The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-09-22
MILLS AND THE SPEAKERSHlP.
Re VIII Probably Get the Support Of kr.
CleFeland'S Friends.
4 STATEMENT OF TEENESSEE'S DEBT.
Mortgage Investigation by the superinten-
dent of Census-C Conference OF Metho-
dists-Capital Notes.

WASHINGTON. D. c., Sept. 2.-The tone
of Mr.. Mills reference to the free coinage Of
silver in bis speech at Mansfield, o., is
generally regarded as confrmatory Of the re-
port that he and Mr. Cleveland or Mr.. Cleve-
lands friends have come to an agreement by
which the Clveland influence is - be exerted
in favor Of Mr. Mills candidacy for the
speakershp.
There is no longer any difference Of opinion
among tho Democrats on the tariff question.
and antagonism TO tariff reform does not enter
into the speakership contest, but Mr. Cleye-
lands friends want not only 10 give promi-'
nence to that issue, but 10 force the silver
question SO far ont OF the way es not 20 nave
il appear as an issue in the national cOnYen-
ton.
CLEvELAND's FRIENDS Will SUPPORT MILLS.
II is understood that the Cleveland folks
will support Mr. Mills, with the idea OF nay
ing nothing but tarih talked of. Mr. NILS
has been regarded rs free coinage man, but
his claim 10 fame Is through ms larlu recoru'
and IL is as important 20 him as TO Mr. CleYe-
land to have that question kept 70 the front,
though he might nOtbe hurt. as Dir. CieYeland
would bv having silver UNDER rsdiscusson. III
is IN his power, however, TO assist Mr.; CleYe-
land bv maintaining tariff reform as the only
issue before tie people, and u is oelleVed
that that was his purpose in disuaraslng the
money question IN his speech.
1t is regarded as a very bold thing tor
speakership candidate 10 do, for unless the
sentiment of the Democrats in the next
House is the very reverse OF what 1t was ID the
last, moro than twO-thirds of the men who
vote in Democratic caucus will be free coinage
men.
FREE TRADE AND FREE SILVER.
They will all be free traders" as the term
is used. but most Of them will be Tor Tree
trade" and free silver.
The other candidates will not be apt to
make any point against Mr.. Mills on account
of bis apparent purpose 10 keep silver IN the
background. for the reason that the question
is liable TO prove perpleXing 10 them all.
Every candidate VINO has any standing IN
the contest has friends among the aht-iree
coinage Eastern Democrats. whose votes he
wants in caucus. and. therefore, he would
prefer not to have the question raised: The
members iwhO are not candidates and who
are advocates Of free coinage Will be very apt
to assure themselves as 10 the course the can
didate is disposed 10 follow as g silver before
casting their votes for him for Speaker. AS
they ali agree on the tarlil' there - a posi-
bility that the attitude OF the candidates To-
ward silver will be a leading question IN the
selection Of Speaker
TENNEssEE's DEBTS.
The Superintendent OF Census hes made
the following analysis Of the results of the
mortgage investigation in Tennessee. These
are based on a total debt in force amounting
TO $40. .421, ,396. In Tennessee there are, Of
course many thousand acres that are not
agricultural land, and tie debt on these acres
is included; in nut shell, l2 per cent. Of
the State outside of villages aud cities
is mortgaeed for 50 per cent. of its true
value. Sixty-seyen per cent. Of the debt Of
the State in counties containing Chatta-
nooga. Knoxville. Nashville and Memphis;
fity-nine per cent. OF the debt Of the State
is on village and city lots, and SS per cent. OF
this lot debt is in the four cities above
named Probably no other State in the South
and few States in the North will show a larger
debt on village and city lots than on acre
tracts. The debt in force is as follows. IN
Davidson county SG,G3S25l; in Hamilton
county. s9.sl956i in Knoxville county,
4050, ,359; in Shelby county, S6,6lg,5l3.