The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1913-04-11
Plan MONEY BILLS
DEMOCRATS PROPOSE TO HAVE
THE MEASURES READY FOR
REGULAR SESSION.
MATERIAL FOR COMMITTEE
Program for Congress Next December
includes Also Antitrust LesisIa-
tIon. Conservation, Public Land
Laws and Army ReoraanIxatIons.
BY GEORGE CLINTON.

BY GEORGE CLINTON.
Washington.-The Democratic lead
ers say they do not wish the country
to understand. because the chances
are that the tariff will be the sole sub
ject for legislative action at the extra
session, that the party In congress
does not intend to pave the way for
other legislation and to give due atten-
| ton In studious way to everything
covered by the platform pledges.
II the currency is not considered at
the extra session 1t will be studied by
the committees on banking and cur
rency. the one OF the house and the
other OF the senate 1t Is extremely
probable that by the time the extra
session adjourns both Of these COM
mittees will have agreed upon MAORI
ty reports on the currency, which will
be very much alike In character 1t Is
possible that they will be identical.
but II they are to be identical the
house committees members must
yield something in the way of compro-
mise to the senate committee mem
bers. and the reverse,
The thought OF the Democratic lead
ers is that it will be wise to have cur
rency legislation, as 1t is the partys
intention to pass 1t definitely outlined
by the time the extra session adjourns
In order that the country may be given
chance to get acquainted between
sessions with what it is that the party
In power intends to do along currency
reform lines
Sure to Cause Trouble.
There is bound to be a lot of trou-
bic over currency reform. 1t is safe
enough to put this prophesy down as
fact because there has been strong
opposition to every currency measure
which has been proposed since the
government was founded Through
the Pujo committee which investigated
matters concerning the so-called
money trust and through hearings held
by other committees, the Democratic
party In congress already has a good
deal OF information concerning the
diverse views on financial legislation
held by banks and business men in the
United States. Moreover, the commit
tees will have the voluminous report
Of the commission appointed by Re-
publican congress to consider cur
rency legislation, a committee of
which Nelson w. Aldrich, former sena-
tor from Rhode Island, was the chair
man.
The two committees on banking and
currency. therefore, will have all
sorts of material to draw upon for in
formation, and in addition they prob
ably will summon more bankers and
more business men to give any addi-
tional views which they may have
upon this subject.
Program for Regular Session.
Already the Democrats have framed
= tentative program for the regular
session. which will begin next Decem-
Der. They are looking beyond the
tariff and taking it for granted that
the customs legislation will occupy the
entire time of the extra session, and
they are preparing the way for the
| consideration of antitrust legislation,
conservation, public land measures
and army organizations when the Po-
tomac freezes next winter.
The Democratic leaders think that
the three great legislative measures
upon which the continued dominance
Of their party depends are the tariff.
the currency and antitrust enact
nents. President Wilson believes, and
has said so publicly, that competitive
conditions can be restored In the BUSH
ness OF the United States. The lead.
srs say that there can be but one
meaning to this. that the big corpora
lions or trusts not only must be split
INTO their component parts. but must
be made to do business as individual
companies, without entering into any
rade combinations Which will be con-
| rary to the antitrust laws after they
aave ben amended
This seems to be the program as
definitely arranged. At the extra ses.
ar session, currency and antitrust
legislation, II there is time for the con
sideration. OF both without having the
swo subjects up at the same time.
/ Murdoch May Lead Progresslves.
Members of the next house who
were elected as representatives of the
Progressive party are casting about
for a leader. The Progressive mem
bership will not be large, but 1t will
be big enough to form formidable
lighting force In itself. and especially
formidable one, il an understanding
Is reached between the Progressives
and the progressive Republicans.
Progressives who have been look
ng about for a leader have been un
able to find one in their own ranks
who they think would measure up te
the requirements of the coming occa
sion, not because there is any lacl
Of ability in the Progressive ranks
they say. but because there is lacl
Of experience among them in house
procedure and In matters legislative
II is rumored, and In fact some