The Washington herald., 1913-11-08

a larger number, for the same reason.
probably. because the proposal would not
have q majority vote.
The bin yesterday was taken up and
considered, paragraph by paragraph, with
a view of rewriting the text to conform
to the amendments which the Senate
Committee has made. and to perfect the
details.
Feeling Runs High.
From time to time the feeling in the
committee has been intense, and once or
twice within q few days the meetings
threatened to dissolve In row and q
waIk-out. Il was learned yesterday that
Chairman Owen at a recent meeting lost
his temper and served notice on his col
leagues IN the committee that he was
prepared to abandon the hope Of making
q unanimous report and proposed TO have
the bill go back to the Senate on two
reports, a majority report TO represent
opposition to the Administration view. to
be concurred In by the Republicans and
the three Democrats who had been act
ing with them, and q minority report
signed by Mr.. Owen and his three Demo-
cratic coreagues-Pomerene, Hollis, and
shafroth-who have been voting to sus-
tain the Administrations policy.
Senator Crawford, q Republican. ap-
announcement, and became conciliatory,
but Senator Reed Of Missouri asserted
his independence. and. taking his hat. an
nouneed that he would no longer sit with
the committee at its meetings Before he
had fairly cleared the committee room,
the Missouri Senator was pursued by his
colleagues and persuaded to return.
The real contest In the committee Is
expected to come on the proposition for
public ownership and public control of
the reserve association. The administra-
ton Senators apparently are determined
to retain the features Of the House bill.
giving the member banks controlling
voice in the directorate of the regional
reserve association, in the ratio OF six
to three.
Close Contest Pending.
The administrations fight to increase
the number OF regional reserve associa-
tions also will be a close one, but the
issue is regarded as less vital. The Re-
publicans in the committee, and Senator
Hitchcock. have been insisting on a small
number OF regional reserve associations
on the theory that II a larger number
than four regional reserves is authorized
the stock of some OF the associations
will not be taken readily. because con-
fidence in them will be weakened
Chairman Owen believes that a report
on the bill will be ready early next week.
Senator Weeks declared himself yester-
day In favor OF expediting the bill and
ready to make any reasonable conces-
sion to get a unanimous report speedily.
He believes the business situation In the
country makes il necessary that legisla-
ton on currency be had without delay.
At his call on the President Wednesday
night Senator Weeks advised the Presi-
dent not to interfere with the work of
the committee, by caucus or otherwise,
but to allow the committee to work out
a plan and get the bill into the Senate
as speedily as possible.
The call for a Democratic Senatorial
conference early next week was being
circulated yesterday and literally signed.
Senators MARITIME and Ashurst were cir
culating the cali and practically all OF
the Democratic Senators to whom It was
presented signed it. Senator Kern will
return Monday, and 1t will then be de-
termined whether the conference or
caucus will be called.