Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-02-09

Session Will Open. Today, at 10 >. NJ
Wednesdays Programme Notes.
1t was the quietest Monday the
capitol has seen since the organiZa-
ton of the 6Sth Legislature. seven
weeks ago. Few members were on
hand, there was no session, and only
enc committee hearing. In the after
noon, the few legislators who had re-
manned over Sunday, or who had re-
turned from trips home, went into
Portland to attend the banquet in the
evening, rendered by the Maine Eye
ana Ear infirmary. There were two
special cars on the $50 train and they
were we'll filed, quite a number at
lending from the Capitol besides the
members. The legislators in the west
ern section of the State We're able To
attend the banquet directly from their
homes. The whole party returned to
Augusta on the Pullman.
Workmen We're busy all day complet-
ing the task of putting in the 81 new
'ircandescents in the hall of the House
The result will be great improvement
in the lighting service, and the gas
will no longer be used. Today, there
will be a session at 10 A. NJ, and the
afternoon will be filled with important
committee hearings.
The only committee hearing sched-
uled for Monday was a very important
one. The subcommittee appointed
from the judiciary and legal affairs
committees held hearing in the judi
ciary room on the matter of changes
in the insolvency and disclosure law.
The following Lewiston people were
among those in attendance: Col. A.
Nealey, Geo. d. Babbitt, president
Board of Trade; John Garner, Judge
Drew, Lawyer Cloutier. Mr.. Garner
was the first speaker. He proposed
that the law be changed so that no
| man could go into voluntary inso-
vency when he owes $1,000. If a man
goes into voluntary insolvency he shall
| be obliged to pay at least 25 per cent.
| of his Indebtedness before he can be
given a discharge. He also asks that
the debtor be compelled to pay for the
recessaries of life purchased for three
months prior to his petition into in
| solvency, before given discharge.
| Col. Nealy said under the present
law dealers suffer most. He had not
issued a trustee writ in year. Did
not think he had trusteed more than
three people in five years. Yet the past
year in his county there We're 60 cases
of voluntary insolvency. The honest
man needs no legislation, it was the
scamp that he wanted to reach The
latter took advantage of the law to rob
dealers who might trust them. He
was in favor of the changes suggested
by Mr.. Garner.
| Mr.. Rabbit thought the law was all
right, but the limit should be raised to
$1,000. He knew of dozens of cases
where men owing $3.50 had even gone so
| far as to get men to take their note
for $3.50 to enable them to come under
the present limit, 5000, or had gone
from store to store getting credit to the
required amount and the next day
some into insolvency. He thought the
lazy should be amended so that a
debtor should be compelled to settle up
his case within six months after going
into insolvency.
thought a $500 limit sufficient and that
S3c0 of that $500 should be unsecured
debts owed parties in Maine. Now, if
Il man has $50 he can go into insolv-
encv and stay there for years. He
| would have the law changed SO that
petitioners must deposit s75 enough to
ray costs and ell fees before he can
lenter insolvency. He would make such
l. ~ l.; 4 toll
mess as soon as possible. IF he goes
into insolvency again he would have.
him show his former certificate Of dis
charge before he could get discharge.
lie thought it would not be wise to
raise the limit to $1,000. If it should be
raised there was danger that the in
solvency courts would be flooded with
petitioners in involuntary insolvency,
in the next few months to take ad-
vantage of the present law. He also
favored the payment of salaries to all
judges of insolvency and probate.
Judge Drew said he did not appear
for either side, but he felt that there
should be some changes in the present
law. He would have petitioner file
with court his Indebtedness, assets.
and a list of his creditors. The latter
should be notified to appear at hear
ing and debtors and creditors be
brought face to face. If the judge
Isaw there was an intent to defraud on
1.-The part of the debtor he should refuse
to let him go into insolvency. He
Thought that. all judges should be put
on salary, but felt that this was not
the time to talk of salaries. The
opinions of Mr.. Wilson and Judge
Drew seemed to have much weight
with the committee. and it is probably
/. their views will be embodied in the
amendments to the law. Among the
Iother speakers who followed were Reg
lister of Probate Reed of Cumberland
county, and Mr.. Merrill of Waterville.
: Messrs Whitehouse, Fisher and
Jones were among the Augusta law
, yers who attended the hearing. The
present law has few or no defenders,
m no