The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-06-18
THE BANKRUPTCY LAW
HOUSE PASSES BILL TO TO
 AMEND IT.
The Minority Made e Fight to Re- : peal the Pending Statute, But Was Overwhelmingly
 Defeated.

Washington, June 17-Tne House spent the day considering the bills reported from the Judiciary Committee. By far the most important measure was that to amend the existing bankruptcy law. The minority made vigorous effort to repeal the present law, but was over whelmingly defeated-65 to 1S7. The most important amendment is one to define preference to meet the Supreme Court decision in the case of Pierie vs The Chicago Title and Trust Company. Four additional grounds for refusing a dis charge in bankruptcy also are added.
 First obtaining property on credit on materially Sfalse statements; second, making fraudulent transfer of proper ty; third, having been granted or denied a discharge in bankruptcy within. six years, and, fourth. having refused to obey the order of the court or refusal to answer material questions approved by the court.
 An evening session was held for the consideration of bills reported from the Indian Committee.
 MT. Clayton (Ala.) declared that the present act was the most drastic and op- pressive law ever enacted so far as the unfortunate debtor was concerned. He suggested that nearly all the circulars sent out by the chairman of the commit tee had gone to'wholesale merchants and jobbers. referees in bankruptcy and other court officials interested in the cost fea- lures of the law. He believed the law should be repealed instead of being IzA hat at No proper time the minority woul1 offer as a substitute a bill to repeal the existing law in toto. MT. Clayton criticized the amendment which proposed to give cor porations the right to go into voluntary bankruptcy.
 MT. DeArmond CMo) favored the re- peal of the present act. MT. DeArmond offere ed an amendment to strike out all after the enacting clause and to substi- tute a provision for the repeal of the existing bankruptcy law. It was voted dc wn. An additional section was added CT motion of Mir. Ray. which provided that when a debtor waived his exemp- tions he could not thereafter claim them under the law of the State in which he lived.
 The bill then passed without division.
 Bills also were passed providing for the punishment of United States prison CTS for crimes committed while confined in State institutions: to increase the feers of jurors in Bnited States courts from g to $3 per day; to allow appeals from final rulings of the general land office to the Supreme Courts of the Dis trict of Columbia; to incorporate the So- ciety of the Army of Santiago de Cuba; for the appointment of five additional United States Commissioners and five St af n the Indian Ter ritory.
 MT. Ray called up a bill for the sup pression of train robberies MT. Smith (Ky) said the bill was too important to be passed hurriedly. MT. Ray replied that the purpose of the measure was to secure the cooperation of the United States in the prosecution of persons ac- cused of derailing or robbing trains.
 At 5 o'clock. without action on the bill, the House took a recess until s o'clock.
 The night session was devoted to con sideration of bills reported from the Com mitete on Indian Affairs. Bills to ratify and confirm the arrangements negotiated by the Dawes Commission with the Creek. Kansas and Raw Iindians of Oklahoma was passed and the bill to ratify the agreement with the Choctaw and Chicka- saw Indians was under consideration when the House adjourned at 10:3o.
 The Senate bill to provide for the sale of sites for manufacturing or industrial plants in the Indian Territory and House bill for the relief of the heirs of Mary Clark and Frances Jenny Clark. deceased, also were passed. A house bill to provide for the opening to settle ment of 4sO.Ooo acres of land in the Kiowa, Comanche and Apache Indian reserva- tions in Oklahoma was defeated.