The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-04-30
TOLL BILL
FIGHT IS
ADVANCED

Washington, April 3O.--Administra-
ton leaders yesterday won the second
round of the fight to repeal the free
tolls provision of the Panama canal
act, when the senate canals commit
tee, by a vote of eight to six, ordered
the house bill carrying the repeal re-
ported to the senate. With the bill will
be reported an amendment proposed
by Senator Simmons and approved by
the committee, which reads asifaIloWs:
+ provided, that neither the pagsage
of this act nor anything therein con-
tanned. shall be construed or held as
waving, inlpatrIng or affecting any
treaty OF other right possessed by the
United States"
This amendment mas been seen by
President Wilson and Is said to have
his approval. Administration leaders
are confident that with it attached, the
repeal bill VIII be passed by the senate
and some senators opposed to repeal
agreed with this view.
All efforts in the committee yester-
day to report the house bill adversely
were defeated, as were efforts to at
tach other amendments or to report
substitute for the bill itself. The re-
port of the committee will be made
without recommendation and the
scene of the battle for and against re-
peal will be shifted to the floor.
Chairman O'Gorman, for the COM
mittee, expected to report the bill with
the amendment today and will ask
that it be placed on the senate calen-
dar. Senator Simmons, credited with
leadership of the forces aligned with
President Wilson for repeal, will ask
hn hill ho y1oo5a finichnI hrIci.
ness of the senate and If this SUCCESS
ton is agreed to the battle will begin
at once. r.,
Administration leaders hope to con-
duct this fight along the lines followed
in putting through the tariff and cur
rency bills. II this is adhered to the
attention of the senate will be directed
as closely as possible to the tolls mat
ter, and after debate of a few weeks
vote will be reached. ~
The committees session yesterday
developed several surprises but there
was said to be no display of bitter
ness. The first vote was taken on the
amendment by Senator Shields. pro-.
posed as {, substitute for the amend
ment offered by Senator Simmons.
which later was approved 1t provided
that the passage of the act should not
be construed as an admission that the
United States itas no right to exempt
lis COSSl SlWl lSS SHIPS lIOtkEQAOlfS. n IL Was
beaten ten to four. b
The Simmons amendment was next
and the vote was eight to six for its
adoption.
A motion by Senator Thomas to re-.
port the bill favorably with the Sim
mons amendment was beaten nine to
five. Senator sBristaw quickly made a
motion to report the bill, as amended,
adversely. which was beaten, eight to
five, Senators O'Gorman Walsh, Bor-
an, Bristow and Perkins voting aye,
and Senator's Thornton, Chiffon.
Shields, Thomas, owen Simmons.
Brandegee aud Crawford voting mo-.
The vote or the motion, Of Senator
Thomas to report the bill without rec
ommendation with the Simmons
amendment was eight to six. with the
same lineup on both sides except that
Senator Walsh voted mo" and Senator
Page voted aye.
The substitute proposed by Senator
walsh, which would allow detern1in-
alton Of the right to exempt American
ships under the Hay Pauncefote treaty
by the United States supreme court,
was defeated, eight to six