Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-08-28

Circular 10 CoHcctoys Receirers Treasurer nj The
Mint and Branch MINIS Assistant 1feosurers,
Discussing Agents, and Officers 81 The GoUcrn-
ntsni Of he Lnucd STATES
TREASURY DEPARTMENT.,
August -, 1916.
By the &C, OF the 9th August, 1916, establish
ing The constitutional treasury, ii is provided as
ivlio-s.
"Sgc. 20. and be ii further enacted, That no
exchange ot funds shall be made By any disburs.
ing officers or agents OF the Government, Of any
grade or denomination whatsoever, or connect
ed with any branch Of The public service,
other than on exchange for gold ard sill
yer; and every such disbursing officer, when
the means for his disbursements are furnish
cd TO him in gold and silver, shall make
his payments in The money 80 furnished; or when
those means are furnished TO him in drafts, shall
Cause those drafts 10 be presented a, their place
oil payment and properly paid according 10 The
law, and shall mako his payments in The money
so received for the drafts furnished, unless, in
either case he can exchange the means in his
hand for gold and silver al par. IND il shall be,
and is hereby, made the duty OF The head OF the
proper department Immediately 10 suspend from
duty any disbursng officer who shall violate The
provisions OF hi, section, and forthwith TO report
the name Of the officer or agent 10 the President,
with The iacl OF the violation, and all The cir
cumstances accompanying The same and within
The knowledge of The said Secretary, 10 the end
that such officer or agent may be promptly re-
moved from office, or restored 10 his trust and The
performance OF his duties, as 10 the President
may seem just and proper: Pyor,dsd, hOrercr
That those discussing officers having al present
credits in The hanks, SHALL until The first day OF
January next, he allowed 10 check on the same,
allowing the public creditors 10 receive their pay
hon The banks ether in specie OF bank notes.
"SEc. II. And BE- Il furitsr enacted, That il
shall be the duty OF The Secretary of the Tfeasu-
~ 10 issue and publish regulations, 10 enforce The
speedy presentation of all government drafts for
payment Al the place where payable. and 10 pre-
scribe the time, according 10 The different dis.an.
ces OF the Jeposilaries from The seat OF govern
men,, within which all drafts upon them, respec.
lively, shall be presented Tor payment; and, in de-
fault oil such presentation, 10 direct any other
mode and place ofpayment which he may deem
proper; bur, in all these regulations and diiec-
lions il shall be the duty OF The Secretary OF the
Treasury IN guard as far as may be, against
those drafts being used or thrown into circula-
ton as paper currency, or medium OF exchange.
And no offcer OF The United States shall, either
directly or indirectly, sell dispose 10 any person
or persons or corporations, whatsoever, for
premium, any uedSIl( Hutc, uldlt, WdlldUt, VI
other public security, not his private property, or
sell or dispose Of The avais or proceeds Of such
note. draft warrant, or security in his hands for
disbursement, without making return OF such
premium, and accounting therefor by charging
the same in his accounts 10 the credit Of The
United States; and any officer violating This sec
ton shall be forthwith dismissed from Office"
II is obvious that the great and beneficial pur-
pose Of Congress in these provisions is 10 enlarge
The circulation Of gold and silver, and 10 prevent
treasury drafts becoming a paper currency. II
being made the duty of this department TO en-
force these provisions OF the law, and to issue and
publish regulations for that purpose, the follow
ing have been adopted:
lst. All government drafts shall be made pay
able 10 order, and not 10 bearer.
ID. They shall be assignabe only by special
endorsement.
Sd. They shall be presented for payment al the
places were payable, namely: II payable al a
place distant not more than fifty miles from the
seat Of government Of the United States, they
must be presented within twenty days from the
date OF the draft. If payable at a place distant
more than fifty miles from The seat OF government,
and moi exceeding one hundred miles, they must
be presented within forty days from the date Of
the draft If payable al place distant more Than
one nundreQ miles. ana not exceeding Two nun
dred, from The seat OF government they must be
presented within sixty days from The date OF the
draft Ifpayable al place more than Two hun
bred miles from The seat Of government, and not
exceeding four hundred, they mus, be- present.
ed within eighty day, from The date OF the draft;
and if payable al any place exceeding fonr hun
bred miles from the seat Of government, they
must be presented within ninety days from the
date OF The draft.
4lh. All drafts not presented within The times
above described must be returned by the holders
TO the treasurer Of The United States, when such
order shall be made for The payment of such
drafts as will best compon with the public iRte
rest, and tend 10 prevent delay in the presenta-
ton OF future drafts, or any attempt 10 convert
them into a paper circulation
5.h. No exchange oil funds shall be made By
discussing officers or agents of the government
except for gold and silver; and every such dis.
bursting officer, when furnished with specie fol
disbursement, shall make his payments in The
money so furnished, or when furnished with
drafts shall cause those drafts 10 be presented al
the place OF payment and properly paid accord
ing 10 the law, and shall make his payments in
the money so received for the drafts furnishes
unless in either case he can exchange the meanI
on his hand Tor gold and silver at par.
9Th. No payment can be made in treasury drafti