Chapter LXXI. to amend the Laws relating to the Post-Office Department
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Chap. LXXI.— An Act to amend the Laws relating to the Post-Office Department.March 3, 1863. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,* That the Postmaster-GeneralPostmasters.Appointment. shall have power to appoint and commission all postmasters whose salary or compensation for the preceding fiscal year shall at the time of such appointment have been ascertained to be less than one thousand dollars per year; and in all other cases the President shall appoint.
The person appointed postmaster shall reside within the delivery of the office toResidence. which he shall be appointed. Sec. 2. *And be it further enacted,* That the Postmaster-General, allAll persons employed in post-office to take oath of office. postmasters, and special agents, and all persons employed in the General Post-Office, or in the care, custody, or conveyance of the mail, hereafter appointed or employed, shall, previous to entering upon the duties assigned to them, or the execution of their trusts, and before they shall be entitled to receive any emoluments therefor, in addition to the oath of office prescribed by the act of July two, eighteen hundred and sixty-two, respectively1862, ch. 128.*Ante*, p. 502. take and subscribe the following oath or affirmation before some magistrate, and cause a certificate thereof to be filed in the General Post-Office:
“I, A. B., do swear (or affirm, as the case may be) that I willForm of oath. faithfully perform all the duties required of me, and abstain from every thing forbidden by the laws in relation to the establishment of the post-702THIRTY-SEVENTH CONGRESS. Sess. III. Ch. 71. 1863.office and post-roads within the United States; and that I will honestly and truly account for and pay over any moneys belonging to the said United States which may come into my possession or control; so help me God.
” Every person who shall be in any manner employed in the care, custody,Persons not taking oath liable to penalties, etc. conveyance or management of the mail, shall be subject to all pains, penalties, and forfeitures for violating the injunctions or neglecting the duties required of him by the laws relating to the establishment of the post-office and post-roads, whether such persons shall have taken the oath or affirmation above prescribed or not. Sec. 3. *And be it further enacted,* That no mail matter shall be deliveredPostage to be paid before delivery.Box-rent to be prepaid. by the postmaster until the postage due thereon shall have been paid; and no box at any post-office shall be assigned to the use of any person until the rent therefor has been paid for at least one quarter, for which the postmaster shall give a receipt, and keep a record thereof in his office, which record shall be delivered to his successor.
Sec. 4. *And be it further enacted,* That every postmaster shall keep aPostmasters to keep record of stamps, &c., sold, moneys received, &c. record in his office of all postage stamps and envelopes, and of all postal books, blanks, or property received from his predecessor in office, or from the Post-Office Department, or from any of its agents, and also of all payments in money for postages, and all payments for box-rents, and of all other receipts on account of any part of the postal service, and of any other transactions which shall be required by the Postmaster-General, and these records shall be preserved and delivered over to his successor inRecords to be delivered to successor. office, and shall be at all times subject to examination of any special agent of the department.
Sec. 5. *And be it further enacted,* That whenever, by reason of theCompensation for extra labor. presence of a military or naval force near any post-office, unusual business accrues thereat, the Postmaster-General is hereby required to make a special order allowing proportionately reasonable compensation to the postmaster, and for clerical service, during the period of such extraordinary business. Sec. 6. *And be it further enacted,* That it shall be the duty of postmastersPostmasters to make returns quarterly of emoluments, &c. to render a quarter-yearly account to the Postmaster-General, under oath, in such form as the latter shall prescribe, of all emoluments or sums by them respectively received for boxes or pigeon-holes, or other receptacles for letters or papers, and by them charged for to individuals; or for the delivery of letters or papers at or from any place whatever: and of all emoluments, receipts, and profits that have come to their hands by reason of keeping branch post-offices; and no postmaster shall hereafter, under any pretence whatever, have or receive or retain for himself,Not to retain more than salary. in the aggregate, more than the amount of his salary.
And the Postmaster-General is further authorized to require, by a form to be prepared by him, a sworn statement to accompany or following the quarterly account ofSworn statement, form of. any or all postmasters, to the effect that such postmaster has in such account truly stated the entire amount of postages, box-rents, and all other charges and emoluments collected or received by him at his office during such quarter; and that he has not knowingly delivered, or permitted to be delivered, to any person any mail matter on which the postage had not been paid at the time of delivery; and that such quarterly account exhibits truly and faithfully the entire receipts of his office which have been collected thereat, and the entire sum which could have been by due diligence collected thereat, as he verily believes; and that the credits be claims are just and true, as he verily believes; and any false swearing therein shall render him liable to the pains and penalties of perjury.Perjury.
Sec. 7. *And be it further enacted,* That the Postmaster-General is hereby authorized to regulate the periods during which undelivered lettersDead letters. shall remain in any post-office, and the times such letters shall be returned to the dead-letter office, and to make regulations for their return to the writers from the dead-letter office, when he is satisfied they cannot be703 delivered to the parties addressed. He is authorized also to order the publication of the list of non-delivered letters at any post-office, in his discretion,Lists of non-delivered letters posted or published. by writing, posted in a public place or places, or in any daily or weekly newspaper regularly published within the post-office delivery having the largest circulation within such delivery; and where no daily paper is published within the post-office delivery, such list may be published in any daily newspaper of an adjoining delivery having the largest circulation within the delivery of the post-office publishing [the] list; but in no case shall compensation for such publication be allowed at a rate exceedingPay for publication. one cent for each letter so advertised; and no such publication shall be required except where the Postmaster-General shall decide that the public interest requires it: *Provided,* That letters addressed to parties foreignForeign languages. born may be published in a journal of the language most used by the parties addressed, if such be published in the same, or an adjoining delivery.
Sec. 8. *And be it further enacted,* That dead letters containing valuableDead letters with valuables to be registered. enclosures shall be registered in the department; and when it appears that they can neither be delivered to their address, nor to the writers, the contents thereof, so far as available, shall be included with theDisposal of their contents. receipts of the Post-Office Department, and the amount thereof shall be shown in the annual report, and shall be subject to reclamation by either the party addressed, or by the sender, for four years from registry thereof, careful account being kept of the same.
All other letters deemed of value or of importance to the party addressed, or to the writer, and which it appears cannot be returned to either destination, shall be disposed of as the Postmaster-General shall direct. Sec. 9. *And be it further enacted,* That the Postmaster-General mayPrinted matter not called for, how disposed of. provide by regulation for the disposition, for the benefit of the Department, of printed matter which remains in any post-office, or in the Department, not called for by the party addressed; but the postmaster shall notify the publisher of any newspaper or periodical of the fact when anyNotice to publishers. subscriber shall refuse to take the same from the office, or shall neglect to call for the same for the period of one month, which notice may be sent free under regulation to be provided by the Postmaster-General.
Sec. 10. *And be it further enacted,* That the action of the Post-OfficeForeign dead letters. Department respecting foreign dead letters shall be subject to conventional stipulations with the respective foreign administrations. Sec. 11. *And be it further enacted,* That letter-carriers shall be employedLetter-carriers. at such post-offices as the Postmaster-General shall direct for the delivery of letters in the places respectively where such post-offices are established; and for their services they shall severally receive a salary, toPay. be prescribed by the Postmaster-General, not exceeding eight hundred dollars per year: *Provided,* That, on satisfactory evidence of their diligence, fidelity, and experience as carriers, the Postmaster-General may increase their respective salaries from time to time to any sum not exceeding one thousand dollars, at offices where the income from postages on the local letters shall yield a sum more than sufficient to pay all expenses of the carrier system at such offices; each of the said carriers shall give bond, with sureties, to be approved by the Postmaster-General,Bond. for the safe custody and delivery of all letters, packets, and moneys received by him.
Sec. 12. *And be it further enacted,* That whenever the Postmaster-GeneralFrequent delivery by carriers. shall have perfected the carrier system in any postal district so as, in his judgment, to justify him therein, he is authorized to make delivery, within any prescribed postal district, of mail matter by letter-carriers, as frequently as the public convenience in such district shall require, and shall make all proper regulations for that purpose. Sec. 13. *And be it further enacted,* That the Postmaster-General isBranch offices. *Ante*, pp. 379, 380. authorized, when, in his judgment, the public interest or convenience may704 require it, to establish one or more branch post-offices, and also pillar boxes, or other receiving-boxes, for the safe deposit of matter for theReceiving-boxes may be established.Salary, &c., of branch officer.Sale of stamps. mails and for delivery; and in case of such establishment of a branch office, the person in charge thereof shall be appointed, and his salary fixed, as in the case of a letter-carrier, and the like bond required: *Provided,* That the post officer in charge of the branch office may also be a depositary for the sale of stamps, to be delivered to him for that purpose by the postmaster of that postal district in sums not at any time to exceed one half of the penalty of his bond.
Sec. 14. *And be it further enacted,* That all expenses for the letter-carriers,Expenses of letter-carriers, &c., to be kept distinct. branch offices, and receiving boxes, or incident thereto, shall be entered and reported in a separate account from the ordinary postal expenses of such post-office, and shall be shown in comparison with the proceeds of the postages on local mail matter at each office, in order that the Postmaster-General may be guided in the expenditures for that branch of the postal service by the income derived therefrom; and all such expenses shall be paid out of the income of the post-office at the district inHow to be paid. which they are incurred.
Sec. 15. *And be it further enacted,* That the postmaster of any officePublishers of newspapers, &c., may contract for delivery thereof by postal-carriers. where letter-carriers are employed may contract with the publishers of any newspapers or periodicals, and with the publishers of any circulars, for the delivery by postal-carriers, within his postal district, of any such publications not coming through the mails, at rates and upon terms to be agreed upon, such arrangement and terms being equally open to all like publishers; but such contract shall have no force or effect until approved by the Postmaster-General.
The Postmaster-General may also provide by regulation for the delivery by such carriers of small packets otherDelivery of packets, &c. than letters or papers, and not exceeding the maximum weight of mailable packages; but such packages must be prepaid by postage stamps atPrepayment. the rate of two cents for each four ounces or fraction thereof. Sec. 16. *And be it further enacted,* That no postmaster shall receivePackages by mail not to weigh over four pounds, except, &c. to be conveyed by the mail any packet or package which shall weigh more than four pounds, except books published or circulated by order of Congress.
Sec. 17. *And be it further enacted,* That upon the following mailableMail-matter to be prepaid by stamps. matter the postage must be prepaid at the time of mailing, by stamps, unless otherwise expressly provided in this act:— First. Upon all domestic letters, whether passing through the mails, orDomestic letters. collected, or delivered by postal agents or carriers. Second. On all transient printed matter.Transient printed matter. Third. On all seeds, cuttings, bulbs, roots, and scions; all pamphlets,Seeds, pamphlets, books, &c. books, book manuscripts, and proof-sheets, maps, prints, engravings, blanks, flexible patterns, samples, and sample cards, phonographic paper, letter envelopes, postal envelopes, paper, and photographic representations of different types.
Fourth. Upon all other things in the mail not otherwise herein providedOther things. for. Sec. 18. *And be it further enacted,* That upon the following mailableCertain matter to be prepaid quarterly. matter the postage shall be paid before delivery for not less than one quarter nor more than one year; and such payment for a term may be made either at the mailing office or at the office of delivery. If the term commences at any other time than at the beginning of a quarter, such payment must be made to cover such fractional quarter, and also for the next following quarter; otherwise the postage shall be collected thereon as on transient matter.
Upon regular weekly, tri-weekly, semi-weekly,Daily, &c., publications. and daily publications, and all other regular publications, issued from a known office of publication at stated periods and sent to regular subscribers. Sec. 19. *And be it further enacted,* That mailable matter shall be di-Division of mail-matter.705vided into three classes, namely: first, letters; second, regular printed matter; third, miscellaneous matter. Sec. 20. *And be it further enacted,* That the first class embraces all correspondence,First class. wholly or partly in writing, except that mentioned in the third class.
The second class embraces all mailable matter exclusively inSecond class. print, and regularly issued at stated periods, without addition by writing, mark, or sign. The third class embraces all other matter which is orThird class. may hereafter be by law declared mailable; embracing all pamphlets, occasional publications, books, book manuscripts, and proof sheets, whether corrected or not, maps, prints, engravings, blanks, flexible patterns, samples and sample cards, phonographic paper, letter envelopes, postal envelopes, or wrappers, cards, paper, plain or ornamental, photographic representations of different types, seeds, cuttings, bulbs, roots, and scions.
Sec. 21. *And be it further enacted,* That the maximum standard weightWeight and rate of single letter postage. for the single rate of letter postage is one half ounce avoirdupois. Sec. 22. *And be it further enacted,* That the rate of postage on all domestic letters transmitted in the mails of the United States, and not exceeding one half ounce in weight, shall be uniform at three cents; and for each half ounce, or fraction thereof of additional weight, there shall be charged an additional rate of three cents, to be in all cases prepaidPrepayment. by postage stamps plainly affixed to such letter.
Sec. 23. *And be it further enacted,* That the rate of postage on all lettersDrop letters. not transmitted through the mails of the United States, but delivered through the post-office or its carriers, commonly described as local or drop letters, and not exceeding one half ounce in weight, shall be uniform at two cents, and an additional rate for each half ounce or fraction thereof of additional weight, to be in all cases prepaid by postage stamps affixed to the envelope of such letter, but no extra postage or carrier’s fee shallNo carrier’s fee. hereafter be charged or collected upon letters delivered by carriers, nor upon letters collected by them for mailing or for delivery.
Sec. 24. *And be it further enacted,* That the domestic letter rate ofLetter postage to include what. postage is established for all mailable matter which is wholly or partly in writing, or is so marked as to convey any other or further intelligence or information than is conveyed by the original print in case of printed matter, or which is sent in violation of law or regulations of the department touching the enclosure of matter which may be sent at less than letter rates, and for all matter introduced into the mails for which no different rate is provided by law: *Provided,* That book manuscripts and corrected proofsProofs. passing between authors and publishers may pass at the rate of printed matter: *And provided further,* That publishers of newspapers and periodicalsAddress of subscribers may be written or printed. may print or write upon their publications sent to regular subscribers the address of subscribers and the date when the subscription expires, and may enclose therewith receipts for payment and bills for subscription thereto.
Sec. 25. *And be it further enacted,* That on all matter not enumeratedMatter not enumerated to be treated as letter postage. as mailable matter, and to which no specific rates of postage are assigned, and which shall nevertheless be mailed, the rate, if the same shall be forwarded, is established at the rate of letter postage. Sec. 26. *And be it further enacted,* That if any matter on which byMatter not prepaid to be charged double on delivery. law the postage is required to be prepaid at the mailing office shall reach its destination without such prepayment, double the prepaid rates shall be charged and collected on delivery.
Sec. 27. *And be it further enacted,* That the Postmaster-General isSoldiers’ letters, &c. authorized to provide by uniform regulation for transmitting unpaid and duly certified letters of soldiers, sailors, and marines in the service of the United States to destination; and all other letters which from accident orLetters not prepaid by accident. neglect appear to have been deposited for mailing without prepayment of postage, where, in the latter class, the writer is not known, or cannot be promptly advised of his default; but in all cases of letters not prepaid,706 except certified soldiers’ and naval letters, the same shall be charged with double rates of postage, to be collected on delivery.
Sec. 28. *And be it further enacted,* That when any writer of a letterLetters, when may be returned to writers. on which the postage is prepaid shall indorse in writing or in print upon the outside thereof his name and address, with a request that the same be returned to him if not called for or delivered within any number of days, (not to exceed thirty days,) any such letter shall not be advertised nor treated as a dead letter at the office addressed, but shall be returned as requested, charged with the proper postage at the prepaid rate, to be collected on the return delivery; and if not then delivered, shall be treated as a dead letter.
Sec. 29. *And be it further enacted,* That the postage on returned deadPostage on dead letters. letters, not registered as valuable, shall be three cents for the single rate; on returned dead letters, registered as valuable, double rates shall be charged. Sec. 30. *And be it further enacted,* That all letters directed to any personForwarding of letters. not found at the office addressed may be forwarded to any other office where he may be found, with additional charge of postage therefor.
Sec. 31. *And be it further enacted,* That the Postmaster-General shallShip, &c., letters. have authority to pay, or cause to be paid, a sum not exceeding two cents each for all letters conveyed in any vessel or steamboat, not employed in carrying the mail, from one port or place to any other port or place in the United States, or from any foreign port to any port within the United States, subject to such regulations as the Postmaster-General may prescribe, but all such letters shall be deposited in the post-office at the port of arrival, for mailing or delivery; and if for delivery within the United States shall be rated with double rates of postage, which shall cover the fee paid to the vessel; no fees shall be allowed for letters collected by a carrier on a mail route.
Sec. 32. *And be it further enacted,* That, for the greater security ofRegistration of valuable letters. valuable letters posted for transmission in the mails of the United States, the Postmaster-General is authorized to establish a uniform plan for the registration of such letters on application of parties posting the same, and to require the payment of the postage, as well as a registration fee notFees. exceeding twenty cents, on every such letter or packet, to be accounted for by postmasters receiving the same in such manner as the Postmaster-General shall direct: *Provided, however,* That such registration shall notDepartment not made liable. 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; and provision shall be made by regulation for a return receipt to the writer, showing to whom and when such registered letter was delivered, which receipt shall be received in the courts as prima facie evidence of such delivery.
Sec. 33. *And be it further enacted,* That the maximum standard weightMaximum of single rate of printed matter. for the single rate of postage on matter classed as printed matter, and also on that classed as miscellaneous matter, is four ounces avoirdupois, subject to the exception in the next following section provided. Sec. 34. *And be it further enacted,* That the rate of postage on transientPostage on transient matter. mailable matter of the second class, and also on all miscellaneous mailable matter of the third class, (except circulars and books,) shall be two cents for each four ounces or fraction thereof contained in any one package to one address; and such postage shall in all cases be fully prepaid by stamps, plainly affixed to the wrapper thereof.
Double these rates shall be charged for books. Unsealed circulars not exceeding three in number shall pass at the single rate of two cents, and in that proportion for a greater number, adding one rate for three circulars, or less number thereof, directed to one address. No extra postage shall be charged for a card printed or impressed upon an envelope or wrapper. These rates must in all cases be prepaid by stamps.To be prepaid by stamps. 707 Sec. 35. *And be it further enacted,* That the rate of postage uponPostage on matter of second class. mailable matter of the second class, issued once a week or more frequently from a known office of publication, and sent to regular subscribers, shall be as follows:
Upon newspapers and other periodical publications,Newspapers, &c. each not exceeding the standard weight of four ounces, and passing through the mails or post-offices of the United States between any points therein, the rate for each quarter of the year shall be: for publications issued once a week, five cents; issued twice a week, ten cents; issued three times a week, fifteen cents; issued six times a week, thirty cents; issued seven times a week, thirty-five cents; and in that proportion, adding one rate for each issue more frequent than once a week.
For weight exceeding four ounces, and not exceeding eight ounces, an additionalOver four ounces in weight. rate shall be charged; and on the same scale, an additional rate for each additional weight of four ounces or fraction thereof; and such postage must be prepaid for a term not less than one quarter nor morePrepayment. than one year, at either the office of mailing or of delivery, at the option of the subscriber, of which payments a record shall be made and preserved in the post-office where paid; and no such publication shall be delivered from the office until such payment is made; but the publishers of weeklyNewspapers within the county to be free. newspapers may send to each actual subscriber within the county where their papers are printed and published one copy thereof free of postage.
Sec. 36. *And be it further enacted,* That the rate of postage uponPostage on periodicals issued less than once a week. mailable matter of the second class, issued less frequently than once a week, from a known office of publication, and sent to regular subscribers, shall be as follows: Upon newspapers, magazines, and other periodical publications, each not exceeding the standard weight of four ounces, and passing through the mails or post-offices of the United States between any points therein, the rate for each such paper or periodical shall be one cent, and an additional rate of one cent for each additional weight of four ounces or fraction thereof: *Provided,* That the Postmaster-General may provide by regulation for the transportation of small newspapers in packages at the same rate by the standard weight of the package whenPackages. sent to one address; and the rates herein provided must be prepaid at either the office of mailing or of delivery, at the option of the subscriber, for a term not less than one quarter nor more than one year, except that news-dealers may pay the postage upon their packages as received at the same rates pro rata as yearly or semi-annual subscribers who pay postage quarterly in advance.
Sec. 37. *And be it further enacted,* That publishers may enclose inSubscription bills may be enclosed. their publications sent to regular subscribers the bills for subscription thereto without any additional charge for postage, and may write or print upon their publications, or upon the wrappers thereof, the name and address of the subscribers thereto, and the date when the subscription will expire; but any other enclosure or addition in writing or in print shall subject the same to letter postage, which shall be collected before delivery thereof.
Sec. 38. *And be it further enacted,* That the Postmaster-General mayDelivery by route agents. from time to time provide by order the rates and terms upon which route agents may receive and deliver at the mail car or steamer packages of newspapers and periodicals delivered to them for that purpose by the publishers, or any news-agent in charge thereof, and not received from, nor designed for delivery at any post-office. Sec. 39. *And be it further enacted,* That the Postmaster-General hasWrappers of mail matter. authority to prescribe by regulation the manner of wrapping and securing for the mails all matter not charged with letter postage nor lawfully franked, so that the same may be conveniently examined by postmasters; and if not so wrapped and secured, the same shall be subject to letter postage.
He may also provide by regulation for ascertaining by furnished lists, by affidavit or otherwise, whether publishers send or have sent their708 publications unpaid through the mails to other than their regular subscribers. Sec. 40. *And be it further enacted,* That postmasters, at the office ofPostmasters may remove wrappers, &c. delivery, are authorized, and it shall be their duty, to remove the wrappers and envelopes from printed and other matter not charged with letter postage, nor lawfully franked, for the purpose of ascertaining whether there is upon, or connected with, any such printed matter or in such package any matter or thing which would authorize or require the charge of a higher rate of postage thereon.
Sec. 41. *And be it further enacted,* That the Postmaster-General mayPublishers may be required to make affidavit, &c. require an affidavit in form, to be prescribed by general regulation, to be taken by any publisher, or any clerk, agent, or servant of such publisher of any paper or periodical, which, by the terms of this act, may be sent to regular subscribers without prepayment of postage at the mailing office, to the effect that neither he nor any other proprietor, clerk, agent, or employé, within his knowledge, has sent, or caused or permitted to be sent, through the mails, without prepayment by postage stamps, any copies of such paper or periodical, (naming it,) except the same were sent to bona fide and regular subscribers thereto.
And if it be ascertained that such papers or periodicals have been thus unlawfully sent, with the knowledgePenalty for sending to others than subscribers, &c. or consent of such proprietors, or of the agent or clerk in charge of that business, or if such affidavit, when required by the Postmaster-General, or by a special agent of the Post-Office Department, shall be refused, the person guilty of such offence, or refusing such oath, shall be liable to a fine of fifty dollars in each case, to be recovered by suit before any court of competent jurisdiction, one half of which when recovered shallOne half to informer. be paid to the informer.
Sec. 42. *And be it further enacted,* That authority to frank mail matterFranking privilege. is conferred upon and limited to the following persons. First. The President of the United States, by himself or his private secretary. Second. The Vice-President of the United States. Third. The chiefs of the several executive departments. Fourth. Such principal officers, being heads of bureaus or chief clerks, of each executive department, to be used only for official communications, as the Postmaster-General shall by regulation prescribe.
Fifth. Senators and representatives in the Congress of the United States, including delegates from territories, the secretary of the senate and clerk of the House of Representatives; to cover correspondence to and from them, and all printed matter issued by authority of Congress, and all speeches, proceedings, and debates in Congress, and all printed matter sent to them; their franking privilege to commence with the term for which they are elected and to expire on the first Monday of December following such term of office.
Sixth. All official communications addressed to either of the executive departments of Government by an officer responsible to that department: *Provided,* That in all such cases the envelope shall be marked “official,” with the signatureEnvelopes, how marked. thereto of the officer writing the communication. Seventh. Postmasters have also the franking privilege for their official communications to other postmasters: *Provided,* That in all such cases the envelope shall be marked ‘official’ with the signature of the writer thereto, and for any and every such endorsement of ‘official’ falsely made the person makingPenalty for false marking. the same shall forfeit and pay three hundred dollars.
Eighth. Petitions to either branch of Congress shall pass free in the mails. Ninth. All communications addressed to any of the franking officers above described, and not excepted in the foregoing clauses, must be prepaid by postage stamps. The franking privilege hereinbefore granted shall be limited toLimit in weight.Except, &c. packages weighing not exceeding four ounces, except petitions to Congress and congressional or executive documents, and such publications or books as have or may be published, procured, or purchased by order of either House of Congress, or a joint resolution of the two Houses, which709THIRTY-SEVENTH CONGRESS.
Sess. III. Ch. 71, 72, 73. 1863. shall be considered as public documents, and entitled to be franked asWeight of packages of seeds. such; and except also seeds, cuttings, roots, and scions, the weight of the packages of which may be fixed by regulation of the Postmaster-General. Sec. 43. *And be it further enacted,* That all publishers of periodicals,Publishers may interchange free, except, &c. magazines, and newspapers which shall not exceed sixteen ounces in weight shall be allowed to interchange their publications reciprocally free of postage: *Provided,* That such interchange shall be confined to a single copy of each publication.
Sec. 44. *And be it further enacted,* That this act shall be in force andWhen act to take effect. take effect from and after the thirtieth day of June, eighteen hundred and sixty-three. Sec. 45. *And be it further enacted,* That all acts and parts of actsRepealing clause. inconsistent with the provisions of this act are hereby repealed. Approved, March 3, 1863.