Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-03-26
BITTER STRUGGLE
WILL OPEN TODAY
Members of Congress Aligned
on Differing Sides of Ex-
emption Repeal Question.
PARTY LINES WIPED OUT
President Meets First Deter
mined Opposition of His Ad-
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Full of Complications.
PARTY LINES WIPED OUT

Washington, March 25.-Lines were
sharply drawn tonight for the opening
tomorrow of the most bitterly contested
legislative struggle that has confronted
President Wilson's administration--th
fight to repeal the law giving American
coastwise ships free passage through the
Panama canal. The conflict will begin
when a special rule is presented to the
House to limit debate on the controversy.
For the first time since the democratic
administration took charge of the gov
ernment, administration leaders found
strong, resourceful and determined ele-
ment within the party opposed to a policy
which Presid t Wilson had personally
espoused. ersonPal convictions on the
question have practically obliterated party
lines
This political situation. with the inter-
national character of the question in
voved. and the stress the President has
placed upon his position as necessary to
the successful conduct of the adminstra-
tons foreign policy, combined to make
W a situation fraught with complica-
tions.
PREDICTS 100 MAJORITY.
The Presidents supporters tonight de-
clared that they were gaining ground in
the House. and one enthusiastic admin
istration leader predicted the passage Of
the repeal bill by a majority of nearly
100. The more conservative members Of
both sides, however. anticipate a hard
fought struggle, with n bitter and pro-
tracted debate followed by n close vote.
Aligned against the Presidents demand
for the repeal are the three leaders of
the parties In the House, Representative
Underwood of the democrats, Rpresenta-
tive Mann Of the republicans and Repre-
sentative Murdoch of the progressives.
Wings Of all three parties are behind
these leaders.
On the other hand. Chairman Adam
son of the House interstate and foreign
com nerce committee, Representative
Henry, chairman of the rules committee.
Representative Stevens of Minnesota and
many other representatives of all three
parties have accepted the Presidents
position. 1t was generally believed to-
night that Majority Leader Underwood
against the bill, and voting against it,
would not attempt to organize any ex-
tended opposition or resort to obstruc-
tive tactics to prevent the passage of
the bill.
TO REPORT SPECIAL RULE.
At noon tomorrow Chairman Henry
will report a special rule, providing for 10
hours OF general debate on the repeal bill
and allowing no opportunity f0r amend
ment of the measure. An attempt will bo
made to fix four hours as a limit Of de-
bate on the proposed rule If this is ac-
complished, the first test vote will come
late tomorrow afternoon. on the adoption
of the rule
The supporters f the President arc pre-
pared to argu- that the exemption of
American ships from canal tolls IL n ViU-
ation Of the Hay-Pauncefote treaty; that
1t Is a form of subsidy to spe ,iil n.Crrsts
and that repeal is essential in order that
The President raN carry out his foreign
policy On the other hand, the opponents
~ -. biz v'n declare that American
shipping needs the free use of the canal
that transcontinenta railroads fear the
competition Of free American ships and
that to repeal the free tolls section would
he trucking to Great Britain without eX-
hausting diplomatic negotiations
An effort will be made If the rule Is
| adopted, to press debate to a conclusion
and reach n vote on the bill late Saturday.
| If debate is prolonged, however, the final
vote may go over until next week.
FIERY SPIRITS IN SENATE.
In the Senate to-day the feeling
over the proposed repeal was demon
strated in debate precipitated by SEN
ator Chamberlain, who called up his
resolution requesting the secretary of
war for information as to the expense
of maintaining improved waterways
and canals within the United States.
Senator Chamberlain declared that
the Canadian Pacific railroad, backed
| by their trans continental railroads.
was the "insidious influence" behind
the effort to have the toll exemption
repealed, but he acquitted the Presi-
dent of yielding to any such influence.
The Presidents view that toll exemp-
tion is violation of the Hay -Pauce-
fote treaty Senator Chamberlain i'll
| sisted, was an erroneous one.
II never viii stand on the floor of
| tnlS senate, tne senator de
clared "and advocate that this govern
ment yield anything to Great Britain
That nation is universally understood
to be not the friend of America
Senator Chamberlain also assailed
Andrew Carnegie and the Carnegie
| Endowment for International Peace
declaring that Mr.. Carnegies friend
ship for Great Britain was treason
able" Senator Jones of Washington
also Joined in the discussion, submit
ting for the record protests against
toll exemption repeal.
PRESIDENT VISITS SICK MAN.
President Wilson to-day motored to the
home of Senator william J. Stone OF
Missouri. the new chairman Of the for.
eign relations committee, who has been
i'll for several weeks.
Senator Stone desired to discuss with
the President the Mexican situation and
the pending controversy relating to re.
- AL of tha Psanama. aana1 tnii~-..axAp.-AA.s..