The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-19

taee from money got from the neutral friend its
aid in that wrong Therefore the proposition to put
able support from the gentlemen who represent the
confederacy part of the Union The other proposition
as an indemnityg Nobody has any legal right to it,
We have Alright to do with II what pease-to use II
IN mississippi levees in Northern railroads. in build
ing ships, or IN giving subsidies. But what ought
to be done with it 1t is proposed TO give it to the
insurance companies. or to give them some right to
go int the court and set up what they call claim
Of subrogaton. They have no legal right to
it now. They do not claim. ] think any
mother Of insurance These insurance companies
have received nearly $4,000, 900 in premiums during
the war and have paid out only about $4,000, 600
therefore they have lost nothing In the bill which
had the honor to draw. and which became law, u
provision was made that if. on reckoning up the
any company had suffered loss, that loss should be
paid. And all the insurance companies that could
ross growing out OF their war rasks nave
ceved their pay. Now, who Is there
here that thinks that there is any equitable
claim on the part OF insurance companies? Nor have
they any legal claim rhey made four millions by
their war risks. Are they to make four millions
more? Now who the war premium men? They
are the class OF men who paid premiums and who
got no return for their premiums They were
obliged to pay ten per cent insurance to get their
ships across the water in the course OF business SO
great was that burden that many men sold their
ships, nominally or actually. to Great Britain TO
other men who. with true patriotism, car
ried on business and paid the war pre-
mlums ana have not received dollar III return
in any way from insurance companies or anybody
else The answer to this is:-An that is true; but
the merchant and the shipowner charged the amount
OF his war premium paid and added 1t to the price OF
his goods. and. therefore. he has collected it back
again from the whole people. That is a fair argu-
that point? 1t could have been done only that
fourifths of the commerce OF the United States dur
ing the war was carried in bottoms that paid
war premiums This four fths fixed the prices OF the
goods and therefore. the men who paid the war pre-
miums could not charge them up in fixing the prices
Mr.. KNOTT. (dem.) of Ky. closed the debate. His
position was one Of absolute impartiality. Not a
single constituent of his had any claim to the
Geneva award than he had to a diamond mine on the
far side Of the moon. He, himself, entertained
feeling or prejudice in favor OF against any par
tcular class of claimants. He only wanted
simple justice done and such steps taken
would insure the speediest possible distr-
button of the remainder of the fund among
those legally entitled to it. He reviewed the pro-
ceedngs of the Geneva tribunal and stated that the
money had been awarded for losses occasoned di-
rectly by the nculpated cruisers He contrastcd the
bill Of the minority with the bill OF the majority
the former being mere act OF grace. the
presenting in most odious form all the most
objectionable features of class legislation. the latter
planted from Magma Chara that person. high or
low, rich or poor. should be deprived OF his
presumed right except by due process of law
The minority substantially said that the fund be-
longed to the United States; that the war premium
men had equitable or legal right to any portion of it
vet Congress had an unlimited discretion with re-
gard to it, and should. therefore, give it to those
claimants for sweet charitys sake. There
provision in the constitution authorizing Congress
to peddle favors or deal out aims. Here ques-
ton involving $10OUO,OO0 and the honor Of the
United States which the House was actually asked
to guess upon and to decide to what class
of claimants had the best right. In regard
to the bill of the majority there not u syllable
a' or Geprve of ns reh any amy Wsa hs9
paid war premiums The question of payment was
simply referred to the Court OF Claims for its dec
sion. Nothing could be fairer more impartial
than that bill almost identical with that OF the
majority had last year been passed by the House
ton of the chinese fund, and nobody who
had let that bill pass without objection could
consistently oppose the present bill He did not
stand the advocate OF any one class of claimants
but the humble champion of justice. The in
companies may be the bloodess and soulless
posed citizens of the United States and looked to
the constitution and laws OF the country for simple
Justice and the that refused justice to its
humblest citizen despot to be despised.
Mr. House. tdem.l of Tenn, moved to lay the bill
and amendments ON the table. hejected-42 IN the
affirmative, the negative not counted.
THE MAJORITY AMENDMENT.
The next vote was taken ON Mr.. Frye's amendment
to the majority bill and It was agreed to on stand
ing vote-yeas 1885, nays so.
1t provides that no claim by or in behalf of any
insurance company shall be admitted or allowed by
the Court Of Claims unless such claimant show to
the action OF the Court that during the late
rebellion the OF its losses in respect to it's
risks exceeded the sum Of its premiums or gains.
then the allowance shall not be greater than such
No claim is to be admissible in favor of any
| insurance t1npany that was not lawfully existing
ut the time Of the loss under the law OF some one OF
the United States.
Mr.. CAMERON. trepl. Of H.. moved to lay the bill
on the table. Defeatcd-yeas 90. nays 121.
THE MINORITY SUBSTITUTE.
The question then taken on the substitute re-
ported by the minority of the Judiciary Committee,
ana 1t adopted ton a staining vote)1l2 to 73.
1t reviyes and continues the Court of Commission
ers of Alabama Claims. fixes the number of Judges
at three, requires the Court to and organize
as practicable. in Washington, and limits its
existence to eighteen months. The hrst
class of claims IN To be those described in
section IL of the former act, and claims
for damages directly done by Confederate cruisers
on the high seas. although within four miles of
shore. In cases OF whaling vessels ten cent add
tioha Is to be allowed in lieu of freight and the
allowance Is to be made with per cent intercst)
judgments heretofore rendered in favor OF whal-
ing vessels The second class claims is to be for
| two per cent additional interest on former judg-
| ments. On all judgments to he hereafter rendered
the interest allowed to be six per cent. The Thrill
class Of claims is to be for the payment of
premiums for war risks. deductions to be
such premiums that only the actual loss shall
be allowed. The Secretary the Treasury IL directed
to pay without further adjudication by any Court
the ten per cent up whaling vessels and their out
fit with six cent interest awards heretofore
made and also to pay per cent additional interest
| on all judgments heretofore made; judgments
rendered III the first class to be- first
paid. and then judgments in the second
to pay all the judgments Of the second class they
are to be paid pro rata. and the like rule II also
to apply to Judgments in the third class No foreign
born person is to be excluded If sailing under the
United States flag The act is not to be construed
renewing or continuing any OF the commissions of
Judges officers of the former court. Any balance
that may remain shall be fund from which Con-
gress may hereafter authorize the payment OF other
claims thereon.
his Is the minority substitute reported by
Mcssrs. McMahon Frye. Butler. Conger ana Laphani.
The bin as thus amended was then passed--yeas
lis, nays93.
rHK PENSION APPROPRIATION BILL
Mr.. SMITH. OF Pennsylvania, reported back from the
Appropriations Committee the senate amendments
" the Pension Appropriation bill, ana they were
concurred in.
The House then at half past I've, adjourned
BOILED In GEYSER,