Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-04-01
Republican Senators Who Favored
Repeal May Take Stand
Against President.
DEMAND FOR EARLY ACTION
Administration Supporters Deter
mined Sims Bill Shall Not Long
Remain in Hands of
Committee

| he scene OF the Panama canal
tolls fight shifted today to the
Senate. The Sims bill was
messaged to the Senate from the
House, where it passed last night
by vote OF 247 to 162, and re-
ferred to the interoceanic canals
committee.
If vote on the repeal were
taken today in the Senate Presi-
dent Wilson undoubtedly would
score another victory. and the bill
would be passed. Opponents OF
the measure reluctantly admitted
this.
But the debate in the Senate
promises to be extended. Some
senator's say it will consume a
month and others say much
longer period.
Break in Repeal Line
The factor which looms largest today
in the Senate situation is the tendency
of the republicans to line up against
. the administration. Three weeks ago a
poll was made of the republican vote on
the tolls question. 1t showed that about
twenty republicans stood ready to vote
for the repeal. This lineup has changed
today, according to one of the repub-
licans who was then included in the list
Tor the repeal Republicans are in
clined to take the stand that at best the
question is an open one: that they will
set no credit for the repeal If it should
he put through. and that the defeat of
the repeal would undoubtedly rebound
10 their credit.
teroceanic canals COMMITTEES, announced
today that he would call a meeting of
the committee to consider the repeal bill
Tuesday morning. He would not COM
init himself as to how long a time the
Dill would be before the committee 1t
Is believed, however. that the committee
will retain the bill for at least one week,
and It may be for three weeks. The
committee is very evenly divided upon
the question OF repeal.
Political Issue Injected.
II is possible that the democratic sena-
tors may be forced into line in favor of
al issue, just as the republicans are
tending more and more toward solid op-
position on the same grounds. But mem
bers of the Senate during the next few
weeks Will listen carefully to the voice of
the country. The amendment to the
constitution compelling the direct cleo
non oil senator's will add to the desire to
Know what the feeling is ''at home
Speaker Clark's speech in the House
Yesterday opposing the repeal is expected
70 have its influence in the country and
nhaouotediy IT will have effect upon the
light in the Senate.
At best, the final vote on tie repcal
promises to be close. so close that the
administration and its supporters must
oend every effort upon the situation in
the Senate if victory is finally to be
theirs
Amendment Thought Likely.
IT is more than likely. even though the
administration Is finally victorious that
the repeal bill will be SO amended as to
make IT clear to the world that the United
states does not relinquish it's claim to
control the question of tolls and its right
at all times to maintain its army and
navy in the Canal Zone. 1t is believed
that number of the democrats would
gladly support such an amendment even
though ihey will vote for the repeal bill
lNt riEht 10 Of1er amendments.
the case of debate, is unlimited in the
Senate
\ poll of the Senate made today
might have little bearing on the final
hne-up. But once the bill is before the
senate for debate, it is likely that the
lines for and against repeal will be
Drawn quickly. 1t is matter of his
tory that debates, after a measure is
fully before the Senate and the fight
10 on, have changed few votes How
ever. the pressure from homo rInnr
senators in this case may make itself
strongly felt.
There are five senators rega rdcd as
the nucleus of ;he republican supDort
IN the Senate for the repeal They are
senator's Root. Lodge. Burton Mct,urp-
Der and Gronna. On the democratic
SIDE, the leading opponents of the re-
peal arc Senators oGorman, Chamber
iain. Walsh. RansdeiI. Nardaman Mar
tine and Thomas.
Complexion of Senate.
There is today one vacancy in the Sem
ate-from Alabama. The Senate is made
up Of hfty-one democrats forty-three re-
puolicans and one progressive This nives
the democrats majority of seven. The
smashing OF party lines. however. renders
these figures of little value in th. presen,
struggle.
Democratic senators who when the tolls
matter was before the Senate originate
voted for the exemption of the Goa stw,se
vessels of America, have frankly admit
ted that they are changing their votes