The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1914-03-27
SHUT OFF DEBATE
BY 207 TO l76
Dramatic Scenes in House
Of Representatives
Today.
CLARK AND WILSON
CONTEST LEADERS
Administration Supporters are Conf
dent TINT Rule Limited Debate 10
Twenty Hours Will bc Adopted this
Afternoon.


dent Wilson today won the first
battle of his fight to repeal the
Panama tolls exemption when tho
house, 2O7 to 176, refused to con-
ttnue the discussion on the rule to
limit the debate on the Sims bill
to twenty hours.
Party lines were eliminated In
the vote. The balloting was pre-
Ceded by an hour of impassionetl
specch-making.
With the adoption of the reso-
luton to stop debate on the rule.
the next question was upon the
adoption of the rule itself.
The amin stratiOn supporters
arc sure of it's passage.
Washington. March 27.-The house
disposed of routine business in less
than ten minutes, and the rule to
limit the Panama tolls repeal debate
10 twenty hours was taken up.
Some congressman professed the
view that the fight had taken the
aspect of a contest between the presi-
dent and Speaker Clark.
They expected the speaker might
take the floor personally to lead the
fight on the rule, or might reserve his
attack for the bill itself, unless forced
to the floor to defend himself.
The galleries were filled early and
We're packed to the limit. Mrs. Clark
sat in the speakers gallery.
An outburst of applause, cheers
and shouting greeted Clark as he as.
cended the rostrum at noon. The
speaker swung his gavel briskly to
still the tumult.
Panama. as-figfit vas resumed
the house, the .battle-lines were drawn
in This manner. Fifty-five minutes re:
manned for the debate on the special
rule to limit tdistussions to twenty
hours on the Sims bill.
Chairman Henry, Of the rules com.
mittee, leading that phase Of the fight
of the administration forces, was
ready on the conclusion Of the nifty
minutes to move the previous ques.
tion. the parliamentary maneuver to
vote and the first real test OF
strength.
Clark Strengthens Opponents.
Opponents of the administration
program, strengthened by Speaker
Clark's vigorous denunciation of the
attempt at cloture. renewed by Cla:ke
the limiting the debate. prepared to
bring every resource into play to beat
''the previous question" and thus
throw down the bars for unlimited de-
bate, not on the rule, but upon the
repeal of the bill itself.
Test of Administration.
On the first test vote hung not on.
ly the question OF pressing the ad-
ministration measure through. but al
so greater question Of opening it to
amendment, for the rule propoSeA that
only one amendment may be permit.
ted to intervene, and that would be
on the motion to recommft to the
commerce committee.
Realize Possibilities.
Administration leaders realized that
If beaten on the cloture rule, the bill
itself would. be open to amendments.
one Of which is gaining favor to the
repeal exemption. but to specifically
provide the right to free passage to
American ships under existing
treaties. should not be surrendered.
In this way the opposing forces
bitterest congressional fights Of re-
cent years and certainly the hardest
fought Of Wilson'S administration.
Worked All Night.
All night conferences and strength
ening Of battle lines brought no visi-
>hle shift in the position Of either side
in this contest, n which party lines are
broken, democrats. republicans and
progressives being divided into two
camps under: banners for or against
the repeal Of the exemption.
DETECTION Intensifles Situation.
The detection Of Speaker Clark,
Congressman Underwood and Chair
man Fitzgerald of the appropriations
committee and others from the presi-
dents support, served to intensity the
already great bitterness.
Wilson received. constant reports at
the White House, confident that his
argument that he is asking no man to
change his opinions, but to correct a
situation. would win the day.