The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-03-11

rssentatiues Of ne Unifed States Of America in
Congress assembled, That the following sums
b. aud the sAms are hereby appropriated for
the service Of the Post-otfice Department, for
the year ending the thirtisth Of June, one thou.
sand eight hundred and ffty-two, out of any
money in the treasury arising from the rsven-
ues OF the said department, in conformity to the
act OF the second Of July, eighteen hundred and
thirty-six, and for other purposes, viz
For transportation Of the mails, including the
service in California and Oregon three millions
four hundred and seventy-six thousand dollars.
For transportation of the mails in two steam
ships from New York, by Southampton to Bre-
men, ut one hundred thousand dollars for each
ship, under the contract with the Ocean Steam
Navigation Company Of New York, and for
transportation by two ships, under the same
contract, from New York to Havre, at seventy
i've thousand dollars each, in addition to an I'M
expended balance of former appropriations, two
hundred and fifly-seven thousand dollars.
For compensation to postmasters, one million
eight hundred and seventy-fve thousand dollars
For ship, steamboat, and way letters, forty
five thousand dollars
For wrapping paper, thirty-Gve thousand dol
lars.
For office furniture nine thousand dollars
For advertising, eighty thousand dollars
For mail bags, thirty-six thousand dollars.
For blanks, thirty-fye thousand dollars.
For mail locks, keys, and stamps, ten thou
sand dollars.
For mail depredations, and special agents,
thirty-ive thousand dollars.
For clerks in the offices Of postmasters, four
hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars.
For miscellaneous items, eighty thousand dol
lars.
For new mail locks and keys, twenty five
thousand dollars.
For maps OF post routes, six thousand dollars.
For incidental expenses Of po-totiices in
California, from the dates respectively Of their
establishment, to the thirtieth Of June, eighteen
hundred and fifty-one, six thousand dollars, or
so much thereof as may be necessary in add-
ton to the commission allowed by law to post
masters; to be expended at such offices, in such
proportions, and under such regulations as the
Postmaster General may direct, and to be ac-
counted for as commissions.
| SEC. 2. And be IL further enacted, That the
Postmaster General shall be and he is hereby
authorized to appoint letter carriers for the de-
livery OF letters from any post Office in Califor-
mia or Oregon, and to allow the letter carriers
who may be appointed at any such post Office
to demand and receive such sum for all letters,
newspapers, or other mailable matter delivered
by them as may be recommended by the post.
master for whose office such letter carrier may
be appointed, not exceeding five cents for every
letter, two cents for every newspaper, and two
cents for every ounce of other mailable matter
and the Postmaster General shall be and he is
hereby authorized to empower the special agents
Of the Post Office Department in California and
Oregon to appoint such letter carriers in their dis
tricts respectively, and to fix the rates Of their
compensation within the limits aforesaid. sub
ject to, and until the final action of the Post
master General thereon. And such appoint
ments may be made, and rates of compensation
modified from time to time, as may be deemed
expedient; and the rates of compensation may
be fixed and graduated in respect TO the distance
OF the place of delivery from the post Office for
which such carriers are appointed but the rate
of compensation Of any such letter carrier shall
not be changed after his appointment except by
the order of the Postmaster General; and suc,
letter carriers shall be subject to the provisions
OF the forty first section Of the act ent tied An
act to change the organization of the Post Office
Department, and to provide more effectually fol
the settlement of the accounts thereof" ap.
proved July second, eighteen hundred and thirty
six; except in cases otherwise provided for in
| this act
SEC. 3. And be ii further enacted, That in all
cases of fine, penalty, forfeiture, or disability, OF
alleged liability for any sum or sums of money,
by way of damages or otherwise, under any pro.
vision of law relating to the Post Office Depart
ment or the officers, operations, or business
thereof, the Postmaster General shall be, and he
is hereby authorized to prescribe such general
rules and mode of proceeding as shall to him
appear expedient for the government of the au-
ditor of the Post Office Department, in ascer-
tanning the facts in each case in which it shall be
certified to him by such auditor, that the inter.
ests of the department probably require the ex-
ercise OF the power conferred by this act and
upon the facts being ascertained as aforesaid
the said auditor shall have power, with the writ
ten consent of the Postmaster General, to miti-
gate or remit such fine, penalty, forfeiture,
move such disability, and to compromise, release
and discharge such claims for such sum or sums
of money and damages, on such terms as the
said auditor shall deem just and expedient; and
that in all cases where Judgment shall have
been obtained for debt or damages due the
Post Office Department. and it shall satisfactorily
appear by the return of execution or otherwise
that such judgment, or so much thereof as re-
mains unpaid, cannot be collected by due pro-
cess of law, the said auditor shall be, and he is
hereby authorized, with the written consent OF
the Postmaster General, to compromise such
Judgment, and accept, in satisfaction thereof
less than the amount of such Judgment Pro-
p'ded, That the power conferred by this section
shall not extend to any of fine, penalty, for
fixture, disability, alleged liability or claim which
shall be incurred, accrue, or arise subsequent to
the passage of this act or TO any judgment OBJ.
TIMED after the passage thereof.
SEC d. And be IL further enacted That the
Postmaster Genera il hereby authorized IN nj
low hereafter to the special agents of the Post
Office Department the annual salary of sixteen
hundred dollars Provided, That no more shall
be expended for this purpose during the present
year, than is already appropriated in this act
Approved March g. 1851
From the Fulton (JMiss.) Monitor.
BY yesterdays mail we learn that Governor