The national Republican., 1861-01-22
POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT.

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 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 dscon-
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 mail steamship lines, and Of the foreign
and international postal arrangements.
Contract OGce.-Wlliam H. Dundas, Esq
Second Assistant Postmaster General, md 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
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 exc
cuticn of the contracts. All applications fol
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 moi
under contract, as the recognition of said service
is first to be obtained through the Contract
Office, as a 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 fol
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 O
statement OF each bid also, of the contracts
made, the new service originated, the curtail.
| menus Oruereu, anu tue auultOnal allowances
granted within the year.
Finance Ofee.-A. n. Zevely, Esq, Third AS
sistant Postmaster General, and twenty on.
clerks. To this Office are assigned the supervis
ion and management Of the financial business
of the Department, not devolved by law upor
the Auditor, embracing accounts with the draf
offices and other depositaries of the Department
the issuing of warrants and drafts In paymen
of balances reported by the Auditor to be due t.
mail contractors and other persons, the supervis
ion Of the accounts Of offices under orders t.
deposit their quarterly balances at designn' ed
points, and the superintendence of the rendition
by postmasters of their quarterly returns o
postages. 1t has charge of the Dead d-Lette
Office, Of the issuing of postage stamps ant
stamped envelopes for the prepayment of post
age, and of the accounts connected Herewith
To the Third Assistant Postmaster General al
postmasters should direct their quarterly return
of postage; those at draft offices, their letter.
reporting quarterly the net proceeds of thei
Offices; and those at depositng offices, their Ger
ti6cates of deposit; to him should also be di
rected the weekly and monthly returns of tn
depositaries of the Department, as we'll as al
applications and receipts for postage stamps an,
stamped envelopes, and for dead letters.
Inspection OGce-Benj. N. Clements, Esq
Chief Clerk, and seventeen clerks. To this oflic
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 notn