Chap. 0011 an act to supply the treasury with the sum of two hundred thousand pounds.
Preamble.
Treasurer empowered to borrow two hundred thousand pounds.
Form of the receipts he is to give.
Committee to sign blanks.
Whereas it is necessary, in order to support the public credit of this state, that the treasurer thereof should be [i] [ejmpowered to borrow a sum of money not exceeding two hundred thousand pounds,-
Be it therefore enacted by the Council and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same,
[Sect. 1.] That the treasurer of this state be, and he is hereby, impowered and directed to borrow, on the credit of this state, of such persons as shall be willing to lend the same, a sum not exceeding two hundred thousand pounds, in Continental bills of credit; for which sum the said treasurer is hereby impowered to give his receipts or obligations in form following ; vizct].,-
State of Massachusetts Bay, the Received of , the sum of , for
the use and service of the state of Massachusetts Bay; and, in behalf of said state, I do hereby promise and oblige myself and successors in the office of treasurer, to repay to the said , or bearer, by the
day of , A. D. 178 , the aforesaid sum of , with
interest annually, at six per cent per annum.
Witness my hand, H. G., Treasurer.
^•p'^ Committee.
- which form shall be printed on good paper, to be procured by the treasurer, with suitable borders round the same ; and the words " State of Massachusetts Bay," the word "Committee" and the words " Witness my hand," shall be struck off from a copperplate, which the treasurer is likewise directed to procure; and each blank shall be stamped in some convenient part of it with a stamp to be procured by the treasurer for that purpose ; and when said receipts or obligations are issued, a counterpart, indented, of each receipt or obligation, shall be kept by the treasurer.
And be it further enacted by the cmthority aforesaid, [Sect. 2.j   That Stephen Minott and John Mascaren[c]e, Esquires, be a committee to sign the blanks, at the left hand, as in the form aforesaid is prescribed, before the treasurer fills them up. And be it further enacted by the cmthority aforesaid, [Sect. 3.]   That there be and hereby is granted a tax of two hundred thousand pounds, to be levied on the polls, and estates both real and personal, within this state, according to such rules, and in
such proportions on the several towns and other places in this state, as shall be agreed npon and ordered by the general court or assembly, at their sessions in June, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-three, to be paid into the public treasury on or before the first day of December then next after.
And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid,
[Sect. 4.] That if the general court or assembly, at their sessions in June, one thousand seven huudred and eighty-three, and some time before the first day of July in that year, shall not agree and conclude upon an act apportioning the sum which by this act is engaged to be, in that year, assessed and levied, that then and in such ease each town and other place in this state shall pay, by a tax, to be levied on the polls, and estates both real and personal, within their limits, the same proportion of the said sum as such town or other place was taxed by the general court iu the tax act then last preee[e]ding.
[Sect. 5.] And the treasurer of this state is hereby fully impow-ered and directed, some time in the month of August, in the same year, to issne and send forth his warrants, directed to the selectmen or assessors of each town within this state, or to some suitable person or persons in such place or places as are not incorporated, requiring him or them to assess the polls, and estates both real and personal, within their several towns and other places, for their respective parts and proportions of the sum before directed and engaged to be assessed, to be paid into the treasury at the aforementioned time; and the assessors shall observe, be governed by, and be subject to, all such rules and directions as shall have been given in the then last preceding tax act.
And be it further enacted,
[Sect. 6.] That the said sum of two hundred thousand pounds, and each part thereof, when so borrowed, shall be appropriated to the payment of all such warrants as shall be drawn on said treasurer, according to law, for defreying the charges of this government, agreeable to the acts and grants of the general assembly. [Passed June 30.