The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-12-04

the Department for the sDortation of the mails
must be increased from ten to fifteen per cent. per
year, if the wants and interests of the country
quire it, unless other rule for the government
OF the Department be sanctioned by Congress.
The other expenses Of the Department (the prin-
cipal items OF which the compensation of post
masters and their clerks) necessarily increase at
nearly the same rate the business of the Depart
ment and its receipts for postage when no change
occurs in the rates of postage. The usual compen-
sation oil postmasters, being commission calcu-
lated at certain rates per cent upon the hostages
collected at their offices, increases in nearly the
same proportion as the revenue. Since 1916 the
average increase in postages and in the business of
this Department has been about thirteen per cent.
per year. During the present fiscal year the re
ceipts from hostages may not exceed two thirds
the amount received last year, while the labors of
postmasers are likely to be increased from fifteen
70 thirty per cent in consequence of the increase in
the number of letters and of other nathalie mat
ter, under the reduced rates of postage, and the
free delivery OF newspapers in the counties of their
publication, as provided by the act of March g.
ISL
By the sixth section of that act the Postmaster
General was authorized in his discretion, TO in
crease the commissions to postmasters in certain
cases. 1t desirable that this authority should
not be exercised until the accounts for the last
quarter so far adjusted and settled to ena-
bic the Department to make some reliable estimate
OF the amount to be derived from hostages in the
present fiscal year But the anxiety of postmnsters
and the desire of the Auditor 10 fix the amount of
commissions allowable 10 each postmaster at the
time OF setting hl5 accounts Tor the quarter,
seemed to render it expedient to fix the rate of
allowance before the settlement of those accounts
especially such settlement could not be COM
pleted in less than three months after the expra-
ton OF the quarter.
An order was therefore made on the goth day of
October last, of which the following is copy:
"Iacredsed Commissions to Postmastsrs
Numerous applications having been made to
ths Department for the allowance of increased com
missions to postmasters, authorized under certain
conditions by the sixth section of can act to re-
duce and modify the rates of postage in the United
States and for other purposes" approved March B.
1851, and it having been clearly shown that in most
cases the labors OF postmasers have been increased
and their commissions reduced by the operation Of
said act
an is ordered, That whenever heAuditor of the
Treasury for the Post Office Department shall have
satisfactory proof by affidavit or otherwise that
the abor5 of any postmaster have been increased
and his commissions reduced, as provided for by
said act, he shall allow and credit such postmaster
with commissions according to the following rules,
to wit:
.'lst Where the commissions of such postmaster
for the fiscal year ending 30th June, 1851, did not
exceed fifty dollars, the amount Of commissions
ao,oed for that year, ,oih ftoenty per cent added
thereto, shall be allowed and credited to the post
master for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1852
''2d. Where the commissions of such postmaster
for the fiscal year ending 30th June 1851 exceeded
fifty dollars, and did not exceed one hundred dol
lars, the amount of commissions ailoUed for
that gear toith fifteen per cent added thereto, shall be
allowed and credited to the postmaster for the fiscal
year ending Both June, 1852.
"3d. Where the commissions of such postmaster
for the fiscal year ending Both June, 1851 exceeded
one hundred, and did not exceed five hundred dol
lars the amount Of commissions allotoedfor that
gear, toim t,peiue and half per cent added thereto
shall be allowed and credited to the postmaster for
the fiecal year ending 30th June, 1852.
''4th. Where the commissions of such postmaster
for the fiscal year ending 30th june 1851, exceeded
five hundred dollars, The same amount of commissions
ao,cedor that year. toit ten per cent added thereto
shall be allowed and credited to the postmaster for
the year ending 30th June, 1852.
"Prouided, ailcays That the commissions to be al.
lowed at any post Office (other than distributing
office) shall not exceed the hostages collected at
such office during the period for which such allow
ance is made: Provided, also, That special appli
cation for further allowance to any distributing
Office may be made whenever the Auditor shall
certify that the commissions authorized to be al
lowed under this order insufficient TO pay the
actual and necessary expenses of such Office, in
Guiding the compensation of the postmaster: And
providfd further, That there shall not be allowed
at any Office where the compensation of the post