Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-05-03
FORTY-FIFTH CONGRESS- FIRST
REGULAR SESSION.
SENATE

WASHINGTON, May 1.-The bill repeating
the bankrupt law, being taken up, the first
amendment of the House, mentioning the
date of the acts to be repealed, and design
ating their number in the revised statutes,
etc., was agreed to. The next amendment of
the House provided that q repeal of the law
should not affect penal actions or criminal
proceedings arising under it prior to its re-
peal.
Mr.. Christiancy moved to amend this
amendment so as to provide that repeal
should not affec. rights and proceedings
growing out of or dependent upon the bank
rupt law. including rights of and suits by
and against asignees under any or all of
said acts in any case heretofore or now
pending.
Mr.. Matthews moved to amend Mr..
Cbristiancy's amendment so that the act
shall not take effect until the first day Of
January, 1879.
A long discussion followed as to whether
the original text of bill could be amended.
during which Mr.. Conkling said repeal Of
the bankrupt law seemed an occasion for
accommodating around it all the confusion
possible.
Mr.. Mcmillan moved to refer the bill to
the committee on the judiciary; rejected,
% to 81. The question then required to the
hmtuuultHl VI EuI. W uhNC thO
repeal take effect January |. 1879.
Mr.. Edmunds spoke OF the Importance of
the amendments, and said the most sensible
course would be for the Senate 10 disagree
to the House amendments, and to refer to a
committee OF conference.
Mr.. Ransom said the bankrupt law had
stood thirteen years, and certainly there
was doubt as to the proprlety OF its repeal.
Should the bankrupt law now be repealed
many persons in his state would be turned
out of their homes without mercy. lie ia
vored Mr.. Matthew's amendment, that
these people might have time to save their
homesteads by availing themselves of the
bankrupt law.
MIR. Chri stiancy looked upon the bank
ruptcy law as a great evil. and to postpone
its repeal for six months would be to con-
centrste into that short period all the evils
which would occur IN as many years
Mr.. Ingalls, favored the amendment of
Mr.. Matthews and said tho most critical
period in our financial history would be
from now until the resumption of specie
payments; If the bankrupt law should be
repealed debtors would be RENTED to the
insOlvent laws of the states.
Mr.. Wallace favored the une additional
and immediate repeal OF the iawsnd argued
that il was an obstruction to the resump-
ton business. IL MIR. Matthews amend
ment prevailed it would put the country
upon the rack again.
Mr.. Thurman favored Mr.. Matthews
lie did not think the country
the immediate repeal of tho bank
rupt law.
Mr.. Mstthews's amendment was then
agreed to-yess 25, nays %.
Mr.. Christiancy's amendment, as amend
ed by that of Matthew's who also agreed TO
yeas %, nays %
Mr. Beck, referring to the vote by which
the bill to repeal the bankrupt law origin
ally passed in Senate-37 yeas to yeas
read the names and was then asked by
Allison to read the names of those senator's
" no did not vote, which would show, had
they voted, that the bill would not have
been passed by so large a majority. Mr..
Beck said those who did not vote were not
doing their duty. This remark brought q
number of senator's to their feet, who ex-
piained why they were absent when the
vote was taken. Mr. Beck explained that
he did not mean to reflect on any senator.
lie admitted the improperly of his lam
guage.
After further discussion. Mr.. DAVIS. OF
Illinois, moved to refer the bill to the Judi
Diary committee. that a saving clause might
be perfected.
MIR. Edmunds said the bill could be re-
ported back tomorrow. The motion was
agreed to-yeas 81, nays &.
A number of Senators who heretofore
yoted against the reference voted for it
now.
On motion Of Mr.. Allison, the Senate took
up the bill to repeal the resumption act.
With the understanding that it be unfnish
ID business Tor to morrow. The Senate,
.fter executive session, adjourned.