South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-10-21
WILSON AGREES
To AME MOMENTS
President Willing to Accept
Changes in Currency Bill in
Hope of Securing a Speedy
Action in Senate Committee.

WASHINGTON. Oct. 21. - With
Pres. Wilson willing TO accept sub
stantial amendments to the admins
tration currency bill in the hope of
securing speedy action on the meas
Ure in the senate committee. support
ers Of the administration Monday
grow optimistic over the chances for
the passage Of the measure before the
end Of the extra session Of congress.
The president himself, in a letter
TO Majority Leader Underwood an
nounced his willingness to consider a
proposal for a recess Of the house be-
cause ne said conferences with mem
bers OF the senate committee led him
TO believe the bill would be reported
to the senate the first week in Novem-
Der and passed during the present
session.
Republican members OF the COM
mittee and Sen. Hitchcock OF Ne
plan as too optimistic. but other
members of the committee said they
hoped to be able to live up to the
presidents expectations.
A reduction in the number OF re-
serve banks fixed by the administra-
ton bill at Il at the removal of the
secretary OF agriculture and the
EOf0DlIOlieI o. lu6 currency lIOn lil6
federal reserve board which would
control the new currency system, were
the amendments which the president
let IL be known he would not oppose.
Witnesses before the senate commit
tee have almost unanimously con-
tended for these amendments, and
majority Of the committee is believed
TO favor them.
Proposed Amendments.
retain the federal reserve board as
a strictly governmental institution.
but would provide that it shall be
composed of seven members. six to
be appointed by the president and to
devote their entire time TO the work
OF the board. and the seventh to be
the secretary of the treasury con-
trolled absolutely by the government.
The proposal for recess of the
house was taken up at the white
house and at the capitol Monday, and
negotiations continued without any
definite conclusion, Pres. Wilson's let
ter TO Mr.. Underwood, made public at
the white house, said the president
was confident the currency bill would
be reported in the senate in the first
week of November. and would be
passed within three weeks there
after
Later Mr.. Underwood sought Rep.
Mann, the minority leader OF the house.
and urged him to consent to the
passage Of a joint resolution for
recess of the house until Nov. Is. Mr..
Mann. who has insisted that congress
should adjourn because of his belief
that the currency bill could not be
enacted at the extra session, post
poned decision on the request until
Tuesday. Then he went to the SEN
ate and discussed with republican
and democrat members the presidents
assertion that the currency bin
probably would be disposed of in
November. II found" Mr. Mann said
later. that the senate was without
a quorum as is the house. l found
that the president had not consulted
with republican senators nor receiv-
ed assurances from them that the
currency bill would speedily be dis
posed Of l found that the president
must have been mistaken or else was
very much misled.
'I found, IN ell probability the
currency bill will not get into the SEN
ate until the next session of congress
and that the president will be lucky
if il passes by February. The pres
ident says there is an ambitious legis
lative program for next winter"