Arizona republican., 1914-03-28
Leaders Clark and Under wood Overwhelmingly Re- pudiated on First Test Vote on Panama Canal Tolls Repeal Bill
CLOTURE RULE
 IS ESTABLISHED
Impassioned Plea of the Floor Leader Unavailing to Check the Stampede of His Late Followers to the Administration

WASHINGTON, March 27.-The President won the opening skirmish in the greatest legislative battle of his administration when the house, over the bitter protests of recognized demo- cratic leaders, adopted the special rule for the consideration of the repeal pro- vision of the Panama canal act, eX- empting coastwise American ships from tolls
 Speaker Clark Democratic Leader Underwood, Republican Leader Mann. and Progressive Leader Murdock were at the head of those lined up against the administration, but the house re- sponded to the presidents personal ap- peal for the prompt consideration of the bill.
 Two votes demonstrated the presi- dents commanding influence over his party in congress. The first, on a mo- | tion to end the debate and preclude the amendment rule, was carried by vote of 207 to 176. The rule itself was adopted by 200 to 172. Vainly. Under wood took the floor and urged his col l leagues to vote against the rule
 The administration supporters con- slider the crucial point passed and jubi- | lantly predicted the passages of the | repeal bill itself on Tuesday or We'd nesday by majority of more than 100. 1 Speaker Clark, although he did not l take the floor today, had issued an | eleventh hour attack upon the plans of the presidents friends to limit the de- bate and announced that he would 1 speak against the repeal bill Tuesday Underwood, who has been in the open against the president on the issue, ; pleaded urgently against the rule and delivered an attack on the presidents policy, denouncing the repeal of the toll exemption as an economic mistake, and declaring the president to be wrong in his conclusion regarding the Hay Pauncefote treaty.
 Other democratic chieftains, among them Kitchn of North Carolina, broke with the president. Yet in the face of opposition from men who heretofore had but to raise their voices to have the democrats of the house follow them, | the president won within the party membership nearly four to one. While the house was engaged in the first de- ! cisiVe struggle of the controversy it was the means of enlivening discus sion in the senate Senator Owen in a speech voicing his position. declared that toll exemption had never been supported by a majority of democrats
 in congress and pleaded for his col leagues to uphold the honor of the na ton.
 Senator James. and Senatar OGor- man. the latter leading revolt against
 the president in the upper house, en-
 gagged in a stirring colloquy while Sen ator Gallinger introduced a resolution as substitute for the one introduced yesterday by Senator Lewis. which would declare it the sense of the Amer
 ican congress that it had the right to exempt American coastwise ships from
 canal tolls.
 1 When the debate on the special rule
 began in the house, Adamson ant
 Hardwick for the administration at
 tackled Clark's position. In reply. In l
 support from my colleagues who have
 held up my hands in this house.
 When the debate closed. and th'
 droning voice of the clerk had called
 the role amid intense stiffness tht democratic house leaders had been re pudiated. the presidents appeal ans
 wered With the cloture rule in force the house immediately began thu twenty hours general debate on the re . peal bill
 Sims of Tennessee, author of the re peal bill, made the first speech in sup port of the measure. He was frequent
 ly interrupted by applause and cheers in which the crowds in the gallerie , occasionally joined. He argued agains the economic policy of the free pas
 sage of American ships through tn
 canal
 The roll call was taken in silence ol
 (Continued on Page Five.)