Standard of union. (Milledgeville, Ga.) 183?-18??, July 26, 1836, Image 1

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EDITC > BY TSIOit .tS IltYNtlS. l'«Q. VOL. SSL AO. !BS. of ■b v e. g. ko b tmw, Publisher (By Authority,) of the Laws of the I 'idled Slates: Oltice on Greene Street, nearly oppo site the Market. Issued eveiy Tuesday niorning,at per annum No subscription taken lor less than a year, and no paper discontinued, but at the option of the publisher, tintil all arrearages are paid. Advertisements conspicuously inserted at the usual rates —those not limited when handed in, will be inserted ’till forbid, and charged accord ingly. CHANGE OF DIRECTION. U’e desice such of our subscribers as may at any time wish the direction of their papers chan ged from one Post Office to another, to inform ns, in all cases, of the place to which they had been previously sent; as the mere order to for ■waid them to a different ofiice, places it almost out of our power, to comply, because we have no I means of ascertaining the office from which they ' are ordered to be changed, but a search through our whole subscription Rook, containing severa thousand names. POSTAGE. It is a standing rule with this office, as wel as all others, that the postage of all letters and I communications to the Editor or Proprietor must be paid. Wo repeat it again,—and re- ) quest all persons having occasion to address us upon business connected in any way with the establishment, to bear it in mind. Persons wishing to become subscribers to the Standard of Union, are particularly requested to give their attention to this ; or they trill not have the pa per forwarded them. [By AiltheHty.] LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES, **A«SEU ST THE TWEXTY-t’OtT.TII CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION. [Public— No. f>.s.] AN ACT to change the organization of the Post Ofiice Department, and to pro vide more effectually for the settlement of the accounts thereof. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives, of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the revenues arising in the Post Ofiice De partment, and all debts due to the same, shall, when collected, be paid, under the 1 direction of the Postmaster General, into the Treasury of the United states. Sec. 2. And be il further enacted, That the Postmaster General shall submit to Con- ■ gress at the next, and each succeeding an-! nual session, specific estimate of the sums of money expected to be required for the ser vice of the Department in the subsequent \ year, commencing on the first day of July, I under the following heads, viz: “Compen sation of postmaster,” “Transportation of the mails,” “ Ship, steamboat, and way letters.” “ Wrapping paper,” “ Ofiice fur- ' niture,” “ Advertising.” “ Mail bags ”, Blanks,” “ Mail locks, keys, and stamps,” “ Mail depredations, and special agents,” , “Clerks, for offices,” and “ Miscellane-I ous.” And the Postmaster General shall render an account to Congress at each site ceding annual session, of the amounts actu ally expended for cadi of the purposes above specified. Sec, 3. Ami be it further enacted, That the aggregate sum required “ for the service of the Post Ofiice Department,” in each year, shall be appropriated by law out of the revenue of the Department, and that ail payments of the receipts of the Post Ofiice i Department into the Treasury, shall be to ) the credit of the said appropriation. Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That the sums appropriated for the service afore- j said shall be paid by the Treasurer in the manner herein directed: Provided, That the compensation of postmasters, the expenses of post offices, and such other expenses of j the Department for which appropriations have been made, as may be incurred by postmasters, may be deducted out of the proceeds of their offices, under the direction of the Postmaster General : And provide I, also, That all charges against the Depart ment hy postmasters, on account of such ex jpetjses, shall be submitted for examination and settlement, to the auditor herein provi. ,ded for.; and that no such deduction shall tbe ( valid, unless the expenditure so deducted, be found to have been made in conformity jto law : Ami provided also, That the Post- 1 master General slid!! have power to transfer ) .debts due on account of the Department, ( postmasters and others, in satisfaction oil ■the legal demands for which appropriations have been made, of such contractors who | jnay be creditors of the Department, asshall have given hoods, with security to refund .any moneys that may come into tin ir hands .over and above the amount which may be ; found due to them on the settlement of their .accounts. Sec. 5. Ami be it further evaded, That the Treasurer of the United Slates shall I give receipts for till moneys received by : him to the credit of the appropriation for j the service of the Po-t Office Department ; jyllich receipt shall be endorsed upon war rants drawn by the Postmaster General, and without such warrant, no acknowledgement, for money received as aforesaid shall be va lid. Sec. ti. Ami be it further enacted, That | /he appropriations for thp service of the . Post Ofiice Department ‘hall be disbursed py the treasurer out of the moneys paid in-I to tlic Treasury for the service of the Post! rf Office Department, upon the warrants of the I 1 os'master General, registered and coun tersigned as herein provided, and expres sing on their faces the appropriation to which they should be charged. Si’C. 7. And be it further enacted, That the treasury shall render liis acount of the moneys received and paid by him an ac count ol the Post Ofiice Department, quar terly to the Auditor lor the Post Ofiice De partment hereinafter provided for, and shall transmit copies of the same when adjusted by him. to the two Houses of' Congress. Sec. 8. Ami be it further enacted, 'That there shall be appointed by the President, ! with theronsent of'the Senate, an Anditorof ; the Treasury for the Post Ofiice Depart ment, whose duty it shall be to receive til! accounts arising in the said Departments, or relative thereto, to audit and settle the same, and certiliy their balances to the Postmaster General : Provided, that if either the Post master General, or any person whose ac count shall be settled, be dissatisfied there with, he may, within twelve months, ap peal to the First Comptroller of'the Treas ury, whose decision shall be final and con clusive. Tiie said auditor shall report to the Postmaster General, when required, the official forms of papers to be used by post masters, and other officers or agents of the Department concerned in its receipts and payments, and the manner and form of keep ing and slating its accounts, lie shall keep and preserve all accounts, with the vouch ers, after settlement. He shall promptly report to the Postmaster General all delin quencies of postmasters in paying over the proceeds of their offices. lie shall close tiie accounts of the Department quarterly and transmit to the Secretary of tiie Treasury quarterly statements of its receipts and ex penditure. He shall register charge and countersign, all warrants upon the Treas ury for receipts and payments issued by the Postmaster General, when warranted bylaw, lie shall perform such other duties, in rela tion to the financial concerns of the Depart ment, asshail be assigned to him by the Sec retary of the Treasury, and shall make to them respectively, such reports as either of them may require respecting the same. The said auditor may frank, am- receive, free of postage, letters and packets under the regulations provided by law for other officers of the Government. .And all let ters and packets to and from the Chief En gineer which may relate, to the business of Lis ofiice shall be free of postage. Sec. 9. And be it further enacted, That 1 it shall be the duty of the Postmaster Gen- j oral to decide on the official forms of all papers to be used by postmasters, and oth- j er officers or agents of the Post Office De- | partment, concerned in its receipts and. pay men's, and the manner and form of keeping I ami stating its accounts; to enforce the . prompt rendition of the returns of postmas ters, and of all certificates, ncknowledg- , merits, receipts, and other papers, by post- ) masters and contractors, relative to the ac- ; counts of the Departments; to control, ac- ! cording to law, and subject to the settle ment of the auditor, the allowances to post- i masters, the expenses of post offices, and al! other expenses incident to the service of the ) Department; to regulate and direct the pay- ) merit of the said allowances and expenses for which appropriationsliave been made ;tosu- ) perintend the disposition of the proceeds of) post offices and other moneys of the Depart ment; to prescribe the manner in which postmasters shall pay over their balances ; to grant warrants for money to be paid into the Treasury, arid out cf the same, in pur sance of appropriations by law, to persons to whom tiie same shall be certified to be due by the said auditor: Provided, That advances of necessary sums to defray ex penses may be made by the P. General to agents of the department employed to in vestigate mail depredations, examine post routes, and post offices", and perform other like services, to be charged by the auditor for the Post Office Department, and be ac counted for in the settlement of their ac- counts. Sec. 10. And be it further enacted, That the auditor for the Post Ofiice Department shall state and certify, quarterly, to the I Postmaster General, accounts of the moneys I paid pursuant to appropriations, in each year, by postmasters, out of the proceeds ol their offices, towards the expenses of the Department, under each of the heads of the said expenses specified in the second section of this act; upon which the Postmaster Gen eral shall issue warrants to the Treasury of the United States, as in case of the receipt and payment of the Said moneys into and out of the Treasury, in order that the same may be carried to the credit and debt ofthe appropriation for the service of the Post Office Department, on the books of the au ditor for said Department. Sec. 11. And be it further enacted-, That : the Postmaster General shall, within sixty . days after the making of any contract, cause a duplicate thereof to no lodged in the of fice of the auditor of the Post Ofiice Depart i ment. Upon the death resignation, or re- ■ moral of any postmaster, he shall cause bis I bond of office to be delivered to the said au- ■ ditor and shall also cause to be promptly certified to him till establishments and discon tinuances of post offices, and ail appoint ments, deaths, resignations, and removals of postmaster.*, together with ail orders and regulations, which may originate a claim, or in any minnier affect the accounts ofthe Department. Sec. 12. And beit further enacted, That the accounts of the Post Office Department shall lie kept in such manner as to exhibit the amounts of its revenues, derived res pectively from “ letter postages,” “ news papers and pamphlets;” and* “ fines ;” and the amount of its expenditures for each of the following objects, namely: “compen sation of postmasters,” “ transportation of the mails,” “ ship, steamboat, and way let ters,” “wrapping paper,” “ofiice furni ture,” “ advertising,” mail bags,” “blanks, mail locks keys and 'tamps,” “ mail depre- OJEOBGIA, TUJESOAW .JI L¥ i datioiis and special agents,” “clerks fur of fices,” and “miscellaneous.” Sec. I'.}. And be if further enacted, That the bonds and contracts of postmasters, mail contractms, and other agents ol the Post Ofiice Department, shall hereafter he made to and with the United Slates ot Amer ica; and all suits to be commenced for the ) recovery of debts or balances due by post masters and others, or upon bonds or con tracts made to or with the present or tiny ■ former Postmaster General, or for any fines, penalties, or forfeitures, imposed by the laws respecting the Post Office Department, \orhy the Postmaster General, pursuant thereto, shall be instituted by the name of j the United States of America ; and the de mauds in such suits shall have all the privi legesand priorities in adjudication and pay ment¥e<*nred to other claims of the United States, by the existing laws : Provided, That actions and suits which may have been instituted in the name of the Postmaster I General, previous to the passage of this act, shall not be affected by the provisions of this section. Sec. 1-1. And be it further enacted, That the auditor of the Post Office Department shall superintend the collection of all debts ; due to the Department shall superintend the collection of all debts due to the Depart ! ment, and all penalties and forfeitures impo . sed on postmasters, for failing to make re ! turns, or pay over the proceeds of their of | tires ; lie shall direct suits and legal pro ' ecedtngs, and take all such measures as j may be authorized bylaw, to enforce the prompt payment of moneys due to the De i partment. Sec. 15. Aind be it further enacted, That copies of the quarterly returns of postmas ters, and of any papers pertaining to the i accounts in tl.e oflii e of the auditor tor the Post Ofiice Department, certified by him, I under bis seal of office, shall be admitted ■ as evidence in the courts of the United States ; and in every case of delinquency . of any postmaster or contractor, in which ■ suit may be brought, the said auditor shall forward to the attorney of the United States I certified copies of all papers in his ofiice, I tending to sustain the claim ; and in every : such case, a statement of the account, certi- j fled as aforesaid, shall be admitted as ex i- ; der.ee, and the court try ing the cause shall j be thereupon authorized to give judgment and award execution, subject to the provis- I ions of the thirty-eighth section of the act : to reduce into one the several acts establish- | ing and regulating the Post Office Depart ment, approved March third,eighteen bun- ’ dred and twenty-five. No claim lor a ere- i dit shall be allowed upon the trial but such I as shall have been presented to the said au ditor, and by him disallowed in whole or in part, unless it shall be proved to the satis faction of the court that the defendant is at the time of the trial in possession of vouch ers not before in his power to procure, and that be was prevented from exhibiting to the said auditor a claim for such credit, by some unavoidable accident. In suits for balances due from postmasters, interest, at the rate of six percent, per annum, shall be recovered from the time of the default until paj merit. Sec. IG. And be it further enacted, Thnt the attorneys of the Lnited States, in the prosecution of suits for moneys due on ac count of the Post Office Department, shall ) obey the directions w hich may, from time to I time, be given to them by the auditor for the 1 Post,Office Department; and it shall be i the duty ol each of the said attorneys, im- I mediately after the end ofevery term of any j court in w hich any of the suits aforesaid I shall have been pending, to forward to the said auditor a statement of all tbejudgments, orders, and steps which have been made or taken in the same, during the said term, ac companied by a certificate of the clerk, showing the parties to, and amount of, each I judgment, with such other information as may be required by the said auditor. The said attorneys shall direct speedy and effec tual process of execution upon the said judgments ; and it shall betlie duty' of the marshals of the United States to whom the same shall be directed, to make to the said auditor, at such times as he may direct re turns of the proceedings which liavetakenl place upon the said process of execu-l tion. Sec. 17. And be it further enacted, That in all cases w here any sum or sums of mo ney have been paid out oftlie funds of th(? Post Office Department to any individual or individuals, under pretence that service has been performed therefor when in fact such service has not been performed, or by way of additional allowance for increased service actuallyrendered, w hen theaddition al allowance exceeds the sum which, by the provisions of law, might rightfully have been allowed therefor, and in all other ca- I ses where the moneys of the Department have been paid over to any person, in con sequence of fraudulent representations, or by lite mistake, collusion, or misconduct ofj any officer or clerk, of the Department, it shall be the duty of the Postmaster Gene ral to cause suit to be brought in the mime of the United States of America, to recover back tiie same, or the excess, as the case may Ire, with interest thereon. Sec. 18. And be it further enacted, That ! the auditor for the Post Office Department i shall adjust ami settle all balances due from > postmasters on account of transactions pri- ! or to the first day of July eighteen hundred i and thirty-six. He shall when necessary! institute suits for the same, and cause them ! to lie effectually prosecuted to judgmentand ■ execution; and in cases in which proceed-! ings at law for these or any other balances ! that are or may become due on account of! the Post Office Department, have been or I I shall be fruitless, may direct the institution) of suits in chancery, to set aside fraudulent ! conveyances or trusts, or attach debts due | to the defendants, or obtain any other pro-1 per exercise of the powers of equity, to ' have satisfaction oftlie said judgments; and the courts of the United States, sitting! War S'otusciofve —-Oeitr S'r» ,t n l »■> - in chancery, shall have jurisdiction to enter tain such bills, and make such decrees and ordt rs thereupon as may be consonant to the principles and usages of equity. The i said auditor shall report to the Postmaster General, to be by him submitted to Con gress, at its next annual session,.a statement of all the balances and debts due to the Post Office Department as aforesaid, by late postmasters showing, in each case, the name and ofiice of the principal debtor, the names of the sureties, if any, the amount of the debt, time at which it accrued, the steps taken to collect the same, and whether they have been successful or not. The said statement shall also classify such ofthe said balances as may then remain due, into such as are considered collectible, and such as are not, with the whole amount of each class. Sec. 19. And be it further enacted, That the auditor for the Post Office Department, : or any mayor of a city, justice of the peace, ) or judge of any court of' record in the Uni ted States, by him especially designated, shall be authorized to administer oaths and ■ affirmations, in relation to the examination 1 and settlement of' the accounts committed . to his charge; audit’any person shall know ingly swear Or affirm falsely, touching the ) expenditures ofthe PostOfiiceDeparlment, or in relation to any account of, or claim ) ! against, or in favor of, the said Depart-! ! ment, he or she shall, upon conviction J ! thereof, suffer as for w ilful and corrupt per- ) Sec. 20. Andbevl further enacted, That : , there shad be employed by the Postmaster | i General, a third Assistant Postmaster Gen- I i eral who may receive and send lettersand! ! packets free of postage, and in lieu of the I | clerks now employed in the Department, one chief clerk, three principal clerks, and i thirty-three other clerks, one messenger, and three assistant messengers, and tv.’o watchmen. Sec. 21. And be it further enacted, That there shall be employed hy the Secretary ofthe Treasury, its the officeof the auditor for the Post Office Department, one chief) clerk, four principal clerks, and thirty-eight I other clerks, one messenger, and one assis- I tant messenger, also three clerks one ata) salary of fourteen hundred dollars per an- ! num, one at a salary of twelve hundred dol lars, and one at a salary of one thousand dollars, in the office cf the Treasurer ofthe United States, in lieu of the same number of clerks now employed in the office of the Fifth Auditor of the Treasury, in adjusting ! the accounts of the Post Office Depart- j meat. Sec. 22. And be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of the Postmaster Gen eral to make to Congress, at each annual session thereof, the following several re ports ; First A, report of all contracts made for the transportation of the mail within the preced'mgyear, stating in each case of con tract its date and duration, the name ofthe contractor, the route or routes < mbraced in the contract, w ith the length of each, with the times of arrival and departure at the ends of each route, the mode cf transpor tation contracted for, and the prices stipu- j iated tobe paid by the Department, also a : statement <.f all such land and waler mails! as may have been established or ordered | by tlic l)epartment w ithin the year prccced- I ing, other than those let to coutrai t at the ) annual lettings of mail contracts, speecify- j ing, in each case the route or water course i on which the mail is establised, the name of the person employed to transport it, the mode of transportation, the amount paid or to be paid, and the proposed duration of the order or contract. Second. A report of all allowances made to contractors w ithin the year preceding, beyond the sums originally stipulated in their respective contracts, and the reasons for the same ; and of all ciders made by the Department, v hereby additionalexpense is, or will be incurred, beyond the original contract price on anv land or water route, specifying, in each case the route to w hich the order relates, the name of the contrac tor, the original service provideil by the contract, the original price, the date of the order for additional service, the additional service required, and the additional allow ance therefor; also, a report of all curtail ments of expenses effected by the Depart ment within the preceding y ear, specifying, in each case, the same particulars as re quired in cases of additional allowan- Third. A, report of all incidental expen ses of the Department for the year ending on the thirtieth day of June preceding, ar ranged according to their several objects as for “wrapping paper, “office furniture,'’ “ advertising,” mail bags, “ blanks,” “mail locks, keys, and stamps,” “ mail depreda tions, and special agents,” clerks for offices, “miscellaneous,” showing the sum paid under each Head of expenditure, and the) names ol the persons to whom paid, except only that the names of persons employed in ! detecting depredations on the mail, and o- I ther confidential agenfs, need not be disclo sed in said report. Fourth. A report of the finances of the < Post Office Department for the year end ing mi the thirtieth day ol June preceding, showing the whole amoutilof balances due to tiie Department at the beginnitig of the year, from postmasters and ail others, the whole amount of postage that accrued w ith in the year, the whole amount ol the en- : gageinents and liabilities of the Department I for mail transportation during the year, the amount actually paid during the year, for and on acccountof mail transportatioh, and othevvise, stating separately so much' ol the said amount as may have been paid on ac count ofthe transportation of the mail, am! for other debts for the same object, in prece ding years. Fifth. A report of all fines imposed, and deductions from the pay of contractors imide during t-lie preceding year, for failures to deliver the mail, or for any other cause, sta- | ting tiie names of the delinquent contac ) tors, the m ture of the delinquency, the ) route on which it occurred, the time when ! it occurred, the time when the fine wadm j posed, and whether the fine has been renit ted, or order for deduction rescinded, ind for what reason. Sec. 2.1. And beit further enacted, That it shall be the duty of the Postmaster Gm eral, before advertising for proposals f ntlie transportation of the mail, to form the lest judgment practicable as to the mode, line and frequency of transportation on (Jich route, and to advertise accordingly.. No consolidated or combination bid slrtl be received, and no additional compensaion ) shall be made to any mail contractor; s) as that the compensation for additional regular I service shall exceed the exact prononion which the original compensation bears to the original services stipulated to be per formed ; and no extra allowance shall be made to any contractor, hy the Postmaster General, for an increase of expedition in | the transportation of themail, unless there i by the employment of additional stock or carrier, by the contractor, shall be rendered ) necessary ; and, in su«h case, the additional compensation shall revCr bear a greater proportion to the add'tional stock or carri ers rendered necessaiy, than the sum stipu ) iated in the original contract bears to the I stock and carriers necessarily employed in ! its execution, and when an extra service I shall be ordered the amount ofthe allow j atree therefor, in dollars and cents, shall be i signified in the order for such service, and | be forthwith entered upon the books of the Post Office Department, and ho additional compensation shall be paid for l any extra ! regular service rendered before the issuing of such order, and the making of such en try, and every order, entry, or memoran dum whatever, on which any action of the Department is to be had, allowance made, or money paid, and every contract, paper or obligation drawn up in said office, by a ny officer thereof, shall have affixed to it its true date ; and every paper relating to con tracts or allow ances filed in said office, shall have the date of its filing endorsed thereon. And whenever it shall become necessary to change the terms of any existing contract in any other manner than that designated in this act, or to enter into a contract for the transportation of the mail at any other time than at the annual letting, the Post master General shall give notice in one news paper published at Washington City, and in one newspaper published as near as mav be to the route on w hich the services are to be performed for at least four weeks before changing or making such contract, inviting proposals therefor; which proposals shall be received and opened, and such proceed ings thereon had, in ah things, as at the an nual lettings. Provided hmeever, That the Postmaster General may make temporary contracts until a regular letting can take place. Sec. 24. And be il further enacted, That proposals for mail contracts shall be deli vered to the Department sealed, and shall be kept sealed until the biddings are closed anil shall then be opened and marked in the presence oft he Postmaster General, and ofoueofthe Assistant Postmasters Gen eral, or in the presence of two of the Assis tant Postmaster General. And the con tracts in all cases shall be awarded to the lowest bidder except when his bid is not more than five per centum below tliatof the last contractor, on the route bid for, who -hall have faithfully performed bis contract. Provided however, Thit the Postmaster General shall not be found to consider the bid of any person who shall have willfully or negligently failed to execute or perform a prior contract. -- Sec. 25. And be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty ofthe Postmaster Gen era! to have recorded in a well bound book, a true and faithful abstract of offers made to him for carrying the rnai.‘, embracing as well those which are rejected, as those which are accepted. The said abstract shall contain the names of the party or parties offering; the terms on which he or they propose to carry the mail, the sum for which it is offered to contract ; and the length of time the agreement is to cemtinue. And it shall also be and the duty of the Postmaster General to put on file, preserve the original propositions of which abstracts are here directed to be made, and to report at each session of Congress ; a true copy from the said record <>f all offers made for carrying the mail as aforesaid. Sec. 26. And be it further enacted, That il'any person employed in the Post Ofiice Department, or postmaster shall be come interested in jiny mail contract or act as agent, with or without compensation in any maiter or thing relating to business in said for any contactor or person offering to become a contractor he shall be forthwith dismissed from ofiice, and shall be liable to pay so much money as would have been realized from said contract, to be recovered in an action of debt, in anv court having jurisdiction thereof, in the name ofthe United States for the use ofthe Post Ofiice Department; and it shall be the duty of the Postmaster General to cause prosecution to be instituted. Site. 27. And be it further enacted, eveiy proposal for the transportation of the mail shall be accompanied by a written guaranty, signed by one or more responsi ble persons, to the effect that he or they un dertake that the bidder or bidders will if his or their bid be accepted enter in to an obligationin such time as may b<? perscribed by the Postmaster General w ith good and sufficient sureties, to perform the service proposed. No proposal shall be considered, unless accompanied by such guaranty. Ifafter the acceptance of a propo sal and notification thereof to the bidder or bidders, he or they shall fail to' enter into an obligation witliin the time prescribed hy the Postmaster General, with good and sufficient sureties for the performance of the service, then the Postmaster General shall proceed to contract with some other person or persons, for the performance of the said service, and shall forthwith cause the difference between the amount contain ed in the proposal so guarantied, and the amount for which he may have contracted for the performance of said service, for the whole period ofthe proposal, to be charged up against the said bidder or bidders, and his or their guarantor or guarantors, and the same be immediately recovered by the United Slates, for the use ofthe Post Office Department in an action of debt against ei ther or all ofthe said persons. Sec. 28. And be it further enaeted, That no contract for the transpotation of' thejnail shall knowingly be made by the Postmaster General, with any person who shall have entered into any combination, or proposed to enter into any combination, to prevent the making of any bid for a mail contract hy any 7 other person or persons; whoshall have made any agreement, or shall have given or performed, or yromised to give or perform any consideration whatever, or to do or not to do any thing whatever, in order to induce any other per son or person i • to bid for a mail contract and il any person so offending be a mail contrac tor, he may be forthwith dissmissed from the service oi the Department : Provided, That whenever the Postmaster General shall exercise the power conferred on him by this section, he shall transmit a copy or statement c.f the evidence on which he acts, to Congrpss, at its next session. Sec. 29. And be il further enacted, That no person w hose bid for the transpor tation ofolhe mail may be accepted, shall receive any pay, until he shall have execu ted his contract according to law and the regulations cf the Department; nor shall any payment be made for any additional regular service in the transportation of the mail, unless tiie same shall have been ren dered in obedience to a prior legal order of the Postmaster General. Sec. 30. And be it furlhtr enacted, That so much of the act concerning the Post Office Department, approved March third, eighteen hundred and twenty-five, as directs that duplicates or copies of contracts' or orders made by the Postmaster General shall be lodged in the office of Comptroll er of the Treasury, be repealed. Sec. 31. And be it, further enacted, That it shall be the duty ofthe Postmaster General to furnish to the postmasters at the termination of each route, a schedule, spei fying the times of arrival departure at their offices respectively ofeach mail, a copy of w hich the postmaster shall post up m sortie conspicious place in his office; and the Postmaster General shall also furnish a notice in like manner, of any chantre or al teration in the arrivals and departures which may be ordered by him. And it sl;al be the duty ofevey postmaster prompt ly to report to the Department every delin quency, neglect, or malpractice oftlie con tractors, their agents or carriers, that may come to his knowledge. And the Post master General shall cause to be kept, and returned to the Department, at short and regular intervals by postmasters at the ends of routs, and such others as he may think proper, registers, showing the exact times of the arrivals and departures ofthe mails. Sec. 32. be it further enacted, That if'an postmaster shall unlawfully detain in his office, any letter, package, phamplet or newspaper, with intent to prevent the arrival and delivery ofthe same to the per son or persons to whom such letter package pamphlet or newspaper may be addressed or directed in the usual course of the transpor tation of the mail along the route ; or if any postmaster shall with intent as afo esaid give a preference to any letter, package, pamphlet, or newspaper, over another, which may pass through his office, by for warding the one and retaining the other, he shall, on conviction thereof, be fined in a sum not exceding five hundred dollars and imprisioned for a term not exceeding six months, and shall moreover, be forever thereafter incapable of holding the office of postmaster in the United Stales. Sec. 33. And be it further enactyd-, That there shall be appointed by the Presi dent of the United States, by and with the advice and consent oftlie Senate, a Deputy Postmaster for each post ofiice at which the commissions allowed to the postmaster a mounted to one thousand dollars or upwards in the year ending the thirtieth day of June one thousand eight hundred and thirty-five or which may, in any subsequent year, ter minating on the thirtieth day of June a moimtor exceed that sum, who shall hold his office for the term offouryears, 'unless sooner removed by tiie President. Sec. 34. And be il farther enacted, That assistant postmaster and clerks regularly employep and engaged in post offices, shall be exempt from militia duties, and serving on juries, and from any fine or penally for neglect thereof. Sec. 35. be it further enacted, That advertisements of letters remaining in post offices may, under the direction ofthe bf the Postmaster General, be made in more than one newspaper : Provided, That the'whole cost of advertising shall not exceed four cents for each letter. SEc. 36. And be it further enacted, That no postmaster shall receive free pos tage, or frank, any letter er packet compo sed of, or containing any thing other than paper (or money,) and for a violation of this provision, the offender shall be dismis sed from office, and upon conviction in ,any court of competent jurisdiction, pay a fine of twenty dollars. And no person shall hold the office of postmaster who shall not bean actual resident of the city or town wherein the office is situated, or the district of coun try usually supplied by said office. Sec. 37. And be it further enacted, That when any one or more ofthe sureties of a postmaster shall notify to the Postmas ter General their desire to be released from their suretyship < r when the Postmaster General shall deem it lieccsyary he shall re- VUBLIMH£D UY IP. 1.. x WygOLK AO. 131. quire the said postmaster to execute a new bond with security, which when accepted by the Postmaster General shall be as vail 'ci as the bond given upon the original ap i 'Ointment of said postmaster, and the sure ties in the prfor bond shall be released from icsposibility for all acts or defaults of said postmaster which may be done orcommit led subsequent to the acceptance ofthe new >ond the date of which shall be endorsed thereon: Provided, That payment* made subsequent to tlieexecntion ofibencw bond oy s-iid postmasters shall be applied first to discharge any balance which may be due on the old bond, unless he shall, at tiie time of payment,expressly direct them to be ap plied to the credit of his new account. Sec. 38. And be it further enacted, That d any fsrsoi] shall be accessary after the • act, to the offence of stealing or taking the •nail of the United States, or of stealing or taking any letter or packet, or enclosure in any letters or packet sent or to be sent in the mail of the United States, from any post office in the United States, or from the mail of the United States, by any person or persons whatever, every person to offending as accessary, shall, on conviction thereof, pay a fine not exceeding one thousand dol lars, and be imprisoned for a term not exce eding fivs ygars ; and such accessary after the fact may be tried, convicted, and pun ished in the district in which his offences was committed, thro’ gh the principal of fence may have been committed in another district, and before fliat trial of the principal offender: Provided, such principal ofleder has fled from justice, or cannot be arrested to be put upon his trial. Sec. 39. And be il further enacted, That in casejtlie jiostmasterGeneral deem it expe dient to establish an express mail, in addi tion to the ordinary mail, on any of the post roads in the United States, for the purpose ofconyeving slips from newspapers in lieu of exchange newspapers, or letters, other than such as contain meney, not exceeding half an ounce in weight, marked “ express mail,” and public despatches, he shall be authorized to charge all letters and packets carried by such express mail with triple the rates of postage to which letters and pack ets, not free, many be by laws subject, when carried by the ordinary mails. Sec. 40. And be itfurther t’Racfetf, That tn case of the death, resignation., or absence of the Postmaster General, all his powers and duties shall dcvelope, for the time be ing, on tiie First Assistant Postmaster Gen eral; Sec. 41. And be ii further enacted, That t.ie Postmaster General shall he authorized, whenever the same may be proper for the accommodation oftlie public in any city, t< employ letters carriers for the delivery of letters received at the post office in said city; except such as the persons to whom they' are addressed may have requested, in wri ting, addressed to the postmaster, to be re tained in the post office ; and for the receipt ol letters, at such places in the said city as the Postmaster General may direct, and for the deposite of the same in the post office ; and for the delivery by a carrier ofeach let ter received from the post office, the person to whom the same may be delivered shall pay not exceeding two cents ; and for the delivery of each newspaper and pamphlet, one-half cent; and for every letter received by a carrier to be deposited in the post of fice, there shall be paid to him, at the time ofthe receipts, not exceeding two cents ; all which receipts, by the carriers in any,city, shall, if the Postmaster General so direct, be accounted for to the postmaster of said city, to constitute a find for the compensa tion of tiie said carriers, and be paid to them in such proportions and manner as the Post master General may direct. Each of the said carriers shall give bond with sureties, to be approved by the Postmaster General, safe custody and delivery of letters, and for the due account and payments of all moneys received by him. Sec. 42. And be it further enacted, That the Postmaster General shall be authorized, in [his discretion, to contract for carry ing themail on the navigable Icanals of the several Slates, in all cases wherein his o p’mion the public interest and convenience shall require it, and for the time during which mails may be carried on such canals, or any parts thereof, the same are hereby declared to be post roads. Sec. 43. And be it further enacted, That the following annual salaries shall be allow ed to the Assistant Postmaster Gr neral!* and to the clerks, messengers, and watch men provided for the service of ibe Post Office Department, viz: To the three Assistant Postm aster Gen eral each twenty-five hundred r’ Pilars'. To the chief clerk two thorn .and dollar *. To the three principal cle rk S) C acl t thousand six hundred dollar .. To ten clerks each ornj. thousnijd four hundred dollars. I o fifteen clerks, each one thawjfld two. hundred dollars. Io eight clerks, ea.ch one ■rhoittsand* dol lars. Io the messenger, seven hundred and? fifty dollars. Io the three assistant messengers, each three hundred and fifty dollars. L o the tw o watchmen, each three hun dred dollars. &E . 4 4. Be it further enaeted. That the* lodowmg annual salaries shall be allowed to the Auditor ofthe Post Office Department, and t'.i the clerks and messengers herein pro ',ly d for the service of Ids office, viz: Io the auditor, three thousand dollars. Io the chief clerk, two thousand dol- To the four principal dorks, each one diousaml six hundred dollars. i o ten clerks, each one thousand four hundred dollars. 1 o twenty clerks, each one thousand two hundred dollars. I o eight clerks, each ore thousand dol lars. To the messenger, seven bnndred antj