The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1914-04-01
TOLLS DEBATE ON
BIGGEST ORA7ORICAL BATTLE is
OPENED In CONGRESS
LEADERS OPPOSE wilson

|LEHBLhO UFEU0L WlLJUl'
Speaker Clark, Minority Leader Mann
and Oscar Underwood Are Oppos
ed to acknowledgements
Henry of Texas Heads Administra
tons Fight.
The greatest legislative battle ye
undertaken by President Wilson's ad
ministration was begun Thursday the
presentation of a special rule in tht
House to limit debate and prohibit
amendment of the administration:
proposal to repeal the provision o.
the Panama canal act, allowing free
passage to American ships.
For two hours the rule alternately
was defended and attacked in heated
debate in the House. When adjourn
ment came, with an hour of debate
on the rule left, Speaker ChamE
Clark, who before had not announc'
ed his position on the repeal policy
issued a statement vigorously oppos'
ing the rule.
Impressed with the importance Of
measure which President Wilson has
characterized as necessary to the con-
duct of his administrations foreign
policy, an extraordinary attendance
Of members was on the floor when the
rule was presented. Throngs Of spec
tators filled the seats in the gallery
occupied the stairways and overflow
ed into the corridors. The specta-
tors came when the House met at II
and waited hour after hour as rou'
tine business delayed the tolls bill
and the nervous tension on the floor
grew more and more tense.
The legislative way finally was
cleared and at o'clock Representa-
tive Henry, chairman Of the rules
committee, presented the rule, limit
ing debate on the Sims bill to ~
hours and precludng amendment. ex-
cept for single motion to recommlt'
Brief argument brought about an
agreement for three hours Of debate
on the rule and the preliminary sklr-
mish of the greatest legislative strug-
gle of a decade was on.
To a house silently attentive, Rep
resentative Henry explained the rule
and launched into a defense OF the
repeal bill. Then followed an argu-
ment in which the rule received lit
the attention, as compared with the
merits of the measure and the presl'
dents foreign policy, the right OF
the American government to exercise
control Of the canal it has built and
the economic advisability Of free tolls
for American ships were dragged
back and forth in the discussion.
Most speakers dwelt on the foreign
situation. The presidents adherents
who spoke, all Democrats declared
that, under the treaty, the United
States had no moral right to pass its
ships free. His opponents, Republl-
cans and Progressives, attacked the
foreign policy Of the administration
and denounced the proposed repeal
as an "abiect surrender to Great
Britain.
Thro o1ghout the discussion Major
ity Leader Underwood, for the hrst
time opposing the administration, sat
quietly in his seat, listening atten-
lively to the argument. Republican
Leader Mann and Progressive Leader
Murdock both made arguments
against the rule and the bill.
Administration leaders vigorously
sought to keep their supporters in
line and to get recruits. The opposi-
ton directed it's efforts to obtaining
votes to defeat motion to close de-
bate on the rule, which, if beaten
would allow amendment Of the rule
| In this situation, opponents of the
bill would attempt to prevent the
Sims bill and might force the adop'
ton of a compromise amendment, re-
peaing the tolls section, without sur
rendering the contention that the
United States under the treaties has
the right to grant free tolls.
Speaker Clark's statement encour'
aged opponents Of the rule, and Rep
resentative Sims, author Of the repea
bill, later issued statement declar'
ing: 'I have heard there will be ar
organized effort by enemies Of the ad'
ministration, both in and out OF the
Democratic party, to defeat the mo
tion for the previous question on the
rule tomorrow. The object OF thi:
would be simply to allow embarrass'
ing amenments to be offere to the
bill. A vote against the previou!
question will be virtually a vote
against the bill"
| SSSpIGSSuldIlfC SPSNSN ~-->
argument for the rule. He declared
that the free tolls plank Of the Balti
more platform did not represent Dem
ocratic sentiment and pointed ou
passed only - Democrats In the
House voted for free tolls, while 81
voted against the provision.
81 propose" he said, "to aid in tht
correction Of blunder that has beer
committed by the American congress
This free toll provision violates
treaty and contract we have Will
England and other nations. Thu
president Of the United States ha'
come to the House and has summon
ed US to his aid in this great crisis
and I propose to follow him"
Mr.. Henry asserted that the Amer
lean people secured no benefit from
free tolls and asserted that the YES
vels that would profit from the eX