The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1914-04-03
TOLLS QUESTION IS
FIGHT OF DECADE
GREATEST LEGISLATIVE STRUS
GLE OF ADMINISTRATION is
ON IN HOUSE.
SPECIAL RULE IS CONTESTED
Would Limit Debate and Prohibit
Amendment-it Is Alternately
Defended and Attacked for
Three Hours.

Washington, March -S.-The great
est legislative battle yer undertaken
b. President Wilson's administration
was begun with the presentation Of Z
special rule III the house 10 limit de-
bate and prohibit amendment on the
administrations proposal to repeal
the provision CT The Panama canal
act allowing free passage to American
ships.
Speaker Announces Position.
Fer two hours the rule was alter
nately defended and attacked III heat
ed debate in the house. When adj
iOurnment came. with an hour Of de
bate on The rule left, Speaker Champ
Clark. who had not yet announced his
position on the repeal policy, issued
a statement vigorously opposing the
rule.
Impressed with the importance Of q
measure which President Wilson has
characterized as necessary TO the o
duct of his administrations foreign
policy, an extraordinary attendance O.
members was on the floor when the
rule was presented.
Henry Presents Rule.
Chairman Henry Of the rules com
mittee presented the rule limiting de
bate on the Sims bill to 20 hours and
precluding amendment except for .
single motion to rec0mmit. Brief ar
gument brought about an agreement
g.. No.. l1.,' l-I.t, ., ,l,> ,nl,
and the preliminary a.iirmish of the
greatest legislative struggle Of a de
cade was On.
Representative Henry, to a house
silently attentive, explained the rule
and launched into a defense of the
repeal bill. Then followed an argu-
ment in which the rule received little
attention, as compared with the mer-
it's Of the measure, and the presidents
foreign policy, the right Of the Amcri-
can government to exercise control
Of the canal it has built and the eco,
nomic ACCESSIBILITY Of free tolls for
American ships were dragged back
and forth in the discussion.
As To Moral Right.
The foreign situation was the par
ticular subject for most Of the speak
ors. The presidents adhorents who
spoke, all Democrats, declared that
under the treaty the United States
had nc moral right to pass its ships
free. His opponents, Republicans and
pro9reSSiveS, attacked the foreign pol
icy of the administration and de
nounCed the proposed repeal as an
'abject surrender to Great Britain
Throughout the discussion, Majority
Leader Underwood. for the first time
opposing the administration. sat quiet.
ly in his seat. li5tening attentively
to the argument. Republican Leader
Mann and Progressive Leader Muir.
dock. both made arguments against
the rule and the bill.
Administration leaders are vigorous.
ly seeking TO keep their supporters
in line and to win recruits.
IN this situation, the opponents OF
the bill would attempt to open the
Sims bill to amendment, ana might
secure the adoption of a compromise
amendment, repeating the tolls sec.
ton without surrendering the conten
ton that the United States. under the
treaties, has the right to grant free
tolls.
Speaker Clark's statement encour.
aged the opponents Of the rule. and
Representative Sims, author OF the
repeal bill, issued a statement declar.
ing II have heard that there will be
an organized effort by enemies of the
administration. both in and out Of the
Democratic party. to defeat the mo-.
tion on the previous question. The
object of this would simply be to al
low embarrassing amendments to he
offered TO the bill. A vote against
the previous question will be practt
cally Il vote against the bill"