, 1864-08-29

ports rs shall be considered necessary and
expedient: PrOVided, That the expense Of
the service shall be divided between. the two
governments, and that the United States
portion thereof shall not exceed the sum Of
one hundred and fifty thousand dollars for
the performance of twelve round trips per
annum, to be paid out Of any mnney ap-
prOpriated fhr the service Of the Post Of
flee Department
Sec. 2. ARd be IL further enacted, That
the Postmaster General be, and h. is hereby,
authorized to invite proposals for said mail
steamship service by public advertisement
for the period Of sixty days in one or mre
newspapers publish in the cities of Wash
ingtcn, Baltimore, Philadelphia. New York.
and BustOn respectively. and to cOntrari
with the lowest responsible bidder fIr the
same for term Of ten years to commence
from the day the first steamship of the pro
posed line shall depart from III" United
States with the mails for Brazil: Provided,
That proposals for monthly trips-that b
TO say, for twelve round voyages per an
mum, ont and bark-are rtApi I'd and nc
cepted by him within the limit rs aforesaid
from party or parties Of undoubted r..
sponsibility, possessing ample ability to
furnish the steamships required fnr the
ssrvice, and offering good and .ufIicrrni
sureties for the faithful performance of such
contract: ARd ProUided further, That such
proposals shall he accepted by the Govern
ment nf Brazil, and that distinct and sepa.
rate contracts with each government, CON
tanning similar provisions, shall he executed
by such acce" ted bidder or bi lders; each
government to be responsible only for its
proportion Of the snhiidy to be paid for the
service.
Sec. 8. ARd BE- IL further enacted. Tha'
any contract which the Postmaster General
may execute rnder the authority Of his
act shall 60 into effect on or before the first
day Of September, one thousand ei,ht hun.
dred and sixty.five; and shall, in addition
10 the usual siipulations Of ocean mail
steamship contracts, provide that the steam
ships offered for the service shall be con-
structed of the best materials and after the
most approved model, with all the modern
improvements adapted for sea going steam.
ships Of the first class; and hall, beErr
their approval and acceptance by the Post.
master General, he subject To inspection
and survey by an experienced naval con.
strnctor, to be detailed for that purpose by
the Secretary Of the Navy, whose report
shall be made to the Postmaster General;
that the two governments shall be entitled
20 have transported. free If expense, on
each and every s'e,nier. o mail agent to
take charge o and arrange the mail matter.
to whom suitable accommodations for that
purpose shall be assigned; that in case Of
failure from any cause to perform any "f
the.regular monthly voyages stipulated for
in the contract, pro rata deduction shall
he made from the cor Pen>at.On on accnuni
"f such omitted voyage or voyages; that
suitable fines and penalties may lie inn
posed for delays and irregularities in the
regular performance Of the service accord
ing to contract; and that the Postmaster
Ge eral shall have the power to determine
;he contract at any time, in case of its be-
ing undeFlrt or assigned tn any - hrr party.
Sec. 4. ARd Be IL further enacted Thai
the mail steamships employed in the ser
vice authorized BY this act shall be exempt
from all port charges and custom hnuse
dues at the port Of depart re aud arrival
in the United States: PROVIDED. That a
similar immunity from port charges aud
Gust nl-houSe dues Is granted by the gov
nmpnt of Brazil.
Approved MAY %. 1864