The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-02-19
THEDEBATE BECAME RED hot
CONGRESSMAN jones and U. S. Senator
Martin are Referred To.
The STATE BANK BILL is PASSED.
This Measure Authorizes the fssusnc OF
Notes Kedeemablc In Silver Bullion.
Discussion as to Exempting News
papers from taxation.

Yesterday Senator Thomas > Martin ana
congressman W. a. Jones were referred
10 and some little feeling was manifested.
senators Barksdale ana Flood will close
me debate on tais measure to-day, ana
a vote will be taken.
rho ,nnropriation bin was reported 20
me senate. but II was not given TO the
press. IL will come up as the special or
der this morning.
Judge watkins bin 90 authorize state
hanks TO issue their notes redeemable III
silver bullion was passed by the House.
The Senate met with prayer by Rev.
Or. George Cooper.
The resolution passed by the House
Thursday complimentary OF Consul-Gen-
cral Lee was concurred IN.
Mr. Fairfax. from the Committee on
FINANCE. reported the appropriation Dill
A, tho request Of the committee, clerk
Ru,fon declined 10 allow the newspaper
reporters TO make copy OF the Dill anu
n was sent Immediately TO the printer.
Mr. Wickham Of the committee. moved
that when the Senate should adjourn
n be To meet at II o'clock to-day.
ytis object was 20 fix the ap-
propriation hill as the special ana conun-
ming order for that hour. lie said 'hiS
xas a most important measure ana &C
commanding Il were tables containing
statistical information.
The Senate agreed 10 his motion ana
the hill was made the special order Tot
il o'clock to-day.
THE SENATORIAL BILL.
me Senatorial primary bill came up
as tho special order a. 1890 O'Clock and
Mr.. Boykin addressed the Senate In oppo-
sition 10 II. After complimentins 'he
argument made by Mr.. Wickham. the gem
,ieman from Isle OF wight addressed him
self TO the constitutiouality Of the ACT
arguing with much force That its proVis-
IONS were i'm violation of the organic law
Of the country and State lie called u an
iniqutous measure. With reference 10 inc
provision made for instructing meihprs
OF the legislature Mr.. Boykin sald II his
district with unanimity should instruct
him 10 vote for 4 and the balance ot the
state should endorse " ne believed now
that his conscience would tell him II
was his duty and that ne was I'm honor
hound 10 support A. This feature OF the
bill was vigorously attacked.
The speaker reminded the Senate that
n the Keezel amendment 10 the consu-
tuition should be adopted. there would
not only be at one time state ana county
elections but Senatorial primaries This
was "A matter TO be carefully considered.
for with so many elections and heated
contests the Democratic party would
likely suffer.
Attention was next given 10 tho consu-
futional provision for the secrecy OF the
ballot and II was contended that TINS
bill would destroy the sanctity Of the
ballot.
A DANGEROUS MEASURE
Replying 20 Mr. Barksdale's statement
that the Senate Of the United States
had ceased TO be a body of statesmen
and had become a millionaires' club and
the home Of corporation attorneys Mr..
Boykin said this bill would afford the
best opportunity for the use of corporate
wealth. He would risk the prediction
that on the stump in the last campaign
Mr.. Barksdac denounced the methods
used IN the campaign of lS90-vhen en-
ployers voted their employees in bodies
like flocks of sheep. The law proposed
would throw down tho bars and open
the way for the use OF almost limitiess
wealth in order to secure Senatorsnips.
Before such radical change as that
proposed were made there should be evils
resulting from the system and there
should be demand from the people for
the change There was no such demand
from his section for the change and the
evils did not exist.
Mr.. Boykin stated that II was well
known fact that the advocates Of the
primary plan conducted secret canvass
before the Roanoke Convention met ana
were we'll organized there while the oppo-
nents were not organized: vet the pri-
mary plan was not adopted. He wanted
20 know If II was expected that Virginia
would secure greater men under the pri-
mary plan than she has had in the past
and greater than her present distinguished
senior Senator and her other able repre-
sentative.
Mr.. Boykin spoke for about an hour
and while ne was talking the galleries
rapidly filled up.
MIR HALE FAVORS 1T.
Mr.. Hale favored the bill in all Of its
details. Replying TO Mr. Wickhams re-
mark that the tickets and ballot boxes
To be provided for the Populists should
be painted green ne said he would re-
mind the Hanover gentleman that the
party TO which ne belonged in it's con-
Vention at Chicago appeared to enjoy
grazing I'm pastures Of green. Not only
did the Democrats at that time feed on
the green fruit OF the Populists but they
were still feeding on it. They were not
wen willing for the fruit 10 Tipen.
Mr.. Hale said that the Peoples party
had declared for the election of Senators
by popular vote and he would risk the
prediction that in less than four years
the Democrats would have "a similar
plank in their platform lie wanted TO
know II a man could so on the stump and
say TO John smith. John. you have
sense enough to vote for me but YOU are
not capable of voting for United States
Senator" But such was the position of
the opponents Of this measure. He sup
ported the bill because he approved OF
the principle upon which 1t was based.
He said the people from the cloud-capped
mountains TO the sandy shores Of the
sea wanted this bill passed and If any
man doubted IT all that necessary 10
convince himself was 10 make tho ques-
tion an issue before the people.
MIR MORRIS VIEWS.
Mr.. Morris followed by Mr.. Hale and
opposed the bill. He denied that there
was a great public demand for this mea-
sure IL was a movement that had its
origin with a few disappointed Office
seekers. lie was opposed 10 the bill on
principle for he did not favor the cleo
ton OF Senators by tho vote of the peo-
pie. Ills people knew his position and
were willing TO srust him. The title of
the bill was misnomer and a catch
trap. The bill was fun OF defects and
ats advocates could not defend It. The
question was not as to whether or not
we wcr, willing 10 trust the people but
what was the best method of ascertain
ing the will OF the people. He believed
the present system the best. The United
States Senatorships were made Issues In
legislative campaigns and the people