OCR Text |
Show PRESIDENT WILSON ViCTGH ! IN THE OPENING SKIRMISH Rule Limiting Debate on the Tolls Bill to Twenty Hours Adopted Over Protest of Leaders. Washington. President Wilson won the opening skirmish of the greatest legi.Hlative battle of his administration administra-tion on Friday, when tho house, over hitter protests from the recognized Democratic leader, and almost solid minority opposition, adopted a special rule for the consideration of the biii repealing the provision of the Panama canal act exempting coastwise American Amer-ican ships from tolls. Speaker Clark, Democratic Leader Underwood, Republican Leader Mann and Progressive Leader Murdock were at the head of those lined up against the administration, but the house responded to the president's personal appeal for prompt consideration considera-tion of the repeal bill as a means of supporting his administration's foreign for-eign policy. ' Two votes demonstrated the president's presi-dent's commanding influence with his party in congress. On the first test, a motion to end debate and preclude amendment on the rule, carried by a vote of 207 to 17tl; the rule itself was adopted, 200 to l."2. Nothing to compare with the scene Friday had occurred in the house since the famous Cannon rules fight four years ago. In vain Representative Representa-tive Underwood took the floor of the house and urged his colleagues to vote against the rule. The rank and file Democrats, after listening to three hours of passionate argument, swung into the president's column, 109 of them voting to prevent the amendment of the special rule, while but So followed the leaders in joining with the minority in opposition. |