Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-03-04
POSTAL BANK
BILL IN PERIL
Senate Takes Up Final Debate
With Outcome Very Much
in Doubt.
CUMMINS SCORES ONE
Succeeds in Having Amendment Tack
ed on That Regulars Refuse
10 Swallow.

| Washington. March 4-FTiends of
/ the administration postal savings bank
/ bill did not feel greatly assured as to
/ it's prospects of passage when the SEN
/ ate resumed consideration of the
measure today with the idea of dis
! posing of it during the day. The adop
/ tion of the pending Cummins amend
ment to the Smoot amendment. it was
| felt, would place the bill itself in jeop-
ardy and they were strong in the opin-
! ion every other matter should give
way to the justification of the Smoot
! provision unchanged.
! Provides for Withdrawal.
NThe Smoot amendment provides
that when in the judgment of the
president. war or any other exigency
incolving the credit of the government
so requires. the board of trustees may
withdraw all or any part of said funds
from the banks and invest the same
in bonds or other securities of the
United States"
Would Limit to Time of War.
Cummins sought to change the pro
vision so as to make sure of its ,appli
cation only IN Time OF war.
Root Takes Floor.
Senator Root took the floor to urge
the necessity of putting the bill on
a constitutional basis. His idea was
to afford the people an opportunity to
invest their earnings, he said, and at
the same time put themselves in the
position of supporting their govern
ment With the end in view of es-
tablishing such a system, he said, he
had introduced his amendment pro
viding fo rthe investment of funds in
government securities, and expressed
the opinion that without some such
provision the bill would be invalid.
Does Not Fit Constitution.
LAS the bill now stands l do not
believe that it can be brought within
the description of any of the powers
conferred by the constitution" de-
clared Root. He was opposed to the
present amendments offered to the
bill, but as he considered it impossible /.
to get anything better, he would be |
willing to accept the Smoot provision /
but he thought that it should remain |
unchanged.
Mobilization Held worthless.
Cummins' modification he pronounc- |
ed worthless and as equivalent to wip- /
ing off the statutes any provision for |
government investment as one of the +
purposes of the bill Root continued /
at length against Cummins' amend /
ment and, citing the position of banks /
in times of panic. when they had lost |
the confidence of the people, he want /
ed to know where the government /
would be with $500, 900, 900 of obIiga-
tiOns to depOsitOrs and without other /
security than that supplied by banks
which could no more pay the govern
ment than they could anyone else.
Instead of bankers and brokers go
ing to the wall, the treasury of the
United States will suspend payment
and the credit of the government be
destroyed" he declared.
Omnibus Building Bill.
Washington, March Am omnibus
public buildings bill was decided upon
today by the house committee on pub
lie buildings and grounds and a meas
ure appropriating about SIS 600 900
will be reported to the house.
Hearing for steenersOn.
Washington, March 4.-The house
judiciary committee will hear Steener-
son of Minnesota regarding his dec
laTation in the house yesterday that
improper influences are being used to
secure the passage of the ship sub
sidy bill. The committee will then de-
termine whether the charges will be