The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-02-05
BY TELEGRAPH.
Latest News from Washington.
WAsHlsGroS, February 4, 1874.
Congressional.

penang aiIienuHent being that of Mr.. Osles.
by to strike out the words "or who has
stopped or suspended, and not resumed nav.
ment of bis commercial paper within a
period OF forty days, so that persons of tia,
class should not be considered bankrupts.
Mr.. EdmuDds opposed the amendment
and argued that the bankrupt law would
amount to nothing without such provision,
Mr.. Logan favored the adoption of the
amendment, and said if q business man
should be unfortunate and could not meet
his paper for few days it should not be in
the power Of his creditors to drive him into
bankruptcy. He was opposed to the princi-
pie of bankrupt laws, as he did not believe
they insured fair dealing between men. No
man should be put into involuntary bank.
ruptcy nnless the amount claimed against
him be at least two or three thousard dollars.
Dir. Thurman argued that the amendment
OF the committee was more liberal than the
Old Dill, where the period was fourteen days.
Inc committee now proposed to fix the Pc
riod at forty. The English and Freuch bank.
rupt laws were even more strict than our old
law. The bill now proposed by the commit.
tee vas the most liberal of any commercial
country Oh the face Of the earth,
Mr.. Oglesby said be offered his amend.
ment in the interest of just and fair bank.
fupt law. He did not think it iudicjous TO
fix the number of days by which an honest
business man should be forced from his oc.
cupatlon and driven into bankruptcy and
disgrace. lie would pursue with the bauk-
rupt law, or any other law, the class of per.
sons who were doing business dishonesty
and cons 'antly endeayoring to escape the
payment of honest debts. With the excep-
tion of the portion he desired to strike out
be believed the amendments OF the commit.
tee were just and fair, and the people of the
whole country would be satisfied with 1t.
Mr. Frelinghuysen argued that the adop.
ton of the amendment would be detrimental
to the bankrupt law. With that provision
in it ovcrtrading would be prevented. Bust
ness mer, knowing that their paper must be
met. would trade carefully.
Mr. Edmunds said by leaving that provi.
sion in an honest debtor who failed to meet
his paper could not be pounced upon and
sued by some ayaricious and grasping credi.
tor the next day, but would be protected for
forty days, by which time he might recover
his Standing.
Mr.. Thurman said of all the letters re-
ceiVed from various parts of the country by
various members OF the Judiciary Commit
tee not one complained Of the amendments
being too harsh. The only fear he had was
that the bill was so much in favor of the
debtor class that there was contingency of
the whole law being imperative. y
The motion of Mr. Oglesby to strike out
the words above indicated was rejected by q
vote Of "a nays to Is yeas.
Mr.. Sherman moved an amendment limit
ing the operations of the 39th section of the
original law ITS amended and reported by
the committee to persons owing over $4,000.
He argued that in small cases creditors got
little or nothing, and unnecessary penalties
were Inflicted on the debtor. He said If thai
amendment should not be adopted he wouit
submit another to extend the period of forty
days, within which person having stopped
or suspended and not resumed payment o
his commercial paper should not be forced
into bankruptcy, to ninety days.
Dir. Thurman opposed the amendment o
his colleague (Mr. Sberman), though he
thought it a matter of little importance, a.
there had been hut very few cases where th'
Indebtedness did not exceed $4,000. he gay'
notice that at the proper time he would offe
an amendment 10 the original law so as tt
provide for the proving of accounts before;
justice of the peace or notary public instead
Of before the register in bankruptcy or {
United States commissioner, as now pro
Yided. ...
Mr.. Stockton, from the Committee OF
Naval Affairs, reported bill llanthorizing th'
President to restore William Kllburn to th'
navy of the United States as an ensign
Placed on the calendar.
Peulipp fbp disppcciop nn
amendment the Senate, at 4:35 p. NJ, ad
journed. "
House.-The army appropriation bill wa:
under consideration to-day. Mr.. Holman
of Indiana, offered an amendment prohibit.
ing payments TO land-erant railroads for the
of troops and supplies, leay-
ing to the railroads the right to sue for the
same in the Court Of Claims.
After some hard knocks between Mr. Hol.
man and BIZ. Hoar, of Massachusetts, the
latter charucterzing Holman as o dema.
goeue, and Holman holding up Hoar as the
paid attorney of base corporations, the
was adopted. @
A like amendment was adopted, on mo-
ton of Mr.. Coburn, of Indiana, in regard TO
the southern railroads that purchased rolling
stock and material from the Government In
1865 and. that refuse to give an order Tor
payment on the PoSt-O Office Department.
Another amendment abo!ishes mileage to
officers, and limits them to their actual tra-
Yelling expenses.
MIR. Hodges, from Arkansas, was admitted
10 his seat on prina facie right, and sworn
In. >
The Southern Transcontinental Railroad
bill, and the bill extending the time for pre-
senting to the Southern Claims Commission,
were reported, and, on points OF order,
buried, in the Committee OF the Whole.
DeraicasiOns During tho
War.
The War Department Is unearthiDg pay
masters defalcations during the war. Major
isaac N. Cooke is set downas owing S151, ,lI7.
which it is represented he lost in gambling
in 1862. of which large amount was re-
covered from the gamblers and $4,000 paid
by his sureties. W. \. Mcintyre and Asa
Golt were ascertained in 1865 TO be engaged
in speculation with the public money. Nc
Intyre's final accounts showed him Indebted
s499, ,1S4, and Holt S55,324. They were al,
lowed to resign. Other paymasters who had
lefaulted are now being reached through
heir sureties.
The President has signed the bill connect
ing the capitol with the various depart
nents by telegraph. -,
Professor Baird, secretary OF the smith
,onian Institute, has been designated Dy
Professor Henry to take charge Of the lnsti-
.ute contributions to the centennial.
weather Probabilities.
nh To-