The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1914-03-31
DEBATE ON TOLLS
REPEAL CONTINUES
Galleries Crowded to Hear Ora
toricaI Giants of House Dis
cuSs Measure.
BETTER ORDER IS DEMANDED
Representatives Harrison of Mississlp-
pi, Stevens of Minnesota and
knoWiand of California, Prin-
clpaI Speakers of Day.

Washington, March .3O-With slight
Iy diminished interest after the spec
tacular skirmish of the previous day,
the house. settled down to long de-
bate on the administration canal tolls
repeal bill. Seventeen hours of dis
cussion yet remain A vote upon the
bill is not expected before Tuesday
afternoon, as no night sessions will be
held.
The debate on the repeal of the ex-
emption clause was postponed except
for brief colloquy following the
reading by Senator Hoke Smith of
Georgia of the conclusions of Prof.
Emory R. Johnson of the University
of Pennsylvania against free tolls
House Galleries Packed.
The house galleries were again
packed with an expectant throng, who,
came in anticipation of repetition of
the oratorical display. 1t is improb-
able, however, that the fireworks will
materialize until Speaker Champ Clark
takes the floor on Tuesday to oppose
Z the administration bill
The debate was with Representative
Harrison of Mississippi, making the
initial attack on the repeal bill. He
was followed by Representative Stew
ems of Minnesota, Republican member
of the interstate commerce committee,
who upheld the contention that the
free tolls clause is a violation of
treaty obligations. Representative
Knowland of California vigorously op-
posed the repeal.
The galleries of the house were
crowded, mostly with women, when
Representative Harrison, the first
speaker Of the day, began his speech
against the repeal of the tolls provi-
sion in the Panama canal act. Many
representatives who were on the floor
the previous day, were absent how
ever.
Speaker Demands Better Order.
Speaker Clark prefaced the opening
! of the days battle with request to
the house to keep better order than
was preserved the day before and
with a warning to the crowds in the
galleries that they were there by
courtesy and must not applaud or in
dulge in loud conversation.
Representative Harrison, in protest
ing against the tolls repeal, asked:
'Are we now to bow in humble hu-
mility to Great Britain Are we to
bow simply because Great Britain as
a powerful nation, thinks that we, now
fS1I hxyi iVN-
ternational complications, would sur
render honor to an unjust and un-
reasonable contention for the sordid
consideration of assisting US to settle
a question that although it is close
to us. yet is, after all, in the interests
of humanity?
"Be not deceived, sirs; those who
would vote for this repeal act will
some day have that act rise to plague
you.
81 am strongly convinced that as
an economic policy it is best that our
coastwise vessels going through the
Panama canal should be exempt from
the payment of tolls"
Representative Stevens of Minneso-
ia, Republican, the next speaker, ap-
peaIed to the house to uphold the
presidents position on the canal is
sue.
If the United States discriminates
against Great Britain at Panama,
Stevens asserted, then an equal dis
elimination against American vessels
using Canadian canals along our bor-
bo i11c
KnowIand Attacks Repeal.
Declaring there is no escaping "the
naked truth" that for the first time
the United States is urged to sur
render under foreign pressure. dis
guise the situation or becloud the is
sue as you may" Representative ]
R. Knowland of California joined in
the attack on the proposed repeal OF
the free tolls provision in the Panama
canal act. He added:
"The government of the United
States, speaking through a congress. g
president and the state department
takes a positive position touching the
Interpretation of a disputed treaty
and a succeeding administration de
mands and insists that this govern
ment reverse itself, abandon its for
mer position and accept the foreign
Interpretation of the treaty, an actor
with no parallel in American history
1.-The presidents Washington Park
N. J., speech on August Is, 1912, 1
month after the first British protes
was received, announced to the farm
ers of Washington Park on that mem
orable occasion in referring to tn,
canal treaty, our platform is not mo
lasses to catch flies. It means bust
ness. 1t means what it says
Throughout the Pacific state and
l presume. elsewhere the free tol
plank was frequently quoted by Demo
cratic candidates"
Famous Paintings Stolen.
II A. -,