The Mena weekly star., 1897-12-15
BANKRUPTCY BILL.
One Providing for Both Voluntary and Involuntary Will Soon Be Reported.
NEW RULES FOR THE HOUSE.
Speaker Reed Not Framing Rule to Cut Off "Hlders"-Interstate Commerce egislation-Consuler BeporsH-
 Census Legialation.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 15.-A national bankruptcy bill similar in it's substan- tial features to the Henderson-C -Cul ber- son bill, passed by the house last ses- sion will be reported to the house this week by the judiciary committee. The bill provides for both oluntary bank ruptcy and involuntary bankruptcy. By it's provisions any one may file a petition and go into voluntary bank ruptcy, except corporation. The latter may be forced into it, but not otherwise. Wage-earners, laborers and. farmers cannot be forced into it. All others are subject to involuntary bank ruptcy for certain designated causes. Tn general these involuntary causes relate to fraudulent conduct on the part of the bankrupt The clause in past measures providing that man who permits his commercial paper to go unpaid for 90 days shall be an iu- voluntary bankrupt is eliminated. The general effect of the bill is to dis charge the bankrupt of all debts after the estate has been administered and it 1 has been found that there has been no fraudulent conduct
 Sew Rules for tho House.
 WASHINGTON, Dec 15 "A new code of rules for the house of representatives will be presented by Speaker Reed and his associates on the committee on rules after the holiday recess At present the house is proceeding under the rules of two years ago, these hav- ing been adopted pending the framing of new rules. The present purpose is to readopt the old rules without inn portant changes. In view of published reports that Mir. Reed was framing a rule designed to cut off riders" to ap- propriation bills originating in the senate, it is stated by one familiar with the speakers views that he has not contemplated any such action and that the house could not do so if it would. When such amendments come over from the senate the house is obliged to act on thesa slg concurring I or non-concurring and it is said that this action could not be changed as to abridge the rights of the senate.
 Interstate Commerce Legislation.
 WASHINGTON, Dec 15 The inter- state commerce commission is now at work upon a document, which will be sent to congress in a few days, con- taining the commissions recommends tions as to the new legislation necessary to restore to the commission the pow CTS of which 1t was recently bereft by decisions of the United States supreme court. Until the interstate and for eign commerce committees of the two houses have had an opportunity to con- slider these recommendations there is no Likelihood of any advancement for the railroad pooling bill. Senator Cullom chairman of the senate com mittee on interstate and foreign com merce, has declared that he would not favor pooling bill unless the powers of the interstate commerce commis- sion were so enlarged that the com mission would be able to stand between the railroads and the people in the event that the railroads attempt any undue advantage from the authority given them to pool
 Prompt Issue of Consular Reports
 WASHINGTON, Dec. 15.-The state de- partment has decided to inaugurate a new policy relative to the printing of consular reports Beginning January 1 next the miscellaneous reports of consular and diplomatic officers upon commerce and industries in foreign countries will be printed immediately after their receipt at the department of state in the form of advance sheets heretofore issued at intervals as occa- sion seemed to require. The change to what will practically be the daily publication of these reports has been ordered by the secretary of state, with the view to the promptest and widest possible distribution of the commer- cial information obtained by the de- partment of state for the benefit of the mercantile and manufacturing in- terests of the United States
 Interest in Census Legislation.
 WASHINGTON, Dec. 15.-Great interest is being taken in the Legislation pro- viding for the taking of the l2th and subsequent censuses. The census bill has been reported to the senate by Senator Carter, of Montana, the chair man of the committee on census. It provides for the establishment of census office in this city, which is to be permanent. The only controversy which may arise over the pending cen sus bill will be caused by the provision to exclude the census office from the operation of the civil service law.
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