Evening star., 1914-05-03
Senate Makes Exemption
Clause of Canal Act Its
Unfinished Business.
BILL HAS THE APPROVAL
OF PRESIDENT WILSON
Protracted Discussion Likely Before
Final Decision Is Reached-Other
Pending Legislation.

| With the decks finally cleared FOR
action. the Senate will begin tomorrow
the fight over the proposed repeal of
the exemption of American coastwise YES
sells from the payment of tolls through
the Panama canal. The repeal bill which
has the support of President Wilson. is
the unfinished business of the Senate.
having attained that stateeic position
yesterday afternoon on motion of Senator
O'Gorman chairman of the interoceanic
canals committee, who is one of the
strongest opponents OF the measure.
Dating from tomorrow until final vote
is taken upon it the repeal will come
up daily in the Senate. IT is likely that
at times it will be laid aside temporarily
for the considerations of other business,
and it could be displaced the un-
finished business of the Senate should a
ma jority of that body vote to take up
some other measure. But there is general
acquiescence on the part of both friends
and foes of the bill TO continue with it
until it is finally disposed of
Senator Townsend to Discuss Issue.
Senator Townsend of Michigan. re-
/ publican. has given notice that tomor-
row he will address the Senate on the
| tolls question. He is strongly opposed
| to the repeal OF tolls exemption. Sena-
tor O'Gorman has announced that he
/ will discuss the repeal bill THURSDAY
h The debate is likely TO continue fol-
; several weeks though some senators
4 optimistcally assert the final vote
should be had at the end of two weeks
Senator Gore chairman of the agricul-
1 tural committee, is cudeavoring to have
4 the agricultural appropriation bill dis.
posed cf. Senator Walsh. chairman OF
4 the mines and mining committee, is
anxious TO get his radium bill out OF
4 the way, and yesterday sought to have
! it made the unfinished business of the
4 Senate. He failed in this, however
Senator Smith Of South Carolina, chair
man Of the immigration committee. is
no less anxious to get before the Sen
4 ate the immigration bill. But all OF
! these measures will have to take theiI
/ chances ot being sandwiched in during
the consideration of the tolls bill ol
/ must wait until that measure is voted
| upon.
] Senator La Toilette of Wisconsin has
| given notice that Tuesday he will ad
dress the Senate on bill he has intro.
| duced making it a misdemeanor to at.
| tempt to INFLUENCE the interstate com
! merce commission regarding cases
4 pending before the commission, through
| written or other communications. ek.
cept under regulations laid down BY
| the commission. The Wisconsin sena.
tor has indicated that he believes man!
/ efforts have been made to influence the
judgment of the commission in regaro
! to the pending proposal to increase
| freight rates on eastern railroads.
Believe Repeal Will Win.
That the repeal bill, as amended by the
committee at the suggestion of Senator
Simmons. viii ultimately pass the Senat,
| is the prediction of Senate leaders Bu
This result win not be obtained withou
a long debate. which promises TO bs
acrimonious at times.
i Should the Mexican situation again be
come cute. il is possible that the dis
| cuSsion of the course which should bt
pursued in regard to Mexico may dispIace
| for time the tolls debate.
Notwithstanding the hope expressed by
Senator Kern, democratic leader of the
Senate that Congress would adjourn by
July L. many Of the senators feel tina,
4 il may be August or later before an ad
journmcnt can be had. Certainly this il
true. it is contended, if the trust bill
| the immigration bill the radium bill. tn.
4 rural credits bill and the bill for leasing
coal ana oil lands owned by the govern
ment all Of which are included in the
administration program, are to be passed
at the present session of Congress.