THATThat the sum of seven hundred thousand dollars, out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated, be, and the same hereby is, appropriated to defray the expenses of the late military operations in California, under the orders of Commodore Stockton, and of Brevet Captain, afterwards Lieut. Colonel Fremont, and also to defray the expenses of the civil government established by Commodore Stockton in California, and to pay all just claims arising out of said military operations and civil government.

Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That the said claims and demands, so far as heretofore ascertained, and the amount evidenced by any written instrument, signed by Commodore Stockton, or Lieutenant Colonel Fremont, or by muster rolls, or proper discharges, shall be paid with the least practicable delay. And no ascertained claim shall be paid until first examined by the late commander of the California battalion, J. C. Fremont, and by the late commissary and the late paymaster of the battalion, Captain Hensley and Major Reading, and allowed by them or a majority of them; and payment of such unas-certained claims, as soon as allowed and certified, shall

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be made to the claimants in California by some proper disbursing officer, duly appointed or designated for that purpose; and all claims not presented and allowed within one year and a half from the time of passing this bill shall be forever barred; and the compensation of the examining persons shall be according to that of their respective ranks in the late battalion, and shall be paid out of the appropriation contained in this bill, and shall make return of their proceedings to the War Department. And the men and non-commissioned officers of the battalion shall be paid as mounted riflemen, and in full of all claim for lost horses, for any cause whatever, and in full of all claims for forage, as well as for pay, clothing, and use and risk of horses, shall be paid as follows: First sergeant, thirty five dollars and twenty five cents per month; other sergeants and corporals, thirty two dollars and twenty five cents per month; musicians, twenty-seven dollars and twenty-five cents per month; privates, twenty-seven dollars and twenty-five cents per month.

Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That the persons hereby designated to examine the said claims shall, before the enter on the duties assigned to them, be first duly sworn or affirmed to faithfully perform the duties devolved on them by this act: and

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that in no case shall they or either of them examine or allow any claim of which he or any of them is personally to receive any part.