Norwich bulletin., 1914-04-01

Washington, March 31.-The house of representatives tonight after one of the most spectacular legislative strug- gles in the history of the nation, voted to repeal the provision of the Panama canal act exempting American vessels from the payment of tolls. The vote on the repeal bill was 241 to 16l, majority of S6 votes in support of the personal plea of Woodrow Wilson, president of the United States. This verdict on the issue which has absorb ed congress for many weeks, came at the close of 8 stirring day. made mem orable in the annals of the house by party division which found Speaker Champ Clark, majority leader Under wood and other democratic chieftains, lined up in open opposition to the president on an issue which the lat ter had declared vital to his conduct of the nations foreign policy.
 22o Democrats Stand by Wilson.
 Tomorrow the bill goes to the sen ate, where the fight will be renewed with all of the vigor and determination that attended it in the lower house.
 On the final vote, 220 democrats in the house stood by the president, glv- ing him in ''ungrudging measure" what he had asked flor the honor of the na- tion" in it's foreign relations Twen- ty-five republicans and two progress sives voted to sustain the president. Tiftytwo democrats followed SpeakeF Clark and Leader Underwood to defeat in their steadfast determination that the president was wrong in his decision that toll exemption for American ships Is a violation of the Hay-Pauncefote treaty with Great Britain.
 Cheers for Speaker Clark.
 Nothing. it seemed, could stem the tide of administration success. Speak CT Clark, for nearly twenty-five years
 41,o speech of his life to forestall what he termed "unquestionable degradation of the nation.' In this he failed, but he did smooth over the party breach with kindly words for his adversaries, praise Tor President Wilson and an unquali- hed denial of any vaulting ambition on his own behalf When he had closed the debate for the opposition to the repeal, with an impasSioned argu- ment in which he often departed from his prepared speech. the speaker was triumphant in defeat, for the entire assemblage, in which were many sen ators. rose en masse to cheer him, tAn abstract of his speech is printed on page 10.)
 President Wilson was at dinner when the result of the vote was an- nounced. He was gratified, but made no comment
 Fight Likely in Senate Committee.
 
 to committee on inter-oceanic canals, Of which Senator O'Gorman of New York, vigorous opponent of the meas ure. is chairman. Senator O'Gorman has said he would call a meeting of the committee at once to consider the bill. That there will be g, fight in that committee is certain. How long the bill will be there cannot be predicted but administration senator's propose that a vote shall be taken by the com mittee within a reasonable time Sen ator Owen is leading the fight for the president in the committee. The com mfttee will have many proposals be- fore if. several of them in the na- ture of compromises some of them resembling a motion of the house min ority today to re- commit the repeal bill and to repeal the exemption clause with a declaration that the United States should have complete sovereign " over the canal This motion in the house was defeated by a vote of 232 to 1I6. It will be the aim of admins tration senators to have the repeal reach it's final vote within two or three weeks.
 when Speaker Clark yielded the gavel to Representative Underwood, the ma tority leader, and strode to the well before the dais to defend his course in the great controversy probably was unrivd1led in the history of American legislation. The galleries were packed with interested auditors. Outside the galleries. the corridors were damned with disappointed hundreds. On the floor nearly every member was in his seat. Even the senate had adjourned and scores of senators occupied seats on the floor.
 Clark Frequently AppIauded.
 It was rare political stage setting that this throng witnessed. Standing before them.while republican and dem ocratic members cheered him to the echo was the silver haired speaker, with resolution beaming on his coun- tenance. Behind him, pounding for order, was MT. Underwood.
 At the outset MT. Clark read his ad- eress, but soon he got into his old sehe oratorical swing and was ham mering home with sweeping gestures his deliberately delivered words When he praised the patriotic motives of President Wilson, again he was inter rupted by applause. His emphatic declaration that with those who rupt the party, the wish was father to the thought" not member on the floor but applauded him.
 "Shoo Fly" to Congressman Hardwick.
 MT. Clark said he had no harsh word to speak of any of his colleagues who had criticized him, but he referred to some of them, Representative Henry of Texas, who led the fight for the cloture rule on the repeal bill, and Representative Sherley and Represent ative Hardwick. The house was moved to uproarious laughter when the speaker said, referring to MT. Hard wick:
 ''So far as the gentlemen from Georgia is concerned, I say 'Shoo fly, don't bodder me! Shoo fly, don't bod der mel"
 The house listened aItentive1y to the olTaTs 2 ant <1O repeal his assertion that he believed the president was mistaken, his argu- me5it that the Canadian Paeit1c rail- road and the Tehauntepec National railway would most profit by toll ex- emption and his eloquent appeal against yielding anything to Great Britain.
 Cheered as He Concluded.
 We built the Panama canal;' the speaker shouted in the climax of his speech We built 1t on American soil.