Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-04-16
TRENTON PROTESTS
TOLLS ACT REPEAL
Condemns the Administrations
Surrender Policy, Fatal to
Jersey Terminals.
Lsnecinl to the E,enlne starl

TRENTON, April 16.-Trenton cit
liens met last night in a wholesale
protest against the policy of the ma
tional administration in demanding
the repeal of the free tolls exemption
for American coastwise vessels
through the Panama canal.
Mayor Frederick w. Donnelly.
cambridge Colby. of New York. and
Senator Barton 3. Hutchinson, of
Mercer, spoke in protest against Will
sons surrender to England on the
tolls exemption question. Postcards
We're distributed through the audi
ence for the purpose of urging SEN
ators Hughes and MARITIME to resist
what was termed the unpatriotie sur
render of rights of American people.
Senator Hutchinson said the people
We're left in the dark as to the pc
culiar eXigencies that inspired Presi-
dent Wilson to demand the repeal of
free tolls, whether such repeal is right
or wrong. He deplored the eneroach-
ment of the executive power in our
government upon the rights of legls
lative branch and predicted that such
encroachment would result in the fall
of representative government.
Wilson Message Unparalleled"
leled message of President Wilson to
Congress urging the repeal of free
tolls There is probably no question
on which the American people have
spoken so positively and firmly as free
, tolls, he said. He quoted from the
Democratic and Progressive national
platforms favoring free tolls. The
Republican platform is not definite,
he said, but the record Of that party
IL ~. 81,
ton. The law which President Will
son now seeks to repeal, he said, has
the approval of former President
William H. Taft. A man who raises
the question of honor impugnes the
honor of Taft, Roosevelt. Knox and
Charles ]. Bonaparte.
1.-THE statement that free tolls are
in contravention of the Hay-Paunce-
fort treaty is heard no more said
Mr.. Colby. you have heard the
last of the Presidents statement that
free tolls are in eontraVention of that
treaty. The appeal is now to our
mngnanimity. The President found
himself very much embarrassed by
the question of platform.
president Wilson and MIR. Bryan
who holds the office of secretary of
state, but doesn' fill it," Mr. Colby
added, are wrong in this matter
Railroad monopoly is fighting for this
repeal. The President is supporting
q rapidlv-waning cause and is in a
desperate plight. The people are
alive to the danger. Our sovereignty
is threatened by this preposterous
and indefensible position of England
Mayor Donnelly's Speech.
Mayor Donnelly. who for years has
been an enthusiastic advocate of in
land and micronesia waterway de-
velepment. is also vice-president of
the National Rivers and Harbors
Congress, and holds the same office
in the Atlantic Deeper Waterways
Association, made a stirring address.
He said in part:
Personally, without any knowl-
edge of the reasons that are actuating
President Wilson, ! am unqualifiedly
in favor of absolute freedom from
any restrictions for American vessels
engaged in coastwise trade. My posi-
ton is not in contravention of the
tenets or dogmas of my partys faith.
NV convictions have necessarily been
formed through my experience with
waterway movements and ! have,
for years, steadfastly and consist
emily advocated the policy of free
waterways; consequently I am de-
cidedIv adverse to seeing our greatest
WATERWAY achievement encountered
with restrictions that will surely de-
prive waterway traffic of the very
benefits which the construction OF the
canal was intended TO provide
must stand on my own conviction IN
tbo matter and that is that grave
and irreparable error Will be COM