New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-07-16
Departmental.
n Congressional Com maitiee.
THE NEW POSTAL LAW.

The post Office bill passed by the last
session of Congress makes the following
changes in the postal laws 4:
Newspaper and Periodical Postage.-
On and after January /, 1873, newspa-
pers and periodicals mailed from the
Office of publication to be paid in adj
vance by weight at the following rates ::
Issued weekly or oftener, 2 cents a
pound and fraction thereof; less fire.
quently cents. To be weighed in bulk
and paid by attaching special adhesive
stamp, prepared for the purpose, to the
package, or as the Postmaster General
may direct. One copy of each newspa-
per to Observation-Disclosures to go free in the
county where they are printed in whole
or in part.
Other MailaJ1e Matter.-The new law
makes uniformity in all matter other
than letters, newspapers. and periodicals,
limits the packages to four pounds, at
one cent for each two ounces.
Salaries of Postmdsters.-The new law
fixes the salaries of first, second, and
third-class offices on new basis, accord
ing to the receipts of the same. Post
masters of the fOurth-class to be paid
by commission on the receipts and
the full receipts from post office box
rents.
THE NEW PENSION LAWS.
The following changes in the pension
laws were made during the last session
of Congress:
Total Disabiluy-Increase of Pension.
All persons who while in the military
or naval service who were so permanently
and totally disabled as to require the
regular presence, aid, and attendance of
another person, to have their pensions
increased from $50 % to $50 per month,
commencing June 4, 1874.
Partial Disability Increase of Pension.
Persons who are now entitled to PEN
sions under existing laws, and who have
lost either an arm at OF above the elbow.
or leg at or above the knee, shall be
rated in the second class, and shall re-
ceive twenty-fOur dollars per month,
uhC lObf.
In order to obtain the benefit of this
act pensioners have only to return their
certificates, accompanied by letter CIV
ing their post-Office address, no formal
application being required. No medical
examination will be ordered, excepting
in cases where the evidence on file fails
to show the point of amputation.
Pensions Granted Under Special Acts.
Persons entitled to pensions under
special acts fixing the rate of such pen
sions, and now receiving or entitled to
receive less pension than that allowed
by the general pension laws under like
circumstances, are, in lieu of their pres
ent rate of pension, hereby declared to
be entitled to the benefits and subject to
the limitations of the general pension
laws.
Pensioners who were on the roll by
special act, the act fixing the rate of
their pension, were debarred from in
crease under the general pension laws.
The above act places this class of pen
sioners on the same footing as other
pensioners. so far as rating is concerned,
but does not grant arrears, the increase
dating from June 6, 1874. The return
of the pension certificate to the Pension
Bureau, accompanied by letter giving
post office address, is all that is neces-
sary.
BOUNTY CLAIMS.
BY Congressional act the time for fill
ing additional bounty claims has been
extended to January 30, 1875.
NEW MONEY-ORDER OFFICES.
Nearly 400 additional money order off,
ces have been established, distributed
over the several States, in places where
increasing business required this con-
venience.