Evening star., 1908-05-06
NO CONCLUSION IS REACHED
REPUBLICAN MEMBERS OF THE
HOUSE CONFER.
Understood That the Majority Ap'
proves Of the Principles Of the
Vreeland Currency Bill.

The republican members of the House
Of Representatives spent three hours in
caucus conference last night without
being able to get together on a plan tor
currency legislation at the present ses-
sion of Congress. and will meet again at
8 o'clock tonight and make another at
tempt. 1t was decided early in the even
ing that the caucus. conference or what
ever it may be called should not be
binding upon members.
There was a large attendance. but no
very marked enthusiasm except of a per-
sonal character. when Speaker Cannon
took the floor 1t was evident from the
beginning that there were so many men,
bers who would desire to be heard that
1t would be impossible to reach con-
clusion at one sitting. The discussion
was based on the following resolution.
| which was introduced by Representative
Bennett of New York:
Resolved, That the conference ap-
proves the underlying principles of the
Vreeland bill, namely, the recognition OF
commercial paper through clearing house
associations a safe and logical asset
for emergency currency, and also ap-
proves the proposition for currency
commission; and be it further
Resolved. That committee Of five be
appointed to perfect the bill. such COM
adjourned meeting to be held in five
days
A number of speeches for and against
the resolution were heard, notably one
by Speaker Cannon warmly supporting It..
Conference Not Binding.
Representative Prince of Illinois offered
a resolution declaring the meeting to be
a conference. not a caucus. and declaring
that he would not be bound by the action
of his party associates. Speaker Cannon,
who was warmly applauded when he rose
to speak. declared that caucus and a
conference were the same. and that no
member could be bound by either After
various other members had declared
themselves along the same line Mr.. Vree-
land said ne had no objection to Mr..
although the old war horse. Gen. keifer.
thought I'VE should have a caucus that
would bind"
Mr.. Townsend Of Michigan moved that
Thursday evening Of this week the re-
publican members meet in caucus to de-
eide the attitude of the majority on an
anti-in junction bill. The motion was ruled
out of order. Mr.. Townsend then asked
! unanimous consent to such a caucus, but
objection was heard.
Representatives Vreeland, Fowler Hill
Of Connecticut. Burton Of Ohio. Waldo,
Weeks of Massachusetts,. Campbell of
Kansas and Speaker Cannon spoke. in the
order named, alternately for and against
the Bennet resolution.
The Speakers Views Applauded.
The Speaker gave the resolution his
unreserved support. saying that he was
warmly in favor of the principle upon
which the vreeland bill was based. The
unpopularity of the Aldrich bill was due,
he said. to the reserve amendment and
the amendment adopted by the Senate at
the suggestion of Senator al Toilette.
These provisions he regarded as deserved
ly unpopular. and said that his col
leagues. Mr. Prince, Mr.. Fowler and a
few other members. had used those
features of that measure Ito hoodoo the
ed. he said. to present an emergency cur
rency measure free from these incum-
brances, and he believed that If such a
measure could be enacted into law it
would result most benef1cially. He de-
clared that the present banking law
which had proved so effective had in its
formative stages been the subject of
quite as much opposition as is the vree-
land bill now. and he asserted that the
Vreeland bill. if.it should become a law.
might in its way be as beneficial as the
present law. The existing law. he said,
is intended to meet normal conditions,
while the Vreeland bill would meet half
normal conditions.
The Speaker was listened to most at
tentively. and at the close of his remarks
was loudly applauded.
Regarded With Favor.
The Vreeland forces. which are under
stood to constitute a very substantial
~, ,or;tv ~ tho ren,lt,licans in the Hovse