Postage on newspapers.
A correspondent writes from the camp of the Fourth Regiment S. C. Volunteers, near
Germantown, that he is forced to pay three cents at the post-office for every number of a paper, whether daily, tri-weekly, weekly, or monthly.
As this system may be carried on at other post-offices in the
State, we annex for general information a portion of the act of Congress regulating the postage on newspapers, pamphlets, and other printed matter:
‘
"And be it further enacted, That all newspapers published within the
Confederate States, not exceeding three ounces in weight, and sent from the office of publication to actual and
bona fide subscribers within the
Confederate States, shall be charged with postage as follows, viz: The postage on the regular numbers of a newspaper published weekly shall be 10 cts. per quarter; papers published semi-weekly, double that amount; papers published thrice a week, treble that amount; papers published six times a week, six times that amount, and papers published daily, seven times that amount.
And on newspapers weighing more than three ounces, there shall be charged on each additional ounces in addition to the foregoing rates, on those published once a week, five cents per ounce, or fraction of an ounce, per quarter; on those published twice a week, ten cents per ounce per quarter; on those published three times a week, fifteen cents per ounce per quarter; on those published six times a week, thirty cents per ounce per quarter; and on those published daily, thirty-five cents per ounce per quarter.
‘"And periodicals published oftener than bimonthly shall be charged as newspapers."’
’
We may add, in reply to a question of our correspondent, that postage can be paid on newspapers in advance, at the post-office where they are mailed.
We think it highly probable that the next Congress will modify the law which prohibits the carrying of newspapers on railroads and steamboats, outside of the mails.
A tax upon intelligence is odious, and the requirements of the law are inconvenient to an extent which amounts almost to a prohibition upon the trade.
