The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-04-01
'SLIGHT MAJORITY
 FOR REPEAL BILL
 CLAIMED IN SENATE
Declared To Have
 Two More Votes, Excluding All Doubtful Senators, Than Opposi= ton -= Many Amendments Threat
 en Measure Tn Committee

Washington. April 1--The Panama tolls controversy was transferred from the House today where last night the Sims bill repeating the tolls exemption clause of&sthe Panama Canal act was passed by the vote of PAT to 162 to the Senate.
 The measures appearance was &C., cepted as the signal for the beginning of one of the most protracted and complicated contests that body ever has faced. Senators both for and against the repeal said they saw no hope of final disposition of the is- sue within the next five or six weeks.
 Senator 5O'Gornan, who will lead the fight against the bill, today plan ned to have the inter oceanic canals committee of which he is chairman, begin consideration of the measure i4nm ediately. The committee already has before it various other bills re1at- ing to the tolls exemption. It ap- peared today that the members are nearly evenly divided on the chief is- sue. How a vote will result is re- garded asA extremely uncertain at the present time but, unless there is a change in the lineup, the opponents of the repeal appear to have a ma jority Of two.
 SUBSTITUTE MEASURES
 Senator Lewis, of Illinois, has bill empowering the President to suspend tolls by proclamation. Senator Reid has introduced measure which would repeal the toll exemption clause and. grant to foreign vessels the right to compete with American ships now engaged in the coabtwise trade
 senatox oweh,s bill. identical with that passed by the House yesterday. | it was expected, would be replaced by the administrations measure, its purpose to sexpedite consideration in the Senate having failed. There are other measures pending. including a bill of Senator Thomas of Colorado and Senator Gal1ingers resolution @tz It has the right to do as it p1eases with respect to regulating shipping I<1n the Panama Canal.
 CLAIMS 16 MAJORITY | A poll brought to the White House by an administration Senator who canyessed his colleagues and ex- cluded from his count those he con- siGered doubtful indicated that the Presidents contention for repeal of canal tolls exemption would have a
 majority in the Senate of at least 1 Republicans as well as Democrats Senator Owen, the administration leader in the canals committee where the measure is now pending was at the White House early conferrfne 1 with Secretary Tumulty. Asked about the procedure in the Senate and length of time for discussion the Senator said:
 ssIb is natural to assume that if the committee does not report promptly a motion will be made to discharge 1 the measure from consideration o1 l the committee. There is to be nc 1 effort at forcing unnecessarily but we want no dilatory tactics The com mittee stands. I should says against n <1- Al committee was organized, those who l were in favor of the tolls exemption were in the majority.
 A week in the committee would be a reasonable time for discussion. ' i The President had no comment tc
 make on the result in the House but l let it be known that he cherished nc l ill-feeling against tbose who, ex- ! pressing their convictions. opposed l the repeal. There was no comment
 made on the speech of Speaker Clark POLL OF SENATORS. A newspaper poll of the Senat, shows that there is a certain majorit. of only two votes for the repeal a 1 this time. Some of the "doubtfuI' votes will probably be cast for repeal
 Those who will vote for the repea are:
 Democrats - Senators Bankl=e cad Bryan, Chiffon, Fletcher, Gore Hitch
 cock, Hollis, Hughes. James, Johnson
 Kern. Lea (Tennessee), Lee (Mary 1 1and). Myers, Overman, Owen. Pom ] creme, Reed, Robinson, SauIsblry
 Shafroth, Sheppard, Shivly, Simmons
 Smith (Arizona), Smith (Georgia) l Smith tMary1and,1 Stone Thompson
 Thorn, West and wi1Iiams-s2 Republicans s-Brandegee BurIeiah Burton, Dillingham;, Dupont, Gronna i Lodge, McCumber, Mclean, Nelson l Norris, Page, Root. sherman, Stephen ! son and Weeks-16-
 l Total for repeal Al.
 OPPOSED TO REPEAL. l Those who oppose the repeal are Dem enaocrats-Ashurst, Chamberiair Margine, O'Gorn1an, ,RansdeIl, Thomas l Vardanan,and Walsh4s.
 l. ubiicans-Bora,h, Bradley, Brads
 Bristow. Clark, Clapp, Clarke CWyo. Perkins, Smith (ATich.), S1noot, StAr ling. Townsend. Warren and Works 13.
 ProgTessive=Poin ndexter@1.
 Total against repeal 22..
 1 Here are the doubtfuI:
 Denocrats=Clarke (Ark.) ECuIber
 son, Lane. Martin. Pitman, Shields Smith 6S.S.), Swanson, Tillman=9.
 Republicans-Ca Catron, Colt Craw
 ford, Fall. Golf, Oliver and Penrose--' 1 Total doubtful, 16-
 in this poll both Democratic Sens 1 tors from South Carolina and Ncyad 1 are put down as dou btful It is pre- l dicted that all of these will naaII come into line in support of the Pres r.,1e.-~.k |, =