Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-03-12
WILSON'S MESSAGE
ON TOLL QUESTION
President Declares Exemption of
U. S. CoastWise Shipping a
Mistaken Economic Policy.
ASKS ADAMSON ACT REPEAL
Chief Executive Says All World Pow
ers Were Unanimous in Judgment
Exemption Was in Violation
of Treaty Obligations.

Washington. March 5.-Just why
President Wilson thinks congress
should repeal the toll exemption
clause in the Panama canal act was
told the national legislators this after
noon by the president himself when
he went to the capitol and read a
special message on the subject. Rep
~resentative Underwood had asked for
the message in order that Democratic
members who had voted for the ex-
emption clause might have a good ex-
cuse to change their votes. Mr.. IN
derwood himself is one of these.
Moreover, the clause was endorsed by
the Democratic national convention,
and the Democratic floor leader
thought Mr.. Wilson should assume the
responsibility for legislation that
amounts to reputation OF one of the
partys planks. That the president
does not shirk the responsibility was
evidenced by his speedy compliance
with Mr.. Underwood's request.
Presidents Message.
The address follows:
Gentlemen of the Congress:
4 have come to you upon an errand
which can be very briefly performed,
but I beg that you will not measure
its Importance by the number of sen
fences in which l state it. No COM
munication l have addressed to the
congress carried with it graver or
more far-reaching implications to the
into %
come to speak upon a matter with
regard TO which I am charged in
peculiar degree by the constitution it
self with personal responsibility.
Il have come to ask for the repeal
of that provision of the Panama canal
act of August "a, 1912, which exempts
vessels engaged in the coastwise trade
of the United States from payment Of
tolls, and to urge upon you the jus
tice, the wisdom, and the large policy
Of such a repeal with the utmost
earnestness of which l am capable.
Exemption a Mistake.
'In my own judgment, very fully
considered and maturely formed, that
exemption constitutes a mistaken
economic policy from every point of
view, and is, moreover, in plain con-
travention of the treaty with Great
Britain concerning the canal conclud-
ed on November IS, 1901. But 1 have
not come to you to urge my personal
views. l have come to state to you
fact and a situation.
Whatever may be our own differ
ences of opinion concerning this mach
debated measure, it's meaning is not
debated outside the United States.
Everywhere else the language of the
treaty is given but one Interpretation,
and that Interpretation precludes the
exemption I am asking you to repeal.
Consented to Treaty.
1--WE consented to the treaty; its
language we accepted, if we did not
originate it; and we are too big, too
powerful, too self-respecting a nation
to interpret with too strained or re-
fined reading the words of our own
promises just because we have power
enough to give us leave to read them
as we please. The large thing to do
is the only thing we can afford to do,
a voluntary withdrawal from a posi-
ton everywhere questioned and misun-
derstood. We ought to reverse our
action without raising the question
whether we were right or wrong, and
so once more deserve our reputation
for generosity and the redemption OF
every obligation without bubble or
hesitation
81 ask this of you in support of the
foreign policy of the administration.
/ shall not know how to deal with
other meetings Of even greater deli
cacy and nearer consequence if you
do not grant it to me in ungrudging
m GA SIRE "