Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1872-12-19

the guests
Dir. John t. Harris, on leave, intro
daced the following bill:
A BILL
7 or the relief Of Claimants tor property
destroyed by the authority of the Uni
ted 5s.tes dlring the rebellion.
Be Il enacted by The Senate and House
of Peprcs "'atires # tie U,itsl Stttes of
<in4criea i 'ongtess assent !ctl, That
the President Of the United States be,
and Is hereby authorized, by aud with
the advice and consent of the Senate. to
appoint-a board, to be designated, the
isoarst OF Claims, to consist OF three
persons, who shall be learned in the
law, and whose duty it shall be to re-
ceive, examine, and consider the Justice
md validity Of such claims as shall be
brought before them fer compensation
for property destroyed by order of the
Government Of the United States, OF of
any officer having command in the de-
partment or at the place where such de-
structlon occurred during the rebellion;
sad the said board in considering said
claims shall be satisfied fl ON the test
mony OF witnesses under oath, OF from
other sufficient evidence, which shall ac-
company OF be adduced in support of
each claim, under such rules as the board
may adopt, of the title, quality, quaint
ty, and value Of the property destroyed
for which any claim shall be made, and
OF the time, place and MATERIAL circum-
stances Of the destruction Of the same:
and upon satisfactory evidence of the
justice and validity Of any such claims,
the board shall report their opinion in
each case, and shall certify the nature
amount and value Of the property as
aforesaid; and each claim which shall be
considered and rejected as invalid shall
likewise be reported with the reasons
| therefor; and no claimant shall with
| draw any material evidence submitted
| in support Of any calm.
SEC. 2. That said board Of claims
shall each take the oath If office provi-
| ded by law to be taken by officers of the
United States, and shall proceed with
out delay to discharge their duties under
this act The President of the United
States shall designate in his appoint
ment one Of said board of claims to be
president OF the board, and shall be au-
thorized to fill any vacancy which may
occur by reason Of death or resignation,
in said board; and each member Of the
board shall have the authority to adj
minister oaths and affirmations, and to
take the deposition of witnesses in all
matters pertaining to their duties. The
said board Of claims shall meet and e.
ganize said board, and hold their ses-
sion at Washington. Two members
OF the board shall constitute a quorum
for the transaction Of business, and the
agreement OF two shall decide all CUES
tons in controversy. The said board
Of claims shall have authority to make
and publish rules for their procedure
not inconsistent with this act, and sha
publish notice Of their session. 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 presentation, number, name,
and residence of claimant, subject-mat-
ter and amount of claim, and the amount,
if any allowed; which records shall be
open to the inspection of President and
81 ho
or Of such officer as the President may
designate.
Sec. 3. That the President of the
United States be, and is hereby, further
authorized, if, in his opinion the public
service requires it, to nominate, and, by
and with the advice and consent of the
Senate, to appoint, an officer who shall
be designated solicitor of claims, whose
duty it shall be to represent the interest
OF the Government in all such claims as
are heard before the said board.
SEC. 4. II hat said board of claims
shall make report Of their proceedings,
and Of each claim considered by them,
at the commencement OF each session
OF Congress, to the Speaker ofthe House
OF Representatives, who shall lay the
same before. Congress consideration;and
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 au~
thority Of Congress.
SEC. 5. hat the board of claims
shall be paid quarterly under this act. at
the rate of five thousand dollars per
annum each, and the said solicitor OF
claims, the sum of three thousand five
hundred dollars per annum, payable in
the same manner. The said board shall
have authority to appoint one clerk aud
one shorthand reporter,to be paid'quar-
terly, at the rate OF two thousand five
hundred dollars per annum each, one
messenger, to be paid at the rate of one
thousand two hundred dollars per an
mum, who shall perform the services re-
quired Of them respectively, and said
board shall be further allowed the ne
cessary actual expenses of different,
furniture, fuel, stationary, and printing,
to be certified by the president Of the