Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-01-22
The Geneva Award Bill.

The passage OF the bill for distributing
the balance of the Geneva award will put
an end. we hope, to the long controversy
concerning this matter. The issue was,
whether the undistributed balance should
be divided among those who paid war pre-
miums te the insurance companies to pro-
tect themselves from loss by privateering,
or whether the insurance companies who
received those premiums and made large
profits on the business of war insurance
should receive what was left Of the award
by way of bonus in addition to their le-
ultimate profits. The insurance compa-
MES Interested organized strongly in sup
port of their case, and succeeded longer
than they should in defeating the mer-
chants and ship owners, but at length the
right has prevailed, or practically so. in
the recent passage by the House of the
bin reported by the minority of the Ju-
dietary committee. The majority bill
was, as stated by Mr.. Hale in debate, for
the benefit Of the insurance companies and
no one else. Mr.. Frye offered an amend
ment to, the majority bill, expressly
debarrring the insurance companies
from any share in the award, unless
they could show that in their whole bust
ness in war risks during the rebellion they
had been losers instead Of gamers. This
amendment was adopted by a vote of 1856
to50. The minority report was, however,
substituted for the majority report by a
vote of liz to 73. and the minority bill
was then passed by a vote of 11s to 80.
The bill revives and continues the Court
Of Commissioners of Alabama Claims,
fixes the number of judges at three. re-
qnires the court to convene and organize
as soon as practicable in Washington, and
limits its existence to eighteen months.
The first class Of claims is to be those de-
scribed in section eleven of the former act
and claims for damages directly Zone by
Confederate cruisers on the high seas, al
though within four miles of shore. In
cases Of whaling vessels 10per cent addi-
tional is to be allowed in lieu of freight
The second class of claims is to be for z
per cent additional interest on former
judgments, on all judgments to be hereafter
rendered the interest allowed to be six per
cent. The third class of claims is to be
for the payment Of premiums for wal
risks, only the actual loss to be allowed
The Secretary of the Treasury is directed
to pay, without further adjudication by any
court, the 10 per cent. upon whaling YES
sells and their outfit with 6 per cent. in
teresD on awards hereafter made, and
also to pay per cent. additional interest
on all judgments heretofore made Judg.
ments rendered in the first, second and
third classes are to be paid in the order Of
the class, and if the money be not sufficient
to.pay all the Judgments, they are to b,
paid pro rata. No foreign-born person i,
to be excluded, if sailing under the United
States flag. The act is not TO be con
~ w. &c tNhfS vi tphtihhtIE any u
the commissions of judges or officers o
the former court. Any balance that ma,
remain shall he a fund from which Con
gress may hereafter authorize the pay
ment Of other claims thereon.
The bill now goes before the Senate Ju
dietary Committee, where it will probably
meet a favorable reception. The look fo
its passage in the Senate is hopeful. Tn,
Southern members of the House gave
strong support 70 the claim Of the insur
ance companies, but New England he'll
out solidlyain support Of the better---be
cause more just-cause of the merchant
aud shipowners. the men who were tn
actual losers by the deprcdations of tn
Anglo-rebel cruisers. The Representa-
tives Of Maine in Congress made boI1
fight for the fight, Which WIN be ren,em
bered to their credit.