The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-03-27
House Votes 2O7 to 176 to
Shut on Debate
On the ClOture Rule on Pan.
anna Tolls Bill.
PREVIOUS QUESTION CALLED
After Nearly an Hour Spent In
Hot Discussion.
Many Party Leaders Pitted
Against the President.

Washington, March 27.-President
Wilson won the first fight OF his bat
tie to repeal the Panama tolls ex-
emption today when the house by a
vote of 2O7 to 176 refused to continue
discussion on the rule to limit 70
+wenrv hours the debate on the Sims
bill. ~.
vote which was q round victory 1oi
the administration leaders. Ine odA-
loting was preceded by an hour OF i'm
passioned speech making. in wn1cn
Speaker Clark, Representative on,
derwood, Representative f1tzeerai1
and other Democratic leaders voteo
AGAINST the motion to cut off debate
With the adoption Of the resolution
to stop debate on the rule. the neA'
question was upon the adoption OF the
rule itself. Administration support
ers were sure Of its passage.
The special rule then was 1,;1p to
200 to 172. That put the Sims phi 70
rereal the exemption squareiy be1ors
the house for twenty hours debate anu
protected it against Intervening mo-
tions and amendments.
First Test of Strength.
Washington. March 27.-Wnen tne =
Panama tolls fight was resumed IN tne
house today the Dattie nneS
drawn in this manner:
hate on the special rule to limit dlS, us,
cussion to 20 hours on the sims nlll
- repeal the exemption for coastwise
ships. Chairman Henry OF the ruies
committee leading that phase OIL Ino
fight for the administration 1orces was
ready at the conclusion of the 90 MIN
utes to move the previous question, =. q
parliamentary maneuver to smut OIL
debate on the rule and 1Orce NOle'
the first real test Of strength. Up
ponents of the administration program
strengthened by Speaker Clarks Wig
orous denunciation of the attempt at
cIoture and renewed by his declaration
that he would vote against Hmltins
debate were prepared to Dring every
resource into play to beat tine pre-
vious question:" and thus throw down
the bars for unlimited debate, not only
on the rule, but on the repeal Dill
itself.
ON this first test vote hung not only
the question of pressing the admins
tration measure through but also the
greater one Of opening it to amend
nent for the rule proposes that only
one amendment may be permitted 10
interyene-and that would be on mo-
ton to recommit to the commerce
committee.
Administration leaders realized that
Ii
itself would be open to amendments
enc of which, gaining favor today, was
to repeal the exemption, but to spe-
officially provide that the right to
grant free passage to American SHIPS
under existing treaties, snOuio not De
surrendered.
In this way the opposing forces
we're drawn up to renew one of the
bitterest congressional fights Of recent
years, certainly the hardest fought OF
President Wilson's administration.
over night conferences and strength
ering of the battle lines brought no
visible shift in position Of either side
ir this contest, in which party lines
have been broken, and Democrats,
Pepublicans and Progressives divided
into two camps under banners pro,
claiming either for or against repeal
Of the exemption.
DETECTION of Leaders.
The detection Of such Democratic
party leaders as Speaker Clark, Rep
resentative Underwood, Chairman
Fitzgerald of the appropriations COM
mittee and other of the presidents
supporters served to make the fight
more bitter. President Wilson re-
ceived early reports from his support
ers at the White House and was con-
fident that his argument that he was
asking no man to change his opin-
ions, but to correct a situation, would
win the day.
The sudden adjournment of the
house last night when only SO min
utes more would have brought the
first test vote was variously inter-
preted. Speaker Clark's vigorous
statement denouncing the rule re-
ceived various constructions among
close observers of the political situa-
ton.
There was no change in the senate
in the status Of the repeal bill which
rests with the canal committee await
ing developments in the house. Sena-
tor Chamberlain, leading repeal op-
the situation in the house.
Il was lonely when 1 started this
fight" he said. But we are gaining
strength every day. It's going to be
the old battle of '76 over again, the
Tory element on one side and the
masses of the people on the other
Administration leaders continued to
express confidence in the outcome of
the controversy. predicting a SUBJ
stantial majority for the repeal. Some
told the president today they would
have majority of fifty on the rule.
Administration leaders in the house
went into executive session. with Rep
resentative Adamson to plan the fight.
Those who attended were Representa-
X,
roster, Flood. Henry. Covington. Sims,
Hay and Palmer. 1t was decided to
center the attack on the attitude of
Speaker Clark. The time was divided
between Representative Adamson and
Representative Hardwick, the former
10 make some discussion of the bill,
put the latter to devote his speech en-
tirely to a reply to Speaker CIark's
statement OF last night.
Clark Toada
Some congressman professed the view
tnat the fight had taken the aspect of
a contest between the president and
speaker Clark. They expected the
speaker might take the floor to person.
any lead the fight on the rule. or might
reserve his attack for the bill itself. un-
e M 5sS IS ss 4 M i VI