of "money-order funds" deposited by postmasters to the credit of himself, and of drafts against the amount so deposited drawn by him and countersigned by the Sixth Auditor. (R. S., § 4045.)

924. He is authorized to pay out of the proceeds of the money-order business the cost of stationery and such incidental expenses as are necessary for the transaction of that business. (R. S., § 4048.)

925. He is required to place to the credit of the Treasurer of the United States, for the service of the Post Office Department, the net proceeds of the money-order business; also certain miscellaneous receipts derived from unclaimed property, fines and penalties imposed for violations of postal laws, and sales of waste paper or other public property of this department. (R. S., § 4050.)

926. He may advance necessary sums to special agents to defray the expenses of the investigation of mail depredations, the examination of post routes and offices, and of other like services, to be charged to them by the Auditor and to be accounted for. He may transfer debts due to the department from postmasters and others to such contractors as have given bonds with security to refund any money that may come into their possession over and above the amount found due them on settlement of their accounts; such transfers to be only in satisfaction of legal demands for which appropriations have been made. (R. S., §§ 4055, 4056.)

927. Whenever the Postmaster-General is satisfied that his department has received money or property stolen from the mail, or the proceeds thereof, he may upon satisfactory evidence as to the owner deliver the same to him. (R. S., § 4058.)

928. He may dispose of any quarterly returns of mails sent or received, preserving the accounts current and ac

companying vouchers entire, for two years, and use such portions of the proceeds as may be necessary to defray the cost of separating and disposing of them. He may by regulations provide for the disposal of printed and mailable.matter which may remain in any post office or in the department not called for by the party addressed, except ing where the publisher of any newspapers or periodicals uncalled for shall pay the postage due thereon. (R. S., §§ 4060, 4061.)

OFFICE OF THE FIRST ASSISTANT POSTMASTER-GENERAL.

929. This is commonly called the Appointment Office, as it has charge of all matters relating to the appointment of postmasters and employees.

It is charged with the direction and supervision of the duties devolving upon the following-named divisions of the department, viz.:

1. Free Delivery.

2. Blank Division. 3. Appointments.

4. Bond.

5. Salary and Allowance.

These divisions transact the numerous and varied details of the business assigned to this office. The general duties of the same may be described in their order, as follow:

I. THE FREE DELIVERY.

930. This division, as its name imports, has charge of the free-delivery system. By a provision of the act of March 3, 1873, letter carriers may be employed as public convenience may require at every place containing a population of not less than twenty thousand within the delivery of its office. Receiving boxes, from which letters shall be collected at convenient and stated times by the carriers at

such places, are established at convenient points within the range of delivery of such offices. It is within the duties of this division to establish this system throughout the country, to superintend and carry it on, including the appointment and regulation of letter carriers, the allowance of expenses, and all the details required to secure its efficiency according to the spirit and intent of the law which designed the same for the convenience and comfort of the people.

II. THE BLANK AGENCY.

931. By a provision of the Revised Statutes the Postmaster-General is authorized to establish at Washington a Blank Agency for the Post Office Department. It is under charge of an officer provided for by law under the name of Superintendent of the Blank Agency. His duties or those of the agency are not defined by statute. They are, however, designated by the head of the department, and consist of the care and distribution of blank forms, wrapping-paper, twine, letter balances, cancelling stamps, and other articles similar in character, and the supervision of all matters pertaining to the same.

III. THE APPOINTMENT DIVISION.

932. This division transacts the details regarding the establishment and discontinuance of post offices, the change of name and site of those already established, the appointment of postmasters of the different classes heretofore described, of special agents of the mail service, railway postal clerks, route messengers, and of all employees of the department.

IV. THE BOND DIVISION.

933. This division issues commissions to postmasters; prepares and sends out for execution official bonds of post

masters and their assistants; also oaths of office and papers required for the qualification of these officers. It receives the bonds and oaths so executed, and enters and files the

same.

V. THE SALARY AND ALLOWANCE DIVISION.

934. This division is charged with the details required in the adjustment and readjustment of salaries of postmasters, and in the allowances made for expenditures of postmasters for fuel, lights, clerks, &c. The control of the head of the department over these subjects is explained heretofore, in part, in sections 866, 867, 868, and 869.

OFFICE OF THE SECOND ASSISTANT POSTMASTER-GENERAL.

935. To this office, commonly known as the Contract Office, is assigned the general supervision of all matters relating to the inland mail service, and it has charge of the following-named divisions of the department:

1. Contract Division.

2. Division of Railway Classification.

3. Railway Mail Service.

4. Inspection Division.

5. Mail Equipment Division.

The duties of these several divisions are as follow:

I. THE CONTRACT DIVISION.

936. To this division is assigned the business of arranging the mail service of the United States and placing the same under contract, embracing all correspondence and proceedings respecting the frequency of trips, mode of conveyance, times of departures and arrivals on all the routes, the course of the mails between the different sections of the country, the points of mail distribution, and the regulations for the government of the domestic mail

service of the United States. It prepares the advertisements for mail proposals, receives the bids, and has charge of the annual and occasional mail lettings and the adjustment and execution of the contracts. It receives all applications for mail service or change of mail arrangements and for mail messengers. All claims are considered by this division for transportation service. From this office all postmasters at the ends of routes receive the statement of mail arrangements prescribed for the respective routes. It reports weekly to the Sixth Auditor all contracts executed and all orders affecting the accounts for mail transportation; it prepares the statistical exhibits of the mail service and the reports to Congress of the mail lettings, giving a statement of each bid; also of the contracts made, the new service originated, the curtailments ordered, and the additional allowances granted within the year.

II. THE DIVISION OF RAILWAY CLASSIFICATION. 937. This division has charge of the classification of railroad routes and the adjustment of the rates of pay for the transportation of mails thereon, according to the amount and character of the service.

III. THE RAILWAY MAIL SERVICE.

938. To this division is assigned the general supervision of the railway post-office clerks, route agents, mailroute messengers, and local mail agents; also the distribution and dispatch of mails in all post offices and on railroad and steamboat routes. It considers the cause of and applies a remedy for delays or irregularities in the delivery and transmission of mails on railroads.

IV. THE INSPECTION DIVISION.

939. To this division is assigned the duty of receiving