SHERIFF SALE NOTICES.
Mr. Baker's bill [H. R. 480] to regulate all Sheriff sales providing for written and printed notices in newspapers. [The parties to the suit to dictate the paper for such publicaton.]
Mr. BAKER--This bill should become a law. To leave this Sheriff's printing in the hands of men disposed to be honest is all right, but in the hands of men otherwise, it is a source of political corruption from one end of the State to the other. I claim that the men whose money and interest are involved should be the parties to control the Sheriff's printing. I can not see why an officer, who is well paid for all his services, should dictate in any form or manner, or have anything to say as to where these notices shall be published. Let the parties make their own contracts in their own way, and it certainly can be done cheaper than under the present system. There is no reason on earth why the plaintiff, who has recovered judgment when the orders to execute are issued, should not say in what paper he notice shall be inserted, or if the defendant happens to have a stay of execution to have the same privilege. I hope the bill will become a law.
Mr. FANCHER favored the bill, beause he knew of cases in his County where such publication cost $5 or $20, and the parties to the suit would or could have had the work done for $5 or $10. By giving the parties this privilege there will be created a competition which will reduce the price of publication at least one-half.
Mr. FRAZER said: This bill don't strike me as being what it ought to be. For instance, if one of the parties is a Democrat and the other a Republican, and each has his particular paper in which to publish this notice, now who is to decide and say where this publication shall be made? There is no provision in the bill to that effect. In that respect it is defective. There should be some provision, when the parties can not agree, that the Sheriff may publish where he pleases.
Mr. KENNER favored the bill, because it went upon the principle that the parties concerned and interested will always get better terms than a official who is merely performing his every-day duty.
Mr. THOMPSON was opposed to the bill. He considered the bill as it now stands a good one--authorizing the Sheriff to publish in a paper located nearest to the parties to the suit.
The bill failed--yeas, 37; nays, 41.
