rates of such vessels, and shall be governed by the rules and discipline, which are, or which shall be established for the navy of the United States.
Approved, February 25, 1799.
Statute Ⅲ.
Chap. ⅩⅤ.—An Act authorizing the establishment of Docks.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That two docks, for the convenience of repairing the public ships and vessels, be erected in suitable places, under the direction of the President of the United States, and that the sum of fifty thousand dollars be appropriated towards effecting this object, to be paid out of any monies in the treasury of the United States, not otherwise appropriated.
Approved, February 25, 1799.
Statute Ⅲ.
Chap. ⅩⅥ.—An Act authorizing the purchase of Timber for naval purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the President of the United States shall be, and he is hereby authorized to direct a sum not exceeding two hundred thousand dollars, to be paid out of any monies in the treasury, not otherwise appropriated, to be laid out in the purchase of growing or other timber, or of lands on which timber is growing, suitable for the navy, and to cause the proper measures to be taken to have the same preserved for the future uses of the navy.
Approved, February 25, 1799.
Statute Ⅲ.
[Repealed.]
Chap. ⅩⅦ.—An Act to alter the Stamp Duties imposed upon Foreign Bills of Exchange and Bills of Lading, by an act intituled “An act laying duties on stamped vellum, parchment and paper;” and further to amend the same.
Section 1. Former duty on foreign bills of exchange and bills of lading repealed.
Act of July 6, 1797, ch. 11.Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That from and after the thirty-first day of March next, the duties imposed by an act, intituled “An act laying duties on stamped vellum, parchment and paper,” upon foreign bills of exchange and bills of lading, shall cease and determine; and from and after the said thirty-first day of March next, there shall be levied and paid throughout the United States, the several stamp duties following, New duties imposed on foreign bills of exchange, bills of lading, and policies of assurance.to wit:—On every skin or piece of vellum or parchment, or sheet or piece of paper, on which shall be written or printed any or either of the instruments following, to wit:—Any foreign bill of exchange, draft or order for the payment of money in any foreign country, twenty cents; any note or bill of lading, or writing or receipt in the nature thereof, for any goods or merchandise to be exported, if from one district to another district of the United States, not being in the same state, four cents; if to be exported to any foreign port or place, ten cents; any policy of assurance, or instrument in nature thereof, other than those specified in the above recited act, when the sum, for which insurance is made, shall not exceed five hundred dollars, twenty-five cents; and when the sum insured shall exceed five hundred dollars, one dollar. And the said duties shall be chargeable upon each and every bill of exchange and bill of lading, without respect to the number contained in a set.
