The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-02-01
The NATIONAL LEGISLATURE
The Silver Bond Bill Debated in
the Senate.
Kr.! Villas Makes Speech in Opposition
TO &c, During whtoh He Had some
Sharp ooiloauies With Other Senators.
In the House tho District Appropri-
alton Bin Occupies Most OF the Time.


alton Bill Occupies Most OF the Time,
WARRINGTON, Jan. 81.-The final vote
on the silver bond bin will be taken ins
the Senate ut 2 o'clock tomorrow, an
agreement to that effect having been
reached to-day. This brings to con.
cluuion debate covering many days.
The agreement came rather unex-
pectedly at the conclusion OF Mr.. Villas
speech. He had talked for three hours,
and was about to be followed by Mr..
Bate, when Mr.. Chandler precipitsted
the question of Q final vote by stating
that he would ask unanimous consent
for recess from 4 to 1880 O'clock,
While the Senator did not mention al
vote 1t wac we'll underssood that the
move was to expedite vote by disposs
ing OF speeches during the evening.
The presiding officer declared til
unanimous agreement to be in force.
Mr.. Vilag addressed the Senate in
opposition 80 the silver bond bill. De.
cleripg that the bill as 1t came from
the House was o mere sham and
fraud, Mr.. Villas proceeded to show that
the Senate amendments made it worse
than the original measure. "It was a
bad stock, " he asserted, Though It had
budded with warm scion. The best
hope is that both will shrivel and die
In the desert air of the Senate"
de commended that the silver mine
owners were largely responsible for the
agitation for free coinage, and after as
sorting that silver mining was confined
to the Western States, said the mines
were owned by comparatively few peo-
Pile, and largely by corporations who, by
the employment of labor, often make
large profit on comparatively email out-
lay. The keenest and best trained an
tellects. he said, were enlisted by this
solid interest which was possessed of
great strength of numbers and rich
and powerful intelligence, learning and
skill, hardy and resolute to seek It,"
That interest was in to win, to secure
the best price for silver. He declared
the people OF the Rocky Mountains to
be subservient to the mine owners. Az
Mr.. Villas proceeded there were oc-
castonal sharp exchanges between him
and other Senators.
Mr.. Mitchell interjected q question
as to the bond transaction of last year.
Mr. Villas justified the course taken un.
der the exigencies of the time, while
Me. Mitchell denominate the course of
bond purchasers In buying on the theory
OF silver payments and yet demanding
ana expecting gold payments as
The talk of the bond issue last wear
brought Mr.. Tlllman, of South Carolina,
to his feet for the first time since his
recent sensational speech. Mr.. Villas
had readily yielded to several Senators
bus In response to Mr.. Tillman's request
to put question the Wisconsin Senator
abruptly declined to yield further. say
ing 1t interrupted the course of his
argument. There YVES momentary
awkward pause, with Mr.. Tillman still
on his feet and then Mr.. Villas Yielded
to the question.
What was the price of bonds on the
market on the day OF that bond sale?"
asked Mr.. Tillman. 81 decline to chase
down that will-o'- the.wisp," responded
Mr.. Villas. II have already answered
that, and l refer the Senator TO the
record" but would 1t not be, too, well
to have the facts right here?" pursued
Mr.. Tillman.
mo-" answered Mr.. Villas. "HavinR
answered that question do not care TO
be diverted from my present argument
by pursuing these incidental inq uiries."
MFhen 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 amend
ment. he said he WAS unable to sup.
port either of the fiscal measures eent
to the Senate from the House. An
emergency tariff bill increases taxes not
necessary to the support of the Gov
eminent, and the gold bond bill inn
poses heavy burden, both present and
future, neither iust nor necessary. He
comhatted the fiction OF gold reserve.
LIZ had created danger signall" until
private corporations now PLACED gold
payments in their bopds. The Senator
referred to recent loan by Norfolk,
Va, corporation of 81, 100, 600 Eve per
cent. forty year bonds. payable in
gold" In conclusion, Mr.. Bate COM
mended the pending silver amendment