Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-02
FINAL AWARD MADE.
Italian Claimants Allowed $6Oo,ooo
Thew Asked $4,000, 900.

Nv Jackson H Ralston of this city mas
,ust signed his final award as umpire VI
80 I+olianyenezuelan commission. Ihis
oomn,etes the labors of all the recent Vehe-
.ra,an rnixed commissions. About SUI
claims aesrregating 100000, were hied
with the Italian commission, there pe-hs
many more Italian claimants than or any
other nationality. The aggregate a"aios
were about 100000.
Mauy questions of double cltizehship
came before the commission and the UNI
nire held in all cases of difference peI" ,
Venezuelan and Italian laws that the ia"
of dcnoicile of the claimant after the unle
of birth should control. 49,. 20
The largest claim presented was that OF
the Corvaia heirs for over S","0 O;'G, h me
original claimant was born In Sicily, put
nassed a large part of his life in NeneZue-
la. acting abroad, however. at diHefent
periods in various capacities Tor tnat coun-
trv The umpire held that according to
the law of his native land he had forfeited
his original citizenship by his dlplomauc
emnloyment and his heirs therefore could
NOT he heard before the Italian COMMISSION
Another case of Importance was that Oh
the Martini company. which held a con,
cession for coal mines and the railroad
from Guanta to Barcelona. The company
claimed 81 800 coo, because of interference
with business by the paper oi1 9%la anu
held that under the terms of the concession
the port should have remained open ana
that the paper blockade or blockade by
ezuela was liable for damages. directly re-
sultant therefrom, granting the company
sos, GOO
A claim of 100000 was presented by the
Poegiolis who had been merchants In the
state of Los Andes. The Poggiolis claimed
thew had been ASA ulted, and that their as
saiiants, by connivance of the authorities,
esca ned punishment and that their extensive
nx-n6
ioint action of the authorities and private
Individuals, none of the parties engaged
In such destruction being punished and per-
sonal protection being practically refused
stances of the case Venezuela was legally
liable for the wrong doing of her officials
and granted an award OF $lO7 COO
Several cases Of expulsion from Venezuela
recognized the governmental right of ex-
| pulson. but found In particular instances
,, that 1t had been exercised In disregard OF
| the law and granted damages. For the un-
lawful killing Of two Italians by or in the
presence and with the sanction of govern
ment officials awards of $500 and $4,000
were given.
The question most debated before the
| commission was as to the responsibility
| of Venezuela for the acts OF unsuccessful
revolutionists The umpire, following many
| precedents, held in number of cases that
such responsibility did not exist.
concession had provided that all questions
| of Interpretation and execution should be
referred to the Venezuelan courts for set
| Element and never should be made a sub
| iect of international claim. the umpire held
| that an Individual claimant could not con-
| tract away the right OF his government
automatically to present a claim and that
| the commission had Jurisdiction.
| In several cases Venezuela had collected
| a second time taxes once paid to a de facto
| revolutionary government but by the UNI
pire's opinions such second payment was
held illegal and a., Te, hn was AS 1 ORDERED l..
| conformity with the principles underlying
prescription. claims for damages which had
not been presented to Venezuela for thirty
| wears after the alleged occurrences.
Interest at the rate OF per cent per an
mum (the legal rate in Venezuela In the
| absence of contracD was allowed on claims
| from the date of presentation to the Vene-
zuelan government or to the commission to
| January 1, 1904. The government will soon
| publish a complete report of the decisions
| of all of the Venezuelan commissions.