Postmaster-General mny provide, by contract, for the con- veyance of the mnil on any Hoad on which a stage, waggon, or any other stage carriage shall be established, on condition tl111t the expense thereof shall not exceed the income thence nri;;ing. All c·ontracts for carrying the mail, whether on horse- back or otherwise, shall he for any term not exceeding two ycar;;-revocablc, 11t the pleasure of the Postmaster-General, nml at all times suhject to such alterations, as to time of de- parture, arrivnl ani! distances, and frequency of transporta- tion as he may think proper-subject, however, to increaae -or diminution on the amount to be paid on said contract to the Contrartor, in rntio of increase or diminution of services required; and it shall be lawful for the Postmaster-General to impose such fines and forfeitures upon the Mail Contra~tors for all failures they may make, in not regularly and faithfully complying with the terms of their contract as, in his opinion, may be just and proper: pl"ovided, that no fine, for a failure in delivering any mail at the appointed time, shall exceed the pay for one trip. SEC. 4. Be it further 01·dained and decreed, That no other than n free white Emopean, Anglo-American, or Mexican -shall be empfoyerl in conveying the Mail on any of the Post- Roads, either as carrier, rider or driver; and any and every violation of thi,; Ordinance shall subject the Contractor, for each offence, to forfeit and pay the sum of one hundred dol- lars-one moietv thereof to the use of the Provisional Gov- ernment, the other moiety to the person who shall sue for and pro!,ecute the same before any court having jurisdiction thereof. · SEO. 5. Be it further ordained and decreed, That if any per- son shall, knowingly and wilfully, obstruct or retard the pass- age of the mail, or of any driver or carrier, or of any _ho_rse or carriao-e carrying the same, he shall, upon conviction thereof, f~r every su:ch offence, pay a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars; and if any ferryman shall, by ,vilful neglect or refu~al to transport the mail across any ferry, hinder or delay the same, he shall forfeit ancl pay, for every ten minutes the ,:ame shall be delayed, a sum not exceeding ten rlo~lnrs. SEQ. 6. Re it further o·rdain"erl and decreed, That 1t shall be the duty of the Posmnster-General to give pub-
431
Powered by FlippingBook