, 1855-04-21
COurt-Ciaim Eli.

The bill for the creation Of permanent
court for the investigation Of claims upon
the government was passed in the United
States house Of representatives, by an over
wheImng majority. 1t is the same hil!
which passed the senate, aul therefore now
only requires the signature Of the president
, 10 become a law.
The bill provides for court, to he com
posed Of three judges, appointed by the
president with the advice and consent Of
the senate, 10 hold the Office during good
behavior, and TO receive an annual salary
of four thousaEd dollars. 1t provides for
a solicitor, with salary of three thOnsard
five hundred dollars, to he appointed by
the president and chief clerk, with a sal.
ary Of two thnusand dollars, and an assS-
tnpt, with n SALARY Of fifteen hundred dol.
IarS, and messenger, with a salary OF eight
hundred IdoIarS--the clerks and messenger
to be appointed by the court
The jurisdiction Of the court extends to
all claims founded upon any law of con
gresS, OF upOu any regulation Of an execu.
tive department, or upon any contract, cx.
press or implied with the government OF
the United States. which may be sagges-
ted to it by petition fled thereon and
also all claims which may be referred to
said court Lv either house Of congress. -
The usual provisions for enabling the court
to take testimony and to prepare the eases
for hearing are contained in the bill.
The seventh, eighth and ninth sections
are as follows:
SIC. I. That said court shall keep a
record Of their proceedings, and shall, at
the commencement Of each sess on Of CON
gress, and at The commencement of each
month during the session Of congress, re-
port TO congress the cases upon which they
shall have finally acted stating in each the
material facts which they find established
by the evidence, with their opinion in the
case, and the reasons upon which such
opinion is founded. Any judge who may
dissent from the opinion Of the majority,
shall append his reasons for such dissent TO
the report and such report, together with
the briefs Of the solicitor and of the claim
ant, which shall accompany the report, up
on being made TO either house Of congress,
shall be printed in the same manner as
other public documents. And said court
shall prepare bill or bills i'll those cases
which shall have feccived the favorable de-
cision thereof, in such form as, if enacted,
will carry the same into effect. And two
or more cases may he embraced in the same
bill, where the separate amount proposed
to be allowed in each case shall be less than
nnn tkAp.onl Anllurs A,,I . L. Il
shall transmit with said reports the testi-
mony in each case, whether the same shall
receive the favorable or adverse action Of
said court.
SEC. s. That said reports, and the
bills, reported as aforesaid, shall, if not
finally acted upoa during the session Of
congress to which the said reports are
made, be continued from session TO session,
and from congress TO congress, until finally
acted upon, and the consideration of said
reports aud bills shall, at the subsequent
session of congress, be resumed, and the
said reports and bills be proceeded with in
the same manner as though finally acted
upon at the session when presented.
SEC. o. That the claims reported up
on adversely shall he placed upon the cal
cnder when reported, aud if the decision
of said court shall he confirmed by CON
gress, said decision shall be conclusive aud
the said court shall not, at any subsequent
period, consider said claims, unless such
reason shall be presented to said court as,
by the rules of common law or chancery
insults between individuals, would furnish
sufficient ground for granting n new trial"