Report of the Committee of Congress respecting the half pay or Commutation Claimed by Officers of the Corps of Artificers [referred to the Commissioner of Army Accounts to take order] [Copy of an order of Congress of the 19 [undecipherable]] [sent to the Commissioner of Army accounts — [undecipherable] the claims of Capt. Bentley [undecipherable] officers Director [undecipherable] the Corps of Artificers for [undecipherable] — Sent to committee M Ellery [undecipherable] and [undecipherable]] The Committee Consisting of: To whom was referred [undecipherable] the late Corps of Artificers, [undecipherable] they be allowed the Commutation of [undecipherable] resolve or on the acts of Congress [undecipherable] That the claims of those officers are founded on the usage of nations [undecipherable] in regard that half pay has been allowed to military officers from a regard to the hardship [undecipherable] dangers they were exposed, but chiefly from a consideration [undecipherable] continuance in the military those habits by which they formerly [undecipherable] for themselves or families, which reasons as justly to the officers of artificers. Your Committee are of opinion, that on this occasion must be the acts of [undecipherable] officers in the corps of artificers, [undecipherable] resolution by which they are entitled [undecipherable] on the contrary they seem to be [undecipherable] claim. The original act of Congress of [undecipherable] half pay was promised for Seven years [undecipherable] tary Officers which certainly did not include and your Committee are of opinion that [undecipherable] which relate to half pay, the same denomination [undecipherable] [undecipherable] and whereas in cases where other officers are honored — Surely the acts of October 3 1780 half pay to officers who might be deceased, never [undecipherable] as giving half pay to any Class of officers [undecipherable] to half pay, had they Continued in [undecipherable] — If any doubts could [undecipherable] officers were intended in the [undecipherable] be fully removed by the act of [undecipherable] It was then resolved, that it be [undecipherable] several States, to allow the Corps of [undecipherable] established by Congress the 12^th Instant all the [undecipherable] provided for officers and Soldiers in the line [undecipherable] of the Continental Battalions, except the half [undecipherable] express exclusion of those [undecipherable] of half pay, your Committee [undecipherable] nothing but a subsequent promise [undecipherable] no can give them a title to the [undecipherable] has been made, wherefore they [undecipherable] resolve. That the officers of the late [undecipherable] the Service of the United States, are [undecipherable] or the Commutation of half pay. The above is a true copy of an original referred to me by Congress to take order Jn.^o Pierce Comm.^r of Army Accounts