Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-06-11
Senator Simmons Estimate of
Ten Votes Promises to
Prove Correct.
FIRST INNING WOW
Amendment Declaring for Rights
of United States Is Carried.
so to 24--ETOrts to
Alter Fail.

W aSnlngtOn, June h.-Ihe senate
tonight cleared away most of the
legislative barriers in the way Of
final ote on the canal tolls cx-
emption bill ana unless there are un-
forseen developments the fight which
has ragged in Congress over this meas
ure for many months will come to n
close before adjournment tomorrow.
Votes taken tonight on amendments de-
signed to preserve any right the United
States possesses under the Hay-Paunce-
fote treaty with Great Britain to exempt
american ships from toll payment
throug the Panama canal indicated that
the forces Of repeal will win by sub
stantial majority
Senator Simmons, who has led the
fight for repeal, has estimated that the
bill viii carry by not less than ton
votes ana there was every promise
that his estimate will prove correct.
NO REAL STRENGTH TEST.
There was no real test Of strength
In the voting tonight. but the re-
peal forces won the first round of
the fight, when they put through, bv
vote of so to "a, the so-called Sim
mons-Norris amendment. which de-
waive or relinquish any right it may
have to exempt American ships from
payment of tolls through the Panama
canal. Both sides had conceded that
this amendment would carry, but it
had been the subject Of attack for
many hours to-day and when the large
majority was announced many sena-
tors were surprised.
Although two subsequent attempts
70 change the language of the amend
ment so that 1t would refer to right
the United States has instead of any
right 1t may have, were defeated with
ease, but neither vote was decisive
rs that on the Simmons amendment.
The modifying amendment by Senator
sutherland was beaten 40 to 33 and
he second proposed by Senator Cum
mins suffered a like fate by vote
IF 40 to 81.
NINE DEMOCRATS AGAINST.
This was the first test vote after six
weeks of debate on the repeal bill. Even
he most optimistic senators who favored
.epeal had not expected the amendment
10 carry by so large a majority. It is not
believed. however, that the bill itself can
be put through by so great a margin
Nine democratic senator's. Ashurst
MARITIME. O'Gorman. Pomerene. Ransden
Reed, Shields, Walsh and Williams, voted
against the amendment Several of these
however, are expected to vote for the
repeal bill, while several republicans who
supported the amendment are expected
20 line up against the bill,
THE AMENDMENT
The amendment as adopted reads as
follows:
provided that the pa ssage of the act
shall not be construed or held as a
waiver. or REIMBURSEMENT of any right
the United States may have under the
treaty with Great Britain. ratified Feb
ruary u, 1902, or the treaty with the
republic of Panama, ratified February
26, 1904, or otherwise, to discriminate
In favor of its vessels by exemptng the
vessels Of the United States or its citi-
zens from the payment of tolls for
passage through said canal, or as In
any way waving impairing or affect
ing any right of the United States un-
der said treaty or otherwise with the
respect TO the sovereignty over or the
ownership, control and management of
said canal and the regulation Of the
conditions or charges of traffic through
the same"
RIGHTS REASSERTED
Senators who hoped to see the bill
disposed of tonight took comfort
from the decisive way in which a mo-
ton to adjourn was defeated. Sena-
tor Bristow made the motion and on
a roll call the vote was So to 22.
The sutherland amendment pro-
posed as a substitute for the Sim
nons-Norris amendment, was defeated,
49 to 33. 1t declared that nothing in
the repeal act should be considered
as denying or abridging the right of
the United States to discriminate in
favor of American shipping and added
that on the contrary such right is re-
asserted.