The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-03-05
By Repeating Panama Tolls
Exemption, Urged
Pres. Wilson
IN DIRECT APPEAL TO
CONGRESS TO-DAY
Declares Exemption Against
Both Economic Policy
and Treaty

Washington, d. c., March 5-Presi-
dent Wilson personally appealed to Con-
gress, assembled in joint session to day,
to sustain the national honor of the
United States in upholding treaty OBJ
legations by repeating the Panama tolls
exemption, against which Great Britain
protests. He asked Congress to do that,
in support of the foreign policy of the
administration, and added that an ex-
emption for American ships not only was
"a mistaken economic policy" but was
in contravention Of the Hay Pauncefote
treaty.
President Wilson's address, the short
est he has vet delivered to Congress- eX-
actly 420 words-was as follows:
Gentlemen of the Congress:
II have come to ven on an errani
which can be very briefly performed, but
] beg that You will not measure it, i'm
portance by the number of sentences in
which ! state it, No communication I
have addressed to the Congress carried
with it graver on more farreachng I'M
plieations to the interest of the country
and | come now to speak upon 4 mat
ter in regard to which am charged to
a peculiar degree, by the constitution it,
self, with personal responsibility.
II have come to ask for the repeal OF
that provision of the Panama canal act
of August "a, 1912. which exenpts YES
sells engaged in the coastwise trade of
the United States from payment OF tolls,
and to urge upon you the justice, the
wisdom and the large policy Of such a
repeal with the utmost eaTne5tness Of
which ] am capable.
"In my own judgment, very fully con
sidered and maturely formed, that ex
emption constitutes a mistaken econom
ic policy from every point OF view, and
is, moreover, in plain contravention OF
the treaty with Great Britain concerning
the canal concluded on November is,
1901. But | have not come to arge
my personal views. / have come to state
to you a fact and situation. What
ever NAV be our own differences o. opin-
ion concerning this much debated meas
IRE, its 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 / am asking
you to repeal. We consented to the
treaty; its language we accepted, if we
did not originate it; and we are too big,
too powerful, too self-respecti1g ma
tion to interpret with too strained or
refined a reading of 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, yonl-
tary withdrawal from a position every
where questioned and misunderstood.
We ought to reverse our action with
out raising the question whether we
We're right or wrong, and so once more
deserve our reputation for generosity
and the redemption of every obligation
without quibble or hesitation.
Il ask this of you in support of the
foreign policy of the administration.
shall not know how to deal with other
matters of even greater delicacy and
nearer consequence if you do not grant
it to me in ungrudging measure"
The Panama tolls question has been q
subject of dispute for nearly two years.
Diplomatic correspondence between Great
Britain and the United States found the
question unsettled when President Taft
left office. Except for an assurance to
James Bryce, then British ambassador,
when he left the United States year
ago, that the question would be taken
up in the regular session of Congress,
President Wilson has never directed any
official communication to England on
the tolls question. The president recent
Iy told callers he had never discussed
the matter formally or informally with
the British ambassador here, Sir Cecil
Spring Rice, because he believed the OBJ
legation on the part of the United States
to repeal the exemption clause was one
which this government itself could real
ize without outside influence or pres
sure.
Administration leaders in both House
and Senate have assured the president
that with the delivery of message by
him showing that national circumstances
had arisen since the measure was last
debated the presidents suggestion for
repeal would be met with prompt ac-
zion