Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-06-07
Simmons and Norris Amend
ments to Be Embodied in One
Compromise Clause.
LEADERS EXPECT VOTE
TOMORROW OR TUESDAY.
Senator Hitchcock Announces He
Will Support Legislation of Re-
publican Colleague.

A compromise amendment to the tolls
repeal bill. drawn by Senator Simmons
for the administration forces and Sena-
tor Norris for republican senator's, will
be offered when the bill comes to a vote
in the Senate.
The new amendment embodies the orig
mai simmons amendment, recommended
by the Senate interoceanic canal commit
tee, as we'll as the more emphatic reser-
walton in the amendment proposed by
Senator Norris several davs ago as a
sustitute for the committee amendment
The strength developed for the Norris
amendment. particularly on the demo-
cratic side, influenced the administration
forces to modify their amendment The
compromise reads:
That the passage of this act shall
NOT De construed or held as waiver or
REIMBURSEMENT of any right the United
States may have under the treaty with
Great Britain. ratified November IS. 1901
or otherwise, TO exempt the vessels of
the United States or its citizens from
the payment of tolls for passage through
said canal or as In any way waiving.
impairing or affecting any right of the
United States under said treaty. or other
wise. with respect to the sovereignty over
or the ownership, control and manage
ment of said canal apd the regulation of
the conditions or charges of traffic
through the same
May Vote Tomorrow.
vote on the amendment and the bill
may be reached late tomorrow or Tues
day. So far as leaders know, only
few senators expect to speak on the sub
5ect An effort may be made after the
bill is disposed of to press a resolution
to arbitrate the Panama tolls exemption
question with Great Britain.
Senator Hitchcock, democratic colleague
Of Senator Norris. announced that he
would vote for the Norris substitute. Il
shall favor any amendment of like i'm
port which will attach to this bill a dec
laration that its passage shall not be con-
strued as a surrender of the American
right to discriminate In favor of Amer
ican vessels In the use Of the Panama ca
nal." he said. IT should be willing to go
even further and favor a specific declara-
ton reafi1rming and asserting that right,
heeauset that would sexpfers 4ly 0Wsk kscon-
victions in the matter
Senator Hitchcock added he was opposed
to the free passage OF vessels now as
matter of local policy. but he said the
action of the President in pressing repeal
upon Congress for the chief reason that
the canal act violated the Hay-Paunce-
fote treaty required something more than
mere repeal legislation.
Should Keep Position.
ITO act upon his suggestion without
qualification may perhaps put Congress in
the light of indorsing his reasons, and
might put the United States on record as
abandoning its former Interpretation of
the treaty and asserting to the interpre-
tation placed upon it by Great Britain,
believe the United States should stand by
the position 1t has taken. That is the
dignified course"
Senator Thompson of Kansas favored
the repeal, with some provision preserving
American rights in the maintenance and
control of the canal.
Senator Works of California spoke
against repeal, and, like Senators Hitch
cock and Thompson. insisted the repeal
bill should be amended by providing that
collection OF tolls from American ships
should deprive the United States of the
right to exempt American vessels from
tolls at any future time.
Senators Poindexter and MARITIME gave
notice that they would speak tomorrow.
After Senator Poindexters notice Sena-
tor Simmons suggested the senator speak
yesterday with view Of voting last
night.
.'Oh. the world will waggle along some
way if we don't vote till Monday. Tues
day or Wednesday, and I want to let my
constituents know the reason for my
vote" interrupted Senator MARITIME. a.