The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1913-12-12
FINAL ATTACK ON
CURRENCY BILL
BEGAN LAST NIGHT WHEN
sen. HITCHCOCK OFFERED
HIS AMENDMENTS.
These Were Important and If
Adopted VIII vitality Affect Bill
Root Offers Amendments.

WASHINGTON. Dec. 1.-THE fnal
assault on the detailed provisions of
the administration currency bill was
taken In the Senate tonight, Senator
Hitchcock OF Nebraska, leading the
attack. In a lull In the food OF cur
rency oratory which has occupied the
Senate day and night for nearly two
weeks. Senator Hitchcock began the
presentation OF his amendments 20 the
bill. declaring In a dramatic speech
that he declined TO consider the meas
ure completed by the Democratic
caucus as unalterable.
Senator Hitchcock quoted President
Wilson's book. The New Freedom
TO show that the President was on
record against caucus committee leg
islation and was in favor of the con-
sideration OF reform measures "in the
full light OF publicity
Il have no purpose to delay the con-
sideration OF this bill' said Senator
Hitchcock, but deplore the tendency
OF Senators on both sides of this
chamber to regard this bill as fore
closed TO amendment by the action
OF the Democratic caucus. The Presi-
dent has proclaimed time and again
that discussion in public was above all
things the most important consider
alton I'm legislation"
Senator Gallinger. the Republican
leader. suggested that the president
had approved of the caucus on the
tariff bill. and also had approved tho
caucus on the currency bill.
Expressed His Doubts.
II doubt that" said Senator Hitch
cock. emphatically. 81 schalI not be-
h.
that men who have assured me that
they would not be bound against their
convictions by any caucus. will stul-
tify themselves and come in here 10
vote against the things in which they
believe"
The Hitchcock amendment 10 sec
/ tion two of the bill. providing for the
| organization of four regional reserve
banks instead of eight or l. and pro-
viding for the sale of the stock In
the regional banks by public subscrip-
! tion underwitten by the banks, was
I the first.
Senator Burton OF Ohio occupied
the greater part OF to-day's session
! with an argument favoring a great
central bank as against the regional
/ bank plan
Two important amendments TO the
I administration bill were presented
| late to-day by Senator Root. one pro-
: posed TO eliminate entirely the pro-
/ vision that a portion of the earnings
/ OF the new system should be i'm
J pounded in fund TO guarantee the
/ deposits Of member banks. The other
would provide a new reserve section
under which the regional re> ve
banks would be required TO hold
( reserve Of fifty per cent against all
! demand liabilities, deposits. as well
/ as note issues
| At to-night's session Senator owen
made vigorous reply 20 Senator
J Hitchcock and endeavored in vain to
force "A vote on the first Hitchcock
amendment he declared that "the
obvious intention OF the Senator from
Nebraska Is TO show that the President
OF the United States has exercised
tyr3nnical powers over the Senate.
/ Il regard II as poor party loyalty"
Z he continued. "for the Senator from
. Nebraska to misrepresent the Presi-
dent OF the United States. II is
strange that the Senator from Nebras-
ka is he only Democrat who knows
Z what the Democrats Of the Senate
and the Democrats OF the House want
Z in this BILL