The Sec.^y of War Sir Accountants Office April 25 1800 In the course of the examination of the accounts rendered to this Office, by the Agent of the Quarter master General, in addition to the evils pointed out to you in my letter of the 20^th Ult.^o are discovered charges for compensations highly excessive, to certain individuals for services in the Quarter master Department several of whom are officially appointed by the Secretary of War to discharge the general duties in the War department. Persons whose pay is stipulated, have been allowed the enormous commission of five p Ct.^o on purchases made by them in addition thereto; others, whose commissions are regulated in certain cases at two & one half p Ct., in others at 1/p, have been allowed five p Ct. for similar services. The ground on which these excessive allowances appear to be founded, is none other than that the individuals advanced their proper monies in the public service: a reason which as it appears to me in some cases never existed; that economy cannot countenance nor necessity occasion; the agents have generally in their hands, surplusages of public money; and sums sufficient for the exigencies of the Quarter master Department, have either been received by the Quarter master General or were at his disposal. The agent of the Quarter master General, conceives that he is authorized to make these allowances, from the nature of his appointment & from the general authorities vested in him, by the War department; to what extent he is authorized I am at a loss to know; I have therefore thought it my duty to submit these remarks to The Secretary of War, in order that he may take such steps thereon as in his opinion the pecuniary interest of The United States may require. Sam.^l W. W.S.