The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1914-04-02
REPEAL OF TOLLS
PASSES HOUSE BY
LARGE MAJORITY
Margin OF SO Votes for
the Administration
Measure
CLARK CHEERED
Despite Defeat Speaker i
Given Ovation by Honse
Members


Washington, u. C.--Gratified over
the success OF the Panama tolls eN-
cmption repeal in the House, the pre-
sidant and his supporters today turn
ed their attention to the SenRa.
The latest poll brought to the
White House by an administration
Senator who canvassed his colleagues
excluded from his count those he con-
sidered doubtful and intimated that
Wilson's contention would have a ma
jority of at least sixteen, including
Republicans as we'll as Democrats.
Senator Owen, administration lead
CT in the canal committee where the
measure is nov pending, was at the
White House early comforting with
Secretary Tumulty. Asked about the
procedure in the Senate, and the
lcngth of time for discussions, the
Oklahoma Senator said:
''It is natural to assume that if the
committee does not report promptly,
Il motion will be made to discharge
the measure from consideration of
Inc committee. There is to be no
effort at forcing unnecessarily, but
VIC NdliL uO ullulCt ldCliCS. HS Colli-
lniltee stands. | should think, against
the president, and think that when
the committee was organized, those
who were in favor of tolls exemptions
were in the majority.
"A week in the committee would be
q reasonable time for discussion
Chairman O'Gorman said that he
would call the canals committee to
meet Tuesday. 1t is apparent that an
effort is to be made to amend the
House. bill By clause asserting the
sovereignty OF The United States over
the canal zone. 1t is estimated the
number of democrats who will oppose
the repeal will vary from s to IA.
"The repeal is not yet won, by any
means,' said Senator Chamberlain.
When the canals committee will COM
plete it's work cannot forecast but
the general opinion is that the issue
will not come formally before the
Senate for al least ten days.
Bill Goes Through House.
Washington, ID .C.-The House of
Representative last night after one
OF the most spectacular legislative
struggles in the history of the nation,
voted to repeal the provision of the
Panama canal act exempting Ameri-
can vessels from the payment OF
tolls. The vote on the repeal bill
was 247 to 16l, majority of sc
votes in support of the personal plea
Of President Wilson.
The verdict OF the issue, which has
absorbed Congress for weeks, came at
the close of a stirring day, made not
able in the annals of the House By
a party division, which found Speak
er Champ Clark, Majority Leader I'm
Gerwood and o.her democratic chief
tains lined up N open opposition to
tho President on al issue which the
latter had declared vital TO his con-
Guct in the nations policy.
Bill to Senate Today.
Today the bill goes to the Senate
where the fight will be renewed with
,all Of the vigor and determination
that attended it in the lower house.
On the final vote, 220 democrats in
the House stood by the President, Civ
ing him in 'ungrudging measure"
what he had asked "for the honor of
the nation" in its foreign relations.
Twenty-Five republicans and two pro-
Sressives also voted to sustain the
President. Fifty-two democrats fol
lowed Speaker Clark and Leader I'm
derwood to defeat in their steadfast
determination that the PRESIDENT was
wrong in his decision that tolls ex-
emption for American ships is vio-
lation, of the Hay-Paunceforte treaty
with Great Britain.
Nothing it seemed could stem the
tide of administration success. Speak
q ftlarl for nnur1U % It1n
ber of the House, made the speech
of his life to forestall what he term
ed "unquestionable degradation OF
the nation. In this he failed. But
he did smooth over the party breach
with kindly words for his adversaries
praise for President Wilson and un.
qualified denial of any vaulting am.
bition on his own Behalf.
When Speaker Clark had CLOSED
the debate for the opposition to the
repeal with a passionate argumen1
he was triumphant in defeat, for the
entire legislative asscmblage, il
which were many Senators, rose tt
cheer him.
President is Pleased.
President Wilson was at Dime
when the result of the vote was an
nounced. He was gratified, but mad,
no comment.
In the Senate the bill will be re
ferred to the committee on inter
oceanic canal, of which Senator o.
German of New York. vigorous op
ponent of the measure, is chairman
Senator O'Gorman has said he woul'
call meeting of the committee a
once to consider the bill.
That there will be a fight in tia
committee is certain. How long
Continued en- page 8.