penalty of misdemeanor, a year's imprisonment, and $1,000 fine. Equal rights in contracts, suits, evidence, and all legal proceedings are guaranteed in all the States and Territories of the Union, and State laws that may provide differently are repealed. If, at any eiection for representative or delegate in the Congress of the United States, any person shall knowingly personate and vote, or attempt to vote, in the name of any other per-on, whether living, dead, or fictitious; or vote more than once at the same election for any candi ate for thes me office; or vote at a place where he may not be lawfully entitled to vote; or vote without having a lawful right to vote; or do any unlawful act to secure a right or an opportunity to vote for himself or any other person; or by force, threat, menace, intimidation, bribery, reward, or offer, or promise thereof, or otherwise unlawfully prevent any qualified voter of any State of the United States of Amerercising the right of suffrage, or by any such means induce any voter to refuse to exercise such right; or compel or induce by any such means, or otherwise, any officer of an election in any such State or Territory to receive a vote from a person not legally qualified or entitled to vote; or interfere in any manner with any officer of said elections in the discharge of his duties; or by any of such means, or other unlawfu: means, induce any officer of an election, cr officer whose duty it is to ascertain, announce, or declare the result of any such election, or give or make any certificate, document, cr evidence in relation thereto, to violate or refuse to comply with his duty, or any law regulating the same; or knowingly and willfully receive the vote of any person not entitled to vote, or refuse to receive the vote of any person entitled to vote; or aid, counsel, procure, or advise any such voter, person, or officer to do any act hereby made a crime, or to omit to do any duty the omission of which is hereby made a crime, cr attempt to do so, every such person shall be deemed guilty of a crime, and shall for such crime be liable to prosecution in any court of the United States of competent jurisdiction, and, on conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars, or by imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years, or both, in the discretion of the court, and shall pay the costs of prosecution. a year, and must pay cost. He is also liable to pay $500 to the aggrieved party. If, in case of preliminary work to qualify a voter, such person shall be hindered or deprived of the advantages common to all voters, upon proper evidence of such depriation of privileges, his vote shall be received, and penalties as before mentioned may be inflicted upon upon offenders. If any person, by force, bribery, threats, intimidation, or other unlawful means, shall hinder, delay, prevent, or obstruct, or shall combine and confederate with others to hinder, delay, prevent, or obstruct any citizen from doing any act required to be done to qualify him to vote or from voting at any eiection as aforesaid, such person shall for every such offense forfeit and pay the sum of five hundred dollars to the person aggrieved thereby, and shall also for every such offense be guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall, on conviction thereof, be fined not less than five hundred dollars, or be imprisoned not lessica, or of any Territory thereof, from freely exthan one month and not more than one year, or both. That if any person shall prevent, hinder, control, or intimidate, or shall attempt to prevent, hinder, control or intimidate, any person from exercising or in exercising the right of suffrage, to whom the right of suffrage is secured or guaranteed by the fifteenth amendment to the Constitution of the United States, by means of bribery, threats, or threats of depriving such person of employment or occupation, or of ejecting such person from rented house, lands, or other property, or by threats of refusing to renew leases or contracts for labor, or by threats of violence to himself or family, such person so offending shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall, on conviction thereof, be fined not less than five hundred dollars, or be imprisoned not less than one month and not more than one year, or both. That if two or more persons shall band or conspire together, or go in disguise upon the public highway, or upon the premises of another, with intent to violate any provision of this act, or to injure, oppress, threaten, or intimidate any citizen with intent to prevent or hinder his free exercise and enjoyment of any right or privilege granted or secured to him by the Constitution or laws of the United States, or because of his having exercised the same, such persons shall be held guilty of felony, and, on conviction thereof, shall be fined or imprisoned, or both, at the discretion of the court-the fine not to exceed five thousand dollars, and the imprisonment not to exceed ten years-and shall, moreover, be thereafter ineligible to, and disabled from, holding any office or place of honor, profit, or trust created by the Constitution or laws of the United States. District courts and all United States officers are charged with the proper execution of the provisions of this act, by indictment cr upon information, and extra commissioners may be appointed by the courts when necessary. Marshals and other proper officers are to serve process, &c., under this act. It shall be lawful for the President of the United States to employ such part of the land or naval forces of the United States, or of the militia, as shall be necessary to aid in the execution of judicial process issued under this act. Persons ineligible to office under the third section of the fourteenth amendment, must not hold such office on The remainder of this act provides against false registration, and declares the duties of officers, and the penalties for not obeying the law. The last section declares that whenever any person shall be defeated or deprived of his election to any office, except elector of President or Vice-President, representative or delegate in Congress, or member of a State legislature, by reason of the denial to any citizen or citizens who shall offer to vote, of the right to vote, on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude, his right to hold and enjoy such office, and the emoluments thereof, shall not be impaired by such denial; and such person may bring any appropriate suit or proceeding to recover possession of such cffice, and in cases where it shall appear that the sole question touching the title to such office arises out of the denial of the right to vote to citizens who so offered to vote, on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude, such suit or proceeding may be instituted in the circuit or district court of the United States of the circuit or district in which such person resides. And said circuit or district court shall have, concurrently with the State courts, jurisdiction thereof so far as to determine the rights of the parties to such office by reason of the denial of the right guaranteed by the fifteenth article of amendment to the Constitution of the United States, and secured by this act. CHAP. CXVI.-Divorces.-In the District of Columbia divorces may be granted for habitual drunkenness for three years, cruelty endangering life and health, and willful desertion for two years. CHAP. CXXVII.-Credits for Prisoners.Enacts that prisoners sentenced under United States laws shall be entitled to the same system of credits for good behavior as other prisoners confined in the same prison. And the act approved March 2d, 1867, shall only apply to such persons as are confined in prisons where no credits for good behavior are allowed. commended under authority of the Secretaries of War and Navy, by the heads of the military and naval bureaus to which such accounts respectively pertain. That the accounts of military and naval officers, whether of the line or staff, for Government property charged to them, may be closed by the proper accounting officers whenever, in their judgment, it will be for the interest of the United States so to do. CHAP. CLXIV.-Loyal Citizens in the Rebel States.-The claims of loyal citizens in the States cf Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Caro lina, Texas, and Virginia, for services rendered as United States marshals and their assistants in taking the eighth census in the year 1860, may be paid out of any unexpended balance of any moneys hitherto appropriated for the payment of United States marshals and their assistants, for services rendered in taking the eighth census in the year 1680. CHAP. CLXVII.-Public Holidays.-The first day of January, commonly called New Year's CHAP. CXXIX.-Treasurer at Baltimore.-day, the fourth day of July, the twenty-fifth day Establishes an Assistant United States Treasurer in the city of Baltimore. CHAP. CXXX— Salaries. —Gives judges in the Territories $3,000 a year. CHAP. CXXXII.--Disabled Soldiers.-Every soldier who was disabled during the late war, and who was furnished by the War Department with an artificial limb, or apparatus for resection, shall be entitled to receive a new limb or apparatus as soon after the passage of this act as the same can be practicably furnished, and at the expiration of every five years thereafter: Provided, That the soldier may, if he so elect, receive, instead of said limb or apparatus, the money value thereof, at the following rates, viz: For artificial legs, seventy-five dollars; for arms, fifty dollars; for feet, fifty dollars; for apparatus for resection, fifty dollars. That every soldier who lost a limb during the late war, but from the nature of his injury was not able to use an artificial limb, and consequently received none from the Government, shall be entitled to the benefits of this act, and shall receive money commutation. CHAP. CXXXV.-Cruelty to Animals. -Incorporates a society in the District of Columbia for the prevention of cruelty. CHAP. CL.-Department of Justice.-Such a department is established, the Attorney-General being at the head; he has an assistant known as Solicitor-General, who may perform his principal's duties in case of the latter's absence; law officers of other departments are transferred to this; questions of law, except such as involve a construction of the Constitution, may be submitted by the Attorney-General to his subordinates; the Attorney-General may order or decline argument in United States cases. (The details of the act are not of public importance.) CHAP. CLIII.-Settling with Officers.-The proper accounting officers of the Treasury are authorized, in the settlement of the accounts of disbursing officers of the War and Navy Departments, arising since the commencement of the rebellion, and prior to the 20th day of August, 1866, to allow such credits for over payments, and for losses of funds, vouchers, and property, as they may deem just and reasonable, when re of December, commonly called Christmas day, and any day appointed or recommended by the President of the United States as a day of public fast or thanksgiving, shall be holidays within the District of Columbia, and shall, for all purposes of presenting for payment or acceptance, for the maturity and protest, and giving notice of the dishonor of bills of exchange, bank checks, and promissory notes, or other negotiable or com mercial paper, be treated and considered as is the first day of the week, commonly called Sunday, and all notes, drafts, checks, or other commercial or negotiable paper falling due or maturing on either of said holidays, shall be deemed as having matured on the day previous. CHAP. CLXVIII.-Steam Navigation. - Incorporates National Bolivian Navigation Com. rany to run steamships from any United States port to any port in South America, or upon any navigable waters of Brazil and Bolivia. CHAP. CLXIX.-Marine Hospitals.-After Aug. 1, 1870, there is to be collected 40 cents per month from seamen on United States vessels for the fund for the relief of sick and disabled seamen, CHAP. CLXX.-Licensing Yachts.-Yachts belonging to a regularly organized club of any foreign nation which shall extend like privileges to the yachts of the United States shall have the privilege of entering or leaving any port of the United States without entering or clearing at the custom-house thereof, or paying tonnage tax. CHAP. CLXXVI.-Bridge over Niagara.Any bridge built over Niagara River will be a post road; the location must be approved by the Secretary of War bridge must have two draws of 160 feet each, railway companies shall have equal rights to the use of the bridge. CHAP. CLXXXI.-Priority of Suits.-In United States Courts, where a State is party to a suit, such suits shall have priority over cases between private parties. CHAP. CLXXXV.-Foreign and Coasting Trade.-Regulates trade by shipping with Canada and other British Provinces. (Interesting to merchants, ship owners and navigators only.) CHAP. CLXXXVII.-Pay of Deputy Collectors. Any deputy collector of internal revenue who has performed, or may hereafter perform, under authority of law, the duties of collector of internal revenue in consequence of any vacancy in the office of said collector, shall be entitled to, and shall receive the salary and commissions allowed by law to such collector, or the allowance in lieu of said salary and commissions allowed by the Secretary of the Treasury to such collector. CHAP. CLXXXIX.-Furs in Alaska.-This act is to prevent the extermination of fur-bearing animals in the Territory of Alaska. such persons in the manner herein prescribed. That in addition to the compensation now allowed by law, each pension agent shall be allowed, as full compensation for all service, including postage, required by the provisions of this act, the sum of thirty cents, and no more, for each voucher prepared and paid by him, which amount shall be paid by the United States. parties, and which agreement shall be executed in presence of and certified by some officer competent to administer oaths. In all cases where application is made for pension or bounty land, and no agreement is filed with and approved by the Commissioner as herein provided, the fee shall be ten dollars and no more. That the fee of agents and attorneys for the preparation and prosecution of a claim for pension or bounty land, under any or all of the various acts of Congress granting the same, shall not exceed in any case the sum of twenty-five CHAP. CXC.-Port of Delivery.-Vallejo, dollars. It shall be the duty of the agent or California, is declared to be a port of delivery. attorney of record in the prosecution of the case CHAP. CCXXIV.-Land and Emigration to cause to be filed with the Commissioner of Company.-Incorporates in Colorado and New Pensions, for his approval, duplicate articles of Mexico a company with $2,500,000 capital, the agreement, without additional cost to the claimobjects of which are to promote and encourageant, setting forth the fee agreed upon by the emigration to and establish settlements on the lands of said company in the San Louis Park, in the Territories of Colorado and New Mexico, and, in connection therewith, to establish such agencies as it may deem desirable; to purchase, hold, lease, sell, and mortgage any real estate situate in the San Louis Park in said Territories, or either of them, now owned or contracted for by any of the persons named in the first section with any co-tenant thereof, his or their heirs or assigns; to survey, lay out, and improve the same; to establish, maintain, and operate wagon roads to and upon its property; to construct and maintain a railroad and telegraph line from any point on lands of said company in the San Louis Park, to the nearest and most practicable point on either the Kansas Pacific railroad, the Union Pacific railroad, the Denver Branch railroad, or the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe railroad, and the said company, for the purpose of building and operating such railroad, shall have the right of way through the public lands of the United States from and between the points aforesaid, the said right of way being to the extent of two hundred feet on each side of said railroad line; and such corporation shall possess all the franchises necessary to enable it to build and operate such railroad for the transportation of freight and passengers, and to collect and receive compensation therefor; and the powers, privileges, and franchises conferred on corporations by and under the provisions of chapter eighteen of the revised statutes of Colorado, or of any and all amendments thereto, are hereby confirmed to and invested in said corporation, subject to said statutes for the purposes of this act. CHAP. CCXXV.-Pensions.-Pension agents must send, quarterly, the names of each one entitled to pension payable at his agency. On these lists, where found to be correct, payment is immediately made through the mails. Hereafter no pension shall be paid to any person other than the pensioner entitled thereto, nor otherwise than according to the provisions of this act, and no warrant, power of attorney, or other paper executed or purporting to be executed by any pensioner to any attorney, claim agent, broker, or other person, shall be recognized by any agent for the payment of pensions, nor shall any pension be paid thereon: Provided, That payment to persons laboring under legal disabilities may be made to the guardians of That any agent or attorney who shall directly or indirectly contract for, demand, receive, or retain any greater compensation for his services as such agent or attorney, in any claim for pension or bounty land, than is prescribed or allowed under the provisions of the preceding section, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof, shall, for every such offense, be fined not exceeding five hundred dollars or imprisoned at hard labor not exceeding five years, or both, in the discretion of the court. CHAP. CCXXX.-Patents and Copyrights. [This act revises and consolidates laws in reference to the above subjects. It puts the Patent Office under the Department of the Interior, retaining nearly all the officers, appoints additional clerks, copyists and laborers, and overhauls the regulations of the patent office, fixing new rules, &c. It is especially important to inventors and patentees, but much too long for even a synopsis in our Almanac.] CHAP. CCLIV.-Frauds at Elections.-In all cases where any oath, affirmation, or affidavit shall be made or taken under or by virtue of any act or law relating to the naturalization of aliens, or in any proceedings under such acts or laws, and any person or persons taking or making such oath, affirmation, or affidavit, shall knowingly swear or affirm falsely, the same shall be deemed and taken to be perjury, and the person or persons guilty thereof shall upon conviction thereof be sentenced to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years and not less than one year, and to a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars. That if any person applying to be admitted a citizen, or appearing as a witness for any such person, shall knowingly personate any other person than himself, or falsely appear in the name of a deceased person, or in an assumed or fictitious name, or if any person shall falsely make, forge, or counterfeit any oath, affirmation, notice, affidavit, certificate, order, record, signature, or other instrument, paper, or proceeding required or authorized by any law or act relating to or providing for the naturalization of be issued by the clerk, or any other officer of the court, without any appearance and hearing of the applicant in court and without lawful authority; and any person who shall falsely repre sent himself to be a citizen of the United States, without having been duly admitted to citizenship, for any fraudulent purpose whatever, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction thereof, in due course of law, shall be sentenced to pay a fine of not exceeding one thousand dollars, or be imprisoned not exceeding two court taking cognizance of the same. That the provisions of this act shall apply to all proceedings had or taken, or attempted to be had or taken, before any court in which any proceeding for naturalization shall be commenced, had, or taken, or attempted to be commenced; and the courts of the United States shall have jurisdiction of all offenses under the provisions of this act, in or before whatsoever court or tribunal the same shall have been committed. That in any city having upwards of twenty thousand inhabitants, it shall be the duty of the judge of the circuit court of the United States for the circuit wherein said city shall be, upon the application of two citizens, to appoint, in writing, for each election district or voting precinct in said city, and to change or renew said appointment as occasion may require, from time to time, two citizens resident of the district or precinct, one from each political party, who, when so desig aliens; or shall utter, sell, dispose of, or use as true or genuine, or for any unlawful purpose, any false, forged, ante-dated, or counterfeit oath, affirmation, notice, certificate, order, record, signature, instrument, paper, or proceeding as aforesaid; or sell or dispose of to any person other than the person for whom it was originally issued, any ceriificate of citizenship, or certificate showing any person to be admitted a citizen; or if any person shall in any manner use for the purpose of registering as a voter, or as evidence as a right to vote, or otherwise, unlaw-years, either or both, in the discretion of the fully, any order, certificate of citizenship, or certificate, judgment, or exemplication, showing such person to be admitted to be a citizen, whether heretofore or hereafter issued or made, knowing that such order or certificate, judgment, or exemplification has been unlawfully issued or made; or if any person shall unlawfully use, or attempt to use, any such order or certificate, issued to or in the name of any other person, or in a fictitious name, or the name of a deceased person; or use, or attempt to use, or aid, or assist, or participate in the use of any certificate of citizenship, knowing the same to be forged, or counterfeit, or ante-dated, or knowing the same to have been procured by fraud, or otherwise unlawfully obtained; or if any person, and without lawful excuse, shall knowingly have or be possessed of any false, forged, ante-dated, or counterfeit certificate of citizenship, purporting to have been issued under the provisions of any law of the United States relating to naturaliza-nated, shall be, and are hereby, authorized to tion, knowing such certificate to be false, forged, ante-dated, or counterfeit, with intent unlawfully to use the same; or if any person shall obtain, accept, or receive any certificate of citizenship known to such person to have been procured by fraud or by the use of any false name, or by means of any false statement made with intent to procure, or to aid in procuring, the issue of such certificate, or known to such person to be fraudulently altered or ante-dated; or if any person who has been or may be admitted to be a citizen shall, on oath or affirmation, or by affidavit, knowingly deny that he has been so admitted, with intent to evade or avoid any duty or liability imposed or required by law, every person so offending shall be deemed and adjudged guilty of felony, and, on conviction thereof, shall be sentenced to be imprisoned and kept at hard labor for a period not less than one year nor more than five years, or be fined in a sum not less than three hundred dollars nor more than one thousand dollars, or both such punishments may be imposed, in the discretion of the court. And every person who shall knowingly and intentionally aid or abet any person in the commission of any such felony, or attempt to do any act hereby made a felony, or counsel, advise, or procure or attempt to procure, the commission thereof, shall be liable to indictment and punishment in the same manner and to the same extent as the principal party guilty of such felony, and such person may be tried and convicted thereof without the previous conviction of such principal. That any person who shall knowingly use any certificate of naturalization heretofore granted by any court, or which shall hereafter be granted, which has been, or shall be, procured through fraud or by false evidence, or has been or shall attend at all times and places fixed for the registration of voters, who, being registered would be entitled to vote for representative in Congress, and at all times and places for holding elections of representatives in Congress, and for counting the votes cast at said elections, and to challenge any name proposed to be registered, and any vote offered, and to be present and witness throughout the counting of all votes, and to remain where the ballot boxes are kept at all times after the polls are open until the votes are finally counted; and said persons and either of them shall have the right to affix their signature or his signature to said register for purposes of identification, and to attach thereto, or to the certificate of the number of votes cast, and statement touching the truth or fairness thereof which they or he may ask to attach; and any one who shall prevent any person so designated from doing any of the acts authorized as aforesaid, or who shall hinder or molest any such person in doing any of the said acts, or shall aid or abet in preventing, hindering, or molesting any such person in respect of any such acts, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and on conviction shall be punished by imprisonment not less than one year. That in any city having upwards of twenty thousand inhabitants, it shall be lawful for the marshal of the United States for the district wherein said city shall be, to appoint as many special deputies as may be necessary to preserve order at any election at which representatives in Congress are to be chosen ; and said deputies are hereby authorized to preserve order at such elections, and to arrest for any offense or breach of the peace committed in their view. That the naturalization laws are hereby extended to aliens of African nativity and to persons of African descent. CHAP. CCLV.-To Reduce Internal Taxes, &c.-Repeals the act of June 30, 1864, and section two of March 2, 1867, except as to tax on brewers. After Oct. 1, 1870, repeals the tax on sales, except such as are paid by stamps, and taxes on tobacco and spirits, wines included. Repeals from same date tax on articles in Schedule A; on boats, barges, and flats; on legacies, successions and passports; on gross receipts. Also repeals stamp tax in Schedule B on promissory notes of less than $100, and on receipts of all kinds for payment of debts; stamp tax on canned and preserved fish. No stamp is required on an assignment of a mortgage once stamped. Certain commissions are allowed those who furnish their own dies for stamps on proprietary articles. The income tax is fixed at 2 per cent. on all profits over $2,000 a year. This tax stops at the end of 1871. The exemptions of local taxes, rent, debts paid, losses, &c., remain substantially unchanged. Taxes to be assessed on the 31st of December, and levied on the 1st of March following-penalties as before. Persons taxable must make sworn returns, and assessors to have access to books in case of doubt as to accuracy. If the assessor is satisfied that the oath of a taxable declaring his income less than $2,000 is correct, he may exempt the person for the year. For 1871, 24 per cent. is to be collected on interest or coupons paid, and on dividends, earnings, income and gains of banks, trust, insurance, savings, railroad, canal, turnpike, and slack water navigation companies; the sum to be deducted when payments are made to stockholders and other creditors; and the same tax on undivided profits or accrued earnings; the tax on dividends of insurance companies is not due until the dividends are payable; money returned to policy holders not considered dividends; companies and corporations to make sworn returns through their officers, $1,000 fine for default. [Sec. 17 repeals many items of tax from the 1st of August, 1870. These exemptions are already well known. The repeal does not affect suits or other proceedings in progress at the time.] The President may consolidate collection districts and supervisors' districts, and discharge superfluous officers. As soon as practicable, the number of assistant assessors to be reduced, especially where feasible in consequence of the repeal of taxes. Changes in the Tariff.-After Dec. 31, 1870, the following rates of duty are to be levied: Teas, 15 cts. per lb. shells, 1 ct. per lb. Prepared cocoa, 5 cts. per lb. Chocolate, 7 cts. per lb. Molasses, 5 cts. per gallon. Melada, 1 cts. per lb. Raw sugar, not over No. 7, 1 cts. per lb. Sugars, No. 7 to No. 10, 2 cts. per lb. 10 to 13, 24 cts. per lb. 66 13 to 16, 24 cts. per lb. 66 16 to 20, 31 cts. per lb. above 20, and loaf, lump, &c., 4 cts. per lb. Wines in casks, value 40 cts. per gal., 25 cts. per gillon. 66 40 to $1.00, 60 cts. per gallon. Wines 66 in bottles, at same rates per gallon, with Brandy and distilled spirits, $2.00 per gallon ground, 10 cts. per lb Ginger, 2 cts. per lb. ground, 5 cts. per lb. 66 buds or ground, 20 cts. per lb. All other spices, 20 cts. per lb. 66 66 66 ground, 80 cts. per lb. Corsets at $6.00 per doz., $2.00 per doz. over $6.00, 35 per ct. Eyelets, 6 cts. per 1,000. Ultramarine, 6 cts. per lb. Flax straw, $5.00 per ton, "not dressed, $20.00 per ton. "hackled, $40.00 per ton. Hemp and manilla, $25.00 per ton. Tow of flax or hemp, $10 per ton. Jute, sisal grass, &c., $15 00. Jute, butts, $6.00. Cotton bagging and stuff used for bagging, value 7 cts. square yard, 2 cts. per lb.; over 7 cts. value, 3 cts. per lb. Iron pigs, $7.00 per ton. Steel railway bars, 14 cts. per lb. Marble, dressed or polished, marble paving tiles, Crinoline cloth and other hair manufactures, 80 per ct. Hair-pins, 50 per ct. Aniline dyes, 50 cts. per lb., adding 35 per ct. Limes, bananas, plantains, shaddocks, mangoes, Currants, prunes, and plums, 2 cts. per lb. over $1.00, $1.00 per gallon, and 25 per Linseed and flaxseed oil, 30 cts. per gallon. ct. ad val. added. Hempseed and rapeseed oil, ct. per lb. |