BE IT ENACTED by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America
in Congress assembled,
THATaccording to the true intent and meaning of the act approved the first of March, one
thousand eight hundred and forty-seven and entitled ^and^ “An act to amend the act entitled ‘An act to reduce the rates of postage, to limit
the use and correct the abuse of the franking privilege, and for the prevention of
frauds on the revenues of the Post Office Department,’ passed third of March, eighteen
hundred and forty five,” members of congress, delegates from territories, the vice
President of the United States, the Secretary of the Senate, and the Clerk of the
House of Representatives, have, respectively, power to send, as well as receive, free
of postage, during the times in the said act specified, all public documents, and
all letters and packages whatsoever, whether directed or addressed by the person franking
the same or not, and whether mailed or delivered to be mailed at the place at which
the person franking the same may at the time be, or at any other place; Provided always
and only, That such letters and packages shall not exceed the weight in the said act
specified.
Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That if any postmaster or his deputy,
<Page 2>
or other officer of the United States, shall ask, take, demand, or receive, or shall
cause or procure, authorise or permit, any person to ask, take, demand, or receive
any sum of money for, or by way of, postage, upon, or for the transmission by mail,
of any such document, letter or package which shall be sent to or franked by any member
of congress, delegate from a territory, the said vice President, Secretary or Clerk,
or shall disallow or erase, or cause, or procure to be disallowed or erased, any such
frank, or shall upon any pretence whatever, detain or refuse to deliver upon request,
any such document, letter, or package to the person to whom the same may be directed
or addressed, or his or her agent, authorised to receive the same, the postmaster,
deputy, or other officer, so offending, shall forfeit to the party grieved, the sum
of one hundred dollars, to be recovered with costs of suit in the district or circuit
court of the United States for the district in which the offence may be committed.
Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That this act shall be in force from and immediately
after its passage.
[ certification
]
04/12/1848
Secretary
04/12/1848
Passed the Senate
April 12. 1848
Attest
Asbury Dickins–April 12. 1848
Attest
Secretary
<Page 3>
[ docketing
]
Post Office &
[ docketing
]
S_.177
An act to declare the true intent and meaning, so far as respects the franking privilege of Members of Congress, of the act approved the first of March, one thousand eight hundred and forty seven, and entitled “An act to amend the act entitled ‘An act to reduce the rates of postage, to limit the use and correct the abuse of the franking privilege, and for the prevention of frauds on the Post Office Department,’ passed third of March, eighteen hundred and forty-five,” and for other purposes.
An act to declare the true intent and meaning, so far as respects the franking privilege of Members of Congress, of the act approved the first of March, one thousand eight hundred and forty seven, and entitled “An act to amend the act entitled ‘An act to reduce the rates of postage, to limit the use and correct the abuse of the franking privilege, and for the prevention of frauds on the Post Office Department,’ passed third of March, eighteen hundred and forty-five,” and for other purposes.
[ docketing
]
a.13
[ docketing
]
P. O. R. [pr. pr.?]
P. O & P. R & [pr?]
P. O & P. R & [pr?]
Partially printed Document, 3 page(s), Volume 469, RG 46, Entry 427: Records of the United States Senate, Thirtieth Congress, 1847-1849, Records of Legislative Proceedings, Bills and Resolutions Originating in the Senate, Senate Bills and Resolutions Upon Which Further Action Was Taken, 1847-1849, NAB