The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-03-20
Unyielding Opposition
to Repeal Measure Be-
comes More Active.
DISCUSSION SURE
TO BE VIGOROUS
Debate Will Begin in House on
Saturday, and Action by Senate
Committee Expected To-Day
or To-Morrow-President
and Supporters Conf
dent Of Winning.

Washington. March lo.-Moro stub
born than anything that has arisen to
stir the tranquility OF tho Democratic
majority since the pnrty came into
control Of the national government Is
the opposition to President Wilson'S
plea for repeal OF the toll exemption
provision for American ships In the
Panama Canal act
With the time almost at hand when
the question Is to be decided. tho un-
yielding opposition Of the Democrats
who believe N will be an economic
mistake TO reverse tho policy OF the
government on the tolls question be-
comes more active. and In Senate and
House the discussion is certain 70 be
tho most vigorous that has been pre-
cipitatcd BY any issue tho Democratic
Congress has had before It.
Whiie the President and Democratic
members IN both houses who Will sup
port his position arc confident that the
repeal VIII pass by a comfortable ma
1ority. few have amy idea that the
majority Will be large. Debate on the
repeal VIII begin in the House on sat
urday, when a rule will he oncred lin
iting debate to fifteen hours. In the
Senate. action by the Committee on
Intcrocean!c Canals on repeal bin
submitted by Senator Owen, may be-
taken tomorrow or Saturday Senator
o'Gorman, chairman OF the committee,
VIII consider the matter OF taking up
the resolution Tomorrow
No Basis for Conclusions.
President Wilson to-day conferred
with Senator Jones, of Washington.
Informing the Senator that there was
absolutely no basis for conclusions he
had referred to in Senate speech on
"Wednesday, TO the effect that the tolls
repeal was the price 10 be paid as Q
result OF negotiations with Great Brit
ain for nonintcrfcrcncc BY foreign
powers In Mexico and for Englaud's
defense OF the Monroe Doctrine. The
President told the Senator that he was
skating on thin Ice" in circulating;
such conclusions, after reading them
in some publication.
Discussing the matter with other
callers, the President said his address
TO Congress on repeal OF the tolls
clause WAS written before the visit to
Washington OF the British minister to
Mexico. Sir Lionel Garden to whom
Senator Jones had referred In his
speech and that the canal controversy
was not mentioned during tho min
listers conference at the White House
Later i'll the day, Senator Jones
made n statement to the Senate as
serting that he had not wished TO mis-
represent anybody; that he had re-
ferred to the conclusions as he had
read them In newspaper. and that it
was due tho President that he express
TO the Senate his nat denial OF the
matter.
Senator Joncss resolution calling
upon tho President for information as
10 the position .of foreign governments
on the tolls question will como up
again Tomorrow when Senator Bris-
tow Will make an effort TO have It re-
fcrrcd to the Canals instead OF the
Foreign Relations Committee. Sena-
tor Poindcxter plans 10 talk OH his
resolution. which would ask tho Prcsi-
dent for an explanation OF some of
the features of his message TO Con-
gress on the tolls issue
No Suggestion From Garden.
The President speaking OF Sir Lion
ci Gardens visit, told callers that he
could not get n suggestion on the Mex
lean position out Of Sir Lionel with
corkscrcw," and that the conference
was purely for information on the gen
eral Mexican situation.
Representatives Shcrlcy and Coving-
ton, who. with Representatives. Adam
son and Palmer. will lead the admins
tration fights in the House To repeal
tolls exemption. told President Wilson
to-day that the repeal bill would be
taken up probably on Monday or Tues
day with special rule limiting de-
bate. They declared that Il large ma
jority would vote for it.
The Congressman conferred with
the President on certain phases of the
1fayPauncefote treaty, and reiterated
that American battleships would be
exempt from tolls. and that the United
STATES had complete rights to fortify
the canal.