Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1863-07-25
TPUBL1c-NO. Ill

[PuDL1c-No. II.
AN ACT to amend the Laws relating to the
Post Office Department.
BE it enacted by the Senate ani House Of
REPRESENTATIVES of the United States Of Amer.
ica in Congress assembled, That the Port,
master General shall have power to appoint
and commission all postmasters whose salary
or compensation for the preceding fiscal year
shall at the time of such appointment have
been ascertaned to be less than one thousand
dollars per year; and in all other cases the
President shall appoint The person appoint
ed postmaster shall reside within the deliv-
cry of the Office to which he shall be appoint
ed.
Sec. 2. And be It further enncted, That
the Postmaster General, oil postmasters, and
sp-cial agents, and nlf persons employed in
the General Post Office. or in the care, custo-
DIV, or conveyance of the mail, hereafter ap-
printed or employed, shall, previous to enter
iny upon the duties assigned to them, Or the
execution of their trusts, aud before they shall
be entitled to receive any emoluments there
for, in addition to the oath of Office prescribed
by the act of July two, eighteen hundred and
sixty.two, respectively take and subscribe the
following oath or affirmation before some
magistrate, and cause certificate thereof to
be filed in the General Post Office: Il, "A.
b., do swear (or affirm, as the case may he)
that I will faithfully perform all the duties
required of me, and abstain from every thing
forbidden by the laws in relation to the estab-
lshment of the post Office and post roads
within the United States; and that will
honestly and truly account for and pay over
any moneys belonging to the said United
States which may come into my possession
or control SO help me God" Every person
who shall BE- in any manner employed i'll the
care, custody, conveyance, or management
Of the mail, shall be subject to all pains. pen
alties AMI forfeitures for violating tn" injnnc-
tions or neglecting the duties required OF hin,
by the laws relating to the establishment OF
the post office and post roads, whether such
nersons shall have taken the oath or allirma-
lion above prescribed or not
Sec, 3. And be It further enacted, That
no mail matter shall be delivered by the post.
master until the postage due thereon shall
have been paid: and no box ut any post
office shall be assigned to thu use of any per.
son until tile rent therefor has been paid for
at least one quarter. for which the post master
shall give receipt, and keep a record there
Of in his office which record shall be delivered
to his successor. 80,
Sec. 4. And be 1t further enocted That
every postmaster shall keep " record in his
Office Of all postage stamps and envelopes
and Of all postal books, blanks, or property
received from his predecessor in office, OF
from the Post Office Department, or from any
of it's agents, and also of all payments in mon.
ey for postages, and all payments for box
rents, and of all other receipts on account OF
any part Of the postal service. and Of any
other transactions which shall be required
nv the Postmaster General, and these records
si,all be preserved and delivered over to his
successor pr in Office, and shall be at all times
subject to examination Of any special agent
of the Department. ,u
Sec. s. And be it further enacted, That
whenever, by reason Of the presence OF mill
tary or naval force near any post office unu'
sual business accrues thereat. the Postmaster
General is hereby required to make special
order allowing proportionately reasonable com.
pensation to the postmaster. and for clerical
service, during the period Of such extraordi-
- Sec. 6. And be- II further enacted, That
it shall be the duty Of postmasters to render
q quarter-yearly account to the Postmaster
General, under oath, in such form as the lat
ter shall prescribe, Of all emolnments or
sums bythem respectively received for boxes
or ,pigeon,holes. or other receptacles for let
ters or papers. and by them charged for to
individuals; or for the delivery Of letters or
papers at or from any place whatever; and
Of all emoluments, receipts, and profits that
have come to their hands by reason of keep
ing branch post Offices; and no postmaster