and fuel. Rent, light, Sec. 321. Applications for allowances for rent, light, applications for and fuel at offices of the first, second, and third classes allowances. -expenditures not to exceed ized. shall be addressed to the First Assistant Postmaster General, Division of Salaries and Allowances. The amount needed for each item should be specified. 2. Expenditures for rent, light, and fuel shall not be amount author- made unless authorized; and the amount allowed for each item shall not be exceeded. Credit shall only be allowed -vouchers to be for the amount actually disbursed, and vouchers therefor shall be rendered to the Auditor for the Post Office Department. (See sec. 190.) filed. Room occupied by other parties of department. 3. Postmasters at offices where an allowance is made not to be rented for rent shall not rent a part of any room or store until for post office without approval a report has been made to the First Assistant Postmaster General and authority received from him for such occupancy. The report shall give a description of the room or store and the class of business carried on by the occupant; what separation there will be between the post office and the other part of the room, and all other necessary information. without author ity. Premises rented 4. When the rental for an entire room or store for the by department not to be sublet use of the post office is paid by the Post Office Department, no portion thereof shall be sublet without the consent of the First Assistant Postmaster General. If any such premises are sublet, the rental received therefor shall be accounted for as part of the revenues of the office. No allowance at fourth-class offices. premises for use -may be entered ceeding 10 years. 5. No allowance for rent, light, or fuel can be made under the law to any office of the fourth class. II.-LEASES FOR POST-OFFICE PREMISES. Leases for Sec. 322. The Postmaster General is authorized to of post offices. enter into leases for the use of quarters, including heat, into for not ex- light, water, and equipment, for post offices of the first, second, and third classes for a term not exceeding 10 years, payment therefor to be made quarterly out of the appropriation for rent, light, and fuel. (See note.) 2. Whenever any building or part of a building under lease becomes building unfit for unfit for use as a post office, no rent shall be paid until the same shall 1885. Mar. 3, ch. be put in a satisfactory condition by the owner thereof for occupation 342; 23 Stat., 386. as a post office, or the lease may be canceled, at the option of the Postmaster General; and a lease shall cease and terminate whenever a post office can be moved into a Government building. -no rent to be paid under, when use. -lease to terminate, when. Note. NOTE. Annual appropriation acts for several years past have contained a provision authorizing the Postmaster General to apply part of the appropriation for rent, light, and fuel "to the purpose of leasing premises for the use of post offices of the first, second, and third classes at a reasonable annuaf rental," etc., for a period not exceeding 10 years. ditional equip 3. Where, under the terms of a lease for post-office-requests for adquarters, the lessor is required to provide equipment, ment. postmasters should submit requests for additions to the First Assistant Postmaster General, Division of Salaries and Allowances, and not make demands directly upon the lessor of the quarters. 4. All correspondence relative to the leasing of prem- Correspondence ises for post offices should be addressed to the First Assistant Postmaster General, Division of Salaries and Allowances. See sec. 321, as to subletting any portion of post-office premises. III. ALLOWANCES FOR MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS. second class of Sec. 323. The Postmaster General is authorized to Expenditures for canceling allow to postmasters at offices of the first and second machines and miscellaneous classes such sums as he may deem necessary for cancel-items at first and ing machines and miscellaneous and incidental items, not to be made including furniture and cleaning, within the limit of the without authorappropriations provided by law. fices. ity of Postmaster General. miscellaneous 2. The Postmaster General, in his discretion, under such regula- Allowances for tions as he shall prescribe, may authorize any of the postmasters of said items may be expended without offices to expend the funds he may allow them for such purposes (mis-specific authorcellaneous and incidental items, including furniture and cleaning) without the written consent of the Postmaster General. ity. 1901, Mar. 3, ch. 851; 31 Stat., 1103. Applications allowances. Sec. 324. Applications for allowances for miscellaneous follations and incidental expenses at offices of the first and second classes and for canceling machines shall be addressed to the First Assistant Postmaster General, Division of Salaries and Allowances, and should show each item or article separately, with the cost of each, and wherever it is possible to do so competitive bids for the necessary supplies must be obtained and transmitted with the request. not to be made ity. 2. Authorization for expenditures shall specify the Expenditures allowance for each item and the period covered. Allow-without authorances may be made at an annual rate. Credit shall be allowed only for expenditures authorized and for the amount actually disbursed, and vouchers therefor shall-vouchers for, to be rendered to the Auditor for the Post Office Depart be filed. NOTE. There is no objection to postmasters procuring canceling Note. machines at their own expense. Allowances not made for ex ing payments or collections. Sec. 325. No allowance shall be made to any postpenses in mak-master for expenses incurred in paying authorized expenditures by money order, check, or otherwise, or in depositing or collecting moneys due the Post Office Department. Supplies post offices. for IV. STATIONERY AND GENERAL SUPPLIES. Sec. 326. Requisitions for supplies, including general service and money-order blanks, shall be made on the Fourth Assistant Postmaster General, Division of Supplies, on the forms furnished by that office. Each requi-requisitions for.sition shall be accompanied with an inventory showing the quantity of the supplies desired on hand at the time the requisition is made. -record of. -used only for official purposes. Wrapping paper and twine to be reused. Supplies furnished. -stationery. -postmarking and rating stamps and juk. -letter balances. against leaving 2. Postmasters at offices of the first and second classes, post-office inspectors in charge of divisions, and officials of the Railway Mail Service shall keep a complete record of all supplies furnished them by the Division of Supplies, and from time to time, as may be prescribed by the Fourth Assistant Postmaster General, make inventories and requisitions. A suitable place shall be set aside for keeping the stock of such supplies, and an employee be charged with their custody and the maintenance of the prescribed record. 3. Supplies shall be kept carefully and used only for official purposes. 4. Wrapping paper and twine shall be reused when possible. Sec. 327. Stationery shall be furnished to post offices of the first and second classes, Railway Mail Service, post-office inspectors in charge, and in limited amount to the third-class post offices. 2. Postmarking and rating stamps and ink shall be supplied to all post offices. 3. Offices will be supplied with letter balances or scales in proportion to the amount of business transacted and to meet unusual conditions existing at any post office. Prohibition Sec. 328. Postmasters shall not permit any person to devices in post leave or install in post offices or upon post-office premises, for test, approval, or otherwise, any machine, invention, or device, on any pretext whatever, without first obtaining specific written authority from the department. offices for test. 2. This section shall not be construed as prohibiting a postmaster, unless he shall be otherwise directed by the department, from utilizing in his office any typewriter, adding machine, or other office appliance purchased at his own expense. slips. ond class offices Sec. 329. Printed facing slips shall be supplied to first Printed facing and second class post offices and to the Railway Mail-to first and secService upon requisition made therefor. on the Fourth and Railway Mail Assistant Postmaster General, Division of Supplies. Service. fourth class of 2. Printed facing slips may be purchased from the-third and regular contractor by postmasters at offices of the third fices. and fourth classes at their own expense. "books, etc. Sec. 330. Blanks, including record books and returns, Blanks, record shall be furnished to all postmasters upon requisition made on the Fourth Assistant Postmaster General, Division of Supplies. CHAPTER 6. POSTAGE STAMPS, STAMPED ENVELOPES, AND POSTAL CARDS. I. SALE OF STAMPS, ENVELOPES, ETC. stamps and enve Sec. 331. Postage stamps and stamped envelopes shall be fur-Postage nished by the Postmaster General to all postmasters, and shall be kept stamped for sale at all post offices; and each postmaster shall be held accountable for all such stamps and envelopes furnished to him. See Title One, ch. 8, as to preparation and issue of stamps, etc. lopes. See R.S., § 3919. -to be furnished and kept for sale at all offices. by postmasters in spondence. 2. Postage stamps, postal cards, and stamped enve--not to be used lopes furnished for sale to the public shall not be used by official correpostmasters to mail requisitions for supplies to the department nor for official correspondence. When a postmaster's supply of official penalty envelopes is exhausted, he should use a plain, unstamped envelope, indorsed with ink, as prescribed by section 496. -special stamps 3. Special official stamps and stamped envelopes pro- of Postal Savings vided for the purpose shall be used for mailing official System. matter relating to the Postal Savings System, and shall not be sold or given to the public whether canceled or uncanceled. -delivery 4. Postmasters and post-office employees who sell very to pur postage stamps shall hand them to purchasers in such manner that the gummed surface will not come in contact Postmasters to sign receipts. Meaning of with the base of the stamp window. This precaution is considered necessary to prevent the spread of disease. 5. Postmasters, or clerks acting for them, shall sign receipts for money paid them for postage stamps and other stamped paper, provided the receipts are prepared in advance by the purchasers and presented at the time of purchase. NOTE. The term "stamped paper" applies to adhesive stamps of "stamped pa- all kinds, and postal cards, as well as to stamped envelopes. per." Unlawful pledging or sale of stamps. R. S., $3920. 141. 1128. Sec. 332. Whoever, being a postmaster or other person employed in any branch of the postal service, and being intrusted with the sale 1878, June 17, or custody of postage stamps, stamped envelopes, or postal cards, ch. 259; 20 Stat., shall use or dispose of them in the payment of debts, or in the pur1909, Mar. 4, ch. chase of merchandise or other salable articles, or pledge or hypothecate 321, § 208; 35 Stat., the same, or sell or dispose of them except for cash; or sell or dispose of postage stamps or postal cards for any larger or less sum than the values indicated on their faces; or sell or dispose of stamped envelopes for a larger or less sum than is charged therefor by the Post Office Department for like quantities; or sell or dispose of, or cause to be sold or disposed of, postage stamps, stamped envelopes, or postal cards at any point or place outside of the delivery of the office where such Inducing purchases to increase postmaster or other person is employed; or induce or attempt to induce, pay. for the purpose of increasing the emoluments or compensation of such postmaster, or the emoluments or compensation of any other person employed in such post-office or any station thereof, or the allowances or facilities provided therefor, any person to purchase at such postoffice or any station thereof, or from any employee of such post-office, postage stamps, stamped envelopes, or postal cards; or sell or dispose of postage stamps, stamped envelopes, or postal cards, otherwise than as provided by law or the regulations of the Post Office Department, shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars, or imprisoned not more than one year, or both. Punishment. -fraction of cent. mutilated coins or currency. See sec. 270, as to unusual sales of stamped paper. 2. When the price of envelopes or wrappers sold includes a fraction of a cent, postmasters shall require payment of the entire cent. See sec. 343, as to accounting for "excess revenue" accruing from this source; secs. 537 and 1684, as to penalty for unlawful use, counterfeiting, etc., of stamps, etc.; sec. 531, as to soliciting mailing of matter. Foreign or Sec. 333. Postmasters should not accept foreign money, -not to be ac- as it is not legal tender in the United States, or perforated, mutilated, or abraded coins, or mutilated paper currency, except fractional silver coins worn by abrasion, which should be received so long as the superscription thereon can be distinguished. cepted, except. |