The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-05-31
UMPIRE PLUMLEY TELLS
OF DECISIONS IN DISPUTE
Terms of Settling Controversy
Between British and Venezue-
Ian Government.
OUTLINE OF HIS FINDING

LOS ANGELES, Cal, May 3.-Frank
Plumley, of Vermont. one of the most
prominent Of the laymen attending the
General Conference of the Methodist
Church, according to the Times. has just
forwarded to the British and Venezuelan
governments. through their respective am
bassadors, his decision as umpire in the
dispute between these countries.
Eleven different countries were involved.
including Great Britain. Germany. Italy.
Holland. Spain. Mexico and the United
States.
Great Britain. Holland and Venezuela
joined in asking President Roosevelt to app
point an umpire to settle the points in
volved on which they could not agree
Mr.. Plumley was the one selected TO per-
form this delicate and important task
Some of the questions which Mr.. Plumley
was called to decide were new international
Jurisprudence. and so he was permitted TO
take the evidence and briefs to this country
for further consideration. Mr.. Plumley, for
the first time, outlines the results or LIS
deliberations
There were four awards, one involving
large sum Of money and the others dealing
with important questions OF international
law. In one case regarding the payment or
interest on awards there was no precedent
II Is new step In international jurispru-
ience.
The two remaining questions were cover
ing citiZenships where the laws or con-
tending countries were not uniform and
well settled. The decision rendered by Mr.
Plumley was among the most important
and far-reaching which came before any OK
the commissions at the Caracas convention
These awards are the last to be made,
and as by mutual agreement his decision
is to be final and conclusive. the last yes
ffc2 Of hn al
learned diplomats at its inception feared
might be the means of involving the many
nations interested in an International war
has now passed away.
The first of the awards was in the cele-
brated case between the Porto Cabeilo a.
Valencia Railroad, a powerful British
company. and the Venezuelan government.
was not made good. The umpire made an
award in favor OF the company OF l,N0.0D.
Most interesting from legal standpoint
was the decision in regard 10 claim by
Great Britain for interest at per cent
upon awards made by a mixed commission
in 1865, the convention constituting this
commission having provided that the Nen-
make provision without delay for the pay
ment of this award. There was delay in
the payments covering about sixteen years
Venezuela denied the right to collect inter-
est, since there was no specihc provision
for IL by the two governments.
Mr.. Plumley held that interest at the rate
of per cent, the Venezuelan statutory
rate when no rate is named I'm the con-
tract. should be allowed from the time
when the Venezuelan Congress ratified the
terms of the contract. accepted the find
ings of the commission and made the first
payment on account.
Regarding the dispute as 10 citizenship,
the umpire sustained the construction or
the Constitution of Venezuela. which in
sists that a man born OF British parent
in Venezuela was a Venezuelan by birth
and domicile IL he always resided there
In the last count Great Britain urged
that in case OF British subject domiciled
in Venezuela and who died there and who
was married TO Venezuelan woman such
widow became a British subject by such
marriage and retained her standing after
his death and could appear a claimant
for cause accruing 10 her husband IN his
nfffirne The rnnIla if MED this ella i'm