Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-01-20
II BRIEF SESSION OF THE HOUSE
YESTERDAY,
The Geneva Award Bill Under Discussion

The Geneva Award Bill Under Discussion.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 18.-The Geneva award
bill was taken up in the House as the regular
order of business, after some discussion the
previous question was seconded and the main
question ordered the understanding being that
Butler should be allowed fifteen minutes and
Knott as much time as desired before vote
should be taken.
These gentlemen spoke, the former against
the claim OF the insurance companies, the lat
ter against class legislation, and advocating the
speediest possible distribution Of the remainder
of the fund among those legally entitled to it.
The House moved to lay the bill and amend
ment on the table. Rejected-42 in the affirm
alive; negative not counted.
MIR. Frye's amendment to the majority bill
was then agreed to on standing vote-yeas
1876, 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 shall show that the sum
of it's losses in respect to war risks exceeded
the premiums or gains, and their allowance
shall not be greater than such excess. No
claim is to be admissible in favor Of any in
surance company that was not lawfully exist
ing at the time of the loss under the law of the
United States.
Mr. Cannon moved to lay the bill on the ia
BILE. Defeated-yeas sc, nays 121.
The question was then taken on the substi-
tute reported by the minority of the judiciary
committee, and it was adopted on standing
vote-yeas l12, nays 73. 1t revives and con-
tinues the court of commissioners of Alabama
claims, fixes the number of judges at three,
requires the court to- convene and organize as
soon as practicable in Washington, and limits
it's existence to eighteen months. The first
class of claims will be those described
in section IL of the former act, and claims for
damages done by the confederate cruisers on
high seas, although within four miles Of shore.
In cases of whaling vessels 10 per cent. addi-
tional is to be allowed in lieu of freight, and
the same allowance is to be made with per
cent. interest, on judgments heretofore rem
dered in favor of sailing vessels. The second
| class of claims is to be for per cent. addi-
tional interest on former Judgments. On all
judgments to be hereafter rendered the interest
allowed is to be 6 per cent.
The third class of claims is to be for the pay
ment of premiums for war risks, deductions to
be made of any sums paid back in diminution
OF such premiums. so that only the
actual loss shall be allowed. The secretary Of
the treasury is directed to pay without further
adjudication by any court 10 per cent. upon
whaling vessels and their outfit, with per
| cent. interest on awards heretofore made, and
| also to pay 2 per cent. additional
interest all judgments HERETOFORE made.
Judgments rendered in the first class are to be
first paid, and then judgments in the second
class, and if the money be not sufficient to pay
all judgments of the second class, they are to
be paid pro rata. like rule is 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 con-
strued as renewing or continuing any of the
commissions of the judges or officers of the
former court. Any balance that may remain
shall be a fund from which Congress may here
after authorize the payment Of other claims
thereon. The bill amended-that is, the
above substitute-was then passed, yeas, 113;
nays SO.
Mr.. Smith reported from the appropriation
committee the Senate amendments to the pen
sion appropriation bill, and they were con-
CURED in. Adjourned.