Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-09-18
THE POSTAL Laws:
o"''f''"s fhe portions superseded, or repealed,
or enacted for a temporary purpose.
CHAPTER !

CHAPTER l.
oRoASIzATIos and GENERAL STATUTES.
Section I. Be it enacted 5y TIE .Se,aut, an,
eD Representatives, of the United State
0 dnteTtcG In Congress assembled Tba
there be established at the seat of the Gov
ernment of the United States, a General Pos
Omce, under the direction of a Postmaste
oeheral. The Postmaster General shall ap
point two Assistants. IL and such clerks a
may be necessary for the performance of tn,
business OF his Office, ri and rs are authorised
Jaw ana shall procure, and cause to b,
Kept, seal for tho said Office, which shall b,
afxed to commissions of postmasters, and used
10 autnenticate all transcripts and copies which
may De required from the Department III.
shall establish post Offices, and appoint I3
postmasters, at all such places as shall appea,
o him expedient, on the post roads that are
or may be established by law. He shall give
MS assistants, the postmasters, and all othe,
persons whom he shall employ, or who NAV be
employed. in any Of the departments of the
General Post Office, instructions relative tc
their duty. He shall provide for the carriage
OF the mail on ell post roads that are. or NAV
De established by law, and as often as he,
navlng regard to the productiveness thereof.
and other circumstances, shall think proper.
de may direct the route or road, where there
| are more than one, between places designated
by law for post road, which route shall be
| considered the post road. He shall obtain
| from the postmasters their accounts and youch-
| ers for their receipts and expenditures. once
In three months, or oftener, with the balances
| thereon arising in favor of the General Post
Omce. He shall pay all expenses which NAV
arise in conducting the post ofice. and In IN.
| conveyance of the mail, and all other neces-
sary expenses arising on the collection of the
| revenue and management Of the General Post
onice. lie shall prosecute offences against the
post office establishment. He shall also sup
erintend the business of the Department, Ia
1T. Sec. 1, act Of 1926.
or This pilation,) authorizes Third Assis;ant
That Of Sd March, 1S53 directs their appointme M
oy the President and Senate see No of this
Compilation.
III Tie clerks in the settling branch fauditor,s
omce) are appointed b. the Secretary OF the ca
~ Postmast rs of fces Welding 5 900 per an.
nun and uPwirds are appointed uaeer tie act Of
and Senate.
See. z. And be at further enacted That il
shall be the duty Of the Postmaster General TO
decide on the official forms of al papers to be
used by Postmasters, and other officers or
agents OF the Post Office Department con-
cernedA It's receipts and payments, and the
manner and form of keeping and stating its
accounts; to enforce the prompt rendition of
the returns OF postmasters, and of all certif-
Gates, Acknowledgements, receipts and other
papers, by postmasters and Contractors rsla-
tive to tho accounts Of the Department: to
control, according to law, and subject to the
| settlement OF the Auditor, the allowances TO
postmasters, the expenses Of post Offices and
al other expenses Incident 20 the service of
the Department TO regulate and direct the
payment OF the said allowances and expenses
| tor which appropriations have been 10 sde 10
superntend the disposition OF the proceeds of
post ofhces and other moneys Of the Depart
neu'i 10 prescribe the maGner In which post
| masters shall pay over their balances: 70
Grant warrants for money TO be paid into the
treasury, and out of the same, In pursuance
OF appropriations by law, to persons whom the
same shall be certified to be due by the said
| Auditor: Proprded, That advances of necss
sary sums to detray expenses may be made by
the postmaster General to agents of the De-
partment employed to investigate mail depre-
dations, examine post routes and post Offices
and perform other like services, 20 DE CHARGED
by the Auditor for the Pos, Off Department,
| and be accounted for in the settlement of their
accounts. Sec 9, act Of July 9, 1885.
Sec. 8. AHd BE- 1t further enacted That there
shall be employed by the Postmaster General
Third Assistant Postmaster General. Sec.
70, act Of 1885.
Sec. 4. A,ad be it frrtAer enacted, That in
case u the death, resignation, or absence Of
toe Postmaster General, all his powers and
duties shall devclve, for the time being. on the
First Asst tant Postmaster General. Sec. 40,
| act Of 1886
Sec. 5. And be 1T further enacted. That here
AFTER as the Office OF Assistant Postm aster Gen.
| eral, or either of them, shall be vacated, the
appointment of his successor shall be made by
the President OF the United States, by and
with the advice and consent of the Senate
Sec 3, act Of ID March, 1858, esfa5Etsking
post routes.
Sec. And be it further enacted, That
there shall be appointed by the President,
with the consent at the Senate an Auditor of
| the Treasury for the Post Office Department,
whose duty II shall DO to receive ali accounts
arising IN the said Department, or relative
/ thereto, to audit and settle the same, and GER
ufy their balances to the Postmaster General:
Prouided, That if either the Postm aster Gem
eral, or any person whose account shall be
settled, be dissatisfied Herewith, he NAV,
within twelve months, appeal to the First
Comptroller OF the Treasury, whose deci-
sion shall be final and conclusive The said
Auditor shall report to the Postmaster Cen
| eral when required. the official forms of pa
pers TO be used by postmasters, and other off,
GERS or agents OF the Department concerned
| In its receipts and payments, and the manner
and form OF keeping and stating its accounts
He shall keep and preserve all accounts with
promptly report to the Postmaster General ali
delinquencies OF postmasters in paying over
the proceeds of their offices. He shall close
the accounts Of the Department quarterly.
and transmit to the Secretary of the Treasury
quarterly statements of its receipts and ex-
pcnditures. He shall register charge and
countersign, all warrants upon the Treasury
tor receipts and payments issued by the Post
master General, when warranted by law lie
sh all perform such other duties, in relation TO
The financial concerns of the Department, as
| shall be assigned to him by the Secretary of
the Treasury, for Postmaster General, and
shall make to them respectively, such reports
as either of them may require respecting the
| same. Sec 8, act of 1886.
Sec. z. And be 1T further enacted, That the
Auditor of the Post Office Department shall
superintend the collection of all debts due to
the Department and all penalties and forfeit
ures imposed on postmasters for falling to
| make returns, or pay over the proceeds of
| their Offices; he shall direct suits and legal
proceedings, and take all such measures as