Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-10-01
Democrats Dissatisfied With
Conferees' Work and
Caucus Is Called.
SEVERAL ARE MEMBERS
OF BANKING COMMITTEE
Fate Of Currency Bill Involved in
Present Situation, It
Is Believed.

AS a result OF dissatisfaction on the
part of a handful OF democratic senators
with the action of the Senate conferees
In receding from some of the Senate
amendments to the tafiff bill these trou-
bles will be threshed out this afternoon
in a caucus OF the democrats. The deci-
sion to permit such partial reopening
OF the tariff bill was reached at demo-
cratic caucus this morning.
How long the caucus will delay the ac-
ton Of the Senate on the tariff conference
report is, this afternoon, matter of con-
lecture. 1t may delay final action for
several days. Senator Reed Of Missouri,
one of those who signed the call for a
democratic caucus. to which the leaders
have assented said when asked how long
the conference would require to settle all
differences:
"A friend of mine frequently says that
he is willing to gamble on anything in
the world except those things which
talk
Action Is Postponed.
Instead of taking up the conference re-
port for consideration in the Senate to-
day. as Chairman Simmons of the finance
committee had announced would be done.
after the democratic caucus has an oppor-
tunity to adjust the troubles now exist
ing in democratic ranks. When the Sen
ate met at noon the action of the House
approving the conference report was car
ried to the Senate. Chairman Simmons,
without further discussion, asked that the
conference report lie on the table until
tomorrow.
The call for the democratic caucus of
the Senate was signed by the following
senators: O'Gorman, Reed, Shafroth.
Owen. Hollis, Pomerene. Salisbury.
Myers, Hitchcock and MARITIME These
senators. 1t is said.' feel that the action
of the conference committee has been
unjust to certain of the items In the
tariff bill in which they and their con-
stftuents are interested.
Position Of Senators.
The senator's assert that they voted
for the tariff bill with the under
standing that in conference these mat
ters would be cared for according to
their desires.
The slender majority of the democrats
In the Senate made it necessary. for
mittee and the other leaders to yield to
the demand for a caucus. 1t is evident
that should four or Ave of the democrats
vote with the republicans against the
conference report the tdr1II Dill cOuiQ De
sent back to conference again and held
up indefinitely It was decided, there
fore, to have the troubles all .thrashed
out in caucus il possible. befd e taking
up the conference report in the Senate
today.
On Currency Committee.
1t was a subject of comment about the
Senate today and as of possible sig
nificance that seven of the democratic
senators who are discontented with the
tariff conference report comprise the
democratic membership of the banking
and currency committee, and three of
them are known to be opposed to the
pending currency bill.
The first seven signers of the petition
for the calling of the caucus were Owen,
Hitchcock, OGorman, Reed, Pomerene.
Shafroth and Hollis each with a griev-
ance against the tariff report. They are
the democratic members of the banking
and currency committee. OGorman,
Reed and Hitchcock are also dissatisfied
with the currency bill.
The significance is thought to lie in
the fact that this may present additional
ground for conference with President
Wilson. in which the fate of the currency
bill may be involved, as well as a speedy
agreement upon the tariff bill.