Report on the Petition of William Simmons, [24 February 1791]
Report on the Petition of William Simmons1
Treasury Department,
February 24th: 1791.
[Communicated on February 24, 1791]2
The Secretary of the Treasury, pursuant to the Order of the House of Representatives of the seventh day of January,3 referring to him the petition of William Simmons;
Respectfully reports:
That on comparing the services to be performed, by the chief Clerk of the Auditor, with those to be performed by the chief Clerk of the Comptroller, and the qualifications requisite in each case, he does not perceive any reason for a difference in their respective compensations:4 And as the variety and importance of the business, committed to those Officers, require that they should have able assistance, it does not appear to the Secretary, that the allowance to the chief Clerk of the Comptroller is greater, than it ought to be: He is therefore of opinion, that it will be expedient to raise that of the chief Clerk of the Auditor, to the same standard.5
All which is humbly submitted
Alexander Hamilton. Secy. of the Treasy.
Copy, RG 233, Reports of the Treasury Department, 1791–1792, Vol. II, National Archives.
1. William Simmons was chief clerk to the auditor of the Treasury.
2. , 388.
3. On January 7, 1791, “A petition of William Simmons was presented to the House and read, praying an augmentation of his salary, as principal Clerk in the office of the Auditor of the Treasury.
“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.” (, 350.)
4. “An Act for establishing the Salaries of the Executive Officers of Government, with their Assistants and Clerks” provided that the salary of the chief clerk of the comptroller be eight hundred dollars; that of the chief clerk of the auditor was to be six hundred dollars ( 68 [September 11, 1789]).
5. Following H’s report, Congress adopted “An Act supplemental to the act ‘establishing the Treasury Department,’ and for a farther compensation to certain officers.” Section 3 of this act provided that “it shall and may be lawful for the principal in any of the offices of the United States, who is authorized by law to appoint clerks under him, to allow to each clerk such compensation for his services, as he shall, in the opinion of such officer, deserve for the same: Provided, That the whole sum to be expended for clerks in any such office (except the chief clerk) shall not exceed a sum equal to five hundred dollars per annum for every clerk employed therein” ( 215 [March 3, 1791]).