Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1835-02-19
WHOLE NO. 255.
NEW POST OFFICE BILL.

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The following is the substance Of the Bill
which has just passed the Senate, To- re-or-
ganize the Post Office Department.
Sect. l. Appoints Commissioner Of
the General POST Office, by the President
and Senate) to superintcnd the collection
of all debts, and pay them into the Trea-
sury, to audit the accounts of the Post
master General, &c. and fixes the salary
at $4,000.
Sect. 2. Provides that the Solicitor of
the Treasury shall receive from the Com
missioner, certified copies of accounts of
debtors, and cause suit to be commenced,
making quarterly returns.
Sect. 3. Allows the Commissioner two
clerks at $3.50 each eight at $1,000
each ten at 1000 each, and messenger
ut 500, annually.
Sect. 4. Allows the Solicitor of tho
Treasury, beyond his present establish
ment, one clerk at $3.50, and two clerks
at $1,000 each, annually.
Sect. 5. Provides, that on the 10th Of
March next, the Postmaster General shall
deliver over to the Commissioner, all
books containing the accounts of the Post
Office, md all papers relating thereto and
statements of all sums due, &c. and OH the
same day shall deliver to the Solicitor oil
the delinquent accounts for suit.
! Sect. &. Directs every Postmaster, at
the end of every three months, to render
an account to the Commissioner, and pay
over the balance as the Commissioner
may direct. Neglect for one month af-
ter the quarter, renders the Postmaster
liable TO forfeiture of double the amount
of the postages received in his office for
any one quarter. Neglect for two sue
cessivc quarters to furnish such account,
to be punished by forthwith dismissal.
Sect. 7. Commissioner in such cases Of
neglect, to place the account of such de-
linquent within one month, in the hands
Of the Solicitor for suit.
Sect. :. Postmastcrs, where the nett
proceeds of office are $1,000 year or
| upwards, to be appointed by the President
and Senate for four years. All others to
be appointed by the Postmaster General.
/ Bonds to be hereafter made to the U. s.
Il Sect. o. Directs the mode of letting
mail contracts, and to be advertised in the
usual manner. Proposals to be opened
and registered in the presence of the Post
| master General, or one of the Assistant
| PostInasters General, and the Commits
sioncr or Solicitor ofthe Treasury. The
! biddings to be separate for each route,
contracts to be separately made. No
| combination or consolidation bids to be-
! received. A duplic ate Of the book in
| which the bids are registered, to he lodged
! with the Commissioner, within 80 days
after the letting, noting the bids which
are accepted and copies of the contracts
within 80 days, together with the original
proposals. The register of biddings to
be open for public inspection Immediately
after the lettings. No contractor to have
any compensation until he shall have cx-
ecutcd his contract, &c.
i Sect. 10. Whenever new contract is
made, or an existing one changed, notice
to be gwen III the newspapers, and new
Iproposals to be received in the usual form.
Sect. ii. Provides restrictions against
extra allowances, so that none shall bo
allowed unless a previous order shall have
been made and issued ordering the SER
Twice, and specifying the allowance, &c.
i Sect. -. Limits the number of clerks
i'll General Post Office. Blank not filled.
I Sect. Is. Sum required for the service
ofthe General Post Office, in each year,
to be appropriated by law.
II Sect. ID. Directs suits to be made in
the manner before prescribed, against any
person who may have received money for
'lprctcndcd services never performed, or
4 for any extra allowances exceeding what
is provided by the act, or by fraud, COLI
sion, or mistake.
!, Sect. l5. Directs the expenditures for
the mail transportation, and all other ex-
penses incident thereto, to be kept within
limit Of the revenues of the Post Office.
Sect. 16. Provides that the books Of
4 the Treasury, containing the Post-Ofico
accounts, shall be kept separate and dis
tinct, and every warrant for payments
relating TO the General Post Office, to be
signed by the Postmaster General and
Commissioner.
Sect. II. Commissioner to have power
e to transfer debts due from Posmasters,
, who do not make deposi,cs in Bank, by
drafts in favor of contractors, TO pay con-
tractors for services previously rendered.
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