The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-23
ADAMSON TO LEAD
CANAL TOLLS FIGHT
Will Handle the Repeal Bill in
House, as Underwood
Declines.
A VICTORY IS EXPECTED
Senator Chamberlain Attacks
Railroads as Responsible
for the Repeater.
A VICTORY IS EXPECTED

WASHINGTON. Feb. 22.-At conference
to be held in the White House this week
ways and means will be devised to pass
. bill In Congress repeating the pro-
vision In the Panama Canal act that per-
mits American coastwise vessels to pass
through the 1sthmian waterway without
payment Of tolls
There are obstacles in the way Of the
repeal bill that must be removed by the
President himself The proposed legisla-
ZION will he initiated in the House OF
Representatives.
|. Representative Underwood Of Alabama,
the Democratic leader in the House. Is
opposed TO this particular Administration
policy. Although disposed at all times
to fall In with President Wilson's wishes
Mr.. Underwood believes that he would
stulify himself IL he undertook to direct
the fight to be made In behalf OF the re-
peal bill.
Representative Kitchen OF North Caro-
lima who was expected at one time to
handle the repeal bill in the House. has
informed the President that he is against
the measure.
1t is therefore incumbent upon the
President to cast the burden on Repre-
sentative Adamson. chairman Of the
House Committee on Interstate and
Foreign Commerce. who already has on
gramme OF the Administration. Mr..
Adamson will handle tho repeal bill in
committee and on the floor of the House.
With Underwood, Kitchen and other
Democratic leaders remaining virtually
Inactive II whl be no easy task to pass
in the House the bill repeating the tolls
exemption provision Of the Panama Canal
act.
There will be many Democratic deser-
tons from the Administration on this
question, but the President and his ad-
visers have no fear as to the outcome.
They have been assured OF strong Repub-
lean support In the House for the repeal
bill.
While the opponents of the bill declare
that sentiment In the Senate on the tolls
question IL about evenly divided, their
claims are not borne out by the situation
in that body as II is understood by the
Administr alton leaders. The latter Insist
that while the debates In Congress may
be prolonged the repeal bill will be passed
before this session comes to an end.
senator Cha mi erlain's Statement.
Senator Chamberlain voiced his opposl-
tion to the repeal OF the tolls exemption
legislation tonight He said.
1T Is my opinion that the demand for
the repeal Of that portion OF tho Panama
Canal act granting exemption from tolls
to Coastwise vessels Is inspired IN the FIRST
m ny 10 Canadian pasl1c Railway
ana THIS IN turn oy the uahseoh''h""al
railroads of this country.
These latter roads have always op-
posed the construction OF a canal Their
emissariss were In Washington TO oppose
the passage OF the Panama Canal act. and
having failed In that they are now re-
sorting TO the field OF diplomacy. ready II
need be TO plunge the country into a
bloody war to accomplish their purpose.
suppose congress yieids To the de-
manos OF Great eritain ana repeats the
tol!s exemption clause Oh 'he act' VIII
tna' satlsiS ner No. U! az! ''ea.s' 10,
yens " tn'. ue'nenu WI oe 'o,.o"eu
" o'.' ,ne"' ue,Iaus' anu a'''ne
"un S'' y. o T, o. Wv
-. $500 ,,.s,a,, a.. ,ra,soo,,I,,,,a,
IT, hist, hn,h ,hos. 10, Canaaa "a
,ha rr,,.a S,.,.s
az these demand. ara comrli.d with {,
viii Ia insi.,ed Tho, ,,e h.v. ~, riyb, "a
fortifv the canal. that u. have no right
TO pass our navy through the canal In
time OF war: that we csnno, honor our
treaty with Panama with reference TO the
passage Of her vessels through the canal !;
In fact that we have no right whatever
except 10 expend about $4,000. 900 per
annun in the maintenance and operation
Of great national highway built by
American ingenuity and with American
money.
r am-,~ po,,..