Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 68 Part 1.djvu/1278

 1246

Effective date. CI aims referral s. 62 Stat. 976.

Proceedings before commis-

PUBLIC LAW 7 7 9 - S E P T. 3, 1954

[68

STAT.

Chief Justice of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Cohimbia shall be Chief Judge of said Circuit. The Chief Justice of the District Court of the United States for the District of Columbia (formerly named the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia) and the Associate Justices thereof, in office on the effective date of this Act, shall be district judges for the District of Columbia and vested with all the rights, powers, and duties thereof." (b) The amendment made by subsection (a) of this section shall be deemed to be in effect as of September 1, 1948. SEC. 52. The first paragraph of section 2501 of Title 28, United States Code, is amended by striking out where they appear in such paragraph the words ", or the claim is referred by the Senate or House of Representatives, or by the head of an executive department", so that such paragraph will read as follows: "Every claim of which the Court of Claims has jurisdiction shall be barred unless the petition thereon is filed within six years after such claim first accrues.". SEC. 53. (a) The first paragraph of section 2503 of Title 28 of United States Code, is amended (1) by lettering the paragraph as subsection (a); (2) by striking out the second sentence of such paragraph and inserting in lieu thereof "In accordance with rules and orders of the court, commissioners shall fix times for trials, administer oaths or affirmations to and examine witnesses, receive evidence and report findings of fact and, when directed by the court, their recommendations for conclusions of law in cases assigned to them. Hearings shall, if convenient, be held in the counties where the witnesses reside.": and (3) by striking out the last two sentences of such paragraph, so that such paragraph will read as follows: "(a) Parties to any suit in the Court of Claims may appear before a commissioner in person or by attorney, produce evidence and examine witnesses. I n accordance with rules and orders of the court, commissioners shall fix times for trials, administer oaths or affirmations to and examine witnesses, receive evidence and report findings of fact and, when directed by the court, their recommendations for conclusions of law in cases assigned to them. Hearings shall, if convenient, be held in the counties where the witnesses reside.". (b) The second paragraph of section 2503 of Title 28, United States Code, is amended by (1) by lettering the paragraph as subsection (b); and (2) by striking out the first sentence of such paragraph and inserting in lieu thereof "The rules of the court shall provide for the filing in court of the commissioner's report of facts and recommendations for conclusions of law, and for opportunity for the parties to file exceptions thereto, and a hearing thereon before the court within a reasonable time.", so that the paragraph will read as follows: "(b) The rules of the court shall provide for the filing in court of the commissioner's report of facts and recommendations for conclusions of law, and for opportunity for the parties to file exceptions thereto, and a hearing thereon before the court within a reasonable time. This section shall not prevent the court from passing upon all questions and findings regardless of whether exceptions were taken before a commissioner.". SEC. 54. (a) The second paragraph of section 2505 of Title 28, United States Code, is repealed. (b) The catchline to section 2505 of Title 28, United States Code, is amended by striking out the words "Place of taking evidence" and in lieu thereof inserting "Trial before judges", so that such catchline will read as follows:

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