The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1914-06-17
KILL FREE TOLLS
SENATE VOTES TO PASS EXEMP:-
TION REPEAL so 10 35.
BLOWS ALMOST PASSED

tors West and Fardaman Crops
Out In Final Stages Of Debate and
Until Huge Bulk of Ashurst Steps
Between Fist Fight Was Imminent
Repeal OF Panama canal tolls e1-
emption for American coastwise ship
= ping passed the Senate Thursday
night by a vote Of so to S5. The
measure now goes back to the House,
which is expected to accept the Sim
mons-Norris amendment, specifically
reserying all rights the United States
may have under TIE Hay-Pauncefote
treaty.
Passage of the bill after struggle
that has lasted for several months
was regarded Thursday night as an
other, victory: fer President Wilson.
Although, thirteen Republicans came
to the aid Of the thirty-seven Demo-
Gratis who voted for the bill on final
passage, the President initiated the
movement in his party for repeal and
it was behind him that many Demo
Gratis who voted "aye" lined up on
the last test.
There has been no certain promise
from the White House that the presi-
dent will sign the bill with its quail
fying amendment, bat there has been
no declaration that he will veto 1t
and party leaders in the Senate were
virtually certain he would approve it,
Eleven Democrats, led by Senator
O'Gorman, fought the bill to the end.
The Senate was weary when its
long grind Of debate, its weary
watching for any attempt to gain
parliamentary advantage, and by the
time ce-President Marshal put the
question for the passage OF the bill
the oratory had died down, the cham
Der was quiet and the vote was taken
with but little excitement. 80
Bitterness among Democratic sena-
tors over the repeal bill appeared
again. and before oil was poured on
the troubled, waters Senator Varda-
man OF Mississippi and Senator West
Of Georgia came near blows. APP
parently only the interference Of Sen
ator Ashurst and the presence OF the
sergeant-at-arms prevented physi-
cal encounter. It all lasted less than
a minute, but in that time the Senate
fyened up and displayed an interest
in things such as has not been evil
dent for weeks.
The trouble started after a bitter
exchange between Senator Vardaman
and Senator James, who had vigor-
ously criticised the Mississippi Sena-
tor, and in turn had told that he
was not stating the truth.
When Senator Vardaman sat down
Senator West took the floor and also.
entered a, protest against the recent
chargesof Senator Yardaman that
those who voted for the repeal bill
we're guilty Of treachery to the Dem.
ocratic party. He referred to the
charge that the Carnegie Foundation
had expended $4,000 to boost the
repeal bill. =
:"Who knows" added the Georgia
senator, ''but what the shipping in
tsrests have spent 100000 to defeat
this BILL
"Have you been offered any?" ask
ed Vardaman. As bespoke he rose
TO his feet and started toward the
Georgia senator, who was only few
feet away.
"Don't you say that to me- said
Senator West, shaking his head and
lifting his arms.
"Weu," said Senator Vardaman,
stiu advancing WITH his arms half
raised, "you are making an intima-
tion that somebody else has been in
fuenced."
By this time the two senators were
only a few feet apart, but Senator
Ashurst, one of the biggest men in
the Senate, had stepped between
them. He laid his left arm across
Senator Vardaman's chest and extend
ed his right toward the Georgian and
tried to pacify them, but they kept
talking.
In the meantime members in the
cloak room tried to tumble out OF the
doors all at once, and the galleries
were half filled with people leaning
forward with expectation Of seeing a
real fight.
Senators will please come to or
der" shouted Senator Swanson, pre-
siding. 'The senators will please
take their seats and the sergeant-at-
arms-'' here he was interrupted,
but Sergeant-at-Arms Higgins had
heard enough, and he walked out to
where the two senators stood glaring
at each other across the cutstretched
arms of Senator Ashurst, and stood
ready for the official command to
stop whatever might be started.
Mr.. West insisted on explaining.
.'I did not say in writing or other
wise he started to explain.
The senators will please take
their Seats" urged the presiding Off
Ger, while the galleries and the Re-
publican side of the Senate in par
ticular looked on as Z at play.
"No, am not going to sit down. y
continued Mr.. West. and Senator
James tried to explain that the Geor-
gia senator was trying to make no
charges. Finally all resumed their
seats without blow on either side.
Both Senator West and Vsrdanan
explained that they meant no refec-
ton on any one in what they had
said. Later Senator Williams made a
short speech criticising Senator Var
daman.
CT decline to answer any questions