Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1871-03-18
The Act for Relief Of Loyal citizens.

AN ACT for the Relief of Loyal Citizens of the
United States, for Stores or Supplies taken or
furnished during the rebellion in the 1nsur-
rectionary. States, for the use Of the Army of
the United States. and for other purposes.
That the President of the United States shall
be-. and he Is hereby, authorized to nominate,
and By and with the advice and consent of the
Senate, appoint board of commissioners to
be designated as commissioners of claims, 70
consist of three commissioners, who shall be
commissioned for two years, and whose duty 1t
shall be to receive examine, and consider the
justice and validity OF auch claims az shall be
brought before them, OF those citizens who re-
manned loyal adherents TO the cause and the
Government of the United States during the
war, for stores or supplies taken or furnished
during the rebellion, for the use of the Army of
the United States in States proclaimed as in in.
surrection against the United States. including
the use and loss of vessels or boats while en-.
ployed in the military service IF the United
States. And the said commissioners in consid-
ering said claims shall be satisfied from the tes-
timony of witnesses under oath, or from other
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
at the time Of the taking or furnishing of the
property for which any claim shall he made.
and of the quantity, quality, and value Of the
property alledged to have been taken or fur
nished, and the time, place. and material circum-
stances 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
of the property taken, furnished, or used as
aforesaid. And each claim which shall be con-
sidered, and rejected as unjust and invalid, shall
likewise be reported, with the reasons therefor !;
and no claimant shall withdraw any material
evidence submitted in support any claim.
SEC. /. A1sd be Il further enacted, 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 procsed without de-
lay 70 discharge their duties under this act
The President Of the United States shall dssig-
nate in his appointment one of said commission.
ers to be president of the board, and shall be au
tthorized to fll any vacancy which may occur
by reason of death or resignation in said hoard;
and each commissioner shall have authority TO
administer oaths or sfirmations, and to take the
depositons of witnesses in all matters pertaining
to their duties. The said commissioners shall
meet and organize said board, and hold their
sessions at Washington. Two rnsmbsrs of the
board shall constitute quorum for the tranac.
ton Of business, and the agreement Of two shall
decide al questions in controversy. Ths said
commissioners shall have authority to make and
publish rules for their procedure, not incnnsist.
ent with this act, and shall publish notice of
their sessions They shall keep a Journal Of
their proceedings. to be signed by the president
of the board, and register of all claims brought
before the board, showing the date of presenta-
ton, number. name and residence of claimants.
subject-ma.ter, and amount of claim, and the
amount, fany, allowed which records shall be
open to the inspection of the President and At
torney General ofthe United States, or of such
officer as the President may designate.
SEC. g. And BE- Il f.Tthsr sanets1 That said
rr. .sssSIerS C1IaIT inaKe fepofs sA.ir oro-
ceedings, and of each claim considered by them,
at the commencement of each ses> ion of Con.
gress, to the Speaker of the House of Represen-
tatives, who shall lay the same bsfora Congress
for consideration: and all claims within this act
and not presented to said board shall be barred.
and shall not be entertained by any Department
OF the Government without further authority of
Congress
SEC. 8. And be II f,srthsr enacted That the
commissioners of claims shall be paid, quarterly
under this act, at the rate of 5000 er annum
each, and they shall have authority to appoint
one clerk and one shorthand reporter, TO be
paid quarterly at the rate Of $500 per annum
each, and one messenger. to be paid at the rate
Of 81, 200 per annum, who shall perform the
services required of them, respectively; and
said board shall be further allowed the necessary
actual expenses of office rent, furniture, fuel,
stationery and printing, TO be certified By the
president Of the board. and to be audited on
vouchers, and paid as other judicial expenses
are
SEC. 4. Ard be it further enacted, That a
sufficient appropriation to carry this act into
effect is hereby made out of any money in the
Treasury not otherwise appropriated
Approved March g. 1871