, 1879-01-19
WASHINGTON.
Passage of the Geneva
Award Bill in the
House.
The Insurance Companies
Sadly Left in the
Lurch.
It's Fate in the Senate Is Now
Considered Very Doubt
f1l.
Democratic Reasons Why an Extra
Session Of Congress Should
Be Held.
Tilden's Friends Now Fight-
ing Shy Of Those Cipher
Dispatches.
The BIodgett Committee Waiting
Only for Board and Lodg-
ing Money.
~ T. r.x~-:,orr +Io p,.,.1,ls%sn. "a

Hendricks Scanning the Possibilities in
the Presidential Field.
THE GENEVA AWARD.
PASSAGE OF THE D1LL IN THE HOUSE.
Special Dispatch to The Tribune.
WASHINGTON, D. C., Jan. 1S.-The Geneva
Award bill Gnally passed the House at q late
hour this evening, and the insurance companies
were defeated. the bill that was passed
was composed Of the Frye aud McA1nhon
amendments, or, more accurately, tue McS1a-
non bill was substituted for the Knott bill,
which was reported by majority Of the Ju-
dietary Comn,i,1ec. The McMahon bill re-
wives the Alabama Claims Commission, rs it
was created by tue law Of June, 1874, aud
declares that the Court shall have 10 juris-
diction oyer what are known as the War pre-
MUM claims. Provision is made Tor = per
cent interest upon nll awards made by the Court
with 6 Der cent from the date Of the original
award. The insurance companies were defeat
ed bv about twenty majority. The bill will go
to tho Senate, where its fate is doubtful. The
same bill has passed the House twice before,
and the Senate has declined to concur with the
House. .....
THE PROCEEDINGS.
~ the Wtster7I 4ssoidttd Press-
WAsn1SGrox, D. G., Jan. 1S.-The Geneva
Award bill was taken up as the regular order OF
business. .',
After some discussion, the previous question
was seconded, and the main question Tas ordered,
the understanding being that Mr.. Butler should
be allowed fifteen minutes, aud Mr.. Knott as
much time as he desired, before vote should
be taken.
These gentlemen spoke, the former against
the claim Of Insurance companies, the latter
against class legislation and advocating Inc
spccdiest possible distribution Of the remainder
Of the fund among those legally entitled to 1t.
Afr. House moved to lay the bill and amend
ments on The table. Rcjectcd-42 in the atllrm~
ativc; the negative not counted.
Mr.. Frye's amendment to the majority bill
was then agreed to On q standing yote-yeas,
135; navs, 50.
Il provides that no claim by or in behalf OF
any insurance company shall be admitted or
allowed bv the Court Of Claims unless such
claimant shall show th1t the sum OF Its losses
in respect to war risks exceeded the premiums
or gains, and then the allowance stall not be
greater than such excess. No Claim is TO pe
admissible in favor OF any insurance company
that was not lawfully existing ut tllc time OF
the loss under tue law Of the United States.
Mr.. Cannon moved to lay the Dill on TIC tao4e'
Deleated-ycas. 81; nays, 12l.
Tnc question was then taken on the substitute
rcportcl bY the minority OF the Judiciary Conl-
mittcc, and 1t was adopted ION stanuing Vote)
he 10 73.
il rey;ycs and continues the Court OF Com
missjoncrs Of Alabama Claims; fixes the num-
Der OF Judges at three; requires the Court TO
convene aud organize as soOn Us practlcabfc IN
Washington, and limits its existence to e'entceh
months. The first class Of claims to be those
described in See IL of the FORMER act and cla1fls
for damages directly done by Confederate crui5-
crs On the high seas, although Within lour mlles
OF the shore, In cases Of Wnaling-vesscls. oper
cent additional is to be allowed in lieu oi
and the same allowance is to be maoe twith .
per cent interest) On Judgments heretofore fch-
dvrcl in favor Of wha{lnG-vesscls-
The second class Of claims Is to be for per
ccut additional interest on former judgments.
Tn all judgments to be hereafter rendered tue
interest allowed is to be per cent.
The third class of claims Is to be Tor the pay
1nent OF premiums for war risks. deductions to
br made ol any sums paid back in dir'inntion OF
suctl premiums, 60 that only the actual loss
shall be allowed.
nay, without iurtlcr adjudicatian BY any court,
10 ncr cent upon the whaing-vcsscls and their
outfits, with pcr cent Interest on awards hereto
fore made and also to pay per cent additional
interest on all judgments 1eretolOrc 1lAde. Hc
judgments rendered in the first class are to be
first paid, and then judgments in the second
class, and II tho money nc not sufficient TO pay
Mi judgments of the second class, they are to be
paid pro rata like rule is also to apply to the
third class No foreiyn-horn person is to ne ex-
clutled if sailing unticr the United States 1ag.
The act is not to be construed as renewing or
continuing apy OF the commissions OF Judges OF
officers OF tho former Court. ANY trlance that
NAV rcuuaiu shall bc fund from which Congress
NAV hereafter authorize tile payment of other
cIaims thereon.
Tlc bill US amended THAT is, the above sub
stitutc) was then passed-ycas, III; nays, Us.
Mr. Smith reported from the Approptl2,1on
Committee the Senate amendments 10 the rem
sion Appropriation bill, nnd they were concurrcd
ill.,
Adjourned.
s0UTuERE SENTIMENT.
While the vote on the Gcncya-Award bill was
nroersssiur, one of she Southern Democrats,
who Ind been active for the insurance compa-
MES, is reported to have gone up lnd down the
aisles among his Democractic associates who
were disnosed to vote for war-prcniinnl claims.
saving: .'What nre you voting with these New
England fellows fora You ought to be ashamed
to be caught with these Yankecs.'
CONGRESS.
er.rr OF BUSINESS