Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1903-06-05
DEBT RECOVERY ABROAD.
Ways OF Suing and RelnE sued In
Narious Europenn Counfries

Ways OF Suing and HelnE sued I'm
Various European Countries.
or all countries Germany probably
offers the greatest facilities to foreign
ers for the recovery OF money owing to
them by her subjects. a power of at
torney is required for suing purposes
and sum of money has to be deposit
ed as security for costs, but the deposit
Is returned In full at the conclusion of
the action. All costs, together with I'm.
terest, are recoverable from the de-
PENDANT.
In France the collection of trnde
debts Is usually relegated to the huis.
sier or bailiff. This official is able to
sue before the justices or the peace
whose Jurisdiction is, however, limited
to debts Of not more than 200 francs
(about fS). Where the amount exceeds
this sum and the efforts OF the huissier
to effect q settlement or Cancellation
prove unavailing the only recourse is
to employ an avocat and commence n
suit in the civil courts. Here the cost
may easily run up to fS or SIP, and.
whatever the result OF the action may
be. the plaintiff will have to pay his
avocats charges and a substantial por-
ton of the court costs. In the event OF
the defendant entering defense to the
suit at least one adjournment will In
ell probability be ordered-lt is aston
ishing upon what flimsy grounds this
Is frequently done-and the costs be
thereby multiplied ad infinitum.
The way of the foreign merchant In
Italy, seeking to enter into his own by
judicial methods. is full OF vexations In
the shape OF exorbitant demands for
translation and other mysterious fees,
every forward step of the slow moving
legal machinery calling for ample lu-
IRRIGATION from the pockets OF the un.
fortunate creditor.
In Spain the impediments In the way
Of debt recovery by foreigners are on
par with those of Italy. In the COM
mercial court costs may run us to 800
or $50 pesetas and are recoverable from
the defendant only IL the judge Is salts
fed that he has acted in bad faith:
that, when ordering the goods, he had
no Intention OF paying for them unless
compelled to do so. AS may be sur
missed, this condition Is usually amply
sufficient to prevent the plaintiff recov-
ering any part of the costs.
Debts against private persons In Rus
sia become prescribed by statute after
lapse OF twelve months.
Before an advocate in Russia can
take any legal steps to validate the
rights OF his foreign client he has to
be furnished with ID q lengthy power
OF attorney drawn up IN the Russian
language. certified by notary and
yised by the Russian consul; CD an
extract containing particulars OF the
claim from the creditors books, nc
companied by statement in Russian
from the notary TO the effect that the
extract is true copy OF the entries I'm
the books, which are found to be kept
In good order and In accordance with
the English law. The extract has also
to be vised by the consul. The ex-
pense connected with preparation OF
these documents is very heavy.
Should the creditor persist he will be
required to deposit n substantial sum
on account Of costs, and I'm all likeli-
hood before the matter has proceeded
beyond the preliminary stage II will
be found that he has unconsciously
run counter TO some incomprchensibie
Russian law. either in the mode OF
delivering the goods or I'm some other
particular connected with the case,
which will afford the debtor q loop
hole OF escape.-Magazine OF Com
MERGE