impressment, except in cases where the risk to which the prop- 7 erty would be exposed was assumed by the owner thereof, if it 8 shall appear that such loss, captur^ or destruction, was withotit !) fault or negligence on the part of the owner, he shall be allowed 111 and paid a reasonable compensation for the said property. 1 Sec. 3. That where any property has been taken by any 2 public authority for the subsisteace, equipment, support, or use 3 of the army, and the same has been consumed, damaged, lost or 4 destroyed, Avhile the same is in the service or used by the army, 5 and compensation has not been adjusted or obtained under the 6 laws concerning impressments, after reasonable efforts to do so, 7 the owner thereof shall be allowed to recover the value thereof 8 under the terms of this act. 1 Sec. 4. That the President, by and with the consent of the . 2 Senate, is hereby authoriv.ed to appoint one commissioner in ' 3 each State, in which the claims shall be of sufficient number and 4 magnitude to require it, whose duty it shall be to decide upon all 5 cases arising under this act, and who, in the discharge of hi« 6 duties, shall be subject to such rules and regulations as shall be 6 7 prescribe years from the passage of this act. I Skc. o. That the said commissioner, before enterinj^ upon the 2' performance of his duties, shall subscribe an oatli and file it in 3 the office of the clorl: of the district court of the Confederate 4 States for the district in which he is to perform his duties, for 5 the true and faithful performance of the duties imposed upon him 6 by this act, upon which he shall procv:ts of this act and secure <>justico to the iudi- .') vidn;;! chiiiDantvS, -.vliich rules shall be published in the papers in 111 the several Stat-s in which the laws are published, for six weeks 1 1 successively. 1 Bkc. 7. Thar the several commissioners shall make a report of 2 their decinious to the Attorney General, together with a state- 3 ment of the evidence in relation to the same, who shalF revise 4 the report and decisions, and shall submit the same to Congress 5 with his opinion thereon, and an estimate in favor of the claims 6 allowed : Fton'ded hov:ever, That if the claim shall not exceed 7 five hundred dollars it may be paid upon the approval of the ad- 8 judication by the Attorney General. 1 Sfc. 8 That rh^ sum of dollars be, and the 2 same 5S hereby, appropriated to carry into eflfect the provisions 3 of t[iis ac..