The Sentinel=record., 1914-04-01
HOUSE ADOPTS PRESIDENTS MEASURE BY A HEAVY MA
 JORlTY OF PAY TO 161.
CLARKE IS IN OPPOSITION
Not Even the Eloquence of Speaker Clark Could Stem the Tide of Votes Which Backed President Wilson in His Plea for Repeal.

Washington, March 31.--The nation al house of representative tonight, after one of the most spectacular leg islatiye struggles in its history, voted to repeal the provision of the Panama canal act exemptiag American yes- sels from the payment of tolls. The vote on the repeal bill was PAT to l61, a majority of SC votes in support of the personal plea of Woodrow Will son, president of the United States.
 This verdict on the issue which has absorbed congress for many weeks came at the closy, of a stirring day made memorable in the annals of the house by a party division which found Speaker Champ Clark, Major ity Leader Underwood and other dem ocratic chieftains lined up in open op- position to the president on an issue which the latter has declared vital to his conduct of the nations foreign policy.
 TOday's result was the first strug- gle within the party since democracy took control of the government a year ago.
 Tomorrow the bili goes to the sen ate where the fight will be renewed with all the vigor and determination that attended it in the lower house.
 On the final vote 220 democrats in the house stood by the president, glv ing him in "ungrudging measure what he had asked for the honor of the nation" in it's foreign relations Twenty-Five republicans and two pro gressiyes also voted to sustain the president. Fifty-two democrats fol. lowed Speaker Clark and Leader Un- derwood to defeat
 Nothing, it seemed, could stem the tide of administration success. Speak CT Clark, for nearly twenty-two years a member of the house, made the speech of his life to forestall what he termed "unquestionable degrada- tion' of the nation. In this he failed but he did smooth over the party breach with kindly words for his ad- versaries, praise for President Wilson and an unqualified denial of any vaulting ambition in his own behalf
 President Wilson was at dinner when the result of the vote was az nounced. He was gratifed but made no comment.
 In the senate the bill will be re- ferred to the committee o1 inter- oceanic canals of which Senator OGorman of New York, a vigorous opponent of the bill, is chairman, Senator OGorman said he would call meeting of the committee imme- diately to consider the measure. That there will be a fight in that commit tee is certain. Senator Owen is lead ing the fight for the president there
 The committee will have many pro- posals before it, several in the nature of compromises. some resembling a llOliOh Ol hlt HOuD0 lnAnOAAtN tOudN to recommit the repeal bill and to repeal the exemption clause with a declaration that the United States should have complete sovereignty over the canal. This motion in tho house was defeated by vote of 232 to 176. It will be the aim of admin istration forces for the bill to reach it's final vote in two or three weeks.
 Representative Adamson took the floor to close the long debate.
 Representative Adamson devoted himself largely to a denunciation of toll exemption as an economic policy, characterizing it as mock subsidy to special interests which have lob bied steadily before the interstate and foreign commerce. committees of the house for seven years"
 When he concluded, Representative Adamson called flor a vote. A hush swept the crowded floor and the pack ed galleries, as Speaker Clark an nounced vote on the third reading and engrossment of the bill"
 Republican Leader Mann demanded la roll call and the first record vote on the bill was forced on prelimin, ary legislative stage. The admins tration strength made it's appearance however, and the bill was advanced through the third reading by vot, of PIT to 160
 A round of cheers and applaus, greeted the announcement of the vot, and scarcely had it subsided whel