Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1845-07-24


Amid the numerous difficulties which present them
selves in the execution Of the post Office law. the
want OF adequate compensation the deputy post-
masters is not the least The compensation allowed
BY the old law was certain per centum (rom 30 per
cent TO low per cent? on the proceeds of each
Office, together with the franking privilege The pay
thus allowed with the frankng privilege was very
inadequate compensation for their laborious and I'M
Portanf services. Perhaps class of officers in the
government rendered so much service for SO small a
compensation. The new law made no alteration in
their compensation unless it wcs done in the clauses
making appropriations for the service Of the DEPART
ment. Congress foresaw that there would be great
falling OF IN the revenues of the department, and a
corresponding dmnution In the compensation Of the
posmasters and made general appropriations SO as
TO give the department the same amount Of money
that had been expended during the last year. The
question was presented to the Postmaster Gen.
eral, whether any of the money thus appropriated
could be applied 20 the payment of postmasters and
their clerks, other revenues of the department
and if SO, how much to be paid! We UNDER
stand that the Postmaster General was very reluctant
to place such construction upon the law as would
give HIM the power the compensation of fourteen
thousand officers But the necessity Of the case re-
qulred something TO be done. POstmasters re-
signing in such numbers create apprehension
that the public service would be materially injured
unless some further compensation could be given
them. 1t certain that in some Of the important
compensation, but would be actually in debt some
hundreds Of dollars at the end Of each quarter if their
pay limited TO the per centum the postagrs.
The Postmaster General very properly submitted the
question to the Attorney General, and we graft
fed te have it In our power to La before the public
the clear and orcibe exposition given by that officer
of the law, which think will be satisfactory to the
public '-s
The Postmaster General yesterday acted upon the
opinion of the Attorney General, which he satis
fed the true construction of the law and order
ed that the deputy postaasters be paid the ensuing
year, The compensation t1tict they had feceired
during the last year. We lay before our readers a
copy of this Order.
Posi- OFFICE DEPARTMENT.
July Q, 1S45.
Ordered That, from and after the lst day of July,
1915, every deputy postmaster whose commissions ON
the hostages of letters at 30 per cent, and of
papers at % per cent? under act of Sd March, 1925,
shall fall short Of of So % for any one quar-
ter, or of the proportional part of that for any
fraction of quarter, isautrrised TO credit himself,
in separate item in his account current, for extra
commission the postage of letters at 20 per cent.
under act of Sd March, lS45.
If the postmaster be entitled to the allowance of 20
per cent for night service, he will not credit the
ira commission here mentioned 80 per cent is the
utmost which can be allowed in any case under the
law
Ordered, That every deputy postmaster whose com
missions on the postage of letters and newspapers,
and other allowances, shall exceed the Of Sc %
in any one quarter the due proportion oftbe said
sum in any part of quarter, be authorized, in the
event that such commissions and allowances fall short
of the amount to which such deputy postmaster
entitled for the corresponding quarter of the fiscal
year ending Both June, 1916, to credit himself in a
separate item in his account current for such
Of extra commissions as shall make the Whole amount
credited equal to the same: The said extra commits
sions to be subject to the provision contained in the
| a a.. 60 d. L
the regulations of the department issued in pursu-
ance thereof. G. JOHNSON.