Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-03-01
Holds With Wickersham
and Other Lawyers That
Dry State Measure is
Unconstitutional.
ANOTHER PANAMA
NOTE RECEIVED
Knox Will Leave Matter to
His Successor; Wilson
Said to Favor the Root
Amendment.

dent Taft in special message "
congress today vetoed the Webb Dill
to prohibit the shipment Of intoxlcat-
Ing liquors into "dry" states.
Questions of constitutionality were
the. presidents principal considera-
ton in his veto.
Before Taft left the white house TO-
day to attend the cabinet meeting IN
the executive offices he took up his
veto of The Webb bill prohibiting the
illegal transportation of liquor into
dry states. The cabinet meeting was
shortened to one hour instead OF the
. usual two in order that the president
might work on the message In time 10
return the bill to the house of rep
resentatives before it adjourned. The
president, Attorney General Wicker
sham. most of the lawyt.'s in the cabl-
net and the senate and house have held
that the bill is unconstitutional and the
veto message was written largely from
that angle.
British Panama Note Received.
The rejoinder of the British govern
ment to the last American note regard
ing the Panama canal zone tolls Dues
tion was delivered today to Secretary
Knox by Ambassadors Bryce. Though
naturally OF great interest to Secre-
tary Knox he will make no effort 10
consider it but will allow the negotia-
tions on the American side to be con-
tinued by his successor In office. i"
Wilson Favors Root View.
President-elect Wilson has made
known to democratic senate leaders
most closely in his confidence mat ne
favors the passage Of Senator Roots
amen dment to the Panama canal Dill,
to repeal the provision exemptlng
American coast wise ships from pay
ment of tolls 1t was said today tnat
the new president had made MS posi-
ton plain lately to several democratic
senators. It was the subject OF re.
mark because Senator O'Gorman OF
New York, who has been regarded as
more or less Of spokesman for MI
Wilson, is sturdy opponent OF the
Root amendment and champion OF
free passage for American snlps.
There is no likelihood of any action
on the Root repeal amendment curing
the few remaining days of the 62nd
congress. It was recently tabled in the
senate interoceanic canals committee,
thus preventing the possibility of even
being brought before the senate on
minority report.
It is expected to be renewed at the
next congress, probably during the
extra session. a,...
Sugar Rates Too High.
Control by "few powerful con-
Germs" of routing the sugar traffic OF
the country "gives them a leverage
for controlling the rates and there are
indie. ii ms that they have not failed
to use the right Of their advantage"
saws the interstate commerce commits
sion in decision today holding that
the rites on sugar from Cincinnati to
Knoxville and Chattanooga were too
high as compared with rates from COM
netting markets such as New York,
Phila !elphia, Baltimore and New
Orleans.
without the issuance Of an order,
II is implied, said the commission that
the roads affected would reduce their
rates in proportion to those charged
from other points.
Taft to Give Hearing. -
President Taft today cancelled all
engagements for tomorrow morning
and announced that he would give
hearings on the customs reorganization
plant during the time usually devoted
To callers. Many senators and repre-
sentatives are opposed to the reorgani-
cation. Secretary MacVeagh and AS
sistant Secretary Curtis are to argue
for the plan The presidents decision
as to whether or not he will approve it
will be made by Monday.
Fails to Call Resolution.
Senator Poindexter today failed to
have the senate call upon President
Taft for a statement of what measures
had been taken for the protection of
Americans in Mexico. Senator Poin-
dexter asked for consideration of such
a resolution but Senator Cullom Of the
foreign relations committee insisted
that the resolution take the regular
course Of being referred to his commit
tee. Senator Poindexter protested that
this meant the death of the resolution.
The senate voted to follow the course
suggested by Senator Cullom.
Senator Fall gave notice that he
would address the senate on the reso-
luton tomorrow.
Must Ask Congress- Consent.
Senator Sheppard Of Texas today in
troduced a bill forbidding a changt OF
size or color Of paper money without
the consent Of congress Plans have
been made by the treasury department
-i,v 49, kt,o 1c xnyffn IN