The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-12-31
NEW BANKRUPTCY BILL.
Mr.. BAfIEY's MEASURE EXCLUDES
THE INYOL LUNTARY FEATURE.
A Msjoriiy OF the House judiciary Com
mittee Favor It-President Cleve-
lands Onerous OHicial Duties.
TMYs BuREAU. RKrLrY BUILDINo'
WaeufN0roN. December 30. 1898. }

,-,snectlon begun oil over this great
country. remember, years ego. In one
~ ,be great newspaper offices Of Chicago
tbe midnight hour was rapidly approach
ans. aid the ola year was about to yield
On Ms welcomed successor. Half a score
of reporters and editors were all intent
upon their work The sounds OK the
streets were lost amid the chill, bleak
winds that vhistled about the caves ana
windows OF the top moor Of the newspaper
building All was absolute silence In the
room, and busy brains we're teeming with
multiplied thoughts, each one reasoning 10
different conclusions. al bent upon the
success of his paper, and the excellence OF
his own matter Slowly. yet with "A cieai,
ringing tone, the iron tongue in the great
church tower proclaimed the midnight
time. and at IT'S first stroke an old gray
haired man, with a green shade over fls
ewes. leaned far back i'm his chair ana
asked. Boys how stands the record OF
the dying year, are an the bonds luiilil-
cd?'
There was "a momcutary pause, the old
man turned again % his work, and the
rapid scratching OF the pencils alone broke
the sIlence-no one answered then. How
the records of the after years have stood
with those boys i know not but / DO
know that no new year has since come
90 me when that impressive inquiry has
not claimed my thoughts.
Bausy's bankruptcy Bm.
Congressman Bailey. OF Texas VINO
was the leader of the fight against the
Torrey bankruptcy bin, which was de-
feated recently I'm the House, has pre-
pared a new bankruptcy measure. which
excludes the involuntary feature of the
Torrey bill. lie says:
MY bill is as simple and satisfactory
@ measure as can be drafted, I'm my opin-
ion. And 1 arm fortified in this belief boy
the opinions OF Senator George and Re-
presentauvcs CUbersOn and Turner. 20
whom 1 have submitted it. A majority OF
the Committee ON the judiciary also APP
prove ~. j do not believe that a state
court can declare final judgment in
bankruptcy case. only a Federal court
acting under a Federal statute, can abb
solve debtor from his debts. owing or
contracted IN another State. SO ] provide
in my bill that upOn a certain condition
of facts being shown viz: That the
debtor has made mo- dishonest preferences
has not interfered with as equable divis-
ion Of assets among creditors. or been
guilty OF fraud. the Federal judge shall
order the discharge Of the debtor Failure
10 show this state of things WIN result in
keeping tho ins0vent under the opera
tion of the laws Of the State in whicn
ho resides
"The objection TO Federal bankruptcy
law" said Representative Bailey in con-
clusion "ls the difficulty and expense OF
satisfactory enforcement. Statistics
show that estates administered under the
law last on the Federal statute-boolSs
yielded II per cent of their Indebtedness
90 cteditors while under the operation OF
state laws governing insovents their es-
tates paid 10 creditors from 80 TO 35 per
cent on the average"
The Pre.idents Callers
The President is not allowed much
rest, as long as his presence is known
at the White House. and il is not sur
prsing that ne occasionally steals
while away from his Onerous official
duties. This morning Secretary Thur
ber's Office was crowded with statesmen
awaiting their turn 90 see the execu-
tive, while not ~ few We're admitted
through thc door at which Charlie Lofler
presides. "a silent sentinel who knows
more public men than any man in Amer
ica Speaker Crisp called for few
minutes and presented Miss Crisp and
Miss Sheffield 10 the President.
Hon. Benton McMilin. the charman
of the subcommittee of the Ways and
Means Committee, was there by appoint
ment but found the Presidents time
AVID an the seats in the ante-room pre-
emptef by earlier visitors.
Few yirginians There.
There were no Nirginlans or North
Carolinaus in the throng. and there
are none in the city. even Senator Hun
ton. who can generally be relied on TO
be- here in season and out. rs absent to-
day having LEFT yesterday TO attend the
reception given 90 Senator-elect Martin,
at charlottesville last night
Judge Thomas Smith. chief Justice of
Ne" Mexico, was at the Department OF
Justice to-day. He expects Ia return 10
New Mexico about The middle Of Jan
uary.
Do was figured some time ago that
Fourth Assistant Postmautor-Geueral
Maxwell would have To make about one
hundred changes per day I'm order 10
change au of the fourth-clasg post-
offices within his term He started ont
with nearly this average but has dropp-
ed on more than hail. and TODAY only
tnirtN-sefcn changes were made. and
tweuty-three of these were caused
by deaths ana resignations. No appoint
menis were made for Virginia. aud IN
North Carolina only one The office m
Fairmont Davidson county. was given
20 Lee a. Yuncanon, vice VIM. r. reed
resigned.
Personals.
Hon. $. J.. Menenee. who formerl,
represented Rappohannock county In the
House of Delegates OF Virginia. was I'm
the city yesterday. he saws that Rap
pahanoc6 county will send a solid dele
cation TO the congressional nominating
convention FOR Che Hon. Basil b. Gordon.
lle thinks that the delegation from the
adjoining county Of Madison will be
divided between Messrs Gordon and
smith Turner OF Warren
Mr. Charles g. Payne of the wilderness
SpoisylYania county, was in the city yes
terday
Mr. Newton A. Colbert. late doputy
collector OF internal revenue for one Of
lhe divisions OF the Eastern district ~
virginia. passed through the citv to-dav
3lessrs. John $. spAman. Of Roano(e
and c, Al. Roberts ~ INncbb,,rg aro
guests at the ST. James.
Mr. Ciaudus Dockory Of North csro
hna Who WAS in the consular sor,,teo
ana stationed az liio dc Janciro o,,rtn,.
the administration of President Harrs
son is at Tho National.
colonel Morton Marye. auditor of tho
state Of Virginia, is IN tho city. -"
H. L. w.