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Post-mäster general may allow the demasters such

puty post

as he may

able.

post-master general shall be authorised to allow the post-masters at the several distributing offices such compensation as shall be adequate to their several services in that respect: Provided, That the same shall not ex- compensation ceed, in the whole, five per cent. on the whole judge reason. amount of postages on lettters and newspapers received for distribution: Provided also, That if the number of mails, received at and despatched from any such office is not actually increased by the distributing system, then no additional allowance shall be made to the post-master.

post-master general to

Congress, that others

may be sub

Sec. 6. And be it further enacted, That whenever it shall be made to appear to the satisfaction of the post-master general that any road established, or which may hereafter be established as a post road, is obstructed by Post roads fences, gates or bars, or other than those obstructed by gates, &c. &c. lawfully used on turnpike roads to collect to be reporttheir toll, and not kept in good repair, with ed by the proper bridges and ferries where the same may be necessary, it shall be the duty of the post-master general to report the same to Congress with such information as can be obtain- stituted. ed, to enable Congress to establish some other road instead of it in the same main direction. Sec. 7. And be it further enacted, That if any person shall knowingly and wilfully obstruct or retard the passage of the mail, or of any driver or carrier, or of any horse or carriage carrying the same, he shall, upon conviction, for every such offence, pay a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars: and if any ferry-man shall by wilful negligence or refusal to transport the mail across any ferry, .delay the same, he shall forfeit and pay for each ten minutes that the same shall be so delayed, a sum not exceeding ten dollars.

Penalties for

obstructing or retarding the mail.

Proposals for

by the post

master gene,

ral.

Sec. 8. And be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of the post-master general to give public notice in one or more of the. contracts to news-papers published at the seat of governbe published ment of the United States, and in one or more of the newspapers published in the state or states or territory, where the contract is to be performed, for at least six weeks before entering into any contract for carrying the mail, that such contract is intended to be made, and the day on which it is to be concluded, describing the places from and to which such mail is to be conveyed, the time at which it is to be made up, and the day and hour at which it is to be delivered. He shall moreover within ninety days after the making of any contract, lodge a duplicate thereof, together with the proposals which he shall have received respecting it, in the office of the comptroller of the treasury of the United States: Provided, That no contract shall be entered into for a longer term than four years.

Duplicates of

contracts and proposals to be lodged in the comptrol

lers office. Proviso.

lar atten

dance in

Sec. 9. And be it further enacted, That Post-masters every post-master shall keep an office in which to have regu- one or more persons shall attend on every day on which a mail, or bag, or other packet or their offices. parcel of letters shall arrive by land or water, Prescribed by as well as on other days, at such hours as the the post-master general. post-master general shall direct, for the purpose of performing the duties thereof; and it shall be the duty of the post-master at all reasonable hours, on every day of the week, Regulations to deliver, on demand, any letter, paper or packet, to the person entitled to or authorised to receive the same; and all letters brought to any post-office half an hour before the time of making up the mail at such office shall be

concerning letters.

forwarded therein; except at such post-offices, where, in the opinion of the post-master general, it requires more time for making up the mail, and which he shall accordingly prescribe; but this shall in no case exceed one hour.

Sec. 10. And be it further enacted, That no fees or perquisites shall be received by No fees or any person employed in the general post-office perquisites on account of the duties to be performed by the general virtue of his appointment.

allowable in

post office.

Sec. 11. And be it further enacted, That the following rates of postage shall be char- Rates of ged on all letters and packets (excepting postage. such as are hereinafter exempted) conveyed by the posts of the United States, viz: for every letter composed of a single sheet of paper, conveyed not exceeding forty miles, eight cents; over forty, and not exceeding ninety miles, ten cents; over ninety, and not exceeding one hundred and fifty miles, twelve and a half cents; over one hundred and fifty, and not exceeding three hundred miles, seventeen cents; over three hundred, and not exceeding five hundred miles, twen ty cents; over five hundred miles, twentyfive cents. And for every double letter, or one composed of two pieces of paper, double those rates; and for every triple letter, or one composed of three pieces of paper, triple those rates; and for every packet composed of four or more pieces of paper, or other thing, and weighing one ounce avoirdupois, quadruple those rates, and in that proportion for all greater weight: Provided, That no packet of letters conveyed by the water mails shall be charged with more than quadruple postage, unless the same shall actually contain more than four distinct letters. No

Postage up

on foreign Petters and

those carried

coastwise.

Penalties for

authorised rates of postage,

post-master shall be obliged to receive, to be conveyed by the mail, any packet which shall weigh more than three pounds: And the postage marked on any letter or package, and charged on the post bill,which may accompany the same, shall, in favour of the post-master who delivers out said letter, be conclusive evidence of the lawful postage thereon, unless said letter, shall be opened in the presence of the said post-master or his clerk.

Sec. 12. And be it further enacted, That every letter or packet brought into the Unit.. ed States, or carried from one port therein to another, in any private ship or vessel, shall be charged with six cents, if delivered at the post-office where the same shall arrive, and if destined to be conveyed by post to any other place, with two cents added to the ordinary rates of postage.

Sec. 13. And be it further enacted, That if any post-master, or other person authorised charging un- by the post-master general, to receive the postage of letters, shall fraudulently demand or receive any rate of postage, or gratuity or reward, other than is provided by this act, for the postage of letters or packets; on conviction thereof he shall forfeit for every such offence, one hundred dollars, and shall be rendered incapable of holding any office or appointment under the government of the Unit ed States.

Letters to be delivered to

ters from

Sec. 14. And be it further enacted, That no ship or vessel arriving at any port within the post-mas- the United States, where a post-office is established, shall be permitted to report, make vious to their entry, or break bulk, until the master or combeing per- mander shall have delivered to the post-master port. &c. &c. all letters directed to any person or persons

vessels, pre

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Masters of

vessels to

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within the United States, or the territories thereof, which, under his care, or within his power shall be brought in such ship or vessel, except such as are directed to the owner or consignee of the ship or vessel, and except also such as are directed to be delivered at the port of delivery to which such ship or vessel may be bound. And it shall be the duty of the collector, or other officer of the port, empowered to receive entries of ships or vessels, to require, from every master or livery of letcommander of such ship or vessel, an oath or affirmation, purporting that he has delivered all such letters, except as aforesaid. And if any commander or master of any Penalties. ship or vessel shall break bulk before he shall have complied with the requirements of this act, every such offender shall, on conviction thereof forfeit, for every such offence, a sum not exceeding one hundred dollars.

ters, &c. &c.

cept those of

Sec. 15. And be it further enacted, That Masters of the postmasters to whom such letters may be vessels, exdelivered, shall pay to the master or com- foreign packmander, or other person, delivering the ets, to receive same, except the commanders of foreign postage for packets, two cents for each letter or packet, and delivered and shall obtain, from the person delivering by them, the same, a certificate specifying the number of letters and packets, with the name of the ship or vessel, and the place from whence she last sailed; which certificate, together with a receipt for the money, shall be, with his quarterly accounts, transmitted to the postmaster general, who shall credit him with the amount.

Sec. 16. And be it further enacted, That if any person, other than the postmaster general or his deputies, or persons by them em

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Penalties for

posts between pest towns.

setting up

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