Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1908-02-21

on currency unless the value ana cost
of reproducing the road should have
been ascertained by the interstate COM
merce commission.
Williams Currency Bill.
What will be known as the minority
currency bill was introduced in the
house by John Sharp Williams, the
Democratic leader. This measure was
the result of a conference with the mi
nority members of the committee on
banking and currency The bill pro-
vidcs that the total liabilities of any
national bank shall not exceed 80 per
cent of the capital stock, irrespective
of discounts; that no national bank
shall lend i'll the aggregate more than
seven times the amount of its paid up
capital plus its unimpaired surplus
Violation of these provisions is made
punishable by fine or imprisonment. 1t
would allow any national bank to keep
80 per cent of it's reserve in United
States bonds or in the bonds of states
or certain municipalities, and the elias
tic currency feature is contained in a
section which provides that these mu-
nicipal bonds may be deposited in the
nearest subtreasury in exchange. for
United States emergency treasury
notes. A striking feature of the bill is
the authorization of a tax of one-six-
tenth of per cent on deposits to create
q fund Of $15,O 900 to insure the funds
of depositors in case of the failure of a
bank. The final section of the bill pro-
vides a penalty of fine or Imprisonment
for any bank officer who shall make a
loan for the purpose of stock gambling.
Notes.
The house committee on war claims
has reported unanimously bill to re-
imburse owners of confiscated proper
4ty In the south during the war, involv-
ing possible outlay of $1O,OOO,OOO.
III opposing the senate amendment to
the deficiency bill granting $1,S75 to
Senator Bankhead for service on the
inland waterways commission Tawney
in the house, made the point that the
president had exceeded his authority
In creating that commission.
One lone Democrat in the house sum
moned courage to attack the Bryan
leadership. This was Leake Of New
Jersey, who charged Bryan with TAX.
Ing the "big stick" from the presiden,
and with "crucifying the policies OF
Democracy on the cross OF socialism,
The Republicans applauded this very
enthusiastically. but Kisses came from
the Democratic side.
Chairman jenkins of the house ju
dietary committee lectured the Rev. S
-. Nicholson, who appeared for the
American Antisaloon league to urge
prohibition measures. jenkins told hin
that congressman did not want to re
port bills for the sake of Christianity
or anything else that they knew would
be turned down by the courts. Wher
the antiprohibitionists were heard by
this committee Feb. II Theodore Su
tro. president of the New York brancl
| OF the German-American alliance, sale
that IL the law could say what mai
| should or should not drink 1t could alst
say thou shalt not take q mouthful Of
mince pie or a tumbler Of water" i
was his belief that as many murder:
had been committed by dyspeptics, re
sulting from mince pie and ice water
as by men inflamed to violence By
strong drink,
A resolution was offered In the house
by Pou Dem., N. O. calling for the ap
pointment Of committee of fivetto as
certain what corporations contributed
to the presidential campaign funds ii
1896, 1900 and 1904.
The two resident commissioners OF
the Philippine assembly, Pablo ocampc
and Benito Legarda, have been intro
duced to the leaders of the house and
senate by Secretary Taft and have
been assigned to seats in the house
They will have the right Of debate, but
may not vote or introduce bills.
Stephens Of Texas succeeded In get
ting before the house an arraignmen1
of Attorney General Bonaparte for the
action Of the department of justice IL
dismissing indictments against five In
dian Territory men accused of defraud
ing the Chickasaw Nation out of S31,
600 by means of false expense vouch
ers.