Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1903-01-23
TREND OF EVENTS
AT WASHINGTON.
News and Notes of National
Interest.
BANKRUPTCY BILL SCHEDULED
Despite Pressure of Other Matter--Agri-
cultural College Exhibit at st. Louis
Exposition.

EXpOslu0n.
Despite the crowded calendar OF
the Senate and the great pressure
of legislation of various kinds, 1t has
been determined by the leaders that
the bankruptcy bill shall have
day. The measure has already gone
through the House and has been fa-
vorably reported by the Senate
committee, and as there is no oppo-
sition to 1T worthy of name, it will
doubtless go through before ad-
journmeEt. The bill is intended to
correct the defect of the law that
was passed some, three or four years
ago. A great many cases have oc-
Cured where shrewd and dishonest
debtors have taken advantage of
the bankruptcy law to avoid just
obligations, while in other instances
creditors have suffered losses of
money through fraudulent practices
on the part of persons in bank
ruptcy. Probably the most import
ant amendment is intended to cor
rect the injustice of the present law,
which requires a merchant to sur
render money received on account
before he can prove his claim for
the balance against tie bankrupt.
Another important feature added
TO the present law is that which
makes the appointment of receiver
Or trustee for ones property, because
Of insolvency, an act OF bankrupt.
Under the law, as about to bo
amended, 1t will be mere difficult
for dishonest insolvent to obtain
discharge than at present. Provis-
ion is made to prevent persons from
securing second and third dis
charges In bankruptcy after they
shall have violated certain require
ments laid down in the pending
bill.
Upon the recommendation of Ad-
miral Bowles, Chief constructor of
the Navy, Acting secretary Darling
has signed an order assigning Con-
structor Hobson to duty In charge
of the Construction Department a t
the Puget Sound Naval Station at
Bremerton. Hobson has been for
some months on waiting orders, hav
ing declined an assignment to Pen
sacola, pending action of Congress
upon bill authorizing his retire
ment. Special action of this ma
ire was regarded as necessary in
view of the failure of two naval ex-
aiming Boards to find him ph ysic-
ally disqualified for active service.
The Navy Department concluded
that the straits through the reslgna-
ton of Constructor Nibbs, leaving
vacant the important post at Brem-
erton, jusities the action taken. Hob
sn Is now IN a position where he
must resign from the naval service
altogether or undertake active duty
for which he feels himself untitled
by reason of eye trouble.
Final action has been taken by
the President and Secretary OF War
in the case of First Lieutenant Ed
win A. Hickman, of the First Cal
vary, one of the officers tried by
court martial by direction OF the
President on the charge of having
administered the water cure to GER
tain Filipino prisoners in order to
extort information regarding the
movements of native bands of ma
rauders. The military court acquit-
ted the Office of the charge. The
President indorsed the papers with
the simple word "disapprosed," ev-
identity intending thereby to depre
cate the employment of the water
cure" without, however, affecting
the judgment of the court martial in
acquitting the officer on the general
ground that its employment in this
instance was justified by the CIR
cumstances.
The flagship Mayfower, with
Admiral Dewey. Rear Admiral
Taylor and the feet staff board has
arrived at the Washington Navy
ward from Culebra.
Washington. president has
commuted the 15-year sentence of
Henry Starr, of the Indian Terrific
rv. Starr was convicted in 1898 of
manslaIghter and also on two
charges OF robbery. He served four
years in Jail pending his trial and
has since served five years with
which the time allowed for good
conduct is more than equivalent to
the fifteen year sentence.
The house committee on Indus
trial Arts and Exhibits has author
ize favorable report on the bill
appropriating s1OO,OoO for an Agri-
cultural College exhibit at the
Louisiana Purchase Exposition at