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[See Journal Page. 25.]

COMMUNICATION

FROM THE SECRETARY, IN ANSWER TO A RESOLUTION OF OCTOBER 20, 1847.

Office of the Secretary of Wisconsin Territory, Į

To Hon. I. P. Walker,

MADISON, October 20th, 1847.

Speaker of the House of Representatives,

SIR-In compliance with a resolution passed the house of representatives of Wisconsin territory this day, I have the honor to report, that in the act of Congress approved March 3d, 1847, making general appropriations for the United States, (see laws of last session of congress, page 77,) is to be found the following under the heading of "Wisconsin territory:" "For compensation and mileage of the members of the legislative assembly, pay of officers and attendants, printing, stationery, fuel and other incidental and contingent expenses, thirteen thousand seven hundred dollars: Provided, That only so much of the foregoing appropriation for Wisconsin territory shall be drawn from the treasury as may be necessary to defray the expenses of said territory until the formation of a state government therein, and the admission of said state into the Union.".

The above appropriation is applicable to the payment of the expenses of any legal sessions of the legislature held within the fiscal year for which it was made. My instructions for the disbursement of the public money are general, and are principally to be found in a letter from the first comptroller of the treasury under date of April 15th, 1846, a copy of which is herewith enclosed.

With great respect,

Your obedient servant,

JOHN CATLIN,

Secretary of Wisconsin Territory.

Copy of a Letter

OF THE FIRST COMPTROLLER CONTAINING INSTRUCTIONS, &c.

Treasury Department, Comptroller's office,

15th April, 1846.

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SIR-In reply to your enquiries dated 26th ultimo, I have to state that the disbursements which you may make in payment of expenses incurred or authorized by the legislative assembly of Wisconsin, for and at any session, that can be allowed here, are such only as have been estimated for by the secretary of the treasury, and the object been approved by congress, (vide chap. 259, sec. 21, act of congress approved August 29, 42.)-Also, that for these you can be allowed in the aggregate only to an amount equal to what has been appropriated by congress to defray the expenses of such session, (vide chap. 29. sec. 1, article 117, act of congress, approved May 18, '42.)-Further that you could not be allowed credit for any payment that you might make to the late secretary, whose accounts will be adjusted at this depart ment, and credit be given to him in said adjustment for every disbursement which he may have lawfully made, whether the same had in fact been paid out of his proper funds, or out of the money advanded to him by the United States for that purpose.

As money has been advanced to Mr. Floyd from the treasury of the United States, for which he has not yet accounted, any money that might be ascertained and certified here to be owing to him, on any account would be placed to his credit, instead of being paid to him," or his order, for the treasury practice and duty of its pay-officers to the public and towards the sureties of an ex-officer, require such pay-officers to withhold all payments from an ex-officer, until a balance account has been stated, showing that he is a creditor of the United States and similar considerations require that you

should not make any payment whatsoever to your predeces

sor.

Finally, it does not appear that the secretary of the treasury included in his estimate of legislative expenses for the year 1845-6, any item for the purchase of books for the library of the territory of Wisconsin, nor that congress approved that object by making any appropriation for it. With respect,

JOHN CATLIN, Esquire,

Your obedient servant,
J. W. McCOLLOH,
Comptroller.

Secretary of Wisconsin Territory, Madison, W. T.

[See Journal Page 31.]

AN ABSTRACT

Of the number of Delegates to form a State Constitution, as apportioned by the Executive to the different counties of the territory, on the 1st day of August, 1846, together with the population of each of the counties, upon which such apportionment was based.

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[See Journal Page 31.]

ABSTRACT

Of the official returns of the votes cast for and against the adoption of the Constitution for State Government, in April, 1817.

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