The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1914-06-12
SENATE CLEARS WAY
FOR EXEMPTION REPEAL
Test Votes Indicate That Major
ty Will Vote For Tolls Bill.
THE VOTE NOT CLOSE.
Change in Wording Denying That L
>. Valves Any Prerogative Which
1t May Have Now.

). Valves Any Prerogative Which
1t May Have Now.
Washington, June 1.-THE senate
last night cleared away most of the
Legislative barriers in the way of
final vote on the canal tolls exemp-
tion repeal bill, and unless there are
unforeseen developments, the fight.
which has ragged in Congress over
this measure for many months, will
come to close before adjournment
Votes taken last night on amend
ments designed to preserve any right
the United States possesses under the
Hay-PauncefOte treaty with Great
Britain to exempt American ships
from toll payment through the Pan
anna canal indicated that the forces
of repeal will win by u substantial
majority.
Senator Simmons who has led the
fight for repeal, will carry ny not less
than ten votes, and there was every
promise that his estimate will prove
correct.
There was no real test of strength
in the voting, but the repeal forces
won the first round of the fight when
they put through, by vote of 80 TO
"a, the so-called Simmons-Norris
amendment, which declares the Uni
ted States does not waive or relin-
quish any right it may have 20 ex-
empt American ships from payment
| of tolls.
FAIL TO CHANGE IT.
Although two subsequent attempts
to change the language of the amend
ment SO that it would refer to a right
the United States has instead of any
right it may have we're defeated, but
neither vote was so decisive as that
on the Simmons amendment
One modifying amendment by Sen
ator Sutherland was beaten, 40 to 81,
and the second, proposed by Senator
Cummins, suffered a like fate, 40
to 81.
Attempts will be made tomorrow
to put through other amendments.
but repeal forces are believed to be
sufficiently strong to dispose of them
in short order and pave the way for
the passage of the bill itself
There were several expressions
during the debate of desire to sub
nit the dispute with Great Britain to
arbitration after the repeal bill is
Ipassed. 1t has been reported in the
senate for several days that an arbi-
tration resolution will be pressed
after the passage of the bill.
a serious attempt 20 put through
arbitration resolutions may be op-
posed by Democratic leaders who are
anxious to take up pending antitrust
Legislation.
The first vote last night came when
the senate was not looking for it and
found 21 senator's absent from the
chamber or out of town
The senate adopted the Simmons
Norris amendment qualifying the ca
nal exemption tolls bill by a vote of
30 to "a. This was TIL, first test vote
after six weeks of debate on the re-
peal bill The most optimistic SEN
ators who favored repeal had not ex-
pected the amendment to carry by so
large majority.
1t is not believed, however, the bill
itself can be put through by so great
a margin.
Nine Democratic senators voted
against the amendment Several OF
these, however, are expected to vote
for the repeal bill, while several Re
pubicans who supported the amend
ment are expected to line up against
the bill.
THE AMENDMENT.
The amendment reads:
Provided, That the passage of this
act shall not be construed or held as
a waiver or REIMBURSEMENT of any
right the United States may have an
der the treaty with Great Britain, rat
'ifed the 21st of February, 1903. or
the treaty with the Republic of Pan
anna, ratified February 26. 1904. or
TaN II WaHUrs..