The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-08-23
D|SAPPROVE TAFT'S
 CRAWF|SH TACTICS
House Leaders Against His
 Panama Resolution
UNDERWoOD's VIEWS
Says Resolution Illustrates Danger of Having Man Without Convic- tions in Position of
 Great Power
By c. E. STEWART

Washington August 22.-(SpecaL)-Rep- rcsentative Underwood declared that the House would take no action on the pro- posed joint resolution which declares that the passage of the Panama canal bill is Hay Pauncefote treaty.
 The proposed resolution did receive the courtesy and was dgnified by some dis eusson in the committee of interoceanic canals for about an hour, but no action was taken. Almost unanimously the committee members present declared that 1t was a useless proposition.
 That the Presidents proposition for the passage of g resolution by the Senate and the House to the effect that the clause in the Panama canal bill permit ting American vessels engaged in coast wise trade to pass the canal free of tolls, is not to supersede any of the treaty rights conferred by the Hay-Pauncefote convention will weaken the position of the United States in it's contention that it has the righ. to admit its ships to the cana. free is the contention of many members of both the Senate and the House. To pass the resolution would show that the Senate and the House concurred with the President in the uncertainty of their position The text of the proposed resolution foIlows:.
 That nothing contained in the act en- titled An act to provide for the opening maintenance, protection and operation 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 construction thereof, or in any wise to impair any rights or privileges whicn have been or may be acquired by any foreign nation. under the treaties or 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 person. partnership, company or corporation, con siders that the charging of tolls or the enforcement of any other regulation under and pursuant to the provisions of this act violates in any way any such treaty rights or privileges such alien shall have the right to bring an action against the United States for a redress of the in jury which he considers himself to have suffered, and the district courts of the United States are hereby given jurisdic- tion to hear and determine such cases and to decree the appropriate relief, and from the decision of such district courts there shall be an appeal by either party to the action of the supreme court of the United States"
 Regarding which the President in his message said:
 This language negatives absolutely any desiie on the part of Congress to repeal | tlie Hay-Pauncefote treaty or to violate | its provisions by this legislation. and | leave open 70 any person who deems him. | self aggrieYed by the provisions of the | act ap opportunity to appeal to our courts. | T think the importance of our stand | ing before the world as anxious to give the world an opportunity to test this question in the courts is an earnest of our good faith in attempting to keep within our treaty obligations
 After a full examination of the treaty and of the treaty which preceded it. 1 feel confident that the exemption of the coastTse vessels of the United States from tolls, ana the imposition of tolls on vessels of all nations engaged in tho foreign trade is not violation of the Hay Pauncefote treaty. But distinguished lawyers in the House and Senate differ from this construction, and the Secretary of state has received an informal protest from the British government that the contemplated legislation is a violation of her treaty rights.
 Il am sure that it is not the intention of Congress to violate the HayPaunce- | fote treaty or to enact anything fncon- sistent with it's provisions, and that is | certainly Is not it's purpose to repeal, by subsequent enactment, the treaty in so far as it represents the law of the land | 1t is of the highest importance, however, that this attitude should be made clearly known to the nations = the world. and that we should avoid any Justification | for criticism"
 | The message after being read in the | House, was referred to the interstate com
 nerce committee on motion of MT. Un- dcrwood. That committee has adjourned i for the session.
 l Tt has gone to bed said Representa- | tive Adamson. chairman of that commit tee. and he declared that that was the proper place for it. ..
 The President in his message" sara Mr. Underwood. declared that after full examination that he was confident that | the exemption of coastwise vessels was not an abrogation of the treaty, and yet he seeks to weaken that position by pass ing such a resolution"
 I The whole matter simply Illustrates l how dangerous it is to put a man with 1 out the courage of his convictions, and | who changes his opinion with every con ference he has with people who have strong contrary opinions, in power." de- clared leader in Congress. "President Taft means we'll but he has not the en- ergy to make profound study of great public issues. and never forms lasting and firm ideas on any public legislation of importance He wants to do the right thing but will not probe into questions fsi enough to find the truth, and finding | it, stick to t but relies upon his ad- | Nisers and they have been his undoins. I He will go out of office the most dis
 credited President that ever occupied the
 White House..