The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1882-02-28

OF vigorous prosecution in suel
cases, 1t gave merchants too much
power.
The second section was stricken
out without opposition.
Mr. Stout said he looked upon it as
a bill for the extinguishing of the
poor man. 1t was the most out
rageouS piece of legislation for its
size he ever saw. The court costs
would be equivalent to the IabOring
mans daily wages. He wanted to
enter his protest against it. He
thought it put the entire burden on
the justice of the peace.
1t was suggested that leaving it
to the discretion of the Justice of
the peace, as to whether the suit
could be entertained, would be plac
ing too much responsibility upon
the justice, and the words giving
discretionary power were stricken
| out, and it WAS made imperative on
| the justice to entertain the suit.
Mr.. Jaques thought the title
should be bill for the encourage
ment and the contraction of small
debts by the poor men. 1t would
make employers the collector of
debts from his Workmen.
Mr.. Farr was of the same opinion.
If he had man so dishonest that l. e
would not pay his debts, he (Mr. F. J
would discharge him. He knew o
hundreds Of cases where men, getr-
ting good wages, had made habi t
of contracting small debts and had
repudiated them; while they squan-
dered their means.
Mr.. johnson favored the bill. The
poor man should be wise aud not
get into debt. Every person can
get something to do, and can secure
his wages. The bill applied to
men who have no personal effects,
and it would be good thing in his
section where miners secure goods
from small stores; and squan-
dering all their wages, those who had
trusted them were defrauded. The
miners were paid well. If a man
will not pay debt honestly, he
should be made to pay it.
Mr.. Stout said the bill brought
two classes of poor men. IfgrOcers
and men in mining camps can be
bitten more than once. he was not
in favor Of making law prevent
ing him from being bitten. In his
section of country the poor man
wants to do right; but as soon as
one man sues him, all his creditors
would sue him, and the costs of
courts would double and treble his
indie btedness. The bill is in the in
terest of men of meanS-men with
means to spare and live. If man
has not got gumption enough tC
look after his debtors he could not
see the propriety of the Legislature
doing it for him. l am glad we take
the ayes and hayes. L shall vote
against it.
Mr.. Thurman wanted the bill tC
pass. AS to all a mans creditors
piling upon him at once, he
couldn't see how. 1t clearly ex-
empts the mans wages except SO
far as the first creditor, or the one
| getting the first judgment is con-
cerned. All the rest of the wages
would belong wholly to himself
He Thought the bill should be
amended wherein faulty, but 1t
should be passed.
An amendment was adopted pro
viding that the justice should have
power to issue an execution for any
amount under so per cent. Of the de.
PENDANTS wages. Another amend
ment was adopted providing that
the mode for the collection of these
debts should be under the civil prac
tice act relative to cases in Justices
courts.
Mr.. Penrose favored the bill.
Mr.. Jacques moved that not more
than 20 per cent. of a mans wages
could be taken. The motion was
lost.
Mr.. Dalton was opposed to the
bill altogether. If one man
could hold property under exemp
ton, he could not see why the other
man could not hold his wages.
The vote on the passage was ayes
-Beal, Blackburn, Booth, Dusen-
berry, Farr, FrauciS, Hatch, John.
son, Lee. Page, Partridge, Peery
Petersen, Penroze, Preston, Sharp
Thurmau-I7; nOes-AttwO0d, Dial
ton, Jaques, Snow, StOut-5.
Mr.. Jaques moved that the title
be amended to read "a bill to en-
courage and perpetuate the contrac-
ton of small debts" Lost.
M. Booth presented the claims of
George NJ. Brown and J. L. Booth
for legal claims rendered the terri
tory. Referred to the committee on
claims
Communications were read
stating that Councillor Cluff
| had been appointed the COun-
Gil conference committee on
the bill providing for county
| sealers Of weights, etc.; also that the
memorial TO Congress had been
adopted; also that the Council had
adopted Joint resolution for the
enrolment of three copies of the
memorial, and that it be signed by
all the members and officers OF both
houses also that concurrent reSO-
Tuition was adopted by the Council
providing for the printing OF, 1,OOJ
COPIES of the memorial, and that
| they be sent to the officers ana
| members of Congress, members Of
The cabinet and other prominent
ooL; - M DoDroso o1.a