Part 64

Barred Claims.

The PRESIDENT communicated the report of the Secretary for the Department of the Treasury, made in pursuance of the resolution of the Senate of the 26th instant, on the subject of claims barred by the statute of limitations; and the report was read, as follows:

TREASURY DEPARTMENT, April 28, 1810.

SIR: I have the honor to transmit a report prepared in obedience to the resolution of the Senate, of the twenty-six instant. I have the honor to be, &c.,

ALBERT GALLATIN.

To the Honorable the President of the Senate:

The Secretary of the Treasury, in obedience to the resolution of the Senate, of the 26th instant, respectfully reports--

That it appears, by the letter from the Register of the Treasury, herewith transmitted, that the statement of all the claims adjusted and allowed, by virtue of the act, entitled "An act providing for the settlement of the claims of persons under particular circumstances, barred by the limitations heretofore established," cannot be completed before the day contemplated for the adjournment of Congress, but will be prepared so as to be laid before the Senate at the commencement of their next session.

That the statement (A) herewith transmitted, exhibits the amount of the balances standing on the books of the Treasury against the United States, which are barred by the statutes of limitation, and arranged under the following heads, viz:

Loan Office certificates $90,811 36 Indents for interest on the public debt 64,590 98 Final settlement certificates 23,873 24 Commissioners' certificates 4,304 83 Army commissioners' do. 46,468 97 Credits given in lieu of army commissioners' certificates cancelled 28,674 30 Credits for pay of the army, for which no certificates were ever issued 17,132 11 Invalid pensions 16,635 46 ---------- Amounting together to 292,491 25 ==========

That so far as relates to the said balances, which result altogether from accounts actually settled at the Treasury, the statute of limitation can be repealed without subjecting the Government to imposition; but that considering the length of time which has elapsed since the claims have been barred, and the little value on that account affixed to them, the repeal of the statute, unless properly guarded in that respect, may not generally benefit the rightful claimants.

And that with the exception of those balances, it is not believed that it would be safe to repeal the statute of limitation in relation to any other general description of claims; although there may be special cases in which, notwithstanding the lapse of time, the proper proofs and checks may still exist, so as to prevent any imposition on the public.

All which is respectfully submitted.

ALBERT GALLATIN.

TUESDAY, May 1.

Barred Claims.

Mr. HILLHOUSE, from the same committee, further reported as follows:

Resolved, That the Secretary for the Department of the Treasury report to the Senate, at their next meeting, the necessary provisions for guarding the Treasury of the United States from fraud and imposition on the removal of the statute of limitations, in relation to the following claims mentioned in his report of the 28th of April, 1810, viz:

1. Loan office certificates.

2. Indents for interest on the public debt.

3. Final settlement certificates.

4. Commissioners' certificates.

5. Army certificates.

6. Credits given in lieu of Army certificates cancelled.

7. Credits for the pay of the Army, for which no certificates were issued.

8. Invalid pension.

Also, how far the statute of limitations may with safety be removed, as to claims for personal services rendered in the Army of the United States, during the Revolutionary war, and the guard and checks necessary and proper to be adopted.

And the report was considered and agreed to.