plicable. Vol. 26, p. 81. at an election to be held on the said first Tuesday of November, eighteen hundred and ninety-six, as provided by the laws of the Territory Oklahoma laws ap of Oklahoma. All provisions of law applicable to the organization and government of counties in Oklahoma shall forthwith be applied by the proper officers thereof to said Greer County, the intention being to provide without delay the same organized government for said Greer Transfer of public as for the other counties of Oklahoma. All public buildings and property of every description heretofore belonging to Greer County, Texas, or used in the administration of the public business thereof is hereby declared to be the property of said Greer County, Oklahoma, and the officers thereof shall, as soon as appointed, take immediate charge and custody thereof; and all school property in said county shall become the property of the respective school districts in which the same are situated. property. Judicial proceed. ings in Texas courts binding. Transfer of pending suits. Court records, etc. SEC. 2. That all proceedings and actions of every kind in or before the several courts and officers of Greer County, Texas, shall have the same force and effect as if said courts and officers had been legally authorized courts and officers of the United States or of the Territory of Oklahoma, and the courts of said Territory having jurisdiction of similar matters shall make and issue all orders and writs necessary to enforce the orders, decrees, and final judgments of said courts and officers of Texas. SEC. 3. That all suits which were pending in the several courts of said Greer County, Texas, on March sixteenth, eighteen hundred and ninety-six, as shown by the dockets thereof, shall be entered upon the dockets of the courts of Oklahoma having jurisdiction of like cases, and the same shall proceed as if they had been brought in said courts of Oklahoma. Where an appeal or writ of error has been taken from a judgment in any civil or criminal case rendered by any of said courts of Greer County, Texas, to any other court of Texas, the judgment of such appellate court shall be binding upon all parties to such case, and upon the filing of a certified copy thereof in the court of Oklahoma having jurisdiction of like cases, it shall be the duty of such court to enter the same upon its minutes and proceed in said action in all respects as though it had rendered the original judgment therein. All rights in the cases mentioned in this section shall be determined by the law of Texas applicable to the act or transaction involved, and the courts shall take judicial notice of such law for that purpose. When any judgment affirmed by any such appellate court provides for impris onment, such imprisonment shall be in such place as the proper court of Oklahoma shall designate. SEC. 4. That all records, minutes, and files of any of the courts and officers mentioned in section two of this Act shall be preserved and kept by the proper courts and officers of Oklahoma, and they, or certiContracts, etc., filed. fied copies thereof, shall be competent evidence. All written contracts, conveyances, mortgages, liens, or other instruments which have been heretofore filed or recorded in said Greer County, in conformity with the laws of Texas, shall be held and considered to have been legally filed or recorded, and it shall not be necessary again to file or record them. And all interests, rights, titles, and estates, conveyed, limited, encumbered, or in any wise affected by any contract, lien, conveyance, mortgage, or other instrument, or by any judgment or decree of any court Validation of judg of Texas of competent jurisdiction, and all judgments of said courts, courts prior to March civil and criminal, prior in date to March sixteenth, eighteen hundred and ninety-six, shall have the same force and effect, in all respects, as if said Greer County had legally formed a part of the territory of the State of Texas up to March sixteenth, eighteen hundred and ninety-six, and had upon that date been lawfully ceded by Texas to the United States with a reservation and ratification of all existing rights and liabilities according to the laws of Texas. ments, etc., of State 16, 1896. Approved, May 4, 1896. CHAP. 161.—An Act To provide for the fulfillment of the stipulations of the treaty between the United States and Great Britain signed at Washington on the eighth day of February, eighteen hundred and ninety-six. May 7, 1896. Post., p. 844. for Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the sum of seventy-five Fur-seal fisheries. Appropriation thousand dollars, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby commission to assess appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appro- damages. priated, to be expended under the direction of the Secretary of State, with the approval of the President of the United States, in fulfilling the stipulations of the treaty between the United States and Great Britain signed at Washington on the eighth day of February, eighteen hundred and ninety-six. And the commission constituted by said treaty, when sitting at San Francisco, shall have power to compel the attendance and testimony of witnesses by application to the circuit court of the United States for the ninth circuit, which said court is empowered and directed to make all orders and issue all processes necessary and appropriate to that end. Approved, May 7, 1896. CHAP. 162.-An Act Empowering and directing the Secretary of the Navy to furnish not more than four pieces of condemned cannon to the village of New Rochelle, New York. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of the Navy is hereby authorized to furnish to the village of New Rochelle, New York, for use in completing the soldiers' monuments in that place, not more than four pieces of condemned cannon, if, in his judgment, it may be consistent with the public service: Provided, That the United States shall not be subjected to any expense on account of such donation. Approved, May 8, 1896. May 8, 1896. Condemned cannon. Rochelle, N. Y. Donated to New Proviso. CHAP. 163.-An Act Authorizing and directing the Secretary of the Navy to donate condemned cannon to Custer Post, Grand Army of the Republic, at Leavenworth, Kansas, and Mathies Post, Grand Army of the Republic, at Burlington, Iowa. May 9, 1896. Condemned cannon. ton, Iowa. Provisos. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of the Navy Donated to G. A. R. be, and he is hereby, authorized and directed to donate two condemned posts Leavenworth, cannon to Custer Post, Grand Army of the Republic, at Leavenworth, Kaus., and Burling Kansas; and that two condemned cannon be donated to Mathies Post, Grand Army of the Republic, at Burlington, Iowa: Provided, That the condemned cannon herein mentioned are available for the purposes stated and can, in the opinion of the Secretary of the Navy, be spared without detriment to the public interests: And provided further, That Expense. the Government shall not incur any expense in handling or transporting said cannon. Approved, May 9, 1896. Condition. CHAP 164-An Act To amend section twenty-eight hundred and eighty of the Revised Statutes of the United States, fixing time for vessels to unlade. May 9, 1896. Unlading of vessels. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That section twenty-eight Shipping. hundred and eighty of the Revised Statutes of the United States be amended so as to read as follows: of vessels extended. Time for unlading R. S., sec. 2880, p. "SEC. 2880. Whenever any merchandise shall be imported into any port of the United States from any foreign port, in any vessel, at the expiration of ten working days if the vessel is less than five hundred 558, amended. tons register, and within fifteen working days if it is of five hundred tons register and less than one thousand, and within twenty working days if it is of one thousand tons register and less than fifteen hundred, and within twenty-five working days if it is of fifteen hundred tons register and upward, not including legal holidays and days when the condition of the weather prevents the unlading of the vessel with safety to its cargo, after the time within which the report of the master of any vessel is required to be made to the collector of the district, if there is found any merchandise other than has been reported for some other district or some foreign port, the collector shall take possession thereof; but with the consent of the owner or consignee of any merchandise, or with the consent of the owner or master of the vessel in which the same may be imported, the merchandise may be taken possession of by the collector after one day's notice to the collector of the district. All merchandise so taken shall be delivered pursuant to the order of the collector of the district, for which a certificate or receipt shall be granted." Approved, May 9, 1896. May 11, 1896. Light, Ala. thorized. CHAP. 167.-An Act Authorizing the Secretary of the Treasury to exchange in behalf of the United States the tract of land at Choctaw Point, Mobile County, Alabama, now belonging to the United States and held for light-house purposes, with the Mobile, Jackson and Kansas City Railroad Company for any other tract or parcel of land in said county equally well or better adapted to use for light-house purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United Choctaw Point States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of the Exchange of site au Treasury be, and he is hereby, authorized to exchange in behalf of the United States the tract of land at Choctaw Point, Mobile County, Alabama, belonging to the United States and held for light-house purposes, with the Mobile, Jackson and Kansas City Railroad Company for any other tract or parcel of land in said county which it may offer in exchange therefor and which shall be approved of by the Light-House Board as equally well or better adapted to use for light-house purposes and of equal value. And, upon making such exchange, the Secretary of the Treasury shall execute and deliver to said company a quitclaim deed for said Choctaw Point tract, and shall take from it a proper conveyance vesting in the United States title to the tract or parcel of land to be taken in exchange, together with delivery of possession of such tract, such title to be passed upon by the Attorney-General of the United States in the usual manner. And said tract or parcel of land so taken in exchange shall be held and used for light-house purposes: Provided, That the exchange herein provided for shall be without expense to the United States. Deed. Proviso. Approved, May 11, 1896. May 11, 1896. Oklahoma. authorized on vacated town sites. Vol. 26, p. 91. CHAP. 168.-An Act To provide for the disposal of public reservations in vacated town sites or additions to town sites in the Territory of Oklahoma. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That in all cases where a town Homestead entry site, or an addition to a town site, entered under the provisions of section twenty-two of an Act entitled "An Act to provide a temporary government for the Territory of Oklahoma, to enlarge the jurisdiction of the United States court in the Indian Territory, and for other purposes," approved May second, eighteen hundred and ninety, shall be vacated in accordance with the laws of the Territory of Oklahoma, and patents for the public reservations in such vacated town site, or addition thereto, have not been issued, it shall be lawful for the Commissioner of the General Land Office, upon an official showing that such town site, or addition thereto, has been vacated, and upon payment of the homestead price for such reservations, to issue a patent for such reservations to the original entryman. Sales in open mar ket. R. S., sec. 2455, p. 449. Vol. 28, p. 687. Public sales of va cated lands. If the original entryman shall fail or neglect to make application for the reservations within six months from the vacation of such town site, or from the passage of this Act, the reservations shall be subject to disposal under the provisions of section twenty-four hundred and fiftyfive of the Revised Statutes of the United States, as amended by the Act approved February twenty-sixth, eighteen hundred and ninety-five. SEC. 2. That if a patent has already issued, or shall hereafter issue, for any such reservation, to any town or municipality, such town or municipality, upon the vacation of the town site or addition thereto, as aforesaid, may sell the same at public or private sale to the highest bidder after thirty days' public notice of such sale, and convey said lands to the purchaser by proper deed of conveyance, and cover the proceeds of such sale into the school fund of such town or municipality: Provided, That where, by reason of the vacation of an entire town site and all its additions, the municipal organization has ceased to exist, the tracts. reservations in such vacated town site which may have been patented to the town may be disposed of as isolated tracts under the provisions of section twenty-four hundred and fifty-five of the Revised Statutes of the United States, as amended by the Act approved February twentysixth, eighteen hundred and ninety-five. SEC. 3. That all laws and parts of laws, in so far as they conflict with this Act, are hereby repealed. Approved, May 11, 1896. Proviso. Sales of isolated R. S., sec. 2455, p. 449. Vol. 28, p. 687. Repeal. CHAP. 169.-An Act To authorize and direct the Secretary of the Navy to donate one condemned cannon and four pyramids of condemned cannon balls to the cemetery association in the city of Saint Paul, Minnesota, to be used at or near the foot of the soldiers' monument in said cemetery. May 11, 1896. Condemned cannon. Donated to cemetery, Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of the Navy be, and he is hereby, authorized and directed to donate one condemned St. Paul, Minn. cannon and four pyramids of condemned cannon balls to the cemetery association in the city of Saint Paul, Minnesota, for the purpose of placing the same at or near the monument erected to the memory of Union soldiers who are buried in the said cemetery: Provided, That in the judgment of the Secretary of the Navy such articles can be spared without detriment to the public interests: And provided further, That Expense. the United States shall not be subjected to any expense on account of such donation. Approved, May 11, 1896. Provisos. CHAP. 175.-An Act Making provision for the deportation of refugee Canadian Cree Indians from the State of Montana and their delivery to the Canadian authorities. May 13, 1896. Cree Indians. for Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That there be, and is hereby, appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appro- delivery to Canadian priated, the sum of five thousand dollars, or so much thereof as may be authorities. necessary, the same to be immediately available, to enable the President, by employment of the Army or otherwise, to deport from the State of Montana and deliver at the international boundary line to the Canadian authorities, all refugee Canadian Cree Indians in said State. Approved, May 13, 1896. May 13, 1896. Arkansas River. Time extended for CHAP. 176.-An Act To revive and reenact an Act to authorize the construction of a free bridge across Arkansas River, connecting Little Rock and Argenta. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Act approved Febbridging, at Little ruary twenty-eighth, eighteen hundred and ninety-three, entitled “An Act authorizing the construction of a free bridge across the Arkansas River, connecting Little Rock and Argenta," which Act has expired by limitation, be, and is hereby, revived and reenacted. Rock, Ark. Vol. 27, p. 494. Commencement and completion. SEC. 2. That section seven of the said Act be amended so as to read as follows: "SEC. 7. That this Act shall be null and void if actual construction of the bridge herein authorized be not commenced within one year from February twenty-eighth, eighteen hundred and ninety six, and completed within three years from that date." Approved, May 13, 1896. May 13, 1896. District of Colum bia. Marriages. Minors to obtain con sent of parent or guar dian. Persons authorized to celebrate marriages. p. 86, amended. CHAP. 177.-An Act To regulate marriages in the District of Columbia. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That if any male person intending to marry in the District of Columbia be under twenty-one years of age, and if a female under eighteen years of age, and has not been previously married, the consent of the father or guardian, or, if there be none, of the mother of such person, shall be given either personally to the clerk of the supreme court of the District of Columbia or his deputy, or in writing subscribed by a witness, who shall make oath before the clerk of said court that said writing was signed or acknowledged in the presence of said witness, by such father, guardian, or mother, as the case may be. SEC. 2. That marriages in the District of Columbia may be celebrated R. S. D. C., sec. 718, by the judge of any court of record or any justice of the peace. When any minister or other person, appointed or ordained according to the rites and ceremonies of his church, shall, before the supreme court of the District of Columbia, produce proof that he is duly appointed or ordained as such, and that he is in regular communion with the religious society of which he is a member, such court may make an order authorizing him to celebrate the rites of marriage in the District of Columbia. Marriages between persons belonging to any religious society which has no ordained minister may be solemnized by the person appointed and in the manner prescribed by and practiced in any such society. Persons forbidden. Previous marriages valid. License to foreign ers. Fee. Penalty for noncom pliance with law. SEC. 3. That no one but a minister or other person authorized by this Act shall hereafter celebrate the rites of marriage in this District, anything in any law now in force in said District to the contrary notwithstanding. SEC. 4. That no marriage heretofore solemnized shall be deemed or adjudged to be invalid, nor shall the validity thereof be in any way affected, on account of any want of authority in any person solemnizing the same, if consummated with a full belief on the part of the persons so married, or either of them, that they were lawfully joined in marriage. SEC. 5. That no license for any marriage shall hereafter be issued to which any citizen of a foreign country shall be a party until a minister or consul representing such foreign country in the United States shall certify that the conditions to the validity of the marriage of the laws of such country shall have been complied with. SEC. 6. That any person authorized to celebrate the rites of marriage shall be paid by the husband a fee of at least one dollar in each case. SEC. 7. That if any minister, justice of the peace, or other person who is authorized to celebrate marriages in the District of Columbia shall fail to comply with the provisions of section eight of this Act, he shall upon conviction be fined for each and every offense, in the discretion |