The Prescott daily news., 1914-03-31
WILSON EX-
 PRESSED KEEN REGRET
Chief Executive Regrets Contest Over Tolls Question Develops Fight on Administration Both
 Factions Confident.

Washington, D. C., March 30.-On the eve of the vote in the house of representatives on the repeal of the American tolls exemption part of the fanama canal act, congress today was completely absorbed in the con- troversy. Verbal artillery thundered throughout the day in both house and senate. While opposing forces were Tn the midst of oratorical fight at the capital President Wilson took occasion to discuss the all expressing situation with callers. He expressed keen re- gret that what had promised to be dlgnlhed contest over principle had degenerated into fight on the admin | istration.
 While on the subject President Wilson characterized as the crowning insult of number of insults in the debate the declaration of Representa- tive Knowland of California that the administration had made deal to re- peal the tolls exemption with Sir Will liam Terrell, secretary to Sir Edward Gray, British secretary of foreign af- fairs. The final vote on the Sims | repeal bill in the house is scheduled for late tomorrow The majority of the repeal advocates being estimated at from 35 to 75.
 All ears will be strained for Speak CT Clark tomorrow and there ism uch speculation as to the course his at tack on the bill will take. His friends do not expect him to attack the pre- sident; but some of the Democrats be- lieve he will not refrain, however, from allusion to political entangle- ments. Discussion of the issue in the senate today was enlivened by Senator James Hamilton Lewis of Illinois who pleaded for the presidents cause, urg- ing, however, compromise giving the president authority to suspend tolls.
 Senator Lewis aroused mingled as tonishment and curiosity among his colleagues by discussing foreign re- lations of the United States, explain ing that what he thought the presi- dent might have referred to in his message on the tolls asking congress to grant repeal. He drew a picture of divers things that would happen should the United States intervene in Mexico; referred to the presidents failure to specify what foreign rela- tions prompted him to the appeal for tolls exemption repeal.
 l The senator did not hesitate to give what "I feel may have been his req sons.' He then entered upon a recital of acts of aggression on the part of the United States beginning with the taking of the Philippines "You entered into the Philippines into a system of colonial government" said the senator you had come into office, scarcely were you seated, until you met the problem, the theory was you came in to the Orient and brought your peo- pie and we desire that our people now shall come into yours; we cannot con. sent to that"
 Taking up the Mexican situation and reviewing operations of the Unit ed States in other lands in the inter ests of England, France, Japan and other nations in Mexico, Senator Lew is dramatically declared, "The very first moment we moved down into Mexico with view of executing the Monroe doctrine against these foreign nations who have stationed themselves there upon the theory that We no long CT have the right to execute the doc Urine on account of our past folly Japan will seize the Philippines. She then would seize Hawaii and then un- der such conditions our army in Mexi- co. The canal rot finished, no way would develop to have a joinder of our | ornv Tn what a condition our conn