Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-03-20
: SAVIOR AMENDMENTS TO
THE BANKRUPTCY LAWS.
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THE BANKRUPTCY LAWS.
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of proceedings, not to exceed three
hundred dollars"
There is a strong possibility that
this measure or something very SINH
lar may pass the house, but there is a
growing feeling that the senate will
accord such measure similar treat
ment to that which has been the fate
Of other important house bills like
statehood, Philippine, tariff, etc.
Think Charges Exaggerated.
The house committee on reform in
the civil service has been making per-
scnal and quiet Investigations into the
charges made by the Retail Grocers'
association and other trade associa-
tons. to the effect that government
employees evade payment of their bills
because their salaries are not subject
to garnishment for debt The men,
bers of the committee find, they say,
much food for thought in these
charges although they are somewhat
inclined to doubt the truth that there
are, as has been stated to them, 5000
such debts due to grocery men in the
District of Columbia
Because of the fact that the state of
Montana is trying the experiment
of law providing for the gar
nishment of salaries of her state
government employees for debt
for the necessaries of life.
Representative Dixon of that state,
vi reques t,has INTRODUCED bill pro.
viding for the irkso r-f1ent Of the ma
tfonal civil service along the same
lines.
Errors in Printing.
A significant circum stance in con-
nection with this bill is the statement
that in the course of its journey
through the government printing office,
Where all bills go to be printed before
reaching the committees to which they
may be referred, the Dixon bill under
went some changes. These changes
consisted in substituting the word
debtor" for creditor" in three sep
arate places, making the bill an alb
surdity as it was presented to the COM
mittee. The further fact that this
measure has not been reprinted with
the proper wording shows that there is
little disposition on the part of the
~
making a favorable report thereon.
Believes Law Sufficient.
Major Lacey of Iowa, member of
the committee, said today that the
governm ent was decidedly opposed to
entering upon any course which would
make it party in any garnishment
proceedings. He believes that there is
sufficient provision in the civil service
law for dealing with such creditors,
and he thinks that what is necessary
is Gimple understanding that heads
of departments will not harbor in
their departments employees who can
and will not pay such debts.
Many members of the house declare
that the Dixon bill is but another link
in what they term the chain of pater-
nalism. which is being forged for the
people of this country by their own
demands, and they see no wisdom in
such measure. On the whole, it
seems safe to say that the retail
traders will not get any help from the
present congress in this direction.
Grocers Favor Pure Food Bill.
The Hepburn pure food bill is await
it's turn on the floor of the house, hav-
ing been favorably reported out of the
committee on interstate and foreign
commerce on March Z, as a substitute
for the senate bill.
Although it has been stated that
the retail grocers would prob
ably not view with complacency
the amendment requiring that the
quantity of the contents of all
package goods be distinctly stated in
weight or measure on the outside of
the package, find on inquiry among
Washington grocers that they are in
fact pleased with this new feature, as
it relieves them from the suspicion of
custom rs who buy package goods
and find them short in weight or meas
ure.
Representative Mann of Illinois, who
was authorized by the committee to re-
port the bill, says:
"The committee has not undertaken
to determine the wholesomeness of
preservatives BY the bill it is provided
that before the secretary of agriculture
shall make decision concerning the
wholesomeness of a preservative or
other substance which may be added
to foods, any person interested may
ask for the appointment of a special
board for the purpose of considering
GASTORIA ForInfants and Children