Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-04-21


For the benefit of those who have claims
against the Government, we have been re-
quested to publish the following sections
of an act passed by Congress relating to
the same:
Section 2. That the President of the
United States shall be, aud he is hereby
authoriZed4o nominate, and, by and with
the advice and consent of the Senate, sp-
point a Boa d of Commissioners, to be
designated as Commissioners of Claims, to
consist of three commissioners, who shall
be commissioned for two years, and whose
duty it shall be to receive, examine, and
consider the justice and validity of such
claims as shall be brought before them, of
those citizens who remained loyal adher-
ents to the cause and the Government Of
the United States during the war, for
stores or supplies taken or furnished dur
ing the rebellion for the use of the army
of the United States in States proclaimed
as in insurrection against the United
States, including the use and loss of YES
sells or boats while employed in the mill
tary service of the United States. And
the said commissioners in considering said
claims shall be satisfied from the testimony
sufficient evidence, which shall accompany
each claim, taken under such rules and
regulations as the commissioners may
adopt, of the loyalty and adherence of the
claimant to the cause and the Government
of the United States before and ct the
time of the taking or furnishing of the
property for which any claim shall be
made, aud of the quantity, quality, and
value of the property alleged to have been
taken or furnished, and the time, place,
| and material circumstances OF the taking
| or furnishing of the same. And, upon
satisfactory evidence of the justice and
validity of any claim, the commissioners
shall report their opinion in writing in
each case, and shall certify the nature,
amount, and value CT the property taken,
furnished, or used as aforesaid. And each
claim which shall be considered, aud re-
jected as unjust and invalid, shall likewise
be reported, with the reasons therefor;
and no claimant shall withdraw any mate
nal evidence submitted in support of any
claim.
Sec. 8. That said commissioners shall
each take the oath of Office provided by
law to be taken by all officers Of the United
| States, and shall proceed without delay tc
discharge their duties under this act. The
President of the United States shall des.
1 ignste IN his appointment one of said com
missioners to be President of the Board
and shall be authorized to fill any vacancy
which may occur, by reason Of death o.
resignation, in said board; and each com
missioner shall have authority to admins
ter oaths and sffirmations, and to take thu
I &c in
tanning to their duties. The said commits
sioners shall meet and organize said board
and hold their sessions at Washington
Two members of the board shall constitu
quorum for the transaction of business
and the agreement Of two shall decide a.
questions in controversy. The said com
missioners shall have authori y to make
and publish rules for their procedure, no
inconsistent with this act, and shall pub
lish notice of their sessions. They shal
keep journal of their proceedings, to b
signed by the President of the Board, ant
a register of all claims brought before tn
board, showing the date of presentation
number, name, and residence of claimant
subject matter and amount of claim, an
the amount, if any, allowed; which rt
cords shall be open to the inspection {
the President and Attorney General of th
United States, or of such officer as til
President may designate.
Sec. 4. That said commissioners sba
make report of their proceedings, and I
each claim considered by them, at I'll
commencement of each session Of Coz
gress, to the Speaker of the House {
! Representatives, who shall lay the san
before Congress for consideration; and a
claims within this act and not presented
said board shall be barred, and shall NJ
be entertained by any department of IL
: Government without further authority
Congress. .- .... -.