The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1914-04-03
WILSON WINNER
IN TOLLS FIGHT
Repeal Measure Passes House
by Vote Of 248 to 162.
CLARK SPEECH NOT WARLIKt
Speaker Declares Stories of Warfare
on President Are Untrue-Uphoids
Tolls Exemption as True Monroe
Doctrine--Olney Urges Democrats
to Stand Up for President.

to Stand Up for President.
Washington, April 1.-The actual
passage of the Panama tolls repeal
bill came as an anti-climax to the eX
element which had pervaded the
great hall of representatives up to
and during the remarkable speech 81
Champ Clark. 1t was preceded by a
brief speech by Representative Adam
son who had led the administration
forces through the long and arduous
hours of four days of legislative bat
tie.
At the conclusion of his speech, Mr.
Adamson moved the engrossment and
third reading of the bill. This under
ordinary circumstances is more or
less of a formality, but Republican
Leader Mann demanded the ayes and
Eoes.
Upon this demand the house rose
en- masse to demand the roll call.
The roll call resulted in an admin
stration victory by a vote of PAT to
100, net majority of 81 for the mo-
ton. The announcement of the vote
by the speaker was greeted with pro-
longed cheering from the Democratic
side of the house and scattering ap-
plause from the Republicans.
Immediately order was restored,
Representative O'Shaughnessy Of
Rhode Island, Democrat and member
of the committee on interstate and
foreign commerce presented a motion
to recommit
The roll call on this motion was
lost by 232 to 176.
This brought squarely before the
house the opportunity to vote upon
the Sims repeal bill itself. The read
ing clerk rushed through the roll at
express-train speed. On this vote the
ayes were 24S, the noes 162 and the
administration bill had won its way
through the house of representatives
by majority of SO.
oIney UphoIus Wilson.
An eleventh-hour sensation was
sprung in the debate when Represent
alive Peters, Democrat, of Massachu-
sets, read letter from Richard o.
ney, former Democratic secretary of
state, urging all Democrots to support
President Wilson In the controversy.
Olney has previously been quoted as
opposed to the repeal.
Clark DiscIaims Hostility.
Speaker Clark, closing the debate
against the repeal of the Panama toll
exemption, disappointed those who
expected him to attack President VIII.
son. He disclaimed any personal Is.
sre with the president and declared
he believed Mr.. Wilson was actuated
by the highest patriotic motives and
that there was no breach in the Dem
ocratic party. He argued at length
against the presidents contention and
declared that "the amazing request of
the president for the repeal, like the
peace Of God, passes all understand
Ing"
He disclaimed any personal issue
between the president and himself and
adde that If the president had rea.
sons (which are not utterly untenable |
and which compel him to make this
request" he had not given them to the
touse.
Speaker Clark differed with the
statement that toll exemp-
ton was "a mistaken economic pol |
icy" but. admitting dispute on that
point, proposed that the exemption be
two years. He contended
that the president was mistaken in the |
view that the exemption was re-
pugnant to the Hay-Pauncefote treaty. |
Minority Leader Mann argued agains. |
he repeal, while Representatives |
Adamson and Sberley upheld the ad-