The Sentinel=record., 1914-03-31

Washington, March 30.-On the eve of the vote in the house of represen- tatives on the repeal of American toll exemption in the Panama canal act, congress today was completely ab- sorbed in he controversy. verbal ar tillery thundered throughout the day in both house and senate.
 While opposing forces were clash ing in oratorical flights at the capi- tol, President Wilson took occasion to discuss the all-engrossing situation with callers, expressing keen regret that what. had promised to be a dig nitied contest over principles had de- generated into fight upon the admin istration. While on the subject Presi- dent Wilson characterized as "a cnowaing insult of a number of in- suits" in the debate, the declaration of Representative Knowland of Cali fornia that the administration had made a deal to repeal tolls eXemp- tion with Sir Wm. Terry, secretary to Sir Edgar Grey. British secretary of foreign affairs.
 With the final vote on the repeal bill in the house scheduled for tomor- row interest in the controversy re- vived the closing speech of Speaker 1 Clark in opposition to the repeal serv- ] ing as the chief objective point of 1 anticipation. Little doubt as to the result of the vote on the bill is enter tained by any one, the majority for the repeal being variously estimated l at from 90 to 75 votes.
 n All ears will be strained for the ! speaker tomorrow and there is much lIspeculaton as to the course of his ] httack on the bill will take. His Friends do not expect him to attack 1 Nhe president. Some believe he will hot refrain, however, from allusions ito political enuta1glempnts.
 Discussion of the issue in the senate today was enlyened by Senator James
 Hamilton Lewis of Illinois, who pleaded for the presidents cause, urging, however, compromise giving the president authority to suspend
 tolls. Thus he proposed to find some Intermediate channel between what appears to be Scyylla upon the one iside and Charybds on the the other land to prevent the party craft from l let oil l Ito be wounded or disrupted" T Senator Lewis aroused mingles as | Iltonishment and curiosity among his ! ilcolleagues by discussing the foreign | Ilrelations of the United States. explain | ling what he thought the presiden might have referred to in his mess | age asking congress to grant the re- heal. He drew a vivid picture of dire things that would happen should the 1 United States intervene in Mexico. Referring to the presidents failure to specify what foreign relations prompted him to appeal for tolls ex lemption repeal the senator did not hesitate to give what feel may have
  upon a recital of acts of aggression on the part of the United States begin hing with the taking of the Philip pines.
 You entered in the Philippines into ia system of colonial government, T said the senator. Hardly had you eome into office, scarcely were you seated until you met the problem The cry was, you have come into the orient and brought your people and i've desire that our people now shall come into yours Wo cannot consent to that
 Paralysis has set upon us as to the negotiations of tho treaty with Japan and respecting exclusion. and hesi. taat, indeed. is the movement respect ling the matter of immigration" Senator Lewis appealed 10 congress to trust the president. "Aoping that i've may return to the doctrine of a true party"
 Again today in the house. crowded floor and galleries thronged to point (which broke all records of attendance, listened to the arguments on the is- sue. The president was attacked and defended by vigorous orators. The campagn policy of the administration
 Nas derided and commended The pconcrs!e policy Of granting American eessels free tolls was alternately sup ported and condemned.
 | Attacks on the president brought