The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-04-26
TALK In CONGRESS.
TINE SENATE INSISTS ON ITS AMEND.
MENIs TO TIE NAVAL AP.
PRoPRIATtON BILL.
DWt Yields on the Efficiency BHI-The
Mouse Debates the Bill to Repeal
the Bankrupt Act,
THE SENATE.

Secretary OF the Treasury, in answer to a res
olutlon OF the Senate calling for information
relative to the issue OF bonds, the commissions
paid, etc, since March 4, 1861. Ordered printed
and to lie on the table.
On motion of Mr.. Rollins the Senate took
up for eonsid eration the bill to provide for the
revision and correction OF assessments for
special Improvements in the District OIL Co
lumbia and for other purposes.
The morning hour having expired, the regu-
lar order was demanded, and the bill was
laid aside.
hered to it's amendments to the naval appro-
priation bill and conference was requested
and Messrs Sargent, Dorsey and Beck were
appointed cunferees on the part of the Senate.
The Senate then resumed the consideration
of the bills on the calendar, and number
were passed, among which were the House
resolution granting the use Of artillery, tents,
etc, at the National Soldiers and Sailors re-
union, to be held at Marietta, Ohio
Mr. Matthews asked leave to offer a resOlu-
tion directing the Secretary Of War to inform
the Senate what amount OF mon"y has been
expended In the Improvement Of the Fox and
Wisconsin rivers, and what 1t will cost to
complete the work and the probable benefits
to result from such completion; Also what it
had cost for the right Of way and the fees
paid to attorneys, etc.
Mr. Cameron, Of Wisconsin, objected TO its
present consideration, and the resolution
went over.
Mr. Blaine, from the committee of confer
ence on the deficiency bill, submitted re-
port. He said there had been great reluc-
lance on the part OF the confere"s OF the SEN
ate to rec.,de from the amendment appropri-
1tfnR $4,000 for the schools OF the District,
but they had found it impossible to secure the
agreement Of the House. They had dscov
cred also that it was agreed to In the Senate
under misapprehension, the statement hav-
year had been refunded while the fact was,
that the money had not been repaid, and
would not be.
Mr.. Window said that he had not been able
to concur In the report: there were several
amendments to which the Senate confereps
ought to have insisted. The Senate had in
creased the appropriation for internal rev.
enue from $4,000 to 100000. This latter sum,
ne said. WAS necessary to protect the revenues
vide for an eighth deficiency bill from the
House. There were no funds for the printing
OF the War Department; the estimates were
$780, and pursuing the policy Of cutting
down the service aud leaving DEFICIENCIES to be
provided for, this had been cut down to
$4,000.
He also objected to receding from the
amendment providing for the publication of
the army register and an examination OF the
progress Of the Eads ietties. The conference
commuters report WAS agreed to; yeas IS,
nays 1S. The Senate then, at is p. m, ad-
journed to Monday.
THE HOUSE
The regular order having been demanded,
the House resumed consideration of the I'M
finished business OF yesterday, which was
the Senate bill to repeal the bankruptcy act.
Mr. Kelley, OF Pennsylvania, desired to have
some understanding as to the Limitation of
the debate. He understood that it was pro-
posed to limit it to two hours, and that time
had been divided between nine gentlemen.
Mr.. Mcmahon, OF Ohio, who had charge of
the bill, said that under the instructions of
his COMMITTEES he was bound to limit the de-
bate to two hours, but it was within the pow
er OF the House to extend the time by voting
down the previous question.
The bill was then read.
Mr.. Knott, OF Kentucky. said that before
the substitute of the committee was offered, |
he desired to offer certain amendments to per-
feet the Senate bill. If the bankrupt law is
an evil, it should be repealed at once. If it
was beneficial act, it should be continued in
force; but upon the hypothesis that it should
be repealed, it was desirable that the bill
should be perfected, and especially as there
doubt tb T. the n OF many
bankrupt act, but whether, by repeating the
thereto. did not remain In force
He therefore proposed an amendment to re-
tion 81 Of the Revised Statutes, and the act Of
January ~, 1874, supplementary to the act OF
1867.
There was another defect In the bill, which
was that 1t made no provision in relation to
penal prosecutions, and he therefore proposed
another amendment, continuing in force and
effect all penal actions and criminal proceed
ings arising under the acts repealed =,
Mr.. Mcmahon, of Ohio said that at the
proper time he would offer a substitute for
the Senate BILL by which he would provide,
first, for the repeal OF section 81 OF the Re-
vised Statutes and the acts regulating the
bankrupt act; second, providing that it shall
not affect pending Rrocetdlngs; third that the
clause, and on January 1, 1879,
as to the voluntary clause.
Mr.. Conger, OF Michigan, said that when
the Senate passed the bill, the first impulse
1t, and thus make IN unconditional repeal,
butin view OF the letters coming up from the |
people, it was thought best to let the volun-
tary clause reIIIafn at present. He should /
vote for the McMahon substitute, and if that
was not adopted, he would vote for the abso-
lutte repeal. He believed the country was
not at the beginning of it's financial trouble,
and II the bill was not repealed they would
be increased.
Mr.. FRYE, of Maine, believed it was not only !
the constitutional right, but the duty of Con
gress to keep bankrupt law upon the statute
books, but there was no use trying to perfect |
the bill, because the House would not listen
to it. He therefore found no incentive to an
effort to perfect the bill and he would there |
fore vote for Mr. Mem ahons substitute.
Mr. Lapham, OF New York, called attention !
to the history of the bankrupt laws of this
country, and said they were only made to
meet times of great distress, and after the oc-
casion passed they were repealed. The last
act was passed to meet the distress that fol-
lowed the late civil war, and the time for its
repeal had now arrived.
Mr. Chittenden, of New York, believe d there
should be a well regulated bankrupt law put
he was opposed to the substi ute offered by
Mr.. McMahon because the extension to Jan
uary / would enable any man who was dis
posed to be dishonest to take advantage OF
the fact, and go into bankruptcy in the mean
time.
Mr. Hinton. of Virginia, moved to refer the
bill back to the Judiciary COMMITTEES.
Mr.. Ewing of Ohio, hoped the bill would be
referred because it was one OF the most inn
portant measures that could occupy the atten,,
zion of Congress. This proposition to repeal
the bankrupt act was fitting SEQUEL to the
resumption law. 1t would complete the rum
of the country, which the resumption law
had commenced That resumption law means