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A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1875
Journals of the Continental Congress --FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1781
A letter, of 18, from the superintendant of finance was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the committee on the letter, of 11, from the Board of War.
A report from the Board of War was read; Whereupon,
War Office Oct. 19th 1781.
The Board have considered the letter from Captain Pierce, and having conferred with the Superintendent of Finance who concurs in opinion with us that the peculiarity of Captain Pierce's situation makes his case an exception to any general rule as to pay we beg leave to report,
Ordered, That the Board of War draw a warrant on the paymaster general in favour of Captain William Pierce, aid de camp to Major General Greene, for three months' pay and also for such sum as the Board shall deem necessary to defray his traveling expences.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 148, II, folio 405.]
A letter from the Board of War was read, with sundry papers enclosed relative to disabled officers of the Connecticut line:
Ordered, That the same be referred back to the Board of War to take such order thereon as they shall judge best.
The committee to whom was referred the report of the Committee of Commerce respecting the salary of W. Bingham, Esq., late political agent, delivered in a report.
The committee of the week made report; Whereupon,
Ordered, That an account of Major General St. Clair be referred to the Board of War.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of Daniel Mowry, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 32, folio 275.]
A motion was made by Mr. [James Mitchell] Varnum, seconded by Mr. [Elias] Boudinot:
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Resolved that in future no Warrants issue in favour of Officers in actual service for Pay or Subsistence, but by the Commander in Chief or the Commanding Officer of a seperate Department.1
[Note 1: 1 This motion, in the writing of James Mitchell Varnum, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 148, II, folio 443.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War.
The report of the committee on the Post Office was taken into consideration; Whereupon,
The Committee on the Post Office beg leave to report.
That they have conferred with the Superintendant of finance, and Postmaster General according to the instructions given to your Committee, by the act of Congress of the 1st. Day of August last, and thereupon submit sundry papers herewith delivered and numbered 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, by which it appears that the present expence of the Post Office amounts to fourteen thousand, one hundred and sixty six dollars and two thirds.
That your Committee according to the instructions to them aforesaid given, have attended to the regulation thereof in future, and after a full view and consideration, of all circumstances, it appears indispensibly necessary,
1st. That from and after the first day of December next all franks be abolished, But as the military officers of the United States, are not at present regularly paid, your Committee conceive, that Passed in the negative. it will be proper that the Post Masters keep an exact account of the postage on their letters, and that the same be returned quarterly to the Pay Master General to be deducted from the pay of the officers respectively.
Resolved, That the price to be paid for the postage of letters be reduced to what it was before at the commencement of the present war:
Your Committee further conceive it will be proper, that the Post Master be directed to cause the mail to be carried with all possible Dispatch once a week, and that the Post between Baltimore and Boston ride twice a Week, and that this regulations be extended farther Northward when the produce of the Post Office will admit the expence.
It will also be proper that in some cases an additional Stipend over and above the Commission, be given to the Post Masters, who will
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have additional Duty, and who will receive but very small sums of Money for Letters, and some of them none at all; and that on the other hand the Post Master General be allowed to regulate the Commissions aforesaid, so as that they shall not in the whole exceed the present Rate of twenty per Cent.
Your Committee are Sensible that the Expence of the office will be much increased by the Methods they have proposed, but they are equally sensible, that the Revenue will also be very considerably increased, and they expect that a far more considerable Expence will be entirely cut off, which purpose they farther beg leave to propose
That as soon as the Posts shall have been established on the new plan from and after the first day of December next, all Express Riders, on constant pay, be dismissed from the public Service.
That the postmaster general be, and hereby is, authorised to allow the respective several postmasters such commission per cent, on the posts according to their trouble and attention as he shall think reasonable and just their respective services merit, so as that the said commissions do not in the whole exceed twenty per cent:
That he cause the mail to be carried with all despatch once a week:
That from and after the 1st day of December next, all express riders, on constant pay, be dismissed from the public service:
That there be in the department of the Post Office a postmaster general, the Comptroller, and two surveyors with the Salaries and Allowances at present made to each and an assistant or clerk:
That the salary of the postmaster general be twelve hundred and fifty dollars per annum:
That the salary of the assistant or clerk be eight hundred dollars per annum:
That this establishment of the Post Office take place on the 1st day of December next.
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Ordered, That Monday Tuesday next be assigned for electing a postmaster general and the assistant or clerk.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 61, folio 491.]
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock on Monday.
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