-carriers will be appointed, and
their salaries fixed by the Postmaster Gen
eral, as heretofore.
Where letter-carriers are already appoint
ed their duty is to deliver all letters concern
ing which there is no positive direction to
the contrary.
1t is the special duty of postmasters to
provide that all letters are regularly, fire.
quently and promptly delivered by the car
riers, so that citizens may have no excuse
for cIinging to the old custom of calling at
the postofice. The purpose Of the law pro-
viding for free delivery Of letters at the |
houses of owners, is to promote the public |
and at the same time reduce |
the labor in postoffices. The postnasters
will especially discourage the use Of private |
boxes and steadily aim at reducing them to |
the lowest number possible.
In order to facilitate the carriers work
citizens must be induced to provide letter
boxes at their houses and places of business.
Where carriers are not yet employed,
postmasters should immediately recommend
one or more for appointment, selecting only
young vigorous and trustworthy men, III
whom the people may fully confide.
To give this branch Of the public service
the utmost efficiency, the Postmaster Gen
eral has now established letter-carriers
desk in connection with the appointment
division of his own department. and assign
ed thereto the experienced General St. John
B.. |. Skinner, who will supervise the duties
Of the new desk in addition to those Of the
principle clerksEip Of the appointment di-
vision.
POSTAGE STAMPS AND STAMPED ENvEI-
oPEs.
This section is especially destined to en-
courage parties to purchase stamps and
stamped envelopes as articles Of trade, to
be resoid, and thus relieve postotflces OF the
labor connected with making sales III small
quantities.
Postmasters will accordingly sell postage
stamps in quantities not less than one hum
bred dollars i'll value, and stamped envel-
opes in packages containing not less than
| five hundred envelopes, at discount OF i've
per cent. from the face value OF stamps and
from the current prices Of envelopes, inclu-
ding the stamps
! In order to obtain credit for the discount
| thus allowed, voucher must be procured
in each case signed by the purchaser, show
ing the original value of the stamps and en-
velopes of each denominations and amount
deducted, and the actual amount paid for
them.
Postmasters will report monthly to the
Third Assistant Postmaster General the
amount Of such sales
CORRESPONDENCE WITH FOREIGN COUN-
TRIES.
Section eight establishes uniform rates OF
United States postage, without regard to
distance, upon all letters, etc, addressed to
foreign countries with which postal treaties
or arrangements have not been concluded.
Heretofore the United States postage on let
tiers addressed to such countries has varied
In amount according to distance, ten cents
the single rate, having been charged for dis
tances not exceeding twenty-five hundred
miles, and twenty cents the single rate for
any distance over two thousand miles; but
in future the United States postage is to be
levied and collected at the office OF mailing
or delivery, at uniform rates. as follows
Two cents per single rate, or half ounce,
on letters
Two cents each on newspapers, and the
established domestic rates on pamphlets,
periodicals, and other kinds of printed mat
ter.
These rates do not, of course, apply to
correspondence exchanged with foreign
countries under existing international pos
tai arrangements
DEAD LETTERS.
Section-k9 Ind be IL fj5rtAer enGct0d,
That the 28th section Of the act entitled
IAN act to amend the laws relating to the
Postoffice Department., approved March 3,
1868, be and the same is hereby amended
by the addition OF the following clause
namely: And when any letter bearing
request for its return 10 the writer, III case
of its non-delivery, shall have been SO re-
turned to the Office at which it was orlgl-
nally mailed, then and i'll that case 1t shall
be obligatory upon the person to whom
such letter has been returned to receive the
same and to pay therefor the postage specl-
fed III this section; and in default OF said
writer to receive and pay for the letter so
returned, he shall be subject to penalty OF
so, to be recovered i'll any court OF compe-
tent jurisdiction.
Section 10 of the law of March 3, 1868,
here referred to, is one Of great Importance,
as it enables writers of letters which may
remain unclaimed to receive them back
again without going through the dead-letter
office, Particular attention is called to the
instructions published on this subject i'll
July 1860; May 1861, and with section %
of act of March 3, 1868.
The present law imposes penalty OF $40
on any person who refuses to pay the post
age OF a letter returned to him at his own
request, aud postmasters are directed to en-
force this provision against all persons who |
may persist in such refusal
SALARIES OF PosTMAsTERs.
The basis OH which salaries will be adjus
ted is the aggregate compensation OF
postmasters as derived from commissions, |
box rents or other sources. Thus, under
the first adjustment the salaries will be made |
equal, as nearly as may be, to the compen-
Bation heretofore received.
Section q This section contempIates in
salaries of postmastcrs i'll proper
ton to the increase Of their business; also, |
a reduction of salaries where there is a |
diminution Of business.
Postmasters at Offices of the first second
and third classes will be specially notified,
before September 80, of the salaries allowed |
them respectively, from July l.
Those OF the fourth and fifth classes will |
receive commissions as heretofore, and rem
der accounts accordingly, for the quarter
ending September 80, 1864 Their salaries
will begin October l.
&c" Army pies are so terrible tough, that
the soldiers call them leather pies A poor