This act also recited the continuation of the commissioners in the terms of the act of October 29, 1778. When the bill was under discussion in the Senate, on February 12, it contained a paragraph in amendments submitted by the assembly, which directed the treasurer of the State to advance to the commissioners, or any three of them, such further sum or sums as they should from time to time require, not exceeding three thousand pounds. From this, Senators Richard Morris and Ebenezer Russell dissented, averring that as former allowances had not been accounted for, it was presumptive evidence that the whole amount had not as yet been spent; that there had been no requisition for more 'Appendix I: Laws, Feb. 17, 1779. A similar bill was rejected by the assembly in the preceding November, notwithstanding that the commissioners for conspiracies had found such a provision desirable. See also Assembly Votes. Poughkeepsie: John Holt, 1779, pp. 14, 17, 21, 24-5, 34, 37. 5 1 . 53. 59. 63, 74; Senate Votes. Fish-Kill: Samuel Loudon, 1777, pp. 164, 165, 166, 168, 171, 172, 175-6, 178.
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money from the commissioners to the senate hence the -- granting of large sums of money to any office or officer unasked, would be unprecedented and might, at some future day, be dangerous to the revenues of the State. They believed that a sufficient appropriation could be made at another time, when suggested by exigencies, and that the bill would be a proper subject for immediate legislation with the omission of the extra grant. 1 It is apparent that the arguments did not appeal to the senate, as the act retained the grant of three thousand pounds. The committee for inquiring what laws were expired or near expiring apprised the senate, on September 2, 1779,