The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-03-27
SPEAKER CLARK'S
 STATEMENT READ

SI EAh ER CLAhh D
 STATEMENT READ
 | Speaker Clark's statement read: "l am dead against the rule on the tolls question and intend to vote against it. I will not stultify myself by voting for any such rule. I led the fight to lib- eralize the rules and practices of the House, thereby imperillng my political future. We won that long and bitter fight and it was the first democratic vic tcry in Is years. Time and time again I declared that I would not advocate a thing when in the minority that I would not advocate in the majority.
 'The democrats won the House in 1910, the first time in 16 years. l was unani- mously nominated for speaker and duly elected by every democratic vote in the House, with the hearty good will of every republican. because they believe !; that l am a truthful man. In order to I liberalize the rules and practices of the 1 House I voluntarily relinquished a large portion of the powers of the speaker which I could have retained by making a fight. but I honestly believed that the speaker had too much power under the old sys- tenn for the good of the House. and of our institutions. Among other things I de- clared that 1 was in favor of throwing bills open to ample discussion and amend ment, and I am going to keep the faith, come what may. If I were to vote for the pending rule, I could not look the House in the face. When made that statement I was speaking particularly of tariff bills but my statement is equally applicable to all great bills. Here is the situation: We have a rule reported on bill on the greatest question presented in my 20 years in the House, beside which tariff bills sink into pitiable insignif1cance. a bill which, if passed, will change our for- eign policy which we have maintained for 125 years, and only 20 hours for debate are permitted under this proposed rule, and the right to amend is prohibited and no intervening motion permitted except one motion to recommit On such an im- portant and far-reaching measure there should have been at least week for de- bate with the unlimited right of amend
 ment. Surely there is nothing sacred about the Sims bill and there Is no reason for this mad rush. I will not be a party to ramming such a rule down the throats of members"
 Representative Henry opened the argu- ment for the rule. He declared that the free tolls plank of the Baltimore platform did not represent democratic sentiment, and pointed out that when the Panama canal act was passed only 72 democrats in the House voted for free tolls, while 94 voted against the provision.
 "I propose" he said, ito aid in the cor rection of a blunder that has been com mitted by the American Congress. This free tolls provision violates a treaty and contract we have with England and other nations. The President of the United States has come to the House and has summoned us to his aid in this great crisis, and I propose to follow him.
 Mir. Henry asserted that the American people secure no benefit from free tolls, asserted that the vessels that would profit 10 a lon ppA htr hn
 Steel trust, the Standard oil trust, the Southern railway, the New Haven rails way. the Seaboard Air Line"
 These are the people," he said, "who are to make $l,O00,0O0 a year because of this exemption"
 He quoted from the report of the ship ping trust investigation committee to show that railroads controlled most of the American ships who would use the canal. Representative Henry paid a tribute to the President as having the Jack sonian courage to call on Congress to aid in correcting this colossal blunder" Representative Campbell of Kentucky | republican, opening the argument for | the opponents of the rule.
 The contention of the gentleman from Texas" he said. "as to railroad owned ships is futile. The very terms of the Panama canal act which 1t is not proposed to repeal. specifically forbid | the use of the canal to railroad owned
 ships. The President told us few days ago that right or wrong, we must re-
 peal this provision and in mysterious | fashion refers to the foreign policy of l the administration. He told us that ii
 we do not grant him this request, in | ungrudging measure, he will not know what to do in other very important
 matters. What Is the foreign policy oi
 the administration? Does the President l know? Nobody else does"
 Representative Campbell concluded
 with the question:
 "The old American eagle lined its nest
 with the mane of the British lion. Docs i the young American eagle tremble witi
 fear when the British lion oni; | growlsT'
 Pou Argues Question
 Representative Pou of North Carolina argued that the question involved was purely whether the United States pro 1 posed to keep its contract made witt
 Great Britain and other nations as to 1 the Panama canal. He pointed out that the President could have no object fir | acceding to Great Britain's request oth- l CT than the desire to best serve the in terest of tho people of America.
 Progressive opposition to the rule ant