The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-03-16
Debate on Its Repeal in the House Begins-VOte Ex->
 pected by Saturday
FORCES IN HOUSES ARRAYED FOR FIGHT
Believed Champions of Toll Exemption for American Coastwise Ships Will LOse-Mr. Underwood Declares
 the Vote Will Be Close

Washington, March 15.--The fight on the toll exemption clause of the Panama ca nal act vii be brought to a head in the House this week, where debate on it's re- peal will begin and where vote is ex- pected by Saturday night. An effort to ate will be made by administration lead CTS, who will attempt to bring the issue squarely before the committee on inter- oceanic canals for consideration and re- port by the time the House has dis posed of the subject
 Opposing forces in both houses ara ar~ rayed for the fight and the prospect is that champions of toll exemption for American coastwise ships will lose. Rep resentatives Adamson and Sims. in charge of the repeal forces in the House, ara doubtful only as to the size of the ma jority. They predict that it will be large, while Majority Leader Underwood and other democrats fighting repeal insist the vote will be close.
 In the Senate the return of Senator O'Gorman of New York, chairman of the committee of interoceanic canals is awaited with interest in view of the fact that Senator Owen. majority member of the committee, has introduced bill similar to the Sims bill in the House for the purpose of expediting settlement of the controversy. Senator owen seeks to have the committee take the repeal bilt up immediately and pass on it. Senator O'Gorman, who will lead the opposition has taken the position that his commit tee should do nothing with the repeal un- til the House has accepted. Administra~ tion senators have determined that there is no reason for delay, and that the Sen ate should be ready to discuss the sub iect immediately.
 That the committee vote will be closa is certain and opponents of the repeal, insist the majority will vote against the Presidents plea. In that event there will be a minority report on which the con troversy in the Senate will hinge. Aiding Senator owen in leading the administra- tion forces will be Senators Hoke Smith of Georgia and James of Kentucky. Va rious polls of the Senate have indicated that the President will be sustained by | a majority of from 10 to 70 votes. Nicaraguan Treaty
 l Another matter, it is planned to under take this week for consideration. is the l pending treaty with Nicaragua, negotiat- I ed by the Taft administration, which the present administration wishes to have amended and ratified us soon as possible. | The Senate for eign relations committee ex- ote Ia tn | day to explain the administration de- 1 sires relating to the treaty, which is de- signed primarily for requirement oy the | United States of Nfcaraguan canal rights 1 and rights to naval station sites in ex- change for a payment of s300o,ooO in gold. By the terms of the treaty as originally l framed Nicarag qua would grant in perpet- l uity to the United States exclusive rights l for an interoceanic canal through the San
 Juan river and the great lake Of Nica- 1 ragua, or by any oAler route over Me 1 araugaun territory. Article two of he
 treaty proposes that "ii order to facli- I tate the protection of the Panama canal and the rights contemplated in Nicara- | qua, Nicaragua shall lease to the United States for 99 years the Great Corn and Little Corn islands in the Caribbean sea 1 and rights to a naval base on the Gulf 1 of Fonseca.
 Early in the present administration Sec
 retary Bryan suggested that the treaty
 be amended that the United States | would procure virtual control of Nica- l ragua through a protectorate similar tc that exercised over Cuba. To this pro.
 posal there was considerable opposition
 in the Senate committee and it is eX-
 pected to be revived now
 Treaty Amendments
 Under the proposed measure amending the treaty Nicaragua. besides granting the
 canal and naval station rights, wouo | agree:
 That war should not be declared with
 out consent of the United States.
 That no treaties be made with foreign governments that would tend to destroy her independence or give foreignJ govern l ments a foothold in the republic. | That no public debt would be contract- ed beyond the ordinary resources Of the government
 That the United States have right to intervene at any time to preserve Nica- | raguan independence or protect life ol property.
 It is understood the administra tior wishes the Nicaraguan treaty matter set tied as soon as possible in line with its policy to clear up the foreign situation and Senator Shively, chairman of the for eign relations committee, who has con. ferred with President Wilson, expects the committee to take up the treaty tn1' week and to keep it under consideration until a report can be made.
 In the Senate this week the lobby in. vestigating committee plans to resume its examination of Clarence W. DeHnigh with regard to charges of lobbying 1T the interest of increased pay bills fol army and navy officers, and other legis lative matters. Appropriation bills will be taken up in both branches, the House planning to take up the naval appropria tion bill, over which will occur spirited