The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-09-06
CIRCULAR,
PosT OFFICE DEPARTMENT, }
September 4, 1850.

! September 4, 1850 {
A N EXAMINATION of tho post bills, accounts
IA mails sent and received, and of the accounts o
postmastcrs has disclosed the fact that the publisheC
regulations contn ualy disre gardcd This viola
ton OF the regulations is attempted 10 be excused by
! many postmastcrs, by alleging that their predc-
cessors and others have, for long period, been
! permitted to practise II without Ceusure. After
the end OF the present quarter such excuse will
! be admitted. Postmasters are expected to make
themselves thoroughly acquainted with their duty
and 10 that the printed regulations strictly
followed by all persons in their employment .
cept only where different instructions hay c
been specially given.
Every postmaster or other officer Of the Depart.
meut, Is required TO report TO the Postmaster Gen.
ctal every violation OF the law or regulations on
the part Of any other postmaster officer Of the
Departments; and every postmaster is especially di-
rected to send to this office all letters or circulars
which have been or shall he sent him by any other
pUstmastcr in regard e. the mailing distribution
OF letters, or any change in the practise of his
office.
Special agents Of the Department. arc required to
report every postmaster at any important Office
WHO docs not personally supcrintend ITS business.
All postinssters whose commissions are sufficient
TO allow the employment Of clerks are especially
cautioned not TO employ more than are necessary
to the prompt despatch Of the business Of their re-
spcctive ofhccs, nor TO pay cNtrayagant salaries.
Such salaries will the best services of com
petcnt and faithful clerks may be allowed, subject
to the Limitation prescribed by law. All commits
| sOns which arc not needed 10 delray necessary
expenses 10 be faithfully accounted for.
Postmnsters will see that the mail arrangements
Of the Department arc faithfully executed. They
will promptly report every variation from them,
with the name of the contractor who makes II, Cs-
pccially where different days for the mail trips,
a different mode of conveyance, may have been
substituted. They will also report all defects OF
| arrangements in the days and hours OF departure
and arrival, aud also every disconnexion OF one
route with another.
The Slst regulation must be observed, and in
! furt al oflir,a
matter received from other offices for distribution
direct TO the Office addressed, aud will bag the pac
age TO the proper distributing separating office,
30 that the Department shall no case be charged
| with commissions for double distribution
! Postmasters should not mail letters or direct
/ packages eastward - westward" northern -
/ or southern or by any similar designation. All
letters are to be mailed, and packages 10 be adj
dressed to particular office directed by section
81 Of the Regulations; and whenever, after the let
October 1850, letters received at distributing
office which have been improperly sent 10 such OF.
hce for distribution, are distributed there in
sequence Of not being addressed To particular Of
| hce, tho postmaster at such distributing office is
directed To notify the postmaster who mailed such
lettcrs, and report the facts to this Office, re-
quircd by the ll2th regulation aud this require
nent to notify and report il hereby extended TO
every where letter il sent 10 oi.c for die
| tribution, when it should, under the regulations,
have been mailed and sent direct, or TO any other
distributing office
The attention of posmasters is called
TO the regulations in regard TO drop letters, pre-
paid newspapers, circulars, pamphlets, and period
icas, and to the mailing of letters, &c, as con-
tanned in chapters 9, TO- IL, 10, Is, and 81 of the
published regulations.
The late addition to the number of the clerks Of
this department has enabled the Postmaster Gen
cra TO establish separate bureau for the constant,
thorough, and systematic examination of the post
bills and accounts Of pOstnasters and il is hoped
that this, with the reports of Irregularities now
required from postmasters and other agents Of tho
department., aud from the auditor and examiners
ia his office, will, in great degree, secure the de-
partmcnt against the violation Of instructions and
other abuses ". X. HALL,
Sept 6-3t Postmaster General.