The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-18
ONE MEMBER ADMITS
THAT ALL WERE BOUND
This Done, the Majority Of Cur
rency Committee Force Ad-
journment That They May
Confer and Map Out
Their Course-Party
Whip to Crack.
Tines-Dispatch Bureau,
Munsey Building,
washington, D, c.. Feb. ii

That the Aldrich currency bill will
pass the House Is to-day the belief
of many men who thought last week
that there was little or no chance of
It's getting through the lower branch
of the Congress- The change in Re-
publican sentiment appears to have
been effected through Democratic mis-.
takes in generalship more than
through any other means
In short. the Aldrich BILL according
to present Indications, will be whipped
through the House OF Representatives,
as a partisan measure. The votes
against 1t will be cast by the Demo-
Gratis exclusively. while the Republi-
cans will cast all which will be cast
for it-enough to put it on the statute
books.
The belief that the Democrats had
agreed to support the so-called Will
liams currency bill appears to have
caused the Republicans to decide to
unite in support of the Aldrich bill.
which is now pending in the Senate.
and will be passed by that body in
about ten days or two weeks When
the Committee on Banking and Cur
rency adjourned this morning it was
understood that it was for the purpose
VI diloWiIS Liz lIidJoiIly VI
the committee to confer. It Is well
known that the object of their con-
ference is to agree on line of pro-
cedure, and it is learned the ma
jority of the committee favors uniting
to support the Aldrich bill.
Somebody Talked.
Had not the Democrats allowed the
impression to get out that they had
n the Will
liams bill. there would probably not
have been the slightest chance of the
passage of the Aldrici1 bill. Mr.. VIII
liams. the minority leader, appeared be-
fore the Democratic members of the
Banking and Currency Committee some
time ago, and discussed with them the
features of his proposed bill. The
measure did not meet the views of
the minority members. with one excep-
ton, but it was agreed that they
should not oppose, but unite with the
minority members of the Finance Com
mittee of the Senate In the support OF
the measure. in order to present a
solid front to the country, though
having the right to amend. 1t appears
that there was an understanding that
the details of this agreement were to
be kept secret. Somebody gave them
to the press last week.
1t was evident as soon as the House
Committee on Banking and Currency
met this morning that much interest
had been created among the Republi-
cans by the announcement of the
Democratic agreement.
Democratic members We're questioned
very closely regarding the statement
that they had caucused on the Will
liams bill, and were bound to support
1t. All the minority members present,
with one exception, asserted. that they
did not understand that they We're
bound to support the measure in ques-
ton. The one referred to said it was
| his understanding that the Democrats
| were pledged to stand by the Williams
bill. After some further discussion, a
motion was made by a Republican
member that the committee adjourn
until Wednesday morning, in order to
give the majority of the committee
time to confer. One OF the Democrats
agreed to vote for the motion If the
latter clause We're stricken out. This
portion was withdrawn, and the COM
| mittee adjourned.
Forced Support, of Aldrich Bill.
1t is the belief Of the Democrats OF
the committee that the Republicans OF
| the House will now be compelled to
SuppOtl tIe SAluIlCll Dlll, SluCc tIey
have the impression that the Demo-
Gratis are pledged to support the Wil-
| liams bill.
A member OF the committee, Demo-
crat, told The Times-Dispatch corre-
| spondent this afternoon. that 1t would
have been absolutely impossible for
the Republicans to have passed either
the Aldrich bill or the Fowler bill had
they not formed the idea that the
Democrats We're bound to vote for the
bill which bears the name Of Mr.. Will
liams. 1t has been said that there
We're almost enough Republicans in the
House of Representatives opposed to
the Aldrch bill to insure It's defeat.
But the whip is expected to crack, and
fairly unanimous Republican line-up
for the measure is expected to be the
result. The further result will be the
enactment of the Aldrich bill into law.
1t is peculiar fact in connection
with this bill that it does not appear
to have any enthusiastic friends,
though a majority of the Senate will
undoubtedly vote for 1t, and It looks
now as though a majority of the mem
bers of the House OF Representatives
would do likewise.