The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1876-02-17
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.

The House Repeats the Bankrupt Act-De-
bate on the Diplomatic Appropriation
Rill-The District in the Senate-Rumors
of cabinet Observation-Disclosures
[From Cur Own Correspondent
WASHINGTON CRY, Feb. IL, 1876.
BY odds the most notable event of the
week among the annals of Congress is
the passage of a bill by the House for
the repeal of the Bankrupt act. This bill
was reported by Mr.. Lynde, of Wiscon-
sin, from the Judiciary Committee, on
Tuesday, and passed without debate by
vote of 1856 yeas TO 81 nays-more
than two-thirds. That a measure which
has had SO much to do with the practical
business affairs of the country; meas
urey the policy of which once divided
the nation into parties, and which has been
less or more fiercely debated during much
of our national history-that such a
measure should be summarily repealed
by the popular branch of Congress
without word of debate is not little
surprising.
| IF I remember correctly, former
House repealed the Bankrupt act, but
nothing came of it then. The Senate
undertook to amend and improve the
act, and there the matter rested. The
subject is one of great importance in q
commercial country. The trainers Of
our Constitution SO regarded 1t when
they empowered the Congress to estab-
| Gsh uniform laws on the subject of bank
ruptcies throughout the United States.
But the Legislative history upon the
subject has been little less than disgrace
| Jul - never excellent, sometimes bad,
and most of the time nothing but blank.
The present law may be described as
wonderfully and fearfully bad. Under
it's operations small share of the assets
of the bankrupt goes to the creditors,
but the bulk of the money, where there
is any bulk, goes to the pockets of the
Register in Bankruptcy, the referee, and
other officials, who make up the heavy,
complicated, numbering and laundering
machinery of bankruptcy proceedings.
That this act ought to be wiped out few
will deny, but that we ought to have
simple, cheap, and speedy system for
honest bankrupts is clear to all men who
have examined the subject. On account
of the acknowledged badness of the ex-
listing law, the Senate may agree to this
repeating bill. In that event, the only
bankrupt laws in being will be those of
the States, generally called acts for the
benefit of insolvent creditors.
need hardly add that party lines
were not at all drawn in this vote. Promi-
nent Republicans and Democrats voted
on either side.
OUR DIPLOMATIC ESTABLISHMENT.
The debate on the Diplomatic and
Consular Appropriation bill in the
House has occupied most of the week,
and has been exceedingly animated, in
teresting, meandering and comprehen-
sive. IF there is anything in the heavens
above, the earth beneath, or the waters
under the earth that was not in some
manner brought into this debate, / really
do not know what it is. There was elo-
quence, there was pathos, there was wit,
there was story, there was everything
| known to oratory brought forth in the
course of the debate.
| Among the new members, Mr.. Spring
er, of Illinois, made the ablest speech
| by great deal; nor was it surpassed In
clear array of facts or strength of rea-
soning by the effort of any gentlemen on
/ his side of the House, or on the other
side either, for that matter, except, OF
course, by the speech of Mr.. Blaine,
who is universally conceded to be the
best speaker in the House. His speech,
however, was on general finance, rather
than on the diplomatic establishment.
It is claimed by Mr.. Blaine's friends
that it is the best address which has
yet been delivered on finance by any of
our public men. This might well be
without saying much for the speech for
as rule, our public men, whether OF
one party or another, have been much
muddled on this great topic. IF I
thought my black-and tan terrier, or my
hooking bird did not know more Of
finance than quite number of public
men I have heard speak, I should COM
NIT hari-kari on those interesting pets
forthwith.
But this is depression. Springer
did first-rate. Part of his speech
was humorous and caused great fun.
IF he had omitted an anecdote that
he told the speech would have been
better. Do you not recollect the fine
and stingipg pun of Disraei in 'Lo-
THAR 2" He has got into his anecdot-
age Anecdotes will do on the stump
or after dinner, but never knew one in
Congress that was not coarse. Cox was
uncommonly jolly in this debate. Other
leading men took part, some prominent
Democrats declining to sustain the COM
mittee in several proposed reductions of
salary. The attempt to draw party lines
in matters of this kind must frequently
fail. If both parties should exhibit a
wise desire to cnrtail all needless ex-
penditure and to reduce taxation more
In the interest of the whole people than
for the plain purpose of political capital,
/ should utter prayers in their behalf