The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1914-04-08
IS Up To SENATE
BATTLE GROUND over REPEAL
OF FREE TOLLS SHIFTS
Will SEE Much DEBATE

Every Nerve 1OF desperate o<tetAS
Estimated Majority Of Sixteen En-
courases Those Favoring Repeal.
The Panama Tolls controversy, sur
passing in interest any problem that
has absorbed the attention of con-
gress in recent years, was transferred
to the Senate Wednesday from the
House, wher, Tuesday night the Sims
bill repeating the tolls exemption was
passed by PAT to ISL. The meas
ure's appearance was accepted as the
signal for the beginning Of one of the
most protracted and complicated con-
tests the Senate ever faced. Senators
both for and against the repeal said
they saw no hope OF final disposi-
ton of the issue within the next five
or six weeks.
Senator O'Gcrman, who will lead
the fight against repeal planned to
have the inter-oceanic canals COM
mittee, of which he is chairman, be-
gin consideration Of the measure i'm
me diately. The committee already
has before it various other bills re-
lating to exemption 1t appears that
the members are nearly evenly divid-
ed on the chief issue. How vote
will result is regarded as extremely
uncertain now, but unless there is a
change in the lineup opponents OF
repeal appear to have mapority Of
one.
Senator Lewis of Illinois has a bill
empowering the president to suspend
tolls by proclamation. Senator Reed
has introduced measure which
would repeal the toll exemption
clause and grant to foreign vessels
the right to compete with American
ships now engaged in the coastwise
trade. Senator Ovens bill, identical
with that passed by the House, it was
expected, would be replaced by the
administration measure, its purpose
to expedite consideration in the Sen
ate having failed. There are other
measures pending, including a bill Of
Senator Thomas and Senator Calm
gers resolution expressing the sense
Of congress that it has the right to
do as it pleases with respect to regu-
lating shipping in the Panama canal.
The latest poll brought to the
White House by an administration
Senator who canvassed his colleagues
and excluded from his count those
he considered doubtful indicated that
the presidents contention would
have a majority Of at least sixteen
Republicans as we'll as Democrats.
Senator Owen, the administration
leader in the canals committee, where
the measure is now pending, was at
the White House early comforting
with Secretary Tumulty. Asked
about the procedure in the Senate
and length of time for discussion the
Oklahoma Senator said:
'It is natural to assume that il the
committee does not report prompt, a
motion will be made to discharge the
measure from consideration OF the
committee. There is to be no effort
at forcing unnecessarily but we want
no dilatory tactics. The committee
stands, I judge, against the presi-
dent, and I think when organized
those who were in favor Of the tolls
exemption were in the majority. A
week in the committee will be rea-
sonable time for discussion"
The president had no comment to
make on the result in the House but
let it be known that he cherished no
ill-feeling over those who, expressing
their convictions, opposed the repeal.
There was no comment made on the
speech Of Speaker Clark.
It was said to be apparent that
determined effort would be made to
add to the House repeal bill clause
to assert the sovereignty Of the Unit
ed States over the canal. Some Sen
atcrs were said to take the view that
such an amendment could not be con-
sidered as compromise. Democratic
senators most active in the fight for
the repeal contend the House bill
should prevail in the Senate without
amendment. How far Republican
senators will figure in the result OF
the controversy was the subject OF
considerable speculation.