IN RE JOSEPH.
137
same language when employed a little earlier in the paragraph; and consequently the operation of the proviso was confined by the secretary to goods manufactured exclusively of animal product-wool, hair, etc. When the question was afterwards submitted to the attorney general, he adopted the same view of this language in the proviso; but, evidently mistaking the limited sense in which it was hefore used, he applied it to the entire paragraph, so as to include in its operation or effect goods manufactured in part of other materials. rfhat the original construction by the secretary was correct, we do not doubt. Not only does it conform to a correct reading of the paragraph when considered by itself. but it is consistent with the spirit of recent legislation by congress on the subject to which it relates. It continues the distinction between goods composed wholly of wool and other purely animal products, and such as are only in part so composed, while a different construction would obliterate this distinction, as soon as the new standard of value, mentioned in the proviso, is reached. Judgment must accordingly be entered for the plaintiff.
In re
JOSEPH,
Bankrupt. 1885.)
O()Ul't, S. D. New York. 1. 2.
BANKRUPTCy-COMPOSITION-REFUSAL OF DISCHARGE.
An adjudication that a bankrupt is not cntitled to a dischargE> will not bar proceedings for a composition with his creditors.
SAME-COMPOSITION, HOW CONSIDERED ON HEVlEW BY CIRCUIT COURT.
Whether it is expcdient to accept the perccntage offered by a bankrupt is a que8tion pril)1arily for the crcuitors to determine. And although the perccn tage may be very small, when they have determined it, and their action has bet·n approved by the district court, the circuit COUrt, upon review, will not interfere.
In Bankruptcy. WALLACE, J. The bankrupts applied for a discharge and were opposed by some of their creditors under the provisions of section 5110, and their discharge was refused. Thereafter they proposed a composition, and the majority of the creditors resolved to accept it. ffhe district court approved the terms, and orderer1 the recording of the resolution. The creditor who opposed the composition has petitioned for a review of the order of the district court, and now insists that the application of the bankrupts for their discharge, and the denial thereof by the court, was a bar to the proceedings for a composition. An adjudication that a bankrupt is not entitled to a discharge may conclude him from obtaining a discharge upon a subsequent application in the same proceeding. Be Brockway, 21 Blatchf.136; S. C. 23
138 FED.
FEDERAL REPORTER.
Rep. 583. But there are nO decisions which have been brought to the attention of the court holding that such an adjudication is an estoppel to proceedings in composition. The contrary was decided by Judge BLATCHFORD, In re Odell, 16 N. B. R. 501. It is not apparent why it should have any such effect. A decision, however formal and conclusive, that a bankrupt has been guilty of acts of commission or omission which deprive him of the right to a discharge, when he applies for one as a matter of statutory privilege, does not purport to adjudge that he cannot adjust his debts with his creditors, either by a voluntary arrangement or by a compromise under the provisions of the bankrupt act. The bankrupt act provides two modes by which a bankrupt may be discharged from his debts: one by an application to the court showing that he has complied with the requirements of the law, and that all the conditions exist which entitle him to a discharge; and another by effecting a composition with his creditors. If he pursues the first mode, the opposition ot a single creditor may defeat a discharge, although all the other creditors consent. If he adopts the second, a majority of his creditors, in a propel' case and with the approval of the court, may determine that all his debts shan be satisfied upon specified conditions, and the proceedings in bankruptcy be practically terminated, against the objections of a minority of creditors. There is nothing in the language of the act, or indicated byits general scheme and policy, which compels him to elect between adopting the one or the other of these two modes of obtaining a release from his debts, or which precludes him, if he adopts one and fails, from adopting the other afterwards. Even if he has obtained his discharge by the first mode, there is nothing in the act which prevents him from offering terms to his creditors and effecting a statutory pa.yment of his debts by a composition. The provisions which authorize a composition are highly beneficial to creditors. They allow the majority, under proper circumstances, often slow to close the bankrnptcy proceedings without waiting processes of official administration, and they offer an incentive to the bankrupt to co-operate by putting it out of the power of a single creditor, or a minority of creditors, to defeat his discharge. In the absence of any expressed restrictions in the law, it should not be held that any act or omission ot a bankrupt can operate to prejudice the creditors from entering into a composition whenevel\ they deem it best to do so. No other specific objection is urged against the composition. AI. though the percentage offered by the bankrupt, and ltccepted by the creditors, was very small, the question whether it was expedient to accept it was primarily one for the creditors to determine; ..nd after they have determined it, and their action has been approved by the district court, this court upon review will not interfere. Re W1'onkow, 15 Blatchf.38; Be Wilson, 16 Blatchf. 112. It haB been assumed
CARY
V. WOLFF.
139
that the opposing creditor had a right to be heard in the proceed. ings. It is therefore not necessary to determine whether the objections to his appearance, which have been urged, are well taken. Whether the judgment he has obtained against the bankrupts, after their discharge was refused, and before the composition, is affected by the composition proceedings, is a question which does not arise here, but is more properly to be considered by the court in which he has obtained his judgment. The order of the district court is affirmed.
CARY and others v. WOLFF and others. (Oircuit Oourt, S. D. New York. February 7,1885.) L PATENTS FOR INVENTIONB-PATENTABIJ.TTy-SPInAL SPRINGS-USE OF HEAT.
Patent No. 110,266, dated June 27, 1871, and granted to Alanson Uary,lteld a patentali!e invention. 2. SAME-INFnINGEMENT. Patent No. 116,266 1Mld infring-ed by defennnntR by their use of the Cary process for the same purpose, aud with the datue reRuLL. although Lhey use a higher degree of heat.
In Equity. Robert H. Duncan and Samuel A. Duncan, for Ol'ators. Charles D. A(lams and F-rederick Il. Betts, for defendants. WHEELER, J. This suit is brought upon letters patent No. 116,· 266, dated June 27, 1871, and granted to the orator Cary, for an improvement in mode of tempering springs. The specification sets forth that the invention relates to spiral springs usually made in conical form, of steel wire, used in upholstering chairs, sofas, and for bedbottoms; describes the manner of making them by coiling and forcing hard-drawn steel wire to the proper shape, whereby the outer portion of the wire is stretched, and the inner portion crushed, and its strength, elasticity, and durability greatly reduced; states the discovery that subjecting them to a degree of heat known as spring-temper heat, about 600 deg., more or less, for about eight minutes, will reo store the wire to its normal condition by producing a complete homogeneity of the metal, and greatly increases their value. The claim is for the method of tempering furniture or other coiled springs sub. stantially as described. The defendants subject such springs, after being coiled, to a degree of heat beyond the range of what is known among artisans in tempering steel as spring-temper heat, and beyond 600 deg., for the purpose of restoring the elasticity and strength of the wire to its normal condition. They set up want of patentable novelty inthe invention, and deny infringement of the patent, as defenses to the sUit.