The New Post Office Law, in Force July 1, 1863.
By Editor
THE amendments to the post office law, adopted during the last session of congress, go into effect July 1. A number of changes are made in the law by these amendments, with which the public should at once become familiar, the most important of which we proceed to point out: CLASSIFICATION OF MAILABLE MATTER.
Mailable matter is divided into three classes: 1. Letters.—This class embraces all correspondence wholly or partly in writing, except that mentioned in the third class. 2. Regular printed matter.—Under this head is included all mailable matter exclusively in print, and regularly issued at stated periods, without addition in writing, mark, or sign. 3. Miscellaneous matter.—This class embraces all other matter which is by law declared mailable, viz., all pamphlets, occasional publications, books, book manuscripts, proof-sheets whether corrected or not, maps, prints, engravings, blanks, flexible patterns, samples and sample cards, photographic paper, letter envelopes, postal envelopes or wrappers, cards, paper, plain or ornamented, photographic representations of different types, seeds, cuttings, bulbs, roots, and scions. The one cent rate on drop letters is abolished. The ten cent rate on letters to the Pacific states and territories, is abolished. The one cent extra required to be paid on letters deposited in branch offices, is abolished. Letters for the mails.—The maximum weight for the single rate of letter postage is one half ounce avoirdupois, and the rate of postage on all letters sent in the mail, to any part of the United States, is three cents for each half ounce or under, and three cents for each additional half ounce or fractional part of a half ounce. If a letter on which the postage has not been prepaid, by any cause should reach its destination, double this rate will be collected on delivery. That is to say, six cents for every half ounce and fractional part of a half ounce. If a letter is not prepaid in full, the unpaid residue will be charged at double rate. That is to say, if a letter weighs over a half ounce, and not over one ounce, and three cents has been prepaid, the charge for the other half ounce or fractional part of a half ounce, will be six cents. But in all cases where the whole or any part of the postage on a letter is not prepaid, the same will not be forwarded, unless the postmaster is satisfied that the omission to prepay was unintentional. Ship and steamboat letters.—In the case of letters conveyed by any vessel on inland waters or coastwise, from one domestic port to another, not in the pay of the department, double rates of postage will be collected at the office of delivery, viz., six cents for the single weight if to be mailed, and four cents the single weight if to be delivered at the office where deposited. But if such letter has been prepaid by United States stamps at such double rates of postage, no additional charge will be made. If only partly prepaid by stamps, double the unpaid balance will be collected on delivery. Drop letters.—Letters deposited in an office or a branch office, for delivery at the same office, or through branch offices or carriers, are to be charged with two cents the half ounce or fractional part of a half ounce, no charge to be made for delivery. Soldier’s letters.—Letters written by non-commissioned officers and privates in the military service or in the naval service (embracing the marine corps), will be forwarded without prepayment of postage, at the single rate, if plainly marked over the address, “Soldier’s letter,” or “Naval letter,” as the case may be, and signed with his official designation, by a field or staff officer of the writer’s regiment, or by the officer in command of his detachment, or of the post, or by a surgeon or chaplain at a hospital. In the navy or marine corps, by the commander of the vessel, or by a surgeon or chaplain on board, or by the commander of a detachment of marines on shore. Military or naval letters, not thus certified, will be forwarded, but rated up with double postage, to be collected on delivery. Returned and forwarded letters.—If the writer of a letter endorses on it, in writing or in printing, a request that the same be returned to the writer within a specified time, not exceeding thirty days, post masters are instructed to comply with such request. But this only applies to letters prepaid in full. The return postage is to be charged at the rate of three cents the single weight. And so in regard to letters forwarded at the request, or otherwise, of the parties addressed—the same rate of three cents the half ounce, or fractional part of a half ounce, is to be collected. Registered letters.—Some improvements are made in the registration system. The registration fee under the new law is twenty cents—heretofore it was five cents. Postmasters are required to take duplicate receipts from the person to whom a registered letter is addressed, on delivery of the same, one of which he is to transmit to the sender, the receipt to be recognized in the courts as prima facie evidence of such delivery. As heretofore, postage at the established rates must be prepaid in full, to secure registration. CLASS 2.—POSTAGE ON REGULAR PRINTED MATTER.
The maximum weight for the single rate of postage on matter under the second and third classes, is four ounces avoirdupois, except in case of circulars; and no package can be sent by mail that exceeds four pounds in weight, excepting public documents printed by act of congress. Newspapers to regular subscribers.—The postage on newspapers issued from a known office of publication, and sent in the mails to regular bona fide subscribers once a week or more frequently, each not exceeding the standard weight of four ounces, and payable quarterly or yearly in advance at either the office of mailing or delivery is as follows: For papers issued weekly, five cents per quarter; semi-weekly, ten cents; tri-weekly, fifteen cents; six times a week, thirty cents; seven times a week, thirty-five cents. For any excess over four ounces, and not exceeding eight ounces, double the rates named, and so on for any additional excess over the standard weight of four ounces. Publishers of weekly newspapers are permitted to send any copy to each subscriber living in the county where published, free of postage, as under the old law. The distinction heretofore made in the postage on newspapers circulated in the state where published and those circulated in other states, is abolished. The rate is uniform wherever circulated. Publications issued without disclosing the office of publication, or containing fictitious statements thereof, will not be forwarded unless prepaid at the mailing office at the rate of transient matter. Magazines and periodicals.—On regular newspapers, magazines, and periodicals, published less frequently than once a week, not exceeding four ounces in weight, issued from a known office of publication, and sent in the mails to regular bona fide subscribers, payable quarterly or yearly in advance, either at the office of mailing or delivery, the postage is one cent each copy—that is to say, if published monthly, the postage will be43three cents per quarter; if over four ounces, and not exceeding eight ounces, six cents, and so on. If published semi-monthly, double these rates, and if published quarterly, one third of them. Small publications.—The rate of postage heretofore charged on small newspapers, &c., sent in packages to one address, is entirely changed by the new law. The rate hereafter to be charged on this class of publications, not issued as often as once a week, devoted to the use of Sunday-schools, to religion, to education, or to agriculture, sent in packages to one address, is one cent for the first four ounces, and one cent for each additional four ounces or fraction thereof, on each package sent. But at these rates the papers must be for regular subscribers, and the postage prepaid either at the office of mailing or of delivery, for one full quarter in advance. If not thus prepaid, the packages are subject to double these rates, i. e., two cents for each four ounces or fractional part thereof, to be prepaid by postage stamps at the time of mailing. Transient printed matter.—On transient printed matter of the second class, that is to say, papers issued regularly, but sent to persons not regular bona fide subscribers, the rate is two cents for each four ounces or fractional part thereof, to be prepaid in full, by postage stamps, the postage to be charged by the weight of the package, if to one address. Privileges of publishers.—Publishers of newspapers, &c., sent to regular subscribers, have the privileges, as heretofore, of enclosing without additional charges, bills and receipts for subscription, to write or to print upon their issues the address of their subscribers, with the date when their subscription expires, and to exchange one copy of their publications reciprocally, free of postage. Circulars.—The one cent rate on circulars is abolished. Hereafter, circulars may pass in the mails at the following rates, viz: Three circulars or any less number, in one unsealed envelope, to one address, at the rate of two cents, and two cents additional for the next three or less number, and so on. A business card on an envelope enclosing circulars, does not increase the rate. CLASS 3.—POSTAGE ON MISCELLANEOUS MATTER.
General rate.—On miscellaneous matter, the postage (except in the case of books) is fixed at the uniform rate of two cents for each four ounces, or fractional part thereof, by the weight of the package, to one address, to be prepaid in full by postage stamps at the mailing office. Postage on books.—For books the rate is four cents for the first four ounces, or fractional part thereof, and so on, to be prepaid in full by postage stamps. General facts.—All mailable matter, properly speaking, is enumerated under the above classification. It often happens, however, that other things find their way into the mail—such as small articles of wearing apparel, etc., etc. When admitted into the mails, all such matter is subject to letter rates. Liquids, glass, gun and fulminating powder, gun cotton, and all other articles that can by any contingency, deface or otherwise injure or destroy letters, books, or newspapers, are strictly excluded from the mails. An important point in relation to the wrapping or enveloping matter for the mails ought to be especially remembered by the public. All mail matter not sent at letter rates of postage, embracing books, book manuscript, proof sheets, newspapers, and other printed matter, and all other mail matter, excepting deeds, must be so enveloped or wrapped with open sides or ends, as to enable the post master to examine the contents of the package without destroying the wrapper. If post masters cannot make this examination without destroying the wrapper, the package will be subject to letter postage. With the exception of a business card, printed or impressed upon the wrapper, no transient matter, coming under the head of the second or third class can be forwarded in the mail at less than letter postage, which contains anything inclosed therein in violation of existing laws, or is so marked as to convey any other or further intelligence than is conveyed by the original print, in case of printed matter, except the name and address of the person to whom it is to be sent. If subject to letter postage, from these causes or for any other reason, such matter must be fully prepaid, otherwise it will be excluded from the mails. The franking privilege is materially changed by the new law. Letters addressed to the President or Vice President must be prepaid, unless written by a public officer; and the same applies to all communications addressed to any executive department, or any officer connected therewith, excepting official letters, written by some officer of the department, or some officer under its control or responsible to it; and in this case the official designation and name of the officer shall be subscribed upon the letter. Senators, representatives, and delegates in congress, the secretary of the senate, and clerk of the house of representatives may send and receive letters free; but this privilege is accorded to no one else. The franking privilege granted to certain postmasters under previous laws, to cover private correspondence is abolished, the privilege now being confined exclusively to official correspondence passing between each other and with the post office department. The weight of packages of seeds, cuttings, roots, and scions, to be franked by members of congress and government officers entitled to that privilege, is limited to twelve ounces. The foregoing comprise all the changes effected by the late amendments to the postal laws, a right understanding of which is essential to the public to secure the prompt transmission of matter through the mails. Other changes have been made, but those not enumerated above, relate to the internal management of the system, to be well studied by postmasters and others employed in the service, but of less immediate interest to others. It is hoped the public will at once familiarize themselves with the law as collated above; and that this may be done more effectually, we advise every citizen to carefully preserve this article for frequent reference.