Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-08
SALE OF USELESS PAPERS
Acting Postmaster General Heath Con-
sidering the Subject.
Two Acts of Congress- Upon the Mat
ter Qu0ted-A Former
Decision.

Acting Postmaster General Perry s.
Heath is considering the law concerning
the sale and destruction of useless files and
papers.
1t viii be recalled that several state
nents were published to the effect that the
Post Office Department was destroying pa
pers and files of historical interest, because
they were useless records. and there was
no place to store them in the new building.
This statement was fatty contradicted by
the post Office officials, who claimed they
had no warrant of law to destroy these
records without express authority of Con-
gress. The matter was Immediately pre-
sented to Acting Assistant Attorney Gen.
eral Barrett for the Post Office Depart
ment, for his views. Many heads of de-
partments called his attention to quantities
OF useless records, which had no value.
either practical or historical Gen. Barrett
has already ruled on a similar question.
holding the department had the right, I'M
der the act of Congress, dated March 3,
1881, to sell or destroy all useless pap RS.
1t was on this decision that the Postmaster
General authorized the sale of the old
newspaper and periodical stamps, which
had been discontinued. by reason of which
the government realized S2JOCoO.
The Law in the Case.
The law under which the decision was
made is as follows:
lndE the postmaster tSntTdl Is hereby
authorized to sell as waste paper, or other
wise dispose of, the files of papers which
have accumulated or may hereafter &C
curnulate, in the Post Office Department
that are not needed in the transaction of
current business and have permanent
value or historical interest; and the pro-
ceeds of said sales he shall pay into the
treasury and make report thereof to Con-
gress."
At the time the newspaper and periodi-
cal stamps We're sold this was the law
which the attorneys for the department
cited as authority therefor Since then,
however another law has been found which
appears to prohibit the sale of anything in
the shape Of useless files and papers with
out express authority of Congress. It is
dated 1899 and reads as follows:
Another Act.
THAT whenever there shall be in any
one of the executive departments of the
government an accumulation of files Of
papers, which are not needed or useful in
the transaction of the current business of
such department and have no permanent
value or historical interest it shall be the
duty of the head of such department 10
submit to Congress a report of that fact
accompanied by concise statement OF the
condition and character of such papers.
And upon the submission of s!!ch report
il shall be the duty of the presiding officer
of the Senate to appoint two senators, and
of the Speaker of the House of Representa-
tivcs to appoint two representatives, and
the senators and representatives SO ap-
pointed snail constitute joint committee
to which shall be referred such report with
the accompanying statement of the co:1i-
ton and character of such papers: and
such joint committee shall meet and ex-
anime such report and statement and the
papers therein described and submit to the
Senate and House, respectively, a report
of such examination and their Recommended
Iion.
And if they report that such iiles OF
papers or any part thereof rot needed
or useful in the transaction Of the cur
rent business of such department and have
no permanent value or historical interest,
then 1t shall be the duty of such head Of
| department to sell as waste paper or other
| wise dispose of such files of papers upon
| the best obtainable terms, after due pubIi-
| cation of notice inviting proposals therefor
| and receive and pay the proceeds thereof
| into the treasury of the United States and
| make report thereof to Congress-