Arizona republican., 1914-03-06
President Goes Before Both Branches of Congress and Asks Amendment of the Measure He Says Vio- lates Treaty
SENATOR'S SAY
 WILL HAVE WAY
Some Republicans Criticise Executive and Point to His Prediction Speech Against Talking One Way and Voting Another
ASSOCIATED PRESS pIspArcH1

WASHINGTON, March 5.-P Presi-
 dent Wilson pleaded before congress
 TOT the repeal of the clause in the
 canal act exempting American coast
 wise shipping from Panama canal tolls. He tersely asserted that every
 where except in the United States
 the proposed exemption is regarded as | a violation of the Hay-Pauncefote treaty. and further asked it in sup- ! port of the administrations general foreign policy. That the presidents { request will be granted there seemed to be little doubt, despite the fact
 there Will be vigorous opposition in
 both houses of congress
 An amendment was introduced in
 the senate today, giving the presi- dent the authority to make or sus-
 pend tolls by proclamation. and put : ting It squarely up to the president i to eliminate the exemption. The president said later that no partfc-
 ular thing caused him to read his message except that doubt existed in
 some quarters of congress as to how strongly he was convinced of the necessity of the repeal of the act.
 The presidents language in his speech was commented on widely. par tlcuiarly as no communication he has yet addressed to congress carried
 graVer or more far reaching implica- tiens to the Interest oF the country" the interpretation placed on the treaty elsewhere and the concluding statement IS to "other matters of even greater delicacy and nearer con- sequence"
 The president told callers that a { nation which believed the United States will not keep a treaty promise on so important treaty as this is not liable to expect sincerity on other f delicate questions.
 The president also told callers that ! the phrases had no significance be- ! yond bearing on the tolls questions, and as evidence of unwavering good | faith on all other questions. and that 1 nothing critical is pending in foreign | relations.
 He said, while he had never re- ceived formal communications on the | subject. he understood other European nations generally took the same view as Great Britain. Word had come to the president of the general impress sion in Europe that the United States was sailing as close to the wind as possible" in interpreting the promises made in the treaties. No pressure had been brought to bear by any na- tion to emphasize this view
 Senator Shively, chairman of the foreign relations committee, said the administration inherited many for eign problems, and it was necessary that foreign relations be readjusted.
 This is what l think he had in mind in reference to other matters Some senators are inclined to believe that the Chiffon amendment would leave congress open to the charge that it attempted to dodge the issue flatly placed before it by the presi- dent
 Some of the leaders in congress. in- cluding Majority Leader Underwood of the house. who oppose the repeal, had no comment to make.
 Many senators and congressman { praised the message. Others indicat- { ed that they would support the re- peal. although they did not agree with ( the presidents position.
 T voted for toll eXemptiOn." said Senator Kern. democratic leader in l the senate. If l vote for repeal, it l would not be because I have changed my views. I don't believe that toll exemption violates the Hay-Paunce- fote treaty. If I support the presi- dents request, I would do so because of his desire for congress to support his foreign policy. and for the fur Lher reason that in questions of this ! kind, where there are any doubts as to he interpretation of treaties. the for aigner should be given the benefit of he doubt"
 Representative Evans of Montana 'epublican member of the committee. yesterday he would be on record in favor of the repeal of the pill at the committee meeting tomor- 'ow.
 Representative Palmer of Pennsyl- 'ania announced that a poll of the louse conclusively demonstrated that here were more than enough votes | n the house to sustain the presidents ippeal.
 Representative Knowland of Cali ornia, republican, issued statement declaring that, because of the failure f the foreign policy to please nations hat are our commercial rivals. the ,overnment's policy must be reversed, l ongress turn a sOmersault and this
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