United States Statutes at Large/Volume 2/9th Congress/1st Session/Chapter 35
Chap. XXXV.—An Act in addition to an act, intituled “An act supplementary to the act providing for a naval peace establishment, and for other purposes.”
Second and fourth sections of the act of March 3, 1801, ch. 20, repealed.Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the second and fourth sections of “An act providing for a naval peace establishment, and for other purposes,” be, and the same are hereby repealed.
President to keep in actual service, in time of peace, as many frigates as he may think proper.
Rest to be laid up.
Armed vessels officered and armed as the President chooses.
Number of officers.
Half pay to officers not under orders.Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That the President of the United States be, and he is hereby authorized to keep in actual service, in time of peace, so many of the frigates and other public armed vessels of the United States, as in his judgment the nature of the service may require, and to cause the residue thereof to be laid up in ordinary in convenient ports.
Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That the public armed vessels of the United States, in actual service, in time of peace, shall be officered and manned, as the President of the United States shall direct: provided that the officers shall not exceed the following numbers and grades, that is to say; thirteen captains, nine masters commandant, seventy-two lieutenants, and one hundred and fifty midshipmen: but the said officers shall receive no more than half their monthly pay, during the time when they shall not be under orders for actual service; and provided further, that the whole number of able seamen, ordinary seamen and boys shall not exceed nine hundred and twenty-five; but the President may appoint, for the vessels in actual service, so many surgeons, surgeon’s mates, sailing masters, chaplains, pursers, boatswains, gunners, sail makers, and carpenters, as may in his opinion be necessary and proper.
Approved, April 21, 1806.