The Washington herald., 1914-03-22
PRESIDENT FACES
SEVEREST TEST
Vote on Tolls Repeal Will De-
eide His Influence with
Party.
OPPOSITION IS GROWING
Administration Program Probably Will
Be Upheld in House. but Division
in Senate Is Close.

that the passage of the bill repeating
the free tolls clause of the Panama Canal
act will be the severest test Of Presi-
dent Wilson's strength since he entered
tn White House.
Rports indicate that opposition to the
Presidents program is growing, and fear
is expressed by administration leaders
that If action is long delayed the situa-
tion will become worse. Already the con-
troversy has stirred up hard feelings
among Democrats on opposite sides OF
the question. and the debate which Will
begin in Congress probably on Monday
is certain to be spirited.
majority for repeal seems to be
certain in the House, but the division
in the Senate Is close. 1t is learned
that a favorable report from the Sem
ate Committee on Inter-oceanic Canals
hinges on the attitude of one Senator.
The committee 10 evenly divided, ex-
cept for Shields, of Tennessee, and he
has not made his attitude known.
Tammany Hall is figuring in the op-
position. 1t was learned yesterday that
Tammany members in the House have
stated they intend TO vote against
the free tolls repeal The belief ex-
pressed here is that Tammany is pre-
pairing to even up some of the patron
age scores it has with the administra-
ton.
OppositIon from Underwood.
One of the opening guns to be fired
against the Presidents program VIII
be a speech by Leader Underwood.
On the repeal bill party lines in the
House have disappeared. Republicans,
Democrats, and PrOgressives are lined up
together in opposition TO the administra-
II afG ND
Progressives likewise have banded to-
gether TO uphold the President
The plea of the administration support
ers in behalf of the repeal bill VIII be, in
brief. that the United States appears be-
fore the powers of the world as an out
law" because of its repeated offenses in
evading or violating obligations incurred
in treaties with foreign governments.
The opponents of repeal will make the
argument that there rs nothing in the
Hay-Pauncefote treaty or any other IN
strument to which this government may
he party that abridges the right Of the
United States to give its vessels free &C
cess to the isthmian waterway.
The chief cause for worry in the admin
istration situation is the attempt that
has been made to show that the Presi-
dent is actuated in this matter solely by
a desire to placate Great Britain. Irish
societies throughout the country are
passing resolutions denouncing the ad-
ministration for an alleged supine atti-
tude in its relations with Great Britain.
More Time Wanted.
Yesterday an effort was made by Mr..
Underwood and other opponents OF the
bill to have the time extended for de-
bate. In the rule prepared last week
il was provided that fifteen hours would
be allowed for general debate. Mr.. Un-
derwood and his followers wanted the
time extended to twenty-five hours. The
administration spokesman. presumably
reffecting the Presidents desires, refused
10 grant this request. The initial fight
on the repeal proposal will be waged
over this rule.
The temper of the House over the
Panama question was shown strikingly
I'm Yesterdays discussion of the river
and harbor bill. Representative Sims, OF
Tennessee, who favOrs the repeal OF the
exemption c!.use, charged that the river
and harbor bill was being delayed pur-
posely in order that the free tolls
lobby might have more time in which
to stir up opposition.
Representative Mann made a ! test
against this charge. He charged Mr..
Sims and those in sympathy with his
views on the repeal question were under
the complete domination of the admin
istration.
A brisk debate invol 60 the Panama
Canal tolls legislation was the feature
of the early part of the Senate session
Yesterday. When Senator Jones resolu-
ton calling on the President for informa-
ton, including correspondence. as to the
countries that have protested against Civ
ing free tolls to American coastwise ship
ping, came up Senator Ioke Smith moved
that il be referred to the Foreign Rela-
tions Committee. Senator Jones' acqut-
esced in the motion and the resolution
was disposed of in that way. Senator
O'Gorman explained he was willing that
the resolution should go to the Foreign
Relations Committee and he hoped ac-
ton would be taken on it He said IL
the resolution were { implied with the
Senate would obtain some valuable in
formation.
Serious Confederation Asked.
Senator Bristow explained he had OBJ
iected to having the resolution referred
to the Foreign Relations Committee in the
absence of Senator O'Gorman. chairman
of the Interoceanic Canal COMMITTEE Mr..
Rristow explained that the resolution
ought 20 go to Senator O'Gorman's COM
mittee, and expressed the hope that the
Foreign Relations Committee would give
serious consideration to it.
that Senator Bristow was rejecting on
the Foreign Relations Committee by in
timating it would not treat the subject
fairly.
Senator Jones called attention to a
story in a local newspaper that the Pres
ident had issued orders to the House
leaders to limit the debate on canal tolls
legislation. Senator Jones asked that
the Clerk Of the Senate read the story.
but Senator Hoke Smith objected. Then
Senator Jones said he would read 1t
himself, and Mr.. Smith objected to that.
Senator Jones waited at his desk until
a resolution involving the employment of
a messenger for the Senate was reported
and I'D for consideration and then an
nounced he had some information bearing
upon the resolution which he would like
TO communicate to the Senate, and then
read the article which had been obnox-
ious TO Senator Hoke Smith.
Borah Doubts Story.
Senator Borah expressed doubt that the |
President had issued orders to the House |
leaders to limit debate, and asked Mr.. |
Jones IL he really believed the President |
had taken such extraordinary steps.
The Senator from Washington replied |
that he hoped the President had not as |
sumed to limit debate in Congress, but \
called attention to reports in the news
papers almost daily as to the Presidents |
activities in directing legislation.
Some Of the bad feeling over the gen.
eraI question of Canal tolls cropped out |
in the course of the colloQuy. Senator j
ol he hi,