Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-07-23
THE STATE DEBT.
ruy n,pprypERerR BILL OR NO.
THING.
sotetourt Stands Firm-Interviews with
Leading Citizens.

the voters on question now uppermost
in the minds Of the people, | deter
mined TO interview a number oil citizens
who have had the best opportunities
for feeling the public pulse, and here
with present the result OF my endeayor.
Major James Mcdowell, clerk of the
courts Of this county. Funder of the
Funders, Democrat by birth and pro-
fession, in answer to my inquiry, said
" Whatever position Malone takes on
the debt question, you may rest assured
the Democracy will go a step in adj
vance Of him. The voters of this
county will never agree to settlement
more favorable to the bondholders than
the Riddleberger settlement"
X. 4. Stoner, Esq, "tbe best trea-
surer the county ever had -: "Smart
men make mistakes sometimes, and the
bondholders are making a mistake when
they refuse to fund under the Riddle
berger bill and insist on forcing coupons
into the State TIeasury. The State
must protect herself. Between paying
the debt under the bill Of 1871 and re-
pudiaton, the voters Of this county are
practically unanimous for reputation.
So far ! have received no coupons. l
find our people are not disposed to use
coupons, and those whose Self-interest
would incline them that way are easily
persuaded when they are shown the
damage resulting to the State by such
acts"
John Simpson, overseer Of the poor,
and prominent Republican: " The
voters will never agree to pay more
than the Riddleberger bill recognizes"
r. X. Thompson, Esq, commissioner
Of the revenue for the Lower district,
man who knows his people like a
book, the most wide-swake commits
sioner in the State; A" The bondholders
are forcing our people to reputation,
and | for one will vote for it unless the
present settlement is accepted" is
this feeling general throughout the
county ?" 81 should say it was. l
have not met man who did not hold
the same views, be he Democrat or Re-
publican. / discourage the use Of cou-
pons wherever | go, and there need be
no fear Of their use to any extent in
this county. A few politicians, think
ing to embarrass the Democratic party
thereby, may try the experiment, but 1t
will not amount to much"
Captain George W. Breckenridge, the
classical commissioner of the upper dis
trict: Captain, DO you think it the
part of wisdom for the bondholders to
| fund under the Riddleberger bill !"
why, they are fools not to do it.
They will never get better offer. We
are drifting rapidly into reputation.
Nuuq reStigia rttfOrSum (which may
be translated Sink or swim, live or
die, survive or perish, we will never 60
back on the Riddleberger bill y"
G. B. Norman, Esq, who for many
years has served the county as a men,
Der Of the Board of Supervisors for AM
s,erdam district: "When the farmers
see that corporations are saving money
by paying their taxes in coupons, thus
increasing the burden Of taxation upon
them, think their patriotism will very
much diminish. Then look out for re-
pudiation, which is inevitable, unless
the bondholders see their error and
fund. So far my neighbors have shown
no disposition to use coupons"
Colonel r. s. Burks, county SUPER
intendent of schools Lives near Salt
petTe Cave: d" There IS strong senti-
ment in my community against the use
Of coupons"
"Between receiving coupons and re-
pudiation how stand the people?"
"1bey favor reputation any way.
They are sick and tired Of this debt
agitation"
BENJAMIN Haden, Esq, who has
served this county for the past seven
years with increasing efficiency and
popularity, says: There can be no
question as to the sentiment of this
county on this subject. 1t is the Rid
dlebeIger bill or nothing"
John S. Henderson, Esq, county
sheriff: II hear good deal Of talk
about coupons, but nearly everybody
is opposed to paying their taxes with
them. | discourage their use. sell
dom hear any talk about reputation.
am opposed to reputation myself. "
George II. Johnston, Esq, for many
years justice Of the peace, and one Of
the most intelligent citizens Of Lower
Botetourt: soar only protection is in
the patriotism Of the people. If the
bondholders persist in demanding the
pound of flesh, and succeed in collecting
the interest in the way Of coupons, they
will never get the principal Of the
debt"
A. A. Woodson, Esq, one Of the
most successful farmer on Catawba
I've farmers do not intend to pay our
taxes in coupons, and, furthermore, we
don't propose to encourage the mer-
chant who buys from drummers whose
licenses have been paid for with cou.
pons. So far as this county is concern
I'd, il is settled that unless the bond
holders accept the Riddleberger settle.
rnent they will have to be responsible
Tor reputation. have talked pretty
generally with the farmers, and know
these TO be their views, and that they
are getting very tired Of this agitation. ,
Joseph G. Layman, Esq, one Of oul
most enterprising farmers and fruit
growers /" am a moderate Republi
can have never used coupons, but i
any thing is TO be saved by their use,
don't see any harm in using them. Oh
no; We will mover agree to pay more
than the Riddleberger settlement"
J. Benson Simpson, Esq, the Re
publican candidate for the House o
Delegates last fall and one of tho mos
, popular men in his party ~ see nj
objection TO the use Of coupons Ger
, tsinly oppose boycotting those witt
wish to use thom. have not yet me
man who is willing to pay more Of tn
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