The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-04-02
TOLLS BATTLE
OPENS IN SENATE
Wilson Confronted With
Struggle Of Six Weeks
or Two Months.
WARNED AGAINST LASH
Two Amendments. and More
to Come, Which Presi-
dent Will Oppose.
HOPE TO CHANGE MAJORITY
Opponents Of Administration
Believe Sentiment Of People
Will Help Them.

WARRINGTON. April 1.-The Panama
Canal tolls repeal bill Is now in the Gus
tody of the Senate Committee on Inter
oceanic Canals. of which Senator O'Gor-
man OF New York Is chairman. The bill
was "messaged' over rom the House to
the Senate shortly after noon to-day and
Immediately the fight was taken up In the
latter body.
The developments OF the first day In the
upper branch indicated that the debate Is
to be as bitter there as II has been In the
House. Senator Jones Of Washington.
Republican. took up the attack on the
President. characterizing the repeal pro-
posal rs an effort to preserve peace by
purchase" Senator Jones predicted that
defeating the repeal that II was the real
tribune Of the people and not ''the satrapy
Of the Executive"
Already efforts have been begun In the
Senate to amend the bill as passed by
the House. Two amendments were intro
duced to-day and others will follow in
quick succession.
President Wilson. however. made It
clear that he will stand firmly on the re-
peal bill in the form in which II passed
the House. He will oppose amendments
now in course Of preparation by Demo-
Gratis In the Senate.
Democrats to Fight Wilson.
II Is apparent already. however. that
President Wilson will meet with a stub
born movement within his own party In
favor of some amendment asserting the
intention Of the United States Congress
not to surrender any right now possessed
BY II over the Panama Canal Zone.
There Is little doubt now that the
President will be confronted with q
struggle in the Senate that may last six
weeks or two months before he can hope
to bring about the passage OF the bill
The Presidents friends were making
claims OF majority Of from 10 to l2 for
the measure In the Senate. but the fact Is
that the attitude OF so many Senators Is
still In doubt that the most optimistic OF
the Administration supporters cannot
figure on a definite margin OF more than
two votes at this time.
The opponents Of the tolls repeal are
pinning their faith to the growth Of senti-
ment throughout the country in the next
few weeks against the Administrators
stand.
The Administration leaders In the Sem
ate realize that the coming debate will be
one of the most acrimonious held in that
body In many years and they warned the
President to-day that 1t would be a mis-
take on his part to try to hurry the bill
through the Senate or to limit debate.
Chairman O'Gorman has called a meet
ing of the Senate Committee on Inter-
oceanic Canals for next Tuesday. The
friends of the repeal bill In the Senate
were somewhat disappointed. There We're
some mutterings and talk OF asking for a
reference OF the bill to the Foreign Rela-
tons Committee or the Commerce or In
terstate Commerce Committee. where II
would have friendlier Senators In control
Of It.
Against Applying the Lash.
But the margin in the Senate in favor
Of the repeal bill is so close that the
Presidents friends do not believe It would
De wise TO attempt to apply the lash.
Senator Norris Of Nebraska offered one
Of the amendments proposed to-day. 1t
was chiefly interesting and significant in
that II was accepted as assurance that he
would vote for the repeal bill
Most OF the Progressive Republicans in
the Senate. of whom Senator Norris Is a
type. have been inclined to oppose the
repeal Of the exemption clause. The
Norris amendment IL as follows
"The passage OF this act shall not be
construed as a surrender OF the right
claimed by the United States Government
20 regulate the traffic passing through
the Panama Canal by giving to vessels
engaged in the cosstwise trade OF the
United States and uther vessels OF the
United States and its citizens either par
tial or total exemption from the payment
Of the tolls when passing through said
canal.
THE protest heretofore filed with the
Government OF the United States by the
Government of Great Britain against such
n construction OF the treaty OF November
1s. 1901. between said Governments COM
monty known as the Hay-Pauncefote
treaty. Is hereby recognized as presenting
an international question suitabl and
proper for settlement by arbitration, and
the President OF the United States 81
hereby authorized and directed TO begin
negotiations with the Government of
Great Britain for the determination OF
said question by arbitration"
Wants Explanation From Wilson.
Senator Poindexter OF Washington
made the other contribution to the pend
ing legislation on the canal tolls matter
by Offering q resolution carrying a long
preamble which declares II to be the sense
VI the ctHhA' All action on the repeal
bill should be held up In committee and
also In the Senate until the President
furnishes the Senate information AS to
what international questions have been
raised that have Influenced him TO change
mis- attitude on the canal tolls exemption
aw.
The Poindexter resolution says that
he British Embassy to the United States
mas formally In writing admitted that
ve have right TO exempt our coastwise
'rade from Panama Canal tolls and that
he British Minister of Foreign Affairs
1as officially In writing declared that
many of the material provisions OF the
Hsy-Pauncefote treaty do not ,pply 10
he Panama Canal because that canal was
INSTRUCTED under conditions not con.
rmplated by either party at the time
n" treaty was made.
Senator Po.ndexters resolution will be
'uuJect to his call at any time and viii
'robably he the basis for "A speech by
n'm AT an early date. II IL probable
;hat the canal tolls issue will be In
tpeyance now until after the Senate Conn
hittte on llterocsanic Canals has "A meet
NIX neat Tuesday.
" the committee fails 10 report the bill
aN.aN.N