Evening star., 1934-01-28

etc While 1t is silver purchase
amendment 1t Is merely grant of
authority.
Amendment Held Inconsistent.
As spokesman for the administration,
cratic leader of the Senate, told the
Senate that the Wheeler amendment
was not acceptable. The Arkansas
Senator pointed out that it was in con-
fiict with the Presidents message to
Congress urging the passage OF the
gold bill. In that message the Chief
Executive said that he would withhold
recommendation regarding silver until
there had been opportunity to learn
the effect of the operation of London
conference silver agreement, to which
prevail and until after the effect OF
the gold program had been more fully
developed.
Another such defeat for silver in the
Senate may bring silver victory. In
the last session of Congress Senator
Wheeler's "16-to-1" silver amendment.
offered to the farm relief bill, was
defeated 43 to "a. when a change OF
only five votes would have carried the
amendment. President Roosevelt op-
posed the amendment at that time.
1cSJcIudy ol Willy WV 'oeNS
to the silver side would have placed
the silver purchase amendment in the
gold bill In the light of these evil
dences of the popularity of silver. the
silver Senators will fight on.
Indeed, it is now the hope of the silver
bloc that the President will do some
thing more" for silver, without further
test in Congress Just what that will
be they are not quite clear. But they
point out that the President in his gold
message indicated he would have recon-
mendations to make regarding silver
later They believe that the show of
strength in the Senate by silver yes
terday will have its effect. They point
out further that the so-called Thomas
initiation amendment to the farm relief
act, adopted at the last session, followed
quickly after the rejection of the
Wheeler free silver amendment in the
Senate.
johnson Backs President.
The Republican division on the
Wheeler silver amendment had its
peculiarities. The Progressive Republi-
cans from the West voted for the
amendment generally speaking, although
Senator Hiram johnson of California,
who has received administration in
dorsement for reelection, stood by the
President in this matter Senators Nor
ris of Nebraska. La Toilette of Wisconsin
and Cutting Of New Mexico. who, like
johnson. supported Roosevelt in 1892
all voted for the Wheeler amendment.
On the other hand. several Republican
regulars jumped on the silver wagon,
among them Senator Townsend Of Dela-
ware. Senator Hatfield of West Birginia,
Senator Dickinson Of Iowa, Senator
Robinson of Indiana and Senator Davis
of Pennsylvania. Senator McNary of
Oregon, Republican leader, voted for
the Wheeler amendment. too. and 50 did
his colleague, Senator Steiwer-
On the Democratic side, voting against
the Wheeler amendment, were several
Senators whose sympathies lie wholly
with silver reconciliation. but who felt
they should stand by the administra-
ton" Senator Tydings Of Maryland
voted for the silver amendment The
two former Democratic Secretaries of
the Treasury Glass of Virginia and
McAdoo Of California. both voted against
the Wheeler amendment.
Senator Wheeler said last night that
he would offer again his silver amend
ment If something substantial is not
done to forward the reconciliation of |
silver" He can offer it as an amend
ment to another administration measure
If he sees fit.
16-to-1 Ratio Was Object
While the Wheeler amendment did
not mention "16 to l." If it were placed
Ia operation it would have resulted in
bringing the ratio Of silver and gold |
approximately to Is to l, Senator |
Wheeler said Furthermore, it would |
H,o To- l,s~
fallacy of the argument that this coun- |
try would be flooded with silver If the |
free silver plan were adopted
Senator Robinson of Indiana threw !
into the arena the old contest over the
immediate payment Of the soldiers
bonus, offering an amendment to have
government pay the $4,000 900 900 still
due the veterans on the bonus out of
the expected profits" to the Govern
nent growing out of the reduction of
the gold content of the dollar, expected
TO be somewhere in the neighborhood
OF $4,000, ,00o. 900.
The Indiana Republican, vigorous
critic of the Roosevelt administration.
insisted the payment of the bonus would
immediately set more money in circu- |
lation. He added that to place $2,000,- |
100000 of these expected profits in a |
stabilization fund to be used by the |
President to deal in foreign exchange, |
the stabilization Of the Government bond |
market, etc, would be in the end to |
throw away s2OO0,0OO,00O
1T will all be lost" said Senator |
Robinson. 1T is proposed to allow the
President and the Secretary of the !
Treasury to sit in an international
poker game with $4,000 900, 900 stabili-
Eation fund as a stake. There won't |
be vestige of it left after the opera
tions have been completed"
Cutting Backs Proposal
Senator Cutting of New Mexico Re- |
publican Progressive, spoke in support |
OF the bonus amendment, declaring that |
the pending bill will not feed a single |
hungry person in the land" He added |
that he intended to vote for the meas |
ure, however. because he believed in |
the new deal"
Senator Fletcher, Democrat, Of |
Florida attacked the bonus amend !
ment, pointing out that it had never |
come before the Senate Banking and
Currency Committee for consideration |
while it had the gold bill up, and that
its adoption would destroy the work Of
the last four days in the Senate"
Senator Fess of Ohio. assistant Re- /,
publican leader of the Senate. made a
vigorous attack on the gold bill occupy
ing the floor for two hours before the |
limitation on debate, allowing only |
1o-minute speeches, became effective |
at 4 pm.
How Senators Voted.
The vote on final passage of the |
money bill was as follows:
For the bill-66.
Democrats-55.
Adams, Ashurst, Bachman, Bailey, |
Bankhead, Barkley, Black, Bone. Brown,
Bulkley, Byrd, Byrnes, Caraway, Clark,
Connally, Coolidge. Copeland, Costigan,
Dietrich, Dill, Duffy, Erickson, Fletcher,
George, Harrison. Hatch, Hayden, King,
Lewis. Logan. Lonergan, McAdoo. Nc