The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-09-30
The Disposition OF the Geneva Fifteen
Millions.

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The Disposition OF the Geneva Fifteen
Millions.
Not that we are going to get the fitteep
millions or ANYTHING like It after the English
inns are Jaid. but because there will be
some m nncy to divide, It becomes interesting
70 know how the division win be managed,
II il is. done like the French spoilintion
claims the men of this day and generation will
see little enough of 1t. There are very few
readers Of newspapers who have not heard
at one time or another, Of the French spoilia'
ton claims. What they are, or why they
are SO called, may probably be less known
The claims grew out of depredations colIl'
mitted on American commerce during the
Napoleonir wars. They were ultimately
settled by France for the lump sum OF h'e
million OF dollars. and the money rald INTO
the treasury. From that day to this neither
the sufferers nor their heirs or assigns,
among whom this indemnity fund ought to
have been promptly distributed, have ever
received the first dollar. The matter has
been brought up in Congress from time to
time, and notably by Mr.. SUMNER in the Sc
nate. a bill for adjusting and paying these
claims has passed, on several occasions, ono
or the other branch of Congress, but has
never succeeded in passing both Houses at
the same session. For sixty years the claim
ants have been waiting a reimbursement OF
their losses, and. for nearly forty years of that
time the money has been in the Treasury OF
the United States. But, to the shameroi
Congress and to the dishonor of the Govern
mcnt, which became and now is the ctlsto-
dian Of the fund, all the petitions for its dis
tributien have been treated, if not with con-
tempt, yet with apathy and indifference.
The Baltimore Gazette cites this in view
of the serious danger that the fifteen and y
half millions OF dollars. awarded by the
Geneva tribunal, and which are to be paid
10 the United Suites within year from date,
will not only be withheld from the claimants
for a long time, but will be diminished con-
siderably in amount before their respective
quotas are paid Already there are intima'
tions that the fund is to be 20 manipulated
at Washington that Of the sum awarded
four millions Of dollars will he retained by
the Government. Upon what pretence the
private claimants are to be deprived of over
Z twenty-five rer cent. OF the amount the
Board of Arbitration has adiudged to be
Justly due them has not yet been divulged
The claim of the Government to be indem
nifed for the expenses incurred i'm pursuing
the Confederate cruisers was thrown out
BY the Geneva tribunal, and the entire sum
that Great Britain has to pay was explicitly
stated by the Board to he in liquidation OF
damages sustained by private individuals
s and Is. therefore, not properly applicable tc
any other purpose. 1t is also argued by
those who are interested in keeping the rri
vate claimants out Of their money. and in Ill
minishing the amount to he distributed
among them, that the Insurance Offices who
in taking war risks, charged heavy premiums
are not entitled to any part of the award
The plct. i. rs shallow as it is disrcputa'le. III
plving the losses the insurance Offices became
entitled TO whatever might subsequently be
recovered. OF this they took the chances.
If they got nothing, the loss was ab'
solilte If they recovered part, or the
whole. they were entitled TO it rs succeeding
to the rights of those whom they bad already
Unidentified. 1t IS to be regretted that the
Geneva award was made i'll gross. as il has
thus already given rise to suggestions of dis
. honest dealings Oh the part of politicians
who seek to have the handling Of the money,
and as the French spoliation claimants are
still sickcning with hope deferred it cannot
BE- said with confidence that the Alabama
claimants are destined to fare much better.