Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 1.djvu/862



by bond or obligations made in the name of the existing or any preceding Postmaster General, or otherwise, shall be instituted in the name of the “Postmaster General of the United States.”

That certified copies under the seal of the general post-office, of the accounts current of the several postmasters, after the same shall have been examined and adjusted at that office, shall be admitted as evidence in all suits brought by the Postmaster General for the recovery of balances or debts due from postmasters, and in like manner copies of such accounts current as are lodged in the office of the Register of the Treasury, certified by the Register under the seal of his office, shall be admitted as evidence.

. And be it further enacted, That if any postmaster, or other person, who shall receive and open, or dispatch mails, shall neglect to render accounts thereof for one month after the time, and in the form and manner prescribed by law, and by the Postmaster General’s instructions conformable therewith, he shall forfeit double the value of the postages which shall have arisen at the same office in any equal portion of time previous or subsequent thereto; or in case no accounts shall have been rendered at the time of trial of such case, then such sum as the court and jury shall estimate equivalent thereto, to be recovered by the Postmaster General in an action on the case.

. And be it further enacted, That all pecuniary penalties and forfeitures incurred under this act, shall be, one half for the use of the person or persons informing and prosecuting for the same, and the other half to the use of the United States.

. And be it further enacted, That it shall be lawful for the Postmaster General to make provision, where it may be necessary, for the receipt of all letters and packets intended to be conveyed by any ship or vessel beyond sea, or from any port in the United States to another port therein; and the letters so received shall be formed into a mail, sealed up, and directed to the postmaster of the port to which such ship or vessel shall be found. And for every letter or packet so received, there shall be paid, at the time of its reception, a postage of one cent, which shall be for the use of the postmasters respectively receiving the same. And the Postmaster General may make arrangements with the postmasters in any foreign country, for the reciprocal receipt and delivery of letters and packets through the post-offices.

. And be it further enacted, That the postmasters, and the persons employed in the transportation of the mail, shall be exempt from militia duties, and serving on juries, or any fine or penalty for neglect thereof.

. And be it further enacted, That letter carriers shall be employed at such post-offices as the Postmaster General shall direct, for the delivery of letters in the places respectively where such post-offices are established; and for the delivery of each such letter, the letter carrier may receive of the person to whom the delivery is made, two cents: Provided, that no letter shall be delivered to such letter carrier for distribution, addressed to any person who shall have lodged at the post-office a written request that his letters shall be detained in the office. And for every letter lodged at any post-office, not to be carried by post, but to be delivered at the place where it is to be so lodged, the postmaster shall receive one cent of the person to whom it shall be delivered.

. And be it further enacted, That all causes of action arising under this act may be sued, and all offenders against this act may be prosecuted, before the justices of the peace, magistrates, and other judicial courts of the several states, and of the several territories of the United States, they having competent jurisdiction by the laws of such states or territories, to the trial of claims and demands of as great value, and of prosecutions where the punishments are of as great extent; and