The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-13
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.


WASHINGTON Dec. IL. 1873 I
Mr.. wooD, (dem) of n. Y. rising to question Of
privilege offered resolution for the investigation Of
the conduct Of John I. Davenport. Chief Supervisor
of Elections for tho Second Judicial district. yAs
proceedings in detail will be found in another COLI
umn) -. .. .. $1,000 n.
Mr.. woop. Of New York. chairman Of the Commit.
tee of Ways and Means, reported back the Senst0
resolution for adjournment tho holidays. from
December 81 to January G. with amendment pro-.
vidng for adjournment from December 10 to January
g. The amendment was rejected-yeas liz. nays 130--
and the Senate resolution amended by making the adj
journment date from December 20, was adopted.
rIE GENEVA AWARD BILL.
The regular order being demanded, the House re-
sumed the consideration of the Geneva Award bill
and addressed by Mr.. WILLIS. of New York. in
favor of the majority report of the Judiciary COM
mittee He reviewed the proceedings of the arbitra
performing its duties in regard to the right Of
certain citizens who had suffered from the depreda-
far as it was a nation, was specifically dis J
allowed and the declaration of the then Sccre-,
States government did not wish any pecuniary award
lie was glad that the odious doctrine was not
rs by that the
was held in trust and the only question was
whether the ces que trust were those whose
claims specifically disallowcd Insurance COM
panies should have been subjected to direct loss by
the depredatons of the ncupated cruisers and have
thus obtained absolute right to portion Of the
award which 1t was not the power OF Congress to
divest them Of He defended the underwriters from,
the attacks made upon them. They the ment
who had kept the Stars and Stripes waving over tho
during tho country's hour OF peril The majority
bill simply referred all claims to judicial tribunal.
and claimant could be heard in opposition to IL
unless nc knew that justice would defeat him. equity
would frown upon him and the law OF nations undo.
him. !
Mr.. LArHAM. (rep) of N. Y. followed in support OF
se h WSa 70 be- done With t
held that it should be returned to England. but now
that the United States had paid and England had
fsh. the number of such persons had lessened. The
idea of covering 1t into the Treasury had been aban
doncd aud II remained fund to be given to class
of people who suffered by the acts of tho Confed-
crate cruisers. and If that class could be found. ship
owners who had suffered losses by payment of war
premiums should be reimbursed before any other
Mr. Porter. ldem.) OF n. Y. spoke in favor Of tho.
majority report The government held money to bo
distributed according TO duty justice and night. and
the award had been allowed for loss OF ships and
caroes and nothing else the government had right
anything with 1t except to give 1t TO those per-
sons who interested in the ships and cargoes.
in preference to any other charitable purpose He
in favor Of corporations but just a. long ~
artificial made legal personagcs just
40 long were they entitled to Justice IL mattercd not
whether the ship was insured or not. II any proht
came to the insurance companies 1t came to them.
net by favor. but by right The very hrst duty OF
the government to do Justice and he was in
favor of administering the Geneva award according
to right and not according to favor
The matter then without action went over.
Mr.. BANNING. (dem) of Ohio. submitted the report
of the Military Commission Ordered printed and
made a special order for the 9th of January.
Mr.. BAKER, (rep.) of Ind. from the Committee I
Appropriations, reported bill repeating much
OF the Civil Sundry bill appropriates $4,000 to
the payment Of the claims of Charles p Burkirt.
late Indian agent at the Ponca Agency. He stated
that il the unanimous report Of the Committee
on Appropriations. The item had been added to tho
bill III the Senate, but 1t had since been discovered to
be fraudulent claim. more unmitgated swindlo&
had never been foisted a legislative bill.
Mr.. HEWITT (dcm.) Of NJ Y. stated that the item
had been inserted in the Senate and the Senate Con-
ference Committee had taken the responsibility OF ro-
tanning IL in tho BILL but that IL was proven to
be fraudulent he the Senate would DO anxious
to remedy the wrong.
The bill was then passed.
THE PENSION BILL.
Mr.. SMITH. trcp.) of Pa. from tho committee on
Appropriations reported substitute for the Pension
Appropriation BILL IL referred TO the COMMITTEES
the Whole and at ten minutes after four the House
went into such committee on that Dill, MI. Black
burn, Of Kentucky, in the chair.
Mr.. TowNsHEND. idem.) of ILL.,. offered an amend
repeating the law which provides that no claim
for pension not prosecuted to successful issue
within Ave years from date of filing should he adj
mitted without record evidence from the War or
Mr.. MoMsHAS. dem) of Ohio offered an amend
ment providing that no pension shall be stopped or
reduced without previous notice to the pelsioners
Ruled out q point Of order.
The committee and the bill was passed.
MIR. MORRISON ldefn.l Of Ill., introduced bill to
peal the duty on quinnc. Referred.
Mr.. EVANS, l,cin.l, OF y. G.. introducedA bill re-
moving the political disabilities Of ex-senator James
Chestinet, OF south Caroline. Passed
The House then. at Ave O'Clock, adjourned till tor