New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-10-17
Insurgent Democrats Unwilling
UnduIy to Hasten Action on
Currency Bill.
ADMITS CHANCE FOR DELAY
Wilson Thinks Senate Rules
May Permit Obstruction, but
Neither Party Looks for
Such a Programme.
From The Tribune Bureau


Washington Oct. l6.-At the instance OF
Representative Underwood, who Is con-
WINGED that the administration currency
bill cannot be passed this session ana
who is anxious to relieve members OF the
House from compulsory and useless at
tendance. the President sent to-day FOR
Senators O'Gorman. Reed and Hitchcoch'
the insurgents on the Banking ana Cur
rency Committee, to feel out the situation
and satisfy himself that all was well WIN
his currency programme. With such re-
serve did the President perform this dell
cate task that his callers left wholly UNI
aware Of his purpose while he failed en-
tlrely. according to his subsequent state
ments, to ascertain their views.
After the Senators had called the
President reiterated his prediction that
the currency bill would be passed this
sesslon-a view which Is not shared ny
any Democrat in Congress who has the
slightest familiarity with the situation.
The President told callers that the Sen
ators whom he had consulted had re-
turned to the Capitol to consult with
their fellows-something OF which the
Senators were apparently unaware. as
without consultation they declared the
situation unchanged. and Mr.. OGorman
left for New York this afternoon.
The hearings Of the Banking and Cur
rency Committee will not end until Octo-
Der p. and no one believes that the COM
mittee can then complete its work and
report the measure 10 the Senate In less
than three weeks or n month. Nor has
any one had the temerity TO predict that
the Senate Will consider and pass this
important measure In the five days be-
tween November % and the converting Of
the regular session. on December l.
The President did admit to-day for the
first time that under the Senate rules OBJ
structive tactics might prevent the
passage Of the bill after it was reported
to the Senate. Neither Democrats nor
Republicans. however. believe any OBJ
structive tactics will be employed, al
though they are practically a unit In their
belief that with all proper expedition the
measure cannot be disposed OF until well
into December. probably in January.
The three Democratic members OF the
Banking and Currency Committee who
went TO the White House to-day seemed
to think the President In a much more
conciliatory attitude than formerly. and
they left with the impression that there
was a somewhat better understanding by
the Chief Executive OF the situation in the
committee. They told him. in effect that
they were doing the best they could 10
finish their task. and that there was no
disposition 10 delay or retard the passage
OF currency measure.
The President admitted ~ might be
necessary to amend the bill giving them
to understand that he did not purpose
TO encroach on their prerogatives In this
respect They gained the impression
that he did not want the fundamental
provisions OF the measure changed. Just
what he regards hs fundamental remains
TO be seen II he considers the provis-
ions for elasticity Of the currency and
the mobilization OF reserves as the fun
damental CharacteristiCs he IS not out
OF harmony with the non-partisan ma
jority Cf the Senate. as both Democrats
and Republicans are generally agreed
that these are the objects To be obtained.
and the methods proposed by the Glass
bill do not differ materially from the
Aldrich uleu