The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-04-20
CITIZENS
MAY RULE BOARD
Congressional Control of
Monetary Commission De-
ponds on Burrows.

As a result Of the changes which viii
be made In the United states Senate at
the beginning OF the next Congress. It
is extremely probable that control Of
the EatioDaI Monetary Commission.
whic lis charged with investigating the
currency System of the Tilted states
and submitting recommendation -or
change in existing law, viii pass from
Congress into the hands of private
citizens
This situation was brought forcibly
home TO members of Congress by the
announcement Of Senator Hale of Maine
that ne would not contest for his seat
Under the provisions of the law which
created the Monetary Commission mem
bership thereon is permanent When
the commission was created every mem
Der was member Of Congress. There
is now considerable doubt whether the
members Of Congress who also are
members Of the commission viii be in
the majority after March 3, 1911
Congressional control Of the commits
sion rests largely upon the ability u
Senator JT,ii0s Caesar Burrows of Michi-
gan to be reelected. His seat is be-
ing contested by Representative Town
send, and Il Is declared that there IS at
least an even chance that the Senator
VIII be defeated If that proves TO be
true former members of Congress VIII
be in control
The com mission consists of seventeen
members Or that number four are no
longer members Of Congress They are
SeCTetaE Is Gox. who was appointed
while he as a member Of the Senate:
former Senator Teller Of Colorado. for
mer RepF esentatiye Jesse Overstreet OF
Indiana, ? and former Representative
Robert " BOnynge OF Colorado On
March 3, 1911, these citizen members VIII
be Joined by Senator Aldrich. the chair
Ill
who ranks T=ext to Vice Chairman Vree-
land, chairman Of the House Committee
on BANKING and Currency. and Senator
Money Of Mississippi, who viii be sue
ceeded in the Senate by John Sharp
Williams. formerly minority leader Of
the House Senator Daniel Of Virginia
is a member of the commission, but mis-
EOdlIh is such that il is generally &C
czpted that he will not continue as an
f.CS--e member. and for that reason he
Is practically eliminated as factor
This lineup gives eight citizens places
on the commission
OF the remaining nine members Sen
atOrs Burton Of Ohio and Bailey Of
Texas viii continue as members OF the
Senate, while Vice Chairman Vreeiand
Representatives Weeks Of Massac hus-
etts. Smith Of California, Padgett Of
Tennessee, Burgess Of Texas. and PujO
Of Louisiana, seem reasonably certain
Of reelection This gives 20 Congress
eight members Of the commission The
election OF defeat Of Senator Burrows
therefore. VIII decide whether control OF
the commission shall pass from uae-=-
bers OF Congress to retired members OF
Congress.
Members Of the House and Senate, in
discussing this situation today, ex-
pressed the opinion that IL presented an
unsa tisfaCtOry condition which should
be remeCied by an amendment to the
law
II his Getter announcing his retirement
from the Senate Mr.. Aldrich indicated
that he yvOl1.sz retain his membership on
the commission, and il Is believed that
he grII also remain as chairman.