The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-03-27
Begins Hardest Fight
Yet Undertaken by
Wilson.
CLARK VIGOROUS
IN OPPOSITION
Speaker Encourages Opponents
of Repeal Measure-Both Sides
Display Great Activity in
Preparing for Reopening of
Struggle To-Day, When
Vote VIII Be Taken.

washington. March e6-The greatest
legislative battle yet undertaken by
President Wilson'S administration was
begun to day with the presentation OF
special rule In the House TO limit de-
pate ana prohibit amendment on the
ADMINISTRATIONS proposal to repeal the
PROVISION OF the Panama Canal act all
iowins 1reo passage TO American ships.
For two hours the rule alternately was
defended and attacked i'll heated de-
came; with an hour OF debate on the
rule left for to o-morrow, Speaker Champ
LARK. who before had not announced
his position on the repeal policy. issued
statement vigorously opposing the
rule. Wv"
Surely there is nothing sacred about
this repeal bin. and there is no reason
for this mad rush" said the Speakers
statement Il will not be a party to
of members"
Impressed with the Importance OF a
measure which President Wilson has
duct OF his administrations foreign
policy. an extraordinary attendance OF
members was on the floor when the
were crowded throngs OF spectators
niied me seats in the galleries. occu-
pea p,he the siairways rs, and ovcrtiowed into
when the House met ut IL o'clock to-
day and waited hour after hour. as
routine business delayed the tolls bill
and the nervous tension on the noor
grew more and more tense.
Sims Presents Rule.
INC legislative way finally was
cleared, and at O'clock REPRESENTATIVE
Henry. chairman of the Rules Commit
tee. presented the rule limiting debate
ON the Sims bill TO twenty hours, and
preciuding amendment. except for Il
single motion to recommit Brief ar
gument brought about an agreement
Tor three hours of debate on the ruic.
ana the preliminary skrmish of the
greatest legislative struggle Of n de-
| cade was on.
To a House silently attentive. Repre-
sentative Henry explained the rule AMI
launched into a defense of the repeai
bill. Then followed an argument in
which the rule received little attention
measure: and the Presidents foreign
policy. the right OF the American gov
eminent to exercise control of the canal
IT has built. and the economic advis-
nblilty of FREQ tolls for American ships.
We're, We're dragged back and forth in the
Most speakers dwelt on the foreign
situation. The Presidents adherents
who spoke, all Democrats, declared that
u mnoer the treaty the United States had
no no, moral right TO pass it's ships free.
Ills opponents. Republicans and Pro
StresSsiVes. attacked the foreign policy
or the administration and denounced
the proposed repeal as ..abiect s,Irren
der To Great Britain"
Underwood Remains Quiet.
throughout the discussion Majority
opposing the administration, sat quiet
y In his seat. listening attentiyelv to
Mann he "rgument; ;inn pro, RGpnbliean Leader
dock both made arguments againsr rho
rule and the bill
orn Adm,inistration n,., leaders tonight Wig
| orousiy sought TO keep their support
crs IN line and to get recruits The on
posation directed its efforts to obtain
bate on the rule. which will bc mada
after an hours debate Tomorrow. and
which. it beaten. would allow amend
] ~ tr -,
ponents OF the bill would attemnt .n oP, p
/ open the Sims bill to amendment and
r"isnt mis.. i0rEe the adoption OF q compro-
mise salSe amendment, repeating the tolls
section, without surrendering the con
,sntion that, the United States under
tolls. ~ e'"'te i'ce
Speaker Clark's statement Tonight
e1ncournScd opponents OF the rule. and
htprcSentativc Sims, author of the re-
peal bill later issued II statement. de-
ciarimE: cE,ln,, Il have heard there will be am
ministration. both in and out of the
Democratic party. to defeat the mo-
iHn .iHn Tor the previous question on tho
rule Tomorrow. The object of this
would be simply to allow embarrassing.
amendments to be offered to the hijI
IN Tote against the previous question
bill" 's"i"S' me
Both sides, displayed great activity
row.
tlnrk'S Statement.
speaker Clark's statement read.
am dead against the rule on tho
tolls question, and intend to vote
ngainst ;,t it. viii not stultfy myself
oy voting FOR any such rule. [ led tho
light 10 libcralizc the rules and prac
tices Of the House. thereby imperiling
and bitter fight, and it was the frsr
democratic victory in eighteen years.
, ulme ana time again | declared that [
the minority that / would not advocata
in the majority.
The Democrats won the House in
was unanimously nominated for Sneak
cr and duly elected by every Demo
lfalr hearty vote %nod in n, the House. with the
because they believed that am "A truth
rmi rmi 90 man, ana In order TO lheralize tho
voluntarily relinquished large por
ti4n OF the, powers OF the Speaker.
whish ,,,.i, | could have retained by making
the Speaker had too much power under
the old system.
"Among< other things. declared that
! WAS IN favor of throwing bills open
70 ample discussion and amendment,
ana am going TO keep the faith. come
Mnn., what may: II | were to vote FOR tho
iiouso in the face. When | made that
SI."1Sment; 81 nf ,as, l M WAS speaking particular
ot tarln pills. but my. statement is
Hero is the situation: we have a ruio
reported on n bin on the greatest ques-
ton presented in my twenty years in
the House, beside which tarirf bills
sink into pitiable insigni.icnnce. n bill
which, if passed, will change our for
Tor % years. and only twenty hours
Tor debate are permitted under this
proposed rule, and the right TO amend
Is prohibited, and no intervening mo-
recommit
"on such an Importan, and far