The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-04-01
HOUSE DEBATES TOLLS.
GREATEST LEGISLATIVE RATTLE
OF YEARS BEGINS IN
HOUSE.
tiark Comes Out Strongly i'm OppO-
sitiOn to Curt;,i,mCnt of Debate. De-
ciaring it IS Reclamation OF Demo-
cratic Policy of Full Argument.

special rule in the house to limit
debate and prohibit amendments of
the administrations proposal to re-
peal the provision of the Panama ca
nal act allowing free passage to Amer
lean ships.
For two hours the rule alternately
was defended and attacked in heated
debate in the house. When adjourn
ment came, with an hour Of debate on
the rule left for tomorrow, Speaker
Champ Clark, who before had not
announced his position on the repeal
policy, issued statement vigorously
opposing the rule.
Surely there is nothing sacred
about this repeal bill, and there is
no reason Cor this mad rush, said
the speakers statement. Il will not
be party TO ramming such a rule
down the throats of members"
Impressed with the importance Of a
measure which President Wilson has
characterized as necessary to the con-
duct of his administration foreign
policy, an extraordinary attendance of
members was on the floor when the
rule was presented. Throngs of spec
tators filed the seats in the gallery,
occupied the stairways and overflow
ed into the corridors. The specta-
tors came when the house met at II
o'clock today and waited hour after
hour as routine business delayed the
tolls bill and the nervous tension on
the floor grew more and more tense.
The legislative way finally was
cleared and at 4 o'clock Representa-
1--WE Henry, chairman Of the rules
committee. presented the rule, linn
iting debate on the Sims bill TO 20
hours and precluding mendmcnt, cX-
cept for a single motion to recon-
nit. Brief argument brought about
IN agreement for three hours debate
on the rule and the preliminary skir-
nish of the greatest legislative strug-
l5lc of q decade was on.
TO Il house silently attentive, Rep
resontativc Henry explained the rule
and launched into defense of the re-
peal bill. Then followed an aryu-
attention. as compared with the
merits of the measure and the prcsi-
icat'a foreign policy, the right of the
american government to exercise con-
;rOl Of the canal it has built and the
economic advisability Of free tolls for
American ships were dragged back
and forth in the discussion.
Most speakers dwclt on the foreign
situation. The presidents adherents
who spoke, all Democrats, declared
that under The treaty, the United
states had no moral right to pass it's
ships free. His opponents, Republi-
cans and ProgreSsivcs, attacked the
foreign policy of the administration
ard denounced the proposed repeal
rs an "abjcct surrender TO Great
Britain"
Throughout the discussion Majority
Leader Underwood, for the first time
Opposing the administration, sat quiet
ly in his seat, listening attcntively t.
the argument. Republican Leader
Mann and Progressive Leader Muir
dock both made arguments against
thc rule and the bill
administration leaders tonight Wig
orCuSly sought to keep their support
erS in line and to get recruits. The
opposition directed its efforts to OBJ
tanning votes to defeat n motion to
close debate on the rule, which will
be made after an hours debate to
morrow and which, if beaten, would
allow amendment of the rule. In this
situation. opponents of the bill would
attempt to prevent the Sims bill and
might force the adoption ul Il com
promise amendment, repeating The
tolls section, without surrcndcring the
contention that the United states un-
der the treaties has the right TO gran,
free tolls.
speaker Clark'S statement tonight
encouraged opponents of the rUlc, ana
Representative Sims, author Of th,
repeal hiil, later issued Il statement
declaring:
Il have heard there Will be an or
gani%cd effort by enemies of the add
both in aud out of tho
Democratic party, To defeat the mo-
ton for the previous question ON the
rule tomorrow. The object of this
woull be simply to allow cmbarrass-
ing amendments To be offered To tho
bill y vote against the previous
question Will be virtually Il vote