The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-04-12
HEAVY ARTILLERY
IS BEING TRAINED
Opponents Of Tolls Repeal Ready
to Wheel Forces Into
Action.
NO ARGUMENT OVERLOOKED
They Will Fight in Committee,
and, Failing, Go to Floor
of Senate.

Washington. April 1.-THE heaviest
artillery which opponents OF repeal OF
Panama toll exemption for American
ships can bring TO bear Will be trained
against tho ADMINISTRATORS fat re-
peal policy before the Senate commit
tee on Intcroceanic Canals next week.
Every possible argument that c..n be
raised Is TO be brought forward. In the
hope OF prevailing on the committee
TO make an adverse report on the bill
as II passed the House and, failing IN
that, to lay n foundation for cont!nu-
Ing the fight In the Senate Itself.
In addition to tho general opposi-
tion to absolute repeal. there will ht
arguments by Democratic Senators who
agree that exemption for American
ships Is in violation OF the Ffay-
Pauncefote treaty and that the gov.
eminent should reverse its policy. but
hope the means OF bringing this result
about can DO tempered with an amend
ment reasserting the sovereignty OF the
United Sthtos over the Panama Canal.
Attempt to Amend bill.
Whatever may be the report OF the
Canals Committeeman there rs pos
siiilitv that several proposed meas
ures may bc reported without recon-
Observation-Disclosures and oppo-
siticn leaders concedc that the first
fight will DO ov..r an effort to amend
the Sims bill. which passed the House.
Champions of the Presidents position
insist that there will he no compro-
mise. They adhere 10 their confident
predictions Tint toll exemption for
American coastwise ships will be re-
pcaied.
Intcroccanic Canals Committee. and
leader Of Democratic opposition to tho
repeal, plans to make rorccful ar
gument before the committee next
week against the administrations po-
sition, on the ground that this govern
men now Is negotiating In It's pro-
posed treaty with Colombia II clause
whereby Colomhias vessels of war
may have access to the canal free
OF tolls.
The clause is identical with one In 4
previously negotiated, but never en-
forced. treaty with Colombia. which
Great Britain approved. The argu-
mcnt viii be made that If Great Brit
ain conceded the right OF the United
States to exempt Colombian war vcs-
sells. it is inconsistent for Great Britain
to maintain now that tho United
States may not exempt American coast
wise shipping.
Some Notable Witnesses.
Among men summoned before tho
Canals Committee next week to dis
cuss the tolls controversy are Joseph
IF. Choatc, former Ambassador to
Great Britain; Henry White. former
charge OF the American embassy In
London and alter ambassador to
France: Or. benjamin ldc Wheeler,
president OF the University OF Cali
fornia; Frederick w. Lehman. OF St
Louis. former solicitor-general OF the
United States; Oscar s. Straus. once
ambassador to Turkey md former
Secretary OF Commerce and Labor;
George l.. Record. OF New Jersey. who
was Il member OF tho platform COM
mittee OF the Progressive party ut tho
Chicago convention in 1912. and many
others. On the list to bo heard, besides
several Senators, arc Representatives
OF many Pacific Coast. New Orleans
and inland commercial organizations