No. 67. Ch. CC. An Act extending the Provisions of the Act of 4th August, 1852, entitled "An Act to grant the Right of Way to all Rail and Plank Roads and Macadamized Turnpikes passing through the Public Lands belonging to the United States," to the Public Lands in the Territories of the United States. March 3, 1855.

No. 68. Ch. CCI. An Act making Appropriations for the Service of the Post-Office Department during the Fiscal Year ending 30th June, 1856. $9,515,115.60 are appropriated. The Postmaster-General is authorized to contract, after advertising, for a semi-monthly mail, by sea, from San Francisco to Olympia, in Washington Territory; touching at Humboldt Bay, Trinidad, and Crescent City, in California; Port Orford, Gardiner City (Umpqua), and Astoria, in Oregon; and Shoal Water Bay and Port Townsend, in Washington; and at such other points as he shall direct; the whole cost not to exceed $120,000 per annum. The franking privilege is continued to Vice-Presidents during life. Copyright deposits in the library of Congress and Smithsonian Institution may be sent by mail free. March 3, 1855.

No. 69. Ch. CCII. An Act to establish Columbus in Mississippi, Chattanooga in Tennessee, and Hickman in Kentucky, Ports of Delivery. A surveyor is to be appointed to reside at each; and when the duties paid at any of these ports are less than $10,000, the Secretary of the Treasury shall discontinue it. March 3, 1855.

No. 70. Ch. CCIII. An Act to provide Accommodations for the United States Courts in the City of Jackson, Mississippi. Not over $20,000 may be paid for what shall prove, on use, to be suitable rooms. March 3, 1855.

No. 71. Ch. CCIV. An Act making Appropriations for the Current and Contingent Expenses of the Indian Department, and for fulfilling Treaty Stipulations with various Indian Tribes, for the Year ending 30th June, 1856, and for other Purposes. $2,257,948.06 are appropriated. The publication of the sixth and last volume of "Statistics and other Information of Indian Tribes" is provided for. The United States laws respecting forgery and depredations on the mails are extended to the Indian country. Indian agents are authorized to administer oaths and take acknowledgments of deeds. March 3, 1855. No. 72. Ch. CCVI. An Act allowing the further Time of Two Years to those holding Lands by Entries in the Virginia Military District in Ohio, which were made prior to 1st January, 1852, to have the same surveyed and patented. The act of 19th December, 1854, (ch. 6,) is repealed. March 3, 1855.

No. 73. Ch. CCVII. An Act in Addition to certain Acts granting Bounty Land to certain Officers and Soldiers who have been engaged in the Military Service of the United States. Each person mustered into the service of the United States, either in the army or navy, in any of the wars in which this country has been engaged since 1790, and each survivor of the militia, or volunteers, or State troops of any State or Territory, called into military service and regularly mustered therein and paid by the United States, including chaplains in the army, Indians, and wagon-masters and teamsters, is entitled to a certificate or warrant for 160 acres of land; and if he has received any land, but less than 160 acres, he is entitled to so much as will make 160 acres in the whole, unless the musterrolls show that such person deserted the service or was dishonorably discharged. If any person so entitled is dead, his widow, if living, or, if not, his minor children, shall have the warrant. A subsequent marriage shall not impair the widow's right if she be a widow at the time of making the application; and such persons shall be considered minors who are so when this act takes effect. The warrant shall in no case issue for less than fourteen days' service, except the person was actually engaged in battle, nor unless such service is proved by record evidence. Such warrants are made assignable, but they cannot be located on public lands unless such lands are at the time subject to sale at the minimum or lower graduated prices. The former bounty-land acts are extended to Indians, and the provisions of this act are made applicable to the officers and soldiers in the Revolutionary war, or their widows or minor children; to the volunteers at the invasion of Plattsburg, and in the attack on Lewistown, Delaware, in the war of 1812; at the battle of King's Mountain in the Revolutionary war; and at the battle of Nickojock, against the confederated savages of the South. March 3, 1855.

No. 74. Ch. CCVIII. An Act making Appropriations for the Support of the Military Academy for the year ending 30th June, 1856. $1,146,940.92 are appropriated.

No. 75. Ch. CCIX. An Act to amend an Act approved 4th August, 1854, entitled “ An Act to graduate and reduce the Price of the Public Lands to Actual Settlers and Cultivators. Affidavits may be made before any officer duly authorized to administer oaths. March 3, 1855.

No. 76. Ch. CCX. An Act for carrying into effect the Convention upon the Subject of Claims between the United States and her Britannic Majesty of 8th February, 1853. $277,102.88 having been awarded by such Convention to British subjects, that sum is appropriated for that purpose, deducting therefrom the ratable proportion of expenses of the commission, not exceeding five per cent. March 3, 1855.

No. 77. Ch. CCXI.

An Act to establish certain Post Roads. March 3, 1855.

No. 78. Ch. CCXII. An Act to change the Boundaries of the Land Districts in Iowa, and for other Purposes. The public lands north of the line dividing townships 93 and 94, and east of the range-line dividing ranges 24 and 25, shall compose the Turkey River district; those lying in the northern land district, and north of township-line dividing townships 85 and 86, and not included in the Turkey River and Dubuque districts, compose the Fort Dodge district, and the name of the northern district is changed to Fort Des Moines; those lying in the Kanesville district, and north of township-line dividing townships 85 and 86, compose the Sioux River district, and the name of the Kanesville district is changed to Council Bluffs. Townships 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, and 93 of ranges 17 and 18 are made part of the Dubuque district, and townships 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, and 75 of ranges 32 and 33 are made part of the Charitan district. The President may establish the sites of the several offices, and change the same when he deems it expedient. March 3, 1855.

No. 79. Ch. CCXIII. An Act to regulate the Carriage of Passengers in Steam-ships and other Vessels.

No vessel owned in whole or part by a citizen of the United States, or by a citizen of any foreign country, shall take on board at any foreign place, other than foreign contiguous territory of the United States, a greater number of passengers than one for every two tons of such vessel, children under one year not being counted, and two of those over one, and under eight, being deemed one passenger; and the space allowed each passenger, not to be occupied by stores or goods other than the personal baggage of such passenger, on the main and poop decks, or platforms and deck-houses, if any, shall be sixteen clear superficial feet, if the height between decks be not less than six feet; on the lower deck (not being an orlop deck) eighteen clear superficial feet, if the height between decks be not less than six feet. In two-deck ships, where the height between decks is seven feet and a half or more, fourteen clear superficial feet are the allowance. No passenger shall be carried on any other deck or platform, nor on any deck where the distance between decks is less than six feet. If any master of such vessel shall at such place take on board thereof, with intent to bring to the United States, and shall leave such place and bring in such vessel within the jurisdiction of the United States any greater number of passengers than allowed as aforesaid; or if any master of any such vessel shall take on board thereof, at any place within the jurisdiction of the United States, with intent to carry to any foreign place other than foreign contiguous territory as aforesaid, any greater number of passengers than allowed as aforesaid, he shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction in any United States Circuit or District Court, shall be fined $50 for each passenger exceeding the allowed number, and may also be imprisoned not exceeding six months. If the safety or convenience of the vessel require that any portion of her cargo or stores should be stowed in any place appropriated to passengers, they may be put there in lockers, the space taken up by such lockers not to make part of the space allowable to passengers. A hospital, separate from the space appropriated to passengers, may be fitted up; and when so used, its space, not exceeding a hundred superficial feet, may be included in that allowed passengers.

There shall not be more than two tiers of berths, the space between the bottom of the lower one and the deck to be not less than nine inches. The berths are to be parallel with the sides of the vessel, at least six feet long and two feet wide, separated by partitions, and to be occupied by only one passenger. But double berths, not less than four feet

wide, may be constructed, to be occupied by no more and no other than two women, or by one woman and two children under the age of eight years, or by a husband and wife, or by a man and two of his own children under eight years, or by two men, members of the same family. If these provisions are violated, the master and owners shall severally forfeit $5 for each passenger on board for such voyage, to be recovered by the United States in any port where the vessel may arrive or depart.

All vessels, United States or foreign, having space for fifty or more passengers other than cabin passengers, shall, when carrying passengers between the United States and Europe, have on the upper deck, over the hatchway, a house or booby-hatch, securely fastened, with two doors so constructed that one shall be always open for ventilation. And if the vessel carries a hundred and fifty or more such passengers, it shall have two such houses. The stairs leading between decks shall have a hand-rail of wood or strong rope. Every vessel with a legal capacity for more than a hundred such passengers shall, unless the vessel is equally well ventilated by other means, have at least two ventilators, proportioned in size to the between-decks, to rise at least six feet four inches above the upper deck, one to be placed forward and the other aft, one to have an exhausting-cap to carry off the foul air, and the other a receiving-cap for the fresh air. Any vessel conveying more than fifty such passengers shall have for their use on deck, housed, a convenient camboose or cooking-range, which shall be equal to four feet long and eighteen inches wide for every two hundred passengers, and larger for a greater number. This shall not interfere with their arrangements for cooking between decks, if that is deemed desirable. Any and every violation of these provisions as to houses, ventilators, and cambooses, is punishable with a penalty of $200, to go to the United States. The decks must be so constructed that they may be conveniently and thoroughly cleansed; and there shall be a safe and convenient privy for the exclusive use of every one hundred passengers. When the weather is such that the passengers and their bedding cannot be mustered on deck, the between-decks shall be cleansed with chloride of lime or other equally efficient disinfecting agent. Each violation of these provisions is punishable with a penalty of $50.

All such vessels so employed shall have on board, at the last port whence they sail, for the use of such passengers, well secured under deck, for each passenger, at least twenty pounds good navy bread, fifteen each of rice and oatmeal, ten each of wheatflour, salt pork, and salt beef, free of bone, fifteen of pease and beans, twenty of potatoes, and one pint of vinegar, all to be of good quality. Where rice, oatmeal, wheat-flour, or pease and beans cannot be procured of good quality and on reasonable terms, the quantity of the other articles may be increased and substituted. Where potatoes cannot be procured on reasonable terms, one pound of either of the other articles may be substituted for five pounds of potatoes. The captain shall deliver to each passenger at least one tenth part of such provisions weekly, commencing on the day of sailing, and at least three quarts of water daily. If such provisions and water are not so put on board, and the passengers are put on short allowance, each passenger may recover of the master or owner $3 for every day he is so put on allowance. The master of such vessel shall see that the provisions are properly cooked daily, and served out at stated hours, by messes or in such other manner as shall be most conducive to their health and comfort. If he shall wilfully fail to furnish and distribute such provisions, so cooked, he shall be punishable with a fine of not over $1,000, and imprisonment of not over one year; this penalty not to affect the civil responsibility of the master or owners for such default.

The provisions of this act as to space shall apply to the space appropriated to steerage passengers in vessels propelled in whole or in part by steam, and navigating between the ports and in the manner named in this act, and to such vessels and the masters thereof; also, to vessels of any colonization societies transporting colored emigrants from here to the West Coast of Africa. Vessels bound from any port in the United States to any place in the Pacific Ocean or its tributaries, and vice versa, shall be subject to the provisions of this act, except what relates to provisions and water. They shall furnish each passenger three quarts of water daily, and a sufficient supply of wholesome and properly cooked food; if not, they shall be subject to the short-allowance penalty.

The certificate of an inspector of the customs, approved by the collector, that a vessel has complied with the requirements of this act, shall be deemed prima facie evidence thereof. The penalties imposed by this act shall be a lien on the vessel, and such vessel shall be libelled therefor in the circuit or district where the vessel arrives. The master of any such vessel arriving in the United States shall, when he enters his vessel, deliver to the collector a list of the passengers taken on board at any foreign place, which list, to be sworn to by the master, shall designate the age, sex, occupation, and country to which the passengers belong, and that of which they intend to become inhabitants, the part of the vessel in which they came, and whether any, and what, number died on the passage. The refusal or neglect of the master to deliver such list shall be punished in the same manner as a refusal or neglect to report and deliver a manifest of cargo. The collector shall quarterly report the same to the Secretary of State, who shall at each session lay the same before Congress. When there has been any death of a passenger other than cabin passengers, the master, owner, or consignees, within twenty-four hours after the required time of the delivery of the passenger-list, shall pay the collector $10 for each passenger above the age of eight years who died on the voyage by natural disease. If this money is not paid within the time, the master, owner, or consignees shall forfeit $50, in addition to the $10, for each such passenger so dying. The collector shall pay this money, as the Secretary of the Treasury by general rules may direct, to any board acting under the authority of the State in which the vessel arrives, (and if there be more than one such board, the Secretary of the Treasury for the time being, his decision to be final and without appeal, shall determine which is entitled to receive the same,) for the care and protection of sick, indigent, or destitute emigrants, to be applied to such objects. But payment shall in no case be made to any board formed for the protection of emigrants of any particular class, nation, or creed.

The collector shall examine each emigrant ship on its arrival, and report to the Secretary in detail the length of voyage, condition of the vessel and passengers, causes of mortality, and all the particulars required by this act. This act takes effect as to vessels sailing from United States ports on the eastern side of the continent, in thirty days; from United States ports on the western side, and from ports in Europe, in sixty days; and from all other ports, in six months from the date of its approval. And the Secretary of State shall give notice of this act in the ports of Europe and elsewhere as he deems proper. March 3, 1855.

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IX. PUBLIC RESOLUTIONS.

[The omitted numbers are Private Resolutions.]

No. 2. Joint Resolution to modify or change the Original Plan of the Custom-House at New Orleans. December 19, 1854.

No. 4. Joint Resolution for the Appointment of Regents in the Smithsonian Institution. Rufus Choate and Gideon Hawley are reappointed. December 27, 1854.

No. 5. Joint Resolution providing for the Engraving, Lithographing, and Publishing of Drawings, Maps, Charts, or other Papers for Congress. The engravings, &c. shall be procured by the Superintendent of Public Printing, under the direction of the committee of either House ordering the same, and the plates shall be in his charge. The paper for the same shall be procured in the same manner as printing-paper. January 18, 1855. No. 6. Joint Resolution relative to the Construction of the Laws for the Allowance of Additional Compensation to the Clerks in the Census Bureau. February 3, 1855.

No. 7. Joint Resolution respecting the Arctic Expedition commanded by Passed AssistantSurgeon E. K. Kane. The Secretary of the Navy may send a steamer and tender for their relief, to be officered and manned by volunteers from the navy and elsewhere. February 3, 1855.

No. 9. Joint Resolution authorizing the President of the United States to confer the Title of Lieutenant-General by Brevet for Eminent Services. The grade of lieutenant-general is revived, so that when the President and Senate may deem proper to acknowledge the eminent services of a major-general of the army in the late war with Mexico, in the mode already provided for in subordinate grades, the grade of lieutenant-general may be conferred, by brevet only, to take rank from the date of such service or services. When such grade has been once filled and become vacant, this resolution shall become void and of no effect. February 15, 1855.

No. 13. Joint Resolution accepting the Sword of General Andrew Jackson, and returning the Thanks of Congress to the Family of the late General Robert Armstrong. It was the sword worn by General Jackson while in the military service of his country. It is deposited in the Department of State. February 28, 1855.

No. 14. Joint Resolution in relation to the New Orleans Custom-House. March 2, 1855. No. 23. Joint Resolution making an Appropriation for the Purchase of Territorial Libraries. $5,000 are appropriated for the purchase of Territorial libraries for each of the Territories of Kansas and Nebraska. March 3, 1855.

No. 24. Joint Resolution explanatory of an Act passed 3d August, 1854. It was the intention of said act to give Wisconsin, in aid of the improvement of the navigation of the Fox and Wisconsin Rivers, a quantity of land, equal, mile for mile of its improvement, to that granted to Indiana by the act of 9th May, 1848. March 3, 1855.

No. 25. Joint Resolution making Appropriation for the Payment of those entitled to the Benefits of the Resolution of the House of Representatives of the United States, passed 3d March, 1855, voting Extra Compensation to Pages, Folders, and others. The sum so voted is hereby appropriated. March 3, 1855.