The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-03-30
BREACH IN RANKS
. OF PARTY CAUSED
BY TOLLS DISPUTE
Leads to No End Of Con-
flicting Political
Predictions.
RENEWAL OF FIGHT
IN HOUSE TODAY
Debate Leading Up to Final Vote
on Tuesday or Wednesday Will
Be Resumed = Speaker Will
Close Argument for Oppo-
nents-Wilson Bears
No III Will.

Washington. March 29.---No legisla
tive issue of recent years has excited
Congress as has the controversy over
repeal of the toll exemption clause OF
the Panama Canal act. Last weeks
events, which put record breach
| IN the solidarity of the Democratic
party, have caused no end of conflict
| ing political predictions to increase
the tensity OF interest in the subject.
The situation Is fraught with many
| complications.
Oratorical strife over the repeal will
. be renewed tomorrow The House
| VIII resume general debate on the
! Sims bill. leading up to a final vote in
That branch, probably late on Tues
| day night or Wednesday. In the SEN
ate discussion Will rcvolve around one
| OF the many side issues that have
| arisen. Senator James Hamilton Lewis
| proposing to discuss n resolution and
! bill he had introduced to follow repeal
as sort of balm to the wounds OF
| his party members. who thus far have
| opposed the President
Senator Lewis's measure would give
| the president authority to suspend
| tolls whenever he should deem it in the
public interest so to do. The Illinois
senator Will cite series of precedents
| on which he bases the right to Con-
| Eress to extend such authority to the
chief executive. AS against the pro-
| posal of Senator Lewis. the minority
leader. Senator Gallinger. will urge a
| resolution which would express It AS
the sense of Americans that Congress
has the right to do as ii Dleases with
| respect TO American shipping through
| the Panama Canal
Setting Stnge for FtnnI Struggle.
| In the House opposing leaders are
| setting the stage for the final struggle.
all conceding that scenes attending the
Slosing hours OF the debate and the
maj roll call will rival In sensational
! enthusiasm any Legislative climax i'm
| recent years. Speaker Champ Clark.
! whose vigorous statement against tho
! cioturc rule last week drew the cur
tain on the party breach. has prepared
an epiloSue, and the House galleries
| cannot accommodate the thousands
| VINO Will scramble for seats to hear
him deliver II.
Inc speaker has maintained silence
SINCE ms defeat on the cloture rule,
put he will break the silence on Tues
DAY, closing the debate on behalf OF
opponents OF toll exemption repeaI.
| The speech has been guarded with the
utmost care. fearful lest some hint of
| what the Speaker will say might find
| It's way into the hands of the opposing
| forces.
Close friends OF the Speaker assert
| there Will be no bitterness expressed
| no barking back to political imbrop
nos and no reflections cast on tho
| opinions of others. On the other
hand, some Democrats hint that tho
! speaker may surprise his friends and
arouse his advcrsaries.
Wilson Bears No Ill VIII.
AS TO the party strife precipitatcd
| President Wilson has made M com
incnt, ana, so far as known contem
piates making none. The Presidents
crosse ADVISERS insist. however. that
ne pcars no personal or political i'll
VII toward the leaders of the party
VINO nave opposed him in this crisis.
that he cntertains no thought ne boId
ing political Crudge, and that any
idea that he would attempt to bova
party leaders who oppose him punishec
pon.caiiy Is farthest from his
warfare are widely circulated the
PRESIDENT, 1t Is declared. Is confident
! congress Will repeal the tolls fssue
ana proposes that "fnis' SHAH ho
written TO the controversy when thar
Breakers are declared ahead ,or a.,
ePea'' however despite the situation
IN the House, where 1T EeneraIIv 10
won. poeh
The only uncertainty in the minds
or administration supporters as to ths
outcome is the size OF the ma oior;tw
estimates OF tho majority on the Pc
pear vary from 80 to 10 The Sepatn
however, Is yet to be reckoned wiz
mere no rule to limit debate can hc
oroereo' ana II may he weeks before
the question Is disposed OF. Senator
'ormah, who will lead the opposition
MIS- said senators who propose To yote
ior the repeal have told him thew did
not expect vote for six weeks Sen-
ator owen and other Democrats cbam
piohS or the Presidents cause declare
delay viii serve no useful purpose ana
they nope to have the Committee on
lhtcroceanic Canals, of which Senator
oGorlnan Is chairman take up tba
Slihs OIL as soon as II comes from tha
rouse. The committee is closely dI-
Viueo on 'he issue. At present, unless
some members OF the COMMITTEES shonIfJ
announce a change OF view, 1t appears
mat opponents OF the repeal might
nave majority Of one in the commit
tee. There are other bills pertaining ,o
the Issue before the Canal Committees
and no one will predict how long tho
committee VIII hold the subject under
consideration
Hills In senate.
Senator Chiffon has bill which I'm.
stead OF directly repeating tolls ex-
chption, would put IL up to the Presf-
dcht TO determine what ships should
pay tolls. Then there Is Senator
Lewts's bill. empowering the President
TO suspend tolls. and another measure
introduced by Senator Reed. would re-
peal the toll exemption and then grant
TO foreign ships the right to compets
with American coastwise shipping
What the committee and the Senate
VIII do with all these measures remains
to bc seen. Rumors OF attempts In
flihuster already are being heard
Other legislation before Congress
Just now is In practical eclipse. save
appropriation and calendar bills of
lesser importance. The Senate Inter. y