weights ofcoins, In a large num ber together. Deviation from the coins, the following deviations from the standard weight shall not be legal standard exceeded in any of the single pieces: In the dollar and half dollar, one allowed in the grain and a half; in the quarter dollar, one grain; in the dime and half dime, half a grain; in the gold coins, one-quarter of a grain; in the copper coins, one grain in the pennyweight; and that in weighing a large number of pieces together, when delivered from the chief coiner to the treasurer, and from the treasurer to the depositors, the deviations from the standard weight shall not exceed the following limits: Four pennyweights in one thousand dollars; three pennyweights in one thousand half dollars; two pennyweights in one thousand quarter dollars; one pennyweight in one thousand dimes; one pennyweight in one thousand half dimes; two pennyweights in one thousand eagles; one and a half pennyweight in one thousand half eagles; one pennyweight in one thousand quarter eagles. Coins to be weighed. Coins to be preserved for the annual trial. Disposition of clippings, &c. Treasurer's account with chief coiner. SEC. 26. And be it further enacted, That the chief coiner shall, from time to time, as the coins are prepared, deliver them over to the treasurer, who shall keep a careful record of their kind, number, and weight; and that, in receiving the coins, it shall be the duty of the treasurer to see whether the coins of that delivery are within the legal limits of the standard weight; and if his trials for this purpose shall not prove satisfactory, he shall cause all the coins of this delivery to be weighed separately, and such as are not of legal weight shall be delivered to the melter and refiner, as standard bullion, to be again formed into ingots and recoined. SEC. 27. And be it further enacted, That at every delivery of coins made by the chief coiner to the treasurer, it shall be the duty of the treasurer, in the presence of the assayer, to take indiscriminately, a certain number of pieces of each variety for the annual trial of coins, (the number being prescribed by the director,) which shall be carefully labelled, and deposited in a chest appropriated for the purpose, kept under the joint care of the treasurer and assayer, and so secured that neither can have access to its contents without the presence of the other. SEC. 28. And be it further enacted, That the chief coiner shall, from time to time, deliver to the treasurer the clippings and other portions of bullion remaining after the process of coining, and that the treasurer shall keep a careful record of their amount. SEC. 29. And be it further enacted, That in the treasurer's account with the chief coiner, the chief coiner shall be debited with the amount in weight of standard metal of all the bullion placed in his hands, and credited with the amount, also by weight, of all the coins, clippings, and other bullion delivered by him to the treasurer; and that once at least in every year, at such time as the director shall appoint, the chief coiner shall deliver to the treasurer all the coins and bullion in his possession, so that his accounts may be settled up to that time; and, in this Allowance for settlement, he shall be entitled to a credit for the difference between the whole amount of the ingots delivered to him, and of the coins and bullion received from him, since the last settlement, as an allowance for necessary waste: Provided, That this allowance shall not exceed two thousandths of the whole amount of the silver, or one and one-half thousandth of the whole amount of the gold, that had been delivered to him by the treasurer. necessary waste. Proviso. Payment for bullion deposited to be coined. SEC. 30. And be it further enacted, That when the coins which are the equivalent to any deposite of bullion are ready for delivery, they shall be paid over to the depositor, or his order, by the treasurer, on a warrant from the director; and the payment shall be made, if demanded, in the order in which the bullion shall have been brought to the mint, giving priority according to priority of deposite only; and that in the denominations of coin delivered, the treasurer shall comply with the wishes of the depositor, unless when impracticable or inconvenient to do so; in which case, the denominations of coin shall be designated by the director. SEC. 31. And be it further enacted, That for the purpose of enabling the mint to make returns to depositors with as little delay as possible, it shall be the duty of the Secretary of the Treasury to keep in the said mint, when the state of the treasury will admit thereof, a deposite of such amount of public money, or of bullion procured for the purpose, as he shall judge convenient and necessary, not exceeding one million of dollars, out of which those who bring bullion to the mint may be paid the value thereof, as soon as practicable, after this value has been ascertained; that the bullion so deposited shall become the property of the United States; that no discount or interest shall be charged on moneys so advanced; and that the Secretary of the Treasury may at any time withdraw the said deposite, or any part thereof, or may, at his discretion, allow the coins formed at the mint to be given for their equivalent in other money. SEC. 32. And be it further enacted, That to secure a due conformity in the gold and silver coins to their respective standards and weights, an annual trial shall be made of the pieces reserved for this purpose at the mint and its branches, before the judge of the district court of the United States, for the eastern district of Pennsylvania, the attorney of the United States, for the eastern district of Pennsylvania, and the collector of the port of Philadelphia, and such other persons as the President shall, from time to time, designate for that purpose, who shall meet as commissioners, for the performance of this duty, on the second Monday in February, annually, and may continue their meetings by adjournment, if necessary; and if a majority of the commissioners shall fail to attend at any time appointed for their meeting, then the director of the mint shall call a meeting of the commissioners at such other time as he may deem convenient; and that before these commissioners, or a majority of them, and in the presence of the officers of the mint, such examination shall be made of the reserved pieces as shall be judged sufficient; and if it shall appear that these pieces do not differ from the standard fineness and weight by a greater quantity than is allowed by law, the trial shall be considered and reported as satisfactory; but if any greater deviation from the legal standard or weight shall appear, this fact shall be certified to the President of the United States, and if, on a view of the circumstances of the case, he shall so decide, the officer or officers implicated in the error shall be thenceforward disqualified from holding their respective offices. SEC. 33. And be it further enacted, That copper bullion shall be purchased for the mint, from time to time, by the treasurer, under instructions from the director; that the cost shall be paid from the fund hereinafter provided for; and that the copper bullion shall be of good quality, and in form of planchets fit for passing at once into the hands of the chief coiner. SEC. 34. And be it further enacted, That the copper planchets shall be delivered, from time to time, by the treasurer to the chief coiner, to be by him coined; and all such copper shall be returned to the treasurer, by the chief coiner, weight for weight, without allowance for waste. SEC. 35. And be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of the treasurer of the mint to deliver the copper coins, in exchange for their legal equivalent in other money, to any persons who shall apply for them: Provided, That the sum asked for be not less than a certain amount, to be determined by the director, and that it be not so great as, in his judgment, to interfere with the capacity of the mint to supply other applicants. Deposit of public money to be by Secretary of kept in the mint Treasury. Annual trial of coins. Act of March 3, 1823, ch. 42, sect. 2, repealed. Purchase of copper bullion. Coinage of copper. Copper coins may be exchanged for other money. Proviso. STATUTE II. Jan. 18, 1837. [Expired.] 1833, ch. 32. Act of June 30, 1834, ch. 153. SEC. 36. And be it further enacted, That the copper coins may, at the discretion of the director, be delivered in any of the principal cities and towns of the United States, at the cost of the mint for transportation. SEC. 37. And be it further enacted, That the money received by the treasurer in exchange for copper coins shall form a fund in his hands, which shall be used to purchase copper planchets, and to pay the expense of transportation of copper coins; and that if there be a surplus, the same shall be appropriated to defray the contingent expenses of the mint. SEC. 38. And be it further enacted, That all acts or parts of acts heretofore passed, relating to the mint and coins of the United States, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this act, be, and the same are hereby repealed. APPROVED, January 18, 1837. CHAP. IV. An act making appropriations for the payment of the revolutionary and other pensioners of the United States, for the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty-seven. 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, appropriated, to be paid out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated for the pensioners of the United States, for the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty seven: For the revolutionary pensioners, under the several acts, other than those of the fifteenth of May, one thousand eight hundred and twentyeight; the seventh of June, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-two; and the fourth of July, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-six, seven hundred and twelve thousand five hundred and sixty dollars; For the invalid pensioners, under various laws, three hundred and twenty-five thousand three hundred and seventy-six dollars: For pensions to widows and orphans, under the act of the fourth of July, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-six, five hundred and fiftytwo thousand dollars: For pensions to widows and orphans, payable through the office of the Third Auditor, four thousand dollars. APPROVED, January 18, 1837. CHAP. V.-An Act to provide for the payment of horses and other property lost or destroyed in the military service of the United States. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United Act of Feb. 19, States of America in Congress assembled, That any field, or staff, or other officer, mounted militiaman, volunteer, ranger, or cavalry, engaged in the military service of the United States since the eighteenth of June, eighteen hundred and twelve, or who shall hereafter be in said service, and has sustained or shall sustain damage, without any fault or negligence on his part, while in said service, by the loss of a horse in battle or by the loss of a horse wounded in battle, and which has died or shall die of said wound or being so wounded shall be abandoned by others to be paid order of his officer and lost; or shall sustain damage by the loss of any horse by death, or abandonment, in consequence of the United States failing to supply sufficient forage, or because the rider was dismounted and separated from his horse, and ordered to do duty on foot at a station detached from his horse; or when the officer in the immediate command ordered or shall order the horse turned out to graze in the woods, prairies, or commons, because the United States failed or shall fail to supply sufficient forage, and the loss was or shall be consequent Officers and the value of horses lost. thereof; or for the loss of necessary equipage, in consequence of the loss of his horse as aforesaid, shall be allowed and paid the value thereof: Provided, That if any payment has been, or shall be, made to any one aforesaid, for the use and risk, or for forage, after the death, loss, or abandonment of his horse, said payment shall be deducted from the value thereof, unless he satisfied or shall satisfy the paymaster at the time he made or shall make the payment, or thereafter show, by proof, that he was remounted, in which case the deduction shall only extend to the time he was on foot: And provided, also, If any payment shall have been, or shall hereafter be, made to any person above mentioned, on account of clothing, to which he was not entitled by law, such payment shall be deducted from the value of his horse or accoutre ments. SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That any person who, in the said military service as a volunteer, or draughted militiaman, furnished or shall furnish himself with arms and military accoutrements, and sustained or shall sustain damage by the capture or destruction of the same, without any fault or negligence on his part, or who lost or shall lose the same by reason of his being wounded in the service, shall be allowed and paid the value thereof. SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That any person who sustained or shall sustain damage by the loss, capture, or destruction by an enemy, of any horse, mule, or wagon, cart, boat, sleigh, or harness, while such property was in the military service of the United States, either by impressment or contract, except in cases where the risk to which the property would be exposed was agreed to be incurred by the owner, if it shall appear that such loss, capture, or destruction was without any fault or negligence on the part of the owner; and any person who, without any such fault or negligence, sustained or shall sustain damage by the death or abandonment and loss of any such horse, mule, or ox, while in the service aforesaid, in consequence of the failure on the part of the United States to furnish the same with sufficient forage, shall be allowed and paid the value thereof. Claims to be adjusted by Third Auditor, under rules pre scribed by Secretary of War, &c. SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That the claims provided for under this act shall be adjusted by the Third Auditor, under such rules as shall be prescribed by the Secretary of War, under the direction or with the assent of the President of the United States; as well in regard to the receipt of applications of claimants, as the species and degree of evidence, the manner in which such evidence shall be taken and authenticated, which rules shall be such as, in the opinion of the President, shall be best calculated to obtain the object of this act, paying a due regard, as well to the claims of individual justice as to the interests of the United States, which rules and regulations shall be published for four weeks in such newspapers in which the laws of the United States be published. are published, as the Secretary of War shall direct. SEC. 5. And be it further enacted, That in all adjudications of said Auditor upon the claims above mentioned, whether such judgment be in favor of, or adverse to, the claim shall be entered in a book provided by him for that purpose, and under his direction; and when such judgment shall be in favor of such claim, the claimant, or his legal representative, shall be entitled to the amount thereof upon the production of a copy thereof certified by said Auditor at the Treasury of the United States. SEC. 6. And be it further enacted, That in all instances where any minor has been, or shall be, engaged in the military service of the United States, and was or shall be provided with a horse or equipments, or with military accoutrements, by his parent or guardian, and has died or shall die without paying for said property, and the same has been or shall be lost, captured, destroyed, or abandoned in the manner before Rules, &c., to Entry of all adjudications to ants to be paid on producing be made; claim certified copies thereof. Payment for losses by minors to be made to parents or guardians. Persons other than minors to be paid for property risked by them which has been lost. Acts of 19 February, 1833, ch. 33; and 30 June, 1834, ch. 153, repealed. Limitation of act. STATUTE II. Jan. 26, 1837. Act of June 15, 1836, ch. 99. Act of June 23, 1836, ch. 121. mentioned, said parent or guardian shall be allowed pay therefor on making satisfactory proof as in other cases, and the further proof that he is entitled thereto by having furnished the same. SEC. 7. And be it further enacted, That in all instances where any person other than a minor has been or shall be engaged in the military service aforesaid, and has been or shall be provided with a horse or equipments, or with military accoutrements by any person, the owner thereof, who has risked or shall take the risk of such horse, equipments, or military accoutrements on himself, and the same has been or shall be lost, captured, destroyed, or abandoned in the manner before mentioned, such owner shall be allowed pay therefor, on making satisfactory proof as in other cases, and the further proof that he is entitled thereto, by having furnished the same, and having taken the risk on himself. SEC. 8. And be it further enacted, That the act passed on the nineteenth of February, eighteen hundred and thirty-three, entitled "An act for the payment of horses and arms lost in the military service of the United States against the Indians on the frontier of Illinois and Michigan Territory," and an act passed on the thirtieth of June, eighteen hundred and thirty-four, entitled "An act to provide for the payment of claims for property lost, captured or destroyed by the enemy, while in the military service of the United States, during the late war with the Indians on the frontier of Illinois and Michigan Territory," be, and the same are hereby, repealed. SEC. 9. And be it further enacted, That this act shall be and remain in force until the close of the next session of Congress. APPROVED, January 18, 1837. CHAP. VI.—An Act to admit the State of Michigan into the Union, upon an equal footing with the original States. Whereas, in pursuance of the act of Congress of June the fifteenth, eighteen hundred and thirty-six, entitled "An act to establish the northern boundary of the State of Ohio, and to provide for the admission of the State of Michigan into the Union upon the conditions therein expressed," a convention of delegates, elected by the people of the said State of Michigan, for the sole purpose of giving their assent to the boundaries of the said State of Michigan as described, declared, and established, in and by the said act, did, on the fifteenth of December, eighteen hundred and thirty-six, assent to the provisions of said act, therefore: Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the State of Michigan shall be one, and is hereby declared to be one, of the United States of Admitted into America, and admitted into the Union on an equal footing with the original States, in all respects whatever. the Union. Entitled to a deposit of the surplus reve nue. Act of June 23, 1836, ch. 115. STATUTE II. Jan. 31, 1837. East Florida Rail-road Com SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That the Secretary of the Treain carrying into effect the thirteenth and fourteenth sections of sury, the act of the twenty-third of June, eighteen hundred and thirty-six, entitled "An act to regulate the deposites of the public money," shall consider the State of Michigan as being one of the United States. APPROVED, January 26, 1837. CHAP. IX.-An Act to authorize certain rail-road companies to construct railroads through the public lands in the Territory of Florida. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the East Florida pany authorized Rail-road Company, a corporation established by an act of the Governor |
