Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 3.djvu/260



Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Postmaster General be, and [he] is hereby authorized to allow to the postmasters respectively, such commission on the moneys arising from the postage of letters, newspapers, and packets, as shall be adequate to their respective services and expenses. Provided, That the said commission shall not exceed the following several rates on the amount collected in one quarter, that is to say:

On a sum not exceeding one hundred and fifty dollars, twenty per cent.

On a sum not exceeding four hundred and fifty dollars, seventeen per cent.

On a sum not exceeding three thousand dollars, thirteen per cent.

On any sum over three thousand six hundred dollars, five per cent.

He may also allow the postmaster at distributing post-offices, a commission of four per cent. on any sum of postages distributed, not exceeding four thousand dollars: and a commission of three per cent. on any sum of postages distributed over four thousand dollars.

He may also allow to such postmasters as receive and despatch foreign mails, a sum not exceeding twenty-five dollars per quarter year, for that service; and he may augment the commission of those postmasters who receive the mail regularly between the hours of nine o’clock in the evening and five o’clock in the morning, from twenty to thirty-three and one third per cent. on one hundred and fifty dollars received in each quarter.

He may also allow to each postmaster one cent for each free letter delivered out of his office, and one cent for each free letter originally received by him and forwarded by mail.

He may also allow to each postmaster ten cents for every monthly register of the arrival and departure of the mail, returned to the general post-office. The Postmaster General may also allow to the postmasters, respectively, a commission of thirty-three and one third per cent. on the amount of postages which they shall collect on newspapers, magazines, and pamphlets; but no allowance for distribution, or for free letters, shall be made to any postmaster, who shall collect postages to the amount of five thousand dollars in one quarter.

. And be it further enacted, That this act shall be in force on and after the first day of April next, and thereupon all other acts and clauses thereof providing compensation or allowance to any postmaster or postmasters, shall cease to have effect, and are hereby repealed: Provided, That nothing herein contained shall be construed to effect, alter, or repeal, the provisions of the fortieth section of the.

. And be it further enacted, That the Postmaster General be authorized to have the mail carried in any steamboat, or other vessel, which shall be used as a packet, in any of the waters of the United States, on such terms and conditions, as shall be considered expedient: Provided, That he do not pay more than three cents for each letter, and each packet, and more than one half cent for each newspaper, conveyed in such mail.

. And be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of every master or manager of any steamboat, packet, or other vessel, which shall pass from one part or place to another part or place, in the United states, where a post-office is established, to deliver within three hours after his arrival, if in the day time, and within two hours after the next sunrise, if the arrival be in the night all letters and packets addressed to, or destined for such port or place, to the postmaster there, for which he shall be entitled to receive of such postmaster two cents for every letter