Norwich bulletin., 1914-03-30
Has Right to do
 as it PIeases
PROVINCE OF CONGRESS ON
 CANAL TOLLS
A POINTED RESOLUTION
Will Be Urged by Senator GaIIinser This Week-Fight in Senate May Cover a Period of Six Weeks.

Washington, March 29.-In many years congress has not been so ab- sorbed in a legislative issue as 1t is today in the controversy over repeal of toll exemption for American coastwise ships passing through the Panama canal.
 Oratorical strife over the repeal will be renewed tomorrow in both the sem ate and the house. In the latter, gen. eral debate on the Sims bill will be re- sumed,s leading up to the final vote probably late Tuesday night or We'd nesday. In the senate, discussion will revolve around one of the many side issues that have arisen, Senator James Hamilton Lewis proposing to discuss a resolution and bill which he has intro duced to follow repeal as a sort of balm to the wounds of his party members who have thus far opposed the presi- dent.
 Other Resolutions.
 Senator Lewis measure would give the president authority to suspend tolls whenever he should deem it wise to do so in the public interest The Illinois senator will cite a long series of prece- dents upon which he bases the right of congress to extend such authority to the chief executive without offending any foreign nation or violating any treaty agreement In opposition to the proposal of Senator Lewies, the minor ity leader, Senator GaIlinger, will urge a resolution introduced by him last week which would assert as the sense of Americans that congress has the right to do as it pleases with respect to American shipping through the Pan anna canal.
 Speaker Clark to Oppose Repeal. Speaker Champ Clark, whose vigor- ous statement last week drew the cur tain on the party breach, has main
 tained silence since his defeat on the cloture rule; but he will break silence on the main issue of the controversy Tuesday, closing the debate on behalf of the opponents of toll exemption re- peal. Close friends of the speaker assert that he will express no bitter ness and cast no reflections on the opinions of others, but that he will merely discuss the merits of the issue. On the other hand, some democrats who have had their ears close to the ground in the last few days hint that the speaker may surprise his friends and arouse his adversaries.
 No Limit to Debate in Senate. Breakers are ahead for the repeal, however, despite the situation in the house, where it is generally conceded the fight already has been fought and won. Virtually the only uncertainty as to the outcome in the house is the size of the majority which the repeal will receive The vote on the previous question on the cloture rule was won by the presidents adherentS by ma
 jority of 31- Estimates of the major ity on the repeal vary from 5 to E. But the senate is yet to be rechoned with. There no cloture rule to limit debate can be ordered and 1t may be
 weeks before the question is disposed of.
 May Delay Matter Six Weeks. Senator OFGorman, who will lead the fight on the repeal within the party ranks, has said that senators who pro pose to vote for the repeal have told him they did not expect a vote for SIX weeks. Senator Owen and other demo cratic champions of the presidents cause declare that delay will serve no useful purpose and they hope to have
 the committee on interoceanic canals, of which Senator O'Gorman is chair man, take up the Sims bill as soon az 1t comes from the house. The commit tee Is closely divided on the issue. At present it appears that opponents of the repeal may have a majority of one in the committee.