The Washington herald., 1913-10-01
SENATORS Want
To GO SLOWLY
Wilson'S Desire for Quick
Passage Of Currency Bill
Opposed.
CONFERENCE Is HELD
0Gorman and Hitchcock Remain
Away and May Control
Situation.
CONFERENCE Is HELD

1t will be impossible for President
Wilson, for the present at least. to
force his views upon the Senate as 20
the desirability of haste in the enact
ment Of currency legislation. At a con-
ference yesterday in the White House
with Chairman Owen and Senator Shaf-
roth the President outlined his desire
for the Banking and Currency Commit
tee of the Senate to conclude its hear
ings as soon as the schedule already set
is completed. This would mean on Sat
urday next.
Pursuant to what is supposed to have
been a White House suggestion. there
was conference last night in the apart
ments of Senator Pomerene of Ohio, at
tended by the known administration men
Of the committee and Senator Reed of
Missouri. Senator Reed has thus far de-
clined TO define his reason for opposition
to the currency bill. He prefers that it be
known that he is seeking delay in the
consideration of the measure solely for
the purpose of getting more light on it.
Senator Reed gave out statement yes
terday. in which he said. in part:
Many false impressions have been
sent out regarding the attitude of myself
and other Senators. Newspaper reporters
with the best of intentions have listened
to interrogatories proposed to witnesses
and assumed that the Senator asking the
question is committed to some theory
with reference to which he may be ask
ing the Questions. The conclusion is fire.
quently at variance with the fact.
Thinks Prudence Advisable.
Il think this bill will be considered
until there has been full investigation.
But this does not mean interminable de-
lay or endless hearings II does imply
ha nf hot nf
and caution which the Importance OF
the measure demands.
Il shall vote for this bill If I think II
is wise. If amendments are, in my
opinion, necessary, l shall vote for them.
II in the end I come to the conclusion
that it is 4 bad bill, l shall vote against
it, and then bring in another bill myself
or vote for the bill of some other Senator
as a substitute, if such a bill be satisfac-
tory"
Senator Hitchcock of Nebraska, who
has given a clear exposition OF his own
reasons for opposition TO the pending bill,
did not attend the conference last night
Senator O'Gorman of New York pleaded
a previous engagement and was not pres
ent
The absence of these Senators from
the conference evidently called at the
behest of President Wilson. and upon
me very day upon which he had de-
fined his views to two members of the
Banking and Currency Committee. who
are known to favor immediate action
upon an unamended bill. is regarded as
significant It presages that even
should the committee, by a cessation
of its hearings, tacitIy accept the sug-
gestion of President Wilson that il get
down to business, the report of the
committee may yet be held up more
than a month. The number of men,
bers OF the committee who can be re-
lied upon to follow the administration
is four. They are Chairman owen. SEN
ators Pomerene, Shafroth. and Hollis.
The known opponents Of the bill in
its present form are Senators Hitch
cock and OGorman. The position OF
Senator Reed is in doubt. II Senators
O'Gorman and Hitchcock should stand
with the Republicans for further hear
ings. they should control the situation.
Views of Mr.. Conant.
At yesterdays hearing Charles A Con-
ant. OF New York, gave his views on the
measure. His opinions were based upon
extended experience as the formulatOr of
the Porto Rican and Philippine currency
systems, in which he exercised an import
ant part. Mr.. Conant's suggestions were
listened TO by the committee with interest.
They referred chiefly to the regional bank
provisions. Mr.. Conant regards the ar
bitrary twelve regional banks as neither
necessary nor justifiable.
The committee today will hear a group
of Alabama bankers