Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-08-25
GENERAL NAruRx-No. %

received into the Treasury under an ag ard
msde by the trionnsl OF arbitration constitu-
ted by virtue OF the first article OF the treaty
concluded at Washington the eighth of May,
ammo Domini eighteen hundred aud seventy
one, between the United States OF America
and the Queen Of Great Britain.
Be it enacted by The Senate and Honse Of Repre-
senfatir's # the lHited States Of America ~ Cow
Cr-Ss assembled, That the President OF the
United States be. and he is hereby, authorized
TO nominate and, by and with the advice and
consent Of the Senate. appoint five suitable per-
sops. who shall constitute a court, Ia be known
as the "Court of Commissioners OF Alabama
Claims" Each of the judges and otker Ofisers
of said court shall take the oath OF Office PEE
scribed by law to he taken by all officers OF the
United States. The President hall designate.
by appointment, one OF the said judges 10 be
presiding judge OF the court; and al vacancies
which may occur in said court by reason OF
death, resignation, or Inability, or refusal or
neglect OF any or either OF said judges 70 dis
charge the duties OF his position. shall be filled
IN the same manner a. vacancies occurring in
ohces under the Constitution OF the United
States are flied.
SIC 2. That tie said JUDGES shall meet and
organize said court in the city OF Washington,
where the said court shall hold its sittiugs.
Three judges OF said court shall constitute a
quorum for the transaction OF business. and
the agreement of three shall be necessary 20
decide any cues ion arising before said court.
SIC. g. That the said court be, aIi Il Is here
by, authorized 20 publish notice Of its sessions,
and to make all needfal rules and regulations
nor cOntrsvening the laws of the United STATES
or the provisions of this act. for regulating the
forms and mode of procedure before tie said
court, and for carrying into full aud complete
effect the provisions of this act. Such rules
and mode OF procedure shall cOnfsru, a. far a.
practicable, 10 the mode OF procedure aud
practice OF the circuit courts of the nited
States; and the said court Is hereby vested with
tie same powers now possessed by the circuit
ard district court of the L nited States TO COM
pei the attendance and testimony OF parties,
claimants, and witnesses, to preserve order, and
TO punish for contempts; and in all claims
which shall be presented before sai1 court the
perscn or persons prosecuting such claim shall
he deemed the complainant and the United
States shall be deemed the respondent. And
said court shall have power to compel the pro-
duction OF any books or papers deemed mate
rial 10 the consideration OF any claim or matter
pending therein.
SEC.4 That each of the said Judges shall be
paid monthly, at the rate of six thousand dol
lars per annum; and they shall have a clerk,
who shall be appointed by the President, by
and with the advice and consent of the Senate,
10 be paid at the rate of three thousand dollars
thority 10 appoint one Shorthand reporter, 70
be paid monthly, at the rate of tive thousand
i've hundred dollars per annum; and said court
shall he further allowed the necessary actual
expenses of Different, furniture, fuel, station
cry, and printing, and other necessary Incl
dental expenses 20 be certified by the presiding
Judge OF said court, and TO be audited and paid
on vouchers under the direction OF the Secre-
tsry of State.
SEC. 5. That the President NAV designate n
counsellor att law, admitted 20 practice in the
Supreme Court of the United States, to appear
as counsel on behalf of the United States, aud
represent the interest OF the Government in
said suit, and IN all claims iled for indemnity
for losses, as provided by this act, subject 70
The supervision and control of the Attorney
General. Such Counsel shall receive for his
services and expenses such reasonable allow
ance in each claim as may be approved by the
court. to be apportioned in each claim djudi-
Gated. and paid from said AWARD upon the GER
tifieate of one of the judges.
SEC. 6. That the marshal OF the United States
for the District Of Columbia, or his deputies,
shall serve all process issued by said court, pre-
serve order in the place OF sitting, and execute
the orders OF the said court.
SEC.T. That the said court shall proceed m
mediately after its first meeting in the CITY OF
Washington, with all convenient dispatch, TO
arrange and docket the several claims sdmis-
sibie under this act, and TO consider the EVIL
dence which shall have been or which may be
offered by the respective claimants, and in OPP
position thereto, allowing such further time for
the production of such further evidence as NAV
be required and as il shall think reasonable and
just and shall thereupon proceed 20 determine
and award npon each of said claims according
20 the provisions of this act.
SIC. {. That the judges of the court created
by this act shall convene in the city OF Wash
/ iuSiCn as soon as conveniently may be after
/ fhtlr appointment; and the said court shall
exit for enc year fTom the date OF ITS first con-
| venirg and organizing; and should IL be found
1 mpTaCticable TO complete the work of the said
court before the expiration OF the said one year,
| The President may, by proclamation, extend the
Il me Of the duration thereof 10 a periOi not
more han six months beyond the expiration OF
Il n ala one year; and IN such case all the pro-
visions OF this act shall be taken and held % be
Il tie ame as though the continuance CT the said
| rCult had been originally fixed by this act 1t
thu limit 20 which 1t NAV be thus extended.
SEC. 3. That sill records, documents, or other
la! ers which now or hereafter, during the con-
tiruance OF the court, may come into posses
sion OF the Department of State, in relation to
| such claims, and which shall be found naces-
sary to the examination and adj cation 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
deDce as the court shall think just.
Sic. 10. That each OF the said judges shall
| have authority to administer osths and sffirma-
tons, and TO take the dispositions of claim ants,
parties, and witnesses, in all matters pertain
ing 10 the presentation or examinations OF said
/ claims; and II any person shall knowingly aud
l willfuliy swear or affirm falsely in such exami-
natlon or deposition to any matter or fact u ate
rial 70 the investigation OF the claim touching
4 which such person Is examined, or IL any per-
son, whether claimant or witness, shall 50 sSe ear
\ or afhrIn falsely 10 the contents OF any memo
rial, petition, affidavit, deposition, other pa
per containing any matter or fact m aterial in
1 the examination OF any claim pending before,
or TO be presented before said court, or shall, in
giving testimony, or in swearing or affirming TO
any deposition, sffdavit, or other paper, before
any officer authorized to administer oaths or to
TO any matter or thing material in the examina-
| ton Of any claim pending or to be presented
| before SAID court, every such person SO swear
| Ing or affirming falsely as aforesaid shall be
| deemed guilty of perjury, the same as If sach
false oath or affirmation had been taken in a
judicial proceeding in any of the courts of the
| United States, and shall be liable TO indict-
ment and trial in the district circuit court OF
the United States for the district in which such
| perjury shall have been committed, or in the
| proper courts OF the United States for the Ter
| ritory or District of Columbia In which such
perjury shall have been committed, and shall
| upon conviction, suffer such punishment as is
| provided by thelaws of the United States for
| that offense.
SEC. IL. That 1t shall be the duty of said court
to receive and examine all claims admissible
| under this act that may be presented 70 it,
| directly resulting from damage caused by the
| sc-called insurgent cruisers, Alabama, Florida,
1 and their tenders, and also all claims admissa-
l able under this act directly resulting from
damage caused by the so-caled insurgent
| cruiser Shenandoah after her departure from
| Melbourne on The eighteenth day OF February,
eighteen hundred and sixty-fye, aud 70 decide
upon the amount and validity Of such claims,
| In conformity with the provisions hereinafter
| contained, and according TO the principles OF
| law and the merits Of the several cases. Ali
claims shall be verified by oath OF the claimant
1 and hled In eaid court within six months next
| after the organization thereof, as provided in
| section eight Of this act; and no claim shall be
| received, docketed, or considered that shall
have not been 80 filed within the time aforesaid;