The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-03-27

| to the repeal bill was voiced by Repre- | sentative Kelly of Pennsylvania, pro- | gressive member of the rules committed
 He declared that the three politicl
 parties had pledged themselves to the
 free tolls provision in their 1912 plat
 forms and said the people had expressed | their approval of the provision in the
 election.
 | While declaring himself in favor of repeating the free tolls provision, Rep | resentative Lenroot of Wisconsin wig | orously opposed the rule because 1t cut | eff amendments. He declared that he and a large group of members of the House favored repeating the provision on economic grounds and that they would vote for the repeal. He objected however, to being placed in the position l of indorsing construction of tho treaties with Great Britain which based | the repeal on the ground that the American government has not the right | to exempt its vessels from the pay
 ment of tolls. He urged that the rule be | amended and an opportunity given to present an amendment which would confer on the President, in his discre- tion, the right to impose lesser tolls on American ships.
 Reads Clark's Speech Representative Lenroot read speech
 
 | tariff law was in the House, in which | the speaker declared the right of
 amendment of debate should not be | curtailed
 Progressive Leader Murdock opposed | the rule. saying:
 T am not willing to surrender by | my vote In any spirit of easy accom- modation to Great Britain this nation 8 sovereignty over the canal. I do not know fully the complications which bring this crisis. We arc asked not to
 suspend the toll exemption clause until
 our rights may be arbitrated, but to
 confess national dshonor. I do not
 know the relations which make Great
 Britain and Japan friends, or Japan and Huerta allies, or how near the truth the rumor is that we need the aid of Great Britain as Japan's friend to tighten our responsibility in Mex l leo. But the known facts, the visible | facts, the arguable facts are plain and elementary so far our rights in the canal are concerned
 Shall we surrender our sovereignty | in the canal2 Befcre the surrender the | act seems of little moment to many | But after the surrender each year will emphasize the error that may be com-
 mitted here. Before the surrender con- alterations of political and diplomatic exfgency may becloud the issue. After
 the surrender will come clarity and
 national chagrin and national humilia- ton"
 The Presidents position was vigor-
 ously defended by Representative Shirley of Kentucky.
 Offers No Apology we come here with this repeal bill" | he said with no apology for our po- sition. For 75 years we have held out
 to the nations of the world the promise | to build the canal for all the world. We promised to build 1t as a great boon to humanity throughout the world. not for small dollars and cents advantage to our own commerce In | this situation the American nation does nothing out of fear, nothing because of l the threat of any nation or group of nations. But it Is not willing to rest | in the eyes of the world as having vio- I lated treaty, or having violated it's promise so long held out to the na- | tions of the world"
 l Minority Leader Mann said the i'm l portance of the measure merited a more complete deliberation and more thorough consideration than could be given under the proposed rule. He cited a dozen instances in which he said this government had construed the con- 1 tested treaty provision and said no l "gag rule" should prevent free discus sion of proposal to reverse these con- 1 structions
 "I see no reason" he said. ''why we ter on a fancied plea of honor. Honor