Smyrna times., 1865-09-06
OFFICIAL.
LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES.
Passed at the First Session Of the TRistu-eightk
Congress.
lPURLIC-No. 1891

lPURLIc-No. 1891
AN ACT to establish salaries for postmasters and for
other purposes.
Be it enacted By the Senate and House of Repre-.
senldtpes Of the United States of America in Con-
gress assembled, That the annual compensation of
Post sters shall be at fixed salary, in lieu of COM
missions, to be divided into five classes, exclusive OF
the p stmaster OF the city of New Z ork. PostIaas-
ters OF the first class shall receive not more than our
thous md dollars nor less than three thousand dol
lars postmasters Of the second class shall receive
less IAN two thousand dollars and not less thah Cne
thousInd dollars; posnasters OF the third class sna
receive less than two thousand dollars anu not less
than thousand dollars; pOstmasterS OF ne fOurth
class shall receive less than one thousand dollars and
nos less than one hundred dollars Postmasters OF the
fifth class shul receive less than hundred dol
lars. The compcn satiOn of the postmaster of New
York shall be six thousand dollars per annum, to
take effect the first day of July. eighteen hundred
and sixty -four; and the compensation of postmastcrs
of the several cl1sss aforesaid shall be established
by the Postmaster General under the rules hercinaf.
ter provided. Whenever the compensation of post
masters of the several offices, Except the office of
New York; for the two consecutive years next pre-.
cedng the first day of July, eighteen hundred and
sixtyfour, shall have amounted to average annual
not less than three thousand dollars such offices
shall be assigned to the first class; whenever it shall
have amounted to less than three thousand dollars,
but not SIS than two thousand dollars, such offices
snail be assigned to the second class; whenever it
sudu nave amounted 10 less Inan TWO InOuSduu uOl.
lars, but not less than thousand dollars, such Of
fees shall be assigned to the third class; whenever
shall have amounted TO less than thousand dol
lars, but not less than hundred dollars such Off
ceS shall be assigned to the fourth Glass; and when-
ever it shall have amounted 20 less than hundred
dollars. such offices shall be assigned to the fifth
class. To officers of the firs second and trd clas-
ses, shall be severaly assigned salaries, in even hum
dreds of dollars, nearly practicable IN amount
the same as, but not exceeding the average comPen-
sation of the posmastcrs thereof for the two years
preceding; and to offices of the fourth class shall
be assigned severally salaries, ofdoars
nearly practicable in amount the as, hut not
exceeding, such average compensation for the two
years next preceding; and to offices of the tn class
shall be severay assigned salaries, in even dollars,
nearly practicable in amount the as, but
not exceeding, such average compensation tor the
two years next preceding Wherever returns show
Jog the average of annual compensation of postmas-
ters Tor the two years next preceding the first day of
July eighteen hundred and sixty -four, shall not have
becn received at the Post Office Department at the
time Of adl u>tnent, the may he estimated by
the PIstm General for the purpose of adjusting
the salaries OF poStmasers herein provided for. And
1t shall be the duty of the Auditor of the Treasury
for the Post Office Department to obtain from post
masters their quarterly accounts with the vouchers
necessary to correct adjustment thereof, and to
port TO the Postmaster General all failures of post
masters to render such returns within proper peri
% after the close of each quarter.
Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That the Post
m stef General shall review once in two years, and
IN special Gases, upon satisfactory representation
much oftener he may deem expcdient, and read
just the basis of the preceding section, the salary
assigned by him to any place; but any change made
IN such Sala shall not take effect untl the first day
OF the quarter next following such order, and all
d'rs made assigning changing salaries shall be
made in writing and recorded IN his journal, and
verified 70 the Auditor for the Post Office Depart
ment.
Sec. g. And be it further enacted, That salaries
OF the hrt, second, and thrd classes shall be ad us
ed to take effect the first day Of july eighteen
hunored anu sixty-four, and of the fourth and fifth
classes at tire same time, and at the commencement
of quarter as early practicable thereafter
Sec. A. dad De 1t further enacted, That, at offices
which have not been established for two venrs nrior
TO the first day of July eighteen hundred and sixty
four the salary shall be adjusted upon a satisfactory
return by the postmaster of the receipts, expendi.
tures and business of his office: PTOrded That ff
~ per centum of the gross revenue of such ofhc
shall be, all cases, the largest amount allowed t
such stmasiers for their salaries, respectively, ex
ccpt in cases where it shall be a separating or cIs
tribung Office, as provided for in the sixth section
of this act.
Sec. S. and be IL further enacted, That at the pos
Office in New York and offices OF the hrst and sec
oHd classes, the Postmaster General shall allow t
the postmaster just and reasonable sum TOR the ne
eessary cost in whole in part, OF rent fuel, lights
and clerks, to be adjusted upon asatstaeory exhbi
ofthe facts And at ofices Of the third, fourth an
fifth classes, such expenses shall DC PAID oy 'ne posi-
MASTER except in the sixth section PrOViceo; oein
intended that such allowances shall be mace IN &C
cordance with existing usdges.
See 6. And be it further enacted, That Inc fos
master General may designate certain convenient o
fees at the intersection Of mail routes, as os''O'
ting Offices, and certain others as separating omoeS
and where any such office IS OF the thlrd' iouIt'
krth class of post Offices, he may make a REASONABLE
ff.rf fla
jn whole in part, of clerical services arising ifo'
such Duties.
Sec. 7. And be Il further enacted, That all pos
ages and box rents at post offices, ana all othe1
ceipts and emoluments at post othce, snail oe u
cciyed and accounted for part OF the postal Fe
enues; and any part thereof which the postmastt
pught 10 have collected but has neglected 20 coIet
shall be charged against him in his account, and
nhsl be liable therefor in the same manner hs II th
name had been collected; and he shall receive
fees peFsuisites beyond his salary.
Sec. =. And be IL further enacted, That the un
form Of United States POSTAGE without IeierenC
to distance. upon letters and other mallable matt
addressed 10 or feceived from foreign countrle
when forwarded from or received in the United Stat
by steamships or other vessels regularly employed
the transportation of the mails, sha! be follow
viz: ten cents per single rate Of half an
nader on letters; two cents each on new spaper
and the established domestic rates on pam phlets, ?
yiod;eaIs and other articles Of printed matte wh
postage shall be PrePsid on matter sent, ale colle
I'd on matter received PT0oided, alOays. That the
rsses .hail not apply to letters or other msiabe M
ter, addressed 10 received from sny foreign Pla
80 souotyv 10 and from which different rates
,.,,gs h. va been or shall be established bY intor
,;mai uostal convention of arrangement already c.
claded or hereafter TO be made
Sec. 9. And be Il further enacted That tne r. r.
master General is authorized TO sch, or cause 70
-sslJ loindividuals eorporstons, and basl cess M
postage stamps, in quantities., ,of not Less Inan
hundred dollars in vaiue, at discount RO' S,s !,
evs ner centum from the face value of sach sta III
and 10 sell, or cause to be sold. stamped enveloI
in packages conssining not less thaa i've huno
envelopes. at a discount not exceeding nye per
tam from, the current prices thereof rnen so's
lee, 10" And BE- Il Jaft4er enacted, Thu the tw