New-York tribune., 1874-01-28
GENERAL PRESS DIspATcHl


GENEVA AWARD.
GENERAL PRESS DIsPATCHl
WASHINGTON, Jan. H-The Committee on
the Judiciary to-day had before them the question OF
the Alabama claims David Dudley Field addressed the
Committee in behalf Of the Columbian Insurance Com
papy, which failed Jan. %, 1866 owing TO debts OF
very large amount, and having means to pay but a
small amount OF the Indebtedness. Tho prn-
cipal asset, and the one that was then
most relied on, was the Alabama claims
The Company had paid away to Insurers under war
risks q very large OF money for losses arising I'll
reoty from acts OF vessels hostile to the United states
during the late war or this about $632 was due
the acts of the Alabama, Florida, aud shenandoah
the three vessels which were selected by the Geneva
Tribunal as being those for whose an indem-
nifty should be paid. Tho amount upon these three
vessels alone, including interest, would therefore
amount 1t present to q which may be stated at
81 100000
Mr. Field maintained that the vessels and their
cargoes destroyed by the Alabama cruisers wero insured
against loss by capture. The risk was assumed by
the underwrters. and they having paid the original
the full value Of the property destroyed, 1t
seemed but just that they should receive what
ever might be saved. No principle OF
law was better settled than that In
such case, the underwater is suDrogated
to all the rights OF the assured These very claims were
presented to the Committee OF Arbitration at Geneva as
a part OF those which Great Britain was called upon TO
pay That tribunal decided that interest should be al
lowed aud il awarded gross sum which covered the
rest OF the claims submitted TO it, with Interest and
of those claims allowed considerable proportion ccn-
sisted OF the claims of the Columbian Insurance Com
pany. Mr.. Field maintains that the ends Of justice
would best subserved II The courts were left to dis
tribute the awards precisely as they would II private
individual Instead Of the Government, held this sum
for distribution Each claimant could bring his suit
where he found 1t most convenient.
Cd I'm IUnr nj In
cudpg the by the Shenandoah before the period
fixed by the Geneva arbrators.
William NJ. Eyarts argued In favor OF including IN the
distribution OF the award the rights OF insurers who
have paid their losses He occupied an hour The Com
lnitee then adjourned Friday 20 give him an opporu
nifty TO conclude his remarks.
Mr Eyarts in the OF his argument reviewed the
proceedings before the Geneva Tribunal, showIng ex-
ac,y what classes OF claims were and what were not
considered by it. In closing Mr. Evarts SAID:
Tho Government Is appealed TO IN order 10 ADOPT
OF reasoning that makes TINS iuna whoy at s
disposal as "a bounty. fl tDat is 30, aud tile claimants
rights, then tne manned soldiers and sailors
suIed merchants III We had undertaken 10 treat our
with England as II she had Oeen Denserebt ana
not friendly are now s m tne world aps
these private claims nothing but subsidiary anu ihci-
dentaly augIpeutiuR claims; but our claims made
mon the oasis that there was % governmental Degi-
yence part of England. whereby friendship was
abused and neutrality violated and presented under
that claims AZ the incidents ana the
circumstances under which repara0n should Dc maie,
ana we in erted phrases In the treaty winch covered
general claim aud. they sad limited us tubsanlay
10 these private claims. We went TO Geneva without
having Withdrawn claim In the Least, and our coun
sci argued every OF the indrec Chains To the Dest
Of their ability, among winch was the clsn h tor
ar premiums whereupOD Great Britain, through hrr
counsel objected to gong with the arDltraton ana
moved adjournment, and the nrpltrators were & o,
cost OF the war, ana OF the injury 10 commerce "eo
teruatona law could be considered between
nations this relation Our GoveEnmehl, unuef & un,.
Judgment decided that 10 would not further insist upon
any of these heads complaint or OF indemnity from
that time ward Not word was SAID by Ouf GOVERN
ment in The tribunal the subject Of war premiums