The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-10-21
Thinks Measure Will Be
Reported Early in
November
LEADER MANN TAKES
OPPOSITE VIEW
President MisIed as to Real Situation,
Says Republican Leader-Cur-
reney Legislation May Mon
opolize Next Session

w aSnlnSton, october 2V.--W1tn Presf-
dent Wilson willing to accept substan-
tia amendments to the administration
currency bill in the hope of securing
speedy action on the measure In the
Senate committee, supporters of the ad-
ministration today grew optimistic
over the chances for the passage of
ira session of Congress.
The President himself In a letter 10
'ority Leader Underwood announced
"illingness to consider a proposal
' eeeess of the House. beealbe. ne
sald ferences with members OF the
eFft mmittee led him to beieve
fh- ~ Id be reported to the SEN
ata .rst week in November and
during the present session.
publican members of the commits
and Senator Hitchcock of Nebrasksl
were inclined to look upon this plan
as too optimistic, but other members
of the committee said they hoped to
be able to live up 10 the Presidents
expectations
Reserve Banks Reduced
reduction in the number of re-
serve banks fixed by the administra-
ton bin at ~, and the removal of
the Secretary of Agriculture and the
Comptroller of the Currency from the
Federal reserve board which would CON
troll the new currency system, were
the amendments which the President
let be known he would oppose. Wit
nesses before the Senate COMMITTEES
have almost unanimously contended for
these amendments and a majority of
the committee is believed to favor
them.
The proposed amendments would re-
tain the federal reserve board as n
strictly governmental institution, but
would provide that it shall be COM
posed of seven members, six to be
appointed by the President and to de-
vote their entire time to the work
Of the board, and the seventh to be
the Secretary of the Treasury. The
committee has not yet taken up the
question of reducing the numbers OF
reserve banks, but suggestions have
been made putting the number all the
way from three to TO- Senator Weeks
republican, has a proposal the num-
ber be reduced to a single federal bank
TO be controlled absolutely by the gov
ernment.
The proposal for recess of the
House was taken up at the White House
and at the capitol today and negotia-
tions continued without any definite
conclusion. President wilson's letter To
Mr.. Underwood made public at the
White House said the President was
confident the currency bill would be
reported in the Senate in the first week
of November and would be passed with
in three weeks thereafter.
Later Mr.. Underwood sought Repre-
l. n Al.
House, and urged him to consent 10
the passage of a joint resolution for "A
recess of the House until Novembns
10. Mr.. Mann. who has insisted that
Congress should adjourn because of
his belief that the currency bill could
not be enacted at the extra session,
postponed decision on the request until
toHorroW. Then he went to the Sen
ate and discussed with republican and
democratic members of the Presidents
assertion that the currency bill prob
ably would be disposed of in November.
Says President Misled
81 found" Mr.. Mann said later, that
the Senate was without a quorum, as Is
the House. found that the President had
not consulted with republican senators
nor received assurances from them that
the currency bin would speedily be dis
POSED Of I found that the President
illuSl udNt Dttl iliSldktil Ut eiSt Was very
much msed
81 found that in all probability the cur
rency bill will not get into the Senate
until the next session of Congress and
that the President will be lucky If 1t
passes by February. The President says
there is an ambitious Legislative pro-
gramme for next winter. Unless Con-
gress begins work on the programme
now we VIII be here until next September
and unless there are concessions on tho
currency bill there may not be much leg
isiation enacted. but currency at the next
session."
President Wilson's confidence that re-
publican and democratic senators would
reach an early agreement on the currency
bill. which he expressed freely at the
White House today, was based on talks
with Senator Nelson and one or two other
republicans Members OF the Senate
banking and currency committee ex-
pressed more confidence over an early
outcome of the legislation than did Repre-
sentative Mann, but none of the repubii-
can members would predict the passage
of the bill within the time set by the
President.
Representative Mann had not decided
tonight whether he would agree tomorrow
to the passage of a joint resolution per-
mitting a recess OF the House AS n
quorum of the House is not in town, the
Continued On Page Nfne)