The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1782-04-27 00:00:00, page 4

An ACT for metbodifing the Department of Accounts of this Com
mowweahb, and for the more effebluql Settlement of tbe fame,
WHEREAS the methods heretofore praftifed for the
settlement of the accounts of this State have, by expe
rience, been found not to answer the good purposes intended
thereby : For Remedy whereof,
SECT. I. Be it enabld by tbe Representatives of tbe Freemen of
the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in General Assembly met, and by
tbe authority of tbe feme, 1 hat an officeJhall be instituted in this
Commonwealth, for auditing, liquidating and adjusting all the
accounts thereof, and that the fame Shall be e ftablifhed and Kept
at the place where the General Assembly of the State (hall hold
their sessions, to be Riled '' The Comptroller-General's Office;
and that a person of known integrity, diligence and capacity be
appointed to execute and perform the duties of said office, by the
name of " The Comptroller-General," who shall be, and here
by is authcrifed and impowered to liquidate and fettle, according
to law and equity, all claims against the Commonwealth, for
services performed, monies advanced, or articles furnifhed, by
order of legislative or Executive powers, for the use of the
fame, or for any other purpose whatever; to infpe& and examine
all vouchers which shall be produced in support of such accounts
or claims, and in all cases of doubt or difficulty to call upon
witnesses, examine them on oath or affirmation, touching any
charge or account which it may be probable their evidence would
tend to elucidate or explain; which oath or affirmation the said
Gomotroller-General is' hereby authorifed and impowered to ad
minilter; to judge of prices and charges, in all cases wherein
such prices or charges have not been afeertained and fixed by per
sons duly authorifed to ascertain and fix the fame ; and generally
to cell upon all persons, or their representatives, who have been
or ihall be pofleded of any monies, goods or effects belonging to
this State, and have not severally accounted for the fame, other
than and except the Collectors of public taxes, and the Trea
surers of the different counties; and to keep fair, diftirift and
clear accounts of ail the revenues and expenditures of the Com
monwealth, of every kind and nature whatsoever.
Sect. 2. And be it further enabled by the authority aforefaid,
that from and after the firft day of May next, all accounts be
tween this State and any officer of the fame, and all and every
other person or perform (except as before excepted) shall be ren
dered into the said office in the firft instance, where they shall
without delay be liquidated, adjusted and fettled; and upon set
tlement of any such account, the fame shall be transmitted, toge
ther with the vouchees th reto belonging, to the President and
Council, who, if fatisfied with the justice of fitch fettl ment,
shall, by warrant drawn on the Treasurer of the State, dire&
the payment of any ballance which may appear to be due there
upon to the party entitled to receive the fame; and the President
and Council shall, by their Secretary, return the fame accounts
and vouchers into the said office, together with such warrant;
and the said Comptroller-General shall make an entry in his
bonks of such warrant, and having certified the fame on the back
Thereof, shall forthwith deliver it to the party entitled to receive
such ballance, and shall carefully file and depofit,all such accounts
and vouchers in his office; and if upon any settlement a ballance
shall be found due to the State, the account and vouchers shall be
filed in the said office, in like manner ,as afore directed; and the
said Comptroller-General shall forthwith take the most effectual
fieps for the speedy recovery of the fame.
Sect. 3. AND WHEREAS many accounts of long land
ing are still unsettled, or have not been finally closed, and large
sums of money, or considerable effects belonging to the Common
wealth, remain in the hands of divers persons, and the fame will
probably be loft, if vigorous measures be not taken to compel
such persons to fettle their accounts, and difeharge the ballances
which may appear to be due to rhe State.
Sect. 4. Be it therefore enabled by tbe authority aforefaid, That
the Comptroller-General shall, with all convenient speed, form
abftraas or lifts of the names and firnames, additions and places
of abode of all persons who shall have received monies, effects or
property of this Commonwealth into their hands which they have
not accounted for, and of the value or amount received by each
person, as well as the dates of the several transactions ; for which
purpose he shall be, and hereby is authorifed and impowered to
call for all the b^oks and papers, accounts and vouchers apper
taining to or belonging to the State, which shall be in possession
of the Auditors heretofore appointed, or in the hands of any
other person or persons whatever.
Sect. 5. And be it further enabled by tbe authority aforefaid,
That the said Comptroller-General shall with all dispatch direct
the Prothonotary of the county, wherein the person or persons
whose names shall be contained in such abftra& be resident, or in
which they had their last known abode, to issue process, com
manding the Sheriff or Coroner of the said county to summon such
person or persons to appear within three months in the Comptrol
ler's Office, and there exhibit and fettle their accounts, and pay
all sums of money belonging to the State, of which they shall re
fpedively be found possessed; whereupon such Sheriff or other
officer shall serve a copy of such summons upon the party or par
ties aforefaid, at least thirty days before the end of the term last
mentioned, and shall make proper return of every such summons,
within twenty days after such service, to the Prothonotary, upon
oath; and it such person or persons, whose name or names shall
be contained in such summons, are not found within the county,
the Sheriff or Coroner of the fame shall proceed to demand and
call, in an audible public manner, upon such person or persons,
in open Quarter-Sessions of the Peace, to appear as aforefaid, and
fettle his, her or their accounts, and pay over to the Treasurer of
the State all monies belonging to the State, which they severally
possess and detain in their hands refpedively.
Sect, 6. And be it further enabled by tbe authority aforefaid,
That if any person or persons who shall be summoned or demand
ed, and called upon as aforefaid, shall refufe or neglect to exhibit
their accounts as aforefaid, within three months after the service
of such summons, every and all such delinquent or delinquents
shall be liable to answer for and pay to the Treasurer of the State
the amount of the monies, or the full value of all public effeds,
which shall appear to the Comptroller-General to have been re
ceived or come to the hands or possession of such person or persons
refpedively, without any' allowance, deduction or fett-off what
soever,
Sect. 7. And be it further enabled by tbe authority aforefaid,
That if any Auditor or Auditors, person or persons aforefaid,
having in his or their possession any of the public books or papers,
accounts or vouchers herein before mentioned, shall refufe or ne
gled, within ten days after demand made by the said Comptroller-
General, to deliver up to him on oath all and every the books,
papers, accounts or vouchers aforefaid, all and every such Auditor
or Auditors, person or persons, so offending against this aft, shall
be proceeded against by the Comptroller, and shall forfeit and pay
any sum not exceeding One Thousand Pounds, to the use of the
State, to be recovered on conviction in any Court of Record with
in the fame.
Sect. 8. And be it further enabled by tbe authority aforefaid,
That in case any person shall be found to have a ballance in his or
STATE of PENNSYLVANIA,
Philadelphia; Printed and Sold by DAVID C. CLAYPOOL E, in Market-Street.
her hands , due to the State, and shall, on order from the Comptrol
ler-General, refufe or negled to pay the fame as before directed,
and in case any person who shall be summoned or demanded, and
called upon in open Quarter Sessions of the proper county, shall
not exhibit his or her accounts, and procure the fame to be fettled,
according to the directions of this aft, all and every such person
shall be liable to be taken and imprisoned in any county goal, by
warrant under the hand and seal of the Prothonotary of said coun
ty, or his or her goods and chattels shall be diftrained and fold af
ter thirty days from such distraining, by warrant under the hand
and seal of said Prothonotary, to fatisfy such ballance or, such
value or sum certified as aforefaid, together with costs and charges ;
and if other property cannot be found, the lands and houses of the
delinquent may be taken and fold by the Sheriff of the county, so
far as may be necessary for the purposes aforefaid, by virtue of a
writ of Fieri Facias, to be issued by the Prothonotary of the coun
ty where such real estate lieth, upon a certificate of the debt due
to the State from the Comptroller being filed with such Prothono
tary.
Sect. 9, And be it further enabled by tbe authority aforefaid,
That the money so recovered shall be paid by the Sheriff or Coro
ner who fh,ll receive the fame, into the hands of the Treasurer of
the State, for the use of the State, within thirty days after such
recovery.,
Sect. to. And be it further enabled by tbe authority aforefaid,
That no account whatever, between tlte Commonwealth and any
public officer or other person whatsoever, except as before except
ed, shall be deemed to be fettled, and the party exonerated fiom
fettling and fopporting the fame in the manner required by this
aft, until the fame shall be audited, liquidated and fettled in the
office of the Comptroller-General, erefted by this ad; other than
and except all such accounts as have been fettled by Auditors or
Commissioners heretofore appointed for the purpose, or by the
Committees of Aflembly.
Sect. 11. Provided nevertbelefs, and be it further enabled by tbe
authority aforefaid, That the said Comptroller-General shall be,
and is hereby authorifed and impowered to examine, revile and
correct, all and every the account or accounts fettled by the Audi
tors, Commiffiopers or Committees of Assembly aforefaid, and
shall report all substantial errors or omissions which he may difeo
ver to the General Assembly of this Commonwealth, who shall
finally determine thereon, either by directing a re-lettlenlent of
such accounts with the said Comptroller-General, or by confirm
ing the fame..
Sect. 12. Be it further enabled by tbe authority aforefaid, That
it shall and may be 'lawful for the said Comptroller-General, as
often as there shall be occasion, to call before him, by iubpeena
or summons, and in case of contempt to issue a writ of attach
ment, in order to compel the appearance of any person or persons
who the said Comptroller-General may reafonabiy suppose is or
are capable of giving evidence or information concerning the said
accounts, or any of them; and in case any person or persons, on
whom such fubpeena or summons shall be served, ihall refufe to
appear, as in such writ shall be exprefed and directed, or, having
apeared, shall refufe to make a full disclosure of his, her or their
knowledge in the matter depending before the said Comptroller-
General, the said Comptroller-General may award an attach
ment, and commit such delinquent or delinquents to the common
goal of the county, there to be holden till such person or persons
shall submit to the said Comptroller-General and comply wl th the
directions of this aft; and all persons who shall he fuinmoned
as witnesses by the said Comproller-General, and every Sheriff,
Coroner or other officer, to whom he shall dired hrs precepts or
writs, shall be allowed like fees for their attendance and services
as witnesses summoned to appear in the inferior Courts of Ju.
ftice, and Sheriffs, Coroners and other officers are entitled to 111
such Courts; such costs, together with further charges accruing,
to be levied on the several delinquents by the said Comptroller-
General, by warrant, in I like manner as imall debts are reco
verable. ,
Sect. rq. Provided always, and be it further enabled by tbe
authority aforefaid, That if, upon any fubpeena or summons re
quiring the attendance of any person or persons before the said
Comptroller-General as aforefaid, a return be made that such
person is not to be found within the proper county, that the fad
Comptroller-General may issue an attachment and proceed there
on as aforefaid, as if such fubpwna or summons had been duly
'"S^CT.I4. And be it farther enabled by the authority aforefaid,
That the Secretary of the supreme Executive Council ihall be,
and he is hereby required and enjoined, once in every month, to
enter in the Comptroller-General's Office all and every marriage,
and tavern or other licences, noting how many of laid licences
have been paid for, and the sums so paid; and also what number
of blank licences have been granted, either for marriages or ta
verns, not paid for, and to whom granted ; and the said Comptrol
ler shall cause fair entries to be made of all such sums of money so
received by the Secretary, and also of all such licences as have
been so granted to the several Prothonotaries and others, and have
not been paid for; and shall open an account against all such Pro
thonotaries or other persons for the amount of such licences; and
the said Prothonotaries and others, at least once in three months,
shall fettle their refpedive accounts with the Comptroller-General,
in which the Treasurer's receipts, and the blank licences which
may be at such time unused and produced to the said Comptroller,
shall be received and accepted by him as the only fufficient
vouchers in such settlement
Sect. 15. And be it further enabled by tbe authority aforefaid,
That the Comptroller-General shall particularly attend to such
parts of the accounts already fettled, or that may hereafter be
fettled, as are properly a charge against the United States, and,
fele&ing such parts with great precision, institute an account be
tween the United States and the Commonwealth, in forming
which he shall regulate himfelf by the resolution of Congress
authorising such charges, and by the accounts raised against the
Commonwealth in the books of the department of the Treasury
of the United States ; and where any charge shall appear to him
to be of a federal nature, although such charge shall not be ex
prefly acknowledged by Congress, he shall open a separate account
for the fame, to be finally fettled on such principles as may here
after be established by Congress, and agreed to by this Common
wealth.
Sect. 16. And be it further enabled by the authority aforefaid,
That the Treasurer of this State shall not, from and after the
firft day of May next, issue or pay any of the public monies
which have come or shall come to his hands without a warrant
for so doing, signed by the President or Vice-President in Couhcil,
and entered in the Comptroller-General's office, such entry to be
certified on such warrant by the said Comptroller-General, other
than and except the monies appropriated to the use of the United
States for the current year, which shall remain fubjeCt to the
orders of the Superintendant of the Finances of the United States,
and the wages and incidental expences of the House of Assembly,
which shall be paid on warrants drawn by the Speaker in Assem
bly, any law, custom or usage to the contrary in anywise not
withftandinge Provided always, That such orders or warrants,
drawn by the Superintendant of the Finances or Speaker for the
purposes aforefaid, be firft entered and certified in the Comptrol
ler-General's office, as before directed.
Sect. 19. And be it further enabled by tbe authority aforefaid.
That the said Comptroller-General shall, before he enters on the
duties of said office, give bond, with one or more fufficient sureties
in the sum of Five Tboufand Pounds, to the President or Vice-Pre
sident in Council, for the faithful performance of the duties of
his office, and shall likewise take and fubferibe the following oath
or affirmation ; to wit; “ Ido swear or affirm, that I will faith
" fully execute the office of Comptroller-General for tbe Commonwealth
" of Pennsylvania, and will do equal right and justice to all men,
" to tbe best of my judgment and abilities, according to law and
" equity,"
Sect. 20. And be it further enabled by tbe authority aforefaid,
That the ad of Assembly of this Commonwealth, intituled '' An
" aft to compel the settlement of public accounts," passed on the
firft day of March, one thousand seven hundred and eighty, and a
supplement to the said ad. passed on the thirtieth day of May in
the fame year, as likewise all and every the aft or ads of the
Assemblies of this Commonwealth heretofore passed, for regulat
ing or fettling the accounts of the fame, of every kind or nature
whatsoever, shall, from and after the passing of this ad, be, and
the said a&s are hereby repealed and declared void.
Sect. 21. And be it further enabled by tbe authority aforefaid.
That this ad shall be publicly read in every Court of Oyer and
Terminer, and of the Quarter Sessions of the Peace, which shall
be holden in this State between the firft day of May and the firft
day of January next, during which all other business shall cease.
Sect. 22. And be it further enabled by the authority a forefaid.
'hat JOHN NICHOLSON be, and he is hereby appointed
Comptroller-General for the time being.
Signed, by Order of tbe House,
FREDERICK A. MUHLENBERG, Speaker.
Enabled into a Law at Philadelphia, on Saturday,
tbe Thirteenth Day of April, in tbe Year of our Lord
One Thousand Seven Hundred Eighty and Two.
PE FER Z. LLOYD, Clerk of tbe General Assembly.
^^m^^xx^^w
Just Imported in the Brig Antonie, Cap.
tain Angus, and the Ship St. James, Captain Trux
ton from Frarce, and to be Sold, by
Joseph Bean & John Purviance,
At their STORE, the corner of Water and Spruce
ftreets, formerly occupied by M. Thomas Leeper 2
neat ASSORTMENT of DRY GOODS, which
they will fell on the lowest terms for cash or country
produce : Amongst which are —
Sect. 17. And be it further enabled by 'the authority aiorefog
That the books, papers and transactions of the office er the Comp
troller-General shall be open to the infpe&ion and examination
of the Committees of accounts, who shall be impowered by the
Assembly of this State for the time being or Executive Council
and the said Comptroller-General shall be obliged to furnifh an
nually, and at all other times, a state or abftraCtof the public
accounts, or any of them, to the Legislative and Supreme Ex
ecutive powers of the State, when he shall be thereunto required,
by either of them.
Sect. 18. And be it further enabled by tbe authority aforefaid,
That the Salary of the Comptroller-General shall be the sum of
Five Hundred Pounds per annum, payable in quarterly payments,
by warrant drawn on the Treasurer for that purpose by the Pre
fident or Vice-President in Council.
BLACK, blue, purple,
brown, white, striped
and spotted best Velvets,
Jeans of different colours,
Royal. L val and Britan
nia Linehs,
Striped & plain Cambricks
and Lawns,
Striped and plain Muslins,
French and Italia, ftiiped,
figured and plain Gauzes,
Striped and plain bordered
gauze Handkerchiefs,
Plain and striped Mantuas,
Common and fuperfine
white Dimity,
Black Sattins and Modes,
Bandana and linen Hand
Van Vleck & Barton,
Have just opened STORE in Market-street, three
doors above Laetitia court ;
Where they have to Dispose of by Whole-
Cale on reasonable Terms, A freth ASSORTMENT of
MERCHANDISE,
N. B. They will receive all kinds of GOODS to
Sell on Commission ; and flatter themselves, from their
former extensive conneaions in the dry goods business,
&c. they will be able to make speedy S les, and on the
most advantageous Terms. Orders from their Friends in
the country will be punctually complied with. March 20
Suitable to the Season.
GOODS will b- received lor SALE on Commiflion.
Takes this Method to acquaint his former Friends and
Cuftom<n,and the Public in general,
AH AT he has igain entered into his former bufi-,
n>L, the third house below Black-horse-alley,
Front-street, where Ladies and Gentlemen may have
every article in the, uphelftry business made up in the
neatest and best manner, and on the lowest terms: He
likewise, as usual, furnifhes gentlemen of the army
with every necessary, in his way, for the camp; such
as Marquees, Camp Bedsteads and Furniture, Camp
Stools, Tablet, Hair and other Mattraffes, makes and
repairs Drums ; likewise Rooms and Ships-cabbins pa
pered, Venetian Blinds made ar d repaired, and Funer
als performed and furnifhed.
N. B. As he followed the Upholftry Business for
some years, in this city, very extensively and with ge
neral applaud, beth for his workmanship and low
charge, hepcs, by now doing the fame, it will recom
mend him to the Publick's future Favours.
George Haughton,
UPHOLSTR E R,
kerchiefs,
Mens white, black and
grey ribbed and plain
silk Hose,
Womens white ditto,
Mens thread and woifted
ditto,
Fine purple, red, china
blue, copperplate furni
ture Calicoes,
Dark and light ground
Chintzes, Calicoes, Cot
tons and printed Linens,
Womens best Kid Mitt#
and Gloves,
Black silk Lace,
Sewing Silks assorted,
I Nankeens, &c.