The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-09-22
TEST Of CONTROL
ABOUT TO OCCUR
Can President Wilson Force Sen
ate to Act on Currency
Bill?
ANY DELAY IS OPPOSED
Wide Differences Exist as to Best
Methods of Revising Bank
ing System.

Washington. September 2l-Thc
strongest test OF President Wilson's
control over party policies, and over
the Legislative performances of Con-
gress is about to occur. Within the
last week. he has seen the triumph in
the House OF his currency reform de-
mands. and the practical completion
OF the tariff revision bill so far as ad-
ministration ideas are connected with
IT.
The question now paramount in con-
gressional circles bears directly upon
tho Presidents potential control of
the currency reform situation in the
Senate. Except for those Immediately
connected with the handling OF the
currency bill. the general query is:
VIII the President be able to induce
the Senate 20 act on the. GLASGOW
bill without delay and without ma
teriai alteration of it's provisions?
No doubt remains of the determined
purpose OF the President TO urge Con
gress. by every legitimate means at
mis- command. 10 complete the currency
legislation within the next few weeks;
and TO give the country new bank
ing system and n revised reform OF
paper currency before December. Evil
dcnce3 of his concern in the matter
have come in series OF events in
which his influence has determined the
week ago. after a conference with
Mr.. Wilson, members Of tho Senate
Democratic altering committee" an
nounced that consideration of currency
reform would be pushed without delay
!n the Senate and that there would be
no Senate recess.
Short Rccesscs for House.
growing demand In the House for
n months recess, to begin this week.
eliminated few days ago when Rep
rcsentativc y. Mitchell Palmer, one
of the Democratic House leaders. after
talk with President Wilson, an
nouuced that the House would not re-
cess Tor more than three days at
time: but would remain close at hand
where It's influence could be exerted on
the Senate IL desirable. to speed up
that body's work on the currency bill.
The President has gone further in
his activity in behalf of the currency
bill and has talked at length with in
dividual members OF the Senate Bank
ing and Currency Committee. who had
been strong critics OF the adninstra-
ton measure. with the aid OF Secre-
tary McAdoo. who helped in the orig
!nal preparation of the bill, II is under
stood he VIII attempt to satisfy many
Of the criticisms that come from Dem
ocrats and Will endeavor to bring the
Democratic forces into united support
of the plan embodied in the bill that
has passed the House.
Thus far there has been q marked
independence OF expression among
Democratic Senators engaged in work
on the currency bill, as TO important
points of currency legislation. Tho
public hearings, reopened by Chairrna Il
owen last week, are still under way
, and Will be continued through part OF
this week. The actual committee work
on the bill probably Will begin late
this week and Will develop for the
first time the real strength in the COM
r:ittce in support OF the Presidents
plan for immediate Endorsement OF the
bill
Differences to Method.
There is apparently no spirit of an
tagonism 10 currency legislation among
the leaders of either party in the SEN
ate, but the wide differences Of opin-
ion 10 the best method Of revising
the banking and currency system will
bring the test of strength. in which
Senate leaders expect President Will
sons influence Will be brought into the
situation.
a striking feature of the situation
in the Senate is that the vote OF one
Democratic member OF the Banking and
Currency Committee would be sufficient
10 prevent the committee from favor
ably reporting the currency bill. There
are seven Democrats and five Republi-
cans on the committee. The Republi-
cans almost without exception have
expressed the belief that Il thorough
study OF currency reform needs and
the careful preparation of bill to
enact new system would require more
time than the committee could give
IL during the present extra session.
Chairman Owen and one or two othe.
Democrats on the committee have - N
iii the last few days declared they be-
lieved Senators who have been study
ing the question have at hand all the
information necessary for immediate
consideration OF a currency BILL and
that no good could be accomplished
through further delay. This position,
IL is understood. reflects the admins
tration view. and Will he backed up
by the argument that the currency
! bill be subject 10 free and unlimited
debate and amendment when it reaches
the Senate.
No Serious Hitch.
The Presidents friends in Congress
insist there VIII be no serious hitch in
the currency program, and that legis-
ration VIII be enacted at least by the
| latter part OF November In the mean
time. both houses of Congress will en-
| JOY what vacation they can get through
three day reccsses. while the Senate
rency problem.
The House and Senate conferees at
work adjusting differences in the tarifI
bill VIII resume work tomorrow IN
the nope that the completed conference
report can be brought back TO both
houses by Thursday or Friday. Some
or the more important controversies
over tariff rates have not been settled,
and the confcreeS still have before
them practically all the amendments in
the income tax section. the Clarke cot
ton futures tax amendment and the
amendments to administrative sections
of the bill
Mutual concessions by both houses
on Il few of the more important items.
however, would carry with them the
settlement of many OF the lesser prob
| lens. and members OF the committee
arc confident OF completing work by
| Thursday. Republican Conferees,, who
thus far have been barred from the
conferences then will be invited to
consider the completed bill. and n re-
port will be made to each house
1t is anticipated that a fight will be
made in each branch of Congress over
the acceptance Of the report, but little
delay Is expected 1t Is believed the
tariff bill will Le cOmOleted and nIocad