of the monies appropriated for a particular branch of expenditure in that department, be applied to another branch of expenditure in the same department, in which case a special account of the monies thus transferred, and of their application, shall be laid before Congress during the first week of their next ensuing session.
Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of the comptroller of the treasury, in every case where in his opinion further delays would be injurious to the United States, and he is hereby authorized to direct the auditor of the treasury, and the accountants of the war and navy departments, at any time, forthwith to audit and settle any particular account which the said officers may be respectively authorized to audit and settle, and to report such settlement for his revision and final decision. And the said comptroller shall also lay an annual statement before Congress,Annual statement to be laid before Congress by the comptroller of certain delinquencies. during the first week of their session, of the accounts in the treasury, war or navy departments, which may have remained more than three years unsettled, or on which balances appear to have been due more than three years, prior to the thirtieth of September then last past, together with a statement of the causes which have prevented the settlement of the accounts or the recovery of the balances due to the United States.
Agents for the purchase of supplies and making of contracts, and disbursements.Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That exclusively of the purveyor of public supplies, paymasters of the army, pursers of the navy, military agents, and other officers already authorized by law, no other permanent agents shall be appointed either for the purpose of making contracts, or for the purchase of supplies, or for the disbursement in any other manner, of monies for the use of the military establishment, or of the navy of the United States, but such as shall be appointed by the President of the United States, with the advice and consent of the Senate:The President may during the recess of the Senate appoint agents and fix the number and compensation.
Limitation of the compensation. Provided, that the President may, and he is hereby authorized, in the recess of the Senate, to appoint all or any of such agents, which appointments shall be submitted to the Senate at their next session, for their advice and consent, and the President of the United States is hereby authorized, until otherwise provided by law, to fix the number and compensations of such agents: Provided, that the compensation allowed to either shall not exceed one per centum on the public monies disbursed by him, nor in any instance the compensation allowed by law to the purveyor of public supplies.
Agents, &c. to give bonds.Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That every such agent as may be appointed by virtue of the next preceding section, and every purser of the navy, shall give bond with one or more sufficient sureties, in such sums as the President of the United States may direct, for the faithful discharge of the trust reposed in him; and the paymaster of the army, the military agents, the purveyor of public supplies, the pursers of the navy, and the agents appointed by virtue of the preceding section, shall, whenever practicable, keep the public monies in their hands,To keep the public money in banks, &c. &c. in some incorporated bank, to be designated for the purpose by the President of the United States, and shall make monthly returns in such form as may be prescribed by the treasury department, of the monies received and expended during the preceding month, and of the unexpended balance in their hands.
Purchases and contracts, how to be made, &c. &c.Sec. 5. And be it further enacted, That all purchases and contracts for supplies or services which are or may, according to law, be made by, or under the direction of either the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of War, or the Secretary of the Navy, shall be made either by open purchase, or by previously advertising for proposals respecting the same: And an annualAn annual statement of contracts and purchases to be laid before Congress at the beginning of each year. statement of all such contracts and purchases, and also of the expenditure of the monies appropriated for the contingent expenses of the military establishment, for the contingent expenses of the navy of the United States, and for the discharge of miscellaneous