A bill was also passed reducing the rates of postage on letters and newspapers throughout the United States. All letters weighing not more than half-an-ounce are charged _three_ cents if prepaid; _five_ cents if not prepaid, for all distances under three thousand miles;--over three thousand miles, they pay twice these rates. Upon newspapers the imposition of postage is quite complicated. The following statement shows the rates charged to regular subscribers, who pay postage quarterly in advance, comparing, also, the new postage with the old: Miles. Weekly. Semi- Daily. Weekly. Under 50 (new bill) 5 cts. 10 25 Present rate 12 24 48 Over 50-under 300 10 20 50 Present rate 18 36 108 Over 300-under 1000 15 30 75 Present rate 18 36 108 Over 1000-under 2000 20 40 100 Present rate 18 36 108 Over 2000-under 4000 25 50 125 Present rate 18 36 108 Over 4000 30 60 150 Papers weighing less than an ounce and a half pay half these rates; papers measuring less than three hundred square-inches pay one-fourth. On monthly and semi-monthly papers the same rates are paid, in proportion to the number of sheets, as weekly papers. All weekly papers are free within the county where they are published. Although the bill does not reduce postage quite as low as was very generally desired, it is still a decided advance upon the old law. The experience of the past has shown that reduced rates increase the revenue. The usual appropriation bills were passed, as were also bills giving the Colonization Society forty thousand dollars, for expenses incurred in supporting the Africans recaptured from the Pons; appointing appraisers at large, to look into the doings of the local appraisers; repealing constructive mileage; repaying Maine money, formerly advanced to the General Government; and establishing an asylum for soldiers, infirm and disabled, who have served twenty years, or been disabled by wounds or disease--the money for its support to be fines and stoppages of pay of soldiers punished by courts-martial, and one hundred thousand dollars levied by General Scott in Mexico.