The national Republican., 1860-12-15
POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT.


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, it is distributed
among several bureaus as follows: The APP
pointmeut 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-
ton Office, in charge of the Chief Clerk.
appointment OGce.-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 OGce.-William H. Dundas, Esq,
Second Assistant Postmaster General, md TWEEN
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
iDgs respecting the frequency of trips, mode of
conveyance, and times of departures and arri-
walls on all the routes; the course of the mail
between the different sections of the country,
the points of mail distribution, and the regula-
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 eAe-
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 it 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,
| and the reports Of the mail lettings, giving a
| 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 O6ice.-A. N. Zevely Esq, Third As
sistant Postmaster General, and twenty one
clerks. To this Office are assigned the supervis-
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 depositaries 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 superintendent of the rendition
by postmasters of their quarterly returns oil
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 theil
Offices and those at depositing Offices, their Ger
tifcates of deposit; TO him should also be d
rected the weekly and monthly returns of tn,
depositaries of the Department, as well as al
applications and receipts for postage stamps ant
stamped envelopes, and for dead letters.
Inspection Ofce.-Benj. N. Clements Esq.
Chief Clerk, and seventeen clerks. To this ofiic
is assigned the duty of receiving and examining
the registers of the arrivals and departures o
the mails, certificates OF the service of rout
agents, and reports of mail failures of notinj
the delinquencies of contractors, and preparing
cases thereon for the action of the Postmaste
General furnishing blanks for mail registers
and reports of mail failures; providing an,
sending out mail bags and mail locks and keys
and doing all other things which may be neces
sary to secure a f.ithtul aud exact performanc
of ell mail contracts
All cases of mail depreciation, of violation @
law by private expresses, by the forging o
illegal use of postage stamps, are under the su
pervision of this Office, and should be reporte
to it.
All communications respecting lost money
letters, mail depredations, or other violations e
law, or mail locks and keys should be directed
"Chiet Clerk, Post Office Department"
All reUiatera of the arrivals and dsnartures n