The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1840-07-24

tlit purpose 10 appoint special agents, as occasion
may require, with such compensation as he may
think reasonable, to be fixed and declared at tn,
time of each appointment The agents selected tc
mike these examinations, shall be instructed to
examine as well the books, accounts, and return,
of the officer, as the money on hand and the man.
ner of its being kept, to the end that uniformity
the public moneys may be secured thereby.
SEC. l3. .4nd be il further enacted, That in
addition to the examinations provided for in the
last preceding section, and as a further guard over
the public moneys, it shall be the duty of each na-
val officer and surveyor, as n check upon the re-
cevcr general of public moneys, or collector of the
customs, of their respective districts; of each reg
lister of land office, as check upon the receiver
of his land office and of the director and srperin-
tendent of each Mint and Branch Mint when scpa-
rate officers, ms check upon the Trcasurers re-
specliyey of the said Nints, or the persons acting
as SUCH at the close of each quarter of tie year,
and as much more frequently hs they shall he di-
recled by the Secretary of the Treasury TO do 50,
TO examine the books, accounts, returns, and mott
ey on hand, of the receivers-gcncral of public
money! collectors, receivers of land offices, Ircts
urers, and persons acting as such, aud to ma 9
full, accurate and faithful return to the Treasury
Department of their condition.
SEC. IA. .And be ii further eeocie', That the
said officers respectively, whose duty it is made
by this act to receive, keep, and disbuse the pub
lie moneys, as the fiscal agents of the government,
NAV be allowed any necessary additional expenses
for clerks freproof chests, or vaults or other
cessary expenses of safckcepng, transferring, and
discussing, said moneys; all such expenses of eve
nv character to be first expressly authorized by the
Secretary of the Ire Sury, whose directions upon
all of the above subjects, by way of regulation
and otherwise, so far as authorized by law, are to
be strictly followed by all the said officers: Pro-
rt4ed, That the whole number of clerks 10 be ap-
pointed by virtue of this section of this act shall
not exceed ten and that the aggregate compensr-
ton of the whole number shall not exceed eight
thousand dollars, nor shall the compensation fany
one clerk, so appointed, exceed eight hundred dol
lars per annum.
SEC. Is. .qnd be il FURTHER enacted, That the
Secretary of the Treasury shall, with as much
prompitude as the convenience Of the public bust
ness, and the safety of the public funds will adj
nit, withdraw the balances remaining with the
present deposares of the public moneys, and
confnc the safekeeping transfer, and disbursement
of those moneys TO the deposltarlcs established by
this act.
SEC. 16. .4nd be il further enacted, That all
marshalls, district attorneys, and others, having
public money to pay to the United States, and all
patentecs, wishing TO make payment for patents to
be issued, may pay all such moneys to the Treasl-
rcr of the United States, at the Treasury, to the
Treasurer, or either of the MINIS, in Philadelphia,
or New Orleans, TO either of the receivers general
of public money, or to such other depository con-
slued by this act as shall be designated by the
Secretary Of the Treasury, IN other parts OF the T.
States TO receive such payments and give receipts
or certificates of deposite therefor.
SEC. II. Ami be il further eadcicf, That all
officers charged by this act with the salrkeepig,
transfer, and disbursement of the public moneys,
other than those connected with the Post Office
Department, are hereby required to keep an ac-
curatc entry Of each sum received, and of the kind
Of money in which it is received, and of each pay
ment or transfer, and of the kind of currency in
which it is made; and that if any one OF said Off
GERS, or of those connected with the Post Office
Department, shall convert to his own use, in any
way whatever, or shall use, by way OF investment
in any kind of property or merchandise, or shall
loan, with or without interest, any portion OF the
public MONEYS intruslcd to him Tor salckeeplng,
disbursement or transfer, or for any other purpose,
every such act shall be deemed and adlndged 10
be an embcazlement of so much Of the said moneys
as shall be thus taken, converted, invested, used.
or loaned which is hereby declared to be felony,
all persons advising or participating in such act.
being convicted thereof before any court Of TIE
United States of competent jurisdiction, shall be
sentenced to Imprisonment for n term not less than
six months nor more than five years, and TO II fine
equal to the amount of money cmbezzlcd.
SEC. IS. .A0d lie il further en0ctci, That until
the rooms offices, vaults and safes, directed by
the first four sections of this act 10 he constructed
and prepared for the use of the Treasurer of the
United States the treasurers of the minis ut Phlln-
delpha and New Orleans, and the receivers gen
eral of the public money at New YORK, Boston.
Charleston and St. Louis, can be constructed and
prepared for use, it shall be the duty OF the Sec
rctary Of the Treasury to procure suitable rooms
for offices for those officers at their respective To-
cations and 10 contract for such use Of vaults and
safes as may be required for the saiekecpng OF the
public moneys in the charge and custody of those
officers respectively the expense to be paid BY the
United States.
SIC. 10. md he il further snactei, That from
and after the thirteenth day of June, which will be
in the wear one thousand eight hundred and forty,
the resolution of Congress of The THIRTEEN DAY Of
| April in the year one thousand elgh' hundred ana
sixteen. 80 fir Ms it authorizes the receipt in pay
men, of duties taxes, sales of public lands, debts,
and sums of money, accruing or becoming pay
able in the United States, TO be collected and paid
in the notes of specie paving banks shall be so
modified as that one fourth part of all such duties,
faxes, sales of public lands, debts, and sums OF
nancy nccruinr or becoming due TO the United
STATES. shall be collected in the legal currency OF
If the United States: and from and after the ihr-
,ecuth dav of June which will he in the year one
Thousand eight hundred and ioriy-one, one other
,ur,h mart of all such duties, taxes, sales oil pubc
lands debts. and sums of money. shall be so col