Report on the Petition of William Wirtz, [27 February 1794]
Report on the Petition of William Wirtz1
[Philadelphia, February 27, 1794
Communicated on March 3, 1794]2
[To the Speaker of the House of Representatives]
The Secretary of the Treasury, to whom was referred by an order of the House of Representatives of the 8th of January 1793, the petition of William Wirtz,3 thereupon respectfully reports as follows—
It is stated by the petitioner, that he acted as Barrack Master and Assistant Commissary of Prisoners in the Borough of Lancaster during a certain period in the year 1782, for which Services he claims Compensation.
It does not appear that in the year 1782 such an appointment as Barrack Master was authorized by any Resolution of Congress: It is understood that the Service was connected with that of the Deputy Commissary of prisoners and was to be performed by him—That persons were employed by that Officer to assist in his duties, who were paid by him and the payments charged in his Account.
The Petitioner (alleging that he was appointed by the Deputy Commissary of Prisoners) it is presumed ought to have obtained Compensation for his Services through the same Channel. There being no evidence of a timely application, the Claim is now barred by the Act of the 23d July 1787,4 and is considered by the Secretary as one of those, in regard to which a Legislative interposition would not be adviseable.
All which is humbly submitted
Alexander Hamilton
Secy. of the Treasury
February 27th. 1794.
Copy, RG 233, Reports of the Secretary of the Treasury, 1784–1795, Vol. IV, National Archives.
1. This report was one of twenty-nine reports on petitions enclosed in H to Frederick A. C. Muhlenberg, February 27, 1794.
2. , II, 77–78.
3. On January 8, 1793, a “petition of William Wirtz was presented to the House and read, praying compensation for services as Barrackmaster and Assistant Commissary of Prisoners, at the borough of Lancaster, in the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty-two.
“Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the Secretary of the Treasury, with instruction to examine the same, and report his opinion thereupon to the House.” (, I, 663.)