Evening journal., 1914-03-26
Canal Tolls
Repeater IS UP
Wilson Supporters Confident
That Resolution Will Have
Big Majority
TEST VOTE WILL
COME LATE TODAY
BY BOND p. GEnnES.

hVNR ULDDLNe
STAFF Correspondent OF the United Press
WASHINGTON, March 20. - Con
gross today responded to President
Wilson's request for repeal OF the tolls
exemption given American coastwiso
vessels in the Panama Canal Act
The Sims repeal resolution was
brought up in the house. precipltat-
ing the most bitter struggle since the
Democrats secured control of Con-
gress. A final vote Saturday night
or late Monday afternoon was GER
tain.
Except for unforeseen possibilities
of the debate, the result was not con-
sidered In doubt Passage Of the re-
peal resolution was regarded certain
in the House. Leaders said II was
merely a question Of the majority to
be rolled up. The Senate Is where
defeat Of the repeal admittedly looms
as an ominous possibility.
Chairman AdamsOn, of the House
Interstate Commerce Committee pre-
dlcted today a majority Of between 40
and 40 in the House. The Presidents
opponents figures were between 80
and 40 majority for the repeal.
The test vote Will come late this
afternoon, on the question OF adopt.
ing the special ruling placing tho
sims measure before the House. II
was believed, however. that the ma
iority on the rule would probably be
larger than that to be developed on
the final roll-call.
Before the House met tho House rules
committee reported out an amended rule
for consideration OF the repeal extend
ing the debate from l5 TO 20 hours. It
was agreed TO allow two hours todav
Tor discussion on the rule itself. The
20 hours will be divided as follows.
Representative Adamson. for the re
peal ten hours; Representative Know
land of California and the Republicans
against 5 hours Representative Dore
mus and Democrats against, hours
and Progressivcs. against. / hour.
Consideration of the repeal was post
poned more than an hour BY an uncx.
pected report and opposition TO the con
ference report on the urgent detciencv
/ appropriation bill which preceded tho
rivers and harbors measure. Represent.
atiVc Buchanan OF Illinois, flibustercd
against the appropriation bill, forcing n
call of the House upon a point of no
quorum
Extension of the debate time Co twen.
lty hours IL was predicted, will postpone
the final vote ON the passage OF the re-
peal resolution probably until Monday
and possibly until Tuesday. Il was also
uncertain whether the House could be
kept within the two-hour limit for de-
bate ON the special rule this afternoon.
All party lines were wiped ont TO.
day. old political foes, Democrats and
Republicans. fought shoulder TO shoul
der Opposing the President were lead
crs of the three parties. Underwood
Mann and Murdock. with such Democra
Tic leaders as Kitchin, prospective sue
ccssor to Underwood; Doremus. chair
man OF the Democratic congressional
committee and Fitzgerald. Speaker
Clark by his prospective vote and pos
sihlv in debate, was also in the ranks OF
the opposition.
Sustaining the President we're
Adamson, Sherley, Clayton, Coving-
. ton. A. Mitchell. Palmer and Henry,
with many Republican chieftains in
cluding Representatives Gardner, OF
Massachusetts; Stevens, of Minnie
sofa. Hamilton, of Michigan; Kent,
Of California, and Esch, OF Wisconsin
Alleged reputation of the Balti-
moro platform; surrender to Eng
land" and ship subsidy" were the
three battle standards of the debate
today. The Mexican policy loomed
ominously behind all. The Presi-
dents cohorts pleaded patriotism
above party platforms" to sustain the
, Presidents request for the repeal in
aiding him 10 solve international
, problems OF nearer consequence
than that I'm Mexico.
How slight a switch" OF votes was
necessary TO give the President vic.
tory was pointed out by the vote OF
May %. 1913. on the free tolls clause
of the Panama Canal act A scani
majority of only 10. was mustered
then by a bipartisan coalition OF
Democrats and Republicans, the vote
being 147 TO 12S, with III paired OF
not voting. Many Republicans then
voted against free tolls but over sixty
, Democrats voted for tolls exemption
How many Democrats would re-
verse their former vote and sustain
the administration's repeal policy
was the doubtful element Of the stu.