The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-02-02

The committee were authorized to report facts,
and nothing more. was no part of their duty to
report bill. The bill they reported came before
the House by unanimous consent, az it could come
before it in no other way by the rules. The hon
orabe gentleman from New York (Mr. KIMa)
introduced the bill, and in debate said II was .
Senate bill. with some slight alterations.
On the 9th OF April, 1852, the Hon. Mr.. BADosR,
of North Caroline, introduced into the Senate .
bill containing substantially the same provisions
contained in the first second and fourth sections of
the billintroduced by the special committee 1t was
the read twice andsreferred to the Committee on
Claims. On the Goth of April, 1852, the bill was
reported back to the Senate by the committee to
which it had been referred with an entire new
section, corresponding almost exactly with the
provisions of the third section of the bill intro
duced by the select committee.
On the 18th of May, 1852, the bill, as amended,
passed the Senate, and was sent to the House, and
is now on the Speakers table.
The bill of the Senate, now on the Speakers ia.
bic in the House, is essentially the same reported
to the House by the select committee The word
ing is little different, and some of the penalties
are different; but the essential principles of the
two bills are the same
The bill of the Senate as it passed that BODY and
which is now on the Speakers table in the House,
is as follows:
Bill to amend and extend the provisions of an
act approved July twenty ninth, eighteen hun
dred and forty-six, entitled can act in relation
to the payment of claims''
sentatives of the United States Of america in Con-
gress assembled, That all transfers and assign
ments hereafter to be made of any claim upon the
United States, or any part or share thereof, in
terest therein whether absolute or conditional and
whatever may be the consideration therefor; and
all contracts or agreements hereafter to be made for
allowing compensation to any agent for claims or
other person or persons, for on account ofservi
ces performed or to be performed in procuring tes
timony in support OF, or otherwise aiding in OBJ
tanning the allowance of any such claim; and all
powers OF attorney, orders, or other authorities,
tor receiving payment of any such claim, or any
part or share thereof, shall be absolutely null and
void, unless the came shall be freely made and
executed in the presence of at least two attestng
witnesses, after the Allowance of such claim, the
entertainment of the amount due, and the issuing
oil warrant for the payment thereof
SEC. 2. -And be 1t further enacted, That auy off
Ger of the United States, or person holding any
place of trust or profit, discharging any official
junction under or in connection with any Execu.
tive Department of the Government Of the United
States who, after the passage of this act shall act
as agent for prosecuting any claim or claims
against the United States, or shall in any manner
or by any means, otherwise than in the DISCHARGE
of his proper official duties aid or assist in the pro-
secuion support of any such claim or claims
shall be liable to indictment as for a misdemeanor
and on conviction in any court having cognizance
thereof, shall pay fine not exceeding one thou.
sand dollars, or suffer imprisonment not exceeding
six calendar months, or both, as the court in its
all the circumstances of the case.
Sec 8. And be it further enacted, That any men,
Der of either house of Congress who after the pas
sage this act shall, for compensation paid or to
be paid, certain or contingent, act as agent or
attorney for prosecuting any claim or claims
against the United States, or shail in any manner
or BY any means, for such compensation, aid or
assist in the prosecution support of any such
claim or claims, shall be liable to indictment and
prosecution, as in the mentioned in the sec
ond section of this act.
SEC. 4 And be ii further enacted, That the pro-
visions of this act and of the act of July twenty.
ninth, eighteen hundred and forty-six, entitled
can act in relation to the payment of claims,,'
shall apply and extend to all claims against the
United States, whether allowed by special acts of
Congress or arising under general laws ortreaties
or IN any other manner whatever.
The resolutions of inquiry under which the Sc.
iect committee was appointed, were passed on the
23d of August, 1852.
It therefore appears that mere than three months
before the select committee had an existence
the bill they reported in all its essential partcu.
lars had passed the Senate, and was on the caen-
dar of the House; and could not and did not
originate with the select committee; and did not
grow out of or have any connexion with this in
vestigation.