Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1917-04-19
SENATE PASSES
7-BILLION BILL
UNANIMOUSLY
Final Vote on Measure Was
81 to O.
S3,OOO,O0O,OOO FOR ALLIES
First Bond Issue Will Be FIoated
Within TWO Weeks-$$4, 900, 100000
Ready For Use by Govern
ment in the War Against
Germany.

w dNlIiilSjDils AI)III lO.-lIlc UuILcu
States will be ready within twenty-four
hours to place $3OO0,OOO,OOO to the
credit of the entente allies and to
spend $4O0OOOO,OOO toward Americas
part in the war against Germany.
The senate last night unanimously
passed the bill authorizing the issu-
ance of $5,OOO,OOOOOO worth of gov
eminent bonds and s., OOOO 100000 worth
Of ShOrt-term certificates of indebted
ness for this purpose Eighty-four
senator's voted-12 being absent.
Several minor amendments to the
bill will neceSsitate that it be sent to
joint conference Of senators and rep
resentatiyes. An agreement may be
reached shortly and the measure will
be rushed to President Wilson, prob
ably this afternoon, for his signature.
viii Market Bonds.
The first allotment of the bonds,
probably totlling nearly $1,O0O,00O,O0O,
is expected to be placed on the market
within two weeks.
Speakers for the absentees put each
one in the record as favoring the bill.
Absentees were Bankhead, Golf, HOl-
lis, Uusting, Lane, Martin, Newlands,
Smith Of Michigan and Smith Of South
Carolina, TilIman, Underwood and
Warren.
The bill as it passed is strength
ened to gain the unanimous approval
of the country. Small financial insti-
tUtions, such rs some state and savings
banks, are fully protected and may
participate in the loan on exactly the
same grounds as the great national and
federal reserve banks.
No depositor of bank who with
draws his money for the purpose of
the bonds can possibly harm his own
interests Of those Of the depository,
because the bill now authorizes the
secretary of the treasury to deposit
with any bank or trust company an
amount not to exceed the sum with
drawn by depOsitOrS or used by the
bank for the purchase of the new
bonds of the $1,000 100000 issue.
To Report All Expenditures.
An amendment Incorporating this
feature in, the bin was introduced by
Senator Weeks of Massachusetts, him.
self a banker.
Other amendments providing for a
report by the Secretary Of the treasury
on the expenditure of the funds raised
under the provisions Of the bill were
adopted without making any changes
in the vital features
Antiwar Senators Vote.
All senators who voted against a
declaration of war voted with the sena-
tors on the amendments and refrained
from discussing the bill Senator Nor
ris Of Nebraska voiced by an amend
ment his nonapprOval of the provision
that the bonds shall bear Il higher rate
OF interest if subsequent war bonds
are put out at interest above 80 per
cent authorized in this issue.
Senator Stone expressed his cOHvic-
ton that the federal reserve banks
should handle the bond issue, saying
they were organized for just such pur-
pose and should be given the privilege
and the test of handling the great
loan.
4 small but important amendment
that will greatly popularize the loah
eXempts the bonds from taxation of
any sort Neither federal, state nor
municipal government nor any other
taxing body of any kind may levy one
cent against the vast wealth repre-
scented in the issue Of $5,00OO00,OOO of
bonds.
A fair estimate of the wealth that
viii be absorbed in this popular loan
may be gained by the fact that the
bond issue alone increases the per
capita Of Indebtedness of the country
by $50 and the war budget provided
by the bin by $40 for every man, wom-
and and child in the country
Small Banks Protected.
The Weeks amendment is made so
broad that no bank need fear whole
sale Withdrawals of money for the pur-
chase Of bonds. The 100000, 900 for
loans to the nations of the entente
allies will undoubtedly be the first
great demand, but as this money is
to be spent largely in the United
States, banks and trust companies will
not feel the withdrawal heavily.
Another important amendment linn
tied the time of issue of bonds bear
ing a higher rate of interest and af-
fecung the present issue to the period
before the termination of the war the
date of the termination to be fixed by
proclamation.
The senate named as conferees with
the house on the amendments Sena-
tors simmons, Williams. Stone. Pen
rose anil Lodge, with the 'usuaI 1nsTuc-
tons to insist on the senate amend
ments. 1t is believed that the bill
providing the vast sums necessary for
immediate use in preparation for war
should become law by noon today.
CONGRESS MAY OIIIT UINE 1