thorized to

final set

treasury, and of all tax-collectors and receivers, and of all and every other agent or agents, board, person or persons, who have at any time here. tofore been entrusted with the collection and disbursement of public money, in any way or manner whatsoever, and whose accounts remain Commis. unsettled and not finally closed; and on a thosioners au- rough investigation and examination, and havgive dis. ing proper vouchers and evidences exhibited charges on to them, to close and settle with such person or tlement, persons, and the heirs, executors or administraand cancel tors of such as may have departed this life; an acquittance or other sufficient discharges, in the name and for and on the behalf of this state, to give; and also to deliver up and cancel all and every such bonds and obligations as are or may remain in the treasury or secretary's office of this state, so that persons faithfully executing the duties of their respective offices, their securities, and the heirs, executors and administrators of such persons, and their securities, may be quieted and for ever discharged from their said obligations.

bonds.

And in order to enable the said commissioners fully to carry this act into execution, and to ascertain the real state of the pecuniary interests of

this state:

Be it enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the said commissioners, or any two of them, be, and they are hereby authorized, enjoined and required, to call to an account and reckoning, and to settle with all and every such person and persons as have filled the office of commissioners of the treasury of this state, and with the heirs, executors and administrators of such as may be dead, all collectors and receivers of the public tax, and all and every such person and persons as have acted as agents or boards; and all other

person or persons whomsoever, who at any time

suits

cute them

or times heretofore have been intrusted with or concerned in the collection and receipt, or payment and disbursement of public money, and the heirs, executors or administrators of such as may be deceased: And in case of refusal or To comneglect in any person or persons to render such mence acconnt, and to make payments of any balance against de or balances in their hands, to commence and faulters, prosecute, on the part and behalf of this state, and proseany action or actions, suit or suits, in law or to final equity, for the recovery of any sum or sums of judgment money that may be found in arrear, due, owing tion. or payable to this state, and the same to final judgment and exccution to prosecute; and to proceed to the seizure and sale of the goods, chattels and effects of such debtor or debtors, or to the imprisonment of his or their persons, in such way or manner as to the said commissioners, or any two of them, may seem fit and most for the benefit of this state.

and execu

And be it further enacted by the authority To send aforesaid, That the said commissioners, in their for person execution of the trust hereby reposed in them, m'ne witand to enable them to obtain the fullest and most nesses.

and exa

On such

them to

perfect information on the objects of their com- persons mission, shall have full power and authority to refusal, to send for and examine any person or persons on commit the subject of the accounts, receipts and dis- prison. bursements, for and on behalf of the public; and also to order the attendance of all or any of the present or former commissioners of the treasury, auditor-general, or other public officer or officers of this state for the purposes aforesaid. And in case any person summoned to appear before the said commissioners, after due notice, shall refuse to appear, or when appearing, shall refuse to be examined, or to give such informa

thorized to

and direct

ing and making out the

tion, on oath or affirmation, as may be consistent with his, her or their knowledge in the premises, that it shall and may be lawful for the said commissioners, or any two of them, to commit such person or persons to close prison in any common gaol of this state, until he, she or they shall submit to be examined by the said commissioners, or any two of them; and all and singular the sheriffs, gaolers, and other public officers, are hereby required to be aiding and assisting to the said commissioners, in enabling them fully to carry this act into effect.

And be it further enacted by the authority Commissi- aforesaid, That it shall and may be lawful to oners au- and for the said commissioners, or any two of visit public them, at all times during the continuance of this officers act, to visit the public treasury, the offices of the keep the tax-collectors, or any of them, and to point out and direct the manner in which the accounts of the treasury, tax-collectors, or other officers accounts. shall be kept, and to direct such statements, accounts and documents to be made out and prepared for the use of the legislature, or of the said commissioners, as they shall deem necessary to explain or illustrate their reports, or to ascertain the true balances of the public debts and credits of the state.

To report,

from time to time, to

the legis

lature.

their

And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the said commissioners, or any two of them, shall, from time to time, report and lay before the legislature of this state, a full statement of their proceedings in the premises.

And be it further enacted by the authority Commissi- aforesaid, That before any of the said commisoners, and sioners shall take upon him the duties imposed clerks, to by this act, he shall take an oath before some one qualify. of the judges of the superior court of this state, well and faithfully to execute the trust hereby re

posed; and the said commissioners shall cause an oath to be administered to each and every clerk by them to be employed, well and faithfully to execute the duties imposed on them, and to keep secret such matters as may be enjoined them by the said commissioners, or a majority of them,

allowance

And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That each of the commissioners ap- Salary and pointed by virtue of this act, shall be entitled to of the said receive as a reward for his services, the sum of commissifive hundred pounds sterling annually, over and oners. above all charges of stationary, and other expenses necessary to be incurred, (except the hire of clerks) in and about executing the duties imposed by this act.

and the

And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That this act shall be taken as a pub- This act a lic act, and shall be judicially taken notice of as public act. such, and may be given in evidence as such, in all courts of judicature of this state, without special pleading. And that if the said commissi- If sued, oners, or any of them, or any person or persons plaintiff employed by them, in and about executing the nonsuited, duties prescribed by this act, shall be sued or to recover impleaded for any thing done by them, or any of costs. them, in the execution of the same, and a verdict shall pass for the defendant, or the plaintiff shall suffer a non-suit or discontinuance, the defendant or defendants shall recover treble costs.

treble

set of

And be it further enacted by the authority Newtreaaforesaid, That the treasurers now to be elected, surers to shall, from the day of their appointment, com- open a new mence and open a new set of books, totally un- books, and connected with the past transactions of the trea- balance sury-office, and keep the same after the Italian ry first of method of book-keeping; and they are hereby October. required and directed to balance their books on

them eve

the first day of October in every year, and lay a statement of the same before both houses of the legislature on the first day of their meeting annually: Provided always, That nothing herein contained, shall extend or be construed to extend to deprive the commissioners of the treasury, of the power of demanding, receiving and compelling the payment of debts due to the state, agreeable to law.

And be it further enacted by the authority Extension aforesaid, That this act shall be in force for the of this act. space of three years, from and after the passing thereof, and from thence to the end of the next sitting of the general assembly, unless the objects thereof shall be sooner accomplished, and the legislature be enabled to discharge the commissioners from the trust created by the same. In the Senate House, the nineteenth day of February, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety-one, and in the fifteenth year of the Independence of the United States of America.

DAVID RAMSAY,

President of the Senate.

JACOB READ,

Speaker of the House of Representatives.

An ACT for loaning to the United States, a sum of the Indents of this State under certain Limitations therein mentioned.

B

E it enacted by the honorable the Senate and House of Representatives, now met and Indents to sitting in General Assembly, and by the autho-. to the Uni- rity of the same, That the commissioners of the ted States. treasury, or any one of them, be authorized, re

be loaned