SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That the right to alter or amend this act, so as to prevent or remove all material obstructions to the navigation of said rivers, growing out of the construction of said bridges, is hereby expressly reserved.

Approved March 2, 1868.

[PUBLIC-No. 13.]

AN ACT extending the time for the completion of the Dubuque and Sioux City railroad.. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the time for completing a line of railroad from Dubuque to Sioux City, in the State of Iowa, for the construction of which lands were granted in alternate sections to said State by act entitled “An act making a grant of lands to the State of Iowa in alternate sections to aid in the construction of railroads in said State," approved May fifteenth, eighteen hundred and fifty-six, be, and the same is, extended until the first day of January, eighteen hundred and seventy-two, subject to the reverter mentioned in said act at the expiration of the time herein limited: Provided, [That] said road shall be constructed on the most practical route by way of Webster City and Fort Dodge to Sioux City, which route shall be at all points within the limits of said land grant, and the same shall be completed to Fort Dodge on or before the first day of July, eighteen hundred and sixty-nine, and thereafter at the rate of not less than forty miles each year; and the said road shall be constructed, operated, and maintained as one continuous and unbroken line of road from Dubuque to Sioux City; and no lands shall be disposed of, or patented, or certified for said purposes more than forty miles in advance of the point to which said road may be constructed from time to time.

Approved March 2, 1868.

[PUBLIC-No. 14.]

AN ACT in relation to islands in the Great Miami river.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That in the case of such islands in the Great Miami river, in the State of Ohio, as are undisposed of, or any vacant public lands adjacent thereto, which are in the actual and exclusive occupancy of any persons who have made improvements thereon, or of their heirs or assigns, such occupants thereof shall have the preference right to enter the same at two dollars and fifty cents per acre, on making proof of the facts to the satisfaction of the Commissioner of the General Land Office, and paying for the land within twelve months from the passage of this act, and patents shall issue for the tracts so entered as usual in entries of public lands.

Approved March 2, 1868.

[PUBLIC-No. 15.]

AN ACT authorizing the sale of an unoccupied military site at Waterford, Pennsylvania. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of the Treasury be, and he is hereby, authorized in his discretion to sell to the highest and best bidder the military site of three acres of land at Waterford, Erie county, Pennsylvania, belonging to the United States, and pay the proceeds into the treasury of the United States.

Approved March 4, 1868.

[PUBLIC-No. 16.]

AN ACT restoring lands to market along the line of the Pacific railroads and branches. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That nothing in the act approved July first, eighteen hundred and sixty-two, entitled "An act to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Missouri river to the Pacific ocean, and to secure to the government the use of the same for postal, military, and other purposes," and the acts amendatory thereof, shall be held to authorize the withdrawal or exclusion from settlement and entry, under the provisions of the pre-emption or homestead laws, the even-numbered sections along the routes of the several roads therein mentioned which have been or may be hereafter located: Provided, That such sections shall be rated at two dollars and fifty cents per acre, and subject only to entry under those laws; and the Secretary of the Interior be, and is hereby, authorized and directed to restore to homestead settlement, preemption, or entry, according to existing laws, all the even-numbered sections of land belonging to the government, and now withdrawn from market, on both sides of the Pacific railroad and branches, wherever said road and branches have been definitely located.

Approved March 6, 1868.

[PUBLIC-No. 17.]

AN ACT for the relief of settlers on the late Sioux Indian reservation in the State of Minnesota.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That all actual settlers, who have duly filed their declaratory statements under the pre-emption laws with the register of the proper local land office, upon the unsold lands now included within the limits of the late Sioux Indian reservation, in the State of Minnesota, shall be allowed two years from and after the passage of this act within which to make proof and payment for their claims, in accordance with the provisions of the second and third sections of the act approved March third, eighteen hundred and sixtythree, providing for the disposal of said reservation. Approved March 6, 1868.

[PUBLIC-No. 18.]

AN ACT in relation to the promulgation of the laws of the United States.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That from and after the passage of this act it shall be the duty of the Secretary of State to furnish the Congressional Printer with a correct copy of every act and joint resolution as soon as possible after its approval by the President of the United States, or after it shall have become a law in accordance with the Constitution without such approval. And so much of section seven of the act entitled "An act to expedite and regulate the printing of the public documents, and for other purposes," approved June twentyfive, eighteen hundred and sixty-four, as requires the Secretary of the Senate to furnish such copy is hereby repealed.

SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That the Congressional Printer, on receipt of the copy provided for in the foregoing section, shall in every case immediately cause an accurate printed copy of the act or resolution, as it shall have

been furnished to him, to be prepared and sent in duplicate to the Secretary of State for revision, and on return of one of the revised duplicates the Congressional Printer shall at once have the marked corrections made, should there be any, and cause to be printed and sent to the Department of State fifty copies, and also cause to be printed separately the usual number for the use of the two houses of Congress: Provided, That on request of the Secretary of State the Congressional Printer shall furnish to the Department of State any additional number of copies of any act or resolution, not exceeding five hundred copies.

SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of the Secretary of State to transmit to the Congressional Printer, at the beginning of each session of Congress, and thereafter when necessary, a list of all newspapers authorized by law to publish the laws of the United States, with their respective post offices, so far as the same shall have been communicated to him by the Clerk of the House of Representatives; and it shall be the duty of the Congressional Printer, on the printing of each act or resolution, excepting those which are of a private character, and which shall be so designated by the Secretary of State, to transmit a copy thereof to each of the editors of such newspapers for prompt publication; and the number of copies of the public acts and resolutions requisite for this purpose are hereby authorized and required to be printed; and all letters and documents to and from the Congressional Printer, relating to the duties and business of his office shall be transmitted by mail, free of postage, under such regulations as may be established by the Postmaster General.

SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That all the provisions of this act which apply to public acts and resolutions shall in like manner apply to treaties between the government of the United States and foreign governments, after they shall have been duly ratified and proclaimed by the President of the United States; and shall also apply to postal conventions made between the Postmaster General, by and with [the] advice and consent of the President, on the part of the United States, and equivalent officers of foreign governments on the part of their respective countries, under the authority of the second section of the act entitled "An act to reduce and modify the rates of postage in the United States, and for other purposes," approved March three, eighteen hundred and fifty-one: Provided, That it shall be the duty of the Postmaster General to transmit a copy of each of said conventions to the Secretary of State for this purpose, and that the printed copy of said conventions shall be revised by the Post Office Department. SEC. 5. And be it further enacted, That all laws and parts of laws requiring the Secretary of State to send the laws first directly to newspapers for publication, as well as all laws and parts of laws in conflict with the provisions of this act, are hereby repealed.

Approved March 9, 1868.

[PUBLIC-No. 19.]

AN ACT for the temporary relief of destitute people in the District of Columbia. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the sum of fifteen thousand dollars be, and the same is hereby, appropriated, out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated, for the temporary relief of the destitute population in the District of Columbia, to be expended under the supervision and direction of the Commissioner of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands : Provided, That as far as practicable said sum shall be expended in the employment of persons upon the public grounds and works in the District of Columbia for which appropriations have been heretofore made by Congress, such laborers to be under the direction of the officer acting as Commissioner of Public Buildings and Grounds.

Approved March 10, 1868.

[PUBLIC-No. 20.]

AN ACT to amend the act passed March twenty-third, eighteen hundred and sixty-seven, entitled "An act supplementary to 'An act to provide for the more efficient government of the rebel States,' passed March second, eighteen hundred and sixty-seven, and to facili

tate their restoration."

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That hereafter any election authorized by the act passed March twenty-three, eighteen hundred and sixty-seven, entitled "An act supplementary to 'An act to provide for the more efficient government of the rebel States,' passed March two, [second,] eighteen hundred and sixty-seven, and to facilitate their restoration," shall be decided by a majority of the votes actually cast; and at the election in which the question of the adoption or rejection of any constitution is submitted, any person duly registered in the State may vote in the election district where he offers to vote when he has resided therein for ten days next preceding such election, upon presentation of his certificate of registration, his affidavit, or other satisfactory evidence, under such regulations as the district commanders may prescribe.

SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That the constitutional convention of any of the States mentioned in the acts to which this is amendatory may provide that at the time of voting upon the ratification of the constitution the registered voters may vote also for members of the House of Representatives of the United States, and for all elective officers provided for by the said constitution; and the same election officers who shall make the return of the votes cast on the ratification or rejection of the constitution, shall enumerate and certify the votes cast for members of Congress.

SCHUYLER COLFAX, Speaker of the House of Representatives. B. F. WADE,

President of the Senate pro temporc.

Indorsed by the President: "Received February 28, 1868."

[NOTE BY THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE.-The foregoing act having been presented to the President of the United States for his approval, and not having been returned by him to the house of Congress in which it originated within the time prescribed by the Constitution of the United States, has become a law without his approval.]

[PUBLIC-No. 21.]

AN ACT to revive an act to constitute Hannibal, Missouri, and Peoria, Illinois, ports of delivery.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the second section of the act of the fifth day of April, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, entitled "An act to constitute the cities of Hannibal, Missouri, and Peoria, Illinois, ports of delivery," is hereby revived and declared to be in full force and effect for the term of two years from the passage of this act.

Approved March 12, 1868.

[PUBLIC-No. 22.]

AN ACT providing for holding a circuit court at the city of Erie, Pennsylvania. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the circuit court of the United, States for the western district of Pennsylvania, in addition to the terms now held, shall be held at the city of Erie, in said western district, at the same times now fixed by law for holding terms of the district court for said western district of Pennsylvania, at the city of Erie.

Approved March 12, 1868.

[PUBLIC-No. 23.]

AN ACT to facilitate the settlement of paymasters' accounts.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the proper accounting officers of the treasury be, and they are hereby, authorized, in the settlement of accounts of paymasters of the army, to allow such credits for over-payments made in good faith on public account since the commencement of the rebellion, and prior to the passage of this act, as shall appear to them to be just, by such vouchers and testimony as they shall require.

Approved March 16, 1868.

[PUBLIC-No. 24.]

AN ACT making appropriations for the support of the Military Academy for the fiscal year ending June thirtieth, eighteen hundred and sixty-nine.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the following sums be, and the same are hereby, appropriated, out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated, for the support of the Military Academy for the year ending the thirtieth June, eighteen hundred and sixty-nine.

For additional pay of officers, and for pay of instructors, cadets, and musicians, one hundred and eighty-two thousand seven hundred and forty-seven dollars and fifty cents.

For commutation of officers' subsistence, five thousand eight hundred and three dollars and fifty cents.

For pay in lieu of clothing to officers' servants, one hundred and fifty-six dollars.

For current and ordinary expenses, fifty-six thousand eight hundred and five dollars; Provided, That the second section of the act approved April first, eighteen hundred and sixty-four, "making appropriations for the support of the Military Academy for the year ending June thirtieth, eighteen hundred and sixty-five," is hereby repealed.

For purchase of books for the library, two thousand dollars.

For expenses of board of visitors, two thousand dollars: Provided, That the second section of the act approved August eighth, eighteen hundred and forty-six, making appropriations for the support of the Military Academy for the year ending the thirtieth of June, eighteen hundred and forty-seven, be amended by striking out the first proviso in said section, and by inserting in lieu thereof the following: Provided, That the whole number of visitors each year shall not exceed seven.