ceived its present organization, by the act of March, 1817. The officers of this department are, a secretary, who is the head of the department, two comptrollers, five auditors, a treasurer, a register, a commissioner of the land office; each of whom is allowed one chief clerk, and such additional clerks as the business of their respective offices renders necessary.

The secretary of the treasury prepares, and lays before congress, at the commencement of every session, a report of the finances, containing a statement of the public revenue and expenditure during the past year, the value of the imports and exports for the same period, and estimates of the revenue and expenditures for succeeding years, and plans for improving the revenues. He also makes annually a statement of appropriations of money, and of sums remaining in the treasury: he superintends the collection of the revenue, and provides for building and keeping in repair, the light houses, beacons, buoys, and public piers in the several states; and performs such other duties as appertain to his office. His salary is six thousand dollars a year.

The business of the comptrollers and auditors, relates chiefly to examining and settling the public accounts, and to the recovery of debts due to the United States: The treasurer receives and keeps the money of the United States, and pays out the same on warrants drawn by the secretary of the treasury; and on the third day of every session, lays before congress copies of all accounts settled with the comproller, and a true account of the state of the treasury. The register annually prepares statistical ac

ment? What are the duties of the secretary of the treasury? What is the amount of his salary? What are the duties of the subordinate treasury officers respectively? What restriction is imposed apon the officers of the land office?

counts of the commerce of the United States with foreign countries, for the preceding year, to be laid by the secretary of the treasury before congress at every session. Such accounts shall state the goods imported and exported, and the navigation employed in the foreign trade. The commissioner of the land office superintends and performs such acts as relate to lands patented or granted by the United States. No person holding an office in this branch of the department is allowed to have any interest in the purchase of any public land; nor shall he take any fee or emolument for negotiating or transacting the business of the office.

The laws regulating the treasury department prescribe the manner of keeping, settling and collecting the publie accounts. In cases of insolvency, debts due the United States on revenue bonds, must be first satisfied. The United States cannot be sued. A creditor who is refused payment must apply to congress.

Department of War. The secretary of war performs such duties as relate to military commissions, or to the land forces, and warlike stores of the United States; or to such other matters respecting military or Indian affairs, as shall be assigned to his department. He is required to make an annual statement to congress of the expenditure and application of moneys drawn from the treasury for his department, and to make such suggestions to congress relative to the condition of his department, as he shall think proper. His salary is six thousand dollars a year.

In this department, is transacted the business relating to military pensions. A pension is a yearly allowance to a person by the government, in consideration of past services. Laws have existed, from the first organization of

What are the duties of the secretary of war? What is his salary?!
What other business is done in this department?
What is a pen-

the government, granting pensions to persons disabled izz the war of the revolution, in such manner as to render them unable to procure a subsistence by manual labor. After the close of the late war, persons were added to the pension list, who had been disabled by wounds while in the service during the late war. Pensions were also allowed, by act of 1818, to all the soldiers of the revolution, who had served nine months or longer in such war, and who were in necessitous circumstances. By act of 7th June, 1832, the pension list was so extended as to include all who had served in the army or navy, during the war of the revolution, for six months at least.

Department of the Navy. The secretary of the navy executes the orders of the president, relative to the procurement of naval stores and materials, and the armament, equipment and employment of vessels of war, as well as all other matters relating to the naval establishment. His salary is six thousand dollars a year.

Three officers are appointed by the president and senate, who constitute a board of commissioners for the navy; and who discharge the ministerial duties of the office of the secretary, and furnish all estimates of expenditures which the several branches of the service may require. Their salarics are three thousand five hundred dollars a year, each.

sion? To what classes of persons were pensions confined before 1832? To what class were they then extended? What are the duties of the secretary of the navy? What is his salary? What is the duty of the navy commissioners? What are their salaries?

CHAPTER XXVII.

Post Office Department-Attorney General-Foreign Ministers, &c.

as may

THE post master general has the direction of the affairs of the department; he has two assistants, and such clerks be necessary to perform the business of his office. He establishes post offices, and appoints post masters, and all other persons employed in any of the departments of the general post office, and gives instructions relative to their duties. He provides for carrying the mail on all post roads, as often as he may think proper; and he pays all expenses of the department.

The post master general gives twelve weeks previous notice, in one newspaper published at the seat of government, and in one or more in the state in which contracts are to be made for transporting the mail, that such contracts are to be made. Those who wish to engage to transport the mails on any of the routes advertised, send their proposals to the post master general, stating the lowest sum for which they will agree to carry the mail. He that proposos to carry for the least sum, has the contract.

The rates at which letters, newspapers, pamphlets, &c. are carried, are established by law, and are as follows:

For every letter composed of a single sheet of paper, not exceeding thirty miles, six cents: over thirty, not exceeding eighty, ten cents: over eighty, not exceeding one hundred and fifty, twelve and a half cents: over one hun

What are the duties of the post master general? How are contracts made for procuring the conveyance of the mail? What rates are established by law for conveying letters? How is letter

dred and fifty, not exceeding four hundred, eighteen cents and three fourths over four hundred, twenty-five cents.

For every double letter, or letter composed of two pieces of paper, double those rates: for every triple letter, three times those rates: and for every packet of four or more pieces of paper, and weighing one ounce, four times those rates; and in proportion for all greater weights. No packet of letters transported by water mails, are charged with more than quadruple postage, unless the same contain more than four letters; and no post master may put into the mail any packet of more than three pounds weight.

Every four folio pages, or eight quarto, or sixteen octavo, or twenty four duodecimo pages, or pages of less size than that of a pamphlet or magazine, are considered a sheet. The rates of postage on newspapers, pamphlets, magazines, &c. are as follows:

On every newspaper carried any distance within the state, the postage is one cent: if carried over one hundred miles, and out of the state in which it is mailed, one cent and a half.

On periodical pamphlets and magazines, such as are issued in numbers at regular intervals, carried not over one hundred miles, one and a half cents a sheet: over one hundred miles, six cents.

Any memorandum or writing on a newspaper transmitted by mail, is charged with letter postage: but the publisher of a newspaper may send a printed or written notice to a subscriber, stating the amount due on his subscription; for which notice there shall be charged the same postage as for a newspaper.

charged when letters are not single? How is postage rated on newspapers, pamphlets and magazines? What constitutes periodical pamphlets? What officers receive their letters and papers free?