The record-union., 1897-12-05
Views Of Congressman Henderson
cn the Subject.
Thinks There is a Strong Demand for Ac-
tion in the Matter.
Proposes to Introduce in the
House a Bill Which Will be
Substantially Identical to the
One Passed by the Lower House
in the Last Congress.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 4.-"What, in
your opinion, is the prospect of bank
ruptcy legislation at the coming ses-
sion Of Congress-" asked a correspond
ent OF the Tribune" last night of Gen
eral Henderson of Iowa, who is Chair
man of the House Committee on Judi
ciary.
"On Monday l propose to introduce
bankruptcy bill which will be substan-
TALLY identical with the one passed by
the House of Representatives in the
last Congress. There has also been re-
ferred to this committee the bill passed
by the Senate at the special session
There viii be a meeting of the commit
tee early in the week and we Will eX-
change views on the subject and see
what prospect there is of faVoraple
committee action. Then a sub-commit-
tee will take the matter up and frame
measure, either a substitute for the
Senate bill or taking that as basis,
propose amendments to it."
do you think there is a strong pub
lie demand for such legislation? asked
the correspondent.
Yes, I do, and l believe there will be
a strong pressure brought to bear in
favor of it. Such legislation, properly
framed and guarded, is required in the
opinion of a great many people besides
myself, and all form the same reason
During the hard times of the last ad-
minis ration thousands of men went to
the wall and their energies We're bottled
UP. wkC, if they could find legal release
from the chains which now bind them,
would again and Immediately resume
the activities of a business life and add
immensely to the leverage in favor of
general business prosperity. They
would be able to share in the benefits
of the tariff legislation of last sum-
mer, snd the country would be all the
better for it.
And yet continued General Hend-
ersoa, strong resistance will undoubt
edly be offered to the enactment of
such legislation and no man ought now
to attempt to predict what the outcome
may be, so far as the coming session is
| concerned. The most / dare say is that
my hope is strong.
Representative Mercer of Nebraska,
who is Chairman of the House Com
mitree on Public Buildings and
son as tc the desirability of bankruptcy
legislation. In conversation with an
Associated Press correspondent Mr.
Mercer said:
TT is absolutely necessary in my
opinion that a bankruptcy law should
be enacted at the coming session We
have thousands of men in Nebraska
who were laid flat by the hard times of
the last three or four years, who will
never be able to regain their feet, finan-
cially speaking. until such a law is
passe1 If they We're released from the
burden of indebtedness that is keeping
them down they would at once re-en-
gage in the activities of business, and
not only be sharers In, but contributors
to the prosperity which the Dingley
law is restoring to the country. good
bankruptcy law would be fairly supple
mentary to the new tariff, because it
would add to the influences at work in
behalf OF the national prosperity
Chairman Cannon of the House APP
propriations Committee was found in
his COMMITTEES room. In reply to
question as to whether the people in
| his part of the country are in favor
of bankruptcy legislation at the COM
ing session. Mr.. Cannon said:
mo, rot in the country districts.
There is considerable feeling in favor
of it in Chicago and also considerable
opposition to it, / understand. 1t might.
perhaps. be good thing to have a vol
untary bankruptcy law, to expire by
limitation six months after it's enact
ment."
What do you think of the prospect
of currency legislation?" asked the cor
respondent.
"Ol, what's the use of talking about
that in the face of the condition of af
fairs in the Senate? Why if the House
should pass a currency bill the Senate
would probably strike out everything
after the enacting clause and send us
a free coinage BILL What's the matter
with the currency, anyhow, if we can
collect revenue enough to pay the cur
rent expenses of the Government and
have a little left? So far as the re-
trement of the greenbacks is concern
ed, / do not believe that a bill con-
tanning that provision could pass the
House of Representatives
Then, why not let well enough
alona?"
We VIC Sot " jiSilt the Tree silver
battle over again in 1900, and we had
better prepare for it,"
What about appropriations" Chair
man Cannon was asked
"WeH, if we keep the driftwood out
of the appropriations / guess we should
manage to get along, but / do not see
how great reductions can be made. We
cannot cut down the appropriations for
pensions. As the country grows in
population the cost of the postal service
naturally and necessarily increases.
The expenses of the military and naval
establishments cannot be very we'll re-
duced. We will be obliged to pay 500
000,O 900 year for the next two years
on contracts already made for river and
harbor improvements and so on. The
fact is the country is growing. and on
that simple reason the muItifarious ex
penses of the Government are also
growing That's all there is to it,
Austria and Hungary.
VIENNA Dec 1-E.paperor Frapo;s