Arizona weekly citizen., 1882-02-19
Losses by Indian Expectations.

l
 Mr. Oury introduced the following bill;
 To provide for the appointment of l commissioners to ascertain and report losses sustained by the people of the Territory of Arizona by reason of Indian depredations-
 Whereas it is the duty of the general government to furnish defense to each of the several States and Territories and to protect the citizens thereof against in- vasions and aggressions from the savage tribes inhabiting our borders; and | Whereas from want of such defense and protection numerous depredatiOns have been committed by hostile Indians on the frontier against the people of the Territory of Arzona, resulting in the loss of life aud property Therefore,
 Be it enacted ty tine Senate and House of Representative of the United States O. America in Congress assembled, that the SeciS.ary of the Interior be, and he is hereby, autho-ized to appoint three commissioners wIose duty 1t shall be to proceed, as soon as practicable, to the Territory of Arizona and examine all proper claims passelfssd o.. accoun. Oi property capturel. stolen, CT destroyed by the Indians ia said Territory: Pro yided, that said commissioners, before proceeding to examine such claims or @ NnaH notice of the time and place of their meeting by publication thereof, for ten days previous, in two or more newspa- pers of general circulation in said Terri tory: And provide further, That said commissioners shall, before entering upon their duties as herein specified, each take an oath to faithfully discharge the duties required by this act.
 SECTION ? That said commissioners, or a majority of the m, shall take the tes- timony under oath and in writing of such witnesses as may appear before them, and no claim shall be considered unless sworn to by the party or parties in interest; and either of the said ccm- missioners shall be, and Is hereby, au- thOrized to administer Oaths for the pur- poses herein provided for. The testi- mony taken must show the kind, quality, amount, and value oi the property for which payment Is claimed, the time when and the place or places where and the circumstances under which the same was captured, stolen, or destroyed, and as far as practicable the name of the tribe or tribes tO which the depredating Indians belonged, together with such other facts as may be deemed important by sad commissioners or by the parties in interest and upon the testimony thus taken each claim shall be considered, adjusted and allowed or rejected, accord ing as the commissioners or @ majority of them may determine: Provided, that no claim for damages shall be allowed other than the actual value of tie prop erty captured, stolen or destroyed as aforesaid.
 SECTION 3. That said commis siOners shall report all claims allowed or reject ed, together with the testimony relating thereto, to the Secretary Of the Interior, who shall transmit the same to Congress at its next regular session thereafter, as basis for an appropriation for the pay ment thereof
 SECTION f. That the said commis- sioners shall be paid. six dollars Der day and their travelling expenses while &C., tually performing the duties required by this act. They may employ not exceed ing two clerks, who shall each be entitled to four dollars per day and travelling ex- penses. And the sum Of ten thousand dollars, or SO much thereof as may be necessary, be, and the same IS hereby, appropriat. q, out of any money iu the Treasury not otherwise appropriatep, to carry out the provisions of this act.