Chapter CLXXIII. *further to amend the Act entitled “An Act to reduce and modify the Rates of Postages in the United States, and for other Purposes,” passed March third, eighteen hundred and fifty-one.* March 3, 1855. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congre
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Chap. CLXXIII.— An Act *further to amend the Act entitled “An Act to reduce and modify the Rates of Postages in the United States, and for other Purposes,” passed March third, eighteen hundred and fifty-one.* March 3, 1855. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*, That in lieu of the rates of Rates of postage.postage now established by law, there shall be charged the following rates, to wit:— For every single letter in manuscript, or paper of any kind in which information shall be asked for or communicated in writing, or by marks or signs, conveyed in the mail for any distance between places in the United States not exceeding three thousand miles, three cents; and for any distance exceeding three thousand miles, ten cents.
And for a double letter there shall be charged double the rate above specified; and for a treble letter, treble those rates; and for a quadruple letter, quadruple those rates; and every letter or parcel not exceeding half an ounce in weight shall be deemed a single letter; and every additional weight of half an ounce, or additional weight of less than half an ounce, shall be charged with an additional single postage; and upon all letters All postage but foreign to be prepaid.passing through or in the mail of the United States, excepting such as 642 THIRTY-THIRD CONGRESS.
Sess. II. Ch. 174. 1855.are to or from a foreign country, the postages as above specified shall be prepaid, except upon letters and packages addressed to officers of the government on official business, which shall be so marked on the envelope. Stamps may be put on prepaid letters.And from and after the first day of January, eighteen hundred and fifty-six, the Postmaster-General may require postmasters to place postage stamps upon all prepaid letters upon which such stamps may not have Drop-letters.been placed by the writers.
And all drop-letters, or letters placed in any post-office not for transmission through the mail, but for delivery only, shall be charged with postage at the rate of one cent each; and all letters which shall hereafter be advertised as remaining over, or uncalled for, in any post-office, shall Additional charge on advertised letters.be charged with one cent each, in addition to the regular postage, both to be accounted for as other postages now are. Sec. 2. *And be it further enacted,* That it shall not be lawful for any Penalty for selling postage stamps or envelopes at an advanced rate.postmaster or other person to sell any postage stamp or stamped envelope for any larger sum than that indicated upon the face of such postage stamp or for a larger sum than that charged therefor by the Post-Office Department; and any person who shall violate this provision shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and, on conviction thereof, shall be fined in any sum not less than ten, nor more than five hundred dollars.
When this act shall take effect. Franking privileges not affected.This act to take effect and be in force from and after the commencement of the next fiscal quarter after its passage. *Provided,* That nothing herein contained shall be so construed as to alter the laws in relation to the franking privilege. Sec. 3. *And be it further enacted,* That for the greater security of valuable letters posted for transmission in the mails of the United States, the Postmaster-General be, and hereby is, authorized to establish a uniform Registration of valuable letters.plan for the registration of such letters on application of parties posting the same, and to require the prepayment of the postage, as well as a registration fee of five cents on every such letter or packet, to be accounted for by postmasters receiving the same in such manner as the Registration not compulsory; not to make department liable for loss.
Postmaster-General shall direct: *Provided, however,* That such registration shall not be compulsory; and it shall not render the Post-Office Department or its revenue liable for the loss of such letters or packets, or the contents thereof. Approved, March 3, 1855.