The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-20
FAT FOB THE sHERIFHa.
Maine's View Bankruptcy Law EnrichinG Then
at the Debtor's and Creditsr's Cost.

Maine'B View Bankruptcy Law EDrichinG Them
ut the Debtor's and Creditsr's Cost.
BANGOR, Me-, June 1s.-After trying the new
insolvency laws for three months the lawyers
and creditors OF Maine believe It is no improve
ment over the former enactment. Tho bill
which became o law last March was drawn by
some of the best lawyers in Maine. and was con-
structed for the sole purpose Of beneating the
small debtors who contract mall bills and find
themselves unable to meet their obligations.
II grants special privileges 10 men who owe
$500 or less, while the man whose indebtedness
Is under 800 receives q chance to get out very
cheaply. To facilitate business and take the
burden of costs from tho shoulders Of working
men. a new board of Disclosure Commissioners
was created. before whom o debtor could go and
make oath to his assets and liabilities, after
which no might resume his place among free
and Independent men.
In theory the law IL a beautiful fabric, made
for the protection of the weak against the greed
of the strong; in practice 1t Is said TO afford end
less trouble and to pile up such q bill Of costs
that nobody but the Sheriff and his deputies get
debtor is cited before the Probate Court In the
usual way; then he Is trotted before tho as
sembled creditors, who send him to tho Disclos-
ure Commissioner and back again TO Probate
o oSsi5 u &nf t hSSeR fa. hi cent s0i Is sst tae PsaP from Sp the es:
tate. All of these shifts from place to place arc
made by process OF law, and every one requires
Though the law e hardly three months old.
It is said that a dozen Maine Sherifs
and deputies are building new houses, on the
every deputy In Maine has bought a new horse
and buggy SO he may be ready TO serve add
tional notices. The allowance TO a debtor while
In transit through insolvency Is $5 a week, which
Il hardly enough for the support Of a family;
debtor TO put all he has into the hopper or the
legal mill. there are several obligations, includ;
family, which he must pay in full before the re-
lease can DO given.
Lawyers who have practised in the insolvency
Is among the most unsatisfactory they have ever
seen. The New HAMPSHIRE law gives tho first
creditor TO bring suit his full claim. and lots the
others get what they can; the Vermont law was
Massachusetts, has laws which favor the crcd-
itors, while Maine's latest attempt at law max
Ing causes tho owing and the owed TO surora
and turns the available assets over, to the Sheriff
and his deputies. 1t Is believed that when
the Legislature meets again q law Will be
passed. similar 70 that which Is now IN
get through Insolvency at a small cost and per.
mits him, II he Is honest, 70 pay his bills on easy
installmGnts. In case he fails 10 make the re-
ouired connections, supplementary proceedings
any desire to avoid the payment OF JUS Iebts.
Until the New England States Initiate New
York, lawyers say. lao, real Justice In insolvency
csaes can be obtained hero.
maine has "A law putting a close time on deor
and moose" said a Bangor lawyer, but the
| Maine ShGrifs may hunt "A poor debtor every
from court 70 court and from Commissioners TO
Commissioner until his property Is all used up,
after which hey'may send him TO Jail and keep
him there as long as as thS &C Is 10 ron aES wi N psr 90
we have got to have a close time On poor debtors
or the breed will become extinct