Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-02-02
AT THE NATIONS CAPITAL
THE HOUSE PASSES THE PORTER
RELIEF BILL.

One Hundred and Eighty-FOur to Seven
ty-Eight the Vote on the Measure
Amendments which it is Hoped will
Help Pass the Bankruptcy BnI-Perry
Belmont on the Pork Question.
WASHINGTON, Feb. lit is expected
that the Senate Judiciary Committee will
report the Lowell bankruptcy bill, with
some amendments, at the next meeting.
The friends of the measure have been en-
deayorlng to frame amendments which,
In their opinion Will silence
the opposition Of the Southern
and Western members, and they think
that the amendment prepared
by direction Of the National
Board Of Trade at its recent
session here will 90 far towards that end.
The principal amendment thus proposed
limits ''inyoluntary bankruptcy to trad
ers, and defines more precisely and fully
what persons are not traders" and thus
subject to this section. A great deal of
opposition to bankruptcy legislation
arises from thefarlners and planters of the
West and South, who are unaccustomed
to meet their obligations promptly on the
moment Of maturity, and this
amendment is designed 10 pre-
vent the forcing of anv
such into bankruptcy against their will
but 1t does not prevent voluntary bank
ruptcy on the part Of any one. Another
amendment which will commend itself to
small traders increases the amount of in
debtedness required of a debtor before he
can be declared a bankrupt from $500 to
$1,000. 1t is stated that if those interested
In the passage of the measure were as
earnest in their support as those opposed
are IN opposition there would be no doubt
OF the passage Of bankrupt law at this
session.
PORK RETALIATION.
concerning the American hog and the
effect on our expectations Of pork, there
are two propositions before the House
Committee on Foreign Affairs" said Rep
resentative Perry Belmont, of New York,
tonight. Zone is a retaliatOry measure,
the other the appointment of inspectors to
inspect our meats as they are packed at
the packing houses. l am decidedly in
favor ofretaliatOry measures. The PROPOSE
tion for an inspection law is but another
scheme to create an additional army of
office bOlders." Mr.. Belmont, who is con-
Sldered the real head of the Foreign Affairs
Committee, says that he differs from Com
missioner LOring as to the number of
pork inspectors that will be required.
Mr.. LOring thinks twenty would be suf-
fcient. Mr.. Belmont thinks that the
number required would run up into
thousands. He believes that the retala-
tory bill introduced by Gen. Browne, Of
Indiana, is the one that should be passed.
THE ELECTIONS INVESTIGATIONS.
All the members of the Senate Commit
tee on Privileges and Elections were pres
ent at the meeting to-day. Mr.. Sherman's
resolutions were under consideration.
Senator Hoar, the Chairman, was directed
to ask the Senate for authority to act by
subcommittee. The method of proce-
dure was discussed, and, while no decision
was reached the opinion was expressed
and met with favor, that the Virginia in
yestigatiOns should take place in Wash
ingtOn, and that a subcommittee should
be sent to Mississippi. James l.. Audem
was selected as stenOgrapher.
POLITICAL DISABILITIES REMOVED.
The President has approved the bill re-
moving the political disabilities of Samuel
LOckett, Of Alabama.
POOLE VS.. SKINNER.
The arguments in the contested cleo
tiOn case of Poole VS.. Skinner were finish
ed to-day before the House COmmitte on
Elections. and it was determined to take
a vote on Monday next.