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12th Congress.]

No. 102.

[2d Session.

DEFICIT IN THE NAVAL APPROPRIATIONS.

COMMUNICATED TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, ON THE 7th OF FEBRUARY, 1813.

Navy Department, February 7, 1813.

Sir:

I have the honor of transmitting to you, herewith, papers A, B, and C, which exhibit a view of the navy appropriations on the 27th of January, 1813.

By these papers, it will be seen that the amount overdrawn under the heads of the
several appropriations of pay, provisions, medicines, repairs, contingencies,
navy yards, and quartermaster's stores, is

$366,166 70

And that there was on that day due for bills and requisitions drawn upon the Department,
under these several heads,

206,460 00

That, on that day, there was estimated to be due to the crews of the public ships, and
other vessels in commission, the sum of

365,000 00

And that the balance due and becoming due on contracts for ordnance, is estimated at

105,874 75

Making a deficit in the appropriations of

$1,043,501 45

 

From the paper C you will perceive, sir, that the
appropriations to make good these deficiencies
should be classed as follows, viz:

For pay and subsistence of the navy,

$512,034 06

For provisions,

84,471 00

For medicines and hospital stores,

14,529 99

For repairs,

218,130 83

For contingent account,

77,725 81

For navy yards,

25,905 64

For quartermaster's stores,

4,829 37

For ordnance,

105,874 75

 

$1,043,501 45

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I incline, however, to the opinion that this classification, with respect to the sums stated as required for provisions and for ordnance, would admit of an alteration beneficial to the public service, although the Department is not in; possession of that minute information which would enable me to form a conclusive and satisfactory opinion upon the subject. On the one hand it is confidently believed (although we have no actual returns) that, of the supplies of provisions heretofore provided, there is on hand more than can be consumed during the present year, and of course that a considerable quantity might be sold: on the other hand, it is known that our supply of small arms, such as muskets, pistols, cutlasses, boarding pikes, battle axes, &c, also of shot and ball, is very limited. Under these circumstances, I would recommend that the whole amount transferred, during the late recess of Congress, from ordnance, be now appropriated to ordnance, and that the difference between the sum of one hundred and five thousand eight hundred and seventy-four dollars and seventy-five cents, and the one hundred and fifty thousand dollars so transferred, be deducted from the sum of eighty-four thousand four hundred and seventy-one dollars, stated as the deficit under the head of provisions.

Should this idea meet your concurrence, the appropriations should be made thus—

For pay, &c.

$512,034 06

For provisions,

40,345 75

For medicines, &c.

14,529 99

For repairs,

218,130 83

For contingent account,

77,725 31

For navy yards, &c.

25,905 64

For quartermaster's stores, &c.

4,829 37

For ordnance,

150,000 00

$1,043,501 45

I have the honor to be, with great respect, sir, your most obedient servant,

Honorable Langdon Cheves,

Chairman of the Committee of Ways and Means.

A.

Statement of Navy Appropriations, January 27, 1813.

SPECIFIC HEADS OF APPROPRIATION.

Balance in the
hands of the
Secretary
of the Treasury.

Balance in the
hands of
the Treasurer
of the U. States.

Overdrawn.

Pay, &c. of the navy,

$55,984 06

Provisions,

45,971 00 1/2

Medicines,

11,279 99

Repairs of vessels,

185,130 83

Contingent expenses,

$25,000 00

73,725 81 1/2

Navy yards, docks, &c.

15,255 64

Ordnance,

$2,725 25

Sulphur and saltpetre,

75,080. 51

Repairs of frigate Constellation, &c

5,308 10

Purchase of timber,

75,000 00

114,129 13

Purchase and equipment of captured vessels,

328,750 00

88,800 00

Putting and keeping in service
when repaired, frigates Constellation, &c

51,250 00

Repairs of vessels damaged in action,

280,000 00

74,000 00

Marine Corps.

Pay, &c.

25,725 10

19,249 28

Clothing,

12,577 20

3,564 12

Military stores,

1,178 43

Medicines,

5,373 30

Quartermaster's stores, &c.

3,829 37

747,052 30

440,658 12

391,176 71

391,176 71

$747,052 30.

$49,481 41

391,176 71

 

Balance in the hands of the Treasurer,

$49,481 41

Balance in the hands of the Secretary of the Treasury,

747,052 30

$796,533 71

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B.

Exhibit showing the appropriations for the Navy for the year 1812, which have been overdrawn; the amount of each appropriation as made by the act of February 24, 1812; the amount transferred from, and to, the appropriations so overdrawn; the amount of each of such appropriations subject to the warrants of the Secretary of the Navy; the amount of warrants drawn upon each, and the amount overdrawn under each head of appropriation.

APPROPRIATION.

Amount appropriated by act of Feb. 24, 1812.

Am'nt transferred from this appropriation to others.

Amount transferred to this appropriation from others.

Whole am't of this appropriation subject to the warrants of the Secretary of the Navy.

Am't of warrants actually drawn upon the Treasurer, and paid under this head of appropriation.

Am't which the warrants drawn upon the Treasurer and paid, exceed the am't subject to the warrants of the Sec'tary of the Navy.

Pay & subsistence of the navy,

$1,123,341

$270,000

$853,341

$909,325 06

$55,984 06

Provisions,

559,757

100,000

$50,000

509,757

555,728 00

45,971 00

Repairs,

315,000

450,000

765,000

950,130 83

185,130 83

Contingent account,

115,000

95,000

210,000

258,725 81 1/2

48,725 81 1/2

Navy yards,

60,000

60,000

75,255 64

15,255 64

Quartermaster's stores, &c.

20,000

20,000

23,829 37

3,829 37

Medicines, &c.

40,000

40,000

51,279 99

11,279 99

$366,176 70 1/2

 

Note.—Of the appropriation for pay, &c. made for the year 1812, there was transferred—

To "Repairs,"

$200,00000

"Contingent,"

70,00000

$270,00000

 

PROVISIONS.

Overdrawn under this head, per papers A and B.

$45,971 00

Amount of requisitions not complied with,

37,500 00

Amount of bills not paid,

1,000 00

Deficit under this head,

$84,471 00

Note.—.Of the appropriation for provisions, made for the year 1812, there was transferred—

To "Repairs,"

$100,000 00

And there was transferred from the appropriation for "Sulphur," &c. to "Provisions,"

50,000 00

 

MEDICINES, &c.

Overdrawn under this head, per papers A and B,

$11,279 99

Amount of requisitions not complied with,

3,250 00

Deficit under this head,

$14,529 99

 

REPAIRS.

Overdrawn under this head, per papers A and B

$185,130 83

Amount of requisitions not complied with,

27,000 00

Amount of bills not paid,

6,000 00

Deficit under this head,

$218,130 83

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Note.—In aid of the appropriation for repairs
there was transferred, during the late recess, from
the appropriation for "Pay," &c.

$200,000 00

"Provisions,"

100,000 00

"Ordnance,"

150,000 00

$450,000 00

 

CONTINGENT ACCOUNT

Overdrawn under this head, per papers A and B.

$73,725 81 1/2

From which deduct the balance yet in the hands of the Secretary of the Treasury,

25,000 00

$48,725 81 1/2

Amount of requisitions not complied with,

29,000 00

Deficit under this head,

$77,725 81 1/2

Note.—In aid of the appropriation for contingent expenses there was transferred, during the late

recess, from the appropriation for "Pay," &c.

$70,000 00

" Sulphur," &c.

25,000 00

$95,000 00

 

NAVY YARDS, &c.

Overdrawn under this head, per papers A and B,

$15,255 64

Amount of requisitions not complied with,

10,000 00

Amount of bills not paid,

650 00

Deficit under this head,

$25,905 64

 

Quartermaster's stores, &c.

Overdrawn under this head, per papers A and B,

$3,829 37

Amount of requisitions not complied with,

1,000 00

Deficit under this head,

$4,829 37

 

ORDNANCE.

Requisitions not complied with,

$8,600 00

Deduct the amount stated, per paper A,
to be in the hands of the Treasurer,

2,725 25

Deficit in this view,

$5,874 75

Note.—Upon the contracts for ordnance there is, at this time, a large amount due to contractors. This amount cannot, however, be ascertained, with any precision, in time to be communicated during the present session of Congress. The sum due, and becoming due, is probably about two-thirds the amount transferred, during the late recess of Congress, from this appropriation to that of "Repairs." The sum so transferred was, as stated under the head of "Repairs," one hundred and fifty thousand dollars; the sum then due, and becoming due, would, in this view, be about one hundred thousand dollars. The best opinion that I can form, under existing circumstances, is, that the deficit of the appropriation for ordnance ought not to be stated at less than one hundred and five thousand eight hundred and seventy-lour dollars and seventy-five cents.