Los Angeles herald., 1910-03-05
CLASH PREVENTS
BANK BILL VOTE
SENATE ADJoURNS AFTER RED
HOT CONFLICT
MEMBERS, DIFFERING, CHAMPION
OWN OPINIONS
Arguments Center Largely In War
Time mendment-Carter, Smoot,
Cummings and Clay In Thick
est of the Fray
Associated Pressl

lASSOCldleu IlNSoi
WASHINGTON March 4.-After
laboring for almost six hours today In
atmosphere surcharged with the cleo
trlcity generated by conflicting opin-
ions the senate again failed to reach
a vote on the postal savings bank Dill,
and took a recess until tomorrow.
BY this action the Legislative day OF
March is continued until tomorrow.
There is some uncertainty Whether
final action will be reached even then.
When the recess was taken, Senator
Carter said seven or eight senator's
desired to speak and he did not want
to guess how many other speeches
might follow.
Beginning at 11:3o today, the flow
of oratory continued until after
o'clock, when Mr. Carter moved re-
cess until Has a. m. tomorrow.
During the day there were speeches
by Senators Root, Carter, Cummins,
Rayner Clapp, Borah. Clay, New
lands and others, representing almost
as many views as there were speakers.
War Clause the Bono
The Cummins amendment to the
Smoot amendment, limiting to times
of war the exigences in which the pos
tai funds may be withdrawn from the
banks in which they are deposited,
was the technical subject of discus
sion during the entire sitting, and
during that time there were many
rather acrid exchanges Of views.
Senator Root dwelt strongly on the
necessity of protecting the credit of
the country. Mr.. Carter strongly Sec
onded Mr.. Roots appeal and drew a
vivid picture of the possibility of an
unexpected national need for funds.
Both Senators Clay and Cummins
charged Mr.. Smoot with inconsist-
ency In originally presenting an
amendment prohibiting the withdrawal
of the postal funds from the local
banks and following that up with an
other provision authorizing such with
drawals.
Defends Course
Mr. Smoot defended his course on the
ground that he had been convinced OF
the unconstitutionality of the pro-
posed law without provision bringing
within the borrowing clause of the
constitution. Senator Carter frankly
said his change of position was due
to the parliamentary necessity of put
ting the bill in shape to insure Its
passage.
Answering questions by Mr.. Clapp
Mr.. Root said his amendment contem-
plated the investment of the postal
funds in bonds to be issued hereafter.
He said he hardly thought the postal
savings board would approach invest
ment in the $730.000000 existing per
cent bonds as some had feared.
Appealing for candid treatment of
the question, Mr.. Carter, in charge of
the bill. said even IL the postal funds
should be invested I'm government Sc
curities no harm could result, as most
funds would consist Of money now
boarded.
Would Spell Doom
He declared that the acceptance of
the Curnmins amendment would insure
the defeat of the bill.
Mr. Borah supported the Cummins
amendment He said the Sfnoot pro-
vision would be a constant threat to
every bank taking the postal money;
that those who would divert legisla-
tion from the purposes for which it
was instituted must take the respon-
sibillty for the defeat OF the bill.
The proposition pending, Mr.. Clapp
declared. was totally different from
the original postal bank design. and
he warned Republicans that the time
would come when excuses would not
be taken for broken party pledges"
Mr.. Clapp expressed surprise at Mr..
Carter's support of the Smoot amend
ment, declaring he had never heard