Norwich bulletin., 1914-04-30
HOUSE TOLL REPEAL BILL
 TO BE REPORTED TO SENATE
Administration Leaders Win in Sec ond Round of Contest Over Free Tolls.


 Washington, April 2s.-Administra- ton leaders today won the second round of the fight to repeal the free tolls provision of the Panama Canal act. when the senate canals commit tee, by vote of eight to six, ordered the house bill carrying the repeal re- ported to the senate. Coupled with the bill will be reported an amend ment proposed by Senator Simmons and approved by the committee, which reads as follows:
 Provided that neither the passage of this act, nor anything therein con- tained, shall be construed or held as waving. 1mpairing or affecting any treaty or other right possessed by the United States"
 This amendment has been seen by President Wilson and is said to have his approval. Administration leaders are confident tonight that, with it at tached, the repeal bill will be passed by the senate, and some senators op- posed to repeal agreed with this view
 All efforts made in the committee today to report the house bill adverse ly were defeated, as were efforts to at tach other amendments or to report substitute for the bill itself The report of the committee will be made without recommendation and the scene Of the fight for and against repeal will be shifted to the floor
 Chairman O'Gorman for the com mittee, expected tonight to report the bill with the amendment tomorrow and in accordance with the commit tees direction will ask that it be placed on the senate calendar.
 Senator Simmons credited with leadership of the force aligned with President Wilson for repeal. will ask that the bill be made the unfinished business of the senate and if this sug- gestion is a1Sseed to the battle will be- gin at once.
 Senator Simmons said tonight be believed the great interest in the sub Ject throughr. the country warrant ed an effort en the part of the senate to dispose of it as quickly as possible. administration leaders hope to con duct this fight along the lines follow ed in putting through the tariff and currency bills. If this is adhered to, the attention of the senate will be. di- rected as quickly as possible to the tolls matter and after a debate of a lew weeks g. vote will be reached. A
 The committees session today de- Veloped several surprises, but there was said to be no display of bitterness The first vote was taken on the aInend- ment by Senator Shields. proposed as 8 substitute for the amendment of fered by Senator Simmons, which later was approved.- It provided that the passage of the act should not be con- strued as an admission that the United 'otaIeS mas no right to exempt its coastwise ships from tolls. It was beaten 10 to 4.
 The Simmons amendment was next and the vote was to 6 for its adop- tfon. The vote follows:
 Ayes: Simmons, Brandegee. Craw- ford, Owen, Thomas, Thornton, Walsh and Chiffon
 Nays: Borah. Bristow, O'Gorman Page, Perkins and Shields.
 motion by Senator Thomas to re- port the bill favorably with the Sim mons amendment was beaten g to 5. Senator Bristow quickly made a mo- ton to report the bill as amended, ad- versely, which was beaten to 5, Sen ators O'Gorman. Walsh, Borah, Bris- tow and Perkins voting aye" and Senators Thornton, Chiffon, Shields, Thomas. Owen, Simmons, Brandegee and Chiffon voting no" The vote on the motion of Senator Thomas to report the bill without recommenda- ton with the Simmons amendment was 8 to 6, with the same lineup on both sides except that Senator Walsh voted mo- and Senator Page voted aye" The substitute proposed by Senator Walsh, which would allow determination of the right to exempt American ships under the Hay Pauncefote treaty by the United States supreme court was defeated 8 to 6.