The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1872-12-19
Relief for Property Destroyed.

Relief for Property Destroyed.
On the 9th inst, Hon John T. Harris in
troduced the following bill in Congress, whicl
was read twice, aud referred to committee OF
claims.
| A BILL for the relief of claimants for pro
perty destroyed by the authority OF the Uni
ted States during the rebellion.
i Be it enacted by the Senate and House Of
Representatives of the United States Of Anne.
RIGA in Congress assembled, that the Fresi
dent of the United States be, and he IS here
by authorised by and with the advice and
consent of the Senate, to appoint board, to
be designated the Board of Claims, to con-
sist Of three persons who will be learned in
the law, and whose duty it shall be to receive
examine and consider the justice and validity
fsuch claims as shall be brought before them
for compensation for property destroyed by
order of the Government of the United States
or of any officer having command IN the de-
partment OF at the place where such destruc-
ton occurred during the rebellion /; and the
said board, in considering said claims shall
be satisfied from the testimony of witnesses
under oath, or from other sufficient evidence,
which shall accompany or2be adduced IN sup
port of each claim. under such rules as the
board may adopt, of the title, quality. guam
tity and value of tho property destroyed Tor
which any claim shall be made. and OF the
time place and material circumstances OF the
destruction of the same and, upon satlsfac-
tory evidence of the justice and validity Of
any such claims, the board shall report their
opinion In writing in each case, and shall
certify the nature, amount and value of the
property destroyed as aforesaid and each
claim shall be considered and rejected as in
valid shallIikewise be reported with the rea-
sons therefor; and no claimant shall withdraw
any material evidence submitted iu support
of any claim
Sec. 2. That said board of claims shall
take the oath of Office provided by law to be
taken by all officers of the United States, and
shall proceed without delay to discharge their
duties under this act. The President of the
| United States shall designate in his appoint
meut Que Of said board OF claims to be Presl-
dent Of the board, and shall be authorized to
fill any vacancy which may occur by reason
Of death or resignation, IN SAID board; and
each member ofth board shall have author
| ity to administer oashs and afhrmatIons, and
to take the dispositions Of witnesses in all mat
tiers pertaining to their duties. The said
board of claims shall meet aud organize said
board, and hold their sessions at Washington.
Two members of the board shall constitute a
quorum for the transaction Of business, and
the agreement OF two shall decide all ques
tons in controversy. The aaid board OF
claims shall have authority to make and pub
lish rules fer th'i proc, . ure no j consistent
| with this act, and shall publish notice OF their
sessions. They shall keep journal Of their
proceedings, to be signed by he president Of
the board, and register of all claims brought
before the board, showing the date of presen-
tation, number, name and residence of claim
ant, subject-matter and amount of claim, and
the amount, if any, allowed; which records
shall be open to the inspection of the Presi
dent and Attorney Geaeral of the United
States, or of such officer as the President may
! designate.
SEC. 8 That the President of the United
States be, and he is hereby, further authori-
zed, if, in his opiaion the public service re-
quircs it, to nominate, and, by aud with the
advice and consent OF the Senate, to appoint,
an officer who shall be designated solicitor of
the interest of the Government in all such
claims as are heard before the said board.
SEC T. That said board OF claims shall
make report Of their proceedings, and of each
claim considered by them, at the commence
ment Of each session of Congress, to the
Speaker Of the House Of Representatives,, who
shall lay the same before Congress for consid-
Grafton and all claims within this act and
not presented to said board shall be barred,
and shall not be entertained by any depart
ment of the Government without further au-
thoiity of Congress.
Sec 5. That the board of claims shall
be paid quarterly under this act, at the rate
Of five thousand dollars per aunum each, and
sand five hundred dollars per annum, paya-
bic in the same manner. The said board
shall have authority to appoint one clerk and
one short hand reporter, to be paid quarter
ly, at the rate of TWO thousand FIVE hundred
dollars per annum each, and one messenger,
to be paid at tie rate of one thousand two
hundred dollars per annum, who shall per-
form the SERVICES required OF them respective
ly 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. 6. That sufficient appropriation to
carry this act into effect is hereby made out
Of any money IN the Treasury not otherwise
appropriated.
Bishop Gibbons, iu the course of bis SER
mon, In Richmond, on the subject Of Educa-
| ton said that cit is not sufficient for boy
to be acquainted with book keeping and TO
know how to balance an account. He must
learn also some spiritual book keeping and
| understand how to balance his account daily
between his conscience and God. A
| child has to put in practice daily not the
rules Of grammar and arithmetic, but also the
commandments of God and the virtue of a
Christian life 1t is only by the day study
of these duties that be can learn to love aud
practice them"
An insane Pennsylvania editor imagines
himself a mule. The Insanity consists IN as
spmlng that he is halt hossg.