The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-02-11
OPPOSES AMERICAN EXEMPTION
WILSON DEFINITELY ANNOUNC.
ES HIMSELF AS AGAINST
FREE PASSAGE.
Some Democrats Not Certain That lie
Will be Able to Eliminate "F,rce
Tolls" for United States Coastwise
Ships.

sui aHHouHCoO tOudy tndt nc WOu|u
endeavor to have repealed at the pres
ent session Of congress that provision
Of tho Panama canal act which ex-
empts American coastwise ships from
the payment Of tolls. He made his
position clear to callers today in un-
eQuivooal terms.
The president believes that the
y-Pauncefote treaty with Great
Britain guarantees equality Of treat
ment to all nations, including the
United States in the matter Of tolls
and that the United States is in honor
bound to charge American vessels the
same tolls it imposes upon those for
oisn nations. The president impress
ed on his callers that he would use
every legitimate means at his disposal
to have the exemption clause elm
mated from the canal act.
This announcement was expected
by administration leaders. The presi-
dents views will be carried out in the
house with little difficulty, according
to Representative Adamson, chairman
Of the interstate and foreign COM
merce committee.
Not so certain, however, are some
of the Democratic leaders in the SEN
ate that the president will be sustain
ed in his resolve on this question
which agitated American relations
with Great Britain for several years
and has been q subject Of interra-
tional controversy since the passage
Of the Panama canal act in 1912.
Senator O'Gorman, chairman Of the
inter oceanic canals committee, which
had charge OF the bill. and who led
the victorious fight in the senate to
exempt American coastwise shipping
from tolls, declared tonight his inten-
ton to stand by the bill.
Other senators pointed to the recent
action of the foreign relations COM
mittee in recommending the British
general arbitration treaty for extension
as an indication that the senate is
ready to rescind its action on the tolls
question. fear Of having to submit it
to arbitration having delayed it's ex-
tension by the senate last summer
Senator Stone. who voted for the pro-
vision, has said he would vote for
the repeal, taking the position that,
while under the treaty the United
States still has the right to levy any
tolls II wishes. the exemption should
be stricken out In Difference to inter-
national good feeling and in line with
n desire to avoid any Ill feeling with
Great Britain.
The president'a announcement grew
out OF report that he did not seek
action at the present congress. Sem
ator O'0ornan. on leaving the White
House yesterday. said he had discuss
ed the tolls question casually with the
president and expressed the view that
congress could do little else at the
present session besides passing the
trust bills and appropriation meas
ures.
The president sought to make clear
today that this was Senator O'Gor-
mans own impression Of the legisla-
tive situation. but that 80 far as he
was concerned he earnestly hoped for
action at the present session.
There has been considerable talk
in this connection OF the resolution
introduced by Representative Adam
son which would suspend for two
years the operation Of the exemption
so that it might be definitely deter
mined whether or not the canal could
be self-supporting. and at the same
time allow time for further diplomatic
parley. The president, however. has
abandoned any idea Of having the
question suspended or postponed and
wishes settlement Of it from the
present congress so that the great
waterway may be opened at the be-
ginning Of next year with the nations
OF the world on basis OF equality,
and with friendship unimpaired by
any pending issues OF diplomacy.
The illness Of Chairman Bacon Of
the senate foreign relations commit
tee. which Is holding up consideration
or the arbitration treaties. including
one with Great Britain. also may de-
lay action in congress.
The president already has COM
municated his view on the subject
Of tolls to the committee. There
have been no developments on the
diplomatic side Of the controversy
since the last note OF Sir Edward
Grey was received In tho closing days
OF the Taft administration.
President Wilson's final decision