The Portland daily press., 1873-01-23
XLIId CONGRESS !.
SENATE.
WASHINGTON. Ian. %

WASHINGTON, JAM %.
Mr.. Fenton called up the House joint resoll-
ton rendering the thanks of Congress to Capt
David Richie, of the revenue steamer Mecca
sin and to the officers and men for their heroic
conduct in saving the lives of AZ human beings
and rescuing seventeen dead bodies from the
wreck of the Metis.
The bill supplemental to the act incorporating
the Texas Pacific Railroad was passed.
The credentials OF VIM. Mcmillan to fill the
unexpired term of Kellogg, and of John Ray,
both OF Louisial-a, were presented and referred
to the Election Committee.
A bill to provide for the construction Of ten
new sloops of war was taken UP and an amend
ment that neither shall be commenced till COM
plete plans, models, ETC., are finished, was
agreed to.
Mr.. Morrill, of Vermont, offered an amend
ment providing that board of survey having
power to authorize the changes in the plans for
vessels, shall estimate the cost of such changes
and the contractors shall be bound by such es-
Inmates. Agreed to. The bill was passed, yeas
80, nays 8.
Mr.. Edmunds, from the Judiciary Commit
tee, reported substitute for Mr.. Mortons bill
to regulate the distribution of the Geneva
award. The substitute authorizes the President
to appoint hive commissioners, to be called the
court of commissioners of the Alabama claims
one of them to be called the presiding judge.
The court is to make and publish its own rules
OF procedure conforming as far as possible to
the modes of practice in U. S. Circuit Courts,
anu Is W nave power TO compel the alUenQanCe
OF witnesses and the production of testimony.
Special provision is made that books and papers
deemed material to the consideration OF any
claim must be produced. The President is spe-
tally authorized to appoint person to act as
counsel for the United States before the COM
missioners. The sittings of the court are to be
held in Washington City, and it is to exist for
one year from date of first converting, and six
months longer if the President deems it neces-
sary. 1t shall be the duty of the court to re-
paiyn nd pxa amin oil ola MT 90
hereinafter stated, directly resulting from dam
age caused by the Alabama and Florida and
their tenders and by the Shenandoah after her
departure from Melbourne Feb. 49, 1865, and
to decide on the amount and validity of such
claims according to the principles of law and
their merits and in conformity with the provis-
| ions of this bill. No claim shall be admissible
or allowed for any loss or damage for in respect
| to which the party injured as assignees or le-
| gal representatives shall have received compen-
| sa Jon or indemnity from any insurance COM
pany or otherwise but allowance may be made
| for the difference between the losses suffered
| and the insurance received.
No claim shall be admitted or allowed for
| unearned freights prospective profits or for Of
| ficerS and seamen's wages for longer time
| than one year from the breaking up of any
voyage. No claim shall be admissible OF al
| lowed in behalf of any insurance company OF
| insurer, either from themselves or as assignees
of the rights of parties incurred, unless such
| claimant shall show to the satisfaction of said
court that during the late rebellion the sum of
| its or his losses by wal risks exceeds the sums
of its or his premiums or other gains by reason
of war risks, and in case of any such allowance
the sum shall not exceed snch excess of loss
No claim shall be allowed in favor of any in
surance company not lawfully existing at the
time OF the loss under the laws of SEINE State of
| this Union, or in favor ofany person not at the
same time entitled to the protection of the
United States in the premises or in favor of
any person who did not at all times, during the
late rebellion, bear true diligence to the United
States. In estimating the compensation to
claimants the court shall ascertain and certify
to the Secretary of State with Judgment the
amount of interest at4 per cent per annum up
pom the actual loss sustained from the respect
i've dates in each case, when it was sustained by
the claimant, per cent of the total amount of
Judgment shall be retained in the treasury for
reimbursement to the United States of expenses
and the remaining 95 per cent. shall be paid to
claimants, together with interest as aforesaid,
unless the amount received from. Great Britain
shall prove insufficient, in which case the
claimants shall be paid pro rata.
On motion of Mr.. Ramsey the bill to abolish
the franking privilege was taken up, % to ID,
the following Senators voting in the negative
Ames, Bayard, Carpenter, Edmunds,. Hamil
ton of Md, Hill, johnson, Lewis, Maeher, Nor
wood, Pool, Robertson and Stevenson.
Mr.. Morrill, of VT, offered an amendment
providing that no allowance, now or hereafter
be made to members of Congress in lieu of the
franking privilege Without this he said the
abolition would be a farce
Mr.. Hamlin said that to give the couutry the
full benefit of the abolition of the franking
privilege, the bill ought to be amended to re-
duce and limit the amount of public printing.
On motion of Mr.. Carpenter, the bill was so
amended as to simply abolish the frankipg