The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-03-24
He Points to Recorded
Vote Of Democrats
in House.
ONLY COALITION
PUT LAW ON BOOKS
Tolls Exemption Made Possible
by Union of Democratic Mi
nority With Number of Re-
publicans-President Makes
No Secret of His Anx-
iety for Vote.

Washington, March 23.-President
W iiSon declared to-day that In seek
ing the repeal OF the Panama Canal
tolls exemption, he not only was ask
ing that the nation do that which IL
was bound in honor to do. but was
gong the way Of tho majority in the
Democratic party. He pointed out that
when the Panama Canal act was
passed. majority OF tho Democrats
then in tho House cr Representatives.
v"let against ;hc tolls exemption. and
mat only through coalition of a
minority of Democrats with IA number
ot. Republicans, did the measure be.
come. law
rms announcement was taken in ad-
m!hi7traiion circles rs tn. Pre- esidcnt's
answer I" the argument that the BAL
tihore platform made the tolls cxc,np-
ticn Democratic doctrine The Presi
dcnt :s understood to believe that the
majority opinion Of the Democrats i'm
the House as last expressed was :. re-
SUIT OF more deliberate consideration
oi INC question than was possible at
the baltimore convention.
Anxious for Vote.
The President made no sec-at 20
Cai!'iS or his anxiety for the repcal
measure 10 come TO a vote Asked II he
thought Influences were nt work 70
Pol"nE debate unneccssarilv. Mr.. VIII
son aaid hc didn't know. hut il c.r,,in-
ns.gs
Aibustcring: that minor!tics alwavs
n!ibustercd and disclosed themselves T.,
t'pu5tcTs The President Is confident
th1t ne viii have the ma Joritv OF his
party behind him In the House when
~" 'cPea! comes To vote. He has
oe"' assured that at least zoo Demo
crItS VIII support him and many Rc
n"Dicans. senator James, OF Ken
'uckT. mas Informed the President mo
Hote IN the Senate will be at least IS to
20 In favor OF the repeal
mere seems li;tle prospect to-nlght
oi estthg the Siins repeal bill before
INC House until late in the wcel ,t
inc earliest. Debate on the rivers ord
hafhors bill Is dragging along slowly
Win no prospect OF immediate concen-
trato'i. To-day the apparent efforx
ol members TO prolong discussion of
'rlN!ai matters brought constant ref
erenccs hy champions OF the toll cx
einption TO ilibustering tactics
No att"mnt will be made to rcDort y
rule that would limit debate on the re-
pea bill 10 fifteen hours, until Tho
measure actually has been called nm
ana mis- probably cannot be done until
ihurS0ay. when Majority Leader Tn
u''W"oo VIII make the opening speech
III opposition to the repeal
Wants Forty Hours OF Debate.
representative Murdock, Progressive
leader. urged to-day that If tho House
would limit the repeal discussion 10
iortY instead Of fifteen hours. senti-
mont ON the tolls issue would he so
ehli'ed that the vote would result
America way instead of "England's
way. Several suggestions OF gag
rule were made. but Minority lender
ianr declared that while he had heard
III reported that the White House had
sent word 10 hasten the repeal. he did
not neiicVe the President had attempt
cu To interfere with House proccd,lrc
That all Progressive party members
oil the House are not opposed to repeal
OF toll exemption was disclosed to-day
when Representative Charles NJ
Thompson. OF Chicago. issued n state
ment declaring his intention to suDport
the President
representative Chandler of Nar
Ll,nnti