Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-03-27
TOLLS DEBATE 4
VOTE TO Be REAL
STRENGTH TEST
Defeat of Repeal Forces Would
Mean Opening Measure to
Amendment.
PLAN MOVE TO SHUT OFF
DISCUSSION ON QUESTION
Speaker Clark's Stand Aids
Opponents of the Adminis-
tration's Program.


WASHINGTON, March -J-rhs
House disposed of routine tJls$efss In j
less than ten minutes today, al ths
rule Ito limit the Panama tolls I ~et
debate to twenty hours was takef n
When the fight was resumed Z y
battle lines were drawn in this neioI
nep =
Isifty-flve minutes remained for
bate on the special rule to limit dson
cussion to twenty hours on the Sims
bill to repeal the exemption fort
coastwise ships.
Chairman Henry. of the rules COM
mittee, leading that phase of tho
fight for the administration forces,
WAS ready at the conclusion of the
flfty-five minutes to move the previ-
, ous question" a parliamentary man
enver to shut off debate on the rule
and force a vote the first real test
of strength.
Opponents of the administration
program, strengthened by Speaker
Clark's vigorous denuneiation of the
attempt at cloture and renewed by
his declaration that he would vote
against limiting debate. were pre-
pared to bring every resource into
play to beat the previous question"
and thus throw down the bars for un-
limited debate not only on the rule,
but on the repeal bill itself.
Much Hangs Test Vote.
On this first test vote not only ths
question of pressing the administra-
tion 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 nlo-
In .x.asrt tc.rfam
committee
| Administration leaders realized that
If beaten on the cloture rule the bill
| itself would be open to amendments,
| one of which gaining favor today, was
| to repeal the exemption but to Specifif
cally provide that the right to grant
| free passage to American ships under
existing treaties should not be sur
| rendered
In this way the opposing forces
were drawn up to renew one of the
bitterest congressional fights of re-
cent years, certainly the hardest
! fought of President Wilson's admtu1
istration. overnight conferences and
strengthening of the tle lines
brought no visible shift y position Of
either side in this oontest in which
/ party lines have been broken, and
| Democrats Republicans and Progress
s,Ves divided into two camps under
| banners proclaiming either for or
against repeal of the exemption.
Fight Grows Bitter.
The detection of such Democratic
| farty leaders as Speaker Clark
Representative Underwood, Chairman
Fitzgerald, of the approximation com
mittee, and others from the Presi-
cents support served to make the
] fight more bitter. President watson
received early reports from his/aefa$
porters at the White House al uyPipy>-
confident that his argumel.t tNssrEb
was asking no man to changt/ms
| opinions, but to carrect situation,
would win the day.
The sudden adjournment of the
House last night, when only fifty-fiys
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 situa-
! ton.
There was no change in the Senate
In the status of the repeal bill there,
which hests with the canal commit
tee, awaiting developments In the
House.
Senator Chamberlain, leading repeal
opponents in the Senate, was elated
at the situation in the oHuse.
Il was lonely when l 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 Confident.
Administration leaders continued to
| express confidence in the outcome of
| the controversy. predicting a sub
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 Representative Adamson to
plan the fight. Those who attended
were Representatives. Sherley, Adam
son, Hardwick Flood, Henry, Cow
ington. Sims, Hay and Palmer II
was decided to centre the attack on
the attitude of Speaker Clark. The
time was divided between Represent
ative Adamson and Representatives
! HardWick the former to make some
discussion of the bill, but the latter
to devote his speech entirely to
reply to Speaker Clarks statement
of last night.
Some congressman professed the
| view that the fight had taken the
| aspect of contest between the
/ President and Speaker clark. IheS
expected the speaker might take the
floor to personally lead the night on
! the rule, or might reserve his attack
/ for the bill itselef. unless forced to
the floor to denfend himself,
The galleries filed up early. Mrs.
Clark had a seat in the speakers gall
| lery.
An outburst of applause greeted
Speaker Clark as he ascended the
rostrum promptly at noon He stilled
the tumult, and the House rose as the
chaplain prayed.
Representative LEngle, of Flor
ida. an invalid, was wheeled into
the chamber in his wheel chair and
placed Just to the right of the speak
er's rostrum The opening business
was quickly disposed of, and the rule
was brought up for the remaining
ffty-five minute debate.