1836. Proviso. of which duties was withheld because the oath was not taken, paid to him on CHAP. 350. An ACT for the relief of John H. Holland. [SEC. 1.] Be it enacted, by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, $1,371,47 to be That the Secretary of the Treasury pay to John H. Holland, out acount of Afri of any money not otherwise appropriated, thirteen hundred and seventy-one dollars and forty-seven cents, for his expense and charges incurred in the care, clothing, and subsistence of a number of Africans placed in his charge, as marshal of the eastern district of Louisiana, under the laws of the United States relative to the slave trade. cans placed in his charge. Testimony to be [SEC. 2.] And be it further enacted, That the Secretary of the Navy take and receive further testimony relative to so much received, respect of the account of said John H. Holland, as is embraced in the ing charges made by Dr. McFarland charges of Dr. James S. McFarlan for professional services and and amount due medicine, and allow a reasonable and just amount for the services allowed. actually rendered by said McFarlan, and medicine furnished Confirmed in a spuri. CHAP. 351. An ACT for the relief of James Baldridge. [SEC. 1.] Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That James Baldrige be, and he is hereby, confirmed in his title to a tract of land containing six hundred and forty acres, situated tide to 640 acres on the river Dardenne, in the county of Saint Charles, State of of land in Mis. Missouri, claimed by virtue of a settlement made thereon in the year eighteen hundred and two, to be surveyed in a square, or, as near as may be, so as to include his improvement; and in the event of there not being sufficient public land adjoining said improvement upon which to make such survey, then, and in that case, the deficiency may be located upon any unappropriated public land in the district embracing said settlement, in legal subdivisions, subject to entry at private sale. Approved, July 2d, 1836. CHAP. 352. An ACT to reorganize the General Land Office. [SEC. 1.] Be it enacted, by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That from and after the passage of this act, the executive duties of land laws un sioner. now prescribed, or which may hereafter be prescribed by law, 1836. appertaining to the surveying and sale of the public lands of the Executive duties United States, or in any wise respecting such public lands, and, der supervision also, such as relate to private claims of land, and the issuing of of the Commispatents for all grants of land under the authority of the Government of the United States, shall be subject to the supervision and control of the Commissioner of the General Land Office,, under the direction of the President of the United States. vate land claims SECTION 2. And be it further enacted, That there shall be A principal clerk of public landa, appointed in said office, by the President, by and with the ad- and one on pri vice and consent of the Senate, two subordinate officers, one of to be appointed. whom shall be called Principal Clerk of the Public Lands, and the other Principal Clerk. on Private Land Claims, who shall perform such duties as may be assigned to them by the Commissioner of the General Land Office; and in case of vacancy in the office of the Commissioner of the General Land Office, or of the absence or sickness of the Commissioner, the duties of said. office shall devolve upon and be performed, ad interim, by the Principal Clerk of the public lands. of the surveys. SECTION 3. And be it further enacted, That there shall A principal clerk be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, an officer to be styled the Principal Clerk of the Surveys, whose duty it shall be to direct and superintend the making of surveys, the returns thereof, and all matters relating thereto, which are done through the officers of the Surveyor General; and he shall perform such other duties as may be assigned to him by the Commissioner of the General Land Office. general land of SECTION. 4. And be it further enacted, That there shall be recorder of the be appointed by the President, by and with consent of the fice. Ser.ate, a Recorder of the General Land Office, whose duty it shall be, in pursuance of instructions from the Commissioner, to certify and affix the seal of the General Land Office to all patents for public lands, and he shall attend to the correct engrossing and recording and transmission of such patents. He shall prepare alphabetical indexes of the names of patentees, and of persons entitled to patents; and he shall prepare such copies and exemplifications of matters on file, or recorded in the General Land Office, as the Commissioner may from time to time direct. A solicitor of the SECTION 5. And be it further enacted, That there shall be ap- general land of pointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of ice. the Senate, an officer to be called the Solicitor of the General Land Office, with an annual salary of two thousand dollars, whose duty it shall be to examine and present a report to the Commissioner, of the state of facts in all cases referred by the Commissioner to his attention which shall involve questions of law, or where. the facts are in controversy between the agents of the Government and individuals, or there are conflicting claims of parties before the Department, with his opinion thereon; and also, to advise the Commissioner, when required thereto, on all questions growing out of the management of the public lands, or A 1836. the title thereto, private land claims, Virginia military scrip, bounty lands, and pre-emption claims; and to render such . further professional services in the business of the Department as may be required, and shall be connected with the discharge of the duties thereof. to seo etary sign patents for lands. Certified copies of records, &c. Duties of recorder principal clerk Receivers SECTION. 6. And be it further enacted, That it shall be lawful for the President of the United States, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to appoint a Secretary, with a salary of fifteen hundred dollars per annum, whose duty it shall be, under the direction of the President, to sign in his name, and for him, all patents for land sold or granted under the authority of the United States. SECTION 7. And be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of the Commissioner to cause to be prepared, and to certify, under the seal of the General Land Office, such copies of records, books, and papers on file in his office, as may be applied for, to be used in evidence in courts of justice. SECTION. 8. And be it further enacted, That whenever the may devolve on office of Recorder shall become vacant, or in case of the sickon private land ness or absence of the Recorder, the duties of his office shall be perclaims. formed, ad interim, by the Principal Clerk on Private Land Claims. SECTION. 9. And be it further enacted, That the Receivers make monthly re of the land offices shall make to the Secretary of the Treasury monthly returns of the moneys received in their several offices, and pay over such money pursuant to his instructions. they shall also make to the Commissioner of the General Land Office, like monthly returns, and transmit to him quarterly accounts current of the debits and credits of their several offices with the the United States. furns. Salary of Cem- And SECTION 10. And be it further enacted, That the Commisand sioner of the General Land Office shall be entitled to receive an annual salary of three thousand dollars; the recorder of the General Land Office, an annual salary of fifteen hundred dollars; the principal clerk of the surveys, an annual salary of eighteen hundred dollars; and each of the said principal clerks an annual salary of eighteen hundred dollars; from and after the date of their respective commissions; and that the said commissioner be authorized to employ, for the service of the General Land Office, one clerk, whose annual salary shall not exceed fifteen hundred dollars; four clerks, whose annual salary shall not exceed fourteen hundred dollars each; sixteen clerks, whose annual salary shall not exceed thirteen hundred dollars each; twenty clerks, whose annual salary shall not exceed twelve hundred dollars each; five clerks, whose annual salary shall not exceed eleven hundred dollars each; thirty-five clerks, whose annual salary shall not exceed one thousand dollars each; one principal draughtsman, whose annual salary shall not exceed fifteen hundred dollars; one assistant draughtsman, whose annual salary shall not exceed twelve hundred dollars; two messengers, whose annual salary shall not exceed seven hundred dollars each; three assistant messengers, whose annual salary shall not exceed three hundred and fifty dollars each; and two packers, to make up packages of patents, blank forms, and other things necessary to be transmitted to the district land offices, at 1836. a salary of four hundred and fifty dollars each. inconsistent with General Land Office and tain hours. SECTION 11. And be it further enacted, That such provisions Provisions of acts of the act of the twenty-fifth of April, in the year one thousand this repealed. eight hundred and twelve, entitled "An act for the establishment of a General Land Office in the Department of the Treasury," and of all acts amendatory thereof, as are inconsistent with the provisions of this act, be, and the same are hereby repealed. SECTION 12. And be it further enacted, That from the first The day of the month of October, until the first day of the month of other offices to be April in each and every year, the General Land Office and all open during certhe bureaus and offices therein, as well as those in the Departments of the Treasury, War, Navy, State, and General Post Office, shall be open for the transaction of the public business at least eight hours in each and every day, except Sundays, and the twenty-fifth day of December; and from the first day of April, until the first day of October, in each year, all the aforesaid offices and bureaus shall be kept open for the transaction of the public business at least ten hours, in each and every day, except Sundays and the fourth day of July. for false informa SECTION 13. And be it further enacted, That if any person Penalty of register shall apply to any register of any land office to enter any land ion given by him. whatever, and the said register shall knowingly and falsely inform the person so applying that the same has already been entered and refuse to permit the person so applying to enter the same, such register shall be liable therefor to the person so applying for five dollars for each acre of land which the person so applying offered to enter, to be recovered by action of debt in any court of record, having jurisdiction of the amount. Officers of the lic SECTION 14. And be it further enacted, That all and every land office prohiof the officers whose salaries are hereinbefore provided for, are bited from purhereby prohibited from directly or indirectly purchasing or in fie lands. any becoming interested in the purchase of any of the public land; and in case of a violation of this section by such officer, and on proof thereof, being made to the President of the United States, such officer, so offending, shall be, forthwith, removed from office. Approved, July 4th, 1836. CHAP. 353. An ACT in addition to the act entitled "An act making appropriations in part for the support of Government, for the year eighteen hundred and thirty six and for other purposes. the Senate and sentatives, and [SEC. 1.] Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the following sums be and the same are hereby appropria- Appropriations ted, to be paid out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise for members of appropriated: For compensation granted by law to the members House of Repre of the Senate and House of Representatives, in addition to the for various other appropriation heretofore made for that object, seventy-two thou- purposes. sand two hundred and sixteen dollars; for compensation of the Senators and Representatives elected by Michigan, seven thousand seven hundred and seventy-six dollars; for the contingent expenses of Senate twelve thousand dollars; for allow 1 1836. ance for wastage in gold and silver coinage at the mint: for labor and for alloy, in addition to the former appropriation, thirty-three thousand dollars; for extra clerk hire in the General Land Office, for the year eighteen hundred and thirty-.. six, fourteen thousand six hundred and sixty-six dollars and sixty-four cents; for messengers in the offices of the Chief Engineer, Adjutant General, the Commanding General, Surgeon General and Inspector General and in the Clothing Bureau Topographical, Ordnance, and Subsistence Departments, two thousand five hundred and sixty-eight dollars; for the assistant messenger in the First Comptroller's Office, in addition to a former appropriation, fifty dollars; for compensation to the surveyor in Alabama, in addition to a former appropriation, five hundred dollars; for compensation to the clerks in the office of the Secretary of the Navy, and in the Navy Commissioner's Office, in addition to the sums already appropriated for the present year, nineteen hundred dollars. lating to a clerk Provision of act SECTION 2. And be it further enacted, That so much of the of May, 1836, re- act of the ninth May, eighteen hundred and thirty six, "providin Naval Com- ing for the salaries of certain officers therein named, and for missioner's office, other purposes," as provides for the employment of an additional clerk in the office of the Navy Commissioners, and for his compensation for the year eighteen hundred and thirty-six, be, and the same is hereby, repealed. repealed. Third section of tain appropria retary of Trea to pay collectors, &C. SECTION 3. And be it further enacted, That the third section of act making cer the act making appropriations for the civil and diplomatic extions for 1835, re penses of the Government, for the year one thousand eight hunpealed, and Sec dred and thirty-five, is hereby repealed; and that the Secretary sury authorized of the Treasury be, and he is hereby, authorized to pay to the 'collectors, deputy collectors, naval officers, surveyors, and their respective clerks, together with the weighers, gaugers, measurers, and markers, of the several ports of the United States, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, such sums as will give to the said officers, respectively, the same compensation in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty-six, according to the importations of that year, as they would have been entitled to receive, if the act of the fourteenth of July, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-two, had not gone into effect: Provided, That no officer shall receive, under this act, a greater annual salary or compensation than was paid to such officer for the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty-two; and that, in no case shall the compensation of any other officers than collectors, naval officers, surveyors, and clerks, whether by salaries, fees, or otherwise, exceed the sum of fifteen hundred dollars each per annum; nor shall the union of any two or more of those offices in one person, entitle him to receive more than that sum per annum: Provided, further, That the said collectors, naval officers, and surveyors, shall render an account quarterly to the Treasury, and the other officers herein named, or referred to, shall render an account quarterly to the respective collectors of the customs, where they are employed, to be forwarded to the Treasury, of all the fees and emoluments whatever by them re Provise. Proviso. |