Evening star., 1913-11-23
DEBATE TOMORROW
ON CURRENCY BILL
Senator Owen to Make First
Speech, Representing the
Administration.
HITCHCOCK TO FOLLOW,
VOICING OPPOSITION
Prediction Made That Final Action
Will Not Be Taken Until
February.


Debate on the administration cur
rency bill and the amendments thereto
will begin in the Senate tomorrow.
Chairman Owen of the banking and
currency committee will make the first
speech on the measure. None Of the
senators was willing to predict last
night the date upon which the bill
would be passed. although several of
them ventured the guess that the last
part of January or the first part of
February would see the bill still the
unfinished business of the Senate.
After reporting the administration bill
without recommendation. to the Senate
yesterday afternoon. Chairman Owen
succeeded in having it made the unfin-
ished business. He explained, however
when questioned by Senator Gallinger
the republican leader. that this would not
interfere in any way with the unanimous
consent agreements entered into by the
Senate to take up as the unfinished buSi-
ness of the Senate December / the bill
giving San Francisco the right to secure
water supply from the Hetch Hetchy
valley, and to dispose of this measure
December 6. and to take up December s
the bill giving. the President the author
ity to build government railroad In
Alaska. 1t was suggested later, how
ever, that an agreement might be reach
ed to set aside the consideration of the
latter bill temporarily in favor of the
currency measure.
Hitchcock in Opposition.
1t is expected that Senator Owen will
occupy the greater part Of the day tomor-
row with his speech. Senator Hitchcock,
democrat, of Nebraska, il Is understood.
will open fire upon the administration bill
Tuesday, and will speak in favor of the
bill which was drafted by himself and the
five republican members of the banking
and currency committee. The entire week.
it is believed, will be taken up with set
speeches.
That the debate on the currency bill
will be protracted was the prediction
last night Among the republican SEN
ators who expect to discuss the measure
are Senator's Burton, Ohio. who gave up
trip to Europe in order that he might
take part: Borah Of Idaho and Cummins
Of Iowa. Before the bill finally il
passed practically every member of the
Senate viii have made a speech dealing
with ie.
1t is understood the democrats will not
hold a caucus on the bill at present. The
leaders desire that sentiment for the ad-
ministration bill-as it was amended by
the administration senators on the COM
mlttee-be CryStaliized during the COM
ing debate If it becomes apparent that
caucus action is necessary to get the
democrats into line for the measure a
caucus will be called later.
Main Points at Issue.
Among the main points at issue be-
and presumably between those senator's
who will support and oppose the ad-
ministration bill, are the number of
regional reserve banks to be estab-
lished. and the ownership and control
Of these banks. The administration bill
provided for twelve such banks This
number the administration wing of the
committee has reduced to eight. and IL
is understood that the President will
accept this amendment. The opponents
of the bill. however, insist there shall
not be more than four.
The administration bill provides for
the ownership of the capital stock of
these banks by the member banks of
the system. and for the control of the
regional banks by representatives of
the banks and business interests of the
regions. Ihe opponents, however. de-
mand public ownership Of the regional
banks and government control of these
banks.
One fact Of interest in the alignment
in the Senate is that the so-called con-
servative democrats of the Senate, in
cluding many of the older members of
the body, seem to have determined to
stand firm for the administration bill.
Not many months ago, it was frequently
predicted these would be the senators
from whom the President had most to
fear for his progressive measures. Al
though the debate has not yet formally
opened, such older senators as S mmons
and Overman of North Carolina, Stone of
Missouri. who was manager for Speaker
Clark during the race for the presiden-
tial nomination: Martin and Swanson of
Virginia, Bacon OF Georgia and Tiliman
of South Carolina. apparently are strong
ly in favor of the Presidents bill.
Views of Progressives.
Some OF the supposedly more progress
i've democrats Of the Senate are by no
means in favor Of the administration
bill as it stands. Senator Hitchcock is
recognized as a progressive and he is
one of the strongest opponents of the
measure He and his republican allies
declare that the bill they have framed is
far more progressive than that offered
by the administration.
AS fhe Senate is at present made up
there are fifty democrats, forty-four re-
publicans and one progressive and one
vacancy. The vacancy is that made by
the death. of Senator Johnston of Ala
bama. The democrats have q majority OF
five. If two other democrats besides
Senator Hitchcock should favor amend
ments 10 the administration bill. and the
republicans and Senator Poindexter. the
progressive, should stand together in IA
vor of such amendments also, they could
put through these amendments.
Frank p. Glass has been appointed
senator from Alabama to succeed Sena
tor Johnston, and If he were enrolled the
democrats would number fifty-one. but 1t
Is considered doubtful that Mr.. Glass will
be seated. Blair Lee has been elected
senator from Maryland TO till the unex-
pired term of the late Senator Rayner.
and he is a democrat. If seated he will
take the place of Senator Jackson, a re-
publican, and the democratic majority
Will be still larger. But il is a question
whether he win be admitted and IL Is
unlikely that he will be seated in any
event before the Maryland legislature ad-
journs. the latter part of March.
Last Of the ''Shoguns' Dead.