W.D. Accountants Office January 27^th 1794 Sir, I have the honor to transmit you some observations on that part of the Act of Congress of 20^th April 1790 respecting rations and to solicit your attention to the subject. I am Sir &c The Hon^ble Joseph Howell The Sec^y of the Treasury By the Act of Congress 20^th April 1790. The commissioned officers are allowed to receive their daily rations in provisions, in money in lieu thereof at the option of the said officers at the contract price at the posts respectively where the rations shall become due. By this latitude, granted to the officers the Accountant finds it difficult to ascertain whether the officers have drawn or retained their rations, as his check arises from the contractors accounts which are rendered at the Treasury frequently after an officer has been settled with — representations from the paymaster of the Troops are in contradiction of the above statement — Without being more particular, a striking objection appears to the existing law which authorizes money to be drawn from different sources for demands of one kind — To obviate these difficulties the accountant would submit the propriety of the following resolution and which he believes would be perfectly satisfactory to the officers — Resolved, That the commissioned officers in service of the United States from and after the passage of this Act be allowed at the rate of Dollars per Month in lieu of each ration to which they are entitled agreeably to their several grades.