The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-08-21
SENATORS HOPE
TO IMPROVE BILL
They Are Considering Possible
Changes in Currency
Measure.
CONFIDENT OF PASSAGE
House Completes General De-
bate and Is Ready to Com
plete Amendments.
CONFIDENT OF PASSAGE

Washington, August 2o.-While
Democrats of the House were thrcsh-
ing out differences over the admins
tration currency bill in caucus to-day.
Chairman owen and his Democratic as
sociatcs on the Senate Currency Com
mittcc began the consideration Of pos
sible changes to be made in the meas
ure when 1t is taken up in the Senate.
Senator Owen visited the White House
early in the day and held Il short con-
ference with the President. He made
1t clear later that he expected to sup
port the administration bill, but that
he held himself free to recommend
such changes an he considered advis-
able. His suggestion yesterday to
members OF the committee that changes
might be necessary In the plan for
regional reserve banks caused gem
eral comment in congressional circles
to day.
Changes SuGgcstcd.
The meeting Of the Democratic mem
hers OF the Senate committee to-day
brought out number of tentative
suggestions for amendments. but no
definite plan OF action. Senators
Shafroth and Hollis. at the conclusion
of the conference, expressed confidence
that "A currency measure would be
passed at this Congress and Chair
man owen said there was no doubt
of it,
II believe we will perfect a bill that
VIII be satisfactory to the administra-
ton" said Senator Hollis. Il expect
to support what is known as the adj
ministration bill, but the Senate would
not think 1t had done it's duty If it did
not improve it,"
Among tho suggestions consider red
by the Senate committee to-day was
one by Senator Shafroth TO drop all
present forms of paper currency cx-
ccpt the silver certificates and replace
them with treasury notes secured by n
so per cent reserve fund: and another
by Senator Rces 10 have the treasury
issue money directly to the banks under
careful restrictions.
Chairman owen opposed suggestions
for the adoption Of a plan similar to
that embraced in the Lea bill now in
present Aldrich- Vreeland emergency
currency law. He insisted this would
commit the Democratic party to the
Aldrich- Nrccland plan and would be
politically Objectionable; and that it
would contemplate the issuance of
notes by the banks. a form of currency
that nc strongly opposes.
General Debate Completed
The House caucus completed general
debate and Will begin the reading of
the administration bill and the consid-
Grafton OF amendments Tomorrow The
measure now has been before the eau
Gus more than week and its consid-
Grafton probably Will not be completed
for several days.
Representative Henry introduced in
the caucus to-day his amendment to
authorize specifically the Federal
banks 10 rcdiscount notes or bills Sc
cured by warehouse receipts or liens
on agricultural products. \ similar
amendment Will be reported by the
Banking and Currency Committee
Before the bill passes the House and
reaches the Senate it is expected that
Democrats Of the Senate committee
VIII have agreed upon general plan
OF currency reform and will invite the
republican members to join them in
the discussion of prospective amend
ments to the administration bill
Chairman Glass. of the Banking Cur
rency Committee, brought to days ses-
sion OF the House caucus to a close
with n vigorous speech denouncIng
ana !idiculing the attacks on the adj
ministration bill by Democratic "insur-
gents" He defended the disputed fea-
lures of the measure. declared that the
propositions of the "lnsurgents' were
absurd, and finally vainly offered TO
yield part OF the time allowed for his
speech 10 any one who wanted to an
ewer his assertions.