The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-09-21
OFFICIAL.
r Avs OF THE UNITED STATES PASSED
III AT THE SECOND SESSION OF THE
k0RTY-SECONDC CONGRESS. -a.J +

AN htI 10 revise, cOnSOuutte, ana amend
statutes relating to the Post-OfHce Depart
mentlt tfifdl .sf -.f aE.F
a4lpvAI ,7aalasi [Continued.l i
SEC 2l2 Tint IL the Postmaster General is
enable to contract for carrying the msil on any
rafiway.route at a compensation not exceeding
'hsmaximum rates herein provided, or for what
~ may deem reasonable and fair compensa-
ton, he may separate the letter-mail from the
other mail, and contract, either with or without
-uS srtising, for carrying such lettermail by
rise express, or otherwise, at the greatest speed
that Gun be reasonably obtained, and for carry
ing the other mail In wagons. or otherwise, at q
slower rate of speed. '."
SEC 2lS. That every railway company carry
ing the mail shall carry on any train which may
run over It's road, and without extra charge
therefor, all mailable matter directed TO be car
RED thereon, with the person in charge of the
same. lo ID sta n. 2 ~ lial#, rIr rsa
SEC. 2l4. That all railway companies to which
the United States have furnished aid by grant of
lands, right of way. or otherwise, shall carry
the mail at such prices rs Congress may by law
provides; and, until such price is fixed by law,
the Postmaster. General mag fix the rate OF
compensation. "a .s.l .i
sRc,2I6 That The Postmaster General shall
provide for carrying the mail on all post-roads
established by law, as often as he, having due
regard to productiveness and other circumstan.
ces. may think proper,
cause o mail to be carried from the nearest post.
office on any established post-road to the court
house of any county in the United States which
SEC. 2l7 That the Postmaster General may
contract for carrying the mail oa the nayga-
BILE canals of the several States, when, in his
opinion, the public interest or convenience re-
SEC. 2is. That the Postmaster General may
contract for carry ing the mail on any plank DAD
in the United States, when the public interest or
convenience requiresit s--ft
SEC 2I9 That the Postmaster General may
cause the mail to be carried IN any steanlboa or
waters of the United States
SIC. 800. That The Postmaster General may, ii
he deem 1t for the public interest, make con
tracts for any period not exceeding one year, for
carrying the mail in steamships between any of
the ports of theUnited States. f.rg %
SEQ. 22l. That the Postmaster General may
enter into contracts for extending tho line of
posts to supply mails 10 post-oftiees not any
established route, and, as q compensation for
carrying the mail under such contracts may
allow not exceeding two-thrds of the salary
paid to tho postmaster at such special Offices
SEC. go. That the master OF any vessel of the
United States, bound from any port therein to
any foreign port, or from any foreign port 10 any
port of the United States, SHALL before clearance
receive on board and securely convey all sush
mails as the Post Office Department, or any di-
plomatic or consular officer of the United States
abroad shall offer; nd he shall promptly deliver
the same, on ARR, ing mt the port of destination,
10 the proper officer, for which he shall receive
Two cents for every letter so delivered and upon
the entry of every such vessel returning from
any foreign port, the master thereof sha make
oath or affirmation that he has promptly deliv
cred all the mail placed on board said vessel be-
shall fail to make such oath or affirmation, the
said vessel shall not be entitled to the privileges
of IA vessel of the United States. .E
SRc 223. That the master of any steamboat
passing between ports CT places in the United
states, andarriving at any such port or place
where there is a post office, shall. deliver TO the
postmaster, within three hours after his arrival,
if in the lday-time, and if at night, within two
honrs atterthe next sunrise all letters and pack
cts bronqht by him, or within his power or con-
trol, and no. relating to the cargo, addressed 20
or destined for such port or place, for which he
shall receive from the postmaster two cents for
each letter or packet SO delivered, unless the
same is carried under n contract for carrying the
mail; and for every failure to deliver such let
ters and packets, the MASTER or owner of said
steamboat shall forfeit and pay one hundred and
ftttS dollars.
sES. 224 That the Postmaster General may
pay, 10 the master or owner of any vessel not
regularly employed in carrying the mail, two
cents for each letter carried by such vessel
between ports or places in the United States, or
from any foreign port TO any port in the United
States; but all such letters shall be deposited in
the post-ofice at the port of arrival.
SIC. 225, That any person who shall paint,
print, or any manner place upon or attach to
any steamboat or other vessel, or any stage-coach
the mail, the words United States mail,' or
any words letters, or characters of like import;
any person who shall give notice, by publishing
in any newspaper ortherwise, that any
steamboat or other vessel, or any stage coach or
other vehicle, is used in carrying the mail. when
the same is not actually SO used, every person so
OnenQlnR, or W1l1uliy u1ulDS OF lDettHR ineIcNH,
shall, on conviction thereof. for every such
offiense forfeit and pay not less than one han
dred dollars nor more than five hundred dollars.
See. ZIG. That every route-agent, postal-cier!t,
or other carrier of the NAL shall receive any
mail matter presented to him, if properly pre-
paid by stamps, and deliver the same for mail
Ing at the next post-otiice at which he arrives;
but no fees shall be allowed him therefor.
SIC. ,227 That any person concerned in carry.
Ing the mail, whe shall collect, receive, or carry
any letter or packet, cause or procure the
~ In n
viction thereof for every such ofiense forfeit and
pay not exceeding fifty dollars
SIC. 22S. That no person shall establish any
private express for the conveyance of letters or
packets, or in any manner cause or provide for
the conveyance of the same by regular trips or
ut stated periods. over any post route which lie
or may be established by law, or from any city,
town, or place to any other city, town. Or place
between which the mail is regularly carried and
every person SO offending, or aiding or assisting
therein, shall, for each oftense forfeit and pay
one hundred and fifty dollars. s.-.t
Stc 229 That the owner of every sJage-coach,
railway.car, steamboat, or other vehicle or ves-
SELL which shall, with the knowledge of any
owner, in whole or In part, or with tire know
ledge or connivance of the driver conductor, mas
ter, or other person having charge of The same,
convey any person acting or employed as n pri-
Nafe express for the conveyance of letters or
packetsand actually in possession OF the same for
The purpose of conveying them contrary to the
spirit, true intent, and meaning of this law,
shall for every such otlense, forfeit ana pay one
hundred and fifty dollars. ~ sE
SEC $50 That Der son snail transmit by
private express other unlawful means, or de-
liver 10 any agent of such unlawful express, or
deposit, or cause to be deposited at any appoint.
ed place, for the purpose of being transmitted,
any letter packet, and for every such offense
the party so offending shall forfeit and pay fifty
dollars 90
SIC. 23l. That stare-coaeh, rail way-car,
STEAMBOAT, or other vehicle or vessel which reg
ularly performs trips at stated periods on any
post-route or from any city, town, or place TO
any other city, town, or pl ice between which the
mail is regularly carried. shall carry, otherwise
than In the mail, any letters or packets, except
zach as relate TO some part OF the cargo of such
steamboat other ssel, or TO some article car
rted at the same time by the same stage-coach
rsiiway.car. or other vehicle, except as provided
in section Two hundred and thirty nine; and for
every such otfense the owner of the stage-coach,
railway car, steamboat, or her vehicle or vessel
shall forfeit and pay one hundred dollars; and
the driver, conductor, master, or other person
having charge thereof, and not at the time owner
of the whole or any part thereof, shall in like
manner forfeit and pay for every such ofense
nifty dollars. ~
SEC 252. That no person shall carry any letter
or packet on board any vessel which carries the
mail otherwise than in such mail, except as pro-
vided In section two hundred and thirty inc /;
and for every such offense the party offending
shall forfeit and pay fifty dollars
SIC. 233 That no vessel departing from the
United States for any foreign pert shall receive
on board or convey any letter or packet orig
mating in the United States which has not been
regularly received from the post-ofilce ut the
port of departure, and which does not relate to
the cargo of said vessel except as provided in
section two hundred and thirty-nine; and every