The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-12-12
CONSERVATIVES WILL
FIGHT FOR A DELAY
Men Who Rank in That Class
Will Join With the Tariff Re-
visionists in a Demand for
Some Action.

islation, which promises to be more
serious than that which developed
against the Aldrich tariff law.
In both senate and house 1Een who
rank as conservatives have joined
with the tariff insurgents in demand
ing action. The movement is so
strong that the standpat leaders now
are fighting only for delay unit. after
the report OF the national monetary
reform commission shall be made.
This report will recommend CEN
trail bank and, it is believed. the gen.
eral scheme of which that institution
will be the basis will be SO ccnlpre-
hensive as to demonstrate that postal
savings banks are unnecessary.
influences for Proposition.
It is not probable, however, these
men will have their way. In his an
nual message President Taft asserted
he saw no reason why the establish
ment of postal savings banks should
be tied up" with the general plan of
currency reform. Undoubtedly this is
the view Of a large proportion Of the
members of the senate and house. The
influences working in favor of the pro-
position are:
Party politics which justify the de-
mand that the pledge in the republi-
can platform of last fall be carried
out.
The desire of the president, as ex-
pressed in his annual message.
The Importance to the republican
party of uniting the two factions upon
at least one issue Of popular interest.
The single force which is working
against the proposed legislation is
made up almost entirely of the bank
ing interests. 1t has it's agents in
Washington who are conducting a de-
termined campaign in favor of delay.
These agents have their spokesman
in both senate and house and they are
devising various ways along which to
shunt the proposition. and the end of
which is the abyss of inaction.
Subcommittee 10 Significant.
AS an indication of the methods pur-
sued. attention is called to the per-
sonnet of the subcommittee on post Of
fees and post roads. which was ap-
pointed today, to consider all bills
with reference to the postal savings
banks.
This subcommittee is made up Of
four republicans. Representatives Gar
dner of New Jersey, Huff of Pennsyl-
vania. Fassett and Durey of New York
and two democrats. Representatives
Moon of Tennessee and Small of
North Carolina.
It will be noted there Is not a mid
die western or western man on this
committee. 1t is made up of repre-
sentatives of the east and south.
where there is comparatively languid
interest in postal savings banks.
Gardner believes there should be no
postal legislation of this character I'M
til after the national monetary COM
mission has made it's report. Huff is
banker. Fassett is vice president
of the Second National bank of Elmi-
IA. New York. Durey is president of a
lumber company and has many CAPT
talistic connections. The two demo-
Gratis do not count.
Plan to Hold Hearings.
1t is proposed. after the post office
appropriation bill is out of the way,
that this subcommittee shall grant
hearings. 1t is true the subject has
been discussed exhaustively, but it is
insisted there are SO many features
connected with the distribution of the
money which would be deposited that
1t is necessary to proceed in the pre-
paratlon OF such measure with the
greatest caution and consideration.
after the subcommittee completes its
inquiry it will make report to the
full committee. and that committee
will determine whether or not to sub
nit favorable report to the house.
This is the ordinary routine and it
furnishes ample opportunity for delay.
There are many members who have
been friendly to the speaker who as
sert they will not stand for any such
tactics. One of these is Representa-
tive Martin b. Madden of Chicago. who
for years has favored postal savings
banks.
Madden last summer mailed 5000
letters to his constituents asking them
to express their views upon the postal
savings bank bill which he had intro
duced. He received 1880 replies, and
only one of these opposed the scheme
Fortified by this backing Mr.. Madden
went to Representative Weeks. chair
man of the committee on post offices
and post roads, and in blunt language
declared he did not propose to coun-
tenance inaction.
Madden Stirs Up Weeks.
Madden told Weeks that whether or
not he favored the legislation he was
responsible to the house as chairman
of one of it's committees and he must
act in accordance with the will of the
majority. .
The Chicagoan pointed out also that
every member of congress must act,