Santa Fe weekly gazette. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 185?-1859, 1856-02-16

government before said court, shall be appoin-
ted BY the President, by and with the advice
and consent Of the Senate. 1t shall bc the du.
ty of said solicitor to prepare all cases on til,
part of the government for hearing before said
court, and to argue the same when prepared;
to cause testimony to be taken, when necessary
tn secure the interest of the United States, to
prepare forms, file interrogatories, and supe-
rintend the taking Of testimony, in the manner
prescribed by said court, and generally to rem
der such services as may be required of him
from time to time, in the discharge of the du-
ties of his Office. Said solicitor shall be sworn
to faithful discharge of the duties of his office,
in the manner prescribed for the qualification
of the Judges in the first section of this act and
he shall receive a compensation of three thou
sand five hundred dollars per annum for his
services, to be paid quarterly from the treasu-
ry of the United States.
Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That the
said court shall have authoItv to establish ru.
les and regulations for its government; to ap.
point commissioners to take testimony to be IL.
sed in the investigation of claims that may
come before 1t; to prescribe the fees they shall
receive for their services, and to issue commits
sion' for the taking of such testimony, whether
the same shall be takeu at the instance of the
claimant, or of the United StuteS, md also to
issue subp@nas to require the assistance Of wit
HcSses in order to be examined before such
commissioners; which subpmnas shall have the
same force, as if issued from district court
of the United States, and compliance Herewith
shall be compelled under such rules and orders
as the court hereby created shall establish.
When testimony Is taken for the claimant, the
fees of the commissioner before whom is taken,
and the cost of the commission and notice, shall
be paid by such claimant: and when taken at
the instance Of the government, such fees, To-
gethCr with all postage incurred by the solicitor
aforesaid in his official capacity, shall be paid
out of the contingent fund provided for said
court. In all cases, when it can bc conveniently
done, the testimony shall be taken in the coun-
ty where the deponent resides, and the commits.
sionor taking the same is hereby authorized and
required to administer an oath Or affirmation
to the witnesses brought before him for exami-
nation.
Sec. H. And be it further enacted, That in
all cases where it shall oppear to the court that
the facts set forth in the petition of the clai.
mant do not furnish any ground for relief, it
shall not be the DUTY of the court 10 authorize
the taking of any testimony in tho case, until
the samO shall have been reported by them to
Congress, as is hereinfter provided; Provided
however, Thaa if congress shall, in such case,
fail to confirm the opinion of said board, they
shall proceed to take the testimony in such case.
Sec. 5. And be it further enacted, That in
taking testimony to be used in support of any
claim before said court, opportunity shall be
given to the United States to file intcrrogatorics
or by attorney to examine witnessed, under
such regulations as said court shall prescribe
and like opportunity shall be afforded the clai-
munt in case where testimony is taken on behalf
Of the United States under like regulations.
Sec. 6. And be it further enacted That il.
any person shall knowingly aud wifully swear
falsely before said court, or before any person
or persons commissioned by them, or authori.
7ed by this act to take testimony in case pend
ing before said court at the time of taking sale
oath, or in case herehfter to be submitted tC
said court, such person shall be deemed guilty
Of perjury, and on conviction thereof, shall b'
subjected to the same pains, penalties, and di
sabities which now are, or shall be hereafter
by law prescribed for wilful and corrupt PERU
ry,
Sec. 7. And be it further enacted, That said
court shall keep record of their proceedings
and shall, at the commencement of each session
of Congress, and at the commencement of eacl
month during the session of Congress, repor
to Congress the cases upon which they shal
have finally acted, stating in each the mnteri
al facts which they find established by the cvi
dence, with their opinion in the case, and tn
reasons upon which such opinion is founded
Any judge who may dissent from the opinio,
Of the majority shall append his reasons 10
such dissent to the report; and such report, to
gethcr with the briefs of the solicitor and o
the claimant, which shall accompany the rcpor
upon being made to either house Of Congress
shall DO Printed in the same mOnneras othe
Tublic documents. And said court shall pre-
pare bill or bills in those cnscs which shal
have received the favorable decision thereof, i,
such form as, If enacted, will carry the same in
A. aaoot A nd tlrn ar m nra ansaa mn ~ ha nm