The Portland daily press., 1873-01-29

HOW THE MONEY SHALL RE DISTRIBUTED.
The main point of dispute now in reference
to legislation for distribution of the Geneva
award, is whether the claims shall be paid to
insurance companies or ship owners. Both
interests are strongly represented by able
lawyers, who are working up their case be-
fore both houses. This fight may prevent
any concurrent legislation at the present ses-
sion.
General Buffers bill, which has been re-
ported by the Judiciary Committee of the
House of Representatives, contains the fol-
lowing among its principal provisions:
Be 1t be enacted, &C., That out of the
| money paid by the Government of Great
Britain in satisfaction of the award of the ar
bitration at Geneva, under the treaty OF
| Washington, Unidentified to the United
| States and citizens thereof, and corporations
| established therein, shall be established and
paid by the treasury, in the manner herein
after provided, to the following classes of
claimants, in the manner following:
First, to all actual owners Of property at
the time of its destruction, whether ships or
| cargoes, outfit advanced or other wages paid
| to officers and seamen, or frieghts actually
earned, lost BY capture or destruction by. the
cruisers for whose acts said arbitrators have
| found the Government of Great Britain liza
Bile, and shall be paid an actual indemnity
where they were not insured thereupon or
| the insurance was not received.
Second, in all such vessels, to the officers
and crews, all the wages which had been ac-
tually earned by them up to the time Of their
capture, together with individual property
lost in the vessel so captured, who have moi
received the insurance thereupon; and tc
such officers and crews, or to any person on
board either of said vessels, an indemnity fol
damages actually sustained from such cap
ture or detention, and the amount expended
in returning to their homes or the plac,
where they engaged in business or took em
ployment respectively, not including any pro
spective profits or wages not earned at tn
time Of capture.
Third, where the owners, officers or sea
men Of such vessels captured and lost or de
stroyed were insured for less, and received in
surance in less amount than the actual valu
of the vessel or other property above descrif
indemnity shall be be made for their loss be
yond the sum so insured and received.
Fourth, to the United States for all vessels
the property of the Government, or whic
were under charter to the United State:
i and for the destruction or loss Q
which the United States, BY tn tn
ter,us of the charter party, were piaoie e
which were captured, and destroyed ana .os - :
by said cruisers, together with the prope,y; =,
the United States on board, and tne sado ;d ,,as m
demnitv to the officers and crews o. say ~ ,,r;
sells, respectively, 40 in case OF capture u PA
vate vessels. .,;a rrcroinr,
Filth. ali persons who had paid premium
! g.. -,,ar rists on vessels or cargoes after tn
s.;,;n@ oi ma. of either of said cruisers, to tn
. sanS ~ snch extra or war premiums pai
am1nn, tnan, y whether they suffered loss by cap
t,,re ny Of their vessels, property, or otherwise
nrovided that in case OF such premiums pal
. pr secured to mutual insurance companie,
: the indemnity shall be the difference betwee
.. the premium paid or secured and the returI
ed security or premium therefor.
Sixth, to all insurers, being citizens or co
: porations Of the United States, respectiyeI
having insured or re-insured property SO de
troyed, who shall show, by an exhibit Of the
books OF account and business, that the W;
premiums actually received by them equal
amount the losses paid by them, because
property there-afterward captured and lost {
destroyed by either or all of said cruisers
provided the amount paid to such insurant
company for losses SO sustained shall be a
portioned by le company among the men
bers thereof at the time of the losses paid
them, respectively, in proportion to the stot
ior interest then owned by each member ther
Of.