The National tribune., 1908-01-09
Currency Reform.

1
seems to be nearer than it was supposed
could be possible a few weeks ago
Speaker Cannon has now consented that
such legislation should be enacted as
soon as may be convenient, and has sig
nified his intention of taking up such q
| bill as soon as it is passed in the Sen
ate. The Senate Finance Committee Is
meeting this week and considering plans
outlined during the holidays. chiefly by
Senator Hale, of Maine, but to some
extent also by Senator'S Aldrich, OF
Rhode Island, the Chairman, and Sen
ator Allison, of Iowa. 1t Is foregone
conclusion that the committee will vote
against any schemes for guaranteeing
the deposits in National banks or for
central bank of issue or for asset cur
rency. 1t will eliminate every plan. ex-
cept one for an issue of about $780,
| 100000 of emergency currency in time
| of financial stress. This issue, as the
situation looks now, will be taxed about
seven per cent year, and will be al
lowed for such National banks. and in
such sums as the United States Sub
Treasurer for the district in which the
bank is located may determine. 1t Is
altogether likely that the bill, as finally
framed by the committee, will allow
| the use of State and municipal bonds
as basis for emergency circulation, but
that all other bonds than Government
bonds will be excluded.
| This is the most important matter
the Senate will have in hand 7this week
1t adjourned Monday, Immediately after
assembling, out of respect for the late
Senator Mallory, who died in the South
during the holidays. The bill will prob
ably be reported out Of committee next
week. Senator Aldrich, is busy pacify-
ling and hypnotiZing the Democratic
Senators, so that they will allow the
bill to slip thru without extended de-
bate. He is the most successful har-
mony man on the Republican side, and
has made it easy for many bill to pass
by dissuading the Democrats from de-
bate. Just now it looks as tho the gen.
orally expected debate on financial con-
ditions might not materialiZe in the
Senate or House, althO three or four
weeks ago Democrats were preparing
material for long-winded speeches, TAX
ing the Republicans to task for dissi-
pating the prosperity of the country.
But it seems as tho the Democrats were
becoming lax about speech-making.
One cannot make powerful address in
Congress, as rule, without consider
able preparation, and there are SO many
other matters pressing for attention that
time becomes more of precious thing
in Washington for Congress ssmen.
There is no way Of suppressing de-
bate in the Senate, except by moral sua-
sion, but Speaker Cannon has planned
all along to gag the House, where it is
not difficult matter. He cannot well
shut off debate on appropriation bills,
which may explain the delay about pre-
pairing these measures for considera-
ton.
Naval Serimmage Likely.
1t is quite likely that one or both
hYo nrhe0 nf rnn will witness
lively scrimmaging over Navy matters,
for the President has virtually thrown
the gauge down to the Congressional
hackers of Admiral Brownson in the
fierce Bureau quarrel with Admiral
Rixey. He has written two letters to
Secretary Metcalf, which have been
given to the public, setting forth his
stand taken by his family physician, DR..
Rixey. Chief of the Bureau of Medicine.
All during the week after he returned
from his Christmas vacation at Pine
Knot, Va, the President was informing
his callers of a desire to bang the heads
of DR.. Rixey's opponents together, and
also to assign some of the fighting Ad-
mirals of the line to the hospital ship
Relief. He virtually does bang the
heads of Admiral Rixeys opponents to-
gether, for he first gives Admiral
Brownson a good dressing down, and
|characteriZes his action in resigning
from the Chiefship Of the Bureau of
Navigation, because q medical officer
was going to be put in command of the
Relief. as "unseemly and improper"
He referred to the same action that
Senator Hale, of Maine, in a recent in
teryiew described as refreshing" for
the Courage and independence" it DEM
onstrated. The President regards it as
imperative to stamp with disapproval
he behavior which, If followed thruout
the Navy generally, would literally ruin
the Nays efficiency"
The President also scores the critics
of the Navy, such as Henry Reuterdahl,
who wrote that the boats were not built
as they should be to attain the highest
efficiency in warfare. Officers who are
supposed to have been furnishing like
Information for a service journal known
as 1.-The Navy" are also given a slap, as
the President says that while defects in
the Navy should be pointed out, it
should not be with hysterical exagger-
alton or malicious untruthfulness." He
thinks it 'reprehensible in the highest
degree to exploit them in grossly exag-
gerated form in the fancied interest of
an individual or clique of individuals" I"
All this and more that he says to the
same end will intensity the attitude of
Congress on questions affecting the
Navy. The war is now on, and it will
probably defeat much legislation that
the Navy hoped to get and that the
President wanted this Winter There
is hardly man in Congress, unless it
be the Speaker, whom the President
could so i'll afford to seriously antagon-
ize as Senator Hale, of Maine He is
the Chairman of the Committee on
Naval Affairs, and comes nearer being
the real leader of the Senate than any
other man there.
Stirringly Things.
In attacking Admiral Brownson, who
by Navy regulations is prevented from
saying anything in return, the Presi-
dent has virtually attacked Senator
Hale, who championed him. To attack
one of the old Senate leaders is gener-
ally to bring down upon ones back all
the influential Senators, and in this case
it will include some of the President's
best friends.
The President is showing his old-time
aggressive spirit in other ways, and has
really opened the new year with invi-
tations for battle all along the line. He
has started up the Department of Jus.
tice anew. With the Presidents full
approval Attorney-General Bonaparte
has announced that he is prepared tc
begin a suit against the Union Pacific
Railroad for dissolution of it's COM
bination with the Southern Pacific
That, of course, is a blow at "Undesir.
able Citizen" Hartman, altho no pro.
ceedings are contemplated against Har.