Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1914-04-04
LEADERS PREPARE
FOR FINAL CLASH
Administration Supporters
VIII Yield no Compromise
in Tolls.
AT sIMMERING STAGE.
Concerted Efforts of Republican SEN
ators to Unite Against Repeal Poi
icy of the President.

Washington, April 4.-The Panama
canal tolls exemption controversy has
REACHED the simuering stage in the
Senate, pending consideration next
week of the repeal bill am. proposed
compromises by the committee on IN
teoaceanic canals. Leaders on both
sides of the the fight continue their
activities, however, preparing for the
final clash Of the great legislative
. battle.
Two salient points were emphasized
in the developments of the tay. one
was the concerted effort made by Re-
publican senators to unite against the
Presidents repeal policy, and the 9TH
er was the reinforced determination
of administration leaders to yield to
no compromise on the house bill pro-
viding for flat repeal of tolls exemp-
tion for American ships.
Among Republican senators who
have been classified as doubtful with
regard to the repeal, there is a gen
eral tenCency to line up against the
President. Democratic senator's who
are championing the PresF-ent S
cause assert that they welcome this
movement, confident that it can have
no other effect than to so,idlfy the
Democrats and aid in assuring !suc-
cess for the administration. Ihess
viii" a6.n;:ctt;rg ,i.G.. ~ :
Of their number cannot be induced t.
abandon their opposition to the blN'
insist that there is every indication
that all other majority senators even
tually will support the measure.
They also are assured of support
nv some of the Republican senators,
despite the effort to unite against the
President.
i; Such Republicans as Senators Root
Lodge, Burton ami McCumber are
counted upon as unalterably oppose
to tolls exemption for American ships,
and with these votes the administra-
tion leaders retain their confidence
that nothing can prevent ultimate vic
tory for the repeal bill. One Repub-
lican senator who will vote against
the. repealsb:ll; said today that he was
confident the administration had the
votes to carry the repeal, and that
nothing could change the situation.
A bill authorizing the President to
contract with American registered
steamship lines using the Panama
canal were introduced yesterday by
Representative Edmonds, of Pennsyl-
vania. Under it tolls on American
ships would be remitted for q period
of ten years, the amount of such tolls
to be payable out of the treasury
every six months, and the American
ships would be required to carry mails
Of all kinds without charge to the
government.
The contracts would be with first
class vessels trading between tn;
eastern and western coasts OF tn
United States an7 Mexico, Central ant
South Amer:ca, and subject to all ex
istinp or future general Unlte'
States. laws Proofs would be require
that these vessels were not raliroa
controlled.
"All agreements made with othe
parties and lines including the ,ra'
road lines" the bill provides, shal
be approved by the Department Q
Commerce, and all freight rates shal
be posted with and subjected to re
vision by the proper authorities"
These ships or lines would not b
prohibited from pro rating with a
railroads on an equitable basis, bu
would be required to agree that in r.
tional emergencies they would b
held at the Federal disposal to agre
to give preference to goods nrade an
produced by the Unite: States Tol
would be charged against any port {
cargoes not originating in the Unite
States or originating in South Anne
lea AMI consigned to the United
States