their equipments, and for repairing and refitting them, and for securing responsibility in the subordinate officers and agents: which regulations, when approved by the President of the United States, shall be respected and obeyed, until altered and revoked by the same authority; and the said rules and regulations thus prepared and approved, shall be laid before Congress at their next session. It shall also be the duty of said board, upon the requisition of the Secretary of the Navy, to furnish all the estimates of expenditure, which the several branches of the service may require, and such other information and statements as he may deem necessary.
The officer holding the oldest commission to preside at the navy board.Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That the officer of the said board holding the oldest commission shall preside, and each commissioner shall be entitled to receive, in compensation for his services, three thousand five hundred dollars per annum in lieu of wages, rations, and other emoluments, as naval officers; and all letters and packets to and from the said commissioners, which relate to their official duties, shall be free from postage.
This act not to derogate from the powers of the Secretary of the Navy.Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That nothing in this act shall be construed to take from the Secretary of the Navy his control and direction of the naval forces of the United States, as not by law possessed.
Approved, February 7, 1815.
Statute III.
Chap. XXXVIII.—An Act for the better regulation of the Ordnance Department.
Act of May 14, 1812, ch. 83.
Ordnance department, how constituted.Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That from and after the passage of this act, the ordnance department shall consist of one colonel, one lieutenant colonel, two majors, ten captains, ten first lieutenants, ten second lieutenants, and ten third lieutenants.
Colonel may enlist for the service of that department, master armorers, &c.Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That the colonel or senior officer of the ordnance department is authorized to enlist for the service of that department, for five years, as may master armorers, master carriage makers, blacksmiths, labourers, as the public service, in his judgment, under the directions of the Secretary for the Department of War may require.
And to direct the inspection and proof of ordnance, and to procure gun carriages and all needful apparatus.Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of the colonel of the ordnance department to direct the inspection and proving of all pieces of ordnance, cannon balls, shot, shells, small arms, and side arms, and equipments, procured for the use of the armies of the United States; and to direct the construction of all cannon and carriages, and ever implement and apparatus for ordnance, and all ammunition wagons, travelling forges, and artificier’s wagons, the inspection and proving of powder, and the preparation of all kinds of ammunition and ordnance stores. And it shall also be the duty of the colonel or senior officer of the ordnance department, to furnish estimates, and under the direction of the Secretary for the Department of War, to make contracts and purchases for procuring the necessary supplies of arms, equipments, ordnance and ordnance stores.
Proper number of artificers to be attached to regiments, &c.Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That the colonel of the ordnance department shall organize and attach to regiments, corps, or garrisons, such number of artificers, with proper tools, carriages and apparatus, under such regulations and restrictions relative to their government and number, as, in his judgment, with the approbation of the Secretary for the Department of War, may be considered necessary.
Colonel of the ordnance to execute all orders of the Secretary of War.Sec. 5. And be it further enacted, That the colonel of the ordnance department, or senior officer of that department of any district, shall execute all orders of the Secretary for the Department of War, and, in time of war, the orders of any general, or field officer, commanding any army,
