The New York herald., 1873-12-17
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 16. 1877;
CIVIL SERVICE SALARIES.


CIVIL SERVICE SALARIES.
Mr.. WILLARD. trep.) of Vt, onered a resolution,
instructing the Committee on Civil Service and
Reform to inquire first, whether any reduction
can be made in tho cost OF the civil service, both
in the number OF ofncials employed and the COM
pensation paid to them, without impairing the
efficiency OF the service; second, as to the expe-
diency of providing that all officials in the civil
service shall receive as compensation only such
salary as shall be hxed and determined by law.
Adopted.
PACIFIC RAILROAD INTEREST.
Mr.. LUTrRELL, (dem) of CAL, asked leave to offer
resolution reciting the amount OF interest paid
by the government on account Of the several
Pacific Railroad Companies, and directing the At
tOrney General to bring suit to recover the same.
Mr.. SYPHER, (rep.) of La, objected, and the
resolution was not received.
REPEAL OF THE BANKRUPT LAW.
The House then took up the bill reported yester-
day from the Judiciary Committee to repeal the
Bankruptcy act. and Mr.. TREMAIN trep.l OF N. Y,
proceeded to advocate 1t. He reminded the House
OF the paragraph in the Presidents Message
recommending the repeal Of the bankrupt law, and
said that, while the Judiciary Committee concurred
entirely in the correctness and clearness OF the
Presidents statement on the subject, he believed
that the objection to the law had been only par
italy stated by the President. There was an en-
tire unaDimity of sentiment on the part OF the
committee as to the existence of serious defects
and imperiectlons in the existing law. The
only question on which there was q dif.
ference Of opinion was whether there should
be attempt to remedy those defects, or whether
the law should be simply repealed. The majority
OF the committee was strongly impressed with the
conviction that the law was SO radically defective
that it would be dinicult to make it right; that at
,tu aalo ucv,1A frOvvo fho
tempt to amend it, and that In the meantime the
country would be deprived Of the relief demanded.
He enumerated many OF the objections to the law,
particularly as to the swallowing up OF the bank
rupt estates by fees costs and charges In hts udg
ment there was no measure Of relief that Con-
| gress could pass which would be hailed with
such satisfaction as the repeal OF the Bankrupt
| law. Speaking for the commercial community OF
aad for the entire Of the
asked the House for prompt repeal OF the law.
han bill the
| commencement OF the holiday vacation. He be-
lieved that the Senate wsuld concur, though per.
haps not before the holidays, and there was reason
| TO believe from the Presidents Message that 1t
would receive the prompt approval OF the Execu-
the Executive demand, to the demand of the busi-
ness interests OF the country, and the action of the
| by the CONNER cial interests through the length
and breadth OF the country, from centre to circum
| ference.
Mr.. WILSON, (rep.) OF Ind, a member Of the
Judiciary Committee, opposed the passage OF the
bill, urging that the law was necessary one, and
that If there were defects in IL the proper course
was to remedy these defects He lntimated that
the bill had been introduced in the interest OF Jay
Cooke Il Go. He thought the title Of the bill ought
to be changed, and that 1t should be called "A
bill to embarrass lustlce.n He believed II unwise
perec He srustea that e the House
| would recommit the bill to the Judiciary Commit
| Mr Rrcr fdeml of Nv 0eva pot,co NJ an
| amendment to substitute Tor the section which
looks to deposits provision to reduce all costs,
Mr.. ELnRIDeE. (dem.) Of wis, a member of the
Judiciary Committee, sustained and advocated the
to Jay Cooke h Co. was . new idea to him. He
had opposed the Bankrupt law from the beginning:
wrong and neyer oaa NJ % ssee
been enacted. He understood the gentleman who
had reported the original bill to the House, ire.
ierring to Mr.. Jenckes, OF r. ~ had been the nrst
to avail himself OF its provisions. He would like
to hear OF one single benent to the country
protected what property had It protected :
cally as confscatlon Of the debtors estates not
for the benefit oil the creditors, not to pay their
in IN s
/ Judges themselves 1t was scheme devised IN
the interests OF SPECTATORS and It's erect had been
| to encourage undue speculation and reckessness
| In the management OF business The agricultursts
Of the country mad never been in favor OF the law
|
| mass OF the people did not desire it's repeal.
| There had been no hot haste about the repeal.
| The last House had passed bill to repeal the
| Bankrupt law by a two-thirds vote under a sus-
| pension OF the rules and there had been at that
time certainly no lawyer OF Jay Cookies urging It's
| passage. That nrm was then carrying on reckless
| speculation with view perhaps or being dis
charged from their liabilities under this internal
| law.
Mr.. FRYE, trep) OF Me-, also member or the
| Judiciary Committee, took the same view OF the
subject as that taken BY Mr.. Wilson, that tine
Bankrupt law should be amended, not repealed.
| Its repeal would not make commercial men more
honest or business men more careful, but IL would
| open the hood gates OF fraud.
mr.. HALL, Tepl OF Me-, asked his colleague
whether 90 per cent OF the business men OF Maine,
not lawyers were not In favor OF the repeal Of the
Nj. FRyR could not admit anything OF the kind.
II he thought SO he would not De likely 10 venture
Mr.. JEwIfT, ldem.) Of Ohio another Of the Judi
clary Committee stated the considerations which
had led him to concur in the report OF the commit
tee and to favor the passage OF the bin: II was
conceded that the operations or the Bankrupt
law were uniayorable 10 the general In.
| teresta OF the country; that the law
dld no one any good and that II inficted ev
| Wherever ~ had been enforced The House at the
| la6t CVn9rCHb hAQ bill for ike repeal. And