Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-02-07
Forty Days Suspension to Con-
stitute Bankruptcy.
Commissions and Fees Reduced
One Half.
ProposedsAbOlitionIof Register
SENATE.

bill amendatory of the act to provide for
the removal of the Flathead and other In
dians in Montana Territory was taken up
aad passed.
On motion of Mr.. Buckingham, the bill
relating to bOunties was passed. 1t pro-
vides that all who enlisted in the army un-
der the proclamation of May 3, previous to
August, 1861, be paid e bounty of one hun
dred dollars, providing the same has not
already been paid.
BOnafide Contractors Wanted.
The resolution offered a few days ago re-
questing the Postmaster-General to inform
the Senate how many contractors for trans
portation of the mails had more than five
contracts on the first of July, ETC., and what
legislation is necessary to secure the ser
vices of bonafide contractors, was on mo-
tion of Mr.. Scott taken up and agreed to.
Local Taxation.
Mr.. Hitchcock introduced bill prOvid-
ing that all lands granted 20 railroad COM
panies shall be subjected to State and coun-
ty taxation. Referred.
On motion of Mr.. Morrill, of Maine, the
vote by which the resolution fixing the
compensation and mileage of witnesses was
passed be reconsidered, and he withdrew
the resolution for the present.
The Bankrupt BilI-HIOw Long 10 Sus-
pend.
The morning hour having expired the
Senate resumed consideration of the bank
rupt bill, the pending amendment being
that of Mr.. Sherman TO fix ninety instead
of forty days as the time when the persons
mentioned in the 39th section of the bill
sbould he deemed bankIunt
The yeas and nays being ordered the
amendment was rejected by a vote of 20
nays TO 10 yeas.
The Proportion OF Creditors.
Mr.. Allison moved to amend the 39th
section so that it would require one third of
the number of creditors representing at
least one half of the amount of debts to
force a person into bankrupt cy, instead of
one-fourth the number OfcreditOrS and one
third the amount of the debts, as recon-
mended by the committee.
Mr.. Thurman said the cl9use now pro-
posed to be amended had been subjected to
the severest criticism in the committee,
and after careful consideration One-fOmth
of the number and one-third of the amount
of debts proved was agreed upon.
Mr.. Allison's amendment was rejected.
A Help for Embarrassed Merchants.
Mr.. Logan offered an amendment, allow
ing the Court, if it be proven that the per
son who sought to be adjudged a bankrupt
had sufficient assets to pay his debts, TO
order stay of proceedings for six months,
and if the debts should not be paid in that
time, then such person shall be declared a
a bankrupt.
raSn.at tnt1 q
TO 80.
The District Again.
The Chair announced as a member of
the committee to investigate into the man
agement of the District of Columbia gov
ernment Morrill,, of Maine, in place of
COnkling.
After one or two verbal amendments,
the Both section Of the original law, as
amended and reported by the judiciary
Committee, was agreed to by the Senate,
with the exception of filling the blank IS
to the time when the provisions Of the sec
ton should apply to all cases of compulsory
or involuntary bankruptcy.
Mr. Edmonds said he desired the Senate
to look over this portion Of the bill so the
blank could be filed hereafter.
Details of the Bill rs Amended.
The other Amendments presented by the
Judiciary Committee were agreed to as
reported with a few verbal changes. The
committees amendments as passed by the
Senate fix time at 40 DAYS within which
any banker, merchant, trader, manufacturer
or miner who has stopped or suspended
andnot resumed payment of his commercial
paper, shall be deemed bankrupt, and
prescribed that the fees, commissions ami
| charges and allowances excepting actual
and necessary disbursements to be made by
| officers, marshalS, etc, assignpeS and re-
| giStrars in cases of bankruptcy shall be re-
duced TO one half of allowance heretofore
provided for. The Justices Of the Supreme
| Court who are TO make the new rules and
regulations in respect to the law and en-
powed to consolidate the duties of regular
assignee, marshal and clerk and to reduce
the cost of changes to the end that pTOllXity.
delay and unnecessary expense may be
avoided.
Mr.. Edmonson offered an amendment
dispensing with personal service Of notice
! in all cases of claims, not exc edin, fifty
dollars, and providing that where the amount
shall be under that sum, notice could be
given by publication in a newspaper
| Agreed TO.
An Additional Section.
He also offered an additional section
the bill providing that it should be the du-
tv of the marshal Of each district, in tie
month of July of each year, TO report to the
| Clerk of the District Court in a tabular
| form. to be prescribed by the Justices ofthe
Supreme Court Of the United States: first,
| the number of cases in bankruptcy III which
warrants have come to his hands; second,
| how MANY such warrants were returned
with the fees costs and expenses and
| emoluments thereof: third, the total
amount of all other fees, costs and emOlu-
! ments earned and received by him during
the wear from or in respect to
matters in bankruptcy; fourth, a
| summary statement Of such fees,
cost and emOlument, exclusive OF all
| disbursements in bankruptcy received OF
earned during the year; fifth, = summarized
statement of all actual disbursements in
such cases, requiring every Registrar to re-
| port in like manner the number CT vOlun-
| tary and compulsory cases in bankruptcy
| coming before him during the wear, the
| amount Of assets and liabilities Of the bank
| rupt. the amount and rate per cent. OF all
| dividends declared, and the disposition OF
| all such cases. He is required TO make q
| similar return and the Clerk of the Court
| in the month of August, to transmit to the
Attorney General, list Of the cases pend
ing and cases disposed OF, dividends de,
clared, the disposition Of cases, whetLerany
officer has failed to make his report, etc
ANY violation Of this section is to be pun
ished by dismissal from Office, and the
party offending to be guilty of misde-
| reanor. and, upon conviction, be fined moi
more than FIVE hundred dollars or i'm
prisoned not exceeding one year. Ihe see
tion was adopted.
Proposed Abolition Of Registers.
| Mr.. Thurman offered an amendment abOl
| ishing the Office Of Register in Bankruptcy,
and authorizing the several District CourtstC
make such orders and take such ste.,- 2.
may be necessary to adjudicate and dis
pose of all such matters or proceedings il
bankruptcy now pending before such reg
istsfs. NO fees OK compensation shall bl
paid, or any commission ezCSpt such a!
shall be allowed by the court.
The District Again.
Mr. Morrill, Of Maine said he desired t,
be excused from service on the committe,
to investigate the Government Of the Dis
trict of Columbia for the reason that II,
was on three committees already Of whicl
one, the Appropriation Committee was o