The Portland daily press., 1879-02-10
BY TELEGRAPH.
AT THE CAPITAL.
Hearing on the Ins0lvent Law.
The Committee Unanimous i'm Ifs
Favor.

ArnusrA FeI.-ss-At the hearing on the Insol-
yency I.e~~oetore the special committee Gen.
c.--ies Hamlen of Bangor, proposed several amend
ments, mostly verbal, which he thought would
make the law more clear in its several parts. He
favored following the Massachusetts law on the SUBJ
ject, SO far as practicable.
Hon. s. II. Blake OF Bangor appeared in opposition
to the law. He said he was opposed to it as it was,
and thought it originated in some board of trade in
the interest Of merchant creditors. There is no
provision in the law for the discharge of debtor ex-
cept by composition with the creditor. If we must
have an insolvent law, why repeal this and en-
act the Massachusetts law on the subject? He was
opposed to an insolvency law OF any kind. All such
laws are injurious in practice and serv to encour-
age failures.
Charles Mclaughlin, Esq, of Portland, who was
the author of the law, and through whose advocacy
1t was passed last winter, appeared in its defence,
he characterized the bankrupt law, which has been
repealed, as grab law. Under it, scoundrel
could SEND man to town to set up store leaving
him few thousand dollars, and he will sell goods
cheaper than the town trader can buy his, for the
reason he don't mean to pay for them. He gets in
debt some five, ten fifteen thousand dollars, then
the "scalper" comes down, takes his goods, and the
other creditors may whistle for the amounts due
them. Three-fourths Of the country traders are
honest industrious and frugal they have been good
citizens and will continue to be. But they need the
protection of the law,
He read letters from Hon. Nelson W, Aldrich.
Providence, R. l., representative elect to Congress;
George Hyde, Esq of the firm of Hyde, Warren q
Heard, Boston; and II. K. Slayton, State Senator
Manchester, N. H.,-all extensive wholesale dealers
expressing the opinion that the law is just what is
needed by the mercantile world.
Hon. L. G. Downes of Calais, said that in his out.
lying county, insolyent estates generally settled
by the assignment laws; but he thought it just the
thing for the honest creditor and debtor.
The committee then decided, by unanimous
vote, to report in favor of retaining the law with
such amendments as may be presented at the next
meeting of the committee on Monday evening.
SENATE
Bill Relating 10 Life Insnrance-RiII
Relating TO Portland Widows Wood
Society.
Committee reported a bill relating to togue aud
trout ,iu Great Trunk pond in Hancock coonty;
resolve to furnish the town of Milbrdge with
Maine Reports; bill to amend chapter q, section
26 Public Laws of 1878, relating to lien on lime
rock and slate; bill to repeal chapter 24O of Special
Laws OF 1876; bill in new draft to amend chapter rs
oflaws OF 1875, relating to protection of smelts in
Fore river in Cumberland county; bill to amend
section of chapter CT of the Revised Statutes,
relating to guardians Of minor children.
The committee Cd mercantile affairs and insurance
by majority reported ought not to pass on bill
relating to life insurance.
The minority Of the same committee reported the
bill known as the Fox bill and that it ought to pass
Both reports and bill laid on the table to be
printed.
Read and Assigned-Bill to regulate the time for
jury trial in the Supreme Court for the County of
Cumberland, and to transfer the criminal jurisdic-
tion Of said court to the Supreme Judicial Court;
resolve in favor Of the Maine State Coege bill to
extend the time for the location of the Northern
Aroostook Railroad
Passed to De Eagrossed-Bill to amend the act to
incorporate the widows Wood Society of Portland.
bill TO egalize dongs OF the same iii 70 Inrotect th
trout in the town OF Wells in York countvl 'A'
Passed to be Enacted-Act to provide for the nav.
ment OF the fees and expenses Of referees b1T The
counties.
On motion Of Senator Patten of Pen1bscot. If uo.
ordered that the Secretary of Sae be requested to
communicate to the Senate whether any proposals
have been received by the Governor AMI Conncil.
and if So what in regard to taking the Agricultural
College at Orono under chapter b. resolves OF 1873
The resolve in favor of Francis Abort was laid
On the table.
Adjourned to 415 Monday.
HOUSE.
Resolves i'm Favor of the Reform and HIN.
dnstrial schools-The Sale of Cider for
Tipping.
resolve was reported appropriating 5000 to aid
in repairing roads in Washington and Perkins plan
tatiens in Aroostook county.
The report OF the Committee on Interior Waters.
with reference to a lock in the Augusta dam, came
came from the Senate accepted and was tabled on
motion eft Mr.. harrington.