Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1842-09-24

The following we take from the cores
pondence of the st. Louis New Era. We
have not yet heard the final decision of
Judge WELLS. We presume. however,
with the able counsel and advice of coun-
selor FISK, he will make out the Bankrupt
Law unconstitutional:
Cry OF JEFFERSON, Sept. l2, 1912.
"The u. s. District Court is in session
here, Judge Wells intimated that he doubt
ed the constitutionality of the Bankrupt
Law, and expressed desire to hear argu-
ment on the subject He stated his grounds
of doubt, and objections 10 the law in
strong and forcible terms. A puerile speech
was then made by a Mr.. Fisk against the
Bankrupt Law. On subsequent day,
Mr.. Kirtley, of Boone, delivered an ex-
cellent argument in favor of the constitu.
iionalty of the law; he was followed by
Mr.. Leslie, Of ST. Louis, in sound logical
speech on the same side. Mr.. B. f. Rob-
bison then delivered speech on the same
side, and such a speech as no other man
could have made. On the next day, Mr..
Geyer delivered long and powerful speech
in vindication of the constitutionality of
vincing argument. To an unprecedented
mind it could not fail to be conclusive.
The Judge has taken his time to consider
and it is doubtful what his decision will be.
A number of other attornies were ready
to have argued the question, but it was
supposed that the speeches of Messrs.
kirtley, Leslie and Geyer covered the
whole ground, and that nothing more was
necessary.
"There are more than 500 cases on the
Docket; some Of them are contested cases,
but they are generally exparte.
THE Judge has made some new rules:
among them is one that requires the post
age on all Bankrupt notices to be paid
before they are mailed. AS this is a sum
to be paid in advance and in specie, it will
operate hard on many poor bankrupts who
have not got the money TO advance. Most
of the applicants have many old debts in
the eastern states, which have long since
been regarded as desperate by the credi-
tors; these are named in the list of credi-
tors filed, and notice has to be sent by
mail to each one; thus, if bankrupt has
two hundred creditors in other states, his
postage will amount to fifty dollars, and
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and if he is unable TO do so he cannot apply
for discharge. In many cases this may
amount TO a denial of the benefit of the
law, for most of the bankrupts are dest-
tute of the means of advancing the money
for postage. 1t would not fall heavily on
The creditors to pay this postage, because
such notices are generally known and re-
fused at the Post Office. The clerks fees
and officers fees are high, attornies must
be paid, contingent expenses have to be
betrayed, and considerable amount of
printing and advertising has to be done
at excessive rates. All these things oper-
ate as refusal to permit many bankrupts
TO avail themselves of the benefit of the
law. By reason of the monopoly and the
rates of advertising fixed by the Court,
about $4,000 will probably have been paid
to the Reporter and Enquirer for bankrupt
advertisements during the present year,
which they would gladly have printed for
$4,000. This looks like grinding the face
of the poor. The fees of marshals, criers,
clerks, attornies, commissioners, assipnees,
! printers and other officers, will be very op.