RESOLUTIONS. [No. 3.] Joint resolution for the removal of all political disabilities imposed the fourteenth amendment to the Constitution of the United States upon Abram C. Myers. February 8, 1888. Abram C. Myers. Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled (two-thirds of each House concurring therein), That all the political disabilities imposed by the remov third section of the fourteenth article of the Constitution of the United States upon Abram C. Myers, be, and the same are hereby, removed. Approved, February 8, 1888. [No. 11.] Joint resolution in favor of J. Q. Barton. 66 April 9, 1888. May accept decora Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That Paymaster J. Q. Bar- J. Q. Barton. ton, of the United States Navy, be and he is hereby, authorized to tion from Emperor of accept the decoration of the Order of the Rising Sun" conferred Japan. upon him by the Emperor of Japan as evidence of his appreciation of services rendered by that officer to the Japanese Government. Approved, April 9, 1888. [No. 13.] Joint resolution in relation to the claim of John B. Read against the United States for the alleged use of projectiles for rifled ordnance, claimed as the invention of said Read, and by him alleged to have been used pursuant to a contract or arrangement made between him and the War Department in eighteen hundred and fifty-six, for which no compensation has been made. April 11, 1888. John B. Read. Board of army offiof invention claimed by. Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of War be, and is hereby, authorized and directed to organize a board cers to report on use of officers, as stipulated in said Read's written contract with the War Department in eighteen hundred and fifty-six, such board to consist of not less than three officers, selecting the same from the ordnance and artillery arms of the United States service, who will examine all facts relative to the claim and patent of said Read, and ascertain whether the United States have made any use of any invention or discovery of the said Read in projectiles; whether the same, if so used, were used under any contract, expressed or implied; whether he consented to the use of said projectiles by the Confederate Government against the United States, or received any compensation therefor, and whether this invention was used by the United States, to what extent, if any, his invention or discovery was used, and whether such use was valuable, and whether such contract itself was advantageous to the United States; and, if so, what sum, if any, under the circumstances of the use, the United States ought in justice to pay for the same. And that such board do make their report on the above case and claim, with all convenient speed, to the Secretary (1247) July 10, 1888. Preamble. Samuel Strong. Suit against District of Columbia submit ted to arbitration. Evidence. of War, to be by him transmitted to Congress for its action in the premises; and that such report be accompanied by a statement of all the proofs submitted to and considered by said board. Approved, April-11, 1888. [No. 28.] Joint Resolution to arbitrate and settle the questions at issue between the District of Columbia and Samuel Strong. Whereas for many years there has been vexatious and expensive litigation between the District of Columbia and Samuel Strong, that is likely to continue for many years to come, involving each year additional expense to the parties concerned; and Whereas experience shows that matters of account so complicated and extensive consume the whole term of the court trying the same, to the delay of other causes; and Whereas it is the duty of the Government and the interest of the citizen that such controversies should be ended as speedily and satisfactorily as possible: Therefore, Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the matters in controversy, as shown by the pleadings, between the District of Columbia and Samuel Strong, known in the circuit court of the District of Columbia as causes at law numbered fourteen thousand seven hundred and six and fourteen thousand seven hundred and thirty-six, be submitted to the arbitration of three persons to be appointed by the President of the United States, and the award of said arbitrators, or a majority of them, shall be final and conclusive as to the matters in issue between the parties under the pleadings in said causes, which award shall be filed in the papers of the said causes in the district court of the District of Columbia, and noted on the records of said court, and the Secretary of the Treasury is hereby directed, should the award be in favor of the said Samuel Strong, to pay said award, when duly certified to him by the clerk of said court, in the same manner that judgments against the District of Columbia are paid when rendered by the Court of Claims. SEC. 2. That it shall be lawful for said arbitrators to consider any competent evidence heretofore taken either before any of the courts where said causes were pending, or before any of the referees heretofore appointed, including the evidence taken before William Penn Clark, Albert E. Payne, and Edward Clark, and if, in the judgment of said arbitrators, further evidence shall be deemed necessary, the same may be taken by them, under the rules now governing the taking of evidence, to be used before the courts of the District of Columbia. SEC. 3. That before the President of the United States shall appoint tered on court record. the said arbitrators, the said Samuel Strong shall consent in writing to the appointment of the said arbitrators as provided in this joint resolution, and, further, that any award made by them, or a majority of them, shall be final and conclusive as to matter in issue between the parties to these causes, which consent shall be entered of record in the court in which the cases are pending, and shall be certified by the clerk of said court to the President of the United States. Consent to be en Former decisions of law to be followed. Compensation. SEC. 4. That the said arbitrators in passing upon any questions of law, involved in the pleadings in said causes, shall follow and be bound in making their award by any judgment or decision heretofore rendered in the said causes, or either of them, by the supreme court of the District of Columbia in general term, and in stating the account between the parties shall credit the District of Columbia with the face value of the certificates issued. SEC. 5. That the compensation of said arbitrators shall not exceed the sum of one thousand dollars each. Approved July 10, 1888. August 27, 1888. Gold medal awarded to, for life-saving ap pliances. [No. 40.] Joint resolution in recognition of the services of Joseph Francis. Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That in view of the life-long Joseph Francis. services to humanity, and to his country of the now venerable Joseph Francis, in the construction and perfection of life-saving appliances by which many thousands of lives have been saved, the Director of the Mint is hereby authorized and required to strike a gold medal, with a suitable device and inscription, prepared under the direction of the Joint Committee on the Library, to be presented by the President of the United States to Mr. Francis, in recognition of his eminent services. SEC. 2. That a sufficient sum of money to carry this resolution Appropriation. into effect is hereby appropriated out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated. Approved, August 27, 1888. [No. 53.] Joint resolution authorizing Brigadier-General Absalom Baird, United States Army, to accept from the President of the French Republic a diploma conferring the decoration of Commander of the National Order of the Legion of Honor. : October 19, 1888. Absalom Baird. May accept decora Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That Brigadier-General Absalom Baird, of the United States Army, is hereby authorized to tion from French Reaccept from the President of the French Republic a diploma confer- public. ring upon him the decoration of Commander of the National Order of the Legion of Honor. Approved, October 19, 1888. STAT L-VOL XXV- -79 |