Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 13.djvu/259



rendered to, and approved by, the proper officers of the treasury, their necessary and reasonable charges for stationery and blank books used in the discharge of their duties, and for postage actually paid on letters and documents received or sent, and relating exclusively to official business: Provided, That no such account shall be approved unless it shall state the date and the particular item of every such expenditure, and shall be verified by the oath or affirmation of such assessor or assistant assessor; and the compensation herein specified shall be in full for all expenses not otherwise particularly authorized. Provided, further, That the Secretary of the Treasury shall be, and he is hereby, authorized to fix such additional rates of compensation to be made to assessors and assistant assessors in cases where a collection district embraces more than a single congressional district, and to assessors and assistant assessors, revenue agents and inspectors, in Louisiana, North Carolina, Mississippi, Tennessee, Missouri, California, and Oregon, and the territories, as may appear to him to be just and equitable, in consequence of the greater cost of living and travelling in those states and territories, and as may, in his judgment, be necessary to secure the services of competent officers; but the rates of compensation thus allowed shall not exceed the rates paid to similar officers in such states and territories respectively.

. And be it further enacted, That if any assessor shall demand of, or receive directly or indirectly from, any assistant assessor, as a condition of his appointment to, or continuance in, his said office of assistant assessor, any portion of the compensation herein allowed such assistant assessor, or any other consideration, such assessor so offending shall be summarily dismissed from office, and shall be liable to a fine of not less than five hundred dollars upon conviction of said offence in any district or circuit court of the United States of the district in which such offence may be committed.

. And be it further enacted, That the assistant assessors shall make out their accounts for pay and charges allowed by law monthly, specifying each item and including the date of each day of service, and shall transmit the same, verified by oath or affirmation, to the assessor of the district, who shall thereupon examine the same, and, if it appear just and in accordance with law, he shall indorse his approval thereon, but otherwise shall return the same with objections. Any such account, so approved, may be presented by the assistant assessor to the collector of the district for payment, who shall thereupon pay the same, and, when receipted by the assistant assessor, be allowed therefor upon presentation to the commissioner of internal revenue. Where any account, so transmitted to the assessor, shall be objected to, in whole or in part, the assistant assessor may appeal to the commissioner of internal revenue, whose decision on the case shall he final. And should it appear, at any time, that any assessor has knowingly or negligently approved any account, as aforesaid, allowing any assistant assessor a sum larger than was due according to law, it shall be the duty of the commissioner of internal revenue, upon proper proof thereof, to deduct the sum so allowed from any pay which may be due to such assessor; or the commissioner as aforesaid may direct a suit to be brought in any court of competent jurisdiction against the assessor or assistant assessor in default, for the recovery of the amount knowingly or negligently allowed, as hereinbefore mentioned: Provided, That in estimating the allowance to be made to assistant assessors for periods of service less than a day, each ten hours shall be deemed the equivalent of a day.

. [And be it further enacted,] That there shall be allowed to collectors, in full compensation for their services and that of their deputies, a salary of fifteen hundred dollars per annum, to be paid quarterly, and in addition thereto a commission of three per centum upon the first hundred thousand dollars, and a commission of one per centum upon all