The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-03-16
Forces in Both Houses
Are in Battle
Array.
ODDS NOW FAVOR
WILSON VICTORY
Champions of Exemption for
American Ships Say Vote Will
Be Close. but Administra-
ton Followers Arc in Doubt
Only as to Size of Their
Majority.

Washington. March l5.--OpcN uehaNe
on repeal OF the toll exemption clause
of tho Panama Canal act will begin
late this week in the House and n
vote In that body on tne Sims bill TO
carry out the recommendations OF
President Wilson Is expected by Satur-
day nEht. In the Senate an earnest
effort will be made 10y administration
leaders to pave the way for early
ton on the issue. hy bringing It
squarely before the Committee on In
teroceanic Canals for cons; Iteration and
report hy the time the House has dis
posed OF the subject.
Opposing forces in both houses are
arraycd for the aght the prospect be-
ing tina; the exceptions Of toll exemp-
tion for American coastw!se ships wal
lose when the roll calls have been
taken in both houses Representatives
Adanson and Sims, in charge OF the
repeal forces III the House, arc only
doubtful az to the size Of the majority
their cause viii have. T..cy predict
that it will be large while Majority
Leader Underwood and some OF the
Democrats who agree with him that II
s. am economic mistake to reverse the
nations policy regarding canal tolls,
insist that the vote win bc close.
O'tnriunn', Kcturn Awaited.
In The Senate the return Of senator
OGorman. OF New York, chairman OF
the Committee ON Iuteroceauic Canals.
iE awaited with interest, In view of the
fact that Senator owen majority
member or The committee. has intro
duccd :: bin similar 10 the Sims bill, for
the purpose OF eHpeditiug settlement
OF the controversy as soon ag possible.
Senator owen -seeks 10 have the com
inittcc take the repeal bill! UP at once,
and pass upon H. Senator OGorInan.
who viii lead the opposition. took the
position before leaving Washington
last week that hls committee should
do nothing with the repeal un,,L he
House had acted Admin!strat. on
Senators, after confcrrinE with the
President. determined that the issue
is so clearly drawn tina, there is no
reason for delay and that the Senate
should be ready 10 discuss the sub
jcct Immediately after the House ac-
tion. or even before. should the Sims
bill meet unexpected delay in the
lower branch
That the vote in committee VIII he
close Is certain, and opponents of the
repeal insist the .co."rity viii vote
against the Presidents plea. In that
event, there VIII be a minority report.
upon which the controversy In the SEN
ate viii hinge Aiding Senator owen
in leading the administration forces
VIII be Senators Hoke SUith. OF Georgia,
and James, OF Kentucky. Various
polls of the Senate on the repeal Ques-
tion have Indicated that the Presi-
dent viii be sustained by :. majority
OF from ten TO twenty vot, .
Another matter !ucluded in the for
cign relations OF the government, which
II is planned to undertake this week
for consideration, is the pending trcHty
with Nicaragua, negotiated In the Taft
administration. which the present ad-
mtniStration wishes 10 have amended
and ratifed As soon rs possible. The
Foreign Relations Committee OF the
Senate expects Secretary OF State BRYAN
to appear on Wednesday In explana-
tion of the administrations desires re-
lating to the treaty, which is designed
primarily for requirement. by the
United states of the Nicaraguan canal
rights and rights TO naval station sites
in the Bay of Fonscca, in exchange for
i payment Of S3,c00,o00 in gold.
what Treaty Provides.
BY the terms of the treaty, as orei-
nally framed. Nicaragua would grant
in pcrpetuty TO the United states the
exclusive rights for an intcroceanic
canal through tho San Juan River and
the Great Lake of Nicaragua, or by
way of any other route over Nicara-
guam territory.
Article of the treaty proposes that
"in order to facilitate the protection
of the Panama Canal" and the rights
contemplated in Nicaragua, Nicaragua
shall lease to the United States for
ninety nine years the Great Corn and
Little Corn Islands, in the Caribbean
Sea, and rights to naval base on the
Gulf of Fonscca.
Early in the present administration.
Secretary Bryan proposed to the SEN
ate committee that the treaty be
amended in such IA way that the United
States would procure virtual control
OF Nicaragua through a protectorate
similar to that exercised over Cuba
He would add to the treaty features sim
liar to the PLAT amendment" relating
to Cuba. To this proposal there was
considerable opposition in the commit
tee and 1t is expected to be revived
now.
Under the proposed plan OF amending
the treaty Nicaragua. besides granting
the canal and naval station rights,
would agree:
without consent of the United States
That no treaties be made with for
cign governments that would tend to
destroy her independence or give for
cign governments n foothold in the re-
public
That no public debt would be con-
, tracted beyond the ordinary resources
of government.
That the United States should have
the right to intervent at any time to
preserve Nicaraguan independence or
TO protect life or property.
Anxious for Settlement.
The administration. 1t is understood.
wishes the Nicaraguan treaty matter
It's general policy to clear up the for
eign situation, and Senator Shively. Of
Indiana, acting chairman OF the For
cign Relations Committees who hoc