The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1913-05-06

held several conferences on the mat
ter of currency reform. While 1t
seems generally believed now that
bill reforming our financial system
will be introduced at the extra ses--
sion it is not yet certain that 1t will
be taken up and passed prior to the
regular session.
Several of the more conservative
Democrats In the upper house have
told the president that the promise
given him by some of their colleagues
that the tariff bill will go through the
senate quickly and exactly as the
president wants it, is not likely to
be fulfilled. Senator Williams of Mis-
sissippi has said that congress will
not adjourn before September. and
this means he thinks that there win
be protracted debate in the upper
house on many of the provisions or
the bill in addition to those affecting
wool and sugar, upon which discus
sion is foreordained to be long drawn
out.
1t seems likely that the conservative
Democrats may be- unwittingly over
stating the case when they talk about
protracted debate and a long session,
for, taking all the direct and indirect
information which can be obtained, 1t
seems altogether probable the tarin
bill, If it gets out of the house by May
10, will be out of the senate by July i.
The absorbing matter OF interest
with congress today is the attitude of
the president concerning currency re-
form legislation at the present SEES
sion. The Democratic leaders OF the
house are holding back information as
to their intention in the matter of the
craftsmanship of the house committee
on banking and currency. Mr.. Glass
of Virginia, by right Of precedence,
ought to be made chairman. He fully
expects to be and he has a currency
reform bill ready to present.
May Jump Glass.
Some of the Democrats say that Mr..
Glass has not had experience enough
to fit him for the craftsmanship of this
important committee. He was not
member of the Pujo investigating
committee and he therefore has not
the information, some Of them say,
which the inquisitors secured. Mr.
Stephens of Texas wants to be chair
man of banking and currency, and
there is something more than whis-
per that the leaders are rather in
clined to the proposal to do him spe-
cial honor.
For days the representatives of the
financial interests of the country, to
say nothing of the representatives of
it's legislative interests, have been try
ing to find out at the White house
what Mr.. Wilson meant in his address
to congress when he said that later"
he would have something to say about
currency reform. Later" might mean
tomorrow, next week, next month or
next year Mr.. Wilson thus far has
declined to set the date for which
later" stands.
1t may be that currency reform Will
be discussed by the house, following
message from the president, while
the senate is dingdonging with the
tariff, but if this is to happen it will
be a condition directly counter to that
which Mr.. Wilson intimated ought not
to arise.
If the tariff bill goes through both
houses fairly quickly, and currency re-
form can be disposed of by August /.
the chances are that the Democrats
will get two of the big problems
solved to their satisfaction by the be-
ginning of the second summer month.
May Let Tariff Slide.
If the word is true which the presi-
dent has received from the progress
sive Democrats that his party in the
upper house stands ready to put
through his tariff bill as he wants it
put through, the danger of delay in
the passage of the measure will lie
entirely with the progressive Repub-
licans of the upper house. The high
protection Republicans seemingly fin
ally have made up their minds not to
discuss the tariff at great length.
They talked themselves out on it
through two or three sessions, but
this is not the real reason for their
apparent intention to let the legisla-
ton slide through without much oppo-
sition this year. They know that talk
will be futile. and moreover by COM
bination with the progressive Repub
licans and possibly few conservative
Democrats. they can do nothing ex-
cept possibly to modify some Of the
reductions which have been made in
the Underwood bill.
Some of the progressive Republic
ans in the senate. it is said, are ready
to try to effect some compromises
with the Democrats. The progressive
ly inclined members of the old party
say that it is nothing short of wicked
to allow bill to go through In a
form which the party thinks may
bring disaster to the country.
Beautiful In Spring Garb.
Washington IN the heart of spring
moves a man to get away from poll
tics, the tariff. currency and office
seeking problems and to take to the
parks and the fields for a subject more
fL,,,.<,. &c hoortfi-