Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-09-28
CHAPTER XIV.
SHIP AND STEAMBOAT MAILS

chlT AMI EAhBOAT NAILS,
Sec. lSS. And be IL further enacted, That
tne postmaster General be authorized to have
the mail carried in any steamboat. or other
vessel, which shall be used as a pack et. in anv
OF the waters of the United States, on such
terms and conditions as shall be considered
expedient: Provided, That he does not paw
more than three cents for each letter, and
more than one-half cent for each newspaper
conveyed IN such mail. Sec. 5, act Of Sd
Sec. l39. l4na be 1T further enacted, That
IL snail be the duty of every master or man
sger OF any steamboat, which shall pass from
one port or place to another port or place in
the United States, where post Office is estab-
iished, to deliver, within three hours,* after
ms arrival, II In the day time, and within two
hours alter the next sunrise, if the arrival he
in the night, all letters and packets addressed
20, or destined Tor, such port or place, to the
Postmaster there, for which he shall be enti
tied to receive Of such Postmaster, twot cents
ior every letter or packet so delivered, unless
the same shall be carried or conveyed under
a contract with the Postmaster General; and.
II any master or manager Of steamboat shall
fail 60 to deliver any letter or packet which
:h9l! been brought by him, or shall have been
IN MS care, or within his power, he shall incur
penalty OF thirty dollars for every such fail.
ure. And any person, employed on board any
steamboat, shall deliver every letter, and
PACKET OF letters, entrusted to such person, to
the master or manager Of such steamboat. and
before the said vessel shall touch at any other
port or place; aud for every failure or neglect
80 TO deliver, penalty Of ten dollars shall be
incurred for each letter or packet Sec 6,
act Of 81 March, 1925.
Further Legislation in the matter continued in
sections 40 and 1i5.
I See subsequent statute on this subject in sec
tion IA "
Sec. 140. Ahd be at further euactea. That
no SNIP or vessel, arriving at any port within
,ne United States where post office is estab
nshed, shall be permitted to report make en-
Try, or break bulk until the master or com.
mander shall have delivered to the postmaster
all letters directed to any person or persons
Wi1hin the United States or the Territories
thereof, which, under bis care or within his
power, shall be brought in such shin or vessel
except such as are directed to the owner or
cohS1gnee OF the ship or vessel. And il shall
De the duty Of the collector or other officer of
'he port empowered TO receive entries of ships
or vessels, to require, from every master or
commander of such ship or vessel, an oath or
animation, purporting that he has delivered
all such letters, except as aforesaid and if
any commander or master of any such ship or
Vessel stall break bulk before he shall have
complied with the requirements of this act.
every such offender shall, on conviction there
Oh, forfeit, for every such offence, a sum not
exceeding one hundred dollars. Sec. IL, act
Of March 3, 1925.
a. Bee. l4l. And be it further enacted, That
the postmaster to whom such letters NAV be
dehvered shall pay the master or commander.
or other person delivering the same, except
the commanders Of foreign packets. two cents~
i9r each letter or packet and shall obtain from
tne person delivering the same, a certificate,
specnying the number of letters and packets
WIN bne name OF the ship or vessel, and the
VI cha l..
tlfcate, together with receipt for the monev.
shall be, with his quarterly accounts, trans.
mltted TO the Postmaster General, who shall
credit him with the amount. See. is. ort or
Sd March, 1925. 1' "N "
section 49, act Of March 3, 1917, (see No. I44)
makes further provision on this subject.
SEQ. l42 And be 1t further enacted. That
.ne postmaster General shall have power, and
ne Is herepy authorized, to contract with the |
owners OF commanders Of any steamboat ply |
Ing upon the western or other waters of the
United States, for the transportation of the |
mail for any length Of time or humber of trims.
less than the time for which contracts for |
transporting the mail CT the United States are |
now usually made under existing laws. and |
without the previous advertisements now re. |
quired before entering into such contracts. |
whenever IN his opinion the public interest |
Provided, That the price to be paid for such
service shall In no case be greater than the |
average rate paid for such service under the |
last preceding or then existing regular contract
for transporting the mail upon the route he |
may so Tor a less time contract for the trans |
Marct 3, 1S45. "
Sec. l43. and be ct further enacted, That it |
shall not De lawful for any person to carry or
transport any letter, packet, newspaper, or |
printed circular or price currentI feyasnt
newspapers in use, and not intended for eirep
lation In the country to which such vessel NAV
be bound,) on board the vessels that may
hereafter transport the United States mail, as
provided Tor in this act; and FOR every viola
tion OF this provision, penalty Of fys huni