New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-04-02
Administration Men Cont
dent of Holding Lines
in Senate.
O'GORMAN COMMITTEE
TO GET BILL TUESDAY
Owen, After Visit to the Presi-
dent, Announces That No Undue
Delay Will Be Brooked.
From The Tribune Bureau


House over canal tolls. administration
leaders rested on their arms to-day
recommending the position in the Senate
and preparing for the second and maj
struggle TO carry out the programme laid
down by the President. The bill reached
the Senate to-day and was promptly re-
ferred to the Committee on Interoceanlc
Canals.
Confidence was expressed by the ad-
ministration lieutenants that their lines
we're holding firmly and that the repeal
bill would be passed by majority of at
least ten votes. Difficulty might be en-
countered in the Committee on Inter
oceanic Canals. Of which Senator O'Gor-
man is chairman, where the administra-
ton supporters are not able to muster
majority The worst that can be expect
I'd there, however. is q slight delay, as
some OF the members who are not with
he President on the tolls question are
unwilling TO carry their opposition TO the
point OF refusing to report back the
measure 10 the Senate even II the action
IS adverse
Senator OGorman announced to-day
that ne would call a meeting OF the COM
mttes for next Tuesday. As nearly as
the attitude OF the members is def
ritely known the committee will be
evenly divided and there is possibility
that there may be a majority against
the bill. This. however, is merely one
Of the outposts in the legislative field OF
battle The great struggle will come In
the Senate proper.
Senate Lines Drawing Taut.
Lines are already drawing taut, and the
administration lieutenants were busy to-
day making tours OF inspection and rally
ing the Democrats who have been wayer-
ing since the onslaught OF the leaders or
their party against the Presidents pro-
gramme in the House. Their reports In
dictate a majority OF from ten 10 fifteen.
Some OF the Republicans who likewise
have made a general survey Of the situa-
ton say the majority will be from eight
to ten. There are even those Senators
hostile to the President who admit that
he will probably carry the day when the
final test comes, and a majority of from
three to five is conceded.
All Of these predictions are more or les.
based on assumption. There Is still much
uncertainty in the situation, and several
Senators have not definitely decided what
course TO follow. II is on this fact largely
that the opponents of the repeal measure
base their hopes. They take confidence in
the belief that when the returns begin to
come in from the country after the speech
OF Speaker Clark and the fire of public
opinion IS concentrated on the Senate
those who are still in doubt will line up
with the anti-administration forces.
The administration leaders are no less
hopeful They believe that the vote in
the House will have a more telling effect
than oratory. and that the Presidents
prospect Of victory will have the tendency
to bring recalcitrants to his standard. In
either event the fight will be long. Eff
forts will be made TO divert attention
from the main Issue by amendments
which might prove embarrassing to Sena-
tors, but Il is expected that majority
will keep the bill intact tho issue having
been clearly and finally drawn In the
House.
Norris Offers Amendment.
The only remaining question that had
the Senate to-day by Senator Norris
who offered an amendment to the repeal
bill declaring that the act was not 10
be construed as a surrender OF the right
claimed by the United States and direct
ing the President TO enter into negotla-
lions for submitting the tolls controversy
to arbitration. This amendment reads;
The passage of this act shall not be
construed as a surrender OF the right
claimed by the United States government
20 regulate the traffic passing through
the Panama Canal by giving 10 vessels
engaged in the coastwise trade of the
United States and other vessels OF the
United States and It's citizens either par
tial Or total exemption from the payment
l OF tolls when passing through said canal.
\The protest heretofore filed with the
Government OF the United States by the
government OF Great Britain against
such a construction OF the treaty OF No
vember IS. 1901, between said govern
ments commonly known as tho Hay
Pauncefote Treaty, is hereby recognized
as presenting an international question
suitable and proper for settlement by
arbitration, and the President or the
United States is hereby authorized and
directed TO begin negotiations with the
government OF Great Britain for the de-
termination OF said question OF arbitra-
ton" i4~sn
Senator Poindexter also offered reso-
lution reciting that II is essential that
the Senate be informed, concerning the
matters OF greater delicacy and nearer
consequences" TO which the President re-
ferred ~ IL IS 20 act sdvisedly and re-
ouesfins the President to inform 1t, In
confidence II he so desires what they
are
senator Jones also read into the
record several editorials criticising tho
Presidents policy and protesting against
the repeal OF the tolls exemption bill.
Owen Visits White House.
Senator owen, who will lead tho fight In
committee for the administration, visited
the White House early In the day and
conferred with the President. Later he
made the emphatic declaration that
friends Of the repeal bill would not submit
10 unnecessary delay In preliminary con
alteration OF the bill and fatty declared
that the gauntlet OF committee discharge
would be hurled should an attempt be
made TO impede the progress OF tho
measure.
That sofne members OF the committee
Who oppose exemption repeal desire TO
lave public hearings on the bin was ap-
A.xr al al "A n