The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-03-05

HE Democratic members of the
House Committee on Bankins
and Currency met to-day and
Il decided that they would re.
port the Williams currenc,
! bill next Saturday, and accompany 1t
with report recommending that IT
be substituted for the Fowler bill,
tority.
Only one OF the Democrats of the
committee Is for the bill. 1t is a most
remarkable state OF affairs that seven
members of a committee of Congress
should recommend the enactment OF a
measure which six OF them do not ap-
prove. The Democrats of the Commit
tee on Banking and Currency are
Messrs. Lewis. of Georgia; Jujo. of
Louisiana; Glass. of Virginia: Gillespie.
OF Texas: James. of Kentucky; Craw-
ford. of North Carolina. and McHenry,
of Pennsylvania.
MI James, Of Kentucky. is the sole
Democrat of the seven named who
favors the bill known as the Williams
bill. Mr.. Williams appeared before the
minority members of the committee
over month ago, and after having
outlined the bill. asked them to sup
port It, The only member of the COM
mittee who Endorsed the measure was
Mr.. James.
Every one of the other six minority
members told Mr. Williams frankly
that the bin was faulty and that he
could not support it. But Mr.. Will
ltams, in currency speech in the
House few days later. declared that
he spoke by authority. and that the
bill would receive the unanimous in
dorsement OF the minority of the com.
mittee on banking and currency. This
ties the hands of the minority of the
committee, and they are forced to
sit by and watch some kind of a
fight being made for bin which is
to have the imprimatul of their a.,.
proval and must be given their votes
yet OF which they do not at all ap-
prove.
Pork for Votes on Bill.
There is only very faint hope
expressed by Republicans that there
will be currency legislation of any
character this session. 1t looks
as though the Aldrich bill will
be greatly charged in the Senate.
II does not appear as though 1t
We're possible. to get it through the
House in any form. The Fowler bill
might pass the House though this is
matter of grave doubt, but 1t would
meet sure death in the Finance Com
mittee of the Senate.
There is growing impression tha.
the Speaker of the House and the
coterie of leaders of that body who
favor the Aldrich bill are using the
Public Buildings Committee to make
votes for the measure. Speaker Can
non surprised the House by allowing
1t to be known few days ago that he
would not oppose the enactment OF a
moderate" public building bill at this
session. his idea of moderation being
a bill which should not carry a total
appropriation in excess of $4,000. 900.
1t Is quite generally reported, and IS
not denied that votes for the Aldrich
bill are to be obtained by promises
of slices of pork in the form Of ap-
preparations for public buildings in
various country towns. This bin
will probably greatly strengthen the
bill in the House.
Plans for Richmond Post Office.
I'VE shall be doing exceedingly we'll
If we have awarded the contract for
the Richmond post-offlce by the early
fall" said Mr.. c. Z. Ilemper, executive
officer Of the office OF tho Supervising
architect of the Treasury to-day Our
force is working on the plans. 1t is