The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-04-04
PREPARE: FOR FINAL CLASH
 ON TOLLS REPEAL
Republican Senators Lining Up Against Administra- tiOn-WilsOn Leaders
 Won't Compromise

Washington April S.-The Panama ca nal toll exemption controversy has reached the simmerng stage in the Senate. pend- ing consideration of the repeal bill and proposed compromises by the committee on inter-oceanlc canals next week. Lead CTS on both sides of the fight continued for the final clash of the great legislative battle.
 Two salient points were emphasized in the under current developments of the day One was the concerted effort being made by republican senators to unite against the Presidents repeal policy on the ground of political expedieney and the other was the reinforced determina- tion of administration leaders to yield to no compromise on the House bill pro- viding for fiat repeal of toll exemption for American ships.
 Republicans Line Up
 Among republican senators. who have been classified as doubtful with regard to their intentions concerning the repeal, there is a general tendency to line up against the President. Democratic sena- tors who are championing the President S cause assert that they welcome this move ment confident that it can have no other effect than to solidify the democrats and aid in assuring success for the administra- tion. These democrats, while admitting that five of their number cannot be in duced to abandon their opposition to the bill, insist that there is every indication that all other majority senators eventu- ally will support the bill. They also are assured of support for the measure by some of the republican senators, despite the effort of some of the minority to unite against the President.
 Such republicans as Senator Root, Lodge, Burton and McCumber are counted upon as unalterably opposed to toll ex- emption for American ships, and with these votes the administration leaders re- tain their confidence that nothing can prevent ultimate victory for he rebeal bill republican senator who will vote against the repeal bill said today that he was confident that the administration had the votes to carry the repeal and nothing gould change the situation.
 Bill Introduced
 A bill authorizing the President to con tract with American registered steamships and steamship lines using the Panama canal was introduced by Representative Edmonds of Pennsylvania. Under its tolls on American ships would be remitted for a period of 10 years the amount of such tolls, to be playablye out of the treasury every six months, and the American ships would be required to carry mails of all kinds without charge to the government.
 The contracts would be with first class vessels trading between the eastern and western coasts of the United States and Mexico, Central and South America. and subject to all existing or future general United States laws. Proof would be re- quired that these vessels were not rail- road controlled.
 All agreements made with other par ties and lines. including railroad lines, ? the bill provides, shall be approved by the department of commerce, and all freight rates shall be posted with and subject to revision by the proper authori- ties.''
 These ships or lines would not be pro- hibited from prorating with all railroads on an, equitable basis, but would be re- quired to agree that in national emer- gencies they would be held at federal dis posal to agree to give preference to goods made and produced in the United States. Tolls would be charged against any part of cargoes not originating in the United States or originating in South America and consigned to the United states.