Chapter CCXLVIII. for the Relief of Seamen and Others borne on the Books of Vessels wrecked or lost in the Naval Service
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Chap. CCXLVIII.— An Act for the Relief of Seamen and Others borne on the Books of Vessels wrecked or lost in the Naval Service.July 4, 1864. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,* ThatDay when the loss of a missing vessel of the navy shall be deemed to have occurred how may be determined. the proper accounting officers of the treasury be, and they are hereby, authorized, under the direction of the Secretary of the Navy, in settling the accounts of seamen, and others, not officers, borne on the books of any vessel in the navy, which shall have been wrecked, or which shall have been unheard from io long that her wreck may be presumed, or which shall have been de-390THIRTY-EIGHTH CONGRESS.
Sess. I. Ch. 248, 249. 1864.stroyed or lost, with the rolls and papers necessary to a regular and exact settlement of such accounts, to fix a day when such wreck, destruction, or loss shall be deemed and taken to have occurred. Sec. 2. *And be it further enacted,* ThatAccounts of petty officers, seamen, &c., on such vessel, how to be settled. the proper accounting officers of the treasury be, and they are hereby, authorized, in settling the accounts of the petty officers, seamen, and others, not officers, on board of any vessel in the employ of the United States, which by any casualty, or in action with the enemy, has been or may be sunk or otherwise destroyed, together with the rolls and papers necessary to the exact ascertainment of the several accounts of the same at the date of such loss, to assume the last quarterly return of the paymaster of any such vessel as the basis for the computation of the subsequent credits to those on board, to the date of such loss, if there be no official evidence to the contrary.
Where such quarterly return has, from any cause, not been made, the said accounting officers are hereby authorized to adjust and settle said accounts on principles of equity and justice;Compensation to be paid for loss of personal effects. and to allow and pay to each-person, not an officer, employed on a vessel so sunk or otherwise destroyed, and whose personal effects have been lost, a sum not exceeding sixty dollars as compensation for loss of his personal effects. Sec. 3. *And be it further enacted,* ThatIf such petty officer or seaman is dead, payment to be made to his widow, &c., and from what money. in case of the death of such petty officer, seaman, or other person, not An officer, such payment shall be made to the widow, child or children, father, mother, brothers and sisters, (jointly,) in that order of preference, under such rules as the second comptroller of the treasury may prescribe; such credits and gratuity to be paid out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.
Approved, July 4, 1864.