Smyrna times., 1865-04-06

De u enacted by the Senate and House of Repre-.
Sentdtiues OF the United States of America in Con
gress assembled, That the Postmaster General be-
ana ne Is hereby, authorized to unite with the gene.
raj post Office department of the empire of Brazil or
such ofhcer OF the government of Brazil as shall be
authorized TO act Tor that government, in establish
lpg direct mail communication between the two
countries by means of monthly line of first class
sea going steamships, to be of not less than two
thousand tons burden each and of sufficient number
10 perform twelve round trips or voyages per annum
between port of the United States north of the Po
tomac river, and Rio dc Janiero in Brazil touching
ut Saint Thomas, in the West Indies at Bahia Per.
nanbuco, and such other BaZ llan and intermediate
port or ports shall be considered necessary and
expedlent; PrOUided That the expense of the service
snail be divided between the two governments, and
that the United States portion thereof shall not ex
ceed the sum of one hundred and fifty thousand dol
lars tor the performance Cf twelve round trips per
annum, to be paid out of any money arpropriatcd
for the service of the Post Office Department.
Sec. :. And be 1t further enacted, That the Post
master General be- and he is hereby, authorized to
invite proposals for said nail steamship service BIZ
public advertisement for the period of sixty DAYS in
one or more newspapers published in the cities OF
| Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York,
and Boston, respectively, and to contract with the
lowest responsible bidder for the same for term of
ten years, TO commence from the day the first steam.
ship OF the proposed line snail depart from the Uni
|
proposals for monthly trps-that say for twelve
round voyages per annum, out and back-arc re.
celVed and accepted by him within the limit as
aforesaid, from party or parties of undoubted res.
possibility, possessing ample ability to furnish the
| steamships required for the service, and offering
good and sufficient sureties for the faithful perform
ance OF such contract: And prOridtd further, Thai
such proposals shall be accepted by the government
OF Brazil, and that distinct and separate contracts
with each government, containing similar provisions
shall be executed by such accepted bidder or bidders
each government 10 be responsible only for its pro
portion of the subsidy to be paid for the service.
Sec. 3. And be 10 further enacted, That the con
tract which the Postmaster General may execute un
der the authority of this act shall 90 into effect Oh
or before the first day of September, one Thousand
eight hundred and sxty-fvc; and SHALL in addition
i to the usual stpulations of mail steamship
contracts, provide that the steamships offered for the
service shall be constructed Of the best materials
after the most approved model with all the modern
| improvements adapted Tor sea-going steamships Oh
the first class; and shall, before their approval anC
acceptance by the Postmaster Gene ra be subject tc
inspection and survey by experienced naval con.
strucor to be detailed for that purpose by the Sec
retary of the Navy, whose report shall be made tC
| the Postmaster General; that the two government,
shall be entitled TO have transported free Of expense
on each and every steamer, mail agent TO take
charge OF and arrange the mail matter, to whom ac
coInmodatons for that purpose shall be assigned
that 10 case OF failure from any cause to perform
any of the regular monthly voyages stipulated for il
the contract, pro rata deduction shall he made From
the compensation account of such omitted voyag,
or voyages; thHt suitable fines and penalties may b
imposed for delays and irregularities in the rcgulA
performance of the service according to contract
and that the Postmaster General slnl have the pow
er to determine the contract at any time, in case o
its being underlct or assigned to any other party
Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That the mai
steamships employed in the service authorized b,
this act shall be exempt from all port churges AM
custOmhouse dues at the port of departure and arri
val in the United States PrOrided, That simila
immunity from port charges and custom house due
is granted by the government Of Brazil.
Approved, May 29, 1864.