American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1874-12-19
Instructions Relative to the New Postal
Law.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 8.
The following Instructions have been APP
proved by oostmaster-Gen. Jewell in relation
to the prepayment of postage on papers and
other printed matter on and after Jan. l, 1875,
under the act of June %, 1874:
Section 5 of said act divides the matter
therein described into two classes and
fixes the rate of postage on each fol-
lows: On all newspapers and period-
Gals issued weekly oftener two cents
per pound or a fraction thereof; and on
all those issued less frequently three cents
per pound or fraction thereof. Under Sec.
&, upon the receipt of such matter at the
mailing Office, properly assorted into the two
classes, 1t must be prepaid (after deducting
stamps furnished by the department for
this purpose. Ordinary postage stamps
cannot be used for this purpose, nor
can these stamps be used for any other
purpose. Postmasters will make the fol-
lowing deduction for the weight of sacks,
viz: No jute sack, two and a half pounds;
No. : jute sack, t 40 pounds; No. l cotton
sack, three aud a quarter pounds: No. cot
ton sack. three and half pounds. On re-
ceipt Of the postage the Postmaster will give
a receipt from book of blank forms fur
nished by the department. The stamps will
then he affixed to the stub of the receipt and
cancelled by perforating them with punch,
and the blank spaces in the stub be filled
to correspond with the receipt. The stub
books to be kept permanently in
the office, to be ready to be produced when
ever demanded by the department The
Postmaster will render promptly at the end Of
each quarter, in blank forms furnished for
the purpo e, statement of the postage col
lected from each publisher or news agent
during the quarter. These special stamps
will be charged to Postmasters, a account
ed for in the same manner as ordinary post
age stamps
Newspapers, periodicals and circulars de-
posted in a ietter-carrier office for deliv. ry
by the office or its carriers are subject to
postage at the following rates: On news
papers, regular or transient, not exceeding
two ounces in weight, one cent each; on peri
odicals, regular or transient, not exceeding
two ounces in weight, one cent each !;
on periodicals, regular or transient, ex-
ceeding two ounces in weight, two cent each
circulars, unseaied, one cent: weekly
newspapers to transient parties, one cent for
each two ounces or fraction thereof These
rates must be prepaid by postage stamps
affixed Weekly newspapers to regular sub
scribers will be five cents per quarter. I'm
der this section county papers pass by
mail free to subscribers actually residing
within the county, but when delivered at let
ter-carrer offices, or by letter carrier, they
are subject to the rates OF postage fixed in
the laws and regulations, page ca, Sec. l5S,
namely: On publications not exceeding four
ounces in weight, issued less frequently than
once week, one cent for each copy, and
when issued once week five cents addition
al per quarter, and five cents additional per
quarter for each issue more frequent than
once week. An additional rate shall
be charged for each additional -four
ounces or fraction thereof These
rates must be paid quarter
ly before delivery of such matter, either AT
the office of mailing delivery. When not
so paid, postage must be collected on delivery
Of each copy at transient rates, viz: One
cent for each two ounces or fraction thereof
The foregoing instructions are to take effect
the LIST day of January, 1873, and to continu,
in force until modified OF superseded by the
department.
In reg .rd to the question where newspa
pers and other printed mater must be
| weighed for prepayment of postage under the
new law on and after Jan. l, 1875, it may be
stated, by authority of the Postofice De
partment, that the general rule re
| q,iring the weighing to take place at the
| Postotfice where the matter is mailed wi
be modified for convenience Of publisher.
| in any locality where it is shown to b.
desirable that weighing should be permitted
| elsewhere tan at the Postoffice. 1t lie under
| stood that New York newspaper publisher.
prefer the weighing to be done at the Postof
nee, while at Chicago and other cities il i:
desired to have printed matter rccei ed anc
weighed a. the railway depot Each snriica
| ton for modification of the rule wii be dc
cided on its individual merits.