The Sentinel=record., 1914-03-06
PRESIDENT WILSON ASKS THAT FREE TOLLS TO COAST VES-
 SELLS BE ELIMINATED.
ADDRESS BEFORE CONGRESS-
Wilson Says Provision Is a Violation of Hay-Pauncefote Treaty and Against the Administrations Gener- al Foreign Policy.

Washington, March 5.-President Wilson went to congress today and pleaded for the repeal of the provi- sion of the Panama canal act, which exempts American coastwise shipping from tolls. He asserted that his req son for asking the repeal was be- cause everywhere except in the Unit ed States the tolls exemption was regarded as a violation of the Hay Pauncefote treaty and he further ask ed it in support of the 'administra- tion's general foreign policy.
 That the presidents request will be granted, there seemed little doubt 70. night, despite the fact that there will be vigorous opposition both in the senate and house Decisive action will be taken tomorrow when the house interstate and foreign com meree committee will meet to con slider the message. It was said to- night that this committee would re- port a bill to flatly repeal the ex- emption provision. In the senate to- day Senator Chiffon. democratic member of the iateroceanic canals committee, introduced an amendment to the canal act to give the president authority 10 make or suspend tolls by proclamation and to prescribe tolls in cases exempted This would put it up directly to the president to elim- mate the exemption.
 Aside from the bearing of today's message on the Panama tolls ques- tion, some of the phrases used by the president attracted widespread comment in congressional quarters, as relating to foreign relations in gener- al. Tn some quarters there was a dis position to regard some of his state mants in the nature of a warning on the differences involved "in ether matters of even greater delicacy and nearer consequence"
 Later in the day the president him self talking with callers. explained that these phrases had no sigliicance beyond their bearing on the need of rigorous good faith in the Panama tolls question as an evidence of un- waveriag good faith on all other ques- tions and taht nothing critical was pending in foreign relations. But the language of the message continued 10 be commented on as having an application considerably broader than the Panama question.
 Three points in particular were not ed:
 First, the presidents statement that no communication he had addressed to congress carried "graver or more far reaching implications to the in- terest of the country; second, that everywhere outside the United States the language of the Hay-Pauncefote treaty was given but one interpre- tation, and, third. the concluding statement, in which he pleaded Tor the support of congress in order that he might deal with "other matters of even greater delicacy and nearer consequence"
 The president further told his call CTS that while he never had recelVeu any formal communications on the subject, he had understood that Flu ropean antions generally took the same view as did Great Britain; that the -Pauncefote treaty was Vlo- lated by the Panama canal act. lie pointed out that in dealing with for eiga affairs nations which believed the United States did not keep prom ise on so important a treaty as the y-Pauncefote convention would not be likely to be sincere on other deli cate questions.
 Word had come to the president ot a general impression in Europe that the United States was sailing as close to the wind as possible in in- terpreting promises made in it's treat ies. No pressure had been brought to bear by any nation. but the presi- dent felt confident that foreign gov ernmeats had this feeling on the sub- ject.
 In this connection MT. Wilson re. vealed the fact that since his talk A year ago with former Ambassador Bryce. in which he gave assurances taht the tolls question would be taken up at the regular session of congress, no communication formal or other