Birmingham age-herald., 1895-02-14
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Occupies the Attention of Con-
 gross for the Day. VILLAS AS AN EG0N0MIzER Offers a Bill to the Senate. Sherman's Free C oinage
 of Silver Substitute.
VILLAS AS AN EG0N0MIzRR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13.--Ths house was principally occupied today in considering business relating to the District of Colum- bia, but room was found in that discu ssion for the Introduction of a resolution by Mir. Van Vooris, republican, of New York, bearing on govern ment financial matters, the main tenor of which was to require report from the committee on ways and means of the evidence and statements made by Secretary Carlisle before that committee yesterday regarding the recent bond con tract. The New York representative was very anxious for this information, and MT. Wilson, the chairman of the committee, assured Mir. VanVooris that be had copy of the contract in his pocket and would at the proper time present it. This was done later in the shape of report from the ways and means committee on the presi- dent's message relating to the s62 ,0o0, ,000 bond contract, which report contained a copy of the contract. It was soon evil dent that there was a disposition to know what the minority of the committee thought of the matter and tho house adopted a motion which will allow them to pre- sent their views on the subject tomorrow. The report was ordered printed and referred to The calendar.
 The house at 5:1O adjourned until Il O. m. tomorrow.
 IN THE SENATE.
 During the morning hours proceedings in the senate and when the vice. president called for "bills and joint resolutions' Mr. Villas rose and introduced a bill en. titled, "To save the people of the United States $16, 170, 770, - and he asked that 1t be read in full and lie on the table for the present.
 The bill recites that the president of the United States has advised congress iu his communication of February that he had completed an arrangement, with parties able to fulfill their undertaking, for the purchase of S65, ,000, ,000 in gold coin in re- turn for per cent thirty-year bonds, "payable in coin,o but that he had re- served the privilege of substituting 3 per cent s'gold bonds'' for them at an annual saving of S539, ,159, and for ths whole thirty years of sis, 11O, ITO. It therefore author Izes the issue oi per cent bonds, not ex- ceeding in the aggregate s85, GOO ,000, run ming for thirty years, principal and inter- est payable in gold coin.
 At subsequent part of the proceedings Mir. Hill expressed the opinion that, in stead of being laid on the table, 1t should -ha-piaced on lhe, -calsndarA from which 1t could be taken by motion and brought De- fore the senate directly for action without reference to any committee. Acquiesecnce in this view was expressed by MT. Villas, but positive objection to that course was interposed by Mr. Teller.
 The rules were appeaieu pO anu lb tuTneu out that under one of them an objection to the request that bill lie on the table caused its reference to the calendar. Such objection was promptly made by MT. Lodge, and therefore the vice president announced that the bill had gone to the calendar.
 MT. Sherman introduced a substitute for the bill reported yesterday from the finance com m ittee for the free coinage Of silver, and at his request 1t was read in full aud laid on the table.
 The first section provides that to provide and maintain the redemption of United States notes according to the provisions of the act of January IA, 1875, the secretary of the treasury may issue, sell and dispose of, at not less than par in gold coin, either of the description of bonds authorized in that act, bearing not to exceed per cent inter- est payable semi an ually and redeemable at the pleasure Of the United States in gold coin after five years from date. The second section authorizes the issue of 8 per cent certificates of indebtedness,' payable in lawful money, to provide for g tenn mporaryIdefciency in the revenue.
 The senate spent most of the day in further discussion of the amendment to the postoffice appropriation bill looking to the reduction of the rates now paid to rail- road companies for the transportation of the mails of the United States. A modfi- cation pending to the amendment reported from the committee on appropriations re- qulres reoucion ol at ieast lU per cenI, and another appropriation is pending, of- fered by Mir. Villas, looking to the pur- chase, ownership and management of the railway postal cars by the government. In view Of Mir. Vilas' experience as postmas ter general in President Cleveland's first administration, his statements and argu- ments were Of much interest and impor- tance. The question, however, went over without any action, except an agreement that the vote will be taken on it at 8 D. m tomorrow.
 The senate at 6 p. m. adjourned.