Volume 64 · 461
Public Law 81–735
To provide improved procedures with respect to the financial control of the Post Office Department, and for other purposes.
Approved August 17, 1950
Statutory text
AN ACT
To provide improved procedures with respect to the financial control of the Post Office Department, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
That this Act may be cited as the “Post Office Department Financial Control Act of 1950”.
Sec. 2.
There are hereby transferred to the Postmaster General
Transfer of functions.
functions performed by the General Accounting Office for the Post Office Department and the postal field service (hereinafter referred to as the “Department”) with respect to the maintenance of administrative appropriation and fund accounts, accounts receivable and payable, and allotment controls; the preparation of financial and statistical reports; the preaudit of expenses; and related administrative, accounting, and reporting functions. The Postmaster General shall provide for such preaudit of expenses as he deems necessary.
The Postmaster General shall establish and maintain adequate
Accounting system.
and efficient systems of accounting and of internal control which shall provide for—
adequate accounting and internal control over and accountability for, all funds, property, and other assets for which the Department is responsible, including appropriate provisions for internal audit;
assembling of financial information needed for management purposes;
full disclosure of the financial results of the operations of the Department.
Such accounting system shall conform to accounting principles and standards prescribed by the Comptroller General of the United States.
The Comptroller General shall cooperate with the Postmaster
Cooperation of Comptroller General,
General in the establishment of the accounting system provided for under subsection (b) and shall approve such system when he deems it to be in conformity with the accounting principles and standards prescribed by him under such subsection.
The Postmaster General shall collect debts due the Department
Collection of debts, etc.
and collect and remit fines, penalties, and forfeitures arising out of matters affecting the Department. Any such debt which is uncollectible through administrative action may be referred to the General Accounting Office for collection. This subsection shall not apply where judicial proceedings have been instituted; and shall not affect the operation of section 409 of the Revised Statutes, as amended (5 U. S. C., sec. 383), with respect to disabilities and liabilities under any law relating to officers, employees, operations, or business of the postal service.
Sec. 3.
There is hereby established with the Treasurer of the
Post Office department Fund.
United States a revolving fund to be known as the Post Office department Fund. There shall be deposited in such fund, subject to withdrawal by check by the Postmaster General—
amounts requisitioned by the Postmaster General against appropriations available to the Department out of the general fund of the Treasury; and
such amounts as the Postmaster General may, in his discretion, pay into the fund from receipts of the Department.
The Postmaster General may, within limits of appropriations
Use of funds.
and subject to provisions of appropriation or other laws limiting expenditures or authorizing appropriations, use the funds of the Department, from whatever source derived, in the exercise of any power or function vested in him.
Sec. 4.
The Postmaster General is authorized to designate the place
Designation of place for examination of accounts, etc.
or places, at the seat of government or elsewhere, at which the administrative examination of accounts will be performed. With the concurrence of the Comptroller General, the Postmaster General may waive the administrative examination, in whole or in part, when it is determined that the accounting and audit procedures of the department otherwise adequately protect the interests of the United States.
Sec. 5.
The financial transactions of the Department shall be
Auditing.
audited by the General Accounting Office in accordance with such principles and procedures and under such rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the Comptroller General. To the fullest extent practicable, as determined by the Comptroller General, all accounts of accountable officers, contracts, vouchers, or other documents which are required under existing law to be submitted to the General Accounting Office shall be retained in the Department and the audit shall be conducted at the place or places where the accounts of the Department are normally kept in accordance with the determinations of the Postmaster General. The representatives of the General Accounting Office shall have access to all books, accounts, financial records, reports, files, and all other papers, things, or property belonging to or in use by the Department and necessary to facilitate the audit, and shall have full facilities for verifying transactions with the balances or securities held by depositaries, fiscal agents, and custodians. In the determination of the auditing procedures to be followed and the extent of the examination of vouchers and other documents, the Comptroller General shall give due regard to the adequacy of the system of accounts and internal control maintained by the Department and to generally accepted principles of auditing.
Sec. 6.
The amounts required to be certified annually by the Postmaster
Annual certified amounts.
General to the Secretary of the Treasury and the Comptroller
General by the Act of June 9, 1930 (39 U. S. C., sec. 793), shall be separately set out in appropriate reports of the Department.
Sec. 7.
There shall be transferred to the Department from the
Transfer of records, funds, etc.
General Accounting Office such records, property, personnel, appropriations, and other funds of the General Accounting Office as the Postmaster General, the Comptroller General, and the Director of the Bureau of the Budget shall jointly determine in connection with the transfer of functions to the Postmaster General under section 2 (a) of this Act. Transfer of personnel under this subsection shall be subject to section 12 of the Veterans’ Preference Act of 1944, as
amended (5 U. S. C., see. 861).
All policies, procedures, and directives which are related to
Continuance of policies, etc.
any function transferred to the Postmaster General by section 2 (a) of this Act, and not inconsistent with this Act, shall remain in full force and effect until rescinded, modified, or superseded by or under authority of this Act.
Sec. 8.
In the performance of, and with respect to, the functions,
Leases; gifts; rewards.
powers, and duties vested in him, the Postmaster General may—
enter into such leases of real property as may be necessary in the conduct of the affairs of the Department on such terms as he may deem appropriate, without regard to the provisions of any law, except those provisions of law specifically, applicable to the Department;
accept gifts and donations of services, and of property (whether real, personal, or mixed, and whether tangible or intangible), in aid of any of the activities of the Department;
offer and pay rewards in connection with violations of the postal laws.
Sec. 9.
The President may, by Executive order, postpone the
Postponement of application.
application of any or all of the provisions of this Act (except this section) for a period of not to exceed two years from the effective date provided in subsection (c) if he determines that such postponement is in the public interest and necessary to assure the implementation of this Act in an orderly and efficient manner.
This section shall take effect on the date of enactment of this
Effective dates.
Act.
The other sections of this Act shall take effect on the ninetieth day following the day on which this Act is enacted.
Sec. 10.
There are hereby repealed—
Repeals.
sections 405, 406, 407, and 408 of the Revised Statutes, as amended (5 U. S. C., secs. 378,379,380, and 381):
sections 277.292.293, 294. and 3674 of the Revised Statutes, as amended (31 U. S. C., secs. 73, 109, 111, 112, and 632);
section 4 of the Act of March 3, 1875 (18 Stat. 343), as amended
(31 U. S. C., sec. 113);
section 4 of the Act of July 12, 1876 (19 Stat. 80), as amended (31 U. S. C., sec. 114);
section 4055 of the Revised Statutes, as amended (39 U. S. C., sec. 787).
All laws or parts of laws inconsistent with this Act are repealed to the extent of such inconsistency.
Approved August 17, 1950.