The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-03-19
THE POSTAL SYSTEM.
How 1t Was Altered by the Postofhce Ap-
preparation Bill Passed at the Recent

e. .
passed; and when it did pass, there was q
general misunderstanding as to its provis-
ions. The essential features Of this law may
be gathered from the extracts given below
from the report of the committee OF confer
ence, which show that the postal system has
been materially altered. The information
contained in this report will not be ohclal!y
made public until the law can be printeo'
which will not be for some time. MEAL
while, this report will be of interest to every
person having to do with the postomce.
The provision of special interest TO outgo-
inp Conoressmen was inserted by the con
ference. and was not contained in the Dill as
it passed either house. This provision Is: 10
Provided further, That from and atter tne
passage of this act Senators, hepreseneasi.sses s
and Delegates in Congress, the sec1esary % nv
tiyes. NAV send and receive through the maj!
free all public documents printed by oroes OF
C0npress:' and the name of each senator, heP-
resentatiye, Delegate, secretary OF the Senate,
and clerk Of the House, shall be written there
on with the proper designation OF the once ne
holds, and the provisions OF TINS secsion s,'
apply to each of the persons named hereln IN
til the first Monday in December following the
expiration of their respective terms OF ONCE.
The following sections contain those gen
eral features of the bill which are new legis-
lation: -
Soc. 5. The postmaster general shall, in all
cases, decide upon what trains and III What
manner the mails shall DO conveyed. 5.. :,
Sec. 4. That all cars or parts OF cars useu
for the railway mail service shall De OF s"cn
STYLE length and character, and furnished IN
such manner as shall be required by the posi-,
master general and shall be constructed, nGted
up, maintained, heated, and lighted by and at
the expense of the railroad companies.
Sec S. That the postmaster general snali
for every failure to deliver mail within It's
schedule time, not less than one-hait OF the
price of the trip and where the trip Is not
performed Lot less than the price OF one trip,
and not exceeding, in either case. the price or
three trips. Provided, however, That II the
failure is caused by connecting roao' 'ne1
only the connecting road shall be lined. And
where such failure is caused by unavoidable
casualty the postmaster general, in his dlscre-
ton, may remit the fine. And he may make
deductions and impose fines for other DELHI
quencies.
Sec. g. That the acknowledgement shall re-
quest all railroad companies transporting the
mails to furnish, under seal, such data relating
to the operating, receipts and expenditures OF
such roads as may, in his judgment, be deemed
necessary to enable him to ascertain the cost OF
mail transportation and the proper comPensa-
ton to be paid for the same; and he shall, IN
his usual report to Congress, make such recon-
mendations, founded on the information OBJ
tanned under this section, as shall, IN his opln-
ion, be just and equitable.
Sec 7. That mailable matter shall be divided
into four classes:
First-Written matter.
Second-Periodical publications.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. printed matter.
Fourth-Merchandise
Sec. 8. Mailable matter of the first class
shall embrace letters, postal cards and all mat
tiers wholly or partly in writing, except as here
matter provided.
Sec. 9. That on mailable matter of the first
class, except postal cards and drop letters, post
age shall be paid at the rate of three cents for
each half ounce or fraction thereof; postal
cards shall be transmitted through the mails at
a postage charge of one cent each, including
the cost of manufacture; and drop letters shall
be mailed at the rate of two cents per half
ounce or fraction thereof, including delivery at
letter-carrier offices, and one cent for each half
ounce or fraction thereof where free delivery
by carrier is not established. The postmaster
general may, however, provide by regulation
for transmitting unpaid and duly certified let
ters of soldiers, sailors and marines in the ser
vice of the United States to their destination,
to be paid on delivery. 49, --~.
Sec. 10. That mailable matter OF the second
class shall embrace all newspapers and other
periodical publications which are issued at
stated intervals, and as frequently as four
times a year, and are within the conditions
named in sections IL and IA.
Sec IL. Publications of the second class,
except as provided in section Is, when sent by
the publisher thereof, and from the Office OF
publication, including sample copies, or when
sent from news-agency to actual subscribers
thereto, or to other news-agents, shall be en-
titled to transmission through the mails at
cents pound or fraction thereof. such postage
to be prepaid, as now provided by law.
Sec. IL. That matter of the second clas:
may be examined at the Office of mailing, anc
if found to contain matter which is subject tt
a higher rate Of postage, such matter shall b.
CHARGED with postage at the rate to which tn
inclosed matter is subjects Provided, tina
nothing herein contained shall be so construed
as to prohibit the insertion in periodicals O
advertisements attached permanently to tn
same.
sec 49, That any person who shall submit
or cause to be submitted for transportation il
the nlails; any false evidence to the postmaste
relative to the character of his publication
shall be deemed guilty of misdeme amor, and
upon conviction thereof in any court of compe
tent Jurisdiction, shall for every such offens
be punished by line OF not less than $luO no
more than $500.
Sec IA. That the conditions upon which
publication shall be admitted to the secon
class are az follows:
First-It must regularly be issued at state
intervals, as frequently as four Times veal
and bear date of issue, and lie numbered cor
secutively.
Second-It must be issued from known OF
fee of publication.
Third-It must be formed of printed pape
sheets, without board cloth, leather, or othe
substantial binding, such as distinguish printe
books for preservation from periodical publica
tions.
Fourth-It must be originated and publishe
for the dissemination of information of put
lie character, or devoted to literature, the SCI
ences, arts, or some special industry, and hay
ing legitimate list of Subscribers: Provided
however, that nothing herein contained shall
80 construed as to admit to the second-clas
rate regular publications designed principal
for advertising purposes, or for free circulation
or for circulation at nominal rates.
Sec. Is. That foreign newspapers and othe
periodicals of the same general character 8
those admitted to the second class in the Unite
States may, under the direction of the postma
ter-general, application of the publisher
thereof or their agents, be transmitted throug
the mails at the same rates as if published i
the United States. Nothing in this act shall
so construed as to allow the transmissio
through the mails Of any publication whic
violates any copyright granted by the Unite
States.
Sec. 16. That publishers of matter of tt
second class may, without subjecting it to e,
ira postage, fold within their regular issues
supplement-; but in all cases the added matt
must be germane to the publication which
supplements, that is to say, matter supplied
complete that to which it is added or suppl
-o,+o1 b,,+ from the repular iss1