The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-06
Wants Final Settlement
Of Question by Pres
ent Congress.
MAKES POSITION
CLEAR TO CALLERS
Will Use Every Legitimate
Means at His Disposal TO Have
Exemption Clause Eliminated
From Canal O'Gor-
man Will Fight Against
Any Change.

Washington. February 5.-PreHident
Wilson to-day announced that he would
endeavor TO have repealed at the pres
ent session OF Congress that provision
OF the Panama Canal net which ex-
empts American coastwise ships from
the payment OF tolls. He made his po-
sition clear to callers to-day In un-
equivocal terms.
The President believes that the Hay
Pauncefote treaty with Great Britain
guarantees equality OF treatment 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 II i'm
poses upon boats of foreign nations
The President impressed upon his call
ers that he would use every legitimate
influence at his disposal To have the
exemption clause eliminated from the
Panama Canal act.
This announcement was expected by
administration leaders at the Capitol.
The Presidents views will he carried
out In the House with little difficulty.
according to Representative Adamson.
chairman OF the Interstate and For
eirn Commerce Committee who to-
night said Congress would uudoubt-
cdly net quick by "A straightout re-
peal"
Otorman Will Fight.
Not so certain, however. are some OF
the Democratic leaders In the Senate
that the President Will be sustained in
his resolve on this question, which has
agitated American relations with Great
Britain for several years. and has been
n subject Of international controversy
since the passage of the Panama Canal
act in August. 1919. Senator O'Gorman.
chairman OF the Interoceanlc Canals
Committee, which had charge OF tho
bill. and who led tho victorious night in
the Senate to exempt American coast
wise vessels from tolls, tonight de-
clared his purpose to stand BY his con-
victions and fight the President de-
sire
Other Senators pointed TO the recent
action Of the Foreign Relations Com
mittee in recommending the British
general arbitration treaty for extern
sion as an indication that the Senate
is ready TO rescind its action on the
tolls question. fear of having to sub
NIT il to arbitration having DELAYED
Its extension by the Senate last sum
mer. Senator stone. who voted for the
provision, has said lie would vote for
the repeal, taking the position that
under the treaty the United States
still has the right To levy any tolls il
wishes. and the exemption should he
stricken out in Difference. TO intcrna-
tional good feeling. and in line with
desire to avoid any i'll feeling with
Great Britain.
out of a report that lie did not seek
action AT the present Congress. Sena-
tor O'Gorman. on leaving the White
House yesterday. said he had discussed
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 mea-
sures. The President sought to make
clear to-day that this was Senator
OGorman's own impression OF the leg
islative situation. but that. so far
he was concerned, he earnestly hoped
for action mt tho present session.
Wants EARLY settlement.
There has been considerable talk OF
the resolution introduced by Represen-
tative Adamson. which would suspend
for two years the operation OF the
exemption, so that il might be definite
ly determined whether or not the
canal could be self supporting, and at
the same time allow time for further
diplomatic parley. The President, how
ever, has abandoned any idea of hav-
Ing the question suspended or post
poned, and wishes settlement of II
from the present Congress, so that
the great waterway may be opened
at the beginning of next year with
the nations OF the world on basis of
equality, and with friendship unim-
paired by any pending issues Of diplo-
macy.
The illness of Chairman Bacon, of the
Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
which is holding up consideration of
arbitration treaties, including one with
Great Britain, also may delay action in
Congress on the tolls question. The
President already has communicated his
views on the subject of tolls to the
committee.
There have been no developments on
tho diplomatic side of the controversy
since the last note of Sir Edward Grey
was received in the closing days of the
Taft administration. Great britain
since then has not pressed for any re-
ply, which circumstance generally has
been taken to mean that intimations
of President Wilson'S friendly attitude
toward the British contention had been
conveyed to the London government.
President Wilson'S final decision fol-
lowed more than o. year of careful study
of the Hay-Pauncefote treaty and tho
debates In Congress for and against
the exemption. He always has been
opposed to ship subsidies, and lntima-
tions Of his attitude began to come out
while no was President-elect.
Unaltcrnble Convictions.
Senator OGorman, who was instru-
mental in having q free tolls provision
for American ships inserted In the
Democratic national platform. tonight
said:
II have unalterable convictions as to
the position the United States should
maintain in this controversy. The Sen
ate's position on the tolls question was
cmphatically expressed In 1912, when
the act was passed. Approval was
given exemption to American coast
wise ships by a vote or AZ to To- and
am OF the opinion that many Senators
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