The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-24
DEMOCRATS IN HOUSE
DODGE TOLLS ISSUE
Will Hang Back and Let Fight
for Repeal Be Begun in
the Senate.
LEADERS EQUALLY DIVIDED
AdamsOn to Head the Attack
Col. Goethals Speaks
Against Exemption.

WASHINGTON, Feb 23-Democratic
leaders in the House are disposed to side
step the initiation of legislation provld-
Ing for the repeal OF the free tolls
provision of the Panama Canal act
through permitting the fight for re-
peal to be inaugurated In the Sen
ate. The idea Is that the faces OF
the leaders In the House will be saved by
having the repeal passed first In the Senate.
thus providing the Congressman with the
excuse that 1t is a matter Of foreign
policy.
Administration leaders say that they
have 4 clear and clean majority favor
able to repeal At the same time care
ful poll of the members Of the present
House who voted for free tolls In the Sixty
second Congress shows a majority Of about
twenty against repeal. II Is therefore in
cumbent upon the Administration leaders
to carry on their PROSECUTING among the
new one term Congressman.
Adamson to he Leader.
The unofficial announcement of Repre-
sentative Kitchin OF North Carolina that
he would vote against repeal Of the free
toll clause puts the North Csrolina states
man out of the running as the Administra-
tons spokesman when the measure comes
up for the attention OF the He use. In con-
sequence the duty OF lighting for the re-
peal will devolve upon Chairman Adam
son of the Interstate and Foreign Com
, merce Committee.
just now Mr. Adamson is burdened with
important committee hearings and DELHI
erations over the bill providing for an
Interstate trade commission and the bill in
creasing the powers OF the Interstate Com
.nerce Commission by including In their
duties the regulation OF railroad securities
issued. This offers another reason for
permitting the repeal legislation to be
initiated In the Senate. for II Is believed
that consideration OF the two anti-trus,
bills will be we'll under way before the
question can arise In the House.
With Majority Leader Underwood
Chairman Fitzgerald Of tho Appropria.
tons Committee: Representative kitchin
heir apparent to the majority leadership
Representative Doremus OF Michigan
chairman OF the Democratic Congressional
campaign committee. all opposed to re
peal, IL has become important that Mr.
Adamson shall have elbow room when IN,
repeal fight starts. He will be warml,
supported by Representative Sherley o.
Kentucky and few OF the other Demo
cratic leaders. but regardless OF how tn
majority of the House is divided upon thu
general question. tho moro powerful
leaders are ranged about equally on boil
sides Of IL
Mann 20 Fight Repeal.
II is also said that Representative Mani
. OF Illinois. the Republican leader, is plan
ming TO fight repeal from FIRST to last
is a question how the Republicans ar
divided on the repeal measure, but II 1
8 known that majority will support MI
5 Mann In his fight.
Q Col. George w. Cocktails. who was
. caller at the Capitol to-day. told Mi
Adamson that he sands squarely agains
the policy OF exemptlng American vessel
from paying canal tolls. Col Goethal
said:
I'VE have spent sa0o. 1000. 900 In con
structing the canal and now we ought (
4 have an opportunity to make the cans
n pay back all OF this cost to the Govern
I ment American vessels should bear thi
h burden as well as the foreign ships"
a Chairman Adamson remarked to-da
. that the course OF repeal legislation woul
q be cleared as soon as Senator Chamber
lain got through with his night with Grea
2 Britain.
q, ct think Senator Chamberlain may lie
q England in about week." was Mr.. Adam
. sons sarcastic comment on. the intervie'
:, given out by Senator Chamberlain La
;, night And when he gets through wit
, that war OF his we may be able to tai
"a business"