Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-02-13
Society.

W Z
the government.
society.
Owing to the exceedingly bad weather yester-
day, there was little calling during the
day, and for the same reason the attendance at
the Presidents reception in the evening was
much less than usual on such occasions. New
ertheless there was fine company present, and
the several rooms in use were resplendant with
light and alive with the motion and conversation
Of fair women and brave men, making the
scene all the more attractive from the contrast
with the world without. The various branches
Of the public service were well represented, as
was also society in general There was much
elegant dressing observable, and on the whole
the entertainment was. in spite OF the draw
backs referred to, both brilliant and pleasant.
- Tonight the Stewart ball takes place at
Masonic Temple, and, unless a sore slisappoint-
ment is experienced, it will be one of the finest
entertainments of the season. To that end the
greatest preparations have been made, both by
hosts and guests in expectancy.
& Colonel and Mrs. Audenreid have issued
invitations for an sat home" on Saturday next,
from to O'Clock, at the johnson house. next
door to the Arlington. There win be dancing.
The Bankrupt Law.
Editor Star: The New York Tribune of yester-
day, t1oth instantly, has a very able editorial on
the Bankrupt Act, taking strong ground against
itsrepeal and advocating the necessity of some
amendments at some future session of Congress
when there shall be time for discussion and de lib
Grafton. In speaking OF expenses attending the
administration OF the law it makes this state
ment, which / can hardly credit much, as we
hear and know about the extravagant fees al
lowed in all the courts OF the city of New York:
I'VE suppose it might be possible in a case
managed with great economy and good fortune
10 pass bankrupt who had not over half
dozen creditors at an expense OF $500, including
M 10 lfEat,a
But twice that amount would be nearer
the ordinary expense" Now this will do
for New York city, but wish to deny in behalf
Of attorneys anu officers of courts who aid in ad-
ministering the law elsewhere, and especially in
this District and Maryland, that any such ex-
tortions are lracticed upon bankrupts or would
he tolerated by the'cOurts. The average cost OF
conducting such cases as the Tribune names is
in this region about 800, exclusive OF attorneys
fees, and in but n few do the fees of ATTORNEYS
exceed so. All proceedings at law or in equity
are necessarily expensive everywhere. Who
ever goes into court 10 obtain his rights under
the laws, and hires attorneys to assist him must
needs have ready money and plenty of it, and
generally he will have less when he comes out
than when he went in. This has become a pro-
verb. Congress undertook i'm enacting a bank
ruPt law to devise cheap and convenient plan
Tor the discharge of bankrupts and for admins
terng upon their estates, and think they have
succeeded, though l do not deny that amend
ments may not be made, and should
be, which will somewhat diminish the
expense OF proceedings under it. The
fees are certainly much lower than those
allowed in cases at law and in equity. For ex-
ample, receiver in equity will get commits
sion from five TO ten per cent. the gross
amount Of money he has received and paid out
while an assignee in bankruptcy will perform
double the service and get but fl We per cent. on
the first thousand dollars, two and a half per
cent. on the next five thousand, and one per
cent. on all sums above these amounts. An at
torney will earn and receive often twice the
money for the same amount of service in law
or equity case that he will i'm a case of bank
ruptcy. Many Of these loose statements and
unjust criticisms upon the law and those who
administer 1t come from bankrupts and creditors
themselves, while they are i'm a State of mind to
be exceedingly unreasonable and fault finding
The creditor, by the bankruptcy OF debtor
loses his debt-nOt considering, perhaps, that IL
was never worth anything he is disappointed
and vexed, and i'm mood to abuse the bankrupt
act. The debtor is poor, having been squee zed
for the benefit of the law, and he finds fault
that he must raise a sum of money to deposit as
security for costs and fees before he can avail
himself of the law. Some of these debtors
seem to think that Congress should provide for
the discharge of their debts by proclamation.
as others have amnesty after the rebellion
What il most needed i'm this matter is that law
yers and business men should more generally
inform themselves as to the leading provisions
OF the act. think they cannot fail to find that
they are both equitable and judiciOus, and that
every commercial country. In England it has
become permanent institution, having its own
tribunals. 1t will ere long attain that position
in this country, though probably after mu ch dis
cussion and some improvements upon the pres
ent law. r.