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Show FORTY-FIFTH CONGRESS- IIOL.NE. Washington, 18. The Geneva award bill waa taken up aa the regular reg-ular order of business. After some discussion the previous question was seconded aud the main question ordered, the understanding being that Butler should be allowed fifteen minutes min-utes and Knott aa much time as he desired before the vote ehould be taken. These gentlemen epoke against the olaim of the insurance companies. The litter againet this class of legislation, and advocating the speediest possible distribution of the fund among those legally entitled to it. House moved to lay the bill and amendments on the table. Rejected, 42 in the affirmative, the negalipe not counted, Frye's amendment to the bill was then agreed to on a standing votaayea 135, nays 50. It provides that no claims by or in behalf be-half of any insurance company shall be admitted or allowed by the c-jurt ol claims, unless such claimant shall ahow lhat tho sum of its losses iu respect to the war risks, exceeded tbe premiums or gaina, and then ttie allowance shall not be grea'er than such excess. No claim ia to be ad missable in favor of any insurance company that waa not lawfully existing exist-ing at tbe time of the lois, under the law of the United States. Caonon moved to lay the bill on tho table. Defeated- yeai 0.) nays' 121. ! The n nee t ion waa then taken on thn 1 substitute reported by the minority ol the judiciary committee, aud it was adupied on a standing vote 112 to 73. it revives aud continues the court of commissioners of tbo Alabama Ala-bama claims, fixes tbe number of Hie judges at three, requires tho court tu convene and organize as soon practicable iu Washington, and limits its existence to eighteen mouths. Tnc tirst class of claims is to be these de scribed in section eleven of the former act and claims for dumagra directly done by confederate cruiser? on the high seas, although within four miles of shore; iu casts of whaling vcaeela, 10 per cent, additional is lo be aliowtd in lieu of freight, and the same allowance allow-ance is to be made with 0 per cent, interest on judgments heretofore rendered iu favor of whaling veesels I'ho second claaa of claim is to be - m tcui. nuuiLiuuui imereai on former judgments and on all judg men's to be hereafter rendered, in terest allowed to b9 6 per ciut. The third class of claims ia to be for the payment of premiums for war risks, the deductions to be made of any sums paid back in diminution ol such premiums, so that the actual lose -hull be allowed. Tbe aecretary of the treasury is directed to pay, without with-out furtheradjudicatiou by any court, 10 per cent, upon tho whaling vessels and their outfits, with 6 per cut. in terest, on the awards heretofore made and also to pay 2 per ceut. additional interest on ail judgments heretofore made. Judgments rendered in the first clasa are to be first paid, and thpri indtmipnt in llm aw-nnH f-lJM and il tbe money bo not sufficient to pay all judgments of tho se.-ond class they are to be paid pro rahi. A like rule is also to apply to judgments m the third class. No foreign born person per-son is to be excluded, if sailing under the United States tlag. The act u not to bo construed as renewing or continuing any of tho corn mi s ons ot judges or othcers of the former court. Any balance lhat may remain shall bo a fund from which conrece may herealter authorize the payment o: other claims thereon. The substitute then passed ycaa 113, Lays 93. Smith reported from the appropriation appropria-tion committee tho senate amend-menta amend-menta to the pension appropriation bill end they were concurred in. Adjourned. |