The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-09-25

CO N G. X II $40 MA l..
IN SENATE.
WAsnrNoroN, Sept. "a, 1875

brothers, of the indemnity accruing to Mexico
S3,000,0OO, under the treaty of Guadalupe Hi
dago, was taken up.
Mr.. SOULE opposed the amendment author
izng the Secretary Of the Treasury 10 meet the
payment of this indemnify through some other
channel of exchanges, if none more conducive TO
the interests of the Treasury.
A considerable debate ensued between Messrs.
SoULE, DICKINSON, BADGER, HALE, JONI DAVIS,
PRATT, CLAY. and EWING, when the amendment
of Mr. SouLE was rejected, III to "a,
MIR. SOULE next moved that the sum may be
paid IN New York instead of the city of Mexico.
Opposed by Messrs. DIcKNsoN and FoorE, and
rejected
And the House bill was read third time and
passed.
The House bill ofnaval appropriations was read
| and referred to the Finance Committee
The Senate resumed the special order of the day
being bill to make temporary provision for the
working and discovery Of gold mines and p!acers
IN California, and for preserving order in the gold
mine districts
The following is q copy of the bill
Bill to make temporary provision for the
working and discovery of gold mines and pla-
GERS IN California, and preserving order in the
gold mine districts.
BE IL enacted by the Senate aud House of Repre-
sentaipes Of the United States of America in Con-
gress assembled That twelve gold mine agents shall
be appointed by the President, and assigned to
different localities, with defined districts, in the
gold producing region of California.
| SEC. 2. lind be H}urther enacted, That the said
agents, each within his district, shall have au-
thorty to grant permits to Anne rican citizens to
work the placers on public land by manual labor,
and also to work. by mining and quarrying the
mineral lodes or veins occurring in the rock, by
machinery driven by horse, steam, or water
power; and every permit shall specify for which
kird OF mining IT is granted.
+ SEC. 3. Ind be il further enacted That a per-
nit to work placer shall be for thirty feet square;
and for a mine two hundred and ten feet square,
all the lines TO the cardinal points; and the said
| permit shall give the person obtaining the same a
right to the exclusive possession Of the place he
shall select, so long as he shall continue to work the
same IN good faith, and no longer; and indi-
vidual or company shall have more than one per-
NIT at the same time; and permits may be granted
! to persons to work placers under the age of
twenty lone, but having the requisite strength to
work the same and all persons IN the actual pos
session Of any digging in placer, or shaft, or
opening in mine, at the time of the taking effect
of this act shall be allowed pre-emptive right Of
twenty days after the arrival of the agent in the
district to locate his-permit on the same
SEC. 4. find be it further enacted, On the ADAM
donmenment of any place, it may be worked by
another, having a permit; and an abandonment
shall result from cessation to work, to work in
good faith, or from commencing work at another
place; Provided, That temporary sickness or
death shall not be considered an abandonment.
And in the case of death, the person having the
right to take charge Of the effects of the deceased,
may take possession of the place worked by the
deceased, as part of his effects; and in all cases.
working by another shall be considered on the
part of the person having a permit, as working
| by himself.
SEC. 5. find be it further enacted, That permits
are not assignabe; but after permit has been To-
| Gated, and an operation commenced, the same
may be sod but if sold to person having per-
| NIT, it becomes merged in the other, and no per-
| son can have two permits at the same time, it be-
ing for the public interest to avoid monopoes.
] SEC. g. find be il further enacted, That each
agent shall keep book, in which shall be regis
| tered all permits, and an account of all monies re-
ceived in such manner the Secretary Of the
| Treasury shall direct, and shall give bond and Sc
curty for the faithful discharge of his duty.
! SEC. 7. find be 1t further enacted, That the re-
spectve agents shall demand and receive for the
use Of the United States for a permit TO work a
placer by manual labor, at the rate of dollars a
month for so many months, as the applicant shall
ask; and for a permit to work mine with ma
| chinery, at the rate Of dollars month, for as
many months as the applicant shall demand, not
| exceeding twelve months in either case; but new
permits may be granted to the same persons at the
expiration Of the first, with right to continue
operations in any place in which he was work
| ing. et
| SEC 8. .4nd be it further enacted, That, to en-
courage the discovery Of placers and mines, and
to compensate the trouble and expense of making
the discovery, double permit shall be granted to
such person without the payment Of fee, with a
pre- -emptve right in the for thirty days
after the discovery to include the spot of his
discovery in the centre. And he shall be deemed
a discoverer who shall first find ore in the vein,
or gold particles in the earth, and who shall
produce the same to the proper agent, and identify
it upon oath as having been found in the place he
| describes and registry of such discovery shall
| be made on the books Of the agent.
SEC. 9. find be il further enacted, That each
agent within his district, shall be arbiter, with
six disinteresed persons, two to be chosen by
| each party, and two by the agent to decide, by a
majority of voices, all questions Of conflicting
claims, or others, arising under this act; and all
| proceedings in such cases shall be summary, and
possession given to the party entitled to have it,
and right and justice done, and copy of the de-
cision given to each party, which shall be foun-
dalton for an action and damages on the part Of
the party aggrieved, il not Immediately complied
with, and either party may appeal to the superin-
| tendent, who may approve or disapprove the de-
| csion, as shall seem to him right and just, and
according to the terms and true intent of this act;
or he may order new proceedings, with twelve
disnerested persons to act with the agent.
Sec. 10. .4nd be ii further enacied, That each
agent shall receive a salary Of two thousand dol
lars year, and five per centum on the amount
collected and accounted for, and shall not be con-
cerned himself in working any placer or mine.
SEC. IL. .1nd 0e " JuTtHeT eHdced, lHat super
in,endent of gold mines shall be appointed by the
President, by and with the advice and consent Of
the Senate, with salary of four thousand dollars
a year, and twenty cents mile for his travelling
expenses among the mines, whose duty it shall
be to reside nearly as may be centrally to the
mineral district, and to make at least quarterly
visits among the mines and miners, and to inspect
the books of the agents, and to require accounts
from them of all their operations, and to take note
of all complaints against them, and, if deemed ne
cessary, suspend any one, and appoint substi-
tute, until the will of the President is known. And
the said superintendent shall have no interest in
any placer or NINE
SEC. IL. find be ii further enacted, That no per-
son shall mark placer or a mine after the taking
effect of this act without permit, under the pen
atty of ten dollars day for placer, and one hum
dred dollars day for working in mine, to be
recovered by action Of debt, in the name OF the
United States, one-third Part to the informer, one
third part to the United States, and one-thrd part
to the agent of the district in which such unlawful
working shall take place, and whose duty it sha
be, upon information in writing, TO sue for said
L