Ordinance for the War Department dated June 1789 [printed text with handwritten annotations, representated by italic writing] A BILL to establish an EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, to be denominated the DEPARTMENT of WAR. BE it enacted by the CONGRESS Senate & House of Representatives of the United States, of America in Congress assembled, That there shall be an executive department, to be denominated THE DEPARTMENT of WAR : and that there shall be a principal officer therein, to be called the Secretary to the United States, for the Department of War, to be removable from office by the President of the United States, and who shall perform and execute such duties, services, and functions, as shall, from time to time be enjoined on, or entrusted to him, by the President of the United States, agreeable to the Constitution, relative to military commissions, or to the troops, fortresses, or warlike stores of the United States, or to such other matters respecting military affairs, as the President of the United States shall assign to the said department, or relative to the granting of lands to persons entitled thereto by reason of military services rendered to the United States, or relative to Indian affairs : And furthermore, that the said principal officers shall conduct the business of the said department in such manner as the President of the United States shall, from time to time, order or instruct. And be it further enacted, That there shall be in the said department, an inferior officers, to be appointed by the said principal officer, and to be employed therein as he shall deem proper, and to be called the chief Clerk in the Department of War, and who ^ in case of vacancy in the said office of Secretary to the United States for the Department of War, shall, during such vacancy, have the charge and custody of all records, books, and papers, appertaining to the said Department. Provided nevertheless, That no appointment of such chief Clerk shall be valid, until the same shall have been approved by the President of the United Stats. [written in the margin:] ^ whenever the said principle officer shall be removed by the President or a Vacancy in any [undecipherable] happen And be it further enacted, That the said principal officer, or every other person to be appointed or employed in the said department, shall, before he enter on the execution of his office or employment, take an oath, or affirmation, well and faithfully to executed the trust committed to him. [the following paragraph is crossed out completly with: I X] And be it further enacted, That there shall be allowed to the said Secretary, for his services, a salary, ath the rate of [blank space] per annum, and that there shall be allowed to the said chief Clerk, for his services, a salary of [blank space] per annum ; the said salaries to be payable quarterly, in equal payments. And be it further enacted that the Secretary for the department of War in immediately after his appointment be impowered to take into his custody all the books & papers belonging the late department of War established by the united states in congress assembled