The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-01-31


The horses, 1t was admitted, might be necessary
in the distribution OF the House mail, though half
that number were deemed suf1cient; but what
part OF the business OF Congress the carriages per-
formed was mystery. II was roundy estimated
that, with the proposed reductions, saving oil at
least fifty per cent can be reached IN salaries OF
officers and employees and contingent expenses OF
the House OF Representatives. The Senate has as
yet made no move towards reform In its extra
vagances. Though that body mas but seventy-four
members, tine same items OF expense, which
amount to s2s7 900 for the House Of so2 members
and Delegates, cost the Senate 100000.
The Question OF Private Indemnity for
the Aimbnm Ravages-Conclusion Of
MIR. Evarts' Argument.
Mr.. Evarts continued and concluded his argu-
ment to-day before the House Judiciary Commit
tee, on behalf Of his clients, claimants under the
award of the Geneva Tribunal. He quoted from
the correspondence between the represen-
tatves OF England and this country TO
show that the view which he mad formerly
stated to the committee was well founded
namely, that the transactions must not be put
the basis OF the pursuit OF an enemy, but as be-
tween friends, between whom, IN the continuance
Of friendship, there had arisen invasiOns and ex-
cesses which required friendly consultation and
reparatOn. The tribunal in considering the prl-
vate claims, held Great Britain responsible as
neutral, friendly nation in the action OF its sub
jects who had violated its laws in respect to the
cruise Of the Alabama. the Florida and the Shenan
doah, alter her recruitment at Melbourne, and
the extent OF the responsibility was moth
ing but compensation for the direct de-
struction of property. II the arrangement
for the appointment of q board Of
hah np,rr,o fAd
claimants would have come in before the board
and their rights would have been determined ac-
cord,ng to law, and they would have been
knowledged to be the owners of the fund in the
hands Of the government as trustee Tor dlstribu-
ton. Our government instructed its counsel to
terminate the matter OF the award by n gross sum
that should be measured by the extent Of the
private claims, and thus end all further
haggling between the governments. 1t
would have been wrong for our govern
ment, under the rules laid down at the time to
get penny more than the ultimate measure of
the private losses would show and it would have
been wrong for England to consent to Withhold
penny that should leave inadequate the indemnity.
The extent OF the losses in possession OF the gov
eminent excluded assignees in various forms, and
included insurance companies under their assign
ments their subrogation The insurance
companies appeared as claimants on the
ground that they owned the claim and were
covered by the principle that the citizens OF this
country should be Unidentified. Very able and
searching criticisms were passed by the counsel
of Great Britain on the form and authorization
OF these claims and the tribunal agreeing that GER
tain measures of claims, prospective catch, &c,
must be excluded, proceeded to consider the evil
dence submitted. There was NO uncertainty in
this evidence. which consisted of tables carefully
prepared by our government, containing lists OF
losses, giving the name Of vessel cargo
and owner and INSURER and they made
up the mass amount which We are entitled
to claim. II any transaction OF a government or
any transaction OF court can more clearly fix the
relation that belongs to this iund-frsr, as an
honest measure of what we had right to claim OF
Great Britain, and, second as to the character in
which 1t would lie in the Treasury OF the United
States, and the duty uEder which 1t was to be
distrbuted-it would be extremely difficult
to assign it. II this money has been
ceived under the statement that the gov
eminent earned the amount that its duty
requires it to assign as compensation to its cit-
zens, what has been so received Who can divert
any principles Of law, OF Justice OF morality or
of honor distribution Vr the fund from follow
ing the reason and the ground upon which 1t has
been received?
The Southern War Claims.
The House Committee on War Claims listened 70
an argument by Governor +. B. Stanton on the
subject Of war depredations generally and
specially as to the claim of j. I. Green, Of jack
son, MISS. whose cotton factory at that place,
together with large amount OF cotton and ma
chinery, was destroyed by order Of General Grant,
In May 1863
RecOmme nda alton Of the Establishment
OF Life saving stations ut Certain
Points-Report Of the Board Appointed
to Investigate the subject.
In accordance with the instructions of the Secre
tary of the Treasury a report has been made by
Board appointed for the purpose OF ascertalning at
what points on the sea and lake coasts the inter-
ests OF commerce and humanity would be best sub
served by the establishment OF life saving stations.
They say they have employed all available means
to obtain as complete information as possible. by
conierring with shipowners, shpmasters. under
writer's, wreck commissioners, officers of the Gus
toms and others likely to be informed as to the
frequency and causes of shipwrecI the number
OF lives and amount Of property lmperllled lost,
the nature OF the coast the means at hand for rem
dering assistance TO shpwrecked vessels, &C.,
at the various localities with which they were &C
quainted, by examining such tests OF wrecks as
could be obtained, and by personally visiting and
inspecting such portions OF the coast as seemed
necessary. From the information thus obtained
they led to the opinion that liiesavng stations
OF the character specified TOR each locality, estab
lished at the points named below, would be OF
sufficient value to the interests of commerce and
humanity to justify the expense Of their erection
and main ;enance:-
ATLANTIC COAST.
Delaware-Cape Henopen and Indian River, life
saving stations complete.
Observation-Disclosures, Hog Island Land ShOal
Island, Smiths Island lie saving stations COM
plete.
Florida-At point eighteen miles north of In
dian River inlet, House OF Refuge provided with
a surfbOat, bedding and PROVISIONS: Gilbert's Bar.
and near Orange and between HllsborO and New
River inlets ana at point ten miles south OF New
River Inlet, Houses OF Refuge.
PACIFIC COAST.
Washington TerrltOry-Neah Bay, ShOalw2ter
Bay and Cape Disappoint ment, lie boat stations.
Oregon-Gape Arago life boat station.
Caiornia-HumDoldt Bay Point Reyes and be-
tween Point Lobos and Point san Pedro iie-boat
stations.
THE LAKES
Lake Ontario-Me xlco Bay, seven miles west