The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-03-18
HOUSE ON CANAL QUESTION.
TOLL EXEMPTION CLAUSE TO he
CONSIDERED.
This Week VIII See Decision on Much
Discussed Problem--vote by satur-
dsy--Other Legislation.

clause OF the Panama canal act will
begin late this week in the house and
vote In that body on the Sims bill
to carry out the recommendations of
President Wilson Is expected by Sat-
urday night. In the senate an earnest
effort viii be made by administration
leaders To pave the way for early ac-
uop on the issue by bringing 1t squa.o- =
iy before the committee on inter-
oceanic canals for consideration and
report by the time the house has
disposed OF the subject.
Opposing forces In both houses are
srrayed for the hght. the prospect be-
Ing that the champions Of toll exemp-
ton for American coastwise ships
will lose when the roll calls have been
taken In both houses. Representatives
Adamson and Sims. In charge OF the
repeal forces in the house. are only
doubtful as to the size OF the major
ity their cause will have. They pre-
dict that II will be large. while Major
ity Leader Underwood and some Of
the Democrats who agree with him
that u Is an economic mistake to re-
verse the nations policy regarding
canal tolls. insist that the vote will be
close.
In the senate tho return of Sena-
tor O'Gorman Of New York. chairman
OF the committee on inter- oceanic
canals. Is awaited with interest In
view OF the fact that Senator Owen. q
majority member Of the committee.
has introduced a bill similar to the
Sims bill for the purpose Of expedit-
Ing settlement OF the controversy as
soon as possible. Senator owen seeks
to have the committee take the repeal
bill up at once and pass upon IL. SEN
ator O'Gorman. who will lead the op-
position. took the position before
leaving Washington last week that his
committee should do nothing with the
repeal until the house had acted.
Administration senators. after con-
ferring with the president. determined
that the issue In so clearly drawn that
there is no reason for delay. and
that the senate should be ready to
discuss the subject Immediately after
the house acts. or even before. should
the Sims bill meet unexpected delay
I'm the lower branch.
Aiding Senator Owen in leading the
administration forces will be Senator
Hoke Smith OF Georgia and James
OF Kentucky. Various polls of the
senate on the repeal question have In
dicated that the president will be sus-
tained by majority OF from 10 to 90
votes.
Another matter included in the
foreign relations OF the government
which IL Is planned To undertake this
week for consideration is the pending
treaty with Nicaragua, negotiated In
the Taft administration. which the
present administration wishes to have
amended and ratified as soon az pos
sibie.
The foreign relations committee Of
tho senate expects Secretary Bryan to
appear Wednesday In explanation Of
the administration's desire relating to
the treaty. which Is designed pri-
marily for requirement by the United
states OF the Nicaraguan canal rights
and rights TO naval station sites In
the Bay Of Fonseca In exchange for a
payment OF 80. 900. 900 In gold.
by the terms OF the treaty as orig
ir.aily framed Nicaragua would grant
In perpetuity TO the Unlred States tho
exclusive rights for an inter- oc ceanic
canal through the San Juan river and
through the great Lake of Nicaragua.
OF by way Of any other route over
Nicaraguan territory. Article two OF
tho treaty proposes that "in order to
facilities the protection OF the Pan
anna canal" and the right is contem-
plated In Nicaragua. Nicaragua shall
lease To the United States for 90
years the Great Corn and Little Corn
Islands In the Caribbean sea and
rights To a naval base on the Gulf OF
Fonseca.
Early In tho present administra-
tion Secretary Bryan proposed to the
senate committee that the treaty be
amended In such way that the
United States would procure virtual
control OF Nicaragua through "a pro-
tectorate similar To that exercised
over Cuba. lie would add To- the
treaty features similar To- the "Platt
amendment relating To- Cuba. To
this proposal there was considerable
opposition In the committee and 1t is
expected To he revived now
Ifpder the urnunaed nlop ns amenJ