Year: 1866

) To establish a commission for the settlement @
f claims against the government of the Unite
States held by loyal citizens of East Tennessee.
Whereas large number of loyal citizens of Eas


Tennessee have just claims against the govern
ment of the United States for property furnished


70 or taken by the armies of the United States
Tor which no vouchers or only informal voucher
were taken; and whereas large amounts of prop


erty OF loyal citizens of said section were destroyed


by said armies, and said citizens were thus as vel


as by the previous depredations of the rebel az


mics, greatly impoverished, and need all the RELIEF


that can be afforded by the prompt adjudication


and payment Of these claims; Therefore,


Be it enacted 6y the Senate and House of Reprsss,-


tattves Of tie United States Of america IN Congress


assembled That the President of the United States


be, and ne is hereby, empowered to appoint, by and


with the advice and consent Of the Senate a COM


mission of three persons, to hear and determine


upon principles of equity and justice and without


regard to forms vouchers, the claims of all loyal


citizens residing in the eastern district of Tennessee
against the United States for forage, subsistence


horses mules or other property taken for the use of


the armies of the United States during the late war


against the rebellion and when such claims are ad-
Judlcated IN favor of the claimant the said commits
| sioners shall draw their warrant for the amount
found due upon the Secretary of the Treasury coun
tersgned by their clerk and specifying whether the
same for forage subsistence horses mules or other
property, and the same shall be paid out of any
money IN the treasury not otherwise appropriated.
Sec 2. A'sd be 1t further enacted That the mode
of proceeding before said commission shall be bv
petition, and ten days notice shall be given to the
nlted States district attorney for the district of
East Tennessee, or in case Of his absence thirty
DAYS notice In some newspaper printed in Knoxville
and SAID attorney may in anyc ase where he deems
1t proper file an answer in behalf of the United
States. The evidence for or against such claims
shall be by depositions in writing taken before any
circuit court commissioner of the United States or
before any justice OF the peace of Tennessee or be-
lore any justice OF the peace notary public in any
other State, upon such notice as may be deemed
reasonable and proper by said commissioners


SEC. 3. And Be it further enacted, That said COM
mlssioners shall appoint clerk and keep a record
OF their proceedings establish such rules of practice
as they may deem proper and admit the appearance
of attorneys or solicitors before them be at ali times
open for transaction of business and have power
to secure propriety and decorum in the PROCEEDINGS
before them, and may require the United States |
marshal for the district of East Tennessee or one of
his deputies to be in attendance upon their sittngs


SEC. 4. And be 1t further enacted That said com
mssioners shall continue to act for the term of two
years from the passage of this act they shall each
receive an annual salary of - dollars: the dis
rct attorney, in addition to the compensation now
allowed by law, shall receive dollars annu-
lOI lis eelHlcesi the ClerR snail receive
nual compensation of - dollars; and such costs
as the commissioners may deem proper shall be ad-
judged against the United States and certified to
and paid by the Secretary of the Treasury, and
such as the commissioners may deem proper to ad-
Judge against parties shall be paid by Them and
the commissioner shall have power to issue execu-


ton or any other process necessary to enforce their
Judgments or DEGREES, which shall be executed BY
the marshal, who shall receive for executing the
same and also for his daily attendance upon the sit
ting OF the commissioners the same compensation
now allowed by law for similar services in the courts
Of the United States.


SEC. 5. A11d be 1t further enacted That in the
event OF the DEATH removal resignation, or refusal
o act Of either of the commissioners it shall be the
1uty of the President with the advice and consent
If the Senate, to appoint some other person to fill
he place so vacated.


SEC. g. Ard be ii further enacted, That the sala-
les and costs, and awards herenbefore mentioned |
against the United States shall be paid by the Sec
etary of the Treasury Of the United States out of
my money in his hands not otherwise appropriated
lpon the warrant of the said commissioners coun- t
ersigned by their clerk. But no award shall be
made by them, or costs adjudged in favor of any
person who has voluntarily borne arms against the
United States, or given aid to those in rebellion
galnst the government thereof


SEC. Z. And be 1t further enacted, That the clerk
said commission shah have an official SEAL and
be decisions and awards of said commission shall
70 authenticated thereby; and said commission shall
lold lit sessions at Knoxville East Tennessee.