The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-03-28
FIGHT ON TOLLS BILL.
ADMINISTRATION WING MAKES
PROGRESS IN HOUSE.
Pushes Rivers and Harbors Bill I'm.
tii it Is Almost Ready for Final
Action.

~"""i "St in the house Thursday, ad-
ministration forces tonight kept the
mouse I'm session we'll into the evening
over n mild protest from the opposi-
ton To the tolls repeal bill. considera.
uon OF the rivers and harbors appro-
priation was pushed to a point where
the measure can be disposed of In an
hour. and an agreement was reached
To take IL up again at IL o'clock
Thursday morning. and the way was
cleared for the presentation OF the
special rule for the repeal at noon.
Debate on the rivers and harbors bill
was dragging tonight at 6 o'clock, the
regular hour OF adjournment. Repub-
hean Leader Mann made q point of
no quorum. but enough members to
do business were rounded up by roll
call and the discussion went on. The
apparent tendency to delay then dis
appeared and tho reading OF the bill
was hurried along.
Representative Moore of Pennsyl-
vania took occasion to tell the DEM
ocrats he knew that some force
higher UP is exerting pressure to hur-
~ this bin along and make way for
another measure"
Plans for taking up the Sims repeal
OIL were completed in the house to-
day and Democratic leaders on both
sides Of the issue have aligned their
forces and prepared their arguments
IL was generally conceded that the
OIL would be called up for general de-
bate by Thursday. and that IL might
De reported some time tomorrow
when Representative Henry, chairman
OF the rules committee. proposed to
submit a rule to limit general debate
on tho measure to- Is hours. A vote
on this resolution Will. in q measure.
test tho strength OF the opposition
forces.
Preliminary to the debate. which is
certain to be most spirited. special at
tention was given tonight by senators
and representatives to the majority
report on the Sims repeal bill sub
mitted by Representative Adamson of
Georgia chairman OF the committee
on Interstate and foreign commerce.
This report. which appeared in print
ed itrn .oday. points particularly to
the fact that in reporting the Panama
canal act during the last congress. the
committee had recommended uniform
tolls, and that the exemption for
American coastwise shipping was ac-
eomplished by amendment The com
mittee had recognized. the report said,
long before any foreign government
had voiced an opinion or complaint,
that treaty stipulations required uni
form tolls.
We arc not disturbed" IL adds,
by tho taunt made for purpose.
that repeal would be trucking and
yielding TO foreign demands. A sim
ilar taunt could be hurled against
any man or nation honorable enough
TO comply with contracts or generous
enough TO promote friendly relations
by according respectful consideration
to views of the opposite party. From
nigh sources in this and other coun-
tries and from men yet alive who par
tcipated in the formation of the va
rious treaties. men whose veracity
and integrity can not be questioned,
come unequivocal statements that the
language OF the treaty controlling the
imposition OF tolls was not intended
To permit such discrimination.
Even were 1t close question with
the balance tending in our favor. we
could not afford. In matter OF ma
tional honor. TO contend or even de-
bate proposition which involves a
policy not In the interest OF our on
tire people, but I'm the interest Of r.
small special class i'm whose favor tho
exemption operates against the gen.
erai interests OF the entire people.
Far better to abolish the canal Il.
self than even to permit our national
honor TO remain in question"
Considerable speculation exists ma
To the strength of the opposition TO
the repeal In both houses OF congress.
IL Is an unusual situation confronting
the Democratic party in the house.
where the president has arrayed
against him the majority leader. MIR
Underwood. Representative fitzgcr-
"id' chairman Of the appropriations
committee; Representative Kitchin OF
North Carolina. ranking member ol
tho ways and means committee. and
according to reports. tho speaker OF
the house. Whether Speaker Clark
VIII yield the gavcl to take part in