The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-03-03

Washington. d. c., March 2.
|THE Democrats of Banking and
Currency Committee will make
an effort this week to draft
l. and agree upon minority re-
port In opposition to the Fowl
er currency bill, the report to be ac-
companied by bill representing the
views of majority Of the Democrats
Of the committee. The minority of the
committee was to have held a meeting 6
this morning. but owing to the illness
OF Representative Lewis, of Georgia,
senior Democratic member OF the COM
mittee, the meeting was postponed.
1t Is impossible to indicate very
clearly the nature of the measure which
the Democrats will propose in opposi-
tlon to the Fowler bill, which was re-
ported last week. 1t is assured that
the Democrats will not agree upon the
bill which the minority members will
prepare. 1t is known that Representa-
tive Crawford. of North Carolina, and
Ollie James, OF Kentucky. favor tho
Williams bill, and claim that the minor
ity of the Banking and Currency Com
mittee. OF which they are members.
agreed to support the measure.
The rest of the minority members
of the committee assert that they did
not bind themselves to anything. and
that Mr.. Williams went too far In his
speech when he indicated that they
had agreed to support his measure.
Republican Divisions.
Fortunately Tor the Democrats, the
Republicans are also divided on the
currency question-probahly as Sc
riously as Is the minority. The fea-
ture of to-days session Of the Senate
was an .mpassioned speech by Senator
William Alden Smith. of Michigan.
against the Aldrich bill. The new
lSenator-this was his maiden effort in
the Senate-devoted his entire speech
to that feature of the bill which makes
railway bonds security for circulation
He declared that this proposition was
unwise, unjust, unnecessary and un-
safe. He believed that It was step
towards government ownership OF rail-
roads, TO which he was unalterably
opposed. There was great deal of
rhetoric IN Mr.. Smiths speech. but tn.
Democrats of the Senate contend that
there was much sound sense as we'll.
One of the best speeches attacking the
Aldrtch blu was the one made last
week by Senator Knute Nelson. OF
minnesota, whose stalwart Republican,
ism has passed into proverb. It looks
IKE there Is concerted movement on
the part of several Republicans of the
Senate to fight the Aldrich bill.
While 1t is understood that Mr.
Aldrich will consent to allow 1t to be
amended SO as to provide that a ply.
steal valuation OF the property Of the
roads whose bonds 1t is proposed tc
use to secure circulation shall be made
It was made very plain by Mr.. Smith
that even this amendment would no,
cure the measure Of the evils he thinks
1t possesses.
Virginia Rate Cases Advanced.
The Virginia rate cases will be
argued in the Supreme Court on Oc.
tober 18th The order was made b,
the court to-day. The motion for ad.
vancement was made by Alexande,
Hamilton and William B. McIlwaine
counsel for the appellees. and was con.
CURED in by Attorney General Ander-
son. representing the State Corpora
ton Commission. and also by A. C.
RraXton and John w. Daniel associ.
ate counsel representing the commits
sion and the Commonwealth.
There are four of these cases ad-
vanced, to be heard as ono case, all
OF them growing out of the order Of
the Virginia Corporation Commission