Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-09-08
Washington
w LETTER
BY n. q WALKER
CURRENCY AND ELECTION

Star Bureau,
Metropolitan National Bank Bldg,

MetrOpoIitan National Bank Bldg,
WAsHINGToN, Sept. 8.
With the tariff revision now assured
4 and practically out of the way, Presi-
dent Wilson is preparing to put pres
sure on the Senate to follow up the
Houses quick action on currency,
with a view to getting the new cur
reney and banking law on the books
before election if possible. In this
program he is opposed by senators or
both parties who are particularly
| anxious to wait until after election
before taking action on the currency
question. -
mand of his party in Congress, but
| that doesn't mean that all demo-
| crafts are in harmonious accord as 10
his views or program. Two Demo-
ora tic senators announced at the out
| set that they would leave the party
| caucus rather than vote Tor Tree
sugar, At least three other Demo
cratic senators have SAID thaI Wnlle
| they will stand by the admlnlstrdtl
and +hair Marty caucus, they believe
| that free sugar means the destruc-
tion of a great industry in the West
and South' Administration leaders IN
| tha Senate frankly admit that the
marty caucus has been near to de-
naturalization on several occasions,
and that concessions have had to be
made on many parts of the tariff Dill
to hold together the bare Democratic
majority by which the bill was as
sured of passage. -. :,
The Presidents power has IAN III
the belief that the country was De-
hind him in his program, at least SO
for as tariff revision was concerned.
Inst now, however, there are many
congressman of Mr.. Wilson's party
who would like to read the election
returns in November before deciding
To go further in yielding their opln-
ions to those of the President and MS
cabinet advisers.
entire confidence in the outcome or
the State elections this year is ex-
pressed at the White House. In the
congressional bye elections hello since
last fall, there has been no evolence
of change of public sentiment. With
hone abandoned by the Republicans
of repairing the breach in their ranks
and renting their forces this year at
least there seems little Likelihood OF
ANYTHING but Democratic victories IN
November, so far as the ordinary rules
of politics 60. a,,,,a
Ri,t suppose Massachusetts should
go Republican or Progressive on the
governorshp, New Jersey do the same,
John Purroy Mitchell be defeated for
mayor of New York city, ana the
Democratic primaries in New Jersey
qive the control of the party organ1-
cation to the men whom the President
has opposed?
The immediate and general interpre-
tation of any such election results
would be that the country was not be-
hind the administration. And the i'm
mediate effect of this would be the
weakening of the administrations IN
fluence in Congress. Men VINO nave
meekly submitted to White House
domination would assert themselves,
the caucus majority would fail to
hold complete sway, and IL cur
renew bill were passed, it would I'M
doubtedly be passed in the Senate by
a combination of Republican and
Democratic votes, which would make
il a vastly different measure from
that pending in the House.
There are more than few senators
who will be found holding back in the
traces on the currency question, until
after election.
There is every reason to oelleVe
that the Underwood tariff bill Will
become a law about September 20.
President signs it. Imported goods
are being held in warehouses at vari-
Gus ports waiting for the new law
to 60 into effect, the duties upon
which will be at least ten million
dollars less than if they were brought
in under the present law.
With the tariff out of the way,
efforts will be renewed in the Sen
ate to have a recess declared for sew
eral weeks or a month, before taking
up the currency bill. Even II there
is no recess the Senate will do little
or no business for the next month.
The banking and currency commit
tee will take several weeks, in all
probability. to consider the House
hill before reporting it to the Senate,
and more time will be consumed in
efforts to pledge the Democrats in
caucus to support the bill without
amendment.
Even if no recess is taken, the pros
pects are that Congress will continue
in session until December, and that
the special session begun last April
will last until the regular session be-
gins.
oscar Underwood, chairman of the
ways and means committee, author
of the bending tariff bill and
cratic organization in the House of
Representatives, is a candidate for
the United States Senate in his own
State of Alabama.
Henry Clay once resigned from the
Senate to become a member of the
House of Representatives.
More than a third of the present
members Of the Senate have been
members of the House of Representa-
tives. and have sought the Senate as
a more effective forum.
1t is a foregone conclusion that the
House will pass the Glass-Owen cur
rency and banking bill. There is
much opposition in the House to
features of the bill, but members Of
the majority party have meekly
bowed to the rule of caucus majority.
and yielded their rights to voice and
vote their own convictions and the
| wishes of their constituents.
Departmental red tape is holding
up action by the treasury department
in making a start on the work of
selecting a site and planning the