The Lake Charles echo., 1894-06-01
a NATIONAL. STAY Law.

We met few days since an aeauaint-
anee Of ours who is an enthusiast on the
ssiHieet of Il national stay law. He
claims that more gsod would result to
the toiliRg millions from the passage Of
snch law, than from any other measure
that our national congress could possibly
adopt Without investigating the sub
ject thoroughly, we must say that the
gHestion strikes rs quite favorabiy, on
IFS first preseutatian to =sRr minds, and
one idea, at liHst thought, is particularly
favorable and convincing, that there Is
more involved in this question than a
casual observer il likely to perceive.
which il this, If the national government
has fonnd it necessary to frame laws
that furnish a mantle of protection TO
rich corporations and concerns to pre-
vent the execution Of Judgment against
them, and give them time to work ont
aud pay their debts, and prevent great
sacriiiee being forced, it seems TO Us
that Uncle Sam could stretch forth has
strong arms, and extend the same pro-
lection to his helpless children, in this
hour of calamity, that be is extending to
those who have grown strong and power
full enoaghto utter cries sufficiently loud
to be heard by the nations highest
tribunals.
There are many Thousand victims
Among the Door bnt industrious, people
of this country who have just been able
from the savings of years to provide for
themselves and their families comfort
able homes. These men have suddenly
been deprived Of their customary wages
on account Of the financial crisis, and
have been forced to live on credit. A
lay off, or enforced idleness for one or
two months, would not be Il matter Of
great Importance, as this could be com
pensated for by economy III the house
hold and in other ways; but when for
nearly year the bread-winner is de-
pTived of his usual income from his daily
toll, his indebtedness for the necessities
of life has accumulated to such an extent
MS to equal perhaps half the value Of his
earthly possessions. His creditor, the
retail dealer, who has also suffered from
the stringency of the times, is Obliged to
protect himself, as the wholesale mer-
chant is pressing him. and the poor mans
home, the result Of years of honest toll,
must go, probably at price less than
half its value, with no chance of ever
Tedeeming the same,
The corporations and the immense
wholesale houses have remedy when
misfortune comes to them, by application
to United States court. A schedule is
made out of liabilities and assets aud
receiver is appointed who takes the bust
ness in hand and the requisite time is
given fer settlement, without distress
and sale as would be the case with the
poor man.
1t may he asked: does not the poor
man haye the same remedy? Yes, and
nO. The law is supposed to be open to
all, but in the first place the amount
involved mast exceed live hundred dol
lars, and in the second place the costs
are such that only eases of magnitude
can afford to pay them. 1t is for this
reason that the poor man is shnt out Of
the United States court. The man whose
assets are S500,000 aud lIs liabilities
$900, 900, but for the intervention Of the
United States eonrt would be left Penni-
less. The poor man whose Indebtedness
is in the ratio to his possessions, must
lose his little home--llis ALL because the
United States court has NO jurisdiction
.in his ease, and If it had he eonld not
afford 50 expensive q remedy. 1t is for
this TeasonttIlat we favor a stay Law.