The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-12-05
CURRENCYDEBATE
STIRSUP HOT TALK
Senator'S Gwen and Gallinger
IN War Over the Kern
Resolution.
MEASURE NOT PASSED
Conservative Republicans Predict
Money Bill viii Pass Senate by
December Fl.

1t is my judgment that the currency
Dill will be passed by the Senate not
later than December 81" said Senator
reed Smoot, one Of the leading members
on the Republican side. The opinion ex-
pressed by Senator Smoot is shared gen.
leaders.
The Senate was unable yesterday to
reach an agreement on the Kern resolu-
uon providing for day and night ses-
slons OF the Senate to consider the cur
rency BILL IT was thought that a vote
would be taken on the resolution yester-
Gay. For two hours there was acri-
monlous debate in the Senate, in the
course OF which Senator Gallinger, leader
OF the minority, charged that Senator
owen had misstated facts concerning the
attendance of Senators on the session
1t is likely that the Republicans would
have allowed the Kern resolution to pass
yesterday, had it not been for a violent
attack on the Republicans made by Sem
ator owen. He charged that Republicans
mad been calling for a quorum in the
Senate simply to delay the consideration
q the resolution, and to cmbarras IS the
democrats. He charged that Senator
Galltnger had demanded a quorum at a
time when the roll call showed that there
were fifty-six Senators present in the
chamber.
His Language Barred.
This brought Senator GaIlinger to his
feet in emphatic protest. He declared
that but for the rules of the Senate he
would characterize Senator Owens state
ment in language that it deserved. The
debate was one OF the most acrimonious
ever known in the Senate
Senator GRllinger accused Senator
owen Of having made a long speech in
the closing hours of the session of Con-
gress to kill the statehood bill, admit
ting New Mexico and Arizona to the
Union, but Mr.. Owen retorted with a
statement that his obstruction was JUS
tined by the fact that the statehood bill
as proposed, would have deprived the
people of Arizona and New Mexico IF
the privilege of local self-government.
The Senate met at 10 o'clock, and the
debate over the resolution lasted until
u, consuming the two hours allowed
for morning business, so that at noon
the Hetch Hetchy bill came up as the
unfinished business, and the Kern reso-
luton went over for another day.
Republican leaders in the Senate recog-
nized that while they are talking in
opposition to the Kern resolution. they
are practically operating under it. for
the Senate is meeting daily at 10 o'clock
and keeping up its sessions practically
until II o'clock at night, as the resolution
requires.
Cummins Central Figure.
Republican leaders are unwilling to be
put in the attitude of obstructing the
passage of the currency bill. They are
not willing to concede that relief will
come by the passage of the currency
bill, but they will not stand in the way
of its passage, except to insist that fair
opportunity be afforded for debate.
Senator Cummins of Iowa was a CEN
trial figure yesterday in the debate. He
made a vigorous attack on what he char
acterized as caucus legislation" Il
There is to be no real debate on the
banking and currency BILL he said.
That debate has already taken place
The bill has been considered and passed ]
elsewhere. My protest is against the
caucus system. The real legislation of
this body is now taking place in a |
Democratic caucus. l think a debate on |
this measure is a pure farce and hest |
tate, myself, to participate in it. There
is not a Senator who would vote to
amend the bill in any respect on this |
floor without referring the amendment |
to the caucus of the party. Inasmuch |
as there is no room for debate, as |
minds are not open and consideration |
cannot be changed, the sooner we reach |
a vote on the bill the better it will be |
for the people of the. country"
Senator James Hamilt-n Lewis, Demo-
cratic Whip of the Senate, inquired
whether Senator Cummins. when COVER
nor of Iowa, had not accepted the sup
port of a caucus.
THE Senator from Illinois is mis-