Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-03-31

Washington, March 20: No legis-
lative issue Of recent years has excited
congress as has the controversy over
repeal Of the toll exemption clause Of
the Panama canal act. Last weeks
events, which put on record a breach
in the solidarity Of the Democratic
party, have caused no end of conflict
tensity of interest in the subject. The
situation is fraught with many COM
plications. Oratorical strife over the
repeal will be renewed tomorrow. The
house will resume general debate on
the Sims bills, leading up to a final
vote in that branch, probably late
Tuesday night or Wednesday. In the
senate discussion will revolve around
one Of the many side issues that have
arisen. Senator James Hamilton Lew
is proposing to discuss resolution
and bill he has introduced, to allow
repeal as Il sort of balm to the wounds
Of his party members, who thus far
have opposed the president. Senator
Lewis measure would give the presi-
dent authority to suspend tolls when
ever he should deem it in the public
interest Sc to do. The Illinois senator
will cite a series Of precedents on
which he bases the right Of congress
to extend such authority to the chief
executive. AS against the proposal Of
Senator Lewis, the minority leader
Senator Gallinger will urge a resolu-
ton which would express 1t as the
sense of Americans that congress has
the right to do as it pleases with re-
spect to American shipping through
the Panama canal. In the house op-
posing leaders are setting the stage for
the final struggle, all conceding that
scenes attending the closing hours Of
the debate and the final roll call will
rival in sensational enthusiasm any
legislative climax in recent years.
Speaker Champ Clark, whose vigorous
statement against the cloture rule last
week drew the curtain on the party
breech, has prepared an epilogue, and
the house galleries cannot accommo
date the thousands who will scramble
for seats to hear him deliver it. The
speaker has maintained silence since
his defeat on the cloture rule, but he
will break silence Tuesday, closing the
debate on behalf Of opponents to toll
exemption repeal. The speech has been
guarded with the utmost care, fearful
lest some hint Of what the speaker
will say might find it's way into the
hands Of the opposing forces. Close
friends of the speaker assert there will
be no bitterness expressed, no barking
back to political imbrolios and no re-
hections cast upon the opinion of 9TH
ers. On the other hand, some Demo-
Gratis hint that the speaker may sur
prise his friends and arouse his oppo-
nents. AS the party strife participat
ed, President Wilson has made no
comment and SD far as known contem-
plates making none. The presidents s
close advisers insist, however that he
bears no personal or political illwill to-
ward the leaders of the party who have
opposed him in this crisis; that he en-
tertains no thought of holding po
litical grudge and that any idea that he
would attempt to have party leaders
who oppose him punished politically is
farthest from his thoughts. While ru-
mors of party warfare are widely cir
culated, the president, it is declared is
confident congress will repeal the tolls
issue, and proposes that "finis" shall
be written to the controversy when
that is done.