The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1879-01-29
WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENCE.
wAsurserox. D. G.. Jan. Is. 1879

WASHINGTON, D. c.. Jan. Is 1879
EDuoRs CLARION: Both houses OF Con
gress have been occupied to-day in consid-
ering The proper distribution OF the Geneva
Aware fund, which Is known 10 be the
amount paid Ia The United States BY the
-i-Ish Goyernm ant, for injarieS sustained
by the owners of vessels destroy ed by the
Alabama " Florida" and = oheuan-
dosh' during the Ali other claims
were excluded By the Board of Arbitrators
aud SIS 500 900 have been paid TO the Uni
/ ted States Government, in trust. for these
owners TO be distributed to them by Court
| of Claims established for that purpose.
/ Those who have presented satisfactory
1 proofs OF their claims before that Court
| have been paid, 4eaviag large balance
/ about iI0OOO,00O still undisIributed, and
the proper distribution of the remaining
amount has been the subject OF discussion
lor some days during the present session.
some members contend that the prope
disposition OF that funI wodll Be To divld
it among those claimants whose cases were
passed upon and ruled out by the Geneva
Arbitrator-others that it should be paid
into the United states Treasury To replace
the fund urjustly PAID by this government
on account Of the Halifax tisAeries-and
some that it should be returned to England
Owners of vessel- nor Insured, are contend
ing with Insura .ce Companies tor damages
sustained, and the result is that much time
has been lost. If not wasted--in examining
into the rights of claimants
The first section OF the bill now before
Congress provides THAT all persons or cor
porations claiming 10 be entitled TO any
portions of the moneys now under the con-
troll OF the United Staies were received from
the goyernm ent of G reat Britain, here
by authorized to sue for the same in the
L. ). Court OF Claims, ETC., etc.
In looking over the discussion and
speeches in regard to the matter, the course
suggested in the remarks of Hon. Van H.
Manning of Mississippi, on the 9Th instant,
seem most proper just, and wise to be pur-
sued.
He said. Shall we organize this House
into a tribunal, each member taking upon |
himself the duties OF juror and judge t. con |
slider all the testimony and The law touch |
ing the rights of each claimant, aud then |
pronounce final judgment thereon, or sinai
we say. what in my opinion a proper regard |
Tor precedent, public business, aud our ow |
dignity and Integrity demands We should |
declare, that such matters should be deter |
mined blythe judicial branch ofthis Govern |
meut.
And again referring to the first section of
the bill
Here it be observed is authority for " all |
persons and corporations claiming any |
portions OF the moneys Is spute To sue tor |
the same ''at any time within one year from |
the passage of this act" and the court can |
o IL render Judgment for each claimant |
who was an actual sufferer by the viola |
2 fs.xKg Of frraiI l1r
Britain" and having decided that the |
claimant is ''actuai sufferer" he is then |
entitled only to recover such sum as in the !
opinion of the court he should receive ''un- /
der The treaty and award, according to The |
principles OF justice, equity, and the laws
of natiouS.' What objection can there be |
either on the part OF the United States or
bv The actual sufferers to the distribution
of this fund pursuant to the standard thus
established? The language employed in
the section just read IL, it seems To me.
manite,tly too broad and comprehensive to
be tortured into any further discrimination
between claimants, either when they enter
court or during the progress OF their causes
than justice and equity may make necesSa-
~. in the judgment of the court. even
though the crest tyro occTp ed the bench
No man has cause 10 complain ii the
guide-star OF Lawmakers be Justice and
equity" The losses by the eXculpated and
incul pated cruisers, the insurance compa-
MES, and the war premium claimants al
enter the same court at the same time, and
stand upon an equal footing before Judges
whose weIl-stored minds and integrity OF |
character can be confidently relied upon to |
observe with scrupulouS care the iujunc-
ton laid upoA them in the bill, namely, to
promptly near and determine the cases of
all "acJusl sufferers" according to the prin-
ciples OF justice and equity. 1t is difficult
TO understand upon what ground objection
can be urged especially by the lawyers oil
this House, to such basis of ADJUDICATION
as this.
The Dill as passed revives the Court of
Comm i~sioners Of Alabama Claims, fixes
the number of Judges at three and requires
the Court to convene and organize as soon
as practicable,% Washington, and limits
its existence to eighteen months. L.