The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-05-02

for several years devoted himself ardentiy
TO the effort to pass couplete bill on the
subject. drafted by himself. and adyo-
Gated by him with great persistence.
The Torrey bill was an Involuntary
bankruptcy MEASURE. TIE Nelson substs-
consider, provides instead for voluntary
bankruptcy. the only exceptions being in
cases where fraudulent ttnnnters Of prop
erty have been made bys debtors.
The house having a1pea1y IN a previous
congress passed m itAc1xnfary bank
rliptcy bill. II scemI atle that the
Nelson blu, or a reacDnAbts modification
of II. which preserves the voluntary feat
ures of It. can become law at the pres
ent congress. This Is a consummation
that is earnestly wished by many COM
mercial institutions and business houses
throughout the country. In the East
strongly involuntary law would have been
more acceptable TO creditors, while In the
Western states the Nelson bill will be
more generally satisfactory.
Historic old Chatham" just across the
Rappahannock from Fredericksburg. Va.
where rises the noble granite shaft to
the memory OF Mary. the mother or
Washington, is to be sold at auction. The
mansion was built in 1870 by William
Fftzhugh. The original grant was TO
Lee but Fitzhugh acquired II by inter
marriage with a Lee OF Stratford. Fitz-
hugh sold it to Mai Churchill Jones. VINO
fought through the war OF the revoiu-
tion under Col. William Washington. OF
Stafford a cousin Of George Washington.
About fifteen wears ago Maj. ]. Horace
Lacy sold the property to Oliver Watson,
and the present owner Is William Mays,
of Ohio who resides in IT.
George Washington was frequent
visitor at Chatham. II was there that ne
first met Martha cambridge. nee Gusts,
who became Martha Washington. Gen.
r. E Lee also courted his wife at this
charming old place. During the war ueh.
Mcdowell had his headquarters there. and
President Lincoln was there for several
days From the shores of Chatham the
pontoon bridges were thrown across the
Rappahannock river for the Federal
army under Burnside TO cross to the
bloody but for the Federals disastrous
battle of Fredericksburg
II is said that in the old times the num-
ber of visitors at Chatham was so great
that the horses In the stable belonging
10 the guests frequently numbered Nifty.
With the entrance Of China into the
Universal Postal Union that great postal
alliance viii be what It's name indicates
IL to be--the Universal Postal Union. With
the coming IN OF lEiBa tiaStt VIII Dc bat
one government which is not partner in
the union. the Orange Free State. The
conditions covering the interchange OF
mails are believed by the postal officials
OF this country TO be about complete.
Like the territorial extent of the postal
union. the international postal rates and
conditions have very little room for
change in the nature OF Improvement
Under existing conditions letter may be
sent from almost any place 20 any other
place in the civilized world by the swift
est means OF conveyance at the disposal
Of the governments OF all the countries
through which II must pass from origin
10 destination without unnecessary de-
teut!on at any point. the sanctity of its
seal being everywhere recognized and re-
specfed. and being forwarded from place
10 pIsce and from country 10 country. in
case the movements OF the addressee
should render that course necessary
China will be a very decided acquisition
10 the Postal Union. because OF the mass
OF matter now passing between that and
this country BY utilizing the fast steam
ers sailing oftener than twice a month
from Seattle. as well as regular steamers
from San Francisco. the opportunities for
the exchange OF mails with China have
been increased 20 not less than four and
sometimes fve dispatches 3 month.
ALLAN B. SLAUSOS.