, 1855-08-31

SEC. 6. And be il further enacted, That
if any person shall knowingly and wiIully
swear falsely beforc'said court, or before
any person or persons commissioned by
them, or authorized by this act to take
testimony in a case pending before said
court at the time of taking said oath, or IN
a case thereafter to be submitted to said
court, such person shall be deemed guilty
of perjury, and on conviction thereof, shall
he subjected to the same pains, penalties,
and disabilities which now are, or shall he
hereafter, by law prccribcd for wilfuI and
corrupt perjury.
SEC. I. And be It further caactcd That
said court shall keep record of their pro-
ceedings, and shall, at the commencement
of each session of Congress, and at the COM
mcncemcnt Of each month during the sess-
ion of Congress, report to Congress the
cases upon which they shall have finally
acted, stating in each the material facts
which they find established by the ey-
dence, with their opinion in the case, aud
the reasons upon which such opinion is
founded. Any judge who may dissent
from the opinion OF the majority shall ap-
pend his reasons for such dissent to the re-
port and such report, together with the
briefs of the solicitor and Of TIE claimant,
which shall accompany the report, upon
being made to either house OF Congress,
shall be printed in the same manner as
other public sdocuments And said court
shall prepare bill or bills in those cases
which shall have received the favorable
decision thereof, in such form rs, if enact
ed, will carry the same into effect. Aud
two or more cases may be embraced in the
same bill, where the separate amount pro-
posed TO be allowed in each case shall be
less than one thousand dollars. And the
said court shall transmit with said reports
the testimony in each case, whether the
same shall receive the favorable or adverse
action OF said court
SEC. s. Ind BE- II fur,hcr enacted, That
said reports, aud the bills reported us
aforesaid, shall, il not finally acted upon
during the session Of Congress to which
the said reports arc made, be continued
from session to session, and from Congress
to Congress, until the same shall be finally
acted upon,rand the consideration Of said
reports and bills shall, at the subsequent
session of Congress, be resumed, and the
said reports aud bills be proceeded with in
the same manner as thongh finally acted
nron at the session when presented.
SEC. 9. Ind be IL further ea1etel, That
the claims reported upon adversely shall be
placed upon the calendar when r,ported,
and if the decision of said court shall be
confirmed by Congress, said decision shall
| be conclusive; and the said court shall not,
at any subsequent period, consider said
claims unless such reasons shall be present
cd to said co lrt as, by the rules of common
law or chanccry in suits between individu-
ais, would furnish sufficient ground for
granting a new trial.
SEC. 10. ARd be IL further enacted, That
it shall be the duty Of the Speaker of the
Houso Of Representatives, within a rca!
sonable time after the passage Of this acf,
TO appropriate such rooms in the Capitol
at Washington, for the use Of said court,
as may be necessary for their accommoda-
tion, unless it shall appear to the Speaker
that such rooms cannot be appropriated
without interfering with the business Of
Congress and, in that event, the said
court shall procure, at the city Of Washing
ton, such rooms as may be necessary for
the convenient transaction Of their business.
SEC. IL. And be IL further enacted, That
said court shall have power to call upon
any of the departments for any informa-
iion or papers it may deem necessary, and
have the use of all recorded and printed
reports made by the committees OF each
house, when deemed to be necessary in the
prosecution of the duties assigned by this
act Said court shall appoint chief clerk,
whose salary shall be two thousand dollars
per annum, and an assistant clerk, if deem
ed necessary, who,e salary shall be fifteen
hundred dollars per 0nnum, and meSsen-
ger, whose salary shall be eight hundred
dollars per annum to be paid quarterly at
the treasury The said clerks shall be un-
der the direction Of said court in the per-
formance oftheir duties, and for miscon-
duct or ipcapacity may be removed from
Office byit but, when so removed, said
board shall make report thereof, with the
cause Of such removal, to Congress, If in
session, or at the next session Of Congress.
Said clerk and assistant clerk shall take
an oath for the faithful discharge of their
duties Prorided, That the head of no de-
partment shall answer any call for informa-
tion or papers if, in his opinion, it would
be injurious to the public interest.
Approved, February "a, 1856.
An nc, concerning he apprehension and De
Ireru of DcSrrfrrs frotu EorriOD VrsSeyS in