Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-04-02
Measure Passed By House
Last Night Goes Over
to the Upper Body
LONG HARD FIGHT
FREELY PREDICTED
Senators Appear Evenly
Divided With Opposition
Having Advantage

Washington, d. c., April 1.-The
Panama tolls controversy SURPRISING
In interest any problem that has alb
sorbed the attention of congress in re.
cent years, was transferred to the sen
ate today from the house where last
night the Sims bill repeating the tools
exemption clause of the Panama canal
act was passed by vote of 247 to 161.
The measures appearance was &C.
cepted as the signal for the beginning
of one of the most protracted and com
plicated contests that body ever has
faced. Senators both for and against
the repeal said they saw no hope of a
final disposition of the issue within
the next five or six weeks.
Senator, O'Gorman, who will lead the
fight against the bill, today prepared
to have the Inter-Oceanic Canals com.
mittee, of which he is chairman, begin
consideration of the. measure imme.
diately, 1t appeared today that the
senators are nearly evenly divided on
the chief issue. How a vote will re.
suit is regarded as extremely uncer'
tain at the present time but unless
there Is change in the line up the op
ponents of the repeal appear to have
a majority of one.
Senator Lewis of Illinois has bill
empowering the president to suspend
tolls by proclamation. Senator Reed
has introduced measure which would
repeal the tolls exemption clause and
grant to foreign vessels the right tc
compete with American ships now en-
gagged in the coastwise trade. Sena
tor Owens hill is identical with that
-uasseU a6y the house yesterday There
are other measures pending including
bill of Senator Thomas of Colorado
and Senator Gallinger's resolution ex
pressing the sense of congress that II
has the right to do as it pleases with
respect to regulating shipping in the
Panama canal.
Wilson Gratifled.
Gratified over the success Of the
Panama tolls exemption repeal in the
house, President Wilson and his sup
porters turned their attention today to
the senate.
The latest poll brought to the white
house by an administration senator
who canvassed his colleagues and ex
cluded from his count those he con
sidered doubtful, indicated that the
presidents contention would have a
majority Of at least sixteen, republic
ans as well as democrats. Senator
Owen. the administration leader in the
canals committee where the measure
now is pending, was at the white house
early comforting with Secretary Tumul
ty. Asked about the procedure in the
senate and length of time for discus
sion the Oklahoma senator said:
1T is natural to assume that if The
committee does not report promptly
a motion will be made to discharge the
measure from consideration of the
committee. There is to be no unneces
sary forcing but we want no dilatory
tactics. The committee stands, should
say, against the president. and ! think
when the committee was organized
those who were in favor Of the tolls
exemption were in the majority.
"a week in the committee would be
a reasonable time for discussion. The
president had no comment to make
on the result in the house but let 1t
be known that he cherished-no Ill feel