The national Republican., 1860-12-08
POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT.


Weights and Measures.
POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT.
Hon. Joseph Holt, Postmaster General. The
direction and management of the Post Office De-
partment are assigned by the Constitution and
laws to the Postmaster General. That its busi-
ness may be the more conveniently arranged and
prepared for his final action, 1t is distributed
among several bureaus, as follows: The Ap-
pointment Office, in charge Of the First Assistant
Postmaster General; the Contract Office, in
charge of the Second Assistant Postmaster Gen.
eral the Finance Office in charge of the Third
Assistant Postmaster General and the Inspec-
tion Office, in charge Of the Chief Clerk.
appointment 06ce.-Horatio King, Esq, First
Assistant Postmaster General, and nineteen
Clerks. To this Office are assigned all questions
which relate to the Establishment and discon-
tinuance Of post Offices, changes Of sites and
names, appointment and removal of postmasters
and route and local agents, as also the giving
Of instructions to postmasters. Postmasters are
furnished with marking and rating stamps and
letter balances by this bureau, which is charged
also with providing blanks and stationery for
the use of the Department, and with the superin-
tendence Of the several agencies established for
supplying postmasters with blanks To this
bureau is likewise assigned the supervision of
the ocean mail steamship lines, and of the foreign
and international postal arrangements.
Contract 0fce.-William H. Dundas, ESQ :,
Second Assistant Postmaster General and twen-
ty-six clerks. To this Office Is assigned the
business of arranging the mail service of the
United States, and placing the same under con.
tract, embracing all correspondence and proceed
ings respecting the frequency of trips, mode of
conveyance, and times Of departures and arri-
walls on all the routes the course of the mail
hal fhn A..
the points of mail distribution, and the regnls.
tions for the government of the domestic mail
service Of the United States. 1t prepares the
advertisements for mail proposals, receives the
bids, and takes charge of the annual and occa-
sional mail lettings, and the adjustment and exc
cution Of the contracts. All applications for
the establishment or alteration of mail arrange
ments, and the appointment of Mail Messengers,
should be sent to this office. All claims should
be submitted to 1t for transportation service not
under contract, as the recognition of said service
is first to be obtained through the Contract
Office, as necessary authority for the proper
credits at the Auditors Office From this office
all postmasters at the ends of routes receive the
statement OF mail arrangements prescribed for
the respective routes. 1t reports weekly to the
Auditor all contracts executed, and all orders
affecting accounts for mail transportation pre-
pares the statistical exhibits of the mail service
statement of each bid; also, of the contracts
made, the new service originated, the curtail-
ments ordered, and the additional allowances
granted within the year.
Finance 0Gce.-A. N. Zevely ESQ, Third As
sistant Postmaster General, and twenty-one
clerks. 10 this Office are assigned the superyis-
ion and management of the financial business
Of the Department, not devolved by law upon
the Auditor, embracing accounts with the draft
offices and other depostaries of the Department
the issuing of warrants and drafts in payment
of balances reported by the Auditor to be due to
mail contractors and other persons, the supervis.
ion OF the accounts of Offices under orders to
deposit their quarterly balances at designa. ed
points, and the superintendence of the rendition
by postmasters of their quarterly returns of
postages. 1t has charge of the Dead-Letter
Office, OF the issuing Of postage stamps and
stamped envelopes for the prepayment of post
age, and Of the accounts connected Herewith
To the Third Assistant Postmaster General all
postmasters should direct their quarterly returns
Of postage; those at draft offices, their letters
reporting quarterly the net proceeds of their
Offices and those at depositing Offices, their GER
tihcates of deposit to him should also be di-
rected the weekly and monthly returns of the
depositaries of the Department, as well as all
applications and receipts for postage stamps and
stamped envelopes, and for dead letters.
Inspection Oees.-Benj. N. Clements, Esq.,
Chief Clerk and seventeen clerks. To this Office
is assigned the duty of receiving and examining
the registers of the arrivals and departures of
the mails, certificates Of the service of route
agents, and reports of mail failures of noting
the delinquencies of contractors, and preparing
cases thereon for the action of the Postmaster
General furnishing blanks for mail registers
and reports of mail failures; providing and
sending out mail bags and mail locks and keys
and doing all other things which may be neces-
sary to secure faithful and exact performance
Of all mail contracts
All cases of mai depreciation, Of violation of
law by private expresses, Or by the forging or
illegal use of postage stamps, are under the su-
pervision of this office, and should be reported
to it.
All communications respecting lost money,
Letters. mail depredatinna or oIhar ,iolatiaa. -