Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1873-12-17

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perhaps, Of being discharged from their liza
bilities under this internal law.
Mr.. Frey, of the judiciary committee,
thought a repeal of the law would not make
commercial men more honest or business
men more careful, but II would open the
foodgates for fraud.
Mr.. Jewett, OF the Judiciary committee, said
Il was conceded that the operations OF the
bankrupt law were unfavorable 70 the general
Interests OF the country. The law did no one
any good, and IL had inflicted evil wherever
Il had been enforced. In the con-
siuerNtton Of the matter in the
committee he had rot heard Jay Cooke
OF any other firm referred TO, nor at any
Time until this discussion had commenced.
He believed az a business man that the influ-
ence OF the bankrupt law was doing more 10
continue the present condition OF things In
the country than all the strtngency in the
money market. 1t was the uncertainty,
doubt and fear that at an unexpected moment
some nnyielding creditor might put in bank
ruptcy the struRgling debtor, and that his
assets would be absorbed in costs. That was
the great evil. Believing that no good was TO
result from the law, and that IL was an evil,
he was unquRlifiedly in favor OF It's repeal
Mr.. White, OF the judiciary committee, was
IN favor OF amending the law, rather than
repeating It.
Mr.. KasSon suggested that motion TO re-
commit the bill, with instructions to report
such amendments to the backruptcy law as
shall increase the authority OF the Judge IN
bankruptcy to suspend proeeedlngs when ois II
may within a reasonable time, be
made sufi eient to discharge all his liabilities,
and to make such other and further orders IN
the case Is shall prevent all unnecessary pro-
ceedings in bankruptcy; also TO report such
amendments as shall diminish the costs Incl
dental TO the business of proceedings In bank
ruptcy.
Like suggestions TO recommit, with instruc-
tions, were made by Senators McCreery, Duel
and Smith 1Ohiol.
spoke in favor Of the repeal of the law.
Mr.. Ames, in referring TO Mr.. Eldridges inti-
nation about Mr.. Jencks, said he did not
think that gentleman had at any time availed
himself OF the voluntary provisions OF that
act.
MrIPotter trusted his collegue, Mr. Tremalne,
would allow the motion TO strike out all but
the first section, which repealed the bank
ruptcy law, and the seventh section.
Mr.. Butler Mass chairman of the tudicia-
~, closed the debate supporting the Dill.
Mr.. Tremaine then moved the previous
question on the third reading OF the Dill not
seconded by 20 to III.
the first section OF the bill, and insert, in lieu
thereof, the following:
SECTION 2. That TO all suits and proceedings
now pending in the court Of the United
ruptcy has been made shall be proceeded
with, and governed by the provisions of exist
ing laws, which are hereby continued IN force
only for the purpose of closing up suits and
proceedings now pending, provided that from
and after the passage OF TINS act the fees ana
commissions Of agents OF courts 3 IN ,at DsnR x,
the fees, commissions, and charges heretofore
allowed.
The previous question was seconded on this
proposition by u TO ., and the amendment
agreed to without division.
The bill, as amended, was then passed.
ayes, 20: nays, A. II consists OF Two sec
tiOns-first, respecting the bankruptcy act OF
the second of March, 1857, and all acts
amendatory thereof; and, second, enacting
the proposition submitted by Mr.. Beck tKy.l.
The vote OF the members OF the committee
on the passage OF the bill was as follows:
Ayes-Tremaine, Cessna, Ward, Eldridge,
Potter and Jewett-6. Nsyes-Butler, Wilson,
Roland, Frye IMainel and Whites.
Mr.. Hale Mainel, from the select committee
on salaries, reported back a bill, the first sec
tion OF which repeals ali provisions OF the
act OF March 3, ISIo, Whlcn incfeases ,,IIl' .ne
or delegate to congress- or OF any
officer or employe OF the government, except
so far as relates TO judges OF the supreme
courts, and TO the President OF the United
States during his present term OF office.
The second section provides that hereafter
the compensation OF senators, Representatives
and delegates IN congress shall be at the rate
of five thousand dollars per annum, and this
shall be in lieu OF ali allowances, except actu-
al and necessary individual travelling ex-
penses in coming to and returning from the
capitol once every session, which
shall be paid to every senator, representative
and delegate on the same being certified TO
salary or com pensation Of all officers and en-
plOyes of the government, subject 10 the
exceptions named in section one, shall here
after be the same as they were prior 10 the
passage of the act OF 1873.
The third section requires the secretary OF
the treasury to convey into the treasury alI
sums that may remain undrawn, or that
have been received as increased compensa-
ton, which shsll or may have come into MS
possession by return thereof.
Mr.. Hale stated how the committee had ar
fr-af af Of five fnnngqnd five
hundred dollars. The aggregate mileage or
both houses of the last congress was two hum
tred and eighty thousand nine hundred ana
lwenty-tour miles, making yearly average
d sixJy-one thousand six hundred and eighty
miles; to that was to be added the allowance
.or stationery, one hundred and Twenty-Five
iollars, that would make the salary and al
owances i've Thousand five hundred and
orty-one dollars and eighty cents. The COM
nittee had therefore fixed the total amount
1t five thousand five hundred dollars.
Mr.. KaSson, a member OF the committee,
offered an amendment providing that sena-
orS, representatives and delegates OF the
orty-third congress who had received their
since the fourth OF March, 1873,
n accordance with the act Of 1913, shall here
,fter be paid only such equal monthly Install
nents as shall, in the aggregate, make thelr
for the whole congress equal 10
he amount fixed in this law.
Mr.. Barry did not believe in the humbug OF
eturning back-psy, and thought there was
lardly a member who, in the bottom OF his
Ieart, wanted the law OF tile last session re-
)ealed.
nent providing for three classes OF congress-
men, as follows: Glass A with seven thousand
i've hundred dollars, class with hve thou
and dollars, and class with salary OF three
thousand ddollars-memberst TO select for them
elves at the beginning OF each congress u
which class they shall belong. He believed
he house did not intend 20 pass any practical
and he proposed to help out the
house in that direction.
Mr. Neal spoke in favor of a reduction TAX
ng effect from the beginning, of the preseni
congress- and declared that in his opinion,
he President Of the United states was more
for the increase salary-lsw than
anyone else.
or the salary-blll OF March, 1873. He had
been in the house ten years, and had not now
ls much OF the worlds goods as
ne had when first elected, and his
lwn case he presumed TO be that
lf all members who had honestly attended 10
heir duties. He believed that much OF the
,utcry against the salaTy-bill was owing to
he fact, that something had to be done by the
press to divert attention from the
,reat national reproach OF the eredit-mo-
Mr. Hale IN. VI was in favor of the repeal
II the law, 80 far as senators and members OF
congress were concerned, and the restoration
If the former salary, with miiage.
Mr.. RaSson called the previous question on
N the amendment offered by him.
Mr. Butler Mass asked TO offer an amend
nent TO Mr.. Kasson's amendment, provid-
ng further, that members Of congress who
we're members Of any congress, and who re-
,eived back-pay under acts passed st that
congress shall have the amount Of such back
)ay deducted from the amount
iue them for this congress. [Gen-
,ral laughter and hand-clapping all over
he house.
Mr.. KassOn refused to withdraw the pre-
yious question. The house, however, refused
% record the previous question, and then Mr..
Butler offered his amendment. Pending the
vote on Mr.. Buffers proposition, the motion
adfOnry also Mr. HutleT'S AmeA0-
nent-yeas, l2l; nays, ll9.
After another motion to adjourn was de-
eated, the house voted on Mr.. Rasson's
amendment making reduction of mem berS'
to take effect from the fourth of
March, 1873, and adOpted-yeas, l72; nays, q.
Without making further progress with the
house adjourned.