Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-12-26
INDIAN CLAIMS.
Euil Text OF the Bill Passed for the Pay
ment of Depreciation Claims.
Estimated that 81, 600 900 of These Claims Ars
Held by Citizens OF Texas Provisions
for Ahjrd!ca ton.
Correspondence OF the Gazette.

Correspondence Of the Gazette.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 1.-The following
bill providing for the adjudication and
payment of claims arising from Indian
depredations, passed the house December
10 and is of great interest to Texas, where
SO many claimants reside. 1t Is esti-
mated that ut least 81 900, ZOO of these
claims are held by citizens of Texas. We
give the full text of the bill:
Be 1t enacted by the senate and house
Of representatives of the United States o.
America in congress assembled, that the
president is hereby authorized TO nomf-
nate and, by and with the advice and
consent of the senate, to appoint three
iudges, no more than Two of whom shall
belong TO the same political party, one
of whom shall be designated as presiding
judge, and they shall hold their offices
until the Slst day of December, 1891,
when the same shall expire and all the
functions and privileges thereof shall
cease. If either of said judges shall not
be 80 appointed during the present ses-
sion of the senate the president may
make such appointment during the re-
cess thereof, but the appo'ntee shall hold
no longer until the end of the next ses-
sion thereafter ensuing, during which
the president shall nominate TO the senate
as aforesaid. In like manner any
vacancy subsequently occurring shall be
filed. Each judge SO appointed shall
receive o salary at the rate S35OO per
annum. Each of said judges shall be-
fore entering upon the duties of his
Office, take and subscribe the oath re-
quired by law for judges of the United
states courts.
Sec. 9. The said JUDGES shall consti =
tute q court to be known as the court of
Indian depredntions. and shall have seal
with such device as il shall order, and as
such court shall possess jurisdiction and
authority to inquire INTO and finally ad-
judicate in q manner provided in this act,
all claims heretofore filed in the depart
ments or presented to congress of the
following classes, namely:
l. All claims for property of citizens
of the United States taken or destroyed
by Indians without just cause or provoca-
ton on the part of the owner or agent in
charge, and not returned or paid for.
g All claims by Indians under the
protection of any treaty with the United
States who, while peacefully residing
and being upon any lawful ration
provided for them, or absent therefrom
by authority and peacefully, shall have
suffered q loss of property through IN
lawful destruction, or taking by
white men, or by Indians of another
tribe or nation then belonging within the
United States, and not author
tied to be upon the reserva-
ton where such destruction or
taking occurred: Provided, however.
that no claim referred to in the second
subdivision in this section shall be en-
tertained by the court unless substan-
tiated to the satisfaction of the court by
the testimony of the agent or other
creditable witness not of the Indian race,
being persons having personal knowl-
edge of the facts.
3. All just offsets and counter claims
TO any claim OF either of the preceding
classes which may be before such court
for determination. All questions of
limitations as 10 time and manner of
presenting claims are hereby waived,
and no claim shall be excluded from the
jurisdiction because not heretofore pre-
scented to the secretary of the in erior or
other officer or department of the gov
ing prior to January |, 1S47, shall be
considered By the court. The said court
shall have authority to issue subp9nas
for witnesses, to be signed by its clerk or
one of said judges; TO make rules and
regulations not inconsistent with law or
with the general course of procedure in
courts of justice; to govern the methods
of procedure and practice in and before
person or by attorney, and all matters
pertaining and needfuI to the due per-
Torrance of thesduties OF said court. and
to administer oaths in proceedings in said
court, and TO preserve der and punish
for contempt. Such reg llRtions of prRc-
tice shall be prescribed so as to provide
for the expeditions, just and fair dispo-
siton of such claims as may come before
the court, regardless of technicalities,
aud according to the rights of claimants
upon the merits. A claimant may ap-
pear in person or by attorney. Upon the
filing of anv petitions as herein pro-
vided the clerk of said court shall send q
notice thereof in writing to the attorney
general of the United states; whereupon
the attorney general shall enter his ap-
pearance and thereafter see that the in
terrsts of the United States and of the
Indians are properly defended. For this
purpose there shall be appointed By the
attorney general an assistant attorney,
who shall be under the direction of the
department of justice, whose salary shall
be $500 per annum.
Sec. 3. That said court shall hold its
regular sessions in the city of Washing
ton, IN the District of Columbia, and the
attorney general shall provide for the
saiu court, its clerks and employees
hereby authorized, suitable rooms, with
necessary furniture, fuel. light, books
aud stationery Two judges shall consti-
tute quorum for the transaction of
business, bur no Judge shall participate
IN any hearing or proceeding in which he
has any pecuniary interest, directly or
indirectly or in which he is of kin to any
claimant docket shall be kept of all
claims, showing the date of presentation,
number, name of claimant, subject
matter, amount of claim and
the adjudication, and said court