The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-06-23
HOUSE.

Mr.. Ffeliughuysen called up the con
ference report on the award bill.
HOUSE.
APPROPRIATIONS.
Mr.. Garfield reported back the senst
amendments to the Civil Appropriation
bill and tho House proceeded 10 con,
slider them.
MIR Garfield stated that they were l24
10 number and increased the bill as passe(
by the House "a 100000. Tho Commit.
tee had spent tive hours over Il yesterday
he was sorry 10 say. The most import
ant OF the amendments arc as follows
a provision that the number OF copie!
Of reports Of Departments annually Print
ed shall be limited 10 the needs Of Con.
gress aud shall contain no expensive map
or Illustrations without a special order o
Congress shall be cOncurred In. To In
crease the salary OF the Assistant Secre-
tary ol tho Treasury, Solicitor Of the
Treasury, and Commissioner OF Customs
to $4,000 was nOn.cOncurred In. Ap
propriating $S49 3O4 for lie saving
stations on the Sea aud Lake Coasts wal
concurred In. ApprOpriating $4,000 fol
an engine and machinery to destroy by
naceration cancelled bank notes, instead
OF BY burning was concurred 10.
THE LAST LRenLATlvR DAY.
The proceedings up to this point being
IN the legislative day Of Saturday, The
House adjourned within a minute Of II A
n and al II o'clock to-day's legislative
session commenced.
TIE GENEVA AWARD.
Mr.. Butler, OF Mass presented the con.
ference report on the Geneva award bill
The House agrees to the Senate bill
with certain notifications. There are
two new sections as to documentary evil
dence and as to allowance oI counsel and
attorneys fees Of claimants, which allow
ance is 10 be made part Of the judgment
anC there Is substitute for the fifth sec
lion. Tho substitute provides for the ap-
pOintment oi q counsellor at law to repre-.
sent the United States In suits provided
for in The bill.
MIR. Butler briefly explained the report.
The committee agreed, he said, TO the
payment Of the uninsured losses by ves-
sells for which the Geneva award held
Great Britain liable. 1t agreed 10 The
Senate bill so far as tho latter did al
low to the insurers or underwriters
payment, except where on stating
the account OF the profit and loss.
1t appears that the underwriters have
made loss in their whole business. The
committee had passed from the Senate
bill provisions, that the loss and judg.
menis shall be calculated in gold. Ii had
struck ont what was known as the 5 per
cent clause, by which the government
should retain s per cent Tor doing bust.
ness, sort oi claims agent lee, and only
pay 95 per cent oil the judgments. Ithad
inserted a clause that instead Of bal
ance being covered into the Treasury, II
Is allowed 10 remain as fund, from which
Congress may pay other losses 1t had
then agreed to the Court Of Commissions
instead OF the Circuit Court, and in order
TO prevent tho great evils Of the Court oil
Commissions, the Conference Committee
had made void, as the House bill had
done, all assignments for service, all con-
tiDgent fees, and had inserted provision
that the Court Of Commissions shall dc.
termine claims for service In each case.
Dir. Poland asked hr. Butler what
amount ol money would be paid under
this bill.
$1,000 600, '-'NA
Mr. Polaud-What provision Is made
for the balance Of the money!
Mr Buller-The provision Is that the
same shall be and remain q fund from
which. Congress may hereafter organlzs
the payment Of other claims thereon.
Mr. Tremain-As 10 war premium
claimants; as 10 owners Of uninsured yes.
sells that were destroyed by other cruisers
than those for which England was held
responsible, and as to insurance compa-
nies that cannot show by accounts Of
general business that they have sustained
losses, understand that this bill does not
preclude them from asking legislation
from subsequent Congress.
Mr. Butler-On the contrary this bill
leaves the matter open 10 the war prem
ium claimants who lose by cruisers other
than tho three, and 10 underwriters who
have not made losses, as 10 them 1t Is
sileni.
Mr. Poland-Does this bill positively
and absolutely forbid any payment to be
made TO insurance compAnys ior those
three vessels
Mr.. Butler-It absolutely IorbIds 1t,
but leaves 1t open 10 the legislation here.
after as 1t does for war premium men.
E. R Hoar asked Mr. Butler whether
the Conference report being summed up
would amount to this, that 1t provides TOR
the payment Of only that class Of claims
about which there can be no dispute, and
leaves all others 10 the future judgemnt Of
Congress.
Mr.. Enthusiastically that.
Mr.. Eldridge argued that the amount Of
the award belonged 10 tho whole people
and he hoped the House will never agree
to the report
Mr.. Frye declared Eldridge's doctrine
monstrous.
Mr.. Eldridge asked Frye whether he
had not affixed his nam0 10 the report
stating that this money belonged to the
United States free and clear OF any legal
and equitable claim whatever.
Mr.. Frye admitted that he did say the
money belonged to the United States, but
to be distributed as the laws oi Justice and
equity demand. He held 10 day as he
held In the beginning that insurance com.
nAuiea had no fi1ht WhAtevar In thiu
fund. He had not yielded hiS conviction
on this point.
Mr.. Beck expressed his belief that the
money should be distributed to the owners
of ships destroyed by the Alabama,
Florida and Shenandoah. That the
money was held by the government as
trustee, and that the government had no
more right 10 keep the money In the
Treasury than an executor, guardian or