Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-02-19

WEATHER PR0BABUTTES.-Wd var depart
nses,t, Office ofthe Chief Signal Officer, Wash
ingtoi,. d. C., Feb'Q. 10, 1S7S-lO 80 o. m
For the Middle Atlantic and Eastern States
rising barometer, diminishing northwesterly
winds, colder and clear weather will prevail &c.
day, followed tonight and on Wednesday by
falling barometer, warmer southerly to easterly
winds and increasing cloudiness.
RELIEF B1LL.-The following bill has been
reported in the House of Representatives and
placed on the private calendar for action
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of
Representatives of the United States Of Ameri-
cs in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of
the Treasury of the United States be authorized
and directed to pay to John T. Armstrong, of
Fairfax county, Virginia, out of any moneys IN
the Treasury mol otherwise appropriated me
sum of one thousand eight hundred and forty
dollars, in full satisfaction of his claim for rent
of wharf in the city of Alexandria, Virginia.
during the late war.
The following is the report accompanying the
BILL
The Committee on War Claims, to whom was
referred the bill (H. 4. 3285) for the relief Of
John T. Armstrong. Of Alexandria, report
That John T. Armstrong has been resident
of Alexandria, Va, for many years, and ad-
hered to tho Government Of the United States
ss q true and loyal citizen during the entire Pc
Rod of tho late war, rs we'll before and since {;
that at the commencement Of the late war said
Armstrong was the ''leasehold owner Of a Ger
tain wharf and appurtenances in tho city Of AL
exandris that said wharf was taken possession
of by officers Of the United States Government
ON or about the 1st day of june 1868. and was
held and uGed at intervals by the military su-
thorities of the government for government pun
poses for the space of twenty three months that
it WAS perhaps entirely necessary at the time
that said property should DO taken possession of
by the government, but it was well understood
by the officers acting on behalf OF the govern.
ment, as we'll as said Armstrong, that the latter
should be paid y reasonable compensation for
the use Of the property; that at the time tho
government was using SAID wharf the sald Arm.
strong was paying rent for the same TO The own
ers thereof in tee, and that no compensation
whatever has been made to said Armstrong for
or on account Of said property; that just prior
to tho occupancy of said wharf by Quartermas-
ter Ferguson. in behalf Of the government OF
the United States. said Armstrong had expenG-
ed q considerable sum of money to put the
property in repair, and t6at il wss in good re.
pair when taken possession of by United States
officers, and proved CT great value to the Quail
termasters Department of tho United States Ar
my; that it appears by testimony that SAID Arm
strong notified moro than ono government OIL
cial that no desired possession Of his property
during its OCCUPANCY as aforesaid. and that in
lieu thereof he would demand 500 per month
for tho uso and occupation thereof; that 1t APP
pears that said property WAS WORTH during the
$50 to 500 per month; that on account of irreg-
ularities Of tho quartermaster and others who
occupied said property, payment was not made
to said Armstrong for the same; that the gov
ment authorities occupied said wharf from June
|, 1862 to March 4, 1854, and from Juno l, ls6l
to March 4 1866, aud from June !, 1865, to No.
vember l, 1865, making in all a period of TWEEN
ty.threo months for which said space of twenty
three months your committee think that Mr.
Armstrong should be paid ut the rate Of $50 per
month, making the sam of $3.50. and report
bill for that amount, with accommodation that
il do pass.