The Washington times., 1913-12-17
LECTURE BY KERN
ST|RS UP SENATE
Burton, BristoW, and GaIIinger
Retort Sharply to Charge of
Delaying Currency Vote.

A hot debate broke out in the Sem
ate this morning when Senator Kern.
the Democratic leader, read lecture
to the Republicans charging them with
delaying the currency bill by unneces-
sary speeches. Senator Kern, while
iecturing the Republicans, at the same
time sought an agreement to vote on
the bill on Friday. Senator Bristow OBJ
jected to the agreement, but expressed
the belief the bill would pass by Sat
urday night.
Senator Kern's utterances called forth
sharp replies from Senators GaInnger,
burton, and Bristow. The Indina Sena-
tor was reminded in erect that - II was se
other members of the body On their
duties.
The fact that Senator Kern prefaced
his demand for an agreement WIN
filings at some OF the Republicans. espe-
cialiy at Senator Burton, for submit
ling a long list of questions the other
tfay to Senator owen. and at Senator
Gellinger for nominating Senator Root
for President, led some Of the Repuo-
hcans to wonder whether the Demo,
lrats really wanted to hurry the bill
through or were merely seeking to u
the Republicans N a hole. Senator
.,iallinger said he had sometimes won
tdered as he heard the long speeches
of the Democrats whether they were
really filibustering against the bill
senator Kern began his speech by Civ
ing a history of the bill in the Senate
He said the debate had lasted eighty
hours, and had now reached the stage
of repetition and reiteration and recrimi-
nation. He referred to the list OF aues-
lions submitted by Senator Burton to
senator Owen as "a species of recitation
that called up memories OF the grammar
school"
to the .declination OF great office"
py Senator Root, and said Senator Gal
I:nger accepted the declination," leay-
ing the Presidential boom "a trifiie
more vigorous than 1t was.
Meantime" said Senator Kern, the
people of the country are waiting
hoping, praying to the end that the
uncertainty that now pervades the
business world may be removed. In
many parts of the country banks are
calling their loans without any excuse
He went on to say that business men
cannot get money for their payrolls, and
are temporarily discharging workmeE.
He declared several thousand men are
cut of employment in his own State be-
cause employers cannot meet their pay
rolls. From all parts Of the country, ne
insisted, demands come for speedy ac-
ton. He held that there is little real
difference in the pending bills and that
the sentiment of the country demands
that one of them, pass
1T seems to me that we are trifing
With the business interests Of the coun-
try" he said. He then asked an agree
nleTlt TO vote on Friday.
said with sarcasm: The extremely
kind, temperate utterances of the Sen
ator. from Indiana ought to produce any
result he desires" He expressed regret
- 1l N-0
example OF another Democratic Senator
and read the Senate lecture, telling
Senators their duties He did not be-
lieve there is a -tupuituous demand
for passage of the currency bill. and he
denied that the present depression le
due tc the fact that the bill was not yet
passed He ascribed the depression to
rscent tariff legislation, and said pre-
dictions and prophecies made in the
Tariff debate are coming to pass.
He said we would not object to voting
at once 80 far as he was concerned.
but he had no expectation that the pas
sage of the bill would give relief to
the depression the country might expect
IN the next twelve months. He advised
Senator Kern. when he sought an
agreement, however, to be more tenn
psrate.
Senator Burton, in vigorous speech,
denied any undue delay OF the bill. He
declared the debate had been most
Illuminating
Must the Senator from Indiana" h.
asked, swallow a measure whole SIM
ply because the caucus orders it?' He
declared It was not delay in passing this
Dill that was causing depression. 1t
was apprehension of the results that
would follow its passage. It was dis
trust of the majority of House and
Senate It was the wrench of passing
tariff bill which had thrown tens OF
thousands out of employment. People
we're waiting with fear and trembling
on this Congress- action, he declared.
Must the caucus or the Administra-
tion foreclose the right of a Senator to