The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-06-07
WILSON YIELDS
AGAIN ON TOLLS
Another Amendment Forced
TO Take the "Sting"
Out Of Repeal.
NORRIS FORCES CHANGE
The Administration Leaders
Agree to Alteration Fear
ing Tactical Defeat.
VOTE NAY COME TUESDAY
Night Sessions Will Probably
BE Held to Expedite the
Passage.
NORRIS FORCES CHANGE
VOTE NAY COME TUESDAY

WASHINGTON, June 6.-The Admins.
ration. in order to save itself from de-
feat In the opening skirmlshes on the
tolls repeal bill. has consented to an i'm
portant amendment.
The President. when the repeal bill
nrst came to the Senate from the House.
insisted that there should be no amend
;nents II soon became apparent. how
ever. that a change would have to he
made to command a sufficient number
of Democratic votes. and Mr. Wilson
yielded.
Now a second change has been made
because II had become apparent that
;hs new amendment would have been
carried over the opposition of the Ad-
nInis,ratIon forces and the defea; would
have put the Presidents supporters at a
tactical disadvantage in the fight for
' the bill.
The new amendment was forced by
Senator Norris of Nebraska. 1t repre-
sents compromise agreement between
the Senator from Nebraska and Senator
simmons OF North Carolina. who intro
duced the first amendment Endorsed by
the Administration.
The Simmons amendment.
The Simmons amendment. which was
accepted by the President and reported
favorabiy by the Senate Interoceahic
Canal Committee. read:
Provided that neither the passage
Of this act nor anything therein
contained shall be construed or held
as waving. impairing or affecting
any treaty or other right possessed
by the United States.
The Norris Amendment.
Senator Norris OF Nebraska had pro-
posed this amendment:
That the passage OF this act shall
not be construed as a surrender OF
the right. claimed by the United States
Government to regulate the traffic
passing through the Panama Canal
by giving to vessels engaged in the
eoastwise trade OF the United States
and other vessels OF the United States
and It's citizens either partial or total
exemption from the payment OF tolls
when passing through said canal.
The Compromises Amendments.
The following is the compromise amend
ment accepted by the Administration Sem
a'ors after II became apparent that the
norris resolution probably would pass:
That the passage OF this act shall
not De construed or held as a waiver
or REIMBURSEMENT Of any right the
United states may have under the
treaty with Great Britain. ratified the
18TH OF November. 1901. or otherwise.
70 exempt the vessels OF the United
states or It's citizens from the pay
ment OF tolls for passage through said
canal or in any way waving. impair
Ing 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
management OF said canal. and the
regulation OF the condition or charges
OF traffic through the same.
The effect of this amendment will be
70 leave the present treaty rights OF the
United States unprejudiced by the tolls
repeal legislation and also 10 leave the
question OF determination of those rights
70 future developments, possibly arbitra-
lion with Great Britain.
u
The Senate surrendered only after Sena-
tor Norris had executed a parliamentary
coup that put his amendment in a de-
ededly advantageous position.
MIR. Norris's Strategy.
In a lul OF the Senate proceedings
day OF two ago the Vice President sug-
gested that the question before the SEN
ate was the amendment to the repeal bill.
which happened to be Mr.. Simmons's
amendment reported by the Foreign Rela-
lions Committee. Thereupon Mr. Norris
offered his amendment as n substitute for
Inc Simmons amendment.
II became apparent to the Administra-
lion leaders that with the vote coming
mrs, on the Norris amendment II prob
ABLY would carry and the Administration
"'vid be routed In the first skirmish Oh
lie tolls question.
Mr.. Simmons's amendment, II voted
upon first, might have carried and saved
The day for the Administration. because
The difference between the two Is largely
one Of details Apparently the man from
Nebraska had put one across on the
Administration parliamentary strategists
In the Senate.
The situation caused CONSERVATION
among the Presidents friends for time.
, Senator Hoke Smith set to work on COM
Promise to save the situation. He was
MOI swift enough for Mr. Simmons. who
can travel fast and 40 far TO meet an
emergency, Before Senator Smith had
worked out his compromise the mediation
between Messrs Simmons and Norris
Mad borne fruit.
Debate Jagged again to-day on the tolls
OIL An effort to reach an agreement by