The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1888-08-16

torney, as shall be prescribed by the court.
In considering the merits of the claims
presented to the court, all testimony and
reports of spe cial agents, and other papers
now on file III either of the departmt MS
aforesaid or in the office of the commits
sioner of Indian affairs, and all such testi-
mony as may be taken pursuant to the
regulations of the court, and all reports
of special agents, as hereinafter provided,
shall be entertained by the court, and
such value awarded thereto as in its iudg-
ment is right and proper, without limita-
ton by the technical rules OF evidence in
courts of law. But every case shall be
heard by a quorum, at least, of the court,
acting jointly and not by individual COM
missioners, and the conclusion in respect
to facts and of laws thereon shall be so
Jointly found and determined. Each of
said commissioners and their secretary is
authorized to administer oaths to wit
nesses.
Section 5-That the secretary of the
interior, upol the requirement of the said
court, may appoint not to exceed five
special agents, who shall each be paid a
salary of $1,000 per annum, and the
further sum of So per day for travelling
ex Qenses for each day actually employed
in travelling or absence from home upon
official duty. Each such agent shall have
power to administer oaths, TO take deposit
lions and to prosecute Investigations, and
they shall perform such duties as may be
required by the court and under Its direc-
ton, and shall make report to the court in
writing of their proceedings, and of all
evidence taken in any case which
they shall be directed to investigate.
The secretary of the interior ST all cause
the accounts of said agents to be audited
and approved, such accounts to be sworn
to by the agents, and vouchers produced
showing how many days they were so en-
ployed, and each item of such necessary
expenses.
Section 6.-That the court shall make,
after inquiry and adjudication, a
special and separate report upon
each claim before it, in which
shall be suocinctly stated the facts
found by the court 10 respect to the loss
or destruction of the property, or other
circumstances of the injury which forms
the basis of the claim, and the nature and
quantity of property lost OR destroyed,
the value thereof in detail, the tribe of
Indians, or other persons, or class of per-
sons, by whom the wrong was committed,
and the amount determined to be due to
the claimant, if any, by reason of the
facts; and such amount shall not in any
case exceed the value of the property lost
or destroyed at the time of such loss or
destruction; and shall adjudge the liaoil-
ity the United States, or OF any tribe of
Indians, for the payment of the amount
SO found due. Ii any such claim be dis
allowed, such conclusion shall be reported
in like manner; and any claim so ad-
judged to be disallowed shall be there
after forever determined and barred &C
cordingly. Such reports shall be addressed
to and filed with the secretary of the in
terror and be accom- panied by all the teSti-
mony and papers on file in the said court
in relation thereto; and the secretary of
the interior shall annually submit, through
the secretary of the treasury, to congress,
an estimate for the payment of the
amounts allowed against the United
States, and when, in his opinion, the
amounts adjudged to be chargeable ag ainst
any tribe of Indians shonld be paid
by the United States, a separate estimate
for such sums; and the secretary of the
interior shall annually transmit to con-
gress, by communication to the speaker
of the house of representatives, list of
the claims embraced in such estimates,
giving the general particulars of each
case, and Herewith the several reports of
the court aforesaid adjudicating the same,
but not transmitting the papers and testi-
mony accompanying, except as may be
S pecially required; and the secretary of
the interior shall, at the same time, re-
port what funds exist from which any
amounts adjudicated by the court to be
chargeable to any Indian tribes may be
paid, and whether, in his opinion, the
amounts SO found chargeable should be
paid by the United States or taken from
such funds, together with his reasons
therefor. The amounts so adjudged by
the said court shall be final and conclu-
sive determination of the full and true
amounts due the several claimants, re-
spectively, on account of such claims,
and upon the payment thereof, pursuant to
any act of appropriation therefor, all such
claims shall be finally satisfied. At any
time before the reported judgment upon
any claim shall have been included by the
secretary of the interior in an esti-
mate, or have been transmitted to con-
gress, the said court may, in its discretion,
recall such report, with the accompanying
papers, and grant a rehearing; but after
either of the acts aforesaid in any case by
the secretary of the interior the jurisdic-
ton of the said court shall be determined
and final as to such claims.
Section THAT all claims of the
character mentioned in this act, which
shall not be presented to the said court
within three years after the passage here
of, shall be forever barred.
Section 8-That said court shall hold
two regular sessions each year in the
city of Washington, district of Columbia;
the first session shall commence on the
S cond Monday In January and end on
May 81; the second session shall com
mence on the first Monday in September
and end on December 20 of each year.
Section 9-That there be, and hereby
is, appropriated from the treasury of the
United States, out of any moneys not
otherwise appropriated, $4,000, or SO
much thereof as may be necessary, to pay
the salaries of the commissioners and
other officers and employees herein pro-
vided for, and such other expenses as are
authorized to be made by this act, which
shall be disbursed by the disburslng clerk
of the department. of the interior in the
same manner in which salaries and ex-