The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-02-01
Final Vote to Be Taken in the
Senate To-Day.
AND CLOSE LONG DEBATE
This Agreement Was Arrived
at Unexpectedly.
HARRIS AND CHANDLER DID 1T
Senator Hill Gives Notice that He Will
Try to Defeat Its Passage by
Various Parliamentary
Motions.

mOUOHSs
Washington, ID. C., Jan 31.-The
final vote on the bond silver bill will be
taken in the Senate at o'clock to-
morrow, an agreement to that effect
having been reached to-day. This
brings TO a conclusion a debate cover
ering many days.
The agreement came rather mex
pectedly at the close of Mr.. Villas
speech. He had talked for three hours,
and was about to be followed by Mr.
Bate, when Mr. Chandler precipitated
the question of final vote by stating
that he would ask unanimous consent
for a recess from / until 1880 O'Clock
While the Senator did not mention a
vote, it was well understood that the
move was to expedite a vote by dispos.
ing of speeches during the evening.
Mr.. Harris of Tennessee put the vot-
ing proposition in a more definite form
by asking that the agreement cover
recess from until 7:30 tonight, fur
ther recess until il a. m. Tomorrow
then the five minute rule Of debate to
apply, except to Mr.. Morrill,, the ven
erable head of the Finance Committee,
and finally, vote on the bill and
amendments at 2 o'clock.
For few minutes it looked as though
Mr.. Hill of New York would try again
to prevent an agreement. He asked
for distinct understanding that vari-
Gus parliamentary motions to post
pone, lay on the table, etc, should not
be cut off. This was readily conceded
by Mr.. Harris, 50 long as the final vote
was at o'clock. This disposed of the
last remaining objection, and the pre-
siding officer declared the unanimous
agreement 10 be in force
Aside from this the day was given
TO speeches ON the pending bills
Mrv Villas addressed the Senate i'm
opposition to the silver bond BILL De-
claring that the bilI as it came from the
House was mere sham and fraud Mr..
Villas proceeded to show that the Sen
ate amendments made il worse than
the original measure.
1T was bad stock" he asserted
though it had budded with a warm
scion. The best hope is that both will
shrivel and die in the desert air of the
Senate"
He contended that the silver mine
owners were largely responsible for
the agitation for free coinage, and af-
ter asserting that silver mining was
confined to the Western States, said
the mines were owned by comparative
~ few people, and largely by corpora
tions, who, by the employment Of
labor, often made large profits on
comparatively small outlay. The keen
est and best trained intellects, he said,
were enlisted by this solid interest,
which was possessed of great strength
OF numbers and riches powerful i'm in
telligence, learning and Skill, hardy and
resolute to seek it,"
That interest was in to secure the
best price for silver. lie declared the
people of the Rocky Mountains to be
subseryient TO the mine owners.
As Mr.. Villas proceeded there were
occasional sharp exchanges between
him and other Senators. Mr.. Mitchell
interjected a question to the bond
transaction Of last year.
Mr.. Villas justified the course taken
under the eXigencies of the time, while
Mr.. Mitchell denominated the course
of the bond purchasers, in buying on
the theory OF silver payments and eX-
pecting gold payments, as "bunco
game"
The talk of the bond issue of last
year brought Mr.. Tillman, of South
Carolina, to his feet for the first time
since his recent sensational speech.
Mr.. Villas had readily yielded to sew
eral Senator, but in response to Mr..
Tillman's request TO put a question,
the Wisconsin Senator abruptly de-
clined to yield further, saying it inter
rupted the course of his argument.
There was a momentary pause, with
Mr.. Tillman still on his feet and then
Mr.. Villas yielded to the question.
What was the price of the bends
on the market on the day of that bond
sale?" asked Mr.. Tillman.
II decline to chase down that wil-O'-
the-wisp," responded Mr.. Villas. II
have already answered that, and ] re-
fer the Senator to the record"
But would it not be well to have the
facts right here?" pursued Mr.. Till
man.
NO" answered Mr.. Villas. Having
| answered that question, l do not care
to be driven from my present argu-
ment by pursuing these incidental in
quiries."
"Then, you decline to answer it?"
| added Mr.. Tillman, as he sat down,
and Mr. Villas proceeded.
Mr. Bate, (Dem., Tenn) followed
Mr.. Villas in support of the silver
amendment He said he was unable
to support either of the fiscal meas
ures sent to the Senate from the
House. An emergency tariff bill in
creases taxes not necessary to the sup
port of the Government, and the gold
bond impose heavy burden, both
present and future, neither just nor
necessary. Trade and business de-
sired a rest from tariff agitation for
Mt least two years With an existing