The Somerset reporter., 1897-04-15
Some important Enactments.


BY an examination If the pointed sheet
containing the public laws pissed by the
recent session of the NJ iiuc legislature,
as issued by Maiue newspapers, it viii
BE- observed tht the volume is not as
great As those enacted by the legislature
of 1888, the number OF square feet IT
p iuted -urflce being considerably less.
! But it does not Ut cessarily follow be-
use of dilninuton in bulk that the laws
enacted in the winter of 1897 are not of
as great importance AS those enacted ia
1875.
| Among the acts passed near the end Of
the session were several in which Skow-
hegan's representative, l.. l.. Walton,
| E,q.. had lively interest-in fact they
were his measures. Mr.. Walton was
very successful in the measures he had
charge of in the House and in his advo-
cacy of other measures. He has reason
to be gratited and his constituents to be
we'll satisfied upon the record he made in
this his first term in the popular branch
of Names law-making body. Twenty
years practice in Somerset Courts is not
a bad preparatory course for legislator.
We give brief explanation of the acts
alluded to above:
The amendments to the insolvency law
are important; providing for more
| prompt settlement of such estates,
| lessenng the expense for honest debtors
and making it more difficult for dis
| honest ones to get discharge 1t is
provided among other things that the
debtors attorney shall not take mort
gage of debtors property to secure him
for future services to such an amount as
he pleases, but the same are regulated
| by the insolvent court; that claims for
necessaries furnished within thirty days
shall not be barred that an examination
of debtor shall be had at the first meet
| ing that no assignee shall be electe I'M
| less there are assets; that the debtor
may assign his property to some selected
person for the benefit of his creditors by
an agreement between him and suf-
| ficient number of them.
The amendments to the disclosure law
terminate the office of all commissioners
now serving in that capacity. 1t is pro-
vided that such officers shall be appoint
ed by the Governor. They shall keep a
record, have a seal, etc. The number is
| limited to one in towns and cities con-
tanning less than ten thousand nhabi-
tants aud attempt made to raise the
standard. Provision is made that a
debtor shall be required to travel to
disclose only AS parties are required to
travel in suits before trial justices. The
debtor shall have weeks notice unless
the subpoena is served upon him in per-
son. He shall not be required to assign
his last months wages except upon
suits for necessares unless it exceeds
twenty dollars, nor be arrested unless
the original debt exceeds ten dollars.
| The law as to paupers in uuincorpO-
rated places as passed, relieves the near
est incorporated town from the expense
of looking after and caring for them and
throws this burden upon the State.
The law as to schooling children in
unineorporated places provides that
whenever there are sufficient number
to establish school the State superin-
tendant shall arrange for the same,
otherwise may send them TO school in
adjoining towns or plantations if the
people of such unincorporated place pay
a certain specified sum.
The law as to enforcing payment of
taxes on real estate, provides new and
less expensive method of getting a
judgement of court for the sale of such
portion as is necessary to pay the tax,
avoiding questions of tax sales, defective
deeds, etc.