Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-12-17

ing the Committee on Civil Service and |
Reform to inquire whether reduction can
be made in the cost of civil service, in the
of officers employed, andthcircom-
penSution without imparing the efficiency
of the service; and also the eXpediency OF
that all officials in the civil ser
vice shall receive as compensation only
such salary as shall be fixed and determined
by law. Adopted.
Another.
Mr. Luttreli asked leave to offer a reso-
luton reciting the amount of interest paid
by the government on account Of the sever
al Pacific Railroad Companies, and direct
ing the AtturliGy General to bring suit to
recover the same.
My. Sypher objected and the resolution
was not received
Bank ru sstcy Repeal.
The House then took up the bill reported
Yesterday from tho. Judiciary Eoniniittee to
repeal the bankruptcy act and Mr.. Tremaine
proceeded to advocate it.
Mr.. Wilson, of the Judiciary Committee,
opposed the bib, arguing that the law was
necessary and if there were defects i'll 1T,
the proper course was to remedy these de-
geets. lie Thought the title Of the bill
ought 10 be IA bill TO embarraSs justice"
lie believed Il unWise to repeal. the existing
law and believed Il wise to make it perfect.
lie therefore trusted the House would re-
commit the bill to the judiciary Commit
tee,
Mr.. Beck gave notice Of an amendment
to substitute FOR the section which looks to
details with a provision to reduce all costs,
fees and charges fifty per. cent,
Mr.. FldIidpe, CT thu judiciary Commit
tie, advocated the bill. He understood the
gentleman who had reported the original
bankruptcy bill to the House (referring to
Jenckes, of Rhode Island,) was the first to
avail himself Of its provisions, The inca
sure operated Practically as contiscation TT
debtors estates, not for the benefit OF credit
Ois, but to put fees in the rockets OF the
officers of the i5tit, and, in SOME instances;
IN THOSE OF the Judges themselves. The
| agriCulturT;iists OF the country Ind never
| been in favoGcf the lat7. Abiding to re-
| mark o. Mr.. Wilson, that the bill had been
| introduced in the interest OF Jay Cooke 4
| Co., Mr.. Eldridge said the last House had
passed a bill to repeal the bankruptcy law
| bva two-third vote, under suspension Ofthe
rule. and there had been at that time cet-
tainlv no lawyer OF the ley CbokeS, etc,
| urging Its massage. That firm was then
Gsrffiiig on reckless specUlationS, with a
view. perhaps, of being discharged from
their liabilities under the
Internal Law.
Mr.. FRYE OF the Judiciary Committee
| thought repeal Of law would not make
| commercial ii;en moro honest or careful
but 1t would open the food gates of fraud
Mr.. Jewett of the Judiciary Committee
said it was conceded that the operations O
the bankrupt law were untavorable to the
general interests of the country. The law
did no one any good, and it inflicted eyt
wherever il had been enforced, In th'
consideration of the matter in committee
he had not heard Jay Cooke or any Uthe
firm referred to, nor at any time until thi
discussion had commenced. He believed
as a business man that the influence Of th
bankrupt law was doing more to continue
the present condition OF things in the coUn
try than all the stringency i'll the none.
market. 1t was the uncertainty, doubt
fear. that unexpectedly some Unyicldinl
creditor might put in bankruptcy the strug
Cling debtor, and that his assets would b
absorbed in costs. That was
The Great Evil.
Believing that 10 good was to result fr0I
the law and that it was an evil, he was III
qualifedly in favor Of repeal.
Mr.. White of the Judiciary COmmitte
was in favor of amending the law, rattle
than repeating it.
Mr.. Kasson suggested a motion o recOn
nit the bill with instructions tOreport sue
amendments to the bankruptcy laws as shal
increase the authority Of the Judge il
bankruptcy to suspend proceedings when
shall appear that the debtors aSetts ma,
within a reasonable time be made Sutf
lent to discharge all his liabilities, and
make such other and further orders i'll Il
B case rs shall prevent all unnecessary pr,
: Ceedings in bankruptcy: also to report SUI
/ amendments as shall diminish the costs an
Incidental expenses Of proceedings
bankruptcy.
Like suggestions to Tecommit with j
strctions were made by Senator n
, Creery, DUEL and Smith, Of Ohio.
4 Ward, of Illinois, from the judicial
, Committee spoke in favor Of the repeal
L the law.
T. Mr.. Fames, referring to Mr.. EldridgC
! intimation about Mr. JenckeS, said he d
) not think that gentleman had at any tin
availed himself of the voluntary provision
= Of the act.
: Mr.. Potter trusted his colleague II
y maine would allow a motion to strike o
u all but the first section, which repealed t
! bankruptcy law and the seventh section.
) Mr. Butler Of Massachusetts, Chailnr
: of the judiciary Committee, closed the {
9 bate, supporting the bill
II Mr.. Tremain then move the previO
Z question on the third reading Of the bi
Not seconded by 20 to III.
y Pending SHIFTS.
Mr.. Beck then moved to strike out af
; the first section OF the bill and to insert
# lieu thereof the following section Z: III
- all suits and proceedings now pending
= the courts Of the United States, where
an Injunction Of bankruptcy has been ma
4 shall be proceeded with and governed
% the provisions Of existing laws which Z
, hereby continued in full force, only for
% purpose of closing up suits, and p-oceedlI
va now pending: provided that from and at
the passage of this act the fees, comm
sions and charges of officers and agents
J., courts in bankruptcy cases shall be Tedut
u to one-half the fees, commissions a
10 charges heretofore allowed.
IL The previous question was SECOND
III on this proposition by 720 TO %, and
10 amendment agreed to without division
The bill as amended then passcd-ye
CT 22O; NAYS, a; it consists of two sectio
v the first repeating the bankruptcy act OF
IL I'd of March, 1867, and all acts amendat
thereof; and the second section enact
W the proposition submitted by Mr.. Beck
e. Kentucky. The vote Of the members
w the Committee on the passage OF the
u was AS follows: Ayes, Tremain, Cess
ne Ward, Eldridge, Potter, Jewett-siX. NJ
IS Butler, Wilson, Poland, Frye, of Mai
VI and White--J.
SALARY Repeal.
W. Mr.. Hale, of Maine, from the Select q
ad mittee on Salaries reported back bill,
al first section of which repeats all proyisi
~ of the act Of March ,, 1873, which increi
no the salary or compensation of Senat
REPRESENTATIVES and Delegates in Congr
MT or of any officers or employees OF the {
mt eminent, except SO far as it relates to
81 Judges of the Supreme Court and to
cd | President of the United States during
of present term Of office.
The second section provides that h
Of after the compensation of Senators, Rel
70 sentatives and Delegates in Congress S
nc, be in lieu of all allowances except t
is actual and necessary individual travel
o,, expenses in coming and returning from
,d- | National Capital once every session, wi
-na shall be paid to every Senator, Represe