The Russellville Democrat., 1891-07-30
TORREY BANKRUPTCY BILL.
what Leading Editors Have to Say Con. corning its Passage by the Pres
 ent Congress.
Unanimous Verdict That 1t wiil Pro mote the Best Interests of ths
 whole People.


 whole People.
 The house of representatives of the last congress passed the Torrey bankrupt bill by large majority. The senate committee to which it was referred reported 1t fsvorably, but it's position on the calendar, coupled with it's length and import ance, prevented its consideration. It will therefore have to be introduced In the present congress as an origi- nal measure.
 In order to ascertain the views of prominent editors visiting the nation al press association, the St. Paul Pioneer Press obtained . number of interviews, few of which are given below.
 Mr. E. w. Stephens, President of the Nstionsl Editorial Association I know more about the author of the Torrey bankruptcy bill than about the measure itself. He at tended college at Columbia, Mo-, where I lived, and was one of our self-supporting students. While there he did, I remember, . large job of directing wrappers for me be. tween the hours of his recitations. Upon leaving the university he went to St. Louis and entered upon a course at the St. Louis law school, where he graduated 8 couple of years later. While there attending the law school he supported himself by car rying newspapers on The Globe, and afterwards upon The Globe Demo- crat. The fact that he has drafted and advocates the passage of bank ruptcy bill would give me great con- fidence in the merits of the measure. He has shown great industry and fine executive ability in the manage ment of the bankruptcy agitation, and from what I have learned of the movement it seems altogether likely that the bill will be passed.
 Professor James Mitchell, of THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT, Little Rock, Atk.--My attention was first called to the Torrey bankruptcy bill by ex- Attorney General Garland, who sent me copy of 1t, and referred to it as the best measure which had been formulated upon that subject. I have since given the bill very careful attention and concur fully in the views expressed by Gen. Garland The measure requires strict &C., countability on the part of the officers administering it; provides only minimum compensation for services ren tered, has made provision for as few additional officers as possible, and altogether is perfectly fair and plain measure. It has been endorsed by our Arkansas Lumbermen's As. sociation, the Fort Smith chamber of commerce and Helena chamber of commerce, the Little Rock board of trade and also the Pine Bluff board of trade.
 Among the prominent men who are connected with the bankruptcy movement in our state are, Messrs. James H. Clencening, Fort Smith; John c. Fletcher, Little Rock; AL bert s. Honnet, Pine Bluff; John G. Horner, Helena; George G. LAtta, Hot Springs; Logan H. Roots and William G. Whippls, Little Rock.
 Hon. Owen Scott Representative in congress from the Fourteenth dis trict of Illinois, . resident of Bloom iDgton and formerly of The Bulle- tin)--I would not care at this time to give expression to an opinion as to bill which is likely to como before the next house, but will say in . general way, from observations un- der the old law, that it contained many provisions which should not be in any law; 1t was possible to secure results under it which were in favor of dishonest men and in utilization ot the best interests of honest men. If law shall be presented to con- gress which shall make it easier for honest men to do business and tend to discourage dishonesty and punish those who are guilty of fraud, l shall be glad to give 1t my personal support.
 Dr. W. D. H. Hunter, first vice. president of the National Editorial Association and editor of The Regis ter, Lawrenceburg, Ind:--I think there ought to be 8 general law under which the men who have hon. estly failed should be discharged. The evil under proceeding laws has been that undeserving people were benefited. Very rigid provisions should of course be made in such a law to prevent duplication of the frauds under the old law. So far as l know, the Torrey bankruptcy bill which passed the last house of repre- sentatives, has been favorably re- ceiyed by the citizens of our state. Our people, for the most part, are of the conservative class, and such law would not, think, be very much enforced in behalf of insoIvents, but because Of it's provisions against the perpetration of fraud would probably add to the conservative tone of our transactions and rebound to their