Clerk's office, a copy of the work, within six months after its publication.

§ 577. The time for which copyrights are taken out is twenty-eight years, and at the expiration of that time, the author, or his widow, or children, may renew the right for fourteen years longer, upon condition of recording the title a second time, six months previous to the expiration of the former term, and causing the title to be published in one or more newspapers for the space of four weeks.

§ 578. The author must likewise give notice, by advertisement in or on the work, that it is entered according to act of Congress.

579. In the case of books, the penalty infringing a copyright is the forfeiture of every volume so printed to the author, and the forfeiture for every sheet printed, or printing, of the sum of fifty cents, one-half to the author, and one-half to the United States; and in addition, to pay the author all the damages, which he may prove or recover, on a special action the case.

upon

§ 580. We have now enumerated the several duties which devolve upon the Department of State, and the mode in which they are performed. These duties are performed by the Secretary, assisted by clerks, messengers, watchmen, &c.

For the officers in the State Department, see Table.

2. OF THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT.

§ 581. The object of this department is to manage the moneyed concerns of the government. It was created by the act of September, 1789. The general duties of the Secretary of the Treasury are to prepare and digest plans for the improvement and management of the public revenue, and for the support of the public credit. To execute such services relative to the sale of lands as may be required of him: to make reports, and give information to either branch of the legislature, in per

son or writing, respecting all matters referred to him by the Senate or House of Representatives, or which shall pertain to his office.1

§ 582. To perform the details of these duties, they have been distributed among eleven sub-departments, viz. The 1st comptroller; the 2d comptroller; the 1st, 2d, 3d, 4th, and 5th auditors; the treasurer; register; solicitor; and land office. At the head of each of these sub-divisions is a separate officer, charged with specific duties, and who has under him a number of inferior officers.

§ 583. 1. The Secretary of the Treasury himself prepares the annual report to be laid before Congress, of the state of the National Finances; prepares plans for the improvement of the revenue;-reports in answer to the calls of Congress, and gives a general superintendence to all the branches of the Department.

§ 584. 2. The first comptroller' examines all accounts settled by the first and fifth auditors, and certifies the balance thereon to the register; countersigns warrants drawn by the Secretary of the Treasury, if authorized by law; reports to the Secretary the official forms to be used in the different offices. He superintends the preservation of the public accounts, subject to his revision, and provides for the regular payment of all money which may be collected.

§ 585. 3. The second comptroller is independent of the first. It is the duty of this officer to revise and certify the accounts stated in the offices of the second, third, and fourth auditors; in his office is kept a record of the accounts settled, showing the balances due to and from the United States; a record of all the requisitions for money drawn by the Secretaries of the War and Navy Departments; on its files are placed all contracts involving the payment of money within these depart

1 Gordon's Digest Laws of United States, articles from 249 to 262. & Gordon's Digest.

ments. It is the duty of this comptroller to keep an account with each specific appropriation, and to make such statements of the disbursements as may be required by law.

The 'decisions of the comptrollers upon all matters of account submitted to them, is final.

In the mode of disbursing money from the Treasury, there is a system of checks provided, which gives perfect security to the national funds. Money, which has been appropriated, may by the President and Secretaries be advanced to the public agents, but those agents must render their accounts to the comptrollers, and be by them admitted before the payment will be legal. Accounts in general must first be audited, and then be certified by the comptroller.

§ 586. 4. First Auditor. This officer receives all accounts accruing in the Treasury Department, and in relation to the revenue and civil list; and after examination, certifies the balance, and transmits the accounts and vouchers to the first comptroller for his decision.

§ 587. Second Auditor. This officer receives and settles, 1st. All accounts relative to the pay, subsistence, and forage of the army and officers, with the clothing of servants, &c. &c. 2d. The accounts pertaining to the clothing and purchasing departments. 3. All accounts for the contingent disbursements of the army, for which no specific appropriations are made by Congress. 4. Accounts relative to the hospital stores, drugs, medicines, &c., and the claims of private physicians for services rendered officers and soldiers. 5. Accounts relating to the recruiting department. 6. Accounts relating to the ordnance department, arsenals, the armament of new fortifications, and the arming of the militia. 7. Accounts relating to the national armories. 8. Accounts appertaining to disbursements in the Indian de

1 Act of May, 1792.

partment, such as pay of agents, presents, annuities, contingencies, &c.

§ 588. 6. Third Auditor. The duty of this officer extends to the auditing of all accounts for the quartermaster's department, for money, and property; the same as to accounts for subsistence, and for fortifications; for the Military Academy, for roads, surveys, and other internal improvements; for revolutionary invalids, and half-pay pensions; pensions to widows and orphans, outstanding claims, and all unsettled accounts of the war department to July, 1815.

§ 589. 7. Fourth Auditor. This officer receives all accounts accruing in the navy department, or in relation to it. He examines the accounts, certifies the balances, and transmits the accounts, with vouchers, and certificates, to the second comptroller, for his decision upon them.

§ 590. 8. Fifth Auditor. He receives all accounts in relation to the Department of State, the general postoffice, and the Indian trade; examines them, certifies the balances, and transmits the accounts, with vouchers and certificates, to the second comptroller, for his decision upon them: he also has charge of superintending the buildings and repairing the light-houses, light vessels, beacons, buoys and piers, and the adjustment of the expenditure of the light-house establishment.1

§ 591. 9. The Treasurer of the United States receives and keeps the money of the United States, and disburses the same upon warrants drawn by the Secretary, countersigned by the proper comptroller and auditor, and recorded by the register.

$592. 10. The Register of the Treasury keeps all accounts of the receipts and expenditures of the public money, and of all debts due to or from the United States. He receives from the comptroller the accounts which have been finally adjusted, and preserves them.

1 Gordon's Digest, Art. 271 to 283.

He records all warrants for the receipt and payment of money at the Treasury; certifies the same, and transmits to the Secretary of the Treasury copies of the certificates of balances adjusted. It is also his duty to prepare statistical accounts of the commerce and navigation of the United States.

§ 593. 11. The office of Solicitor of the Treasury was created by the act of May, 1830. He superintends all the civil suits commenced in the name of the United States until they are carried into the Supreme Court of the United States, when they come under the superintendence of the Attorney-general; he instructs the district attorneys, marshals, and clerks, in all matters and proceedings appertaining to these suits, and receives from them after each term of court, reports of their situation and progress; he receives from collectors reports of custom-house bonds put in suit, &c.; he establishes, with the approbation of the secretary, rules and regulations for the observance of collectors, marshals, district attorneys, &c. This officer has charge, also, of the lands which shall be assigned, set-off, or conveyed to the United States in payment of debts; he has power also to sell and dispose of such lands, and also of those vested in them by mortgage.

GENERAL LAND OFFICE.

§ 594. Grants of lands were made prior to 1812, by means of Patents from the Department of State. By the act of April, 1812, there was erected a new office in the Department of the Treasury, called the General Land Office. The officer at the head of this is called the Commissioner of the Land Office.1 His duty is to superintend and perform all such acts and things, touching the public lands, as were formerly performed by the Department of State, by the Secretary and Register of the Treasury, or which shall hereafter be assigned to 1 Gordon's Digest, Art. 301 to 311.