The herald., 1898-02-20
IN THE HOUSE
The Henderson Bankruptcy Bill at
Last Disposed Of

| WASHINGTON, Feb. 19.-(By Associated
Press) After four days of consideration
the house today passed the bankruptcy
bill reported by the house committee on
| judiciary as a substitute for the Nelson
| bill, passed by the senate at the extra
| session last summer.
| The bill is known as the Henderson bill
and contains both voluntary and involun-
| tary features. 1t is considered less drastic
! than the measure passed by the last house
by vote of Isl to 81.
| The involuntary feature, however, had
| but sixteen majority. Today a motion TO
strike out the Involuntary feature was de-
feated by majority of thrty-three. the
vote standing. ayes l5S, noes 12i. Eighteen
Republicans voted against the bill and
twelve Democrats for it. The Populists,
with one exception voted against it.
Today the bill was read for amendment
| under the five-minute rule. Under the
order made the final vote was to be taken
at o'clock this afternoon Bailey sought
to secure an arrangement by which the
house could have an opportunity to vote
on the senate Nelson bill before voting
on the house substitute, but failed. An
arrangement was effected. however. by
which the first vote taken at O'Clock
should be on Underwood's series of amend
ments TO strike out the involuntary fea-
lures of he substitute
DuTlUS lle cOllSlutIdllOll VI iliOllOll
to strike out the section defining the terms
used in the bill, one of which defined an
"insolvent" as one whose property at
fair valuation was not sufficient to pay
his debts Bland of Missouri, Democrat.
stated that the effect Of this provision
of the bill would be to declare over one
half of the business men of the country
bankrupts.
Lacey of Iowa, Republican, said he
priI- n nrt n hp
tary features of any bankruptcy law.
democratic applause) The debate on this
amendment proceeded in desultory man.
|ner.
Bailey of Texas, Democrat, got the floor
upon another important amendment, and
submitted briefly some observations de-
| fining his position. He was anxious, he
said, as member of the house to see an
equitable bankruptcy law placed upon the
| statute books. But his anxiety would not
! lead him to vote for a measure which
would injure the solvent more than it
would benefit the insolvent
Cannon of Illinois, Republican, created
some enthusiasm on the Democratic side
by announcing that he would refuse to
support the bill
Mahany of New York Republican, Of
fered an amendment limiting the operation
of the act to two years from the date of
its passage.
Mahany said he would be glad to vote
for the bill if this amendment were adopt
ed but he was opposed 70 putting in opera
ton indefinitely a law of this character
The vote on the motion was taken by tell
ers, and the announcement that it had
carried-132 to 129-was greeted with loud
applause.
Henderson Immediately moved to recon-
slider the vote and Bailey moved to lay
that motion on the table.
The motion to lay on the table Hender-
sons motion to reconsider was lost-li6
to 156 When this vote was announced the
hour set for a vote a o'clock has passed.
The motion to reconsider was put and
carried without division, and the vote was
about to be taken again upon the Mahany
amendment when Dalzeli made the point
of order that the order under which the
house was operating precuded any fur
ther action except upon the Underwood
amendment, which, under the arrange
ment We're to be voted upon at o'clock.
This point of order the speaker sustained.
An interesting parliamentary struggle
! followed, in which Bailey, Williams of
Mississippi Democrat, and the speaker
took part which finally resulted in the
speakers deciding that the house had re-
considered its action in regard to the Ma
hany amendment and that a vote upon it
was now excluded by the order.
struck out the involuntary features of the
| bill, were then presented and voted on
under the order of the house.
| The amendments were defeated-139 to
l5S The vote then came upon substituting
the Henderson bill for the senate Cor Mel
| SOM bill and the motion prevailed-l33 to
| ia.
! Terry of Arkansas, Democrat, the senior
member Of the judiciary committee, then
| m owed rpPOmnit the bill with inEfrl1c-
| tions to strike out all the involuntary fea-
| lures except those for actual frauds.
| The motion to recommit was lost.
| Terry insisted upon an aye and nay vote
| for the final passage of the bill. The bin
was passed-l59 to 1875.
| Henderson of Iowa, Republican, Ray Of
New York, Republican, and Terry of Ar
| kansas, Democrat. were appointed con-
| ferees on the bill, and then, at 6:l0 p. m.,
| the house adjourned.