Evening star., 1914-02-25
FEEL C0NF|DENTOF
FREE TOLLS REPEAL
Representatives Palmer and
SherIey Confer With the
President.
HAVE LITTLE DOUBT
HOUSE WILL REVERSE
Not Yet Determined in Which
Branch Action Will Begin-Other
Callers at the White House.

PRESIDENT wilson quiet inSlStency for
the repeal of the Panama canal free
tolls provision was shown today in con-
ferences he had with Representatives
Palmer and Sherley democratic leaders
of the House. Both OF these voted against
free tolls when the bill was before the
House last year and are in position to
take the lead. with other House demo-
Gratis. in pushing the repeal. They ex-
pect to do so. it is learned. and today
be brought about without much trouble,
SO far as the House is concerned
The President has had information for
a long time that the repeal of the act
will go through the Senate with little
trouble. but he has learned from Repre-
sentative Underwood and others that the
situation in the House has not looked SO
favorable, owing to the large number Of
members who originally voted for free
tolls and are not inclined to change their
positions with acrobatic rapidity.
The President and his advisers have
realized that it would not be expected
that the working out of the plans for the
repeal should be placed in the hands of
those who fought for free tolls. and for
that reason he evidently deems it advisa-
BILE to place the leadership of the move
ment in the hands Of House statesmen
who are not reluctant to push the matter
THE repeal of the free tolls provision
will be pushed from now on" said Mr..
Sherley. and his statement was corrob-
ofated by Mr.. Palmer. There is not the
slightest doubt. as | understand it, that
the repeal will be made. Just whether 1t
will be done in the Senate or House first
l do not now know
May Make Official Request.
1t was said today to be likely that the
President officially will make the request
to Congress for repeal. 1t has not been
decided whether he will do this in a
message or address or by letter to some
representative. So far, it is stated by
House members. the President has not
sent any communication of an official
nature Of which Congress can take cog
nizance, and this will be done, it is be-
lieved.
Representatives Underwood, Doremus
and Covington, who voted for free tolls.
MIR. Doremus is the chairman of the
democratic congressional committee. None
repeal. if the President makes official
request Mr.. Covington is understood
to be contemplating a statement an
nouncing his purpose to support the
nally for free tolls have come out in
support of the White House position.
Has Met Many Presidents.
With Mr.. Palmer was his father-in.
law. Robert 3. Dixon, a veteran banker
Of Easton, Md. MIR. Dixon was intro
duced to the President. who expressed
pleasure In greeting him. Mr.. Dixon
has shaken hands with every Presiden:
since William Henry Harrison. Il was
a boy when the first Harrison beca me
President int
to him by lifting me up to the window
of the carriage in which Gen. Har-
rison was riding. ] shook hands with
the President in this manner. Since
then I have shaken hands with every
President"
Senator NewIands. who is working OF
trust legislation in the Senate, con-
ferred with the President about the steps
that have been taken in the Senate COM
mittee on interstate and foreign com.
merce, giving particular emphasis to the
efforts to bring out q satisfactory bill
for trade commission.
Says Country Is All Right.
J. J. Hill. former president of the Great
Northern road. and an optimist on thc
country's future. was received by tn,
President and told Mr.. Wilson about
business conditions as he sees them
The country is all right" declared Mr.
Hill. ''and in short time things will
be humming in every direction"
Dudley Field Malone. collector Of the
port Of New York. talked with the Presi
dent nearly half an hour about his of.
ficiai work as collector and the politica
outlook In New York.
Mr.. Malone is one of the young demo
crate of New York who are depended up
on to aid Mayor Mitchell. Chairman Nc.
| Combs and others. in reorganizing tn,
| party OH lines that promise success il
| the elections this year.