Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-06-17
CURRENCY REFORM
WILSON'S PROGRAM
Bill to Be introduced Friday,
Following Presentation of
Presidents Message.
MANY OPPOSE ACTION
AT PRESENT SESSION

Representative Henry Wants Har-
mony. But Insists on Enacting
Money Trust Legislation.
The currency reform plan will be pre-
aented 10 the House in an administration
bill by REPRESENTATIVE Glass of Virginia,
chairman of the House banking and cur
rency committee Friday. Mr.. Glass
planned to confer again today with
President Wilson. though the bill is now
for all purposes complete. President
Wilson's message is to be presented to
the House Friday. and the delay in the
Introduction of the bill is to permit
precedence TO the message.
The House met today with Democratic
Leader Underwood absent for the first
time in many months. but he will be back
In time to handle the situation Friday.
Meantime those opposed to currency
legislation at this session are comforting
over the course to pursue. their particu-
lar desire being TO avoid any move that
would tend 10 break party harmony. Rep
resentative Henry of Texas and Neeley
OF Kansas are urging upon colleagues
thu. appointment of another special COM
nittee to inquire into the workings of
the so-caIled money trust
Printing Resolution Defeated.
Representative Henry did his best to-
day to get the House to authorize the
printing of 10000 copies of the report
of the money trust committee. but AFTER
a vigorous debate in which ''robber bar
onS Of Wall street, ''minions OF the
trusts. and other old-time characters in
the drama of political economy inquire,
Representative Austin stabbed Represent
ative HenryS resolution to the heart
and il was lost temporarily. The mere
printing of the report is but a small mat
ter-the real fight was centered about
the theory that there should be no cur
rency legislation until the country at
large and the members of the House
have had time to read the money trust
committee report and see for themselves
that THE surface was merely scratched
and that the money trust committee be-
lieves that further investigation should
he made before the truth is laid bare.
Representative Mondell of Wyoming, re-
publican. asked if il We're true that the
President intended to railroad currency
bill through Congress. but Mr.. Henry
said he would not satisfy Mr.. Mondell
bland and childlike curiosity on that
point
Cost of the Pujo Inquiry.
The cost of the Pujo committees in
curry into the money trust figured in the
debate today 1t was said that it cost
$4,000 to scratch the surface" Repre-
sentative Henry declared that if the cur
rency committee now goes to work to
lass laws on these money topics it will
ha he
knowledge which cannot be obtained
without further inquiry. and that the
heads of the money trust will be able to
hide behind a hundred obstructions which
could be blown to pieces BY little more
investigation.
Representative Henry said that he had
requests in his Office for 5000 copies Of
the Pujo report and that a hundred thou
sand could easily be disposed Of.
When it came time to vote. Representa-
tive Austin objected to the consideration
Of the matter. and it was placed in the
hopper to take its regular turn with
other resolutions
Statement by Mr.. Henry.
Representative Henry gave out
statement further celebrating his posi-
ton toward pending efforts at currency
legislation and Investigation of the
money trust as proposed in his bill
now pe1Ofe the DdHhlHS anu currency
committee.
Mr.. Henry said:
Many of the newspapers entirely
misconstrued my statement touching
further investigation of the money
trust. I was simply stating my own
position on the currency question and
had no thought of antagoniZing Pres
ident Wilson's views. ] do not wish to
lie misunderstood by any one. Ny as
sumption was and is that President
Wilson's views are democratic and
that we are on the same side OF the
newspaper to endeavor to stretch my
position into an attack on the Presi-
dent and try to stir UP difference be-
tween us.
II was trying to make several distinct
points
First That the Investigation of the
money trust should be continued as was
urgently recommended. by the Pujo
committee. We spent $57, 1876 in that
important Investigation and weeks Of
hard labor and should not now repudiate
and throw away its rich harvest The
committee had fifty witnesses standing
ton TO testify when the proceedings had
10 close on account of the expiration of
congress and the death Of the commit
tees powers
Many witnesses were ready and proof
was at hand to expose the secret transac-
lions OF the great Wall street bankers In
numerous ortten and odorous deals when
those bankers and the controller hid
snugiy behind the immunity statute
shielding them and their shady transac-
lions from vtsitorial powers by Con-
Eress- These matters should be imme-
diately pressed by the able new banking
and currency committee. They can pur-
sue their inquiry by subcommittee con-
connitantly even II this session runs into
December in order to get to the bottom
OF these things. We can stay here Why
not. for the sake OF truth and our coun-
try's honor?
Repeats Charge Against Wall Stree,
Second, / said the Wall street bank
ers are clamoring for currency legisla-
zion alone in order that they may make,
through asset currency, a market for
their commercial paper (much Of 1t
based upon rotten securities) and 1 now
deliberately reiterate that charge. The
official organs of the money trust and
their co-conspiratOrs. are bowling for
immediate action. What higher evidence
do we need of the intent of the money