first hundred dollars, collected in one quarter, may be increased to a sum not exceeding fifty per cent. The postmaster general may allow to the deputy postmasters, respectively, a commission of fifty per cent. on the money arising from the postages of newspapers, magazines and pamphlets; and to the deputy postmasters, whose compensations shall not exceed five hundred dollars, in one quarter, two cents for every free letter delivered out of the office, excepting such as are for the deputy postmaster himself: Provided, that the authority given by this section to the postmaster general, to regulate the commissions to be allowed to the deputy postmasters, shall continue in force until the thirty-first day of March, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-eight,1798, ch. 24. and no longer: And that it shall be his duty, to report to the said session, the respective commissions which he shall have allowed, by virtue of the authority herein given.
Regulations respecting newspapers.Sec. 6. And be it further enacted, That no newspapers shall be received by the deputy postmasters, to be conveyed by post, unless they are sufficiently dried and enclosed in proper wrappers, on which, besides the direction, shall be noted the number of papers, which are enclosed for subscribers, and the number for printers: The deputy postmasters shall form all newspapers deposited in their offices, to be conveyed by post, into mails; and if any deputy postmaster shall open, or permit any mail of newspapers not directed to his office, to be opened, he shall, on conviction thereof, forfeit, for every such offence, a sum not exceeding twenty dollars; and any other person, who shall open such mail of newspapers, on conviction thereof, shall forfeit a sum not exceeding twenty dollars, for every such offence: Provided, that when mails are directed to places where no post-office is kept, they may be opened at the post-office most convenient to such place, and may also be opened, where the direction is effaced.
Sec. 7. And be it further enacted, That this act shall not be construed to affect any existing contracts.
Postmaster general to report to Congress concerning certain roads.Sec. 8. And be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of the postmaster general, to report annually to Congress, every post-road, which shall not, after the second year, from its establishment, have produced one third of the expense of carrying the mail on the same.
Letters to George Washington to be free.Sec. 9. And be it further enacted, That all letters and packets to George Washington, now President of the United States, after the expiration of his term of office, and during his life, shall be received and conveyed by post free of postage.
Approved, March 3, 1797.
Statute Ⅱ.
Chap. ⅩⅩ.—An Act to provide more effectually for the Settlement of Accounts between the United States, and Receivers of public Money.
Act of March 3, 1817, ch. 45.
Revenue officer or other person not paying public money, to be sued, to forfeit commissions, and to pay interest.Section 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That when any revenue officer, or other person accountable for public money, shall neglect or refuse to pay into the treasury, the sum or balance reported to be due to the United States, upon the adjustment of his account, it shall be the duty of the comptroller, and he is hereby required to institute suit for the recovery of the same, adding to the sum stated to be due on such account, the commissions of the delinquent, which shall be forfeited in every instance where suit is commenced, and judgment obtained thereon, and an interest of six per cent. per annum, from the time of receiving the money, until it shall be repaid into the treasury.
