Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1891-01-03

said court, aud to administer oaths in /,
proceedings in said court, and to pre-
serve order and punish for contempt. |
Such regulations of practice shall be
prescribed so as to provide for the expe-
dltIous, just, and fair disposition of such
Claims as may come before tie court, re-
CARELESS of technicalities, and according
to the rights of claimants upon the mer-
its. A claimant may appear in person
or by an attorney. Upon the filing of
any petitions as herein provided the
clerk of said court shall send a notice
thereof in writing to the Attorney Gen
eral Of the United States, whereupon the
Attorney General shall enter his appear
ance and thereafter see that the interests
OF the United States and of the Indians
are properly defended. For this pur-
pose shall be appointed by the Attorney
General an assistant attorney, who shall
be under the direction OF the Depart
ment of Justice, whose salary shall be
two thousand five hundred dollars per
annum.
SECTION 3. That said court shall
hold its regular sessions in the city of
Washington, in the district of Columbia,
and the Attorney General shall provide
for the said court, its clerks and EN-
ployees hereby authorized, suitable
rooms, with necessary furniture, fuel,
light, books and stationery. Two
judges shall constitute quorum for the
transaction Of business, but no Judge
shall participate in any hearing or pro-
ceeding in which he has any pecuniary
interest, directly or indirectly or in
which he is of kin to any claimant. A
docket shall be kept of all claims, show
ing the date of presentation, number,
name of claimant, subject
amount of claim, and the adjudication,
and said court shall keep record of its
proceedings. The said court shall APP
point a chief clerk and a messenger, and
such assistant clerks, one of whom shall
be skilled stenographer, as may be
from time to time found necessary, not
exceeding three. The chief clerk APP
pointed by the court shall receive a
salary of two thousand dollars, the mes
senger a salary of eight hundred and
forty dollars per annum, and such adj
ditional clerks as may be appointed with
salaries of twelve hundred dollars per
annum each.
SECTION 4. That upon the organiza-
ton of said court all papers, reports,
evidence, records and proceedings now
on file or Of record in any of the Depart
ments or the office of the secretary of
the Senate or the office of the clerk of the
House Of Representatives, or certified
copies of the same, relating to any
claims, authorized by this act, present
ed to said court and for which no appro-
priation has been made by Congress,
shall be delivered to said court upon its
order at the request of the Attorney
G4,Aeael1, the cIglTf15 I: . or MS attorne
All claims shall be presented to the
court by petition, setting forth in ordi.
nary and concise language, without I'M
necessary repetition, the fact upon which
such claims are based, the persons, class
of persons, tribe or tribes of Indians by
whom the alleged illegal acts we're com
mitted, the property lost or destroyed
and the value thereof, and any othe,
facts connected with the transactions
and material to the proper adjudication
of the cases involved. The petition shall
be verified by the affidavit of the claim
ant, his agent, administrator, or attor-
ney. In considering the merits of claims
presented to the court any testimony,
affidavits, reports of special agents, or
other officers and such other papers now
on file in the Departments or in Congress
relating to any of such claims shall be
considered by the court, and such weight
given thereto as in its judgment is right
and proper regardless of the technical
rules Of evidence in courts Of law: Pro
vided, That all claims which have here
tofore been favorably adjudicated by the
Secretary Of the Interior shall have pri-
GRITTY Of consideration by said court, and
shall be held to be prima facie correct.
SECTION 5. That the said court shall
make general rules and regulations for
taking testimony in causes pending
therein; and testimony shall be taken in
the county where the witness resides
when: the same can be conveniently done.
Every case shall be heard by quorum,
at least, of the court, and such quorum
is empowered to render final Judgment,
and all decisions shall be rendered at
the same term at which the case may be
heard, or, at furthest, during the sue
ceeding term. Each of said judges and
clerks or said court is authorized to ad-
minister oaths in matters arising in said
court.
SECTION 6. That the said court may
appoint not to exceed three commission