Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1864-06-18

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teen hundred and thirty one, for importing
merchandise into Pittsburg, Wheeling, and
other places.
APPROVED, March II. 1864.
PUBL1C-No. SO.
AN ACT 10 provide for carrying the mails
from the United States 10 foreign ports,
and for other purposes.
Be 1t enacted by tile Senate and House
Of representatives Of tile United States
Of america IN Congress assembled, That
all steamers and sailing vessels belonging to
citizens of the United States, and bound from
any port in the United States to any foreign
port, or from any foreign port to any port in
the United States, shall. before clearance,
receive on board and securely convey all such
mails as the Post Office Department of the
United States, or any minister. consul, or
commercial agent Of the United States
abroad shall offer, and promptly deliver the
same to the proper authorities. on arriving nt
the port Of dies 'ination, and shall receive for
such service such reasonable compensation as
may be allowed by law.
Sec. 2. And be 1t further enacted, That
upon the entry of every steamer of sailing
vessel from any foreign port the master or
commander thereof 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 before clearance
from the United States. And in case the
master or commander shall fail to make
oath or affirmation as aforesaid, showing that
he has delivered the mails placed on board
his steamer or vessel in good faith, tho said
steamer or vessel shall not be entitled to the
privileges of steamer or vessel of the United
States.
Sec 3. And be 1t further enacted, That
the Postmaster General be and he is hereby
authorized to make contracts. to continue not
exceeding four years, for the transportation
of all mailablc matter other than letters, and
of such letters as may be so directed. by tho
Isthmus of Panama or the Nicaragua route,
or both of them: Pr0rided, That the cx-
pcndturc for the service shall not exceed one
hundred and sixty thousand dollars por an :
mum. AMI in case more than one company
is engaged in rendering this service. the Post
master General shall determine the proportion
which shall be paid to each.
| Sec. 4. And be Il further enacted, That
all nailablc matter which may be conveyed
by mail westward beyond the western boun-
darv of Kansas. and eastward from the cast
ern boundary of California shall be subject to
prepaid letter postage rates Prvvided, h0ac.
crer, That this section shall not be held to ex-
tend to the transmission by mail Of newspa
pers from known Office Of publication to
bona fide subscribers, not exceeding one copy
to each subscriber, nor to franked matter, TO
and from the intermediate points between
rates. Proriled, further. That such frankpd
matter shall be subject to such regulations
as to it's transmission and delivery as the
Postmaster General shall prescribe.
Sec. s. lad be It bxrther enacted, That
the Postmaster General may, if he shall deem
it for the public interests, enter into contracts
for any period not exceeding one year. for the
transportation Of the mails in steamships, by
sea. between any of the ports in the United
States and that the sea. service already per-
formed by his order on the Atlantic coast and
Gulf of Mexico be paid out of any moneys
appropriated for the service Of the Post
Office Department. Also for such service
already performed on the Pacific coast sum
not exceeding fifteen hundred dollars, tn be
paid for out of any moneys appropriated for
the service of the Post Office Department.
Sec. 6. And be 1t further enacted, That
if any person or persons shall paint. print,
post, or in any other manner place upon. or
attach to, any steamboat or other vessel. or
stage coach or vehicle, which steamboat or
other vessel. or stage coach or other vehicle.
is not actually used in carrying the mails Of
the United States. the words "United States
mail" or any other words, letters or charac-
ters of like import; or if any person or per-
sons 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 so used. every person 50 offending or
wifully aiding or abctiing therein, shall, on
conviction thereof in any court Of competent
jurisdiction, be fined in any sum not less than
one hundred nor more than five hundred dol
lars for every such offence; one half for the
use Of the Unitrd States and the other half
for the use Of the person informing and pros
ecuting for the same.
SEC. 4. And be It further enacted, That
the Postmaster General be and he is hereby
authorized and empowered to suspend the
operation Of 40 much Of the eighth section Of
the act Of the thirty-6rst of August, eigh-
teen hundred and fifty.two, as authorizes the
conveyance Of letters otherwise than in the