Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-27
WILSON WINS FIRST
BATTLE TO REPEAL
FREE CANAL TOLLS
House by 207 to 176 Refuses
to Continue Discussion on
Rule to Limit Debate.
PARTY LINES ELIMINATED
IN PRESIDENTS VICTORY
Balloting Preceded by an Hour
of Impassioned
Oratory.
ADOPTION OF RULE FOLLOWS
Confidence of Administration Sun
porters Justified by Its Passage.
Repeal Advocates Sore at
Speakers Statement.
PARTY LINES ELIMINATED
IN PRESIDENTS VICTORY
ADOPTION OF RULE FOLLOWS

President Wilson won the first
battle OF his fight to repeal the
Panama tolls exemption today.
when the House by a vote of 2o7
to I7o refused to continue discus
sion on the rule to limit to twenty
hours the debate on the Sims
bill.
Party lines were eliminated in
the vote, which was round VIC
tory for the administration lead
ers. The balloting was preceded
by an hour OF impassioned speech
making, in which Speaker Clark,
Representative Underwood, Rep
resentative Fitzgerald and other
democratic leaders voted against
the motion to cut off debate.
With the adoption of the reso-
luton to stop debate on the rule,
the next question was upon the
adoption of the rule itself. Ad-
minisTation supporters were sure
OF its passage.
The rule was finally adopted by
200 to I72, with five members an
swerlng present.
Hurt by Speakers Action.
For two hours before the fight started
In the House the leaders of the repeal
end of the fight sat in Representative
Adamson's Office behind closed doors and
outlined a plan of battle against the
Speaker and other members who want a
rree debate and chance to amend the
Sims bill. The men who framed the gag
and those who supported 1t counted their
strength. Representative Hardwick OF
Georgia, an attendant upon the con-
ference, predicted victory for the rule.
The men who were there were hurt and
sore because the Speaker had chosen
the dramatic eleventh hour for his state
ment last night; and the Importance OF
the Speakers view was said to be the
most serious proposition that has con-
fronted the democracy since 1t took pos
session However, the Speaker. with un-
ruffied face, sat in his office and pre-
pared another statement. which Will be
released at the proper time.
Some congressman professed the view
that the tight had taken the aspect Of
q contest between the President and
Speaker Clark. They expected the
Speaker might take the floor to per-
sonally lead the fight on the rule, or
might reserve his attack for the bill
itself, unless forced to the floor to de-
fend himself.
The galleries filled up early. Mrs.
Clark had a seat in the Speakers GAL
1ery.
Republicans Cheer Clark.
An unusual, violent demonstration.
principally from the republicans. greeted
Speaker Clark when he mounted the
rostrum The cheers were almost wild
yelps of joy. He raped for order. ana
the chaplain, in his prayer, referred 10
the Strength of men In great crises
The pro-sag rule faction gathered us
clans together in solid line-Hardwich,
Henry Adamson Sims, Sherley-and held
whispered conferences.
They were confident OF passing the gas
rule by eighteen or twenty votes. Repre-
sentative Underwood lined up against the
gag took a front seat, scheduled TO
close the argument on his side of the
contention, while Iiardwick OF Georgia,
of bitter speech and clever tactics. pre-
pared to assail the Speaker-a democrat
against Champ Clark,
Before the fight a message from Repre-
sentative Brumbaugh was read. He asked
leave of absence on account OF important
business" He missed the row today be-
cause of trouble in Columbus tOhio) post
office patronage matters.
Speaker Clark admonished the House
to be orderly .'in an exciting and ac-
rimonious debate like this" When hos
tilities opened Representative Sher-
wood of Ohio started the debate by
asking the privilege of neutralizinS
the canal by not fortifyins it.
Mild Ovation for Adamson.
When Representative Adamson started
to talk on the rule mild cheer
greeted him.
He has the repeal fight on his shoul-
ders. having started the ball rolling in
commerce. He said he was not getting
his ideas from seven-year railroad
lobby" He said in general he is op-
posed to rules of this sort. He said the
Speaker had thought n ten-hour debate
would be sufficient when it had first
been talked Of
I'VE are not willing to have the Sims
bill amended, for no amendments are
needed" he said. He spattered Georgia
sarcasm on every one who had fought
the rule, including Murdoch and Len
root.
He resolved the argument to d question
Of subsidy, and went into a discussion of
gag rules" which showed that the
Clark statement had a sting for the re-
men.
Representative Gardner of Massacnu-
setts, a republican, who fought against
the Cannon power, begged for the gag
to be applied.
Il know if they shatter the ranks of
the men who want this rule applied
they will beat the bill. | therefore ap-
peal to every man who wants to see the
repeal bill passed to vote for the rule
Hinebaugh Jabs at Gag Rule.
Representative Hinebaugh Of Illinois
IproSressive) jabbed at the Eaan rule.