The weekly intelligencer., 1898-05-07
The DISTRIBUTION OF Prize Money.

Ht DlNlIlDullOH OI lElLe Money.
From the 81. Louis Republic
Saanish vessels and their cargoe
captured by the naval vessels of tn
United States during the war wit
Spain will he condemned by priZ
court and sold. All the officers an,
crews participating in each captnr
will receive shares of the prize money
The law governing the condemnation
of prizes provides that when the cour
shall determine that the prize was o.
superior or equal force to the vessel OF
vessels making the capture, the entire
net proceeds of the sale should 90 tc
the captors. When the court shall de-
termine that the prize was of inferior
force, one-half the proceeds of sale
shall go to the captOrs and one-half TO
the United States.
Should privateers be commissioned.
the entire net proceeds of captures by
them would go to the captors unless
otherwise provided in the commissions.
The commanding officer of fleet or
squadron receives One-twentieth part of
all prize money awarded to any vessel
or vessels under his immediate control.
The commanding officer Of a squadron
or division under the command of
q commander-in-chi receives one
fiftieth of the amount awarded to he
captOrs, his share 10 count out of the
part of the prize money awarded to the
government when the government re-
ceives a share.
The fleet captain is entitled to one
bundredth part of the award made 10
al
squadron with which he is serving,
except in case where the capture is
made by the vessel in which he Is serv-
ing, and in that case he shares IN pro-
portion to his pay with the other
officers and men on board the vessel.
TO the command of single vessel is
given one-tenth of the money awarded
to his vessel, if it was acting at the
time of the capture under the command
of the commanding officer of fleet,
squadron or division, and three
twentieths if 1t was acting Indepen-
IDENTIFY.
After these deductions the remainder
of the prize money awarded to vessel
is distributed among the officers and.
crew of the vessel in proportion to
their respective pay.
All vessels of the navy within signal
ing distance of the vessel or vessels
making the capture, under such cir
cumstances and in such condition as to
render efficient aid if required, share in
the prize
When prize is captured the com
officer of the vessel making
the capture is required to put her in
charge of a prize officer and crew to
take her into port. He sends with her
all her papers and her master and
other officers as witnesses before the
prize court.
Any district court of the United
States may appoint prize commits
sioners, not exceeding three in number,
one of whom shall protect the interests
of ihe captors and of the navy depart
ment in the property.
1t Is the duty of the prize commits
sioneTs to take charge of the papers OF
the captured ship delivered to them by
the prize master and to take testimony
tor the court, and If the vessel captured |
would in their opinion, be useful TO the !
United States in war, to report to the
secretary of the navy.
Whenever any captured vessel or its |
cargo is taken for the use of the United |
States the value of the vessel or cargo |
so taken is to be appraised for the ben
eft OF the captors. If prize is not .
taken for the United States it Is sold at /
auction under provisions fixed by law.
In the case of the Buena Ventura,
he Spanish steamer captured, if she is
adjudged legal prize, one-half of her
value will be given to her captors, rs
she was merchant vessel, and, there
fore, not of superior or equal torce to
her captor.
Rear Admiral Sampson will receive
rs the commander of the
leet, and Captain Chadwick, rs the
leet captain, will receive one-hun-
Iredlh. Whether the remainder of the
Drize money will all go to the Nash
lille or not will depend upon whether
'he was in company with the other YES
els of the squadron at the time of
making the capture.
If the others were within signaling
distance they Will share under the law.