The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-08-19
President Taft Confers on the
Canal Bill
HE HAS A NEW SUGGESTION
Would Have Supreme Court Pass Upon
Free Tolls Question-.Session May End
This Week-Important Measures Yet
to Be Acted on by Congress.

Washington, Aug. l9.-After nigh two
hours of debate, the House Saturday
accepted the conference report on the
| Panama canal bill, and the measure
now goes to the president. The posi-
ton of Mr.. Taft is interesting. To those
who have called upon him, the presi-
dent declares that while his mind is
quite open whether or not to sign or
veto the bill, he Is inclined to veto it
should he obtain sufficient support from
| the Democrats, or better still from all
of Congress, to proposition he is dis
posed to recommend curing the embar-
RAISING situation arising out OF the
grant in the bill of free tolls in the
canal to American vessels engaged in
the coastwise trade. The president be-
lieves quite thoroughly that the United
States can confer free tolls upon Amer
lean shipping in the eoastwise trade,
despite that seemingly the Hay Paunce-
fote treaty does not permit this. fie
is, however, free to admit that the mat
ter is debatable, and that, being an
international question of great delicaey,
he wold not have the United States
give itself the benefit of the doubt, but
leave it to the supreme court to ascer-
tain whether or not the Hay Pauncefote
treaty permits US to give American ships
in the coastwise trade free tolls in
the canal. The president is sure that
Great Britain would bow without pro
test to the finding of the United
States supreme court.
This he would accomplish by a veto
Of the canal bill, including recon-,
mendation that the bill be re-enacted
as ii now is, but carrying an amend
ment declaring that nothing in the bill
shall be construed as superseding any
treaty of the United States with for
eign power. This would leave the Hay
Pauncefote treaty the supreme law of
the land, and the president would recom-
mend an additional amendment permit
ting aliens who shall believe their treaty
rights violated by the canal act TO she
in the United States courts. Wheth-
er or not free tolls to American ships
in the canal were permitted by the
treaty would thus become question
for the supreme court to determine.
1t is well, of course, that when acts
Of Congress and treaties conflict. the
acts of Congress supersede the treaties;
hence the significance OF the presidents
possible recommendation. On this score
the president Saturday consulted Sen
ator Simmons of North Carolina, lead
ing spirit in the canal legislation, and
the matter is under consideration BY
congressional leaders. There is hope that
what the president urges will prove
acceptable, but the matter is not alto
gether settled If the Senate and the
House agree. the veto would be only
friendly one and the Panama canal bill
could be quickly corrected. However,
If there is serious objection in Congress,
the president will probably sign the bill;
it would be useless to veto il outright
in view of the two-thirds sentiment for
it in both houses, sufficient to pass the
bill over his veto.
The House passed the legislative bill
Saturday, carrying the commerce court,
but without the tenure clause. II can
again be asserted that the veto OF the
bill abolishing the commerce court will
be sustained in the Senate
While adjournment is expected this
week the date il is generally conceded,
viii depend upon the presidents atti
tude toward the Panama canal bill and
the legislative executive and judicial
bill.