Chapter XCVIII. *to amend the Act entitled “An Act to reduce and modify the Rates of Postage in the United States, and for other Purposes,” passed March third, eighteen hundred and fifty-one.*August 30, 1852.1851, ch. 20.1855, ch. 173. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States o
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Chap. XCVIII.— An Act *to amend the Act entitled “An Act to reduce and modify the Rates of Postage in the United States, and for other Purposes,” passed March third, eighteen hundred and fifty-one.*August 30, 1852.1851, ch. 20.1855, ch. 173. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,* Rates of postage on printed matter.That from and after the thirtieth day of September, eighteen hundred and fifty-two, the postage upon all printed matter passing through the mail of the United States, instead of the rates now charged, shall be as follows, to wit:
Each newspaper, periodical, unsealed circular, or other article of printed matter, not exceeding three ounces in weight, shall be sent to any part of the United States for one cent, and for every additional ounce, or fraction of an ounce, one cent additional shall be charged; and when the postage upon any newspaper or periodical is paid quarterly or yearly in advance at the office where the said periodical or newspaper is delivered,THIRTY-SECOND CONGRESS. Sess. I. Ch. 98. 1852.39 or is paid yearly on quarterly in advance at the office where the same is mailed, and evidence of such payment is furnished to the office of delivery in such manner as the Post-Office Department shall by general regulations prescribe, one half of said rates only shall be charged.
Newspapers and periodicals, not weighing over one ounce and a half, when circulated in the State where published, shall be charged one half of the rates before mentioned: *Provided*, That small newspapers andProviso. periodicals, published monthly or oftener, and pamphlets not containing more than sixteen octavo pages each, when sent in single packages, weighing at least eight ounces, to one address, and prepaid by affixing postage-stamps thereto, shall be charged only half of a cent for each ounce, or fraction of an ounce, notwithstanding the postage calculated on each separate article of such package would exceed that amount.
TheTransient matter to be prepaid or charged double. postage on all transient matter shall be prepaid by stamps or otherwise, or shall be charged double the rates first above mentioned. Sec. 2. *And be it further enacted,* That books, bound or unbound, notPostage on books. weighing over four pounds, shall be deemed mailable matter, and shall be chargeable with postage at one cent an ounce for all distances under three thousand miles, and two cents an ounce for all distances over three thousand miles, to which fifty per cent shall be added in all cases where the same may be sent without being prepaid; and all printed matter, chargeable by weight, shall be weighed when dry.
The publishers ofCertain papers to pass free of postage. newspapers and periodicals may send to each other from their respective offices of publication, free of postage, one copy of each publication; and may also send to each actual subscriber, inclosed in their publications, bills and receipts for the same, free of postage. The publishers of weekly newspapers may send to each actual subscriber within the county where their papers are printed and published, one copy thereof free of postage.
Sec. 3. *And be it further enacted,* That no newspaper, periodical,Above rates to apply only when certain conditions are complied with. magazine, or other printed paper or matter, shall be entitled to be sent at the rates of postage in this act specified, unless the following conditions be observed: *First:* It shall be sent without any cover or wrapper; or in a cover or wrapper open at the ends or sides, so that the character of the matter contained therein may be determined without removing such wrapper. *Second:* There shall be no word or communication printed on the same after its publication, or upon the cover or wrapper thereof, nor any writing or marks upon it, nor upon the cover or wrapper thereof, except the name and address of the person to whom it is to be sent. *Third:* There shall be no paper or other thing inclosed in or with such printed paper; and if these conditions are not complied with, such printedAll mail matter not included above or entitled to go free is to be charged letter postage. matter shall be subject to letter postage; and all matter sent by mail from one part of the United States to another, the postage of which is not fixed by the provisions of this act, shall, unless the same be entitled to be sent free of postage, be charged with letter postage.
Sec. 4. *And be it further enacted,* That if the publisher of any periodical, Provision for the sale of un claimed printed matter. after being three months previously notified that his publication is not taken out of the office to which it is sent for delivery, continue to forward such publication in the mail, the postmaster to whose office such publication is sent may dispose of the same for the postage, unless the publisher shall pay it; and whenever any printed matter of any description, received during one quarter of the fiscal year, shall have remained in the office without being called for during the whole of any succeeding quarter, the postmaster at such office shall sell the same and credit the proceeds of such sale in his quarterly accounts, under such regulations, and after such notice as the Post-Office Department shall prescribe.
Sec. 5. *And be it further enacted,*That so much of the second sectionInconsistent provisions repealed. of the act entitled “ An act to modify and reduce the rates of postage40THIRTY-SECOND CONGRESS. Sess. I. Ch. 101, 102. 1852. in the United States, and for other purposes,” approved March third, 1851, ch. 20.eighteen hundred and fifty-one, as relates to the postage or free circulation or transmission of newspapers, periodicals, and other printed matter, and all other provisions of law inconsistent with the provisions of this act, are hereby repealed.
Sec. 6. *And be it further enacted,* Publication of lists of uncalled for letters in foreign languages.That when a list of uncalled-for letters shall be published in any newspaper printed in any foreign language, said list shall be published in such newspaper having the largest circulation within the range of delivery of said office. Approved, August 30, 1852.