New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-02-07
BY TELE GRAPH.
CONGRESS.
senate.

| senate.
| WASHINGTON, February Ca resolution
| was offered giving witnesses before tn,
Senate commissions $4 per day and fiv.
cents per mile each way.
| The bill for the relief of William H
| tesey was passed.
| Mr.. Davis introduced bill to authorize
| the Attorney General to settle the claims OF
the government with the purchasers of it's
| property at Harpers Ferry. Referred to
| the Judiciary Committee.
The question of bankruptcy was resumed.
The amendment of Mr.. Sherman to fix
| the limit of the time at ninety days in
which party dishonoring his CONNIE rcial
paper can be adjudged bankrupt, was
rejected. Yeas, 5; nays, 90.
The amendment requiring one-third of
the creditors to force debtor into bank
ruptcy, was rejected.
Mr.. Thurman said that the clause now
proposed to be amended had been subjected
to the severest criticism in the committee,
and One-fourth Of the number and one
third of the amount had, after careful con-
sideratiOn, been agreed upon.
Mr.. Carpenter said that he came here at
the beginning of the session fully prepared
to vote for the repeal of the bankrupt la y;
but after thorough examination of the
that to repeal the law would be detrimental
to the debtor class. He would therefore
vote for continuing the law, and would
support the amendments of the Judiciary
Committee and such others as might be
deemed advantageous.
Other amendments were reported and
adopted by the Judiciary Committee
This committees amendments, as passed
by the Senate, fix the time at
fnrtv HouS n uhich honEop
broker, merchant, trader, manufacturer
or miner, who has suspended or not resumed
payment of his commercial paper, shall not
be deemed bankrupt, and prescribes that
the fees, charges and allowances, except
actual and necessary disbursements made
by officers, agents, marshals, messengers,
assignees and registers in cases OF bank
ruptcy, shall be reduced to one-hal the al
lowances hitherto provided. The Justices
OF the Supreme Court are empowered to
consolidate the duties of register, marshal,
assignee and clerk and to reduce the cost
and charges.
Mr.. Edmunds offered new amendment,
cOnferring jurisdiction in bankrupt cases
upon aLy circuit or district court of the
United States. Agreed to. He also offered
an amendment dispensing with the per-
sonal service of notice in all cases of claims
not exceeding $50, and providing in cases
sum, that a notice should be given by pub
ication in the newspapers. Agreed to.
He also offered an additional section to
the BILL providing it should be the duty of
the marshal of each district, in the month
of July in each year, to report to the clerk
OF the district court, in tabular form, to be
prescribed by justices of the Supreme
Court Of the United States, first, the num-
Der of cases in bankruptcy in which war
70 how To Lox,,
many of such warrants were returned, with
the tees, costs, expenses and emoluments
thereof; third the total amount of all other
fees, costs, expenses and emoluments earned
and received hy him during the year, from
or in respect to any matter in bankruptcy:
fourth, summarized statement of such
tees, costs and emoluments, exclusive of the
actual disbursement in bankruptcy, 1e-
ceived or earned during the year;
fifth. summarized statement of ali
actual disbursements in such cases; also
requiring every register to report in like
manner the number of voluntary and COM
pusory cases in bankruptcy coming before
him during the year, the amount of assets
and liabilities OF the bankrupt, the amount
and rate per cent of all dividends de-
clared and the dis! osition OF all such cases.
Every assignee is required to make simi
lar return, and the clerk of such court in
VIC ihoHtu VI August III edcn Year Is re-
auired to transmit to the Attorney General
. report of ali cases pending and disposed
Of, the dividends declared, the disposition
Of cases, whether any officer has failed to
make his report etc. Any violation of this |
section TO be punished by dismissal from |
,tfice, and the party offending to be guilty |
)f misdemeanor, and upon conviction to |
De fined not more than $500 or imprisoned |
lot exceeding one year.
The section was adopted.
Mr.. Thurman offered an amendment |
abolishing the office of register in bank |
'uptcy and authorizing the several district |
courts to take such steps as may be neces- 1
ary to adjudlcate and dispose of such mat
ers or proceedings in bankruptcy now
pending before such registers; also, giving
he district courts power, when it may ap-
,ear to be necessary or advisable, to ap
)Olnt special master commissioners to per-
orm any of the duties heretofore performed
~ such registers, such power to be also
by Judge in chambers. No fees
IT compensation shall be paid to any such
except such as shall be al
owed by the court.
Mr.. Thurman. in advocating the adop-
ion of this amendment, said that
n three-fourths of the districts of
he United States judges had ample
ime to discharge all the duties which
would devolve upon them if the office of
egister in bankruptcy should be abolished,
md in consideration of the complaint from
III quarters, of large amounts received by
hose officers as fees, he thought it move
II the right direction to abolish that office. |
Mr.. Edmunds said that his friend Thur
nan might have some prejudices on this
ubject that he was not aware of himself;
nd had, therefore, got a little off the track
q this case 1t might be that he would like
o see so many Republicans put out of
flee.
Mr.. Thurman said that he did not know
he politics of single register in the United
tates; but, from all accounts, the Dem
Gratis had pretty good share Laughter
Mr.. Edmunds said That may be, as there
, little going on that the Democrats do not
ct a share in. The amendment of the gen
leman (Mr. Thurmanl had been considered
q the committee and rejected. The amend
lent already agreed upon provided for
tduction in fees. To have work done eff |
iently it must be paid for He did not
hink it advisable to impose this duty on
he courts
Pending the discussion on Mr.. Thurman's
mendment the Senate, on motion of Mr..
amerun, went into executive session, and
fter half hour the Senate adjourned.
There were no combinations to-day.