The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-04-10
Republican Urges Non
partisan Support of
President.
GALLERIES BREAK
INTO APPLAU Sc
Veteran Senator Given Strict
Attention by Colleagues. and
Speaks for More Than Two
Hours Without Single In
terruption-Canals Com
mittee Begins Hearing.

washington, April 9.-HearingS on
the Panama tolls exemption repeal bill
opened to-day before the Senate Canals
Committee. but interest in the repeal
fight was focused on the Senate itself.
where Senator Lodge. veteran RepubN-
member OF the Foreign Relations
Committee. held the attention of vr-
tuaNy the entire membership and of
crowded galleries for more than two
hours. defending the position of Presi
dent Wilson in insisting upon the pass
age of the repeal bill.
The Senator spoke without a single
interruption. lie declared that in his
opinion, the right OF the United States
TO exempt any of it's shipping from
depreciation of the treaty; but because
of the delicate position in which the
tions, urged nonpartisan support of the
President.
Al the conclusion of Senator Lodges
address the galleries broke into ap-
plause. and the Nice-PreSidents gavel
I pounded several minutes before order
Wa. restored ana the, warning given
play Of approval or disapproval from
the gallery.
Given Strict Attention.
est attention by his colleagues on both
sides of the chamber and without re-
spect TO their announced views on the
TO ,hwa.l The purposes or to dis
political party he declared. is legiti-
mate political warfare To discredit or
break down the President of the United
icy is quite another thing, not TO be
undertaken except for the very gravest
reason. In one case We overthrow
party leader within that arena where
! the American people alone sit In judg
mcnt; in tho other we break down and
discredt the representative of the
| the nations of the earth. aud paralyze
his future power and usefulness, in
. ,t.1. J., ,ll,.. Il .~l.
and represent the policy. the honor and
tn, dignity OF the United States
6ef%FH me nd ihaIs Tho S9iii,1es Sfha a.
discuss their propositions. the session
/ marking the beginning of the hfteen
day public discussion. decided upon
earlier III the week. 1t was doubtful
/ Tonight just What the program of the
: hearings would be for the next few
! cial organizations in Pacific Coast
cities and New Orleans, at whose re-
not arrived, and several Senator'S who
have submitted substitutes for the Sims
j repeal bill intiInated to-day they had
/ no desire TO defend their proposals be-
fore the committee. Consequently dc.
lay to await the arrival of commercial
representatives appeared probable.
Norris Urges Suggestion.
/ Senator Norris urged upon the COM
mittee his suggestion that while the
exemption clause bc repeated. inc right
OF the United states 10 make such
exemptions be asserted in the repeal
measure and the President empowered
to arrange Tor arbitration or the dis
/ putc OH this point
I senator Thomas outlined his plan to
throw open the canal 10 the free pas
@ later at al ha G in the the
Debate on the repeal light. which
has occupied the Senate virtually the
entire week, although Senators have
not been speaking directly to any BILL
promises to continue at intervals at
least until the committee reports Its
findings.
i Senator Kenyon announced during
the day that he approved the sugges..
that tho tolls question be arhitrated 1riltiS
agreed that the question might we'll
be arbitratcd, and that arbitration
quenccs" spoken OF by President Will
son in his repeal message. He said
/ however. that 4 canvass of the Senate
| q year ago showed that two-thrds of
! the Senate We're not in favor Of arbi-
tration, and so far as he had heard
only two senators opposed to repeal
supported arbitration.
Prompt Wcpenl Demanded.
Senator Lodge maintained Vigorously
exempt its shipping. foreign as we'll AS
| coastwse, from tolls, but declared that
"a decent respect 10 the opinions or
mankind" and the "distrust and in
! some cases dislike" with which the
! United states is regarded abroad. de-
manded prompt repeal OF the exemption
! clause OF the canal act.
] Whether we shall insist upon Civ
! ing TO our ships $1,000. 900 or SS. 900 900
/ in IL disputed way is. in my conception
II very small question compared TO th,.
larger issues which are , here involved"
| 1909 opened, the United States occupied
| a higher and stronger position among
the nations OF the earth than at any
period in history Never before
! had we possessed such an influence In
| international affairs. and that influence
had been used henefccntly and for the
! worlds peace in two conspicuous in
| Continued On Second PageD