Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-06-11
SENATORS NEARING
END Of TOLLS WAR
Canal Repeal Measure Expect
ed to Be Finally Acted
Upon Today.
SUPPORTERS CONFIDENT
OF Baking AMENDMENTS
One Providing for Arbitration of Is
sue May Be Attached to
Bill, However.

Lilly 4Ao"CVCAs
When the Senate got down to work
again on the Panama canal tolls repeal
bill today 1t was with the expectation
of reaching a final vote on the measure
some time this afternoon or night.
In view of the overwhelming majority
given last night for the Simmons-Nor-
ris compromise amendment the support
ers of the repeal bill felt confident of
defeating all further amendments, ex-
cept an amendment providing for the
opening of negotiations looking to the
submission OF the tolls question to
arbitration.
Senator Simmons, marshal Of the repeal
forces. admitted this afternoon that the
results OF vote on such an amendment
was still matter Of conjecture. Senti-
ment in favor of arbitration has gained
strength recently
Supports Repeal Bill.
Senator Brandegee of Connecticut start
ed the ball rolling with a speech in sup
port Of the repeal bill. Senator Works
Of California addressed the Senate in adj
vocacy of an amendment offered by HIM
self. This amendment was intended as
an assertion that the United States had
the right to exempt its merchant vessels
from the payment Of tolls. 1t was de-
feated by vote Of so to SO. showing
no losses to the administration forces
The amendment offered by Senator
Walsh of Montana, which provides for
the submission of the tolls question to
the Supreme Court OF the United States
was next laid before the Senate.
Az the Wal0h nd {e fy, ~
ture of substitute for the bill. it was
ruled out Of order at this time, but it
will be offered later.
Senator Clapp of Minnesota then ad-
dressed the Senate in opposition to the
bill.
Vote on Compromise.
The Simmons-Norris compromise amend
ment. which declares that the United
States does not waive any right 1t may
have to discriminate in favor Of Ameri-
can ships passing through the Panama
canal. was adopted last night by a vote
Of so to "a. 4
1t was conceded that this amendment
would carry, but the large majority In
favor Of it was a surprise to many mem
bers Of the Senate. In view of the large,
favorable vote, it is hardly expected that
the amendment will be stricken out OF
the bill when 1t goes to conference, even
should the President express a desire to
have 1t eliminated It is believed that
should the conferees report back the bill
to the Senate minus that amendment.
another prolonged fight would be waged
against the measure and that eventually
the bill might fail. In any event. its pas
sage would be delayed a considerable
time.
How Members Stood.
The vote on the simmons-Norris amend
ment was:
Ayes: =t
Observation-Disclosures, Bryan, Chiffon,
Culberson. Fletcher. Hitchcock, Hollis.
Hughes, James. Johnson. Kern, Lane,
Lea. Lee, Lewis. Martin. Myers, Newlands,
Overman. Owen. Pitman. Salisbury,
Sheppard, shiyely. Simmons.
maryland. Smith (south carolina),
Stone. Swanson. Thomas, Thompson.
West, White-36.
Republicans-Brandeg Colt, Craw-
ford. Gronna, Kenyon. Lippitt. Lodge.
McCumber. Mclean. Nelson. Norris. Ster-
Observation-Disclosures.
Nays:
Democrats-Ashurst. MARITIME, OGorman,
Pomerene. Ransdell. Reed, Shields, Walsh,
:" llldln6-b
Republicans-Bristow, Burleigh, Clark
CWyoming). Cummings, Gallinger, Goff,
Jones, Page, Perkins. Smith (Michigan).
Smoot. sutherland. Townsend. Warren,
Works-15.
Text Of Amendment.
The amendment as adopted reads al
follows:
Provided. that the passage of this
act shall not be construed or held as
waiver, or REIMBURSEMENT of any right
the United States may have under the
treaty with Great Britain, ratified the
21st Of February. 1902. or the treaty with
the republic Of Panama. ratified Feb
ruary %, 1904. or otherwise to discrimi-
nate IN favor OF Its vessels by exempt
ing the vessels of the United States or
its citizens from the payment of tolls or
passage through said canal, or az in any
way waving. impairing or affecting any
right of the United States under 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"
Notifications Beaten.
Although two subsequent attempts to
change the language Of the amendment
80 that It would refer to a right the
United States has instead of any right
1t may have were defeated with ease.
but neither vote was SO decisive as
that on the Simmons amendment. Ono
modifying amendment by Senator
sutherland was beaten. 40 to SO, and
the second proposed by Senator Cum
minis suffered like fate by a vote of
40 to 81.
There were several expressions dur
ing the debate Of a desire to submit
the dispute with Great Britain to ar
bitration after the repeal bill is passed.
1t has been currently reported in the
Senate for several days that an arhi .
tration resolution will be pressed after
the passage of the bill. Senator Suth-
erland's arbitration amendment al
ready has received the approval of the
foreign relations committee, and Soma
tor Norris is expected to renew his
proposal of the Same sort made sew
eral weeks ago.
A serious attempt to put through an
arbitration resolution. however, may be
opposed by democratic leaders who are
anxious to take up pending anti-trust
legislation as soon as possible.
Absence Of oratory.