Statute ⅠⅠ.
Chap. LXXII.—An Act respecting the punishment of piracy.
May 15, 1820. ch. 113.
District courts to take cognisance of piracy.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 district courts of the United States, in districts where no circuit courts are holden, shall have cognisance of all cases arising under an act of Congress, approved may fifteenth, one thousand eight hundred and twenty, entitled “An act to continue in force an act to protect the commerce of the United States, and punish the crime of piracy; and, also, to make further provisions for punishing the crime of piracy,” and shall have the same power and jurisdiction therein, as the circuit courts of the United States, under the same act.
Approved, March 3, 1823.
RESOLUTIONS.
I. Resolution requiring from the secretary of the Senate and clerk of the House of Representatives, an annual statement of the expenditures from the contingent fund of the two Houses.
Secretary of the Senate and clerk of the House of Representatives required to furnish a detailed statement of their expenditures under different heads.Resolved, by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the secretary of the Senate and clerk of the House of Representatives be, and they are hereby, required to lay before the two Houses, respectively, at the commencement of each session of Congress, a table or statement showing the names and compensation of the clerks employed in their respective offices, and the names and compensation of the messengers of the respective Houses; together with the detailed statement of the items of expenditure of the contingent fund of the respective Houses for the next immediately preceding year; in which statement the disbursements shall be arranged under the following heads, to wit: first, printing; second, stationery, and distinguishing under this head the articles furnished for the use of the members, from those furnished for the offices of the secretary and clerk, and specifying the number of reams of each kind of paper; third, book-binding; fourth, fuel; fifth, newspapers, specifying under this head the amount of orders given at the preceding session, as well a the payments made; sixth, the post-offices; seventh, the repairs and preservation of the furniture; eighth, services of messengers and horses; ninth, miscellaneous items not included under the preceding heads. Which statements shall exhibit, also, the several sums drawn by the said secretary and clerk, respectively, from the treasury, and the balances, if any, remaining in their hands.
Approved, March 1, 1823.
II. Resolution to direct the withholding of the compensation of certain prize agents.
Compensation to be withheld from certain prize agents.Resolved, by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That from and after the first day of July, next ensuing, no prize agent who has not accounted for the prize moneys with which he has heretofore been intrusted for the benefit of the officers and crews of any public armed vessel or vessels of the United States, shall receive from the treasury of the United States any salary or compensation to which he may be entitled, until he shall have accounted for, or repaid into the treasury, all sums so intrusted to him for disbursement.
Approved, March 3, 1823.