Delaware State journal and statesman., 1864-04-08

States, and bound from any port In the United
States to any foreign port. or from any foreign
port to any port In the Unted States. shall. be
fore clearance, receive on board aud securely
convey all such mails as the Post Office
Department Of the United STILES, or auy
minister consul, or commercial agent Of
he United States abroad shall offer, and
promptly deliver the same to the proper authori-
ties. on arriving at the port Of destination, and
shall receive for such service such reasonable
compensation as may be allowed by law.
Sec. .. And be il Cartker enacted, That upon
the entry Of every steamer or sailing vessel from
any foreign port the master or commander there
oil shall make return, on oath or affirmation,
showing that he has promptly delivered at such
foreign port or ports all mails placed on board
OF the steamer or vessel under his command be
fore clearance from the United States, Aud in
case the master or commander shall fail tO make
oath or affirmation aforesaid, showing that he
has delivered the mails placed on board his
steamer or vessel in good faith, the sal steamer
or vessel shall not be entitled to the privileges
Of a steamer or vessel Of the United States.
Sec o. And be Il further enaeted That the
Postmaster General be and is hereby authorized
70 make contracts, to continue not exceeding
ionr years, for the transportation of oil mailabe
matter other than letters, and Of such letters as
may be 80 directed, by the Isthmas Of Panama
or the Nicaragua route, or both Of them Pro-
Vifsd, That the expenditure for the service shall
not exceed one hundred and sixty thousand dol.
lars per annum. Aud In case more than one com
pany is engaged in rendering this service, the
Postmaster General shall determine the proper
tion which shall be paid 10 each.
Sec. 4. And be IL further enacted, That all
mailable matter which may be conveyed by mail
westward beyond the western boundary of
Kansas, and eastward from the eastern boundary
Of California shall be subject to prepaid letter
postage rates; Provided, however. That this SEQ
ton shall not be held to extend to the transmission
by mail of ne Gspapers from known office of
publication To bona 6de subscribers, not exceed
ing one copy to each subscriber, nor to franked
matter, to and from the intermediate points be-
tween the boundaries above named, at the usual
rates PrOpided, Jurthsr, That such franke1
matter shall be subject 10 such regulations as to
itj transmission and delivery as the Postmaster
General shall prescribe.
Sec. o. And Be il further snaeisd, That the
Postmaster General may, il he shall deem il for
the public interests enter into contracts for any
period not exceeding one year, for the trans
portaton Of the mails 10 steamships, by sea, be
tween any of the ports in the United States
and that the sea-seryice already performed by
his order on the Atlantic coast and Gulf Of
Mexico be paid for out Of any moneys appropri-
ated for the service Of the Post 0lise Depart
ment Also for such service already performed
upon the Pacific coast sum not exceeding fifteen
hundred dollars. to be paid for out of any
moneys appropriated for the service Of the Post
Office Department.
Sec. o. And be il Jurinsr enacted, That IL any
person or persons shall paint, print, post, or in
any other manner place upon, or attach to, any
steamboat or other vessel, or any stage coach or
other vehicle, which steamboat or other vessel or
stage coach or other vehicle, is not actually used
in carrying the mai 8 of the United States the
words "United States mail" or aud other words,
letters or characters Of like import or If any
person or persons shall give notice. either by
publishing in any newspaper or otherwise, that
any steamboat or other vessel, or any stage coach
or other vehicle, is used in carrying the mails of
the United States, when the same is not actually
80 used, every person 80 offending or Wilfully
aiding or abeltng therein, shall, on conviction
thereof in any court Of competent jurisdiction,
be fined in any sum not less than Que hundred
nor more than five hundred dollars for every
such offence one-half for the use Of the United
States and the other half to the use Of the per-
son informing and prosecuting for the same.
Sec. 7. And ben further enacted, That the
Postmaster General be and he is hereby author
lied and empowered TO suspend the operation of
so much Of the eighth section Of the act Of the
thirty first Of August, eighteen hundred and
ffty-two, as authorizes the conveyance of letters
otherwise than in the mails on any such mail
routes as in his opinion the public interest may
require,
Approved, March 20, 1884