The true Democrat., 1855-06-12
NO. 5.

 entitled under the act of February 2S lS03 the defence that the payment of such wages duly remitted snail not be sustained without the production of the certificate in such required by this act or, when us non production is accounted for. by the produc- tioh o1 certified copy thereof and the truth of the lctS certified to- and the propety of the remission, sht DC still open to investigation.
 i'. And be 1t further enacted, That if, upon the application of any mariner, it shall appear to the consul or commercial agent that he is entitled to his uschalgc under any act of Congress according to the general principles of the maratime law as recog nzed Ill the United States, he shall discharge such mariner ana shall require of the master the payment ot 5 months wages, provided in the act of Febru- ary 2S 1903, and shall not remit the same or any part thereof except n thecases mentioned in the pro vso of the ninth clause of the first section of the act of July 20 lo4O, to the following effect If the con- sul or other commercial agent shall be satisfied the contract has expired or the voyage been potraced by circumstances beyond the control of the master, and without any design his part to violate the articles of shipment, then he may, if he deems it just, dis charge the mariner without eXacung the months ad dltona pay"
 $ 20. And be it further enacted, That every con sul and commercial agent, for any neglect perform the duties cnoined upon him by this act, shall be li able to any injured person for all damages occasion ed thereby; and for any violation of the provisions of the 18th and 18th sections of this act, shall also be liable to indictment and to penalty in the man ner provided by the 18th clause of the lst section of the act of July 2Oth, 1S40.
 2l. And belt further enacted, That the act of April IA, l92, concerning conSuls, etc., Is hereby
 
 shall. by will any other writing leave special d rectlons for the management and settlement by the consul ot the personal or other property which he may die possessed of in the country where he may die 1t shall be the duty of the consul where the laws o the country permit strictly observe the directions given by the deceased Or, if such citizen so dy- ing shall by will any other writing, have appoint ed any other person than the consul to take charge of and settle his affairs in that case it shall be the duty ot the consul whcn and so often as required by tho so-appoIntcd agent or trustece of the deceased to give his official aid in whatever way may be necessa- ry to facilitate the operations of such trustee agent, and where the laws of the country permit to protect the property of the deceased from any interference of the local authorities of the country in which he may have died; and to this end it sh; also be the duty of the consul to place his official seal all por tions of the property of the deceased may be re- qured by the said agent trustee and to break and remove the same seal when required by the agent trustee and not otherwise; he, the said consul mercial agent receiving therefor dollars for each sea which like all other fees for consular service, includ ing all charges for extension of protest also such commissions are allowed by existing laws settle mcnt of estates of American citizens by consus and commercial agents, shall be reported to the Treasury Department, and held subject to its order.
 22. And be it further enacted. That the follow ing record books shall be provided for and kept in each consulate and commercial agency: A letter book, into which shall be copied ill the English Ian guage, all official letters and notes in the order of their dates which are written by the consul or com ncrcia agent: book for the entry of protests and in which ull other official consular acts likewise shall tS, a rec"rda the list of the crew, and the age, tonnage, owner, or owners, name and place to which she be- longs of every American vessel which arrives. Con Suls and commercial agents shall make quarterly turns to their government, specifying the amount of fees recelcd the number of vessels, and the amount of their tonnage, which have arrived and departed; the number of seamen, and what portion of them protected; and, nearly possible, the nature and value of their cargOeS. and where produced.
 23. And be 1t further enacted, That consul or commercial agent shall have received his eXequaur, been provisionay recognized, he shall apply his predecessor for the archives of the con sulae or commercial agency, and make an inventory of the papers, and such other articles as they may contain, for which he shall pass receipt and trans init copy thereof to the State Department
 A. And be 1t further enacted, That the Secreta- " of State be, and he is hereby authorized pre- scribe such additional regulations for the keeping of the consular books and records, and nsurng proper returns. US the public interest may require.
 25. And be 1t further enacted, That the Presi- dent of the United States be- and he is hereby, thorzed to bestow the title of consul general upon any United States consul in Asia or Africa when in his opinion such title will promote the public in terest.
 26. And be it further enacted, That all acts and parts of acts, authorizing attaches to any of le- gatlons, or the payment to ministers and consus of the United States of outfits ints, salaries for clcrkhre and office rent be- and the sulne are hereby repealed.
 ?. And be it further enacted, The provisions of this act to take effect from and after the 30th of June next any law laws of the United States to the con- trary notwithstanding.
 Approved March l, 1855.