Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-08-22
TAFT DISCUSSES
BRITISH TREATY
MISREPRESENTATION DiscLAlM-
ING AFFRoNT TO ENGLAND
IN CANAL BILL.
MESSAGE REFERRED
Little Likelihood That Action Request
Cd Will Be Taken; Prospective Veto
of Measure Expected to Cause
Indefinite Delay.

Washington, d. c., Aug. 2o.-Presi-
dent Taft closed a day Of conferences
on the Panama canal bill with special
| message to congress suggesting the
passage Of LEGISLATION which would per-
NIT American ships to travel the canal
| toll free and which would allow foreign
nations to test the legality of this pro-
vision by suits in United States courts.
The president discussed the MESA 81
| with senators and members OF the
| house, and its wording was finally de-
| cided upon at meeting of the cabinet
! which began at luncheon time and last
ed until late yesterday afternoon. The
| message was read in congress soon
| afterward and will be taken up by COM
| mittees of both houses.
It was the belief here today that q
determined effort will be made to meet
the presidents wishes although some
| leaders. particularly in the house. were
inclined to believe that the message
meant no further action in regard to
! the canal at the present session.
Mr.. Taft explained that he was arx
ious to sign the present bill but wished
to assure other governments OF the
spirit of fairness on the part OF the
United States
The president was told that an act
of congress would have the effect OF
abrogating any treaty previously agreed
to and the decision of the supreme
court over the Chinese exclusion act
was given as authority for the state
ment. His suggestion to congress for
additional legislation designed to pre-
vent any such construction as that OF
the supreme court In the Chinese case
would allow foreigners to try their
cause in the United States courts. 1t
reads as follows:
Proposed Legislation.
THAT nothing contained in the act
entitled AN act to provide for the open
ing, maintenance, protection and oper-
alton of the Panama canal, and the
sanitation and government OF the canal
zone shall be deemed to repeal any
provision of the Hay-Pauncefote
treaty, or to affect the judicial con-
struction thereof, or in any wise to i'm
pair any rights or privileges which
have been or may be acquired by any
foreign nation under the treaties OF
the United States relative to tolls or
other charges for the passage of vessels
through the Panama canal, and that
when any alien, whether natural per-
son, partnership company or corpora
ton, considers that the charging of tolls
or the enforcement of any other regu-
lation under the pursuant to the provi-
sions Of this act violates In any way
such treaty rights or privileges, such
alien shall have the right to bring an
action against the United States for
redress Of the injury which he con-
siders himself to have suffered, and the
district courts of the United States are
hereby given Jurisdiction to hear and
determine such cases and to decree the
appropriate relief, and from the deci-
sion Of such district courts there shall
be an appeal by either party to the ac-
ton to the supreme court Of the United
States"
1.-THE language" continued the mes |
sage, negatives absolutely any desire |
on the part Of congress to repeal the |
Hay Pauncefote treaty or to violate Its |
provision by this legislation and leaves
open to any person who deems HIM J