Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1868-05-22


whose property was destroyed, damaged, orap-
propriated for the public service aud in the
common defence in the war to suppress the
rebellion.
WHEREAS, during the late war to suppress
the rebellion, several Of the southern counties
Of this State, were several times invaded BY
the rebels in great force, requiring the inter
position Of the armed forces Of the United
States and the State to drive them from
our borders
ASD WHEREAS, During these invasions and
the movements of the armies engaged in re-
pelling them, and especially in the three days
Of battle at Gettysburg, there was occasioned
great destruction, devastation and loss of PRO-
rerty of citizens Of said counties:
AND WHEREAS, These losses were sustained
in the common eaase and for the public de
fence and for the general welfare Of the whole
people Of this Commonwealth, and it is rea-
sonable and proper that citizens who have
TINS suffered should receive generous consid-
Grafton and active relief from this great Com
mouwealth: Therefore,
SECTION /. BE At enacted Jy tie Senate aud
Houseof ReprescBtqtireSot TIE Commonwealth
Of Pennsylvania, IN General assembly met,
and it IS herebg caqcted 6y The authority OfHs
same, That e shall be lawful for the Governor
to appoint a Board Of Commissioners. to con-
sist Of three disinterested persons, whose duty
it shall be to fully Investigate and adiudicate
the claims Of the citizens of the several coun-
lies Of Adams, Franklin, Fulton, Bedford,
\ ork Perry and Cumberland, for the amount
of their losses in the late war, and make
report of the same, under oath 10 the Auditor
General Of this Commonwealth, when such
claims have been fully adiudicated, reported
and fled it shall then be the duty Of the
proper officers of this Commonwealth, TO be
designed by the Governor to proceed to Tecoy-
er compensation, for said losses, from the
General Government, and when so collected,
and not till then, shall the amount so recover
ed be paid, pro rata to the suieiers Of the
said counties in accordance with the report
of the said Commissioners of their claims.
and their receipting in full to the Common
wealth of Pennsylvania.
SEC. = That the Commissioners shall within
sixty days after their appointment, having
been trsJ duly sworn or affirmed to perform
their duties, with impartiaiity and fidelity,
aud having given ten days previous
notice by publication in the newspapers
Of the several counties named in this
act proceed to said counties and make
Just and true appralsement Of the losses
sustained by the citizens thereof bY reason of
the destruction, devastation, appropriation or
carrying away, Of their property, either by
the armies at the battle of Gettysburg, or in
the operations and movements connected
Herewith, or IN any of the rebel iEvasions of
the State, and of any other sufferers named
In this act in the years from eighteen hundred
S Il r.aa. 80
four, inclusive, and they shall continue 10 per
form said duties until they shall have assessed
the losses and damages, aforesaid of bOtu real
and personal estate, and upon each petition
setting forth his, or their losses, the said com
missioners, or a majority Of them, shall make
an award Of the losses actually sustained by
the petitioners, If any such petition. shall pre-.
sent q statement Of losses sustained under
oath, aud the commissioners shall require
such additional proof in relation TO the claims,
as they may deem necessary, by the examina
ton of the claimant, or any other witness
who may be present or they may decide to
call Pr0Ujdsd, That if any claim shall be
presented for the benefit of an assignee, such
assignee shall be required to pro. .e under oath
10 the satisfaction Of the commissioners, the
actual cash value of the consideration paid to
the assignOr, and the amount so paid if not
in excess Of the actual loss sustained, shall be
the amount Of the award, and each claimant
shall be required 20 state on oath whether any
assignment or transfer, has been made of such
claim or not. Ind pf0r{dcd further. That If
any person shall present false statement, in
whole or in part, either for property not pos
sessed or not damaged, destroyed or lost, as
aforesaid, or in excess Of its just valuation
with intent to defraud, the petition Of such
claimant, shall be dismissed without any al
lowance whatever. Ind Pr0gided FURTHER, That
no claim shall be entertained, or allowed, in
favor Of any corporation or county, nor for
auv loss OF property for which compensation
has been received, or is provided by any law
of Congress, nor for any loss for which relief
was provided by he act OF fifteenth of Feb
ruary one thousand eight hundred and sixty
six, entitled, "Au Act for the relief of certain
property was destroyed by fire, by the rebels
on the thir'ieth of July, Ammo Domiuj, one
Thousand eight hundred and sixty four ind
DF0Uidsd further, That each claim presented
for adjudication, shall be accompanied by an
affidavit, made before some officer competent
20 administer oaths and a.irmai0Hs, stating
that the claimant has never directly or lu-
directly, by word or act, given aid, comfort
cOuteuauce or encouragement. to the rebels,
whether in arms, or otherwise, that he or she
has never communicated oraJtempied ortakeE
them, any information which could be Of any
advantage 20 them.
That said commissioners shall as soon as
they have flashed their duties, make returns
90 The Auditor General Of all petitions pre-
sented to them with the awards thereon
The said Commissioners, shall be paid the
sum Of FIVE dollars each per day, for notmore
than sixty days, when actually employed in
the discharge of their duties, aud they shall
be allowed one clerk, who shall be paid the
sum of three dollars per day, whose duty It
shall be to keep record OF the testimony IN
each case. so that it may ha transmitted 10 the
Auditor General, with the awafls and the
salaries of said commissioners and clerk, 10,
gether with necessary expenses for stationery,
giving notice ei ccicya, shall be paid out of
any money not otherwise appropriated after
approval by the proper accounting officer Of
the State.
SEC. 3. That this act shall not be construed
to make this Commonwealth in any way
liable for the ultimate payment Of the DANA
ges uscertained and reported unGeg this act.
CoxyEusyI1LE RAILROAD MEErIyG.-.4c-
fioH Of the ocEbolders-8doption of the
Baltimore Ordinances. Yesterday morn
ing, in pursuance with the published
call "a iIE1tlN5 bA tLG stoEnIHkHEtc yl
the Pittsburg and Counellsville Railroad
was held at the office Of the company, at
Grant and Water streets. This meeting was
organized by calling Capt, J. r. Henderson
to the chair, and appointing Wm. J. Ander-
son and J. II. Page, Jr., Secretaries
W. o. Hughart, Esq. President OF the
road, stated that the meeting had been called
for the purpose Of adopting or rejecting the
ordinances passed by the Baltimore Councils,
authorizing the removal and extension Of
the mortgage due the city Of Baltimore by
the Pittsburg and Connellsville Railroad
Company. and to fund arrears of interest due
thereby" together with the supplement-
thereto. Mr. Hughart took occasion to ex-
plain the provisions of the ordinances, aud
referred byiAy to the difficulties which had
been encountered by the Company, the liliga.
tious to which It had been subjected, the el-