US Post Offices & Postmasters in 1866 - Perquimans County Page

LAWS RELATING TO THE POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT.xixstandard weight for the single rate of letter postage isone half ounce avoirdupois.Seo. 22. And be if further enacted, That the rate ofpostage on all domestic letters transmitted in the mailsof the United States, and not exceeding one-half ouncein weight, shall be uniform at three cents ; and for eachhalf ounce, or fraction thereof, of additional weight, thereshall be charged an additional rate of three cents, to bein all cases prepaid by postage stamps plainly affixed tosuch letter.Seo. 23. And be it further enacted, That the rate ofpostage on all letters not transmitted through (he mailsof the United States, but delivered through the post officeor its carriers, commonly described as local or drop letters,and not exceeding one-half ounce in weight, shallbe uniform at two cents, and an additional rate for eachhalf ounce, or fraction thereof, of additional weight, tobe in all cases prepaid by postage stamps affixed to theenvelope of such letter : but no extra postage or carrier'sfee shall hereafter be charged or collected upon lettersdelivered by carriers, nor upon letters collected by themfor mailing or for delivery.Sec 24. And be it further enacted. That the domesticletter rate of postage is established for all mailable matterwhich is wholly or partly in writing, or is so markedas to convey any other or further intelligence or informationthan is conveyed by the original print in case ofprinted matter, or which is sent in violation of law orregulations of the department touching the enclosure ofmatter which may be sent at less than letter rates, andfor all matter introduced into the mails for which nodifferent rate is provided by law : Provided, That bookmanuscripts and corrected proofs passing between authorsand publishers may pass at the rate of printed matter :And provided, further, That publishersof newspapersand periodicals may print or write upon their publicationssent to regular subscribers the address of subscribersand the date when the subscription expires, and mayenclose therewith receipts for payment and bills for subscriptionthereto.Seo. 25. And bf it further enacted, Tliat on all matternot enumerated as mailable matter, and to which no specificrates of postage are assigned, and which shall neverthelessbe mailed, the rate, if the same shall be forwarded,is established at the rate of letter postage.Seo. 26. And be it further enacted, That if any matteron which by law the postage is required to be prepaidat the mailing office shall reach its destination withoutsuch prepayment, double the prepaid rates shall becharged and collected on delivery.Seo. 27. And be it further enacted, That the PostmasterGeneral is authorized to provide, by uniform regulation,for transmitting unpaid and duly certified letters of soldiers, sailors and marines in the service of theUnited States to destination ;and all other letters whichfrom aocident or neglect appear to have been depositedfor mailing without prepayment of postage, where, in theLitter class, the writer is not known, or cannot be promptlySeo. 35. And be it further enacted, That the .rate ofadvised of his default; but in all cases of letters not prepaid,except certified soldiers' and naval letters, the same once a week or more frequently from a known office ofpostage upon mailable matter of the second class, issuedshall be charged with double rates of postage, to he collectedon delivery.follows : Upon newspapers and other periodical publica-publication, and sent to regular subscribers, shall be asSec 28. And be it further enacted, That when any tions, each not exceeding the standard weight of fourwriter of a letter on which the postage is prepaid shall ounces, and passing through the mails or post offices ofindorse in writing or in print upon the outside thereof the United States between any points therein, the rate forhis name and address, with a request that the same be each quarter of the year shall be : for publications issuedreturned to him if not called for or delivered within any once a week, five cents ; issued twice a week, ten centsnumber of days (not to exceed thirty days), any such lettershall not. be advertised nor treated as a dead letter at a week, thirty cents ; issued seven times a week, thirty-issued three times a week, fifteen cents ;issued six timesthe office addressed, but shall be returned as requested, five cents ; and in that proportion, adding one rate forcharged with the proper postage at the prepaid rate, to each issue more frequent than once a week. For weightbe collected on the return delivery ;and if not then delivered,shall be treated as a deadexceeding four ounces, and not exceeding eight ounces,letter.Sec 29. And be it further enacted, That the postageon returned dead letters, not registered as valuable, shallhe three cents for the single rate ; on returned dead letters,registered as valuable, double rates shall be charged._Seo. 30. And be it further enacted, That all lettersdirected to any person not found at the office addressednifty be forwarded to any other office where he maybefound, with additional charge of postage therefor.Sec 31. And be it further enacted, That the PostmasterGeneral shall have authority to pay, or cause to be paid, asum not exceeding two cents each for all letters conveyed inany vessel or steamboat, not employed in carrying the mail,from one port or place to any other port or place in theUnited States, or from any foreign port to any port withinthe United States, subject to such regulations as the PostmasterGeneral may prescribe. But all such letters shallbe deposited in the post office at the port of arrival formailiiig or delivery ; and if for delivery within the UnitedStates, shall be rated with double rates of postage, whichshall cover the fee paid to the vessel. No fees shall beallowed for letters collected by a carrier on a mail route.Sec 32. And be it further enacted, That, for the greatersecurity of valuable letters posted for transmission in themails of the United States, the Postmaster General isauthorized to establish a uniform plan for the registrationof such letters on application of parties posting thesame, and to require the payment of the postage, as wellas a registration fee not exceeding twenty cents, on everysuch letter or packet, to be accounted for by postmastersreceiving the same in such manner as the Postmaster Generalshall direct : Provided, however, That such registrationshall not be compulsory, and it shall not renderthe Post Office Department or its revenue liable for theloss of such letters or packets, or the contents thereof;and provision shall be made by regulation for a returnreceipt to the writer, showing to whom and when suchregistered letter was delivered, which receipt shall be receivedin the courts as prima facie evidence of such delivery.Sec 33. And be it further enacted, That the maximumstandard weight for the single rate of postage on matterclassed as printed matter, and also on that classed as miscellaneousmatter, is four ounces avoirdupois, subject tothe exception in the next following section provided.Sec 34. And be it further enacted, That the rate ofpostage on transient mailable matter of the second class,and also on all miscellaneous mailable matter of the thirdclass (except circulars and books), shall be two cents foreach four ounces, or fraction thereof, contained in anyone package to one address; and such postage shall in alloases be fully prepaid by stamps, plainly affixed to thewrapper thereof. Double these rates shall be chargedfor books. Unsealed circulars, not exceeding three innumber, shall pass at the single rate of two cents, and inthat proportion for a greater number, adding one rate forthree circulars, or less number thereof, directed to oneaddress. No extra postage shall be charged for a cardprinted or impressed upon an envelope or wrapper.These rates must in all cases be prepaid by stamps.an additional rate shall be charged ; and on the samescale, an additional rate for each additional weight offour ounoeo- or fraction thereof ; and such postage must