The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-02-20

What is doing to-day and this evening in Congress
OF little practical account.
GENERAL WASHINGTON DISPATCHES.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 10, 1879.
THE GENEVA AWARD DILL-CHANGEs PROPOSED
BY THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE.
The more important changes proposed by q ma
jority Of the Senate Committee the Judiciary to
be made in the Geneva Award bill briefly stated
follows:-
The House provisions for the payment of war
premium claims" and for the allowance of interest
above the four per cent allowed by the former law
wholly omitted, and so. Also tho extra allow
for whalers. The revived Court of Commits
sioners to take jurisdiction Of the claims Of
surance companies and give them precedence in tho
distribution of the remaining balance the Geneva
award.
The other claims provided for by the majority of
the committee to form second class" and are
to consist of claims directly resulting from damage
done by any Confederate cruiser Including the So
called "exculpated" cruisers on the high seas and
also within three miles of the shore. The full
Of the Housebll as amended by and reported from
the Senate Judiciary committee this afternoon is as
follows:-
AN Act for reviving and continuing the Court of
Commissioners Of Alabama Claims and for the dis
tribution Of the unappropriated moneys Of the
Geneva award.
BE it enacted. &C.. That an oct approved June %.
1874 entitled Gan Act for the creation Of court for
the adjudication and disposition OF certain
moneys received in the Treasury. under an
award by the tribunal of arbitration con-
treaty concluded at Washington. the 9Th
of May. A. d: 1871. between the United States Of
America and the Queen of Great Britain DO, and the
hereby is revived. reenacted and continued all
the provisions thereof to take effect and after
the approval OF this act except as changed or modi
sKcnos e-That the number of judges for said
Judges shall be necessary to decide any question
arising before said court.
SEC. s.-That the judges of the court hereby re.
established shall and organize the city Of
Washington as soon as practicable after their up.
pointment and the court so organized shall exist
eighteen months and all claims provabic under this
shall be verified and filed with the clerk Of said
court within six months from its organization, or
they shall DO held to be waived and barred.
SIC. THAT much Of tho twelfth section of the
said act as provides TINT mo claim shall be admissi-
Bile or allowed by said Court. by IN behalf OF any
right. or as assignee or otherwise in the
right OF a person or party insured AZ
to the satisfaction of sa,d Court. that during
the late rebellion the OF its his losses in
spcc to its or his war risks exceeded the of its
or his premiums or other gains upon or in respect
to such risks and in OF any such allowance
the same shall not be greater than such excess Of
loss" be and tho same is hereby repealed. That any
claimant excluded by the provision hereby repealed
shall have the like period Of time within which to
present. file and prove II or his claim after the pass
or said act if not excluded; and such claims shall
be considered claims of the first GLASS; and such
erly proved claims not included in tho
first class directly resulting from damage
ing the late rebellion including vessels and cargoes
attacked and taken on the high seas. pursued by
them therefrom. although the loss or damage oc-
CURED within three miles of the shore, and whether
such claims be made by the original property owner
or by underwater who paid Tor such loss or dam
agc. which claims shall be considered as claims of
the second class.
SEC. 5.-That the judgments rendered by said
Court under this act shall he paid by the Secretary of
the Treasury out of the money paid to the United
States pursuant to article of the Treaty of Washing
ton, and the interest accruing thcrefrom. not ex-
pended in payment of claim, heretofore proved and
allowed under the provisions of said original act and
the act extending the time for the filing Of claims
hereunder ana OF expenses under TINS act.
SEC. 6-Judgments rendered in tho first class
shall be first paid IL the sum Of money remaining
after provision for expenses and the Judgments in
cases of the first class so unappropratcd snail be in
sufficient to pay the claims of the second class in
full they shall be paid prordfd.
SEC. THAT this act shall not DO construed in
any way renewing extending or continuing any of
the commissions or appointments of judges
officers of the said Court of Commissioners of Ala
bama Claims issued and made by virtue of said
original act. tH
SIC. s.-That all moneys necessary for the pay
mcnt of the salaries of the judges and officials a
thorzcd by this act and for the lawful expenses Of
the said court hereby rc-estabshed. arc hereby ap
otherwise appropriated all of which shall be rcm-
bursed out OF the said uncx pended moneys before
any Of the judgments rendered under this act shall
bepad.
RAILROAD rELEGRAPHs-MuRAT HALsTEaD BE-
PORE THE coMMTTEE-sTRoNu VIEWS ON
RAILROAD RULE.
In the Senate Committee on Railroads this morn
ing Mr.. Gardner q. Hubbard opposed the bill author
izing railroad companies to telegraph lines for
commercial purposes. and spoke in favor Of the prn
cplcs of postal telegraph bill He incidentally
ferrcd 10 the New York Associated Pross q manner
which showed that he had no proper conception of
the way in which its affairs arc managed as private
institution. he thought its ought to be dis
tributcd among newspapers the principle Of o
common carrier. He several times in tho course
Of his remarks reminded that the committees had SOC
apart Its time for hearing only Of arguments on tho
bill
stillson Hutchins Of the Washington Post. madc =
presentation OF his difficulties with tho New York
Associated Press in which he arotly confused facts
with tho differences which ho had himself drawn.
thereby making . plausible case before tho commit
bee, but one which would not DO sustained upon IN
examination of all the circumstances.
Murat Halstcad OF the Cincinnati Commercial
being present. noticed an ausion by Mr. Hubbard
90 letter he had written some years ago. and said 1t
grow out of tho warfare of tho Western papers
with tho New York Associated Press at that time
Tho Western papers then conquered their indcpcn-
dence and transact their business through their
own organization, having business relations, how
ever, with the Now York Associated Press. At that
hmo tho Western Union Telegraph Company had
treated them with absolute fairness; but now thcy
furnish the opposition papers in the wost 1t lower
rates than they serve US. The main object Of tho