New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-10-04
CALLS 1T GREAT SERVICE
Proud, He Declares,l of the
Work for the Whole People,
but Realizes That It
Is Only the
First Step.
CURRENCY BILL THE NEXT
House Gets Into Parliamentary Tan
gle Over Final Action on Bill,
but Leaves No Loophole for
Future Disputes as to
Actual Passage.

Actual Passage.
From The Tribune Bureau.l
Washington, october 3.
"Approved at 9:1c p. m, October,
1913. WOODROW WILSON,"
Surrounded by every member of his
Cabinet. excepting the Secretary OF the
Interior by members Of Congress and
dent completed the Democratic tariff
legislation when he wrote the above on
the Wilson Simmons Underwood bill in
his office at the White House tonight.
The gold pen with which the Presi-
dent wrote Woodrow" he handed TO
Representative Underwood, and the
gold pen with which he wrote Wilson
he presented to Senator Simmons. He
explained before signing the measure
that ne chose the hour on the advice
of the Attorney General. because Of the
fact that many Of the provisions be-
come effective at once. and after he
had affixed his signature he made a
short speech.
President Wilson laid much stress on
the fact that the enactment Of the tariff
legislation was the accomplishment Of
only half the journey" in setting the
country free from monopoly, and de-
clared that I'VE are now able 10 take
the second step" meaning the passage
| of the currency bill. He expressed ''the
utmost confidence that the Senate
would pass the currency bill much
sooner than some pessimistic indi-
duals believe
Believes II a Great Service.
! Gentlemen, feel a very peculiar
: pleasure" the President continued, in
what | have just done by way Of TAX
ing part in the completion of a great
piece Of business. II is a pleasure
which is very hard to express in words
which are adequate TO express the feel
ing. because the feeling that | have is
that we have done the rank and file OF
the people of this country a great SER
vice.
1T is hard to speak of these things
without seeming to go off into cam
paign eloquence. but that is not my
feeling. 1t is one very profound-a
feeling Of profound gratitude that
working with the splendid men who
have carried this thing through with
studious attention and doing justice all
round. I should have had part In serv-'
ing the people of this country. as we
have been striving to serve them ever
since | can remember.
'T have had the accomplishment OF
something like this at heart ever since
I was a boy, and know men standing
around me who can say the same thing
who have been waiting TO see the
things done which it was necessary to
do in order that there might be justice
I'm the United States.
And so it is a solemn moment that
brings such a business TO a conclusion,
and | hope | will not be thought to ne
demanding too much Of myself or or
my colleagues when | say that this,
great as il is, is the accomplishment OF
only half the journey. We have set
the business of this country free from
those conditions which have made mo-
nopoly not only possible but in a sense
easy and natural. But there is no use
conditions Of
oly II we do not take away also the
power to create monopoly; and that is
a financial, rather than merely cir
cumstantial and economic. power.
Facina the Second Step.
"The power to control and guide and
direct the credits OF the country is the
power to say who shall and who shall
not build up the industries OF the coun-
try. in which direction they shall be
built and in which direction they shall
not be built. We are now about to
take the second step. which Will be the
final step in setting the business OF
this country free. That Is what we
shall do in the currency bill, which the
House has already passed and which
I have the utmost confidence the Sen-
ate will pass much sooner than some
pessimistic individuals believe. Be-
cause the question, now that this piece
OF work is done, will arise all over the
country, For what do we wait? Why
should we wait to crown ourselves with
consummate honor? Are we so SELF
denying that we do not wish to COM
plete our success?'
'T was quoting the other day to some
of my colleagues in the Senate those
lines from Shakespeare's Henry "
which have always appealed to me, II
it be a sin to covet honor then am
the most offending soul alive; and
am happy to say that do not covet II
aI1na 7 rouat II with equal