Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1872-02-15
The Alabama Claims Arbitration.

The Treaty of Washington, entered
into between the United States and Great
Britain. provides that the five arbitrators
who are to meet at Geneva, Switzerland,
to decide the Alabama claims" shall I've
appointed, one by the President Of the
United States, one by the Queen of Great
Britain one by the King Of Italy, one by
the President Of tie Swiss Confederation,
and one by the Emperor of Brazil In
accordance with this provision, the fol-
lowing have been appointed; Arbitrator
on the part OF the United States, Charles
Francis Adams; OF Great Britain, the
Right Hoporas1. Siy Alexander Cock
burn, Baronet, Lord Chief Justice of
England OF Italy, His Excellency Sem
ator Count Sclopi-; of Switzerland, Mr.
Jacob Stamphi; OF Brazil Baron ltajnba.
The Treaty also provides that each Of
the Governments shall appoint an agent
and counsel Tor the preparation and pres
entat on OF the respecti e bills of claims
to the arb;rrators. These agents, as
appointed, are: Agent on the part of the
| United States. J. &. Bancroft Davis of
Great Britain, Right Hon. Lord Tenter-
den; Counsel for the United States,
Caleb Gushing, William NJ Evarts, Nor,
rsou H. Waite; Counsel for Great Brit
ain, Sir Rounded Palmer Solicitor for
the United States, Charles e. Beaman,
Jr The treaty provides that the arb,
TRAITORS shall be bounl 10 receive and
! consider all written documents and state
rnenrs that shall be presented to them on
behalf of the respective Governments in
support of or IN answer to any claim, and
to hear, it required, one person on each
side on behalf Of each Government, rs
counsel or agent for such Government,
on each and every separate clalln : also
that "a majority Of the arbiraforS shall
be Sufficient for an award in each case
The nrbtrators bad their first meeting
ut Geneva several weeks ago, formally
received statements Of claims, and adj
iourned The case of the United
States, ~ made up by Mr. Bancroft
Davis, was presented and contains full
recital of the facts, great and small, Of
what are known IA the Alabama grey-
ances, coupled with an equally full re.
tal OF all that the Government of the
United States has thought or said about
it. The case forms volume Of five
hundred pages, and contains French
translation, and is accompanied by seven
other volumes Of pages and documents -
IL asks for compensation IN round sum
for the loss of vessels and their cargoes ;
for the expense Of pursuing the rebel
priyuteers; for the loss sustained by the
transfer Of American ships to foreign
haes, and increased cost Of insurance,
and for the prolongatiou of the war
caused by the operations of these cruisers.
l., short, the case claims everything it Is
possible to claim IL is understood that
the British Government has not yet pre-
scented its case The Treaty provides
that within four months after the de-
llvering Of the case, each party may de
liyera counter case and additional docs
uments Within two month. after the
delivering of the counter Gaze the agent
of each party may deliver to the agent OF
: the other printed argument in brief
, The decision is to be made, if possible
within three months from the close OF
the argument" Thus nine months nrs
allowed with such other time as ordinary
DELAYS may add Then, after all this
Assessors may be appointed to determine
what claims are valid in case the Gen
eva Board finds that Great Britain has
inilsa to fulfill any duty or Duties, and
does not award sue in gross. These
Assessors are to convene in the United
States Claims must be presented t.
them within six months of their first
mecting Within year they must make
their first report They then have
another year for second report and
six months for o final report Tins
makes in all three yours and nine months
aud then year is added for payment =
SO, it will he seen, the final decision o
the matter will not be made for many
: months vet 10 come - Chicago journal