THATthe proper accounting officers of the treasury be, and they are hereby, authorized and required to settle the claims of A. H. Cole, late a sutler in Florida, to troops in the service of the United States, for debts due to him from deceased, discharged, and deserted soldiers, and which have not heretofore been paid, upon the same principle of justice and equity as are extended to sutlers under the existing army regulations; and in cases where an adjudication of the claim may have been had, and entry thereof made on the muster rolls, but the name of the sutler omitted, the payment shall be made to said Cole, upon his producing satisfactory proof that he alone was the sutler to the company to which the soldier belonged at the time when the claim originated: Provided, That the said accounting officers shall, in said settlement aforesaid, be the judges of the validity and equity of the accounts rendered by said Cole, in lieu of the certificates from a board of officers, as in the practice under existing army regulations: And provided, also, That no larger sum shall, in any case, be awarded to said Cole, on account of his claims against a deceased, discharged, or deserted soldier, either as principal or interest, than appears from the muster and pay rolls to have been actually and justly due to such soldier from the United States.–

Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That the sums awarded to the said Cole, under the foregoing

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section, be paid out of any moneys in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.—