The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1908-06-05

Burton. speech Burton Of
Ohio. a strong administration man,
criticised the senate for this big in
crease in expenditures and urged the
house to call halt on the usurpatiOn
of the upper house by not yielding
when appropriations were swelled in
that body. Burleson Of Texas, Demo
crat, spoke in similar vein, but another
Democrat. Fitzgerald of New York,
said it was idle to lay the blame on
the senate when the house had the
power to reject any and all the addi-
tions IL 1t saw fit. He reminded the
majority party that it would be held
responsible.
Commodity Clause to Stand.
The Elkins motion to suspend the
penalties under the clause of the rate
law prohibiting railroads from owning
other kinds Of property was killed in
the senate after the Foraker amend
ment had been voted down-32 to %.
The latter proposed to limit the appli-
cation of the clause to those properties
acquired since the rate law was
passed. This would have saved the
coal roads from further annoyance.
AIdrich- VreeIand Compromise.
After it was generally believed that
the house and senate were hopelessly
deadlocked on the character of the cur
rency bill to be passed all the influ-
ence of Speaker Cannon and Senator
Aldrich was brought to bear upon the
conferees to report compromise meas
ure embodying parts of the Vreeland
and Aldrich bills. This was done. and
two hours after the report reached the
house it had passed that body-1G6 to
40. Fourteen Republicans cast their
votes with the solid minority against
the compromise, regarding it as worse
than either of the original bills. The
basis of the compromise was the al
lowance of about so per cent of the
proposed currency under the Aldrich
plan and 20 per cent under the Vree-
land plan through clearing house asso-
Citations. Railroad bonds are again in
troduced as assets for the new curren-
cy, and financial banks in the big
money centers will be allowed to issue
on such bonds up to their capital and
surplus, while no bank may use more
than 80 per cent of its capital and sur
plus on commercial assets also the
big banks are to deal directly with
the treasury. which is compelled to is
sue notes to them on the bonds offered.
The bill contains the provision for a
currency commission to probe the
nil nP nj M hnr
each branch. Opposition in the SEN
ate was anticipated from the minority;
also from La Toilette and q few Of the
Republicans The Democrats regard
it as asset or credit banking, pure and
simple. which they are opposed to on
principle.
Against Popular Senators.
Senator Owen of Oklahoma gave the
senate chance to show its attitude
on the somewhat delicate question of
an amendment to the federal constitu-
ton providing for the popular election
of senators. His joint resolution to
that effect was pigeonholed in the CON-
mittee on privileges and elections by
vote of SO to 20. Owen said that the
legislatures of twenty-seven states had
petitioned congress to favor this plan,
and he asked the senators from those
states to join him. But few Of them
did so. Penrose Of Pennsylvania want
ed an amendment calling for repre-
sentation in the senate according to
population Of the several states. On
this plan Pennsylvania would have
fifteen senators.
The New Militia Law.
Both branches have passed the Dick
bill for a reorganization Of the state
militia. 1t gives the president author
ity to call out the guard to the number
of 10000. armed, equipped and disci-
plined In harmony with the regular
nrmy. This important item was rush.
ed through the house. fixing an annual
appropriation Of 100000 for the
equipment Of the militia and $2,000,0 900
more for its general support. 1t also
creates a bureau Of the militia in the