New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-04-16
THE GENEVA AWARD BILL DEBATE.
SENATOR THURMAN's UNPRECEDENTED POSITION
Mr.. BLAINE DEMONSTRATING THE. INCoNsIsTBN-
CIEs OF THE SUPPORTERS OF THE BILL

NIX. BLAINE DEMONBTRAIlNN The lNCuNblolbh"
CIEs OF THE SUPPORTERS OF THE BILL
fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUEB.I
WASHINGTON, April 15.-senator Thurman, as
the organ of the Senate Judiciary Committee for
the management OF the Geneva Award bill IN the
Senate, assumed position to-day which probably
has no precedent and which Is very difficult to ac-
count for.
About half past o'clock the bill came up and al
though it was known that Senator Carpenter and
others had prepared speeches to be delivered, no
one seemed to be willing for some unaccountable
reason, to proceed. This becoming apparent. Sena-
tor Blaine suggested that vote be taken upon the
pending question, which was motion by Senator
HOar to strike ont the section which repeals the
prohibition of payment to the insurance companies.
Thereupon Senator Thurman pleaded and scolded,
during a running debate of half an hour. to induce
Senators who are in favor Of the amendment and
who were willing either to vote or to listen to those
who were opposed to it, to speak and not force
vote at this time upon what was truly considered
the vital feature of the committees bill.
Senator Hamln said that IL he had not arrived at
an age when he was not astonished at anything he
would be astOnished beyond his power OF express
sion by the position taken by the Senator from
Ohio. Here was measure which had been debated
year In and year out and now when no Senator
was ready to address the Senate, and when there
was no pretext that any Senator wished for moro
time In which to prepare himself to speak. he
thought 1t would be wiser and better if the hOnOra-
bic Senator would allow the matter to be disposed
Of by vote
Senator Blaine said that some distinguishing char
ncteristic marked the history of every Congress,
and this Congress would deserve 70 be known as
the Lazy Congress" tho " Do-Nothing Congress"
This bill had been reported ten weeks ago to-day,
aud he asked the honorable Senator from Ohio what
work had been accomplished by Congress since
that time. The measure had been mysteriously
pushed aside and delayed yet everyone professed
to DO anxious that II should be disposed OF.
The probable explanation Of Senator Thurmnn's
course Is found in the fact that the opponents of the
insurance companies claims arc divided among
themselves In regard TO the final disposition OF the
money and are only united in holding that the in
surance companies ought not TO get It, That fea-
tnre of the question once disposed OF, they would
proceed discuss other methods OF dsposing OF the
balance OF the award.
Mr. Blaine at last found himself discussing the
merits of the bill, and with his customary success
exciting the ire OF good many senators whose
yiewa he nntagouized. Senator Thurman, Senator
Davis and Senator Iayard in turn were upon their
feet in reply 20 the queries OF senator Blame, ana
Wcre in turn disposed Of somewhat effectively by
the Senator from Maine. They were shown TO be
inconsistent in supporting bill which In one Of Its
parts made provision. for the payment Of portion
OF the award to a class of claimants who were not
recognized by the tribunal while in their speeches
they reasoned in favor of the insurance companies
llpOn the express ground that their claims were
among those upon which the amount OF the award
was based.