Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-03-27
tions and amendments.

When the Panama Canal tolls fight
was resumed in the House to-day the
battle lines were drawn in this man.
ner:
Forty-five minutes remained for de-
bate on the special rule TO limit dis
cussion to twenty hours on the Sims
bill to repeal the exemption for coast
wise ships.
Chairman Henry. of the rules COM
mittee, leading that phase of the fight
for the administration forces, was
ready at the conclusion of the fifty-flve
minutes to "move the previous ques-
tion," a parliamentary maneuver to
shut off debate on the rule and force
vote, the first real test of strength.
Opponents of the administration
program, strengthened by Speaker
Clark's vigorous denunciation of the
attempt at cloture and renewed by
his declaration that he would vote
against limiting debate. were prepared
TO bring every resource into play to
beat "the previous question" and thus
throw down the bars for unlimited
debate not only on the rule but on the
repeal bill 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
ment. for the rule proposes that only
one amendment may be permitted to
intervene-and that would be one mo-
ton to recommit to the commerce
committee.
Administration leaders realized that
If beaten on the cloture rule the bill
itself would be open to amendments,
one of which gaining favor to-day was
to repeal the exemption but to spe-
nrnUtda 10 nj oil, t,~e -
free passage to Americans ships under
existing treaties should not be surren-
dered.
In this way the opposing forces
were drawn up to renew one of the
bitterest congressional fights of recent
years, certainly the hardest fought of
President Wilson's administration.
Overnight conferences and strength
ening of the battle lines brought no
visible shift in position of either side
in this contest, in which party lines
have been broken. and Democrats, Re-
publicans and Progressives divided
into two camps under banners pro-
claiming either for or against repeal
of the exemption.
Sudden Adjournment
The detection Of such Democratic
party leaders as Speaker Clark, Rep
resentative Underwood, Chairman
Fitzgerald, of the appropriations com.
mittee. and others from the President 8
support served to make the fight NOR.
bitter. President Wilson received early
reports from his supporters at the
White House and was confident that
his argument that he was asking no
man to change his opinions, but to
correct a situation, would win the day,
The sudden adjournment of the
House last night when only fifty-flve
minutes 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 sit
uation.
Senator Chamberlain, leading re-
peal opponents in the Senate. was
elated at the situation in the House.
"I was lonely when I 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"
Confidence Expressed
Administration leaders continued to
express confidence in the outcome of
the controversy. predicting q substan-
tial majority for the repeal. Some
told the President to-day they would
have majority of fifty on the rule.
Administration leaders in the House
went into executive session with Rem