FIFTY-FIFTH CONGRESS. Sess. II. C11. 541. 1898. 559 the fees of the clerk, referee, and trustee in each case instituted before · Bling the petition,except the petition of a proposed voluntary bankrupt which is accompanied by an ailidavit stating that the petitioner is without, and can not obtain, the money with which to pay such fees; (33 deliver to the referees upon application all papers which may be referre · to them, or, if the offices of such referees are not in the same cities or towns as the offices of such clerks, transmit such papers by mail, and in like manner return papers which were received from such referees after they have been used; (4) and within ten days after each case has been closed pay to the referee, if the case was referred, the fee collected for him, and to the trustee the fee collected for him at the time of Bling the petition. . · Sec. 52. Comrnusnron or Cnmnxsmn M4asn.u.s.—a Clerk shall C0¤¤l>¤¤¤¤¤i<>¤ or respectively receive as full compensation for their service to each estate, °l°'k°’ a Bling fee of ten dollars, except when a fee is not required from a voluntary bankrupt. b Marshals shall respectively receive from the estate where an adju- ——<»f ¤¤¤r¤1¤¤1¤· dication in bankruptcy is made, except as herein otherwise provided, for the performance of their services in proceedings in bankruptcy, the same fees, and account for them in the same way, as they are entitled to receive for the performance of the same or similar services in other cases in accordance with laws now in force, or such as may be hereafter enacted, fixing the compensation of marshals. Sec. 53. DUTIES OF ATTOBNEY·GENERAL.—a The Attorney-General f Atsvangy-Gsnersyg shall annually lay before Congress statistical tables showing for the .}‘.{E$ic§°°“r°°° ° whole country, and by States, the number of cases during the year of voluntary and involuntary bankruptcy; the amount of the property of the estates; the dividends paid and the expenses of administering such estates; and such other like information as he may deem important. Sec. 54. STATISTICS OF BANKRUPTCY P1z0¤1•1mDINGs.-—a Officers mM_wkmwi¢h shall furnish in writing and transmit by mail such inibrmation as is°"°° Y '* within their knowledge, and as may be shown by the records and papers in their possession, to the Attorney—General, for statistical purposes, within ten days after being requested by him to do so. ‘ CHAPTER VI. egnprrogs, crtanm. Sec. 55. MEETINGS or Canmrons.-a The court shall cause the iirst Mauna tr, time meeting of the creditors of a bankrupt tobe held, not less than ten nor '""' ""‘°"‘ more than thirty days after the adjudication, at the county seat of the county in which the bankrupt has had his principal place of business, resided, or had his domicile; or if that place would be manifestly inconvenient as a place of meeting for the parties in interest, or ifthe bankrupt is one who does not do business, reside, or have his domicile within the United States, the court shall Bx a place for the meeting which is the most convenient for parties in interest. If such meeting should by any mischance not be held within such time, the court shall Bx the date, as soon as may be thereafter, when it shall be held. b At the first meeting of creditors the judge or referee shall preside, rresming enter, and, before proceeding with the other business, may allow or disallow *‘°“°"‘ the claims of creditors there presented, and may publicly examine the bankrupt or cause him to be examined at the instance of any creditor. e The creditors shall at each meeting take such steps as may be Dunes ts mtiircn. pertinent and necessary for the promotion of the best interests of the estate and the enforcement of this Act. tl A meeting of creditors, subsequent to the iirst one, may be held at inS¤;»·_g<:l¤<;¤;ju;;¤¤g¤:£, any time and place when all of the creditors who have secured the mhrmm. allowance of their claims sign a written consent to hold a meeting at such time and place. `
