, 1855-09-14

transmit by the most expeditions convey
ance, bond like the aforesaid, which shall
afterwards be undersigned by two sureties
who are permanent residents of the United
States, and approved by the State Depart
ment. Where there is a United States le-
cation in country to which consul shall
'be appointed, application shall be made
through it to the government for an exc
quatur but where there is none, the ap-
pIication shall be made direct to the proper
department. O.,
SEC. u. And be Il FURTHER enacted, That
it shall be the duty Of consuls and CONNER
ciaI agents to charge the following fees for
performing the services specified, for which,
under the penalty of being removed from
Office, they shall account to the government
at the expiration of every three months,
and hold the proceeds subject to its drafts {:
For receiving and delivering ships papers
half cent on every ton, registered measure
ment of the vessel for which the service is
performed.
For every seaman who may be dscharg-
ed or shipped at the consulate or CONNER
cial agency, or in the port in which they are
located, one dollar; which shall be paid by
the master of the vessel.
For every other certificate, except pass
ports-the signing and veri6cation OF which
shall be free-two dollars.
Sec. I3. And be IL FURTHER enacted, Tint
in capitals where legation OF the United
States is established, consuls and CONNER
cial agents shall only be permitted to grant
and verify passports in the absence Of the
United States diplomatic representative.
SEC IA. And be IL further enacted, That
no commission shall in future he charged
by consuls or commercial agents for rcceiv'
ing or disbursing the wages or extra wages
to which seamen may be entitled who are
discharged by the masters Of vessels in for
I eign countries, or for moneys advanced to
such as may be found in distress, seeking
relief from the consulate or commercial
agency; nor shall any consul or commercial
agent be directly or indirectly interested in
any profits derived from boarding, clothing
or sending home such seamen.
SEC. is. And be IL further eHdcted, That
no consul or commercial agent of the Uni
ted States shall discharge any mariner, be
ing citizen of the United States, in for
eign port, without requiring the payment
of the two months wages to which said
mariner is entitled under the provisions o.
the act of February twenty-eight, eighteen
hundred and fifty-three, uuless, upon due
investigation into the circumstances undel
which the master and mariner have Jointly
applied for such discharge, and on private
examination Of such mariner by the consul
or commercial agent, seperate aud apart
from oil officers Of the vessel, the consul Of
commercial agent shall be satisfied that II
is for the interest and welfare Of such ma
:-iner to be discharged ; nor shall auy com
mercial agent discharge any mariner as afor
said without requiring the full amoont o
three months wages, as provided BY The
above-named act, unless under such clrcum
stances as will, in his Judgment, secure th'
United States from oil liability to expense
on account of such mariner: PrOrided, Tha
in the cases Of stranded vessels, or vessels
condemned as unfit for service, no payment
Of extra wages shall he required; aud wher'
any mariner, after his discharge, shall have
incurred expense at the port Of discharg'
before shipping again, such expense shall
be paid out of the two months wager afore
! said, and the balance only delivered TO him
SEC. l6. ARd Be IL fHrtheT enacted, That
every cousul and commercial agent OF the
United States shall keep q detailed list o
all mariners discharged by them, rcspectiV
lly, specifying their names and the names o
the vessels from which they were discharg
cd, and the payments, il any, afterwards
made on account Of each, and shall maxi
official returns of said lists half-yearly to thu
Treasury Department.
SEC. IT. And be Il further enacted, Tha
every consul and commercial agent of th'
United States shall make an official entry
of every discharge which they may grant
respectively, on the list of the crew ant
shipping articles Of the vessel from whiel
such discharge shall be made, specifying th'
payment, if any, which has been required
in each case and il they shall have re
mitted the payment, Of the two months
wages to which the mariner is entitled, thcy
shall also certify on said shipping list ant
articles that they have allowed the renis
sion, upon the joint application Of the mas
ter and mariner therefor, seperate exam
nation OF the mariner, after due investl
CATION of oil the circumstances, and aftel
being satisfied that the discharge SO allow
ed, without said payment, is for the interes
and welfare Of the mariner aud if they
shall have RENTED the payment of the ont
months wages to which the United States
is entitled, they shall certify that they have
allowed the remission, after due inVestiga.
tion Of all the circumstances, and after be.
ing satisfied that they are such US will, in
their judgment, secure the United States
from all liability to expense on account oI
such mariner and copy Of all such en-.
tries and certificates shall be annually trans.
mitted to the Treasury Department by the
proper officers Of the customs in the several
ports Of the United States.
SEC. l8. And be il further enacicd, That
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