Mr. HARRIS. The ComPrivLandClms, to whom was referred the bill (H.R.No. 15) authorizing documentary evidence of titles to be furnished to the owners of certain lands in the city of StLouis, have in structed me to report it back with a recommendation that it pass, and if there be no objection on the part of Senators I desire to have the bill put on its passage now. By unanimous consent, the bill (H.R.No. 15) authorizin documentary evidence of titles to be furnishe to the owners of certain lands in the city of StLouis was considered as in ComWhole. It is recited that within the city of StLouis there are many lots, tracts, pieces, and parcels of land which were confirmed by the act of congress of June 13, 1812, on the ground of inha ttation, possession, or cultivation of the some prior to ecemher20, 1803; that in some cases there is no adequate documentary evidence of these confirmations; that in consequence of the death of the ancient witnesses, who knew the facts of inhabitation, possession, or cultivation, the owners of these lands, in cases where there is no adequate documentary evidence of confirmations, are without complete evidence of title as against the U.S.; and that persons holding grants and confirmations of landsin StLouis, under other acts of Congress heretofore passed, may in some cases be without perfect documentary evidence of those grants or confirmations by the U.S., and difficulties may here after arise therefrom, to the great injury of such persons; and it is therefore proposed to enact that the district court of the U.S. for the eastern district of Missouri may, by proper decree, declare released, granted, relinquished, and conveyed by the U.S., in fee simple and in full property, all of the right, title, and interest of the U.S. in and to any lot, tract, piece, or parcel of land within the city of StLouis, Missouri, to the person or persons having the bestelaim or claims to the same; but this is not to authorize the court to declare released, granted, relinquished, and conveyed any land within any wharf, street, lane, avenue, alley, or other public thorou'rhfare, or within the boundaries of any land which has heretofore been granted 1,0r assigned by the U.S. for the use or i a weekly, ‘veyance, in fee simple an ‘ings and any land heretofore lawfully confirmed or law fully granted by the U.S., where full, sufficient, and complete documentary evidence of such confirmation or grant now exists of record. Every person desiring a decree in his or her favor is to file a petition in the district court, asking for such decree and describing the land for which it is desired; and the U.S and all persons claiming such land adversely to the petitioncr‘(if there be any such adverse claimants) shall be made defendants in the cause; and if any party shall be a mine r under the age of 21 years, a guardian ad litem shall be appointed by the court. The court is to have full and complete power, nris diction, and authority to hear, try, and eter mine all questions arising in the cause relating to the claim of the petitioner, the extent, locality, and boundaries of the claim, and all other matters connected therewith or concerning it; and also to have power to make, prescribe, and enforce such rules and regulations as may be necessary and proper to carry the act into full and complete execution. A copy of every petition, and a copy of the writ or process thereto attached, shall be delivered to the district attorney of the U.S. for the eastern district of Missouri by the marshal for that district, which delivery shall make the U.S. a party to the cause specified in such petition, without any other or further proceedings, notice, service, writ, or process; and the district attorney is to make such defense for the U.S. as in his opinion the public interest may require; but no answer or other pleadin s filed y him in.snch cause shall be require to be verified by oath or allirmation. "or the purpose of more completely describing, identifyin, and defining the boundaries, situation, and [locality of any lot, tract, piece, or parcel of land sought to be released, granted, relinquished, and conveyed under the act, the district court ma. cause an accurate survey, plat, and description thereof to be made at the expense of the petitioner; and all of the expenses and costs of all suits under the act are to be paid by the respective petitioners, and the payment thereof may be enforced by execution or otherwise. Every decree which shall be rendered under the act in favor of an petitioner is to be deemed a full, sumcient, on complete release, grant, relinquishment and conii in full property, to such petitioner, and to his or her heirs and assigns, forever. of all of the right, title, and interest of the U.S. in and to the land described in the decree. Whenever the district 001 or the circuit court shall render a final decree concerning any lot, tract, piece, or parcel of land the court shall cause to be transmitted to the ComrGLO a full, true, and complete transcript of the final decree, and of the description or survey of the land. Any party to any final decree rendered by the district court in any suit or cause commenced under the act may appeal to the circuit court of the U.S. for the district of Missouri, at any time within one year from the time of the rendition of the final decree, and not after that time; and on the granting of the appeal, a full. true, and complete transcript of the final decree, and of the petition, and all other plead proceedings in the cause and of the evidence the rein shall be transmitted to the circuit court. When the appeal shall have been completed, the circuit court shall have full and complete jurisdiction over the cause, and may allow the pleadings to be amended if necessary, and may admit new parties if necessary, and shall hear, try, and determine the cause de novo, without regarding any error, defect, or other imperfection in the proceedings of the district court, and shall render such final decree therein as the facts and the justice of the cause may require. In case of any difference of opinion between the judges of the circuit court upon any question arising in such cause, Tthe same may be certified to the SCOTUS for its decision.thereon as in other cases. All the right, title, and interest of the U.S. in and to all of the wharves, streets, lanes, avenues, alleys, and other public thor oughfares which are situate, lying, and being within the corporate limits of the city of StLouis, in the State of Missouri, are granted. relinquished, and conveyed b the U.S., in fee simple and in fu l properly, to the city of StLouis, and to the successors and assigns forever of that city; but no individual rights or titles acquired previously hereto shall bein any mannerimpaired orprejudiced hereby. The bill was reported to the Senate without amendment, ordered to a 3rd reading, read thei 3rd time, and passed.