The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-04-29

of the consequences if he had miscal-
cuated In winning his victory over
Congress the President insured the pass
age of the Underwood bill with snbstan-
tally few amendments, as he could have
done in no other way.
With the success Of the tariff legisla-
tion in sight il must be admitted that the
administration occupies a most favor
able position early in its history. The
President has displayed acumen and abil-
ity in plavinc the game of politics in
fast company to a greater degree than
many believed he possessed. So far he
has disproven the oft expressed state
ment that his inexperience in national af-
fairs and his purely academic knowledge
of the political game as played by Con-
gress, would lead him into serious diff
culties. In his first bout with Congress
he has established closer relationship
between that body and the executive than
has existed in years.
Toward Safe Passage
The Presidents aid in tariff legsla-
ton has. and will, consist almost entirely
in contributing toward the safe passag ge
OF the bill through the House and Senate
unimpaired. lie has done practically
nothing toward the construction of the
bill suggesting but one or two changes,
which Mr.. Underwood readily accepted.
In this the public must draw the con-
clusion that the President is relying upon
the judgment of Mr.. Underwood and the
ways and means committee, or that his
conception of an equitable tariff bill is
remarkably similar to that of the demo-
cratic leader in the House. In either
event. the President has proven conelu-
sively that he is marvellously a fine judge
of both men and measures.
The tariff is an old and honored issue
in the United states. 1t has been tha
principal bone of contention between the
two great political parties of the country
for several political generations. Broad
ly speaking there are but two sides ia
be chosen from-the high tariff side OF
the low tariff side. There is a gradu.
ated scale of low tariff men. ranging
from free traders to tariff for revenue
only, and the Incidental protection KIND
and there is also a graduated scale or the
| high tariff men, the old standpat protec-
tionists, and the progressive protection
| lists" who believe in bringing the tariff
down to a closer competitive point.
There has been so much publicity given
to the tariff question that almost every
one has decided opinion upon the sub
| iect. and can give reasons therefor. Hence
| legislation upon the tariff by Congress
must depend largely upon the political
complexion OF tndt DOuy, anu Wiic IL
| disposing of 1t successfully it is to be ad-
mitted that the administration has dis
posed or will dispose of the most impor-
| tant question to come before it, yet II
was a question almost entirely of rubbing
| out the rough places in the majority who
as a whole unanimously agree that the
tariff must be revised downward.
Not so Easily Disposed OF
The President and Congress. however
face another problem not so easily dis
posed of. 1t is the currency question
Politically currency is not nearly so inn
portant as the tariff, the evil or good
results of currency legislation are to be
reckoned with politically, but as an issue
it has not been prominent The position
of the party in power toward the two
problems of legislation is not analogous
Toward one the party had definite ano
professed purpose-revision downward
Toward the other the party is definite
only in that there must be revision. What
kind. or what form of revision to date
there has been no decision.
And yet the Importance and need OF
currency legislation cannot be overesti-
mated. In Importance to the Industrial
and commercial prosperity and tranquil
ity of the country 1t is second only to the
tariff. From financial centers and the
leading bankers of the country there
comes an inS1Stent demand LnaI leSiSid-
ton upon this subject be taken up during
the present session of Congress. The
President. himself, favors action by Con-
gress as soon as the tariff is disposed
Of If Congress does tackle currency
unless some wizard of finance develops
who will be to currency what Underwood
is to tariff, the result of tinkering with
our monetary system will be hard te
forecast.
Do Not Favor Aldrich Plan
About the only thing that the leaders
of the party in power think they know
about currency is that they do not favor
the Aldrich plan. This arises probably
more from their distrust of Aldrich thar
an analysis of his plan. The truth o.
the situation is that there are 531 mem
bers of Congress and about 80 per cen
of them have no very definite idea abou
currency legislation, and the other 10 pc
cent do not agree. There is no unanimity
If every member was compelled to WRIT
a bill embracing currency reform ther'
would probably be 531 anomalies.
| Senator Owen, chairman of the banking
| and currency committee of the Senate