Jenks's Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland [Me.]) 1799-1802, 1800-03-17
Sixth CONGRESS sftbe UnitcdStates,
FIRST SESSION.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
FEB. IS.
THE General Filbery Bill paaed to be en-.
aeted
The Prefident informed. he had approved
tie Non. Intercourse law with France.
On motion Of Mr.. Harper, the hcufe went
into committee of the whole on the report OF
the Committee of Ways and Means, on the
fubett of a loan for the inpport OF government
for the year I8oo--when the report was read
as follows
TIE committee Of Wayc ana Mean5. 10 sutem aoaf
rstysd s5- kqimafs5 for fbe Public Service during
the pyelfm 7rar, having taken them into eonhdsr
afias. and obtained from the different DEPARTMENT.
/arb fart6er Information az they deemed neesgay,
jsg ieave to /Jma 10 the collaboration d the Home,
the toilseuiag Report on bst Jaye5.-
THE Committee thought it proper, before
they entered into the fubjec referred to them,
to Obtain from the Treaiury Department a
detailed Ultimate of the revenue and expendit-
ure Of the preient year, according to exiting
laws. For this purpofe was written to the
Secretary of the Trealury. the letter, OF which
copy together with his anfwer and the siti-
mate requelted fabjoined to this report.
From this Ultimate il appears, that the whole
fun required for the public fervice, during the
pref Mt year, including the interea and reim
burisment of the public debt of every defcrip-
ton, the civil lit, army and navy, and every
incidental charge, amounts TO fifteen millions
three hundred and ninety three thoufand and
thirty four dollars and eleven cents. But this
fun includes the whole army climate, which
was founded on the fuppofition that the twelve
regiments of infantry and fix troops OF horfe,
competing the additional army. would be i'm
mediately completed. The act, however, for
fufpendng further enliaments, having paGed
one branch Ct the Legilarure, the committee
thought il proper 10 afcertain, as nearly a poi.
fible, what reductions in the erPenfe IF that
army, would refnlt from this bill, lbooid il pafs
into law. For this purpoie they wrote a let
ter 70 the Secretary Of War, copy OF which
with this anfwer, and an Ultimate Of the reduc.
ton ia quefiou, they have annexed to this
report. From this paper it appears, that the
redudion may be calculated at about one mil
lion of dollars Which as the gill has now
paGed into a law, muR be dedueed from the
former climate Of fifteen millions three hund
red and ninety three thoufand and thirty four
dollars and eleven cents; and will leave a
balance of fourteen millions three hundred
ninety.three thouland thirty four dollars and
eleven cents, for the expencesof the year.
From this baisnce, however, the committee
are of opinion, that a further deduction OF fix
hundred rhoufand dollars ought to be made
This FUN is added to the navy climate, as a
further appropriation, during the prcfent year,
for the building of the fix.ieventy fours, But
the committee entertaining doubts whether it
would be for the benefit of the public to pref
the building Of rhofe fhips, 70 fan, as to require
this further appropriation, fince they NUT, in
that cafe, be built Of timber far from fuficient-
" feafoned wrote to the Secretary of the
NAVY requclling his opinion on this point. A
COPY Of their letter, together with his anfwer,
is h:reunto lubjoned This anfwer, to which
the committee beg leave to dired the attention
of the Hcale furnifhes, in their opinion, very
fuficient reafons for avoiding that degree of
expedition in building the feventy tours, which
would require the further appropriation Of ok
hundred thoufand dollars. And they there
fore, think it proper to dedua that fun alto
from the general climates of expenditures for
the year, which will reduce thar expenditure TO
the fun of thirteen millions, fesen hundred
and ninety three thouland and thirty four dol
lars and eleven cents.
The whole eltmatcd amount of revenue to
meet this expenditure, is nine millions, three
hundred and one thouiand, two hundred and
fifty eight dollars and fifty one cents, as detail.
ed in the itatemenr, furnilhed by the Secretary
of the Treafury, and above alluded to, which
fun beiag deducted from the FUN of thirteen
millions, feven hundred and ninety three thou
fand and thirty four dollars and eleven cents,
which has been Aated as the amount OF expen.
diture, leaves a balance of four millions, four
hundred and ninety one thouiand, ieven hund-
red and f:ven,y FIVE dollars and fixtv.ons cents.
The government, however, poHeiies funds TO
cover this balance 10 part. From the above
mentioned Ratement, il appears that on the
thirty fra of December, one thoufand feven
hundred and ninety nine, there remained in the