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Duplicates ofcontracts, &c.
Accounts,.how to be kept.
Proviso.
Auditor to su-perintend col-lection of debts.
Certified co-pies of quarterlyreturns, &c. tobe evidence,&c.
each year, by postmasters, out of the proceeds of their offices, towardsthe expenses of the Department, under each of the heads of the saidexpenses specified in the second section of this act; upon which thePostmaster General shall issue warrants to the Treasurer of the UnitedStates , as in case of the receipt and payment of the said moneys intoand out of the Treasury, in order that the same may be carried to thecredit and debit of the appropriation for the service of the Post OfficeDepartment, on the books of the auditor for said Department.
Sec. 11. And be it further enacted, That the Postmaster Generalshall, within sixty days after the making of any contract, cause a dupli-cate thereof to be lodged in the office of the auditor of the Post OfficeDepartment. Upon the death, resignation, or removal of any post-master, he shall cause his bond of office to be delivered to the saidauditor; and shall also cause to be promptly certified to him all esta-blishments and discontinuances of post offices, and all appointments,deaths, resignations, and removals of postmasters, together with allorders and regulations which may originate a claim, or in any manneraffect the accounts of the Department.
Sec. 12. And be it further enacted, That the accounts of the PostOffice Department shall be kept in such manner as to exhibit theamounts of its revenues, derived respectively from “ letter postages,”“ newspapers and pamphlets,” and “ finesand the amount of its ex-penditures for each of the following objects, namely : “ compensationof postmasters,” “transportation of the mails,” “ship, steamboat, andway letters,” “wrapping paper,” “office furniture,” “advertising,”“mailbags,” “ blanks, mail locks, keys, and stamps,” “ mail depreda-tions and special agents,” “ clerks for offices,” and “ miscellaneous.”
Sec. 13. And be it further enacted, That the bonds and contracts ofpostmasters, mail contractors, and other agents of the Post Office De-partment, shall hereafter be made to and with the United States ofAmerica ; and all suits to be commenced for the recovery of debts orbalances due by postmasters and others, or upon bonds or contractsmade to or with the present or any former Postmaster General, or forany fines, penalties, or forfeitures, imposed by the laws respecting thePost Office Department, or by the Postmaster General, pursuant thereto,shall be instituted in the name of the United States of America ; andthe demands in such suits shall have all the privileges and priorities inadjudication and payment secured to other claims of the United States ,by the existing laws : Provided, That actions and suits which may havebeen instituted in the name of the Postmaster General, previous tothe passage of this act, shall not be affected by the provisions of thissection.
Sec. 14. And be it further enacted, That the auditor for the PostOffice Department shall superintend the collection of all debts due tothe Department, and all penalties and forfeitures imposed on postmas-ters, for failing to make returns, or pay over the proceeds of theiroffices; he shall direct suits and legal proceedings, and take all suchmeasures as may be authorized by law, to enforce the prompt paymentof moneys due to the Department.
Sec. 15. And be it further enacted, That copies of the quarterlyreturns of postmasters, and of any papers pertaining to the accounts inthe office of the auditor for the Post Office Department, certified byhim under his seal of office, shall be admitted as evidence in the courtsof the United States ; and in every case of delinquency of any post-master or contractor, in which suit may be brought, the said auditorshall forward to the attorney of the United States certified copies of allpapers in his office, tending to sustain the claim; and in every suchcase, a statement of the account, certified as aforesaid, shall be admit-ted as evidence; and the court trying the cause shall be thereupon an-