LIBRARIAN.

The librarian has general charge and supervision of the library. He is a member of the committee, of which the Solicitor General is chairman, governing the selection of books to be purchased. He also edits and prepares for publication the official opinions of the Attorneys General.

PRIVATE SECRETARY AND ASSISTANT TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.

The private secretary and assistant to the Attorney General, in addition to the usual duties devolving upon such an official, has charge of the approval and recommendation to the Attorney General of all classes of authorization requiring the Attorney General's approval; of consideration and investigation of the qualifications of all applicants for appointment as United States judge, United States district attorney, or United States marshal, including reviewing and collating indorsements and holding personal interviews with applicants, Members of Congress, and others favoring or opposing their appointment. He is also charged with the duty of receiving complaints; initiating investigations and preparing recommendations on same for the Attorney General where charges were made of misconduct or unfitness for office of United States attorney, United States marshal, and other employees of the department; and is in charge of publicity for the department. He also reviews, supervises, and makes recommendations to the Attorney General in all matters relating to questions of general policy in the work of the office.

DIRECTOR AND CHIEF OF THE BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION.

The Director and Chief of the Bureau of Investigation has general supervision of the investigation of offenses against the laws of the United States not otherwise specifically provided for by law, and directs the work of all special agents and accountants of the department whose compensation or expenses are paid from the appropriation "Detection and prosecution of crimes."

SUPERINTENDENT OF PRISONS.

The superintendent of prisons has charge, under the direction of the Attorney General, of all matters relating to United States prisons and prisoners, including the support of such prisoners in both State and Federal penitentiaries, in reform schools and in county jails. He has supervision over the construction work in progress at United States penal institutions.

The superintendent of prisons is president of the boards of parole for the United States penitentiaries and president of the boards of parole for United States prisoners in each State or county institution used for the confinement of United States prisoners.

ATTORNEY IN CHARGE OF PARDONS.

The attorney in charge of pardons takes charge of all applications for Executive clemency, except those in Army and Navy cases, these being referred to the Secretary of War and the Secretary of the Navy, respectively; of the briefing of the cases and the correspondence in relation to them.

ATTORNEY IN CHARGE OF TITLES.

The attorney in charge of titles prepares opinions upon the title to lands belonging to or sought to be acquired by the Government for public purposes and opinions upon all legal matters growing out of the same. He has charge of all proceedings to acquire land under eminent domain, and conducts all the correspondence relating

to the above matters.

POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT.

POSTMASTER GENERAL.

The Postmaster General is the executive head of the Federal Postal Service. He appoints all officers and employees of the Post Office Department, except the four Assistant Postmasters General and the purchasing agent, who are presidential appointees. With the exception of postmasters of the first, second, and third classes, who are likewise presidential appointees, he appoints all postmasters and all other officers and employees of the service at large. Subject to the approval of the President, he makes postal treaties with foreign Governments. He awards and executes

contracts and directs the management of the Foreign Mail Service. He is the executive head of the Postal Savings System, and ex officio chairman of the board of trustees of that system.

CHIEF CLERK.

The chief clerk of the Post Office Department is charged with the general superintendence and assignment of the clerical and subclerical forces of the department and the consideration of applications for leave of absence for such employees; the supervision of the preparation of estimates of appropriations for the departmental and Postal Service; of advertising; the supervision of requisitions upon the Treasury and the expenditure of the appropriations for the departmental service; the keeping of the journals and order books; the furnishing of stationery supplies for the departmental service; the consideration and signing of requisitions upon the Public Printer for the printing and binding required in the Postal Service and the department, and receiving, and inspecting on receipt, of blanks required in the Post Office Department; the supervision of the receipt and inspection of supplies for the Post Office Department and the Postal Service which are delivered in Washington; the preparation of contracts and general superintendence of the publication and distribution of the Official Postal Guide; the fixing of rates, subject to the approval of the Postmaster General, for the transmission of Government telegrams; the miscellaneous business correspondence of the Postmaster General's Office, and miscellaneous correspondence of the department not assigned to other offices; the care of the department and other buildings used in connection therewith, and of all furniture and public property therein; and the performance of such other duties as may be required by the Postmaster General. In addition to the duties prescribed above, the chief clerk of the department is required to give careful consideration to matters affecting the proper administration of civil-service laws and regulations, it being necessary for him to personally examine reports from the Civil Service Commission from time to time in order to keep thoroughly familiar with the provisions of the law and constant amendments of existing regulations and new regulations issued thereunder. Under the efficiency system obtaining in the Post Office Department, which provides for the payment of salaries according to character (or kind), quality, and quantity of work performed and for the elimination of inequalities and injustices and the faithful observance of the spirit and letter of the civil service, the chief clerk of the department is required to review the efficiency ratings of employees at frequent intervals and pass upon same before any changes in the status of employees are made. It is also necessary for the chief clerk to personally examine papers affecting discipline of employees.

SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.

The special assistant to the Attorney General is charged with the duty of assisting in the defense of cases against the United States arising out of the transportation of the mails, and in other matters affecting the postal revenues. These include suits in the Federal courts involving claims of the railroads and other contractors for the carriage of the mails; the representation of the Postmaster General and the preparation and presentation of the department's cases in proceedings before the Interstate Commerce Commission for the determination by the commission of the basis for adjustment of railroad mail pay and the fixing of fair and reasonable rates for the transportation of the mails and for services in connection therewith by railroads and urban and interurban electric railway common carriers, and in other matters of petition by the Postmaster General to the commission; and the representation of the Postmaster General in hearings before the department on orders changing the mode of transporting periodical mail matter and in connection with reviews of such orders by the Court of Appeals of the District of Columbia.

SOLICITOR FOR THE POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT.

The solicitor is charged with the duty of giving opinions to the Postmaster General and the heads of the several offices of the department upon questions of law arising upon the construction of the postal laws and regulations, or otherwise, in the course of business in the Postal Service; with the consideration and submission (with advice) to the Postmaster General of all claims of postmasters for losses by fire, burglary, or other unavoidable casualty, and of all certifications by the Auditor for the Post Office Department of cases of proposed compromise of liabilities to the United States, and of the remission of fines, penalties, and forfeitures under the statutes; with the giving of advice, when desired, în the preparation of correspondence with the Department of Justice and other departments, including the Court of Claims, involving questions of law or relating to prosecutions or suits affecting or arising out of the Postal Service, and with assisting when desired in the prosecution or defense of such cases, and the

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maintenance of suitable records of opinions rendered affecting the Post Office Department and the Postal Service; and with the consideration of applications for pardon for crimes committed against the postal laws which may be referred to the department; with the preparation and submission (with advice) to the Postmaster General of all appeals to him from the heads of the offices of the department depending upon questions of law; with the determining of questions as to the delivery of mail the ownership of which is in dispute; with the hearing and consideration of cases relating to lotteries and the misuse of the mails in furtherance of schemes to defraud the public; with the consideration of all questions relating to the mailability of alleged indecent, obscene, scurrilous, or defamatory matter; with determining the legal acceptability of securities offered by banks to secure postal savings deposits; with the examining and, when necessary, drafting of all contracts of the department; with the enforcement of laws making unmailable matter containing any advertisement of intoxicating liquors or solicitation of an order for such liquors when addressed to places where it is unlawful to advertise or solicit orders for such liquors; with the legal work incident to the enforcement of those provisions of the espionage law and of the trading with the enemy act which concern the Post Office Department, and the work relating to the issuance of permits under the latter act; and with such other like duties as may from time to time be required by the Postmaster General.

PURCHASING AGENT.

The purchasing agent supervises the purchase of all supplies both for the Post Office Department proper and for all branches of the Postal Service. He reviews all requisitions and authorizations for supplies and, if proper, honors the same. He passes upon the sufficiency and propriety of all specifications for proposals for sup plies; prepares the advertisements and forms for proposals necessary to the making of contracts for supplies; reviews the reports of the committees on awards and recommends to the Postmaster General such action as in his judgment should be taken thereon.

CHIEF INSPECTOR.

The chief inspector supervises the work of post-office inspectors and of the 15 divisions of post-office inspectors. Applications for permission to take the examination for the position of post-office inspector and correspondence in connection with such applications; appointment and promotion of and charges against inspectors should be addressed to him. To his office are referred all complaints of losses in the mails and all reported violations of the postal laws, such as theft and tampering with the mail; forgery of money orders; mailing of poisons, intoxicating liquors, and infernal machines; mailing of indecent, obscene, scurrilous, and defamatory matter; and complaints of the fraudulent use of the mails through stock selling or other schemes. To him is charged the preparation and issue of all cases for investigation of any and all phases of the Postal Service. Administrative matters, such as charges against postal employees of all classes except inspectors, establishment of or changes in rural or star routes, should be addressed to the proper bureau of the department and if investigation by an inspector is necessary to a determination of the questions at issue such bureau will make the request for investigation on the chief inspector. To him is charged the custody of money and property collected or received by inspectors and the restoration thereof to the proper parties or owners, and the consideration and adjustment of accounts of inspectors for salaries and expenses.

FIRST ASSISTANT POSTMASTER GENERAL.

The First Assistant Postmaster General has charge of the following divisions, to which are assigned the duties specified:

Postmasters' appointments. The preparation of cases for the appointment of postmasters, the change of name of post offices, and the establishment, discontinuance, and change of site of post offices of the fourth class; the recording of appointments of postmasters, the obtaining, recording, and filing of their oaths and bonds, and the issuing of their commissions; the consideration of charges and complaints against postmasters; the granting of leaves of absence to postmasters; the regulation of hours of business at fourth-class post offices; the bonding of all employees in post offices, except rural carriers and village delivery carriers.

Post-office service. The organization of post offices of the first and second classes; the appointments and salaries of assistant postmasters, supervisory officers, clerks, watchmen, messengers, laborers, printers, mechanics, and skilled laborers at such offices; of city letter carriers; and of chauffeurs, garage men, mechanics, etc., required in the administration of Government-owned automobile service in cities; the authori

zation of new or of changes in existing service on Government-owned automobile routes in cities; the establishment of mail-messenger and regulation screen or other wagon service and the performance of service by contractors on such routes; the establishment, maintenance, and extension of city delivery and city collection service; the adjustment of salaries of postmasters of "presidential" post offices (offices of the first, second, and third classes); allowances for clerk hire and for rent, light, and fuel at such offices, and for mail separations and "unusual conditions" at fourth-class offices, and for miscellaneous items at first and second class offices, such as labor incidental to cleaning the premises, telephone and water rentals, laundry, towel service, and miscellaneous service items; all matters concerning the delivery of ordinary mail, the special-delivery service, and the hours of business at presidential offices, including the duty of investigating by correspondence all complaints made to the department with reference thereto; and certain miscellaneous correspondence relating to the service at presidential post offices.

Dead letters.-The treatment of all unmailable and undelivered mail matter which is sent to it or its respective branches, and to post offices at the several division headquarters of the Railway Mail Service, for disposition; the enforcement of the prompt sending of such matter according to the regulations; the correcting of errors of postmasters connected with the nondelivery of mail matter, and the investigation, by correspondence, of complaints made with reference thereto; the verification and allowance of claims for credit by postmasters for postage-due stamps affixed to undelivered matter; the examination and forwarding or return of all letters which have failed of delivery; the inspection and return to the country of origin of undelivered foreign matter; recording and restoration to owners of letters and parcels which contain valuable inclosures; care and disposition of all money, negotiable paper, and other valuable articles found in undelivered matter, and correspondence, both foreign and domestic, relating to these subjects.

SECOND ASSISTANT POSTMASTER GENERAL.

The Second Assistant Postmaster General has charge of the airplane service and the following divisions, to which are assigned the duties specified:

Railway adjustments. Has charge of the preparation of cases authorizing the transportation of mails on railroad, electric car, steamboat, and Alaskan star routes; supervises such service and service by freight or express for the transportation of postal cards, stamped envelopes, mail equipment, and periodical mail matter; considers applications for exemption of periodical publications from transportation by fast freight; handles cases arising from application of the private express statutes; examines and passes upon reports of the performance of service of the classes above stated and prepares orders for deductions for nonperformance of service and for imposition of fines for delinquencies; prepares statements of accounts to be submitted to the auditor for payment of the amounts due the companies and contractors, and prepares all correspondence relative to these matters.

Foreign mails. Is charged with the duty of arranging all details connected with the transportation of foreign mails; the preparation of postal conventions (except those relative to the money-order system) and the regulations for their execution, as well as the consideration of the questions arising under them, and with the preparation of all correspondence relative thereto; has supervision of the ocean mail service, including the adjustment of accounts with steamship companies for the transportation of mails to foreign countries; prepares orders for the transfer and supervision through the United States postal agents in France and Siberia of all postal employees in the Army field post offices abroad; and has charge of the distribution of mails for the American Expeditionary Forces and the distribution and dispatch of mails from the American Expeditionary Forces, supervision of international parcel-post service, and Navy mail service.

Railway Mail Service. Is charged with the supervision of the Railway Mail Service and railway postal clerks; prepares cases for the appointment, removal, promotion, and reduction of said clerks; conducts correspondence and issues orders relative to the moving of the mails on railroad trains; has charge of the dispatch and distribution of mail matter in railway postal cars and post offices; conducts the weighing of mails; and attends to all correspondence relative to these matters.

THIRD ASSISTANT POSTMASTER GENERAL.

The Third Assistant Postmaster General has charge of the following divisions, to which are assigned the duties specified:

Finance. The financial operations, including the collection and deposit of postal revenues; the distribution of postal funds among the several depositaries so as to

equalize, as far as possible, receipts and expenditures in the same section; the payment by warrant of all accounts settled by the auditor; the receipt and disposition of all moneys coming directly to the department; and the keeping of books of account showing the fiscal operations of the postal and money-order services and the regulation of box rents and key deposits.

Stamps. The supervision of the manufacture and issuance to postmasters of postage stamps, stamp books, stamped envelopes, newspaper wrappers, postal cards, and postal savings stamps and cards by the various contractors; and the keeping of the accounts and records of these transactions. The receipt and disposition of damaged and unsalable stamped paper returned by postmasters for redemption and credit. The issuance to postmasters for sale to the public of United States war savings certificate stamps, United States thrift stamps, and United States internal-revenue stamps, and the keeping of accounts in connection therewith.

Money orders.-The supervision and management of the money-order service, both domestic and international; the preparation of conventions for the exchange of money orders with foreign countries.

Registered mails.-The supervision and management of the registry, insurance, and collect-on-delivery services; the establishment and control of all registry dispatches and exchanges; the instruction of postmasters and the furnishing of information in relation to these matters; and the consideration of all claims for indemnity for injured or lost registered, insured, and C. O. D. mail.

Classification. The general control of all business relating to the classification of domestic mail matter and the rates of postage thereon; the determination of the admissibility of publications to the second class of mail matter, their right to continue in that class, including the administration of the law requiring semiannual statements of their ownership, circulation, etc., and the instruction of postmasters relative thereto; also the use of penalty envelopes, the franking privilege, and the limit of weight and size of mail matter.

Postal savings.--The conduct and management of the administrative office of the Postal Savings System at Washington; the selection and designation of post offices as postal savings depository offices and the supervision of the business transacted at such offices; the management and investment. of postal savings funds as the agent of the board of trustees; and the administrative examination of accounts of postmasters and other fiscal agents of the system.

FOURTH ASSISTANT POSTMASTER GENERAL.

The Fourth Assistant Postmaster General has charge of the following divisions, to which are assigned the duties specified:

Rural mails. In this division all petitions for the establishment and extension of rural delivery service are received and examined and, if accepted, prepared for investigation. Through it all orders pertaining to the extension or change of existing service or establishment of new service are issued; also all orders pertaining to the appointment and discipline of rural letter carriers and all other correspondence incident to these matters, including requirements with reference to rural mail boxes. This division also prepares all advertisements inviting proposals for star-route service (except in the Territory of Alaska), receives proposals, prepares awards for execution of all contracts, and prepares all orders for establishment of or change in star routes. Equipment and supplies.-Is charged with the preparation of specifications for equipment and supplies for the Postal Service, and the duty of determining the needs of the service as to style and character thereof; the preparation of purchase requisitions therefor on the purchasing agent; the custody, transportation, and distribution of equipment and supplies, and the conduct of correspondence relative thereto; the keeping of a record of expenditures as charged to the respective appropriations; the preparation and revision of post-route maps and the supervision of their printing, issue, and distribution; the preparation of specifications for their manufacture, and the general care of stones and property in the department and in the possession of contractors; the making of rural-delivery maps, and the distribution of parcel-post maps and zone keys; the designing or adoption of such new equipment and supplies as may be deemed necessary, and the performance or direction of experimental and research work in connection therewith, as well as the examination and test of the mechanical features of devices; the supervision and operation of the equipment shops, and the keeping of records showing the cost of equipment and its operation and repair.