Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 17.djvu/137

 FORTY—-SECOND CONGRESS. Sess. II. Ch. 156. 1872. 97 CHAP. CLVI. —-·An Act to authorize the Commissioners of Claims to appoint special May 1], 1872, Commissioners to take Testimony, and fw other Purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United S8i>£?%,c§§$%6' States of America in Congress assembled, That the commissioners of Commissioners claims shall have authority to appoint special commissioners to take tes- ’>f claims may timony, to be used in cases pending before them, who shall have author- Qgglfggsffggigleo ity to administer oaths and aiiirmations, and to take the depositions of wks testimony witnesses: Provided, The claimants shall pay the fees of such special ln °9·*°S b€£°¤`€ commissioners for taking the depositions of witnesses called by them; miiges and who but such fees shall in no case exceed ten cents per folio if the claim is to pay., ` less than one thousand dollars. Sec. 2. That any person who shall knowingly and wilfully swear Knowingly, falsely before the said commissioners of claims, or either of them, or £¤F··l¤W§aI}'*“€ before any special commissioner appointed by virtue of this act, in any gs? {O b€e({._ matter or claim pending before said commissioners, shall be deemed guilty jury, and how of perjury, and, on conviction thereof, shall be punished in the same man- P“‘“Sh°‘l‘ ner prescribed by law in cases of wilful and corrupt perjury. Sec. 3. That the commissioners of claims may appoint and employ Commissionagents, but not more than three at any time, whose duty it shall be, under HS of Glalms ma? the direction and authority of said commissioners, to investigate claims $,;x;g;(ggQ*g;Dum pending before them, to procure evidence, to secure the attendance of claims, See. witnesses on behalf of the government, and to examine the same, and to cross—examine the witnesses produced by claimants, and to perform such other duties as may be required of them by said commissioners, who may discharge them at any time. The said agents shall be allowed their Pay and sx. actual and necessary travelling expenses ; the expenses paid out in inves- DGHSBS Of Such tigating claims, procuring witnesses, and taking testimony, and six dollars 8g°ms' per day while employed in the discharge of their duties; of all which, at the end of each month, they shall make a statement in detail, specifying Detailed eww the amounts by them paid out, to whom paid, when and where and for ment, &e. what purpose, and the number of days employed in their duties, and shall transmit the same, duly certified, to the commissioners. But no claim No 0;,,;,,, of where the amount exceeds ten thousand dollars shall be examined, de- Over $10.000*0 cided, and reported by the commissioners to Congress, except the testi-· Egxgggggelgm mony on behalf of the claimant in such case shall have been taken orally Congress, exbefore the commissioners or some one of them personally, or shall have use &¢· been taken previous to the third day of March, eighteen hundred and seventy-one, to be used in the court of claims or before some department of the government. Sec. 4. That the commissioners may employ three additional clerks at Additional a salary of one thousand two hundred dollars per year; and may employ, at °l€’l$S *0 °°m;, the usual rates, such assistance for the short-hand reporter as may be necessary, from time to time, in reporting, copying, and preparing for reporter, and Congress the oral testimony taken in cases before the- said commis- thmr P"0'· sioners. Sec. 5. That all the expenses incurred under the provisions of this act Expenses shall be allowed and paid in the same manner, and out of the same $*06* *h*§d¤g*t_ appropriation provided for in the act organizing the said commissioners 1g;?;;?;,;,, gg: of claims, being an act entitled "An act making appropriations for the Vol. xvi. p. s25. support of the army for the year ending June thirtieth, eighteen hundred and seventy-two, and for other purposes," approved March third, eighteen hundred and seventy-one. Sec. 6. That it shall be the duty of the said commissioners of claims Commissionto receive, examine, and consider the justice and validity of such claims Gas lg QOH5mi?' as shall be brought before them of those citizens who remained loyal {(,;,3  fe,. adherents to the cause and government of the United States during the supplies taken, war, for stores or supplies taken or furnished during the rebellion for the fgggulgsnfgrtisge use of the navy of the United States, in the same manner and with use of glfgugvy, voL. xvii. PUB.- 7