The Council of Appointment chose for the first Comptroller Samuel Jones, of Oyster Bay, Queens county. This was done by the casting vote of Governor John Jay, the four senatorial members of the council being a tie. He was a lawyer of high standing at the time of his appointment, a Federalist in politics, and had held with credit a number of civil positions. In 1775 he had been a member of the Provisional War Committee, and had performed arduous services on that committee. He was a member of the convention that adopted the Federal Constitution, and voted for it. He was a delegate to the Continental Congress in 1778; a Member of Assembly from Queens county in 1786, 1787, 1788, 1789 and 1790; a State Senator from the southern district from 1791 to 1799. The honors which he had won and worthily worn were supplemented in his son who, as the Chancellor of this State (succeeding Nathan Sanford and succeeded by Reuben H. Walworth), and as Chief Judge of the New York Superior Court, won for himself enviable renown in our legal annals. Comptroller Jones was the author of the "Act for the amendment of law and better advancement of Justice," passed in 1789, which was a valuable contribution and addition to our law. He was also the author of many other of the best statutes placed upon our books in those early years. He was distinguished throughout his career as an upright and useful man, though he was sometimes accused of a little uncertainty in politics. He is said to have replied to a question from Judge Spencer as to how he managed to secure his elections from Queens county whatever party might be in the ascendant, that "If my troops will not follow me, I follow my troops." The Comptroller's salary was fixed by the act at $3,000, and this was to include all clerk hire and ordinary expenses connected with the office. In 1800 the compensation was reduced to $2,500, and in consequence of this action Mr. Jones resigned the office. He had faithfully performed its duties, and his resignation terminated his public career. [Illustration: Elisha Jenkins (signature) _3d COMPTROLLER_] During his term, in 1799, the Legislature prohibited the payment of any money from the treasury except upon the warrant of the Comptroller, and required all receipts to be countersigned by him, and this has remained a part of the duties of the Comptroller from that time to this.