The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-05-08

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\ Time will develop defects experience will suggest i'm
proyemenis, and the system here elsewhere, will re-
quire patience perseverance, and TO make complete
or nearly perfect But, cir, believe that this bill
proposed to be amended will prove at least 10 be
good beginning OF useful undertaking II will be the
irst and, trust good step; Time and experience wl
improve and perhaps remodel it; but commence the
experiment, have doubt that we shall be pleased
with its rst operations, and continue il until It becomes
one q The mos, valuable and popular departments n oo
venture the more boldly upon the proposed change from
the fact that could hardly be worsed by any change
which may Be made il the, present system We vii
hope who favors general scheme OF the sort
will vote against this because II may be mper-
feet unless ne that he something
better Even rude beginning may be good beginning
and trust that we are ready to make It.
The amendment OF the committee was then read as
| follows:
follows
| Each commissioner shall receive a salary of ------
dollars per anna, shall hold office the period Of twelve
years, and shall be removable by the President The first
be appointed one for four the second for eight and the
third Tor twelve years. after which all appointments shall
cancies The said may be reeIigbls but
shall hold this office after he reaches the Of sixty
hye years. ana Whenever the office Is determined Tor this
cause shall be deemed vacancy for all the purposes Of
| this act
Mr.. HUNTER moved to amend the amendment by in
sertng after the word vacancies" in line 10, section
~. the words "occasoned by death resig nation =
which was agreed 10.
The question being taken upon the amendment as
| Mr.. BRADBURY said that he had an amendment to
The PRESIDING OFFICER There is an amend.
after the word hear" in the cath line, to the word
"board," in the 37th line. and insert the following
And Determine all eases pending n any Department,
toa. which may be referred % such board By he head
such Department. and all cases which may be referred by
Congress TO the determination Of said board upon all such
| cases shall be final and conclusive.
| Mr.. HUNTER. This amendment is offered after con-
snltaon with the head OF the Treasury Department. be-
did not like IN this matter to act entirely without
any consultation with him. will explain in few
words the object OF the amendment AS the bill now
stands allows the disbursing officer to make appeal
accounts and to the head OF the departments There
was danger that this would interfere with the admins
tratye part OF the government and the amendment au-
thozes the reference TO the board OF such as the
Secretary may refer 10 them The effect OF it would be
| to refer TO them the judicial cases
The question being taken upon the amendment, was
| agreed to-
The next amendment Of the committee was stated be-
ing, in the 10th line, to insert the words ocer AGENT
| after the word claimant"
Now suppose
The PREsipING OFFICER. Itis now in order
MI. BRADBURY. II may perhaps be necessary that
should explain how the bill will stand if the amendment
is adopted will first say however, that concur in the
object which the senator from Virginia has in view.
think the establishment OF such board is proposed
by which the rights Of the United States and Of the claim
ants would both be carefully guarded, would be oi
the greatest reforms that can Dc introduced IN regard to
before Congress The amendment provides. first, that
attorney for the United States, representing the
ment before the board, shall be appointed by the Pesi
dent by and with the advice and consent Of the Senate
makes the duty Of the attorney TO prepare all cases
the part OF the government for hearing before the
board, and argue them when prepared TO test
oil the United States II also authorizes the board to ap
point commissioners TO take testimony to be used the
investigation oil claims that may come before It, Ii pro
vides that, in taking testimony to be used in support Of
any claim before said commissioners, opportunity shall b.
given to the United States 10 file nteroga,ores, OF BY at
torney TO examine the witnesses further provides tina
il shall not be lawful for any member of Congress,
any person holding any Office under the United States,
in the employ OF any Of the departments OF the govern
solicitor in the prosecution OF any claims against thu
/ United States
II contains the further provision that no communica.
ton oral in writing, touching any claim before the
board, shall be made to any member thereof unless in
open court II provides also that the board shall al the
commencement Of each month during The session report
10 Congress the facts found BY them in regard to each
the several claims referred TO and acted upon by them
Uh their opinion in relation TO the and 1t IS made
their duty to prepare bill or bills in those cases which
shall have received the favorable decision OF the board
Another provision will notice is, that the reports Of the
board and the bills reported by them SHALL not finally
upon during the session Of Congress to which the
reports made be continued from session to session
and from Congress to Congress, until the shall be
| finally acted upon When claims have been reported
upon adversely they shall be placed upon the calendar
and il the decision OF the board shall be confirmed by
Congress- that decision shall be conclusive and the
board shall not at any subsequent period consider such
claims unless such shall be presented to the
board by the rules OF common law chancery in suits
between individuals would furnish sufficient ground for
granting trial.
II will be perceived, Mr. President that the BILL with
the amendments. will very carefully guard the interests Of
the United States well those OF private claimants
The great object is secure careful examination OF all
claims, in order 10 ascertain truly the merits oil each
case Ii is designed 10 adopt here to extent the
mode OF ascerianng the facts and arriving at the
truth which presented in ordinary investigations in the
OF law. The testimony will not be, as is the
case ex parte Each side win have the benefit OF a
examination Of the witnesses; the government will
be heard by its attorney the witnesses will be known
for the bill provides that when testimony is to be taken, il
shall be taken nearly convenient to the residence
OF the witnesses After the prepared ard present.
ed for hearing the board will have the advantage, which
the committees OF Congress have not OF time for care
fu examination OF the facts and of the principles upon
which the claim II is believed that under the pro-
honest claimants. and that fraudulent and unfounded
claims will not have that opportunity to escape detection
and 10 pass Congress which they now have. Ii will
be perceived that the bill does not propose 10
make the action OF the board final II provides
that they shall report to Congress. | think that
this far would be wise 10 20 in the first instance
there might be objections 10 submitting the discre.
ton OF any boa the allowance OF claims Of the magni-
tude likely 70 come before them. The board, appre.
Congress, and be of essential service although their de-
il moi final tvhi lad