Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 5.djvu/424



in each week, and as much more frequently, in all cases, as they, in their discretion, may think proper.

. And be it further enacted, That it shall be lawful for the Secretary of the Treasury to transfer the moneys in the hands of any depositary hereby constituted, to the Treasury of the United States; to the Mint at Philadelphia, to the Branch Mint at New Orleans, or to the offices of either of the receivers-general of public moneys, by this act directed to be appointed; to be there safely kept, according to the provisions of this act; and also to transfer moneys in the hands of any one depositary constituted by this act to any other depositary constituted by the same, at his discretion, and as the safety of the public moneys, and the convenience of the public service shall seem to him to require; which authority to transfer the moneys belonging to the Post Office Department is also hereby conferred upon the Postmaster General, so far as its exercise by him may be consistent with the provisions of existing laws; and every depositary constituted by this act shall keep his account of the money paid to, or deposited with, him, belonging to the Post Office Department, separate and distinct from the account kept by him of other public moneys so paid or deposited. And for the purpose of payments on the public account, it shall be lawful for the Treasurer of the United States to draw upon any of the said depositaries, as he may think most conducive to the public interests, or to the convenience of the public creditors, or both.

. And be it further enacted, That the moneys in the hands, care, and custody, of any of the depositaries constituted by this act, shall be considered and held as deposited to the credit of the Treasurer of the United States, and shall be, at all times, subject to his draft, whether made for transfer or disbursement, in the same manner as though the said moneys were actually in the Treasury of the United States; and each depositary shall make returns to the Treasury and Post Office Department of all moneys received and paid by him, at such times, and in such form, as shall be directed by the Secretary of the Treasury or the Postmaster General.

. And be it further enacted, That the Secretary of the Treasury shall be, and he is hereby, authorized to cause examinations to be made of the books, accounts, and money on hand, of the several depositaries constituted by this act; and for that purpose to appoint special agents, as occasion may require, with such compensation as he may think reasonable, to be fixed and declared at the time of each appointment. The agents selected to make these examinations shall be instructed to examine as well as the books, accounts, and returns of the officer, as the money on hand, and the manner of its being kept, to the end that uniformity and accuracy in the accounts, as well as safety to the public moneys may be secured thereby.

. And be it further enacted, That in addition to the examinations provided for in the last preceding section, and as a further guard over the public moneys, it shall be the duty of each naval officer and surveyor, as a check upon the receiver-general of public moneys, or collector of the customs, of their respective districts; of each register of a land office, as a check upon the receiver in his land office; and of the director and superintendent of each Mint and Branch Mint when separate offices, as a check upon the Treasurers, respectively, of the said Mints, or the persons acting as such, at the close of each quarter of the year, and as much more frequently as they shall be directed by the Secretary of the Treasury to do so, to examine the books, accounts, returns, and money on hand, of the receivers-general of public money, collectors, receivers of land offices, treasurers, and persons acting as such, and to make a full, accurate, and faithful return to the Treasury Department of their condition.