The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-12-17
Fort; Third Congress - First Session.
SENATE.

SENATE.
WASHINGTON. Dec 16
MI Wright of Iowa. presented a petition for
the repeal of the bankruptcy law. Referred to
the Judiciary Committee.
Mr.. She rnlan of Ohio, from the Finance
Committee, reported unfavorably on the bill
authorizing payment on a portion of the i'm
port duties in legal tenders, and the committee
were discharged from the further consideration
of the bill.
Mr. Morrill, Of Vt, from the Committee on
Pnbllc Buildings reported back the bill plac-
ing line of telegraph between the Capitol and
the several departments, which was passed.
Mr. Morrill, of Maine, from the Committee
on Appropriations, reported back the House
bill making special appropriation of four
million dollars for the navy without amend
meut, and asked immediate action
Objections being made Mr. Morrill, said he
would call up the bill tomorrow
Mr. Morton, of Ind. asked that the rasou-
tiou relating to the admission of Pinchbac1 be
taken up.
MI Ferry of Conn.,, hoped that the subject
would be postponed until after the holidays.
He wouldn't object to the resolution being tax
| en- up now. bnt would object to vote beng
taken this week. as he desired to say something
upon it.
The Chair, in answer to question, said the
resolution of the i nance Committee was in
regular order after the expiration Of the morn
ing hour.
MIR Fenton gave notice he would tomorrow
address the Senate on the resolution of the FL
nance Committee. After the debate the morn
ing hour expired, and the Chair announced that
the resolution OF the Finance Committee was
in regular order.
Mr.. Morton moved to Law aside the regular
order and proceed with the consideration of the
the resolution to admit Pinchback, which was
agreed to.
Dir Morton then addressed the Senate in ia
vor of the resolution arGning that the investi-
gatton last winter into the Louisiana matter
had nothing to do with the present case, and
protested against having the case ovcrlaid by
by that sort OF argument and talk. He denied
that this was question of politics but of law,
and thought this case was similar to that o
Goldthwaite, arguing that Pinchback should be
admitted and the legality of his election decid
ed afterwards.
Mr.. Morton argued that the title of Kellogg
to the office OF Governor of Louisiana is indis-
putable.
He held that the decision of State tribunal
upon any of the questions of the Jaws of q
a Stale was final, ald the United States was
bound by such decision, The Supreme Court
Of Louisiana bad right to decide the legality
of the State Returning Board, and Louisiana
was wronged every day that Pinchback was
kept from his seat The admission of Pinch
back was question of law, not politics. and
should be decided without regard to politics.
Mr.. McCreery gave notice that he would speak
tomorrow.
dis were iulTOuilCeu 70 eSlaDliSn naval iron
shin. building yards on the Atlantic coast and
on the Mississippi. Referred to the Naval
Committee.
A bill to facilitate the redemption of mutilat-
ed bank notes was referred to the Finance Com
mttee.
A. bill repeating the tax of 10 per cent on
bank notes in circulation, was reported on adj
versely and the committee was DISCHARGED.
Executive session. AT o'clock the doors
were opened and the House resolution to al
journ over during the holidays from Friday
next, and the house bill rrpealing the bank
ruptcy act were read the first time and laid
over till Tomorrow.
Adjourned.
Mr.. Willard of Vermont, offered resolution
instructng the Civil Service Committee to in
quire whether any reduction can be made in
the cost of the civil service, both in the num-
Der Of officials and compensation, without i'm
pairing the efficiency of the service, also as to
the eXpedency of providiug that officials in the
civil service shall receive only such salary as
shall be fixed by law. Adopted.
The House then took up the bill reported
yesterday TO repeal the bankruptcy act and Mr..
Tremaine of New York, proceeded to advocate
it. He reminded the House of the paragraph
in the Presidents message recommending re-
peal of the bankrupt law, and said while the
Judiciary Committee concurred entirely in the
correctness and clearness of the Presidents
stateme ut on the subject and believed the OBJ
lection to the law had been only partially stated
by the President, there was an entire uhanimi-
ty of sentiment on the part OF the committee to
the existence of serious defects and Imperfec
tions in the existing law He asked for the
prompt repeal of the law.
Mr.. Wilson of Indiana, a member of the ,Ju-
dietary Committee, approved the passage of the
bill and urged that the law was necessary one
and if there were defects in it the proper
course was to remedy them. He believed it I'M
wise to repeal the existing law and believed it
wise to make it perfect and trusted the House
would recommit the bill to the Judiciary Com
mittee
Mr. Beck Of Kentucky, gave notice of an
amendment to substitute for the section which
looks to the details of the provision to reduce
all cost fees and charges fifty per cent
Mr.. Eldridge of Wisconsin, u member of the
Judiciary Committee, sustained and advocated
the bill. He had always opposed the bank
ruptcy law, believing it radically wrong and it
never on ght to have been enacted 1t had been
operated practically as a tconfscation of the
debtors estates, not for the benefit of the credi-
| tors, not to pay their debts. but to put fees in
| the pockets of court officers. There had never
| been an hous when the great mass of the peo-
| pie did not desire its repeal.
| Mr.. Frye of Maine, also member of the Ju-
| dietary Committee, thought the bankrupting
| lazy should be amended and not repealed. Its
| repeal would not make commercial men more
honest or business men more careful but would
! open the flood gates of fraud.
Mr.. Jewett, another member OF the Judiciary
| COMMITTEE, Sa1d the law ala no Que any good
and inflicted evil whenever it had been enforc-
| ed.
Mr.. Jewett of Ohio, said that duringsthe con-
sderation by the committee, Jay Cooke nor
| any other firm had been referred to. He be-
! lleyed the bankrupt law was doing more to
| continue the present condition OF things than
allthe stringeney of the money market.
Mr.. Butler closed the debate by speaking in
Favor OF tha bill. The previous question was
| then moved but not seconded on the third
reading by vote of 20 against III.
Mr. Beck of kentucky. moved to strike out
az after the first section inserting in lieu tire
| Of the following:
. elton q That all suits and proceedings now
pending in the courts of the United States
wherein an adjudication of bankruptcy has
been made, shall be proceeded with and gov
! erned by the provisions of the existing laws
winch ire hereby continued in force only for
| the purpose of closing up suits and proceedings
| now pending; provided that from and after the
| passage of this act the fees commissions and
| Slafges OF officers and agents of the courts IN
bankruptcy cases shall be reduced to half OF the
ices, commissions and charges heretofore al
| lowed.
The previous question was seconded, 100 to
| 70, and the amendment agreed to without d.
| vision.
The bill al amended was then passed, yeas
| go, nays A.
The bill consists of two sections. The first
repeating the act of the I'd of March, 1867, and
| all the acts amendatory thereof aud the second
! enactng the proposition submitted by Mr. Beck
! of Kentucky
Mr.. Hale of Maine, from the select commit
tee ON salaries reported back bib the first
section of which repeats all the provisions Of
the act of March 3, 1875 which increase the