New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-10-12
WI SON FOR REPEAL Of
FREE CANAL TOLL LAW
,,,arfers Close to Administra-
tion Confirm London Report
of Presidents Attitude.
ue MAY TAKE NO ACTION
urI;kely to Convey Views to
Congress if He Is Convinced
That Repeal Cannot Be
Accomplished.
IRON The Tribune 5ureau. J

IRON The Tribune 5ureau.l
washington. Oct. 11.-That President
wilson has become convinced of the
.--sctness Of the contention Of Great
,.,.,n that the free tolls provision Of
,ss Panama Canal bill involves vio-
,.,on Of the Hay-Pauncefote treaty is,
has been previously foretold in these
,,,,stches, assured. A declaration Of
-. Presidents conviction, which was
,.bled to "Ths Times" Of London AID
hack to this country, met with no de-
40, AZ the White House to-day. On
me contrary, It was merely asserted
,,., neither The Times correspond
.,t nor any one else was authorized to
.,rounce the Presidents views on this
,nb,ect. From other quarters close to
fl. Administration. however. confirm1-
,oD O, the London report was received.
although all who confirmed it took oc.
c,siOn to assert that they had nothing
10 say officially on the subject.
whether President Wilson will deem
q wise formally to convey his views to
Congress is another question. That he
win DO so If he perceives the slightest
chance of effecting the repeal of the
trs, tolls provision is certain. II, on
the other hand. he becomes convinced
through conferences with the Demo
cratic leaders that repeal is unattain-
able he may merely as a matter Of
s1psd!ency, refrain from making the
recommendation in any formal man
ag
Determined Opposition Sure.
There is certain to be determined op-
POSITION to repeal in both houses Of
Congress. Representative Underwood.
for instance, takes the ground that
Great Britain's contention is merely a
part Of the foreign hostility TO the up
building Of the American merchant ma
rine and therefore unworthy Of serious
consideration. or at least Of recognition
BY the American Congress. Senator
0Gorman is also violently opposed to
r,cha ota IN fhn hand ~l
experienced statesmen as Senators
Lodge. John Sharp Williams and Root
are convinced that the law violates
II. treaty and should be repealed, and
Senator Hoke Smith takes the same
view.
Those who recall the negotiation and
'atfeation OF the ay-Pauncefote
treaty remember that the chief con-
soeFation Of Secretary Hay was TO
procure from Great Britain a cancel
Aion Of the pledge Of the United
states not TO fortify the canal, and
nsy believe that Mr.. Hay regarded
Great Britain's cancellation Of that
obligation on the part Of the United
sAles as abundant return for the guar
sniss by the United States of equal
treatment Of British and other foreign
sapplng with that Of the United States
Ia The matter Of tolls.
Mr. Hay Showed Foresight.
eny comparatively short time ago.
VII also be recalled, there WAS a
CONSIDERABLE element in this country
'aea was vociferously denying that
w United States had any right TO
construct Notifications along the canal
4as NJ Hay in the prescience Of his
y 'N''snanship, had foreseen this pos
as4V and guarded against it, was
'0snoahtly established by the publ
Sa'a IN The Tribune Of the conf
''aua correspondence between him
vi ana Lord Lansdowne. which cor
'"Pnoence contained acknowledge
~'A' OF that right on the part of the
'-so States in terms so unequivocal
y 10 preclude the possibility Of any
'as' contention.
.'secretary, now Senator, Root,
az 0'hers who were familiar with the
SITUATIONS when they were being
~-'ucted. entertained no doubt what
W regarding the obligation Of the
s4"e0 states to grant to the shipping
0'eat Britain precisely the same
sas and privileges as may be ac-
~u'o the shipping of the United
''A and 1t is noteworthy that those
spouse the opposite view are the
1 Aser generation OF statesmen, who
al that time in no position TO
~ he airns and purposes Of the
'~fy OF State, or who have entered
,' lie long since that eminent
oD1s