The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1913-09-26
PRESIDENT WILSON'S
POWER WILL MEET
TEST ON FINANCES
CRISIS TO COME ON CURRENCY
BILL DURING COMING
WEEK.
Can he CONTROL The SENATE7
VIII Use All Proper Means to Put
Measure Through With Expedition.
Consulting Freely With Individual
Senators in Presenting Views. z.

Senators in Presenting Views. :.
| WASHINGTON. D. c.. Sept. b.
The strongest test of President Will
sons control over party politics, and
over the legislative performances OF
congress is about to occur. Within
the last week he has seen the triumph
In the house of his currency reform
demands and the practical compile.
ton of the tariff revision bill SO far
rs administration ideas are connect
ed with it.
The question now paramount in
congressional circles bears directly
upon the Presidents control of the
currency reform situation in the SEN
ate. Except for those Immediately
Connected with the handlig of the bill
kthe general query is: Will he Presi-
dent be able TO induce the senate to
act on it without delay and without
material alteration of it's provisions?
No doubt remains of the determin-
ed purpose of the President to urge
congress by every legitimate means
at his command to complete currency
legislation within the next few weeks
and to give the country a new bark
ing system and revised form of pa
per currency before December.
Evidences Of his concern in the
matter have come in a series OF
events in which his influence has de,
termined the action Of congressional
leaders. Over week ago after a
conference with Mr.. Wilson members
of the senate democratic committee
announced that consideration of cur
rency reform would be pushed with.
out delay in the esnate and that there
would be no senate recess.
The President has gone further in
his activity in behalf of the currency
bill and has talked at length with in
dividual members of the senate bank,
ing and currency committee who had
been strong critics of the measure.
With the aid of Secretary McAdoo,
who helped in the original prepare
ton of the bill, it is understood that
he will attempt to satisfy the critics
and will endeavor to bring the demo-
cratic forces into united support of
the plan embodied in the bill thai has
passed the house.
Thus far there abs been marked in.
dependence Of expression arrong
democratic senator's engaged in work
on the bill as to important points of
currency legislation.
There is apparently no spirit Of an
tagonism to currency legislation
among the leaders of either party in
the senate, but the wide differences
of opinion as to the best method Of
revising the banking and currency
system will bring the test of strength
in which senate leaders expect Presi-
dent Wilson's influence will be
brought into the situation.
A triking feature of the situation
in the senate is that the vote Of one
democratic member of the banking
and currency committee would be suf
ficient to prevent the committee "a
vorably reporting the bill. There are
seven democrats and five republicans
on, the committee. The republicans
almost without exception have ex-
pressed the belief that thorough
study of currency reform is needed
and the careful preparation Of a bill
to enact new system would require
more time than the committee could
give 1t during the present extra ses-
sion.
Chairman Owen and one or two
other democrats on the committee
have in the last few days declared
/ they believed senator's who have been
studying the question have at hand
all the information necessary for i'm.
mediate consideration, and that no
good could be accomplished through
further delay. This position, It is un-
derstood reflects the administration
view and will be backed mp by the
argument that the bill will be subject
to free and unlimited debate when IL
reaches the senate.