New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-01-24
THE GENEVA AWARD.
REPRESENTATIONS FOR ITS DIsTRIBUTI0N-PR0-
VISIONS OF GEN. BUFFERS BILL
lDY TELLGRAPn TO TIE TRIBuNAI


WAsHIyGToN, Jan. 23.-The House judiciary
Committee concluded, this morning its consideration Of
Gen. Buffers bill for the distribution OF the Geneva
award, and authorized him TO report TO the House to-
morrow morning. few slight amendments were made,
materially affecting the bill. which is quite long,
and contains important provisions, as follows:
The first section divides the claimants into six classes:
who 10 be paid In tho following order: First all
actual owners Of property at the time OF its destruction
whether ships cargoes ontft advanced other wages
lost by capture or destroyed by cuSers whose acts
Great BRIAN has been found liable, who are to receive
actual indemnify where they were uninsured or did not
receive their insurance. second officers and crews OF
the vessels destroyed. all wages actually earned N TIE
lost captured, and indemnity for damages sus-
tanned by capture retention, and their ex-
prospective fits wages not earned II time OF cap
ure third. partially insured owners, officers and sea-
OF properly lost AMI insurance received; tOnrtn'
all vessels owned chartered by the Govern
ment together with property OF the United States on
board. and the indemnity TO Officers and crews as
to those of vessels owned by private parties ffth all
persons had paid premium Tor war risks or vessels
after their sailing to the amount Of extra premiums
paid provided that in the case Of SUCH premiums paid to
mutual insurance companies indemnity shall be the
difference between the premium paid and the returned
premum sixth, all insurers, private or incorporates
equal the amount or losses paid by Them distributed
IropOronately among the members of the company TO
The second section provides that In estimating the
losses account shall De taken OF prospective profits
or passengers, bound on fishing voyage had partly
performed her voyage. Tie prOpOrtondte part OF the
profits Of the whole voyage shall be allowed, deducting
the responding proportion OF expenses OF outfit.
The third section provides that citizens corporations
ne Their petitions in the circuit or Territorial Courts
the United States i'll the district IN which they reside or
the home port vessels destroyed. upon which the
Court snail order notice. returnable within % daystO be
issued commanding oil interested persons to show cause
If any why tae claim should be granted Twenty days
are allowed for persons claiming an adverse joint or
other interest in the subject matter OF me petition to
lIa ella and III IL
the OF the United States To appear aud
answer In behalf OF the Government local or gen
era also. authority 10 designate any special counsel
for the s.AIe purpose. Questions OF law arising upon
ti are fo be certified 10 tho Supreme Court and if
uecessary cause may be sent auditor for examna-
ton OF books accounts, and vouchers. Judgments are
o he paid directly 10y the secretary the Treasury and
ali origin Al petio2s be filed by the first day Of
July. 1874, and all suCsequent petitions within four
months following. the claims viii be forever barred.
The fourth section directs the claims Of the United
States for indemnity under award 20 be brought IA tho
supreme Court OF the Diaiict Ot Columbia, on pctOn
to be ned by the Attorney-Gt raj.
The 1fn section provides that certificates from the
Circuit Court the Secretary OF tine Treasury, that
Judgment has been rendered in favor OF either Of the
frs four CLASSES OF losses TO be paid at by
warrant but in case the losses arose under either OF the
remaining classes tho certificate Is To remain on file III
the Treasury until the 1s of July, 1874 and II 1t then
appears that the claims exceed tho amount or money
paid by Great Britain. then the clams OF insurance com
pauies 10 be paid rateahly IN proportion to the
amount certificate certified, retaining, however
sum equal t. the claims remaining unadjudcaed; and
when all of the claims have been adjudlsated except
those that appealed To the supreme Court then the
Secretary OF the Treasury may divide In the same man
ner the remainder of the sum, retaining an amount equal
TO the SUN pending the Supreme Court and when all
claims have been adiudicaed, then any o the award
remaining shall DO divided raieaDy among all adJud
Gated claims
The last section of the bill Provides that the award
when paid by Great Britain, shall De invested III per
cent bonds the United States which are 10 DO s0ld
from time time when necessary 10 pay the claims i0r
losses and that any balance remaining after an are pald
Is 10 DO conveyed into the Treasury OF the United
States.
The considerations which have governed the Com
mtee In framing the bill set forth at length in re-
port OF several pages by Gen. Butler, in which reasons
for the order OF precedence Of the claims are fully
covered and objections answered The points in favor
Of the settlement OF the matter by existing courts In
stead Of by special commissions for the purpose As pro-
yded in Mr. Moron's BILL also presented, with the
prediction that the business Of the courts will not be ma
teraly enlarged by causes arising under the DILL Inc
Committee also call favorable notice to their proposal TO
put money on interest while Its distribution Is pendns
and reerate their belief that ithe provisions OF the
bill fully and fairly carried out 80 as 10 give Only
the true and Just amounts Of losses 10 claimants, the
remainder coming 10 the United States Will be con-
siderable, II not very large sum.