The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1868-05-16
THE INDEMNITY swINDLE.
What Truly LoiI" Applicants Must
Swear To

The loyal indemnity law swind.e, recently
added to other disgraceful legislation in this
State, has opened fine field for perjury of
the truly loiL" The General Claim Com
missioner, Colonel Thomas Waters, has Is
sued a circular to the County Comm ission-
ers, containing the following answers to
questions that have been received by him.
Applicants viii stretch their consoiences ac-
cordingly:
lis it necessary that witnesses should
have seen the property when taken by either
aruty2
Answer. Such testimony is preferred; but
if witnesses know that the property was
taken or used by the army, and can swear
to the same; that is sufficient to establish
claim.
2 Must claimant be required to give the
name, rank and regiment of officer taking
property in all cases
Ans When such testimony cannot be
obtained, let the claimant state what COM
mand, brigade vision, if possible. If he
cannot ascertain these, let him state that the
property was taken by an Unknown COM
mand Of the Federal or Rebel army, as
3 Are receipts or vouchers of Federal or
Rebel forces alone sufficient TO establish
claim2
/. Ans. They are not sufficient Claimants
must establish their lassess by the testimony
Of loyal witnesses, in all eases; but all re-
ceipts or vouchers must accompany the
claim.
4 Must claimant pay clerk fees, and for
revenue stamps
Ans. The claimant must pay all fees that
accrue. The ffty-cent stampsis dispensed
with, unless the claimant fills the power of
attorney which is discretionary with him.
Must the Commissioners eoniine them
selves to the blanks furnished by the Gen
eral Claim Commissioner2
Ans No blanks must be used except
those furnished by him, or imilar ones.
He viii furnish all necessary blanks when
called upon by thesConnty Commissioners.
- 6. Are members Of claimants family
competent witnesses2
Ans If other witnesses cannot be had,
yoI nley. receive the testimony of relatives.
T. Is it necessary to have two witnesses
Ans. You see from section 7th Of the In
demnity bill, that the claimant must estab-
lsh ms loyalty by two or more witnesses.
He must also prove the taking Of his prop
erty by two or more Witnesses, but he is not
required to have the same witnesses in both
eases.
8. Must The claimant fle bis claim in the
county where the property was taken?
Ans. Claimnant may file bis claim in any
county, If he has the repaired testimony in
said county
9. Do rejected claims require Che Clerks
certificate and reyenue stamps2
Ans. They do not require the Clerks
certificate or the revenue stamp, unless the
power of attorney is flied, in which case the
fifty cent stamp IS required
TO Who are to he considered loyal uow2
Ans Section and s of the indemnity
bill require the claimant to take the fran
chise oath, and prove by two loyal men that
he (the claimant} was unconditional
loyal man during the entire rebellion, and
that be is now loyal. Witnesses must be
their own Judges as to who are now loyal,
and the Commissioners are the only judges
as to the loyalty Of witnesses. You will
see from the lawsthat all witnesses must be
loyal.
Il Can COMMISSIONS file a claim be-
fore hisown Board
Ans. There is nothing in the bill to pre-
vent his doing so.
y. How are heirs to make application
Ans. The heirs will be required to take
the franchise oath, and prove their loyalty
/ by two or more Witnesses then the admins
/ traitor Of the estate, or guardian, can tie the
claim, and bring proof, as administrator or
/ guardian, fling with said claim copy Of his
/ letters Of admins stratiOn.
4 I3 Can the certificate Of United States
! oficer be dispensed with?
Ans. 1T cannot The laws OF Congress
require the certificate on all claims.
In addition to the above, the General
/ Claim Commissioner would say, that II
claimant cannot giye the name Of officer, o.
regiment you will change the blank so as %
l-confprm with the circumstances Of the case,
and state what army the property Wa8
/ used by.
! Ckims FOR stolen property cannot be con-
sidered by the Commissioners. The prop
erty most have been taken or used, either
/ By the Federal or Rebel army.
He also trges upon the ComInissIoner7
the necessity Of studying the indemnify
BIZ, which VIII enable them to perform their
duties readily