National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-03-06
POSTAL LEGISLATION.
Important Modification Of the Postal
Laws.
New Matter Contained In the Annual APP
preparation Biii-ClassiHcation of Mall
Matter-Printed Matter Defined
A Postal Card for Foreign
Correspondence Letter
Carriers Neglected.
New Legislation in the Appropriation Bill.

New Legislation In the Appropriation Bill.
The following synopsis of the new legislation
contained In the PostOflice appropriation bill
iust passed has been prepared ut the Depart
ment for the information of the public:
Mail matter is divided into four classes
First, written matter; second periodical pub.
locations third, miscellaneous printed matter
fourth all matter not embraced in the other
three classes which is not in its form or nature
liable TO destroy, deface, or otherwise damage
the contents of the mailbag or harm the per-
sou of any one engaged in the postal service,
and is not above the weight provided by law,
which Is declared to be not exceeding four
pounds for each package thereof, except in
case Of single books weighing in excess of that
amount, Congressional documents, and matter
emanating from any of the Departments of the
Government, or from the Smithsonian Insttu.
ton. What Is known as the Comstock law in
regard to obscene matter is re.enacted, aud
such matter as well rs matter relating to lot.
teries, gift concerts. and fraudulent schemes OF
devices, is declared unmailable.
Printed matter is defined to be the reproduce
tion upon paper, by any process except that of
hand, writing of any words, letters, characters,
figures, or images, or of any combination there
of not having the character OF an actual and
personal correspondence,
Mail matter of the second-class embraces all
newspapers and other periodical publications
which are issued at stated intervals, and as
frequently as four times year. To come
within the second class periodical must bear
date of issue and be numbered consecutively;
must be issued from known office of pubica
ton must be formed of printed paper sheets
without board, CLOTH leather, or other sub
stantlal binding, such as distinguish printed
books for preservation from periodical publica-
tions. 1t must be originated and published
for the dissemination Of information of pub
lie character, or devoted to literature, the
sciences, arts, or to some special industry and
having legitimate list Of subs cribers. 1t is
provided, however, that nothing herein con-
| tanned shall be construed as to admit to the
second.class rate regular publications desig ned
primarily for advertising purposes or for free
circulation. or for circulation at nominal rates.
| Publications of the second class, when sent
| by the publisher thereof and from the office of
publication. including sample copies, or when
| sent 10 q news agency to actual subscribers
| thereto, or to other news agents, shall be cnti
| tied to transmission through the mails at the
uniform rate Of two cents pound, or fraction
| thereof, such postpage to be prepaid, rs now
| nroyided By law. The free delivery of one
| copy to each actual subscriber residing in the
county whore the same are published, formerly
confined to weekly papers, is extended to dali
lies and all other matter of the second class, ex-
cent mt Offices of free delivery when deposited
for delivery by its carriers. At such offices
weeklies are delivered free, but dalies and
| other publications of the second class, when de-
| livered by carriers at the post-oilicc where
published, pay the same rates as before. They
will be delivered at the post-otiice to boxes or
at the general delivery at pound rates,
Supplements are permitted, but must be
gcrmane TO the publication which they sup
plement. Publishers of second-class matter
1 and news agents may inclose in their publica.
tions bills, receipts and orders for subscrip-
ton thereto; but such bills, Sc, shall be in
such form as to contain no other information
than tho name, location, and subscription
price Of tho publication or publications to
which they refer. No writing or printing IL
permitted upon second.class matter In addi,
ton to the original print except the name and
address of the person to whom sent, and index
figures Of subscription book, either written Of
printed, the printed title of the publication
the printed name and address Of the publisher
or sender Of the same, and written or printed
words or figures or both indicating the date or
} which the subscription to such matter will end
: Foreign newspapers, and other periodicals o
the Same general character as those admitted
to the second class in the United States, may
under the direction of the Postmaster'Gen
eral, on application of tho publishers thereo
or their agents, be transmitted through til,
mails at the same rates as If published in tn,
United States but nothing in this act shall b,
so construed as to allow the Transmission
through the mails of any publication whicl
violates any copyright granted by tho United
States.
Any person who shall submit or cause to b,
submitted, aiy false evidence to the Postmas
ter relative TO tho character of his publica
ton, shall DO deemed guilty of a misdemeanor
and, upon conviction thereof in any court o.
competent jurisdiction, shall for every sucl
! oiense be punished by fine of not less thar
800 nor more than $500
Upon matter of the third class or upon the
wrapper inCloSng the same the sender may
write his own name or address thereon with
the word from above or preceding the same
and in either case he may make simple mark.
intended to designate q word or passag,
of the text to which it is desired to cal
attention. There may be placed upon the
cover or blank leaves of any book or of any
printed matter of the third class a simple
manuscript dedication or inscription that doe;
not partake of the nature Of II personal CORE
spoudence Upon any package of matter of thu
fourth class the sender may write or print hi
own name and address, preceded by the wore
from, and there may be also written or print
ed the number and names OF the articles in
closed and the sender may write or printupol
! or attach to any such articles by tag or label
mark number namo or letter for purpose o
Identification. All other writing or printing
upon matter of the last three classes subject
! to letter postage
The postage upon insuficiently prepaid mat
Ger of the first class Is to be collected by specia
stamps.
A two.cent postal card for transmission t,
, other countries of tho Universal Postal UnioI
Is authorized and n return postal card AM
stamped lotter-sheet envelope and return en-
velope for domestic use. The Congressional
] ranking privilege is continued and tho use o
Official envelopes for the free transmission q
, official letters, &c, now possessed by the Dc
, partments at Washington is extended to all oil
GERS of the Government and Of the Smithsou
ian Institution. This provision docs not AZ
! ply to pension agents or other officers who II
; ceive an allowance of the expenses for postage
A penalty OF fine and imprisonment Is tiXet
! for refusing Cancelled stamps or removing, 0
attempting to remove, the marks Of cancclla
tiOn, with intent to use the same again.
The Postmaster General Is authorized when
ever he may deem it consistent with the pub
lie interest, to accept or require new scCurit!
upon any contract existing OF hereafter mad
for carrying the mails, in substitution for an
release Of any existing surety.
The act provides that all of these provision
; will take effect upon the LIST day Of May, 1875
Copies Of the act will DO sent to all Prcsi
dental post-oiiices In few days, and u neN
: edition OF the postal laws and regulations, con
! tanning all new legislation and regulation
based thereon, is now in preparation, aud vii
be furnished TO all postmasters as soon as it ca
be completed.
As Congress failed to provide an appropri'
, tion for the pay of lettercarriers in accordanc
. with the law passed fixing their salaries, I'll
Department Will DO compelled to continu
= their pay at existing rates until suitable AZ
III I.. NNH i 4