New-York tribune., 1876-03-04
DISTRIBUTION OF THE GENEVA AWARD.

PAYMENT OF THE CLAIMS OF sUFfEHhhS Di
CRUISERS EXcUIPArrD BY THE GENEVA T'IB-
UNAI-TuosE OF PERSONS PAYING WAR PlE-
NUNS AND or CERTAIN INSURANCE COMPANIES
RECOMMENDED.
[rRoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRibuNh'J
WASHINGTON, March 3.-The House Judiciary
Committee ut its meeting to-day discussed only orehy
and informally tho report Of the subcommittee Oh tne
Distribution OF the Geneva Award, which was recently
urcuar,d by scott Lord of New York. the Beknap inn
p,acbment occupying n most tho tune OF the session
THIS report will be further discussed tomorrow ana per
haps vote will be taken. IL is believed the Com'te
will adopt report The bill accompanying the Ieo''
provides that the Court Of The Commissioners OF Aaoa
Claims shall examine thrco classes Of claims which
We o excluded by the act providing ior III"
distribution of Geneva Award, passed during the
I,st Congress The first class comprises claims
rrsultiug from damage done on the high seas
by Confederate cruisers during the late rcbeion HoN
ng vessels ami cTg0es attacked on the Heh seas d"
though destroyed within four miles OF the shore except
s prouiGcd in section IL OF the act OF the last OoS's
Tue second class Includes claims for the pas ment OF pre-
r,,uu, for war rss whether paid to corporations.
agent. or individuals ter the sailing OF any Confederate
cruiser The third class claims for sumo Ae'uhy
paid for Suring property destroyed on the hh seas uy
Confeicate cruis -. except sums for when judgments
have been entered under Section l2 Of the act OF e last
Congress.
b n further UfONl0Ch tlht III tAhihiNN '''''' "
tie second cliss II shall be thc duty of the Court TO de
,c, an, ann, received by the claimants indemnity.
an that The actual loss Of the claimants only -lll De
ollnvy.d. and no claimants IN the second class WHO
have been pad such losses shall be enttrd 70 roc'o
from any insurance company re oVcrlhB III III.
tbrd class, any further sum ON account VI
such lo.s The Judgments entered IN 'le "''
class sba be puc before judgments of tue s'''"'
ard inJeneuts OF the second class before those OF e
4 which now ItulhluH uhhie
,,but Is found insufficient pay the Judgments OF ihe
first class provdcd by this ill., they are To Oc pAiu "o
corng 10 the proportions which they soVeiaS Dear 70
tie whole amount OF that sum- nnd after tue pa'en' VI
the first class the sccJud be provided Tor III Tue saue
manner. and hHal } the thlid' all'T uhe P'9 "'' "
first and second classes.
Tu Comntee in its report says that four classes
of sinants for these unlpprpnatei moneys have hp-
peared First persons wEO had vessels Destroyer uulb
the late rebellion by tie cruisers cHculpated %! lo
&. ncya tribunal; second, persons VINO pa'u wal p'o
uiums by reason OF such cursers beng upon th' sra
,l ip.utnuc comJauics who insured vessels destroy ed
nv the cruisers iucupaied 10y the Tribunal OF ADtr-
tion aud fourth pess ms excluded by section IL
-, the net Of last Congress because not bearing during
tho late rebellion true allegiance To the uh'' oo'
Tho f-t aud second classes are NOT thn 'Le Plo'"'
of the act of tue last Congress The thru CLASS u ""
the provisions OF that act, but the nnder"ries COM
ai that by sectod II of It they u0lusty limited a.
"A
by the srct referred to- The third class demands the
rcpeaI Of that part Of Il of the act oi te last
Congress which provides that no claim sha De Hdni'7
cable OF allowed by said cont 10y or IN b'haI oi any "
sur,nce cotnpany unless the claimant shall show
TO the satisfaction OF said court, that during the 'I'o
rebellion. the 8 N Of It's losses III respect " "'
war-rsKs exceeded the sum Of Its prcmiumsor
other gains upon 10 respect Of such war Hsh' I'
fourth ca.s demands the repeal oi tat part ~ the sec
lion by which they are excluded. Tie underwriters
claim that the vessels they insured were hcuue III t
grsa sum awarded by the Geneva Tribunal ana 'ha'
the United States pursuahie III acuuft oI "' 'e
lu f ,he vessels 80 insured and destroyed could be
recovered by actlOn on the other hand' IL IL ch
that by the express terms Of the Treaty OF Washington
,e uoney WAS paid IN the United States to be dsOuSed
IN IN, discretion Of Congress- limited only bv the subject
matter Of the treaty. The pivotal question tA'rciore "
We're the conclusions OF the Tribunal oi AroltIa'oh
preceding the award of u sum IN gross, pursuant
10 Article VII OF the 1r atty OF WashihEton
final or inerlocutory Great Britain did not become
liable to any individual citizen ~ the United states or
onv oss sustained by INN by OF such cruisers
Neither eould auch ctzrn make any legal claim therefor
upon his own Government. The wrongs done ny "Ie"'
Brtain 10 the United States were treated throughout aS
a national claim The moneys paid therefor were pau
NV IN, Government Of Great Britain to the Government
OF the United states, and the United states Is nae tho
respondent upon the prosecution OF any claim oeioe 'he
court organized by the act Of Congress.
nv Article VII of the Treaty tho Geneva Tribunal was
nrst 10 determine to each vessel whether Great
britain had failed fulfill any Of the dulles at forth IN
the three rules stated Article w. AMI to certify a. TO
each Of said yess Is and II II found that Geat Britain
had failed 10 fulnl such duties II might proceed 10
award sum In gross be paid by Great Bian To tho
Tinted State. for oil claims referred tO IT, by ArUcle "
e. waa ptoylded that n the Tubula after hndlng such
failure on the part Of Great Ban, did not award sum
I'm gros then Board OF Assessors should he appointed
to osceam and determine what clqms were valid ana
wat amount should be paid by Great Britain TO the United
stas on account Of the liability arising from such ful
ure as 10 each vessel according TO the extent Of such
liability as decided by the arbtrators COMPOSING the
Tribunal. The Tribunal found tnat Great Britain had
failed 10 fhlnu is duties and ,warded Sl5,5OOOOO In
gold IA the indemnity be paid by Great Britain to the
limited States for the satisfaction Of all claims referred To
,be OF the Tribunal The fact that The con-
templatrd Board Of Assessors was limited by
the treaty Us TO each vessel, according 10 the
e,tept OF nubi ity as decided by the arbtrators,
and that no such limitation Is Imposed upon the
United statea should gross sum be awarded seems TO
sette the question the power OF Congress- Tor such
Ynr,ssed limitation az to the Board of Assessors ex-
eudes the idea that any limitation was IN ended II
groas sum was paid 10 the United States. The Com
therefore, Is OF opinion that the was paid 10
the limited States ns nation, 20 bo applied, In its dis
errtou and according Of justice In the pay
ment Of claims stated the treaty. and which we're 70
erred 10 the Tribunal Of Arbitration, and that IL makes
no difference with the power of Congress Wheth suen