Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-02-16
The Mormon Message,

The Speaker laid before the House the
message from the President, callirg atten-
ton to the condition of affairs in the Ter
ritory of Utah, and to the danger likely to
arise during the coming re cess of Congress
from the threatened conflict between the
Federal and Territorial authorities.
On motion of Mr.. Bingham the message
was referred to the Judiciary Committee,
which has already under consideration q
bill on the subject.
On motion of Mr.. Braxton bill passed
removing political disabilities from William
Smith, of Virginia, Familiarity known as
extra Billy"
The Alabama Muddle.
The House then took up the bill for the
distribution Of The Geneva award.
Mr.. Peters spoke in favor OF the amend
ment TO make the interest date back to the
actual losses, except il the casa of Insurance
companies, which are to be allowed interest
only from the date Of the award.
The bill was further advocated By Messrs.
Hale ard Frye. The latter, while com-
mending that provision which refers the
claimants TO the courts in their districts,
instead Of a tribunal TO sit in Washington,
as proposed in tie Senate bill, said that he
was member of the Committee on Claims
and knew how claimants were robbed in
The Den of Thieves
outside CT Congress By men who watched
them at every corner and demanded pay for
infueGce which they prOfassed to have with
members Of Congress. He did not want
the claimants from his district to be sent to
Washington, where they would first have to
pay claim agent % per cent. and then pay
hundreds of thousands of dollars TO the
tools Of the claim agent. AS to the claims
of Insurance companies, they were entitled
not to money or equity but to the law, to
the bond, and nothing but the bond. These
Insurance companies had never showed
any mercy TO the owners of vessels. They
bad used their power without mercy and
should not now come to Congress pleading
profit Of two millions dollars on their war
risks. There was TO equity in allowing
them additional profits.
Mr.. Lynch also supported the bill with
the same reservations. He argued that the
war risks on cargoes should be made not to
the owners of the cargoes, but TO owners of
vessels.
Mr.. Myers, Of Pennsylvania, argued in
1aVCT OF Ln6 IlSlL Oh Lue INSURANCE COMDa-
MES to share in the distribution of the
award.
Mr.. Beck denied that any part of the
money could be paid 10 make good any
other losses than those inflicted by the Ala
bama, Florida and Shenandoah, because it
was for these losses that England paid the
money. As to the insurance companies
he saw no means Of escaping from tie
conclusion that they should be subrogated
to the rights Of the insured; but if the
coults could find any way to get clear of
| that, he should be very glad. He saw none.
The money could not be KEEP. in the Treas
ury. He would rather see it sunk Ia the
ocean than to have it said that the United
States Government had received money to
pay for damages for which Great Britain was
responsible, and had then paid it for other
purposes. The good faith Of the Govern
ment was worth more than all money.
| When the courts had determined the qUes-
| ton the world would be satisfied.
Mr.. Kerr also opposed The bill. He was
not willing to fellow bis prfjudices or dis
likes towards The wealthy corporations Ol