The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-03-27
CANAL TOLLS FIGHT
PRECIPITATED IN HOUSE

When ! made that statement I was
speaking particularly OF tariff bills
on, my statement Is equally apple
able TO all great bills. Here Is the
situation:
Greatest Question In Decade.
We have rule reported o ma bill
on the greatest question presented IN
/ my twenty years in the House. beside
which tafln bills sink into ritiable
insignihcsnee. bill which n passed
VIII change our foreign policy which
We have maintained for 125 years and
only twenty hours for debate are per-
mitted under this proposed rule and
the right 10 amend Is absolutely pro-
hibited and no intervening motion
permitted except one motion TO re-
commit On such a nimportant and
| far reaching measure there should
with the unlimited -.ght OF amend
incnt. Surely there T. nothing sacred
| about the Sims bill and there is no
reason for this mad rush. I will not
De party To ramming such a rule
uown the thrtats OF members.
Limited 10 Three Hours
BY agreement. debate ON the rule
was limited To three hours. one-half
under control of Chairman Henry and
one-half under control OF Representa-
tive Campbell. ranking Republican OF
the rules committee. forty minutes OF
the tine 10 be allotted 10 the Progress
sives.
Representative Henry opened the
Grtument for the rule. He declared
that the free tolls plank OF the Balti-
more platform did not represent DEM
ocratic sentiment. and pointed out
| that when the canal act was passed
only ~ Democrats In the House voted
for free tolls. while "a voted against
the provision.
correction of blunder which has
been committed by the American Con
gress. This free tolls provision vio-
lates treaty and contract we have
with England and other nations. The
President of the United States has
come TO the House and has summoned
us to his aid in this great crisis, and
l propose TO follow him"
Mr.. Henry asserted that the Ameri-
can people secured no benefit from
the free tolls. and asserted that the
vessels that would profit from the ex-
the Standard Oil trust, the Southern
Railway, the New Haven Railway and
the Seaboard Air Line.
These are the people" he said
who are 10 make a million dollars a
year because of this exemption"
tht luOttu lIlt the
shipping trust investigating commit
tee to show that the railroads con-
trolled most OF the ships which would
use the canal
Representative Henry paid tribute
TO the President as having the Jack
sonian COURAGE TO call upon Congress
70 aid In correcting this colossal blum
der"
Campbell Opposes Rule.
Representative Campbell. of Kansas
Republican, opened the argument for
the opponents of the rule THE con-
!ention of the gentleman from Texas, %
ne said. as to railroad-owned ships
is futile. The very terms OF the pan
anna Canal act which II is now pro
posed TO repeal. specifically forbid the
use OF the canal to railroad-owned
ships. The President told US a few
days ago that, right or wrong, we must
repeal this provision, and in a myste-
rious fashion refers TO the foreign
policy OF the administration He
told us that II we do not grant him
ms request in ungrudging measure.
he viii not know what 10 do In other
very important matters. What Is the
foreign policy of the administration? ?
Does the President know? Nobody
else does"
Representative Campbell concluded
with the question: The old Ameri-
can eagle lined its nest with the mane
- Ah. ~ NiSH AlOus uOtS the young
american eagle tremble with fear
when the British lion only growIs?"
Progressive opposition TO the rule
and TO the repeal bill was voiced by
Representative Kelley. of PennsyIya.
ma. the Progressive member OF the
.ules committee He declared that
tne three political parties had All
pledged themselves 20 the free tolls
provision In their 1912 platforms. and
sald mat The people had expressed
tnelr approval Of the provision IN the
Representative Madden. OF Illinois
made brief speech supporting the
rule and the bill
While declaring himself in favor of
repeating the free tolls provision Rem
reseniative Lenroot. OF Wisconsin. Wig.
orousiy opposed the rule because Il
cut on amendments
Murdoch Opposes Rule.
Progressive leader Mufdock op-
posed the rule. saying:
y am not willing to surrender by
my vote In any spirit OF easy accom-
lnouauon to Great Britain, this ma
lions sovereignty over the canal
do not know fully the complicafions
which bring this crisis we a.e asked
not 20 suspend the toll cremption
tiIus" until after our rights NAV DO
arbitrated. but TO confess national
dishonor. I do not know the reIa
lions which make Great Britain and
japan friends or Japan and Huerta
ahies, or Tow near the truth the ru-
MOI is mat We need the aid Of Great
Britain as Japan's friend 10 Tighten
our responsibility In Mexico. but the
krown facts. the visible facts. tho
arguable sac;s are plain and eIemen
tary so FAR as our rights in the canal
are concerned"
The Presidents position was Wig
orously defended by Representative
Sherley Of Kentucky.
I'VE rorno hrrr ,vssH sNa. .-.t