Rensselaer Union, Volume 5, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 May 1873 — Postage Matters. [ARTICLE]

Postage Matters.

The recent Congressional legislation provides that “all laws and parts of laws permitting the transmission by mail of any free matter whatever be, and the same are, hereby repealed from and after J une 30,1873.” This cuts off the free exchange of newspapers between publishers, and the free circulation of papers within the counties of publication. No changes in the rates of postage have been made, consequently postage charges will bo as follows: LETTERS. To all parts of the United States, three cents per half ounce. PAPERS, MAGAZINES, ETC. Pamphlets, occasional publications, transient newspapers, magazines, handbills, posters, unsealed circulars, prospectuses, book manuscripts, proof-sheets, maps, prints, engravings, blanks, flexible patterns, sample cards, photographic paper, letter envelopes, postal envelopes and wrappers, cards, plain and ornamental paper, photographic representations of different types, seeds, cuttings, bulbs, roots and scions can be transmitted through the mails at one cent for each two ounces or fraction thereof. Books, two cents for each two ounces or fraction thereof. Samples of merchandise, metals, ores, and mineralogies! specimens can pass through Jlie mail in packages not exceeds, ing twelve ounces, at the rate of two cents for each two ounces or fraction thereof; to be left open at the ends for examination, and to contain no writing other than the address 1 .

All liquids, poisons, glass, explosive material, obscene books, and all other material liable to injure the mails or those having charge thereof, shall be excluded therefrom. regular publications. Newspapers sent by mail must be prepaid by stamps, unless “regularly issued and sent to regular subscribers” by publishers or newsdealers, when the following rates are charged, payable quarterly, in advance, either at the mailing or delivery office: Dalies. t.■,.■,.35 cents Six times a week..................*..30 cents Tri-wecklv 15 cents' Semi weekly 10 cen ts Weeklies...' a cents] Semi-monthly, not over 4 ozs 6 cents] Monthlies, not over 4 ozs 3 cents] quarterlies, not over 4 ozs... 1 cent] Newspapers and circulars dropped into the office for local delivery must be prepaid at the rale of one cent for twm ounces, and an additional rate for every additional two ounces or fraction thereof; and periodicals weighing more than two ounces are subject to two cents, prepaid •>* letter-carrier offices mw. ,-osiage on regular papers, etc., must be paid in advance, either at the place of delivery, to the carrier, or at the office, otherwise they will be chargeable at transient rates. BOOK MANUSCRIPT. Book manuscript passing between authors and publishers requires prepayment at the rate of one cent for each two ounces or fraction thereof. ' Manuscript intended for publication in newspapers, magazines, pamphlets, etc., is subject to letter rates of postage. GENERAL RULES. Full prepayment by stamps is required on all transient printed matter, foreign and domestic. All letters not prepaid by stamps, all such as are received in the office with stamps cut from stamped envelopes, or with such postage stamps as were in use prior to 1861, or with revenue stamps on them, are treated as “unmailable” and sent to the Dead Letter Office.

Letters which have not been delivered can be forwarded, without additional charge, upon a written request. Letters once delivered from a Post-office cannot be remailed without prepayment of postage. -- Departmental postage after June 30, 1873, will be prepaid by special stamps, prepared and furnished 'by the Post-office Department. It will, nevertheless, become important for correspondents of the several departments and bureaus to fully prepay their postage after the 30th of June next. Of course, the local officers and agents of the departments will be instructed to this effect. —Postal Record.