New-York tribune., 1874-06-11
WASHINGTON.

THE BUTLER SUBSTITUTE.
lRY TELEGRAPH TO rRIBUNk.l
WARRINGTON June 10-The Geneva Award bill
was the central subject Of nterestn in the proceedings
of the House to-day The entertainment opened
with speech in favor Of the claims of the insurance
companies by Mr. Bass of New-York. Then followed
n written speech delivered by Mr. Eldredge of Wis
oonsin, of the Judiciary Committee. In which ne
advocated the policy of keeping the award from all
classes of claimants, and making it the spoil of the
Government. He confessed. however, that none OF
his colleagues on the Committee agreed with him,
and that he did not with of his colleagues
Mr. Wilson of Indiana advocated Mr.. Buffers sub
stitute which provides for the payment of war pre-
mums to insurers, and excludes insurance companies
except those whose losses exceeded their receipts
Mr. Kellogg of Connecticut then got into five
minute speech in favor of the insurance companies
with an interchange of polite phrases between him
self, Mr.. Butler, and Mr.. WoOdford. the point OF
which was that Mr.. Butler having boasted that he
was not a Connecticut man, Mr.. Woodford, as
grandson of the despised State, piously expressed
his gratitude that it was innocent of Buffers pater-
ntv in which expression of gratitude Mr.. Butler as
fervently joined Then Mr.. Frye of Maine. who
acted as Buffers adjutant in the contest paid hls
respects to the advocates of the insurance interests
and to Mr.. Evarts the counsel for those companies
Mr. Ward of Illinois, with the noise, force, and
rapdlty of lightning express train, tore along IN
the same direction smashing and scattering all i'm
pediments Mr.. Hale of Maine made strong speech
the same side.
At last came the finale when Mr.. Butler rose to
close the debate Stepping into the arena in front
of the Speakers chair, he assumed gladiatorial
position. and prepared to sweep away all an
tagonists Before he had got fairly started, the
courteous and dignifed member from Vermont, Mr..
Poland endeavored to get further hearing on his
side of the question, and, with imperturbable
mdDess and serenity, persisted in the attempt for
several minutes, notwithstanding the sturdy refusal
of Mr. Butler to yield an instant of his time and
notwithstanding the Speakers equally persistent
use of his gayel in calling Mr.. Poland TO order At
last Mr. Butler able TO proceed, and with
vigor and cleaness not often equaled even by him
Ielf he bold up TO public the pretensions of
the insurance companies to be admitted to share
of the award. He was subjected to several inter
ruptions much 10 the discontinue of those who
made the rash venture. Mr.. Tremain of New-York
was one of the most severe sufferers in that way.
His connection with Tweed was cast at him es the
only event Of prominence IN bis career. Mr. Ire
main intmated that there was feeling of sympathy
between Tweed and Butler. Mr.. Butler pleaded
guilty to the sympathy and justified it on the
ground that such man as Tweed should be hunted
by hous, not by jackals.
So the fight went on until o'clock, at which hour
the House began to vote on the bill and amend
ments. The result that the provision admitting
mutual insurance companies to participate was
struck ont by a vote of lS7 yeas the other side not
being counted and that Buffers substitute was
agreed to IN place Of the Senates substitute to the
original House bin. The vote on the Butler substi-
tute was 1873 to 101 and thus the war premium
men headed by Butler, triumphed over the "lusur-
ance7 men, championed by Poland.
TIE MOIETY BILL PASSED BY THE SENATE.
ONLY THREE VOTES IN TIE NEGATIvE-THE SEIZURE
AMENDMENT ADOPTED IN MODIFIED FoRM-AN
ApoLoGIsT FOR MANIFESTATION CoNKLING's
TACTICS TO DEFEAT THE BIII-HIs INsINUATIoNs
AGAINST TIE MOTIVES OF ITS FRIENDs-TIIE BILL
As sPAssED BELIEVED TO BE ACCEPTABLE TO THE
lMFORTING MERCHANTS.
lBY TELEGRAPH THE TRIBuNE1
WASHINGTON June 10.--The Senate passed the
Meiety bill at about Q o'clock this evening with
only three votes in the negative, those of Senators
Howe Flanagan, and Pease. The only important
changes made III the bill to-day were the adoption
of the CoDkng amendment to the last section of the
bill saving for the nformers and customs officers
their moieties in all where suits were begun
prior TO May J. 1874, and that Of Senator Wright
restoring the section authorizing the seizure Of
locks and papers.
The latter was however deprived of its most OBJ
jectionable features 10y amendments moved by SEN
atoI BayaId. As it now stands while the Court
may on motion of the Dstrct-Attorney describing
the book or paper which he desires, aud setting
forth what be expects to prove by It, order IT to be
produced in Court, the examination must be con-
fined to the particular matter In dispute, and must
lie made IN the presence of the owner OF the book or
paper or bis agent. Under this BILL should it be-
came a law no special agent could cart off mer-
chants books TO his office and search them for
months 10 discover technical irregularities on which
10 base a case It is the opinion of the friends of
this legislation now in Washington that the BILL as
II was passed 10y the Senate, will on the whole be
acceptable 10 the importing merchants of the
country
Senator Conkling made a desperate attempt to-
day 10 defeat the bill by indirection. The pending
question when the subject up on his
amendment TO the last section, which, originally
reported saved 20 the informers and Customs Off
GERS the InOieties in all which were begun be-
fore the passage of this bill On motion of Senator
Wadleich, this was amended late in last evenings
session as 10 protect the rights of the United
States from loss. but not TO give the informers or
Customs officers any rights, or any share of the
pluuder which they would not have under the new
law. Senator Conkling, anxious to serve
his particular friends, the informers and
Custom house Ring in .,ew-York and to put as
much n.oiey as possible into their pockets moved
70 amend the section still further SO as preserve
10 them all the rights which might arise under ex-
listing laws in where suits were begun prior to
NAV ], 1874 This amendment would have been re-
iected had the vote been completed last night, for
when the roll call began quorum Of Senators were
the floor, and the majority against 1t was large.