242 THIRTIETH CONGRESS Sess. I. Ch. S2, 83. 1848. conveying the mail, shall decline to sell and deliver to the United States such ship or ships, or shall refuse to name and appoint appraisers to value the same, agreeably to the provisions of said act, or the same having been appraised and valued, shall refuse to convey and deliver said ship or ships to the United States, on the payment, or tender of payment, by the United States, of the sum at which the said ship or ships may have been appraised and valued, such person or persons so 0H`:-mding shall forfeit a. sum not exceeding one hundred thousand dollars, to be recovered in any proper action, for the use of the treasury of the United States; and in case of refusal or inability to pay the same, shall be liable to be imprisoned not exceeding one year, at the discretion of the court rendering judgment for such penalty. P<>¤¤¤¤¤$¤¤'· Sue. 4. And be it further enacted, That to secure the regular trans. £;°$$yc£: mission of the mail to and from foreign countries, the Postmaster-Gen. tractors For uu- eral be, and he is hereby, authorized and required to impose fines on
- ‘;*;S‘;‘;‘;’;° 3;;;*; contractors, for any unreasonable or unnecessary delay in the departure
&e.of such mails, or in the performance of the trip: Provided, That the Pmviso. fine for any one default shall not exceed one half of the contract price paid for the trip. fog;>¤I:¤:§! sg: Sec. 5. And be it furtherlenacted, That it shall not be lawful for vicjmttc be w any contractor for transporting the mail to any foreign country to signable. assign or transfer his contracts; and all such assignments or transfers Prvvism shall be null and void : Provided, That assignments and transfers which have been made and accepted by the Postmaster-General or the Secretary of the Navy before the passage of this act, shall not be ai! fected by this section. A1>1>1z0vm:•, June 27, 1848. June 28, 1848. Cru?. LXXXII.— An dat concerning the taking of qjicial Oaths in the District """`_`°" of Columbia. _ Any one Orme Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives ry' the 2\:1*:g•€0;£{h§r({L; United States of America in Congress assembled, That all official oaths judge of the required hy Iaw_to be taken by officers of the United States may, m
the l)istr1ct of Columbia, be administered and certified by any one 0f
Columbia, may the judges of the- Circuit Court, or by the Judge of the Criminal Court administer om- of the said District. ml °¤*h°· Apruovmo, June 28, 1848. June *28, 18+8. CHAP. LXXXIII.—An Act rewecting certain Surveys in tie State of Florida. Be ittznacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the k9C¤f*¤;:sSl;¤;£¤, United States of America in Congress assembled, That the c0mmiS· 183;; in swf}; sioncr of the General Land Oiliee is hereby authorized and directed iv Florida to be sup cause to be surveyed, as soon as practicable, the islands and keys, and '°Y°d· other lands in South Florida, interspersed with water, which c=m¤¤¢ conveniently be connected with the regular public surveys; and also the private claims or grants which have been duly c0nfirmed,`situate in said State; and that such surveys of said islands, keys, and lands interspersed with water as aforesaid may be made by such persons on such terms, and in such mode and manner, as said commissioner may deem most expedient and proper, without connection thereof with the other Expenseofsur- public surveys, by township lines; but the expense thereof shall not '°Y; ’““*°d· exceed the maximum price per mile heretofore allowed for surveys by the United States in other States or Territories; and the surveys of said private claims or grants may be made by such persons, and cn sureh terms, as said commissioner may deem most expedient and proper; but the expense thereof shall not in any case exceed twenty-
