The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-06-04
WEST VIRGINIA COAL STRIKE
AND CURRENCY REFORM AL
SO RECEIVE MEASURE
OF ATTENTION.
Much Attention Given to- Search for
Numerous and Insidious Lobby,
Said tO be I'm Capital-Each Menu
her of Senate Will Tcstify-House
Going Slow.

ioDp! winch freSldent wilson has
said is at work in Washington threat
ening the Underwood bill.
some attention also will he de-
verted to the senate investigation of
the West Virginia coal strike which
also will take form this week. Work
on tariff and currency will go on, how
ever, with subcommittee grindings on
the schedules. The leaders hope to
present their work to q caucus soon
and get the bill into the senate not
later than June 23
President Wilson's ccrrespondence
with Senator Tillman which developed
that the president thought currency
reform imperative at the extra session.
to prevent opportunity for any arti-
ficial financial disturbances after the
tariff bill becomes law, probably will
be followed soon with a special mes
sage to- congress conveying Mr.. Will
sons ideas on the general subject.
The lobby investigation will begin
tomorrow morning at 1890 o'clock in
the big judiciary hearing room i'm the
senate Office building. Senator Over
mans investigating committee plans
to hear four senator's an hour.
Each member Of the senate will be
called on to tell what he knows about
a tariff lobby and to go on record as
to his personal business affairs and
professional associations that may re-
late to any item In the tariff bill. All
are expected to respond willingly to
the quiz. but many OF them are won
dering just what 10 say about the
scores OF business and professional
men who have been to see them about
tariff matters since the bill passed
the house.
Just where the investigation will
lead the members Of the judiciary sub
committee, headed by Senator Over
man, do not know. What part Presi-
dent Wilson will take in the inquiry
they have not learned but the presi-
dent openly stated he welcomed the
inquiry and that he had information
regarding q tariff lobby which he will
lingly would submit to the investi-
gators. Whether the president will
appear personally before the commit
tee or communicate information in
writing remains to be developed. The
committee has notified him that tho
inquiry Is on and will leave to his
Judgment the part he is to take.
senators are to be called alphabet
cally In blocks of four, beginning to-
morrow morning, and asked a series
of questions prepared yesterday by
the committee. The first witness
will be Senators, Ashurst, Bacon.
Bankhead and Borah.
Work on the tariff bill will be re-
suined tomorrow. Subcommittees ex-
pect to complete their revision of the
schedules i'm time for the full COM
mittee To begin preparation of re.
port by June 8. The programme is
to submit the bill to a Democratic
caucus by June l6, and to report it
to the senate by June 23.
Meanwhile President Wilson IS
working on his currency message and
house and senate leaders are pre-
pairing bills on currency reform to
DE taken up after the tariff bill Is
passed, provided 1t is decided to pro-
long the extra session. Even should
congress decide to adjourn when the
tariff bill is enacted the banking COM
mittees would be directed to continue
work on currency bills To be submitted
immediately after the opening of con-
gress in regular session next winter.
The West Virginia investigation au-
thorized to be conducted by the edu-
cation and labor committee of the
senate, will be initiated tomorrow by
u subcommittee, composed of Sena-
tors Swanson. Shields. MARITIME, Borah
and Kenyon. II will meet first i'm
Washington to inquire into matters Of
record concerning conditions in the
strike zone and later may proceed to
the scene of the strike In the Pain
Creek coal region. The inquiry prob,
ably Will be- extended over many
weeks
Democratic leaders of the house arc
planning To restrict as far as possi-
BILE. the legislation at this session to
tarin' currency and any appropria-
items that may b. deemed impcra-
tive. This plan is favored by Repre-
sentative Underwood of Alabama, tho
majority leader, and ne will prop psc
" In "A resolution To be- presented It
= caucus OF the house Democrats 20
morrow. All the house committees