The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-10
SHINc on.
Absurditics of "Bin Dayn
i'm the House.
B0UTWELL'S FINANCIAL BILL.
Opposition to a Hasty Adjourn
ment of Congress.
REFORM OF, THE ADMINISTRATION ABUSES.

WASHINGTON, Feb. Q, 1874.
Senate Discussion of the bankrupt BILL
The Abolition Of the Once OF Register
OppOsed-Sfate Courts to Have Juris-
diction i'm Certain Suits.
The Senate to-day resumed consideration OF the
Bankrupt bill and discussed Mr.. Thurman's amend
ment for the abolIshment of the ONCE OF Register
Of Bankruptcy, which excited considerable debate.
Senator Thurman stated that he had prepared the
amendment on the recommendation OF two OF the
highest judges in the country, and he was in favor
OF dispensing with the present Registers OF Bank
ruptcy and OF having the District Judges
appoint commissioners, change which,
he thought, would be promOtive OF
economy. The Judges, he contended, could
dispose of the business themselves, or. II 1t were
IN their judgment necessary, they could send 1t to
q comm ssioner, who would discharge the duties
with more interest and efficiency than the present
registers OF bankruptcy. This would leave them
discretion as to the requirements OF cases, and In
stead Ofsending them. necessttdte, to register
OF bankruptcy the Court could dispose OF them.
Senator salisbury was in favor OF the amend
ment and referred to the fact that in large num-
Der Of cases the creditor gets nothing under the
present working OF the bill, because the fees Of
the marshals, clerks, &C., absorb everything where
the estates are small, and that the machinery Is
cumbrous and II to be continued the whole bank
rupt law had better be abolished, which, he said,
he was In iavor OF previous to the holt
days. The views OF both Senators were strongly
opposed by Senators Frelinghuysen, Morton, Ed
munds, Sumner and Pratt, who in turn advocated
the retention OF The present registers OF bank
ruptcy, because they had seven years OF ex-
perience, had established harmony Of system and
q complete set OF records, and the judges could
not, overworked as they are now in majority OF
cases. discharge the additional duties con-
templated by the amendment; nor would the ap-
pointment OF commissioners be productive Of
economy but would amount to q greater expense
than under the present system. The present
registers OF bankruptcy were acknowledged TO have
become skilful and to have gained q full under
standing or the law, so that in many cases there
was no necessity for the employment Of an attor-
ney, when parties wished to find out what to do,
as they could now appear in person, which they
could not do IN the courts. Mr.. Sumner was
especially strong in his opposition to the amend
ment, which II adopted, he said, would be injur-
1ous to the law, which was now being well admin
1stered, and impair Its efficiency. vote being
had on the amendment it was lost. Mr. Thurman
then offered an amendment that prinad Jacie evil
dence OF claims might be taken before nOtaries
pubiic, which could be sent to registers in bank
ruptcy, without oblgng creditors to go great dis
tances to COURTS 1t passed, Senator Edmunds re-
marking that it had been spoken Of in committee
and there was no objection to it. Senator Merri-
mon then threw bombshen into the lawyers
camp by Offering an amendment that suits for $500
might be brought by asslgnees and the amounts re-
covered in State courts, which elected from Ed
munds. Thurman and Morton strong argumenta-
ton against the power OF Congress to confer
Jurisdiction in bankruptcy cases to State courts
Pending debate on this the Senate went into ex.
ecutve session and afterwards adjourned.
Vagaries Of the House-Biu Day and
Its Absurdities-The Votes ON the
Financial PrOposittons-Dawes' Early
Adjournment Dodge Defeated.
Monday is "bill day" in the House, and the usual
avalanche is poured in for reference to various
committees, where most of them will s'sleep the
sleep that knows no waking" There is not even
hope Of q resurrection by those who offered them.
But 1t win sound well upon the stump next fall,
when candidate can hurl his thunders at the
enemy through his Saturday speech and rout the
reserves OF the foe with his Monday artillery
In the shape OF bill or resolution. AS new
member expressed 1t lately, on discovering
that his political Importance had shrunk con-
siderably since his arrival In Washington--"Wel,"
SAID he, ~ admit that Member OF Congress don't
amount to much here; but tell you he's an all.
fred big gun in a country district.n Monday in
the House reminds one OF lot of school boys out
at noon to play shuttlecock. As the rules on this
day allow members to indulge In various little
games. Dawes pitched in his shuttleccck for an
adjournment on the 18th OF May; but the stalwart
BECK hurled 1t back, denOunctng 1t an internal
machine containing all kinds of pernicous egls.
lation, to be rushed through during the last ten
days Of Congress. Two-thirds refused to support
Dawes ha Inat 10 Itrla
Smith, OF Ohio, with an ingenious machine which,
Instead of feathers to float It, had railroad spikes to
impale the false friends OF the grangers and the
strict constructOnists and the Toes OF centraliza-
ZION. 1t claimed the right, from that
much abused instrument the constitution
TO make treaties with the indians and !
in general and to regulate foreign |
and domestic commerce. 1t emphasized the right !
pf the general government to regulate commerce p.
between the several States and within their bor-
ders, Tn,s means government control or railroads
and canals and it is ondly believed that the dem
ocrat who did not swallow the whole in one ruin I
Is doomed next fall to march to ignorninious de.
eat, his pathway strewn with Canada tnistles
md the granger flock marching behind, EMPLOYING
their pIaintiye bleat In dead march, and their
horns applied playfully to the innocent and !
passive part of his person. One hundred and |
seventy repuphcans SAID aye TO this, and |
sixty-four poor democrats said no, while |
3 few ''piayed possum" and said nothing. After
this Randall tried to revenge himself on the repub-
lieans by Offering a resolution that, in case the
currency should be increased, said increase shall
be in United States notes known as greenbacks;
but the House was MOI so susceptible as Randall |
thought for he said "Ies,n and nlnety-one said !
"No." Next came Cox, with petition in faver of
free Cnba and blacks asking its reference
the Committee of Foreign Affairs, which was done,
and the House adjourned.
BOutweli's Financial Bill.
Mr.. BoutweIs finance BILL introduced TO-DAY,
consists of two sections-one prohibiting national
banks from paying or receiving interest on de-
posts, and the other requiring national banks to
Keep seVenty-ave per cent Of their reserves at
home.
The Committee on Appropriations Ex-
aiming the Com missioner of Internal
Revenue, dhe Register OF the Treasury,