The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1878-08-31
II PACIFIC
GommertialAOOrrtise
SATURDAY. AUGUST 81.
SESSION LAWS. 1878.

49, 49,
and easy transmission of messages to and from
all parts Of the country tends to the increase of
business. by enabling the producer and consumer
to more readily understand each others wants
and the cheaper the facilities afforded, the greater
use Of them will be made by the people.
Our Post-ofhce system has risen from a very
humble beginning to an important, useful and
necessary bureau, under the supervision Of the
Minister of the Interior. Old residents can re-
member when a foreign mail bag was emptied
upon a table in the c0unting-room Of the mer-
chant to whom the vessel bringing it was con-
signed, and the contents left open to inspection
or search by anyone who felt so disposed. This
faulty system was inevitable, under the circum-
stances. a comparison of that system with the
one now in vogue viii show the commendablc
advance we have made.
An Act was passed by the last Legislature
amending the old law in some important points.
with the view Of rendering the service more
efficient and better adapted to the wants of the
people. The following brief summary will show
the principal changes that have been made by the
law as it now stands
Section l is an addition to section 397 of the
Civil Code, and declares that the Postmaster
General and postmasters throughout the country
shall take and subscribe an oath of office (Which
shall be filed with the Minister of the Interior)
that they will faithfully perform all the duties of
the Office, sustain the inViolability of all postal
matter, and forward the mails with dispatch.
Section 2 is an addition to section 4Ol of the
Code, to the effect that the master or agent of
any vessel about to leave for a foreign port shall
give due notice of the intended departure to the
postmaster of the port, and shall make oath of
such notice to the Collector before receiving
clearance papers.
Section 3 authorizes the Minister of the Int
rior to compensate c~oasting vessels for services
in such cases as are just and equitable. This the
old law required the masters to do free of charge.
under penalty of %forfeiting their c~oasting licenses.
Section 4 is quite lengthy. and prescribes the
rates OF postage to be charged upon all matter
passing through the mails, such matter being
divided into three classes. Class l fixes inter
island postage on all letters and printed matter at
two cents per half ounce. Foreign postage on
all similar matter is placed at six cents, and in
addition the sea postage is to be collected.
Letters to be delivered at the Office where mailed,
one cent for each half ounce. By class 3, all
newspapers, pamphlets. corrected proofs, maps,
sheet music, posters, etc., mot bound) one cent
for each four ounces or fraction thereof If such
matter is foreign, one cent for two ounces.
Editors and publishers exchange free. Inter
island newspapers from Office of publication, free.
Glass 8 makes all books, merchandise, samples,
seeds, cuttings, roots, bulbs, aud other matter
not included in the two first classes, one cent per
ounce, domestic or foreign. All matter pertain
ing to the second or third class shall be so secured
as to admit of examination without DESTROYING
the cover otherwise it will be subject to first
class postage.
No package containing liquids, poisons, glass,
explosive chemicals, live animals, sharp instru-
nents, sugar, or anything liable to injure the
contents of the mail-bags. nor any letters, books
or cards, or other publications, upon which is
written, engraved, or printed disloyal, obscene
words or delineations, shall be transmitted
through the mails. If the postmaster has reason
to suspect that any package from foreign coun-
tries contains anything subject to duty, he shall
open it in the presence of the person to whom it
is addressed, and the Collector or his deputy.
Any person attempting to violate these r%estric-
tions shall be subject to a fine of $500, or i'm
prisonment at hard labor not exceeding one year.
No package can be sent through the mail over
four pounds in weight, except under the first
class. Nothing in this section is to be construed
so as to conflict with any postal treaty now in
force. This section also gives the Minister of the
Interior full power to enter into such postal
treaties and conventions as may be necessary for
the public good, and more especially into the
International Postal Union of Berne.
Section 6 exempts the postmasters and clerks
from jury duty.
Section 7 directs the Postmaster General to
prepare and issue for sale postal cards, which
shall be transmitted through the mails at a
charge of one cent each.
Approved August 1, 1878. :
The Act to amend sections 99S, 999 and l ,003 |
of the Civil Code adds some new points to the j
duties and powers of the Commissioners of Pri- .
vate Ways and Water Rights. Section l pro- t
vides that any decision made by a majority of the !
Commissioners shall be conclusive upon all par 8
ties, subject to the right ofappeal. C
Section 2, amending section 999, requires.
among other conditions, the appellant to deposit :
with the Commissioners a bond in the sum of @
800, with surety, conditioned for the payment s
the costs further to accrue, in case he is de- :
Teated in the Court above. e
Section 8 gives the Commissioners, in addition .
TO their other powers, authority to enforce judg-
nent and issue execution for costs. $
Approved August l, 1873.
The Act relating to the Bureau of Public (.
instruction has some important amendments
o the former law. Section l requires all persons
o answer the questions of census agents to the u
,est of their knowledge under penalty of a fine r
to exceed $50. =
Section 2 requires all parties authorized to
,erform the marriage ceremony to report to the
chool agent of the district the names of all
ersons married by him. 1t also makes it n
ncumbent upon the parents to notify some eI
of births and deaths in the district,
f the birth, sex, and date of birth of any child
nd officiating clergymen, undertakers, or rela-
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