Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-01-21
G. aims Against the District.

lAl1RS tkkC DAStAACts
TIT ~ WHICH PASSED THE HOUSE YESTERDAY.
The following 10 iu.i .eA. vi .ne ultl MN
passed the House yesteru.. 80 e. 80. .,
against the District of Columbl" !" '''' tF'.' u
Claims for adjudication:
BE 1t enacted, efc That the jurisdiction OF the
Court OF Claims is hereby extended and it Shan
have exclusive original, legal. and equitable
Jurisdiction OF all claims now existing AGAINST
the District OF Columbia arising upon contracts
made since February q, 1871, not heretofore
passed upon by some competent tribunal. and
said court shall have the same VT nroceed
in the same manner a- nc governed by the
same rules In re,-.,-cct to the mode of hearing.
aojuoicatior., and determination of said claims
DE- - now has III relation to tue adjudication OF
Gains against the United States. Where the
trial OF any claim against the District OF COium-
bia. presented under the provisions Of this act
involves taking and stating OF long account or
the making OF measurements or computations
1nEoly1ng the services OF engineers. said court
shall have power 10 award a reference to q COM
petent referee TO take and state such account
OF TO the Engineer Commissioners OF the District
10 make report OF such measurements, and
said referee or engineer shall report to the court
ire evidence taken by him for the Information
OF said court
Sec. 2. All such claims against the District of
Soiumola snail: In the first instance, be pros
ecuted before the Court of Claims In the same
manner and subject to the same rules and WITH
the same right OF appeal either by the District
VI Columbia or by the claimants, and subject to
10y law Tor appeals on behalf OF the United
states OF claimants against the United States
from the judgments of the Court of Claims:
PForlded That the prosecution of all such claims
Snall De commenced in the Court of Claims by
the ming OF the petition OF the claimant as re-
CURED by the rules and practice OF said court
Wlthln SIX months from the passage of this act:
ana all such claims against the District OF Co.
lumbla now existing ard not filed within said
time snail be forever barred, except in cases Of
claims owned and held by persons under legal
m vel N aCIIr plny et,p M
IN Ike manner barred, unless commenced with
In SIX months after the expiration of such dis
ability.
Sec 3. The Attorney General of the Uni.ed
States shall have authority, and it shall be his
duty to defend the District of Columbia against
all Claims against said District OF Columbia
prosecuted in said Court of Claims, and on ap-
peal in like manner as he is now by law re-
qured to defend the United States In the said
court, with the same power to interpOSe counter
claims and Offsets against claims. and with like
power or appeal as in cases against the Jnited
States tried in said court
See. 4. Ali laws now In force relating to prose-
BUTTONS OF claims against the United states in
the Court OF Claims shall apply so far as appli-
cable TO the prosecution, pratice. hearing. and
determination OF claims against the District OF
Columbia, authorized to be prosecuted under
the provisions Of this act: PrOriied. That the
motions for new trials shall be made by either
party within twenty Gays after rendition OF any
judgment: And pror dcd further, That in trials
Of such cases no person Shall be excluded as a
In The Issue on trial. Pr0Uided, That in all cases
where such Court of Claims shall give Judgment
In favor OF any claimant, said court shall, with
tnelr finding OF facts, lind and determine
whether the terms Of the contract under which
Sucn claim Shall have originated required the
payment therefor in lawful money or in 3G5
boDdS, and the Judgment shall direct the pay
ment In accordance with the facts so found
Sec. .. II no appeal be taken from the iudg-
lnent and determination OF the Court Of Claims
in cases provided for in this act within the term
aDDpaliDGr
mentS OF said court, and in all cases of final
judgments by the Court Of Claims, or On appeal
Dy the Supreme Court, where the same are af-
fI1ned in favor OF the claimant, the sum due
thereby shall be paid, as hereinafter provided
Dy Inc secretary OF the Treasury, out of any
moneys in the Treasury not otherwise appro-
pflated, II the same be payable in money, and
II payable In 3.65 bonds, the same shall be is
sued: ITOrided, That no payment shall be made
eltner In money or bonds except upon the pre-
Sentatlon TO the Secretary OF the Treasury OF a
copy OF said Judgment, certified by the clerk of
tie Court of Claims and signed by the Chief JUS
zee. OF, In his absence, by the presiding JUDI
moneys paid by the Treasurer OF the United
states ON any Judgment or judgments rendered
oy the Court OF Claims, under the provisions OF
thlS act, shall be charged by the Treasurer OF
the United states against the District of Column
Ola, and said treasurer shall reimburse the
onited states Treasury Of such payments ont of
any money In the Treasury of the United states
belonging 10 the District of Columbia not other
wise specifically appropriated.
Sec. q. The Secretary OF the Treasury Is here
ny authorized to demand OF the sinking fund
commissioner OF the District of Columbia so
many OF the 3 Is bonds as may be necessary for
the payment OF the judgments adjudyed TO be
payable in said bonds and said sinking fund
commissioner is hereby directed to issue and
deliver 10 the secretary of the Treasury the
amount OF 1865 bonds required to satisfy the
awards payable in such bonds, and no In0.e
Which bonds shall be received by said claim
ants al par In payment OF such claims: Pr1Diirl,
Ihat the gross amounts of such bonds hereto
fore and hereafter issued shall not exceed in the
aggregate $4,000, GOO: ind pr0rided farther
That nc inoney shall be paid out Of the Teas
ury under this act where under the Law the
claimants would be entitled to 800 bonds
Sec. :, In all cases presented under the pro-
Visions OF this act 1t shall be the duty Of the
claimant after the commencement OF said ac-
ton TO prosecute them in said court diligently
and after any issue OF law Or OF fact Shall be
Joined in any case the Attorney General Shall
have power TO place the same on the trial cal
enGaf or said court for trial: and in al eases
where any case has been reached in its order on
the calendar and the trial thereof has been un-
reasonably delayed by the claimant, the said
court may, on motion OF the Attorney General,
on notice to the claimant or his counsel. attOa-
ney- or solicitor, dismiss said claim, and SuciI
dismissal or final Judgment on any claim snail
De 4 conclusive bar against any further prose.
cutlon Of such claim before any court OF jIibI-
hal whatever.