The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1914-03-31
(By the Associated PreSs.l

Wy III
Washington. D. c.. March 2e.-No
legislative issue Of recent years has
excited Congress as has the contro-
versy over repeal of the tolls exemp-
ton 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 conflicting political predic-
tons to increase the tensity Of in
terest in the subject. The situation
is fraught with man complications.
Oratorical Strife Today.
Oratorical strife over the repeal
will be renewed tomorrow. h
House will resume general debate on
the Sims bill, 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, Senate James Hamilton
Lewis proposing to discuss a resolu-
ton and bill he has introduced. to
follow repeal as a sort Of balm to
the wounds of his party members.
members, who thus far have opposed
the President.
Senator Lewis measure would give
the President authority to suspend
tolls whenever he should deem it in
h public interest SO to do. The
Illinois Senator will cite a series of
~precedents on which he bases the
right Of Congress to extend such au-
thority to the chief executive. AS
against the proposal of Senator Lewis
the minority leader, senator Gallinger
will urge q resolution which would
express it as the sense of Americans
that Congress has the right to do as
it pleaseS with espec to American
shipping through the Panama canal.
Staging for Final Struggle.
In the House, opposing leaders are
t setting the stage for the final struggle,
, all conceding that scenes attending
the closing hours Of the debate and
the final roll all will rival in sena-
tOrial enthusiasm any legislative eli
max in recent years. Speaker ChamI
lC1ark, whose vigorous statemen'
against the cloture rule last Weel
drew the curtain on the party breach
has prepared an epilogue, n The
House galleries cannot accommodate
the thousands who will scramble FOL
seats to hear him deliver it.
] Clark's Speech Enigma.
The speaker has maintained silenc,
since his defeat on the ~cloture rule
but he will break silence Tuesda,
closing the debate on behalf Of OPP
u ponents of toll exemption repeal. TIL
speech has been guarded with tn
utmost care, fearful least some hin
Of what the Speaker will say Nigh
III L. "aS iitO IN NAN NA
opposing forces.
Close friends Of the Speaker asSer
Z there will be nc bitterness expressed
no barking pack to political imbro
h glios and no reflections cast on tn
e opinions of others. On the othe
hand, some Democrats hint that tn
% Speaker may surprise his friends an
d arouse his a~dverSaries.
d Wilson Remains Siler..
d AS to the party strife preCipitatet
al President Wilson has made no con
re ment, and so far as known conten
le plates making none. The President
e. close advisers insist, however, ths
lie he bears no personal or political il
if will toward the leaders of the par
d. who nave opposed him in this crisi
ne that he entertains no thought Of hole
ing a political grudge and that ar
81 idea that he would attempt to ha,
er party leaders who oppose him punisl
al ed politically is farthest from n
ne thoughts. While runlors of par
he warfare. are widely circulated, Il
is President it is declared is confide
ut Congress will repeal the tolls issu
IS. and hat "finis" shall
written to the controversy when tn
is done.
Breaker Ahead i'm Senate.
;" Breakers are declared ahead Z
n the repeal. however,. despite the stu
ton in he louise where it general