The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1874-08-06
THE new POSTAL LAW.
Its Most Important Provisions.

Its Most Important Provisions.
The first Assistant Postmaster Gen
eral writes that 1.-The new postal law is
now in operation. except sections S and
6, which take effect January /, 1875. "
Under the new law the postage on mer-
chandise and all other matter of the
third class, the postage is uniform at l
cent for ounces or fraction thereof
packages limited to 4 pounds.
1t will be observed that there is a re-
duction in the rate of postage from 2
cents to | cent per 2 ounces or fraction
on merchandise and such other articles
governed by the same rules, as well as
an increase in the weight-limit from II
ounces to 4 pounds. The articles of the
third class, to which this provision re-
fers, are enumerated in section 1873 of
the Postal laws of 1873, and are as fol-
lows:
Sec. 1873. Mailable matter ofthe third
class shall embrace all pamphlets, &C.
casional publications, transient news
papers, magazines, handbills, posters,
unsealed circulars, prospectuses, books,
book-manuscripts, proof-sheets, cor
rected proof-sheets, maps, prints,
engravings, blanks, flexible pat
terms, samples Of merchandise
not exceeding pounds in weight,
sample-cards, photographic paper, let
ter-envelopes, postal envelopes and
wrappers, cards. plain and ornamental
paper, Photographic representations of
different types, seeds, cuttings, bulbs,
roots, scions, and all other matter which
may be declared mailable by law, and
all other articles not above the weight
prescribed by law, which are not, from
their form or nature, liable to destroy,
deface, or otherwise injure, the contents
of the mailbag, or the person or any
one engaged in the postal service. All
liquids, poisons, glass, explosive mate
rials, and obscene books, shall be ex-
Guided from she mails.
The following provisions Of the new
postal law went into operation July l.,
1874:
Sec. I. That newspapers, one copy
to each actual subscriber residing in the
county where the same are printed. IN
whole OF in part, and published, shall
60 free through the mails; but the same
shall not be delivered at letter-carrier
offices or distributed by carriers unless
postage is paid thereon as by law pro-
vided.
Sec. 8. That all mailable matter of
the third class, referred to in Sec. 1873
Of the act entitled San act to revise,
consolidate, and amend the statutes re-
lating to the Post-Offce Department, :"
approved June 8. 1872, may weigh not
exceeding pounds for each package
thereof, and postage shall be charged
thereon at the rate of cent for each 2
ounces or fraction thereof: but nothing
herein contained shall be held to change
or amend Sec. 1874 of said act.
Sec. 9. That the Postmaster Gen
eral, when in his judgment it shall be
necessary, may prescribe, by regula-
ton, an affidavit in form, to be made by
each publisher of any newspaper or pc
riodical publication sent through the
mails under the provisions of this act,
OF news agent who distributes any Of
such newspapers or periodical publica-
tons under the provisions of this act,
OF employe of such publisher or news
agent, stating that he will not send, or
knowingly permit to be sent, through
the mails any copy or copies Of such
newspaper or periodical publications
except to regular subscribers thereto,
or news agents, without prepayment Of
the postage thereon at the rate of l cent
for each 2 ounces or fractional part
thereof; and if such publisher or news
agent, when required by the Postmaster
General or any special agent Of the
Post Office Department to make such
affidavit, shall refuse to do so,and shall
thereafter, without having taken such
affidavit, deposit any newspapers in the
mails for Transmission, he shall be