The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-02-16
also the assurance that they would endesvor to
discharge faithfully the duties OF their respective

discharge faithfully the duties OF their Respective
onices.
BRINGING 10 TO THE LANDMARK.
Mr. sHANKs, repD OF Ind, Chairman or the
Committee on Indian Affairs, reported Dill reia-
tive to private contracts or agreements made with
Indians. After explanation by Mr.. Shanks the bill
was passed. 1t makes 1t unlawful for any United
States officer or other person under Its employ
control to recognize the binding force legality
or in any manner sustain enforce or counsel, or
give any aid or assistance 10 sustain or
enforce any contract or agreement made
by any person or cooperation with any
band, tribe or nation OF Inaians, for
individual Indian or Indians not citizens OF the
United States, entered into prior to the date OF the
act OF Congress entitled an "Act regulating the
mode OF making private contracts with Indians"
OF any money or other thing of value in present or
in prospective, or Tor the granting or procuring
any privilege to him or here any other person or
persons or corporation in OF services
Tor or advancements made to said Indians relative
to their lands or to any claim growing out
or other moneys, Claims or demands or
anything under the laws or treaties with the United
states or the Official acts of any 0fcer thereon or
in any way connected with or due from the united
States, unless such contract or agreement was re-
duced to writing and duly signed by the parties In
interest thereto at the time 1t was entered into ana
fully made known to the parties at the time the
contract was signed; and then NOS until such origi-
nal written contract shall rst have been presented
and the Commissioner OF Indian Affairs and
these facts by them severally endorsed thereon
assignments that may have been made there
on duly entered on record In the office
OF the Commissioner OF Indian Affairs II also pro-
vides that no such contract or agreement shall be
recognized by any Oiiicer or empoye OF the United
States until the Secretary OF the Interior shall,
agreement, together with the proofs and papers In
this required to be filed, and such as the Secre-
Affairs may require in addition thereto. consider
to be just and reasonable and not tainted win
fraud and not exorbitant in ITS demands, provided
that the Secretary Of the Interior shall in all
cases enter in writing on such original contract
the record in the office OF the commissioner OF
Indian Aflairs wherein such original contract Is
recorded, an official statement showing that the
contract or agreement and proofs have been hled
n Se % and T. his Opinion said
tract or agreement, or assignments Thereon, are
not exorbitant and not fraudulent and that they are
just the same shall be valid. But IT, In the opinion
of the Secretary OF the Interior such contract or
agreement, or the assignment thereof, is fraudu-
lection in writing upon the record OF such contract
or agreement, and they shall not be considered OF
binding force by any officer or employe OF the
THE SPANISH CoRTEs NOT CONGRATULATED
Mr.. WILLARD, trep9 OF VI, asked leave to intro
the COrtes and people of Spain on the establish
ment OF Republic in that country.
The reading Of the resolution was interrupted ted
Committee on Foreign Affairs, who said
object: II is proposition to recognize slavery in
Mr.. WILLARr-NOt at all.
Mr. BANKS-Certany 1t Is.
The resolution was not received.
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE ON UTAH.
The SPEAKER laid before the House a message
from the President calling attention to the cond-
ton OF affairs in the Territory OF Uta, and to the
danger likely to arise during the coming recess OF
Congress from threatened conflict between the
federal and Territorial authorities.
On motion of Mr.. BINGHAM, (rep.) OF Ohio, the
message was referred TO the Judiciary Committee
which has already under consideration bill on
Mr.. BRAxroN, (dem.) of Va, introduced bill to
remove political disabilities from William Smith, Of
Fauquier county, iamiliarly known as Extra
Bily.n Passed.
ON THE GENEVA AWARD
The House then resumed the consideration OF
the bill to provide for the Just and equitable dis
tributton Of the Geneva award.
Mr.. PETERS, rep) OF Me-, spoke in favor Of the
however. so as to make the interest allowed date
back to the time OF the actual losses, except In
the case OF the insurance companies which are TO
be allowed interest only nom the date OF the
The bill was further advocated by Messrs. HALE
mending that provision of the Bill which refers
claimants under it to the Courts In their districts
instead OF tribunal to sit IN washington as pro-
Der OF the Committee on Claims, and knew how
claimants were robbed-literay robbed In the den
watched them at every corner and demanded pay for
influence which they professed to have with MEN,
om his dcs to be- sent to where
they would first have to pay claims agent twenty
i've per cent and then have to pay hundreds OF
agent lying in wait to rob them. As to the
CLAIMS OF THE INSURANCE COMPANIES,
They were entitled not to mercy or equity, but to
law to the bond and nothing but the bond. These
insurance companies had never showed any mercy
to the owners Of vessels in their hour OF peril They
had used their power without mercy, and his mt
Frye's) constituents said that these insurance
companies should not now come to Congress plead
ing for equity and mercy. They had made profit
equity in allowing them additional profits
Mr. LYNCH, rep Of Me- also supported hs, the
war risks on oergoes should be made, not to the
owners OF the cargoes, but TO the owners OF the
vessels for the latter actually had paid the war
MIR. L. MYERS, rep, Of Pa, argued in favor of
the right OF the insurance companies to share In
the distribution OF the award.
Mr.. EAMEs, rep1 or r. l., argued in support
of the amendment offered by him yesterday
who sustained losses by the depredatons Of Confed-
crate cruisers, and which claims had been pre-
sented to the Tribunal OF Arbitration at Geneva
In FAVOR OF SUBMITTING 1T TO THE COURTS.
rather favored the substitute offered by Mr.
whole matter to three Courts, to SIT in New York,
Boston and Philadelphia He was in no frame Of
mind and in no condition to decide what was exact
justice in the question: and he therefore preferred
to let the Courts OF the United States say so
instead OF Congress. He denied that any
any other e losses ' than those inflicted by the Ala
bama, Florida and Shenandoah, because 1t was for
these losses that England paid the money. AS to
the insurance companies, he saw no means OF es
Gaping from the conclusion that they should be
subrogated to the rights OF the insured. But II the
Courts could find any way to get clear OF that
he should be very glad. lie saw none.
The money could not be kept In the
Treasury He would rather see 1t sunk in the
ocean than to have it said that the United States
government had received the money to pay for
damages for which Great Britain was responsible,
and had then paid 1t for other purposes, or had
kept 1t in the Treasury OF the United states. The
good faith Of the government was wsrth more than
all the money. When the Courts Of the United
States had determined the question the world
would be satisfied; but would never be satisfied II
Congress Should undertake arbitrarily to undo
what the arbtratOrs had done.
Mr.. KERR dem.l OF Ind, also opposed the
bill. He was not willing to follow his prejudces or
dislikes towards the wealthy corporations OF the
country, and he would say with the utmost SINGER
ity that he had entered on the investigation Of the
subject with settled and deliberate determine
ton, possible on correct and honest grounds, to
decide against those corporations and to decide In
OF other classes Of citizens and Of the Treas