Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-29
CANAL TOLLS FIGHT
IS WAXING FURIOUS
Battle Royal Is on in House as
Crowded Galleries Ap-
pIaud lnvective.
CHANDLER HURlS SHAFTS
OF SARCASM AT WILSON
Knowland Flags Bryan in Bitter
Speech-Months of Delay in
Senate Predicted

Speech-M0nths OF Delay IN
Senate Predicted.
Far from being the hollow beating OF
q drum. with the interest having de-
parted after the preliminary administra-
ton victory in the House on Friday, the
fight on the Panama canal tolls has
simply started. Every watchful man on
both sides of the canal tolls row de-
clares that as the days go by the fight
will become more furious. The House
debate of yesterday, instead of being
rhetorical occasion for the mere pur-
pose of printing speeches in the Record
for home consumption. proved to be a
battle royal. with men changing their
convictions from one side to the other.
Meantime the Senate awaits the reception
Of the repeal bill like trained fighters
looking for the signal to fire. Senator
chamberlain of Oregon predicted yester-
day 1t would be months before the bill
passed in that body.
The leading features of the active fight
in the House yesterday are as follows:
Speaker Champ Clark is preparing to
close the debate in the House against
the repeal Tuesday in a statement in
which he will uphold the democratic
platform and his prediction promises in
speech which probably will be famous
for years to come.
Chandler Hits at Wilson.
Representative Chandler of New York.
progressive. in a short speech yester-
day which bore all the elements of sar-
casm and briIiiancy, and which reused
the House and galleries to cheers, came
close to the danger line as he could
in the House. by saying Il personally do
not doubt the Presidents veracity. but
] have read his biography and ! find no
mention OF a cherry tree and hatchet
incident
Representative knowland of Califor-
mia, in an anti-British, and especially
strong anti-Bryan speech. made a sting
Ing reference to the attitude of the Sec
retary of State. charging him with vio-
1ating platform pledges and quoted Mr..
Bryan on the identical subject as fol-
lows:
~ lay it down as proposition and
am prepared to defend it anywhere that
the representative who secures office
upon a platform and then holds office and
betrays the people who elected him is
a criminal worse than the man who
embezzled money intrusted to him.
Galleries Continue Crowded.
Although 1t had been generally expected
that interest in the House end of the
debate would have waned as far as
spectators in the galleries were con-
cerned. the crowd of onlookers proved
to be earlier comers, later stayers and
more numerous than ever Aside from
the excitement On the floor. and the
ringing tones of some of the best speak
ers in Congress, the occasion was en-
iivened by an Amazonian battle in the
gallery between two women who fought
for possession of one of the choice seats
FOR several seconGs. 1t was a fine hair
pulling match which ended in a draw.
Each got seat. In the diplomatic gall
lery sat an American diplomat or former
diplomat to q. South American mission
who applauded vigorously when Pepre-
sentative Chandler of New York, pro-
gressive. berated the Presidents motives
in asking for a repeal OF the free tolls
clause.
An interesting speech was that of
Representative Fitzgerald of New York.
one of the strongest of democratic lead
ers. who has taken sides against the
President His remarks will be found
elsewhere in The Star today.
Leaders OF the present minority. on
and progressives-aready have begun
consideration of what course should be
followed in motion to recommit the
repeal bill. This is bit of parliament
tary strategy VIII ch would afford the
minority its only chance to get an
amendment before the House. Several
compromise proposals are under consid
Grafton. but not yet agreed upon
Defeated But Not Downcast.
The democratic leaders who met de-
feat Friday are not at all cast down
They are determined to carry on the
fight to the end. Speaker Clark is pre-
pairing to take the floor Tuesday to close
the debate in opposition TO the repeal
Representatives Covington and Adamson
will close the discussion for the admin
istration forces.
The charge that Great Britain could
retaliate against the United States in
the Panama canal matter by discrimi-
mating against American ships in the
Welland and other Canadian canals was
made by Representative Stevens of Min
nesota, a republican supporting the Presi-
dent:
In controversy with Canada over the
use Of the We!land canal more than
twenty years ago he said, -.our govern
Inent insisted that the language of the
treaty. to the citizens of the United States
on terms of equality with the inhabitants
OF Canada included necessarily the
coastwise commerce of Canada as well
as all subjects. ports, routes. Canada
yielded to our contention after two Pres-
dents. Cleveland and Harrison three
Secretaries of state. Bayard. Blaine and
Foster. and the unanimous vote of both
branches of Congress had placed upon
our statute books an enactment which
is yet in full force and effect providing
for retaliation against Canada if she
refused to accede to this doctrine We
are today confronted with this situation
ON our northern border insisted on
terms of equality with Inhabitants OF
Canada. including the coastwis.. busi-
ness of Canada SO she could not discrmi-
nate against our commerce, ports and
citizens. In another treaty with Great
Britain concerning another waterway OF
our southern border We insist that the
language entire equality and there shall
not be any discrimination as to any such
citizens. subjects, etc, does not include
our coastwise trade, so that we can dis.
criminate as to tolls and charges
Cites Results of Discrimination.
10 tod hot