National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-08-25

OF May, ammo Domtni eighteen hundred an
seventy-one, between the United States c
America and the Queen of Great Britain.
Be q enacted By the Senate and House of Rep
rsssHtGtiVsS Of the United States Of America o
Congress assembled, That the President of tn
United States be, and he IL hereby, authorized
to nominate and, by and with the advice auC
consent of the Senate, appoint i've suitable
persons, who shall constitute O court, to b,
known as the "Court of Commissioners of Ala
bamA Claims" Each of the judges aud othei
officers Of said court shall take the oath of Of
fec prescribed by law to be taken by all Off
GERS Of the United States. The President shall
designate, BY appointment, one Of the said
judges to be presiding judge of the court and
all vacancies which may occur in said court BY
reason of death, resignation, or inability, or re-
fusal or neglect Of any or either of said judges
to discharge the duties Of his position, shall be
nlled In the same manner as vacancies occur
ring In offices under the Constitution OF the
United States are hIled.-
Sec. 2. That the said judges shall meet and
organize said court in the city Of Washington,
where the said court shall hold its sittings.
Three judges Of said court shall constitute q
quorum for the transaction of business, and
the agreement Of three shall be necessary to
decide any question arising before said court.
Sec. 8. That the Eaid court be, and 1t Is
hereby, authorized to publish notice Of It's SEES
sions, and to make all needful rules and regu-
lations not contravening the laws of the United
States or the provisions of this act, for regu-
lating the forms and mode of procedure before
the said court, and for carrying into full and
complete effect the provisions of this act. Such
rules and mode Of procedure shall conform, az
far as practicable, 70 the mode of procedure
and practice of the circuit courts Of the United
States; and the said court is hereby vested with
the same powers now possessed by the circuit
and district courts Of the United States 10
compel the attendance and testimony of par
ties, claimants and witnesses, to preserve or
der, and to punish for coltempts; and IN all
claims which shall be presented before said
| court the person or persons prosecuting such
claim shall be deemed the complainant and the
United States shall be deemed the respondent.
And said court shall have power to compel the
production Of any books or papers deemed ma
\ terial to the consideration of any claim or mat
ter pending therein.
Sec. 1. That each of the said judges shall be
paid monthly, at the rate ofsix thousand dollars
per snnum; and they shall have q clerk, who
shall be appointed the President, BY and with
the advice aud consent Of the Senate, to be paid
at the rate ofthree thousand dollars per snnum;
and the said court shall have authority to ap-
point one shorthand reporter, to be paid
monthly, at the rate of two thousand five hun
dred dollars per snnum; and said court shall
be further allowed the necessary actual eX-
=
and printing, and other necessary incidental
expenses, to be certified by the presiding judge
Of said court, and to be audited and paid on
vouchers under the direction of the Secretary
of State.
Sec. S. That the President may designate
counsellor-st-law, admitted to practice IN the
Supreme Court Of the United States to appear
as counsel on behalf Of the United States, and
represent the interest Of the Government In
said suit, and In all claims filed for indemnity
for losses, as provided by this act, subject to
the supervision and control Of the Attorney
General. Such counsel shall receive for his
services and expenses such reasonable allow
snce in each claim as may be approved by the
court, to be aIportioned in each claim adjudi.
Gated, and paid from said award upon the GER
tiAcate of one of the judges.
Sect That the marshal Of the United States
for the District Of Columbia, or bis deputies,
shall serve ell process issued by said court,
preserve order In the place of sitting, and exc
cute the orders OF the said court.
Sec. Z. That the said court shall proceed i'm
medistely after it's first meeting in the city of
Washington, with all convenient dispatch, to
arrange and docket the several clRims admissi-
BILE under this act, and TO consider the evidence
which shall have been or which may be offered
BY the respective claimants, and In opposition !
thereto, allowing such further time for the pro-
ductiou of such further evidence as may DO re-
quired and as it shall think reasonable and
Just, and shall thereupon proceed to determine
and award upon each Of said claims according
to the provisions Of this act.
Sec. 8. That the judges of the court created |
by this act shall convene in the city of Wash |
ington as son as conveniently may be after |
their appointment; and the said court shall |
exist for one year from the date Of its first con-
Vening and organizing; and should It be found |
impracticsble TO complete the work Of the said
court, before the expiration of the said. one |
year, the President may, by proclamation, ex-
tend the time Of the duration thereof to .
period not more& than six months be-
yond the expiration Of the said one
year; and In such case all the provisions of
this act shall be taken and held to be the same |
as though the continuance of the said court |
had been originally fixed by this act ct the
limit to which Il may be thus extended.
Sec. 8. That all records, documents or other
papers which now or hereafter, during the con-
tinuance of the court, may come into posses
sion of the Department Of State, in relation to
such claims, and which shall be found neces-
Sary to the examination and adjudication of |
the same, shall, upon the order or requisition
Of said court, be delivered to the court for that
purpose, and to be given such weight as evil
1ence as the court shall think Just.
Sec. 10. That each Of the said judges shall
have authority to administer oaths and AFR
nations, and to take the depositions of claim
ants, parties, and witnesses, In al matters per-
tanning to the presentation or examination Of
said claims; and If any person shall knowingly
and wlllfully swear or affirm falsely in such
examination or deposition to any matter or fact
material to the investigation of the claim touch
ng which such person is examined, or II any
person, whether claimant or witness, shall so
near or affirm falsely to the contents of any
memorial, petition, affidavit, deposition, or
,ther paper containing any matter or fact ma.
erisl In the examination of any claim pending
,efore, or to be presented before said court, or
hall, in giving testimony, or in swearing or
Affirming to any deposition, affidavit, or other
,aper, before any officer authorized TO ad-
minister ostbs or to take such testimony,
% swear or affirm falsely TO any mat
er or thing material In the examination of
my claim pending or to be presented before
aid court, every such person so swearing or
Iffirming falsely as aforesaid shall be deemed
utility of perjury, the same as If such false oath
II affirmation had been taken in judicial pro-
eeding in any of the courts of the United
jtates, and shall be liable 70 indictment and
rial in the district or circuit court of the United
tates for tho district In which such perjury
hall have been committed, or in the proper
ourts of the United States for the Territory or
District Of Columbia In which such perjury
hall have been committed, and shall, upon
suffer such punishment as is pro-
iied by the laws OF the United States for that
fence.
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