The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-03-25
CONGRESS FACES
VIGOROUS FIGHT
ON TOLLS REPEAL
Sims Bill Will Be Called
Up for Debate by
Tomorrow.
ADAMSON REPORT
STIRS INTEREST
Leaders on Both Sides of Issue
Align Their Forces and Pre-
pare ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
able Speculation as to
Strength of Oppo-
sition.

on the verge of the most v!porous leg
isIatir" struggle that has enlivencd it's
proceedings in many years-the con
test over the administration proposal
70 70 Eepeal IN" provision of the Panama
Canal act, granting tol! cxcrpptiou 10
American coastwisc ships.
,!anS Tor taking up the Sims rnpeal
mn mn were CON p!etcd ia the House to-
Gay ana D.mocratic leaders on both
S1ncs OF IN" issu" have aligned their
force" ana prepared their nrguincr,ts.
~ WAS generally conceded that the bill
"W"ulu 10" called up for general debate.
by IhursdaE. and that it might be re-
porlen som" time Tomorrow. when
esentatiyc Henry. chairman of tho
itui"S 'oininittcc. proposed 70 submit q
iu!c I" limit general debate on the
measure TO fifteen hours \ vote on
measure. test the strength Of the on
position forces.
preliminary 20 the debate which is
certain 10 be most spirited. special at
!ois ana Representatives, 10 the ma
joTit! report on the Sims repeal bill.
"a aYhnitieh 5.i By ,Representatiye ;Adamson.
I'd in printed form today. points par.
tcularly 10 the fact that IN reporting
tnc tnc l'hnaina canal &C, during the last
inendei uniforn tolls. and tina, ~.
cN"npiion for American coastwis.
Snlpping vas accomplished by amend
lucnt. The committee had recouuizcd
N" report said, long before any for
e!sn soyernmen, had voiced an opinion
"r Piaint that treaty stipulatioms
Not Disturbed by Taunt.
W" are not disturbed +, added
bN the iaunt. made FOR a purpose. that
repeal would he trucking ana vleId-
ing TO foreign demands. = similar
taunt could be hurled against any
mar, man or nation honorable enough 10
comply Win contracts. or generous
enough TO promote friendly relations
hE according Gespcctfui consideration
TO EI.ews o: the opposite party.
From nigh sources in this ana 9TH
who participated In the formation of
nc various treaties. mcn whose vcrac-
lty ana inteSrity cannot be questioned
y"int uneGuiNocal statements that the
!hhS uage oi the treaty controlling the
imposition OF tolls was not intended to
permit such discrimination.
t.Ncn II II were close question.
Win thc balance tending in our favor
We couiG not afford, in matter OF
h",ional honor. 10 contend or even de-
hate proposition which involves a
poiic% not III the interest Of our en-
uie people, but in the interest OF
small special class in whose favor the
exemption operates against the gem
eral Interest OF the entire people.
II better 70 abolish the canal IL
self than even 10 permit our national
honor 70 remain In question"
Opposition IL Formidnblc.
ronsidcr"hle speculation exists rs TO
me sirength OF the opposition to the
serNaivc proponents Of the proposed
reversal OF policy. while claiming an
assur"d majority in both houses. admit
mat the opposition is formiiable
II Is an unusual situation confront
!hS thc Denocratic party in the House
where The President has arrayed
against hl!n the majority leader Mr.
underwood: Representative Fitzgcrald
CA"nrihah or the appropriations Com
mite; representative llitchin. Of
North Carolina, ranking member of the
w avs and Means Committee and ac-
cording TO undcnied reports, the Speak
Cror,i Sr Ii IN, M lay it4Hss; Whether Sneaker
IN th1 debate is matter causing the
repeal champions special concern
OF his inten,ions In this regard.
Senator Chamberlain. of Oregon. fired
The iirst gun to-day. through an intro
duction OF 4 resolution calling on the
Secretary of War for available infor
nation as 10 the cost OF maintainine.
naNlEabi. rivers and canals, through
~ Was guaranteed passage free of
tolls. In preamble To the resolution
II was asserted that il the policy of the
government. with relation to Panan,
Canal tolls il to be reversed the policy
with reference 10 all rivers and canals
also should be changed. and tolls
charged All shipping to pay the govern
ment for maintaining the waterways
Chamberlain Resolution.
My chief purpose In Introducing this
rcsoiution. said Senator Chambe rlain
to.nisht. rs TO show II, as repeal cham
American Shippers is ship subsidy
granted by the government. that il has
always been the policy OF the govern
ment since 1881 10 subSidiZc our shin
ping. If we are going 10 change our
shipping tolls at banana. wc ought TO
charge tolls elsewhere
There will be discussion OF the rcso-
luton in the Senate tomorrow, Sena-
tor Chamberlain. planning to call it
up.
Senator o'Gornan to-day had read
TO the Senate 4 series OF tciegrams
from various parts OF the country CON
srntulating him on his stand against
toll exemption repeal.
After setting forth the purposes
sought by the government in the act
of 1881. the Chamberlain resolution
Whereas. if the free tolls clause OF
the Panama Canal act il to he repealed
and tolls are to be levied upon vessels
engaged i'm the coastwise trade OF the
United states, the policy OF the gov
crnmcnt is TO be completely reversed
and the act of July ., 1891, ought to
the improved waterways and canals
OF the country. so that there might he
uniform system for tho use of these
utilities:
,'rhoreforc. In anticipation OF pos
siblc repeal of the free tolls clause of
TIE lanama Canal act. and OF IA re-
vcrsal of the timc-honorcd policv OF
the United States with reference to
river and harbor Improvement and en-
nal construction and operation of these
government utilities free of charge to
all commerce. and in order to asccr-
tain the facts in reference to the I'm
provcncnts n
he 1t, resolved That the Secretary
of War be requested To furnish to tho
Senate the following infOrmation:
FIRST, the amount expended by the
United states in river and harbor i'm
Constitution.
Second, tho amounts expended in