The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-04-02
Bitter Attack Made On Admin
istratien-Says- resident
Would Preserve Peace With
Price of Panama Canal.
Bill Now Before
Canals Committee
Fight Promises to Be as Warm
as One in House-Only
Small Majority Can BeCount-
ed Thus Far-Executive 10
Ready.

WASHINGTON, April 1.-The
Panama canal tolls repeal bill is now
in the custody of the senate commits
tee on inter-oceanic canals, of which
Senator O'Gorman, of New York, 10
chairman. The bill was "messaged"
over from the house to the senate
shortly after noon today, and i'm
iedately the fight was taken up in
the latter body.
The developments of the first day
in the upper branch indicated that the
debate is to be as bitter there as it
has been in the hous>- Senator Jones,
of Washington, Republican, took up
the attack on the president, char
acterizing the repeal proposal as an
effort to preserve peace by purchase"
Senator Jones predicted that the SEN
ate would prove to the country by de-
teating the repeal that it was the real
tribune of the people, and not Tho
satrapy of the executive"
Try to Amend.
Already efforts have been begun in
the senate to amend the repeal bill ~
passed by the house. Two amend
ments were introduced today, and
others will follow in quick succession.
President Wilson, however. made it
clear that he will stand firmly on
the repeal bill in the form in which
IL passed the house.
There is little doubt now that ths
president Will be confronted with q
struggle in the senate that may last
six weeks, or two months. before he
can hope to bring about the passage
of the repeal bill The presidents
friends were making claims OF q ma
jority of from ten to twelve for the
repeal bill in the senate.
I'GorInan Calls Meeting.
Chairman O'Gorman has called q
meeting of the senate committee on
inter-oceanic canals for next Tuesday.
Senator Norris, OF Nebraska, offered
one of the amendments proposed to-
day. Mr.. Norris amendment was
chiefly interesting. and significant, in
that it was accepted as assurance that
he would vote for the repeal bill.
Jones' Flags Prcsident.
Senator Jones, of Washington. Re-
publican. and one of the most persis-
tent advocates for free tolls for coast
wise shipping. attacked the president
in the senate today. He complained
that the foreign relations committee
had not reported his resolution calling
on the president for information as to
protests by foreign governments in the
tolls question,
Efforts to shut of Senator Jones
failed. Senators Hoke. Smith and
Hitchcock raised points OF order. as
luton not before the senate. but the
vice president overruled them. holding
that a senator once recognized may
talk about anything under the sun
The Democratic platform has APP
proved this exemption said Senator
Jones The president had rejoiced in
its passage, not a Democrat in the SEN
against II. The representative OF the
British government had practically ad-
mitted in writing that we had the
right to do II. This exemption was
passed in the interest OF competition,
and against monopoly. and for the
benefit of all the people.
Change of Policy.
Slowly. quietly. subtly. conditions
changed The Mexican situation be-
came more gloomy. An Englishman
was wantonly murdered by the insur-
gents and Immediately something was
doing. All plans were changed. The
administrations policy OF one thing at
a time was thrown In the winds Trust
problems were thrust aside--forgotten
The newspapers, in yelled words and by
covert insinuations. suggested that
England's aid in sustaining the Mon
roe Doctrine in the deposing of Huerta-
and in pacifying Mexico, was to be Sc
cured by the repeal of the tolls exemp-
tion, and suddenly 1t was announced
that the president had decided to APP
pear In the congress and urge its
repeal"
Goes After Senators.
Mr. Jones described the presidents
address as a schoolmaster'S lecture to
young pupils. He said the senators
marched like obedient schoolboys
through the corridors of this historic
capitol to the bell of instruction..
The president. he added. gave neither
reasons nor facts in support Of the
new policy he advocated.
The American people cannot be
driven. or scared to give up wha, hey
believe to be justly theirs. We do
not want war. We want peace, but
we don't want peace ut the expense
of our sovereignty over an inch of our
territory. We want peace, but we
won't buy it at the expense OF our
rights and our honor
Complaining of the failure - the
senate committee to act on his reso-
luton, Senator Jones said:
VIII Not Report Bill.
sThe committee Is not going t. re-
port ii. 1t will not be passed. You
confess there Is no fact or condition
that will justify the position OF the
president. IL there was. you would be
glad to present it. II 1t were passed
and answer made. what would he
shown? 1t would be shown that no
nation on the face OF the earth las
protested against our action excepting
our coastvpass shlpa from paying tails
except Great Britain. and that sho
practically. admitted. oslssEzGht ~ -