The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-11-13
FROM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT.

WASHINGTON, Nov. IL, 1871.
IHE PAYMENT OF AWARDS UNDER THE MExI-
CAN MIXED CLAIMS coMMIssIoN-LETTER OF
FOREIGN AFFAIRS.
Tho Committee on Foreign Affairs discussed to-day
no suggestion OF Secretary Evarts that legislation
should be had enabling the prompt payment OF the
Mexican awards. The subject was referred to sub
committee to inquire as to the proprcsy OF authorizing
reopenIng OF tho ards to permit OF inquiry into
tho alleged fraudulent claims of Vol and the La Abra
Mining Company. Tho following Is the text Of sec-
rotary Evarts' lctter:-
have the honor invite the attention Of your hon
orable committee tho necessity Of immediate legis
lat,on enable tho prompt payment tho awards in
favor Of our citizens, under tho convention Of July
1865, between tho United States and Mexico
On tho 31st Of January last due observance OF the
terms OF the convention and OF the subsequent agree
mems and protocols, tho Mexican Republic paid to
the United States certain sum satisfaction OF the
first instament then due The actual amount then
celved IRON Mexico was $242. SOL in coin, explained
follows:-
Amount due at first nstalment. $500, 900 90
Less balance in favor OF Mexico on adjust
ment OF joint expenses OF the commits
sion, as shown IN the statement annexed
10 tho protocol of December 10, 1876. and
accordingly withheld by Mexico. ........ 81 400 OIL
Balance. s242 500 %
The distribution Of this at least has been ur-
gently pressed this department without waiting Tor
The appropriation by Congress OF the sum assumed by
the government OF the United States according tho
terms OF the convention-to wit, the sum OF
awards IN favor OF Mexican citizens against
tho government OF the United States. This sum,
IN pursuance OF the convention. is withheld
by Mexico from the aggregate awards Ia favor OF
citizens. No doubt the prompt distrb button OF money
awarded to citizens and paid over to tho govern
tory duty which this government should be most
ANXIOUS to discharge All delay Is at tho cost OF tho
wn on ,so money IN ,s hands n tss nres.
ent case am informed that many OF the claimants
needy and that there is danger that their neccss
ties may expose thom 10 much greater loss than that
OF interest,"
have. however, hesltated to make this distribution
OF the money on nand which would be according to
Tho practice Of the government because of icgs-
lation being necessary TO make good the fund tho
amount with which the government OF the Unitod
States is chargeabe, and because desirable mat
The form and manner Of tho reservation from the
ipsalment hand OF the expenses OF tho government
should now BIO settled. BESIDES my predecessor had
submitted bill TO carry out these purposes the last
Congress, which passed inc house unanimously
Foreign ReationS and OF the judiciary in
the Senate Tho final passage OF The Bill in
the Senate was arrested IN the last days OF tho
session by suggestion that evidence might be pro-
sented that two OF the awards were based upon fraud
ulent testimony and that sorno delay should DO al
lowed Tor that reason.
since that time the Mexican government has simply
presented IN pamphlet form, tho motions made Tor
u rchcaring before tho UMPIRE Sir Edward Thornton,
IN the cases OF Benjamin We'll and VI tho La Abra
Mining Company adding thereto tho correspondence
between the Mexican Minister Don Ignacio Mariscal,
aud my predecessor Mr. Fish, III reference TO those
two These motions denied by tho umpire,
ana these awards, standing upon the same footing OF
nnality under the convention with NIL the Others are
awaiting distribution.
In u communication accompanying these pamphlets
Senior CucIlar, the Mexican Charge d'Anaires ad in
term, satos that the object this appeal Of his gov
ernmcnt Is not TO prevent the payment Of awards
made by The umpire In the now extinct Mixed Claims
Commission, but only in the interest OF rectitude and
Justice, TO render manifest tho fraud com mcd by
the parties Interested.
beg leave TO incose copy OF tho pill OF tho last
session, ana TO ask that II may be promptly consd.
urodl I'm IN. Nm sl.r
opportunities oil tho claimants, an instalnent on
awards Is now In tho hands OF the government
OF the United states.
1t Is generally understood, however that tho Com.
mttce on Foreign Affairs will report adversely on all
bills referred to II looking to the setting aside OF tho
judgments OF tho Mexican Claims Commission Tho
chairman holds that the action Of high tribunal
must be 1nal Even to tho objections made to the
award OF tho Venezuelan Commission Secretary Fish
took ground that II tho precedent was made
OF undoing the work OF arbitration by commissions
end.
THE SILVER BILL AND THE FOUR PER CENTS,
A report IS current that the Syndicate has notified
tho Treasury Department that owing to the passage
OF tho Silver Reconciliation bill by tho House and
the prospect o. passage BY tho Senate, moro Of
the four per cent bonds viii be accepted either the
foreign or domestic markets. Secretary Sherman
positively refuses say anything about this rcrort
Upon being asked f he felt at liberty to deny II he
rald no did not nor did he way clear In Wow
q his position ss the head OF the Financial Depart