Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-03-27
Clark's Statement

Speaker Clark's statement tonight
encouraged the opponents of the rule
and representative Sims, author of the
repeal bill, later issued a statement
declaring:
II have heard there will be an or
ganized effort by enemies of the adj
ministration, both in and out of the
Democratic party, to defeat the mo-
ton for the previous question, on the
rule tomorrow.
The object of this would be simply
to allow embarrassing amendments to
be offered to the bill. A vote against
the previous question will be practi-
cally vote against the bill.
Both sides displayed great activity
throughout the evening preparing for
the re-opening of the struggle tomor-
row.
In the Senate the days activity on
the tolls question was limited to the
introduction of a resolution proposed
by Senator Lewis.
This would provide that the amount
and payment Of tolls to be assessed
equally upon the ships of all nations
shall be regulated jointly by the Sec
retaries of war and the treasury with
the approval of the President" This,
it was pointed out, would avoid the
direct relinquishing of the right to dis
criminate in favor of American ships
under the treaties.
Resolution Goes Over
The resolution went over until to-
morrow, when Senator Owen is ex-
6d m Cnaaph ClInn0rtin y
the Presidents position on the tolls
question.
Speaker Clark's statement read:
II am dead against the rule on the tolls
question and intend to vote against it.
1 will not stultify myself by voting for
any such rule I led the fight to liberalize
the rules and practices of the House,
thereby imperillng my political future.
We won that long and bitter fight and it
was the first Democratic victory in u
years. Time and time again I declared
that / would not advocate a thing when
in the minority that l would not advo-
cate in the majority.
.The Democrats won the House in 1910
the first time in 16 years. l was unani-
mously nominated for Speaker and duly
49,
House with the hearty good will of ev-
cry Republican, because they believed
that I am a truthful man. IN order to
liberalize the rules and practices of the
House / voluntarily rellnquished a large
portion of the powers of the Speaker
which / could have retained by making
a fight, but 1 honestly believed that the
Speaker had too much power under the
old system for the good of the House
and of our institutions. Among other
things 1 declared that / was in favor OF
throwing bills open to ample discussion
and amendment and | am going to keep
the faith, come what may. If I were to
vote for the pending rule could not look
the House in the face. When I made
that statement I was speaking particu-
larly of tariff bills. but my statement
is equally applicable to all great bills.
Here is the situation: We have a rule
reported on bill on the greatest ques-
ton presented in my 20 years in the
House, beside which tariff bills sink into
pitiable insignifeance, a bill which il
passed will change our foreign policy
which we have maintained for 1875 years
and only 20 hours for debate are permit.
ted under this proposed rule and the
! right to amend is absolutely prohibited
and no intervening motion permitted ex
| cept one motion, to recommit. On such
an important and far-reaching measure
there should have been at least weel
for debate with the unlimited right o.
amendment. Surely there is nothing sa
cred about the Sims bill and there is M
reason for this mad rush. / will not b
a party to ramming such rule down tn,
threats of members
Opening Debate