New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-03-06
O'Gorman Says Free Tolls
Question Is PerSistently
Confused"
TAKES ISSUE WITH
- WILSON STATEMENT
Presidents Appeal for Sake of
Foreign Policy Resented
Also by Some.
IFrom The Tribune Bureau. J


the repeal of the free tolls provision OF
the Panama Canal act came mostly from
the Democratic ranks after the President
had delivered his message TO Congress In
person to-day.
Senator O'Gorman issued a statement
tonight taking issue with the President
other Democrats said that they stood
ready TO yield 10 him because OF the in
ternational complications referred to In
the executive message, but that they were
not yet convinced that the United States
had not the right 10 exempt its own ves-
sells from the payment Of tolls. Some
Republicans also said that the President
had turned a graceful somersault."
Almost without exception the House
leaders declined to comment on the mes
sage. Speaker Clark had nothing what
ever" to say. Mr.. Underwood said he
would make no comment. Representative
Mann. Republican leader. would not talk.
Representative Murdoch, Bull Moose lead
er. withheld comment, but said he en-
pected that the Progressives would line
I'D almost solidly against the repeal pro-
posal.
The two concluding sentences in the
Presidents message brought an under
current of adverse comment More than
one member privately asserted that the
message would have been more effective
had the President not said:
II ask this of you in support Of the
foreign policy of the administration L
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 ungrudgng measure"
Call II a Surrender.
This unusual appeal was construed by
a certain element in Congress TO reflect a
surrender TO Great Britain because Of the
Mexican situation and TO other nations
because Of the possibility OF trade wars
and reprisals One influential member as
serted that the United States had been
placed in "a humilating position"
Chairman Adamson Of the House Com
mites on Interstate and Foreign Com
merce thoroughly approved of the Presi-
dents message and said the bill to re
peal the tolls section would be reported
tomorrow by an overwhelming vote.
There is little doubt that the repeal bill!
will go through Congress. Its fate would
have been less certain, however, had not
the President mace a personal appeal to-
day to his party
II yield 10 no one in respect for the
Presidents motives or patriotism. and l
withhold my approval of his recomme nda-
ton with regret" said OGorman's state
ment. Believing mis- proposal unwise.
unnecessary and destructive Of the best
interests OF the American people. my duty
as a Senator Of the United States offers
me no alternative but resistance TO the
proposed repeal.
"Ex-President Taft, Philander c. Knox,
ex-Secretary of State; oscar W. Under
wood. Democratic leader in the House Of
Representatives. and Richard Olney,
Secretary of State in Mr.. Cleveland's ad-
ministration. have asserted that in their
opinion the exemption OF coastwise YES
sells from the payment of tolls in the
Panama Canal does not violate the Hay
Pauncefote treaty. These gentlemen are
lawyers Of recognized ability, and the
President does not express an opinion TO
the contrary lie asserts. however, that
no one outside of the United States de-
tends our course. If he Will read The
London Law Review he Will learn that
even English lawyers have conceded that
the tolls exemption is in harmony With
our treaty obligations. German and other
Continental writer's have expressed the
same view
Moreover. this opinion is shared by ex-
President Roosevelt. during whose admin
D.. T..t- vtro-
framed and adopted. The President now
states that the tolls exemption constitutes
a mistaken economic policy, but l prefer
10 accept his judgment announced when
he was a candidate for the Presidency,
when he pointed out the obvious economic
advantages OF this legislation. The plat
form OF the Democratic party, az well as
the platform Of the Progressive party, de-
clares that American ships engaged in
coastwise trade should pay 10 tolls. to
the end that cheap transportation by
water will enforce cheaper transportation
by the competing transcontinental rail-
roads.
There has been a systematic effort to
confuse the real issue in this controversy.
The word vessels as used in the treaty
means
" does not embrace vessels engaged In
local or domestic trade. This was the
Interpretation placed by Great Britain for
more than sixty years upon precisely
similar language employed In the treaty
OF 1915. The Supreme Court Of the United
States. in Olson agt. Smith. 1875 U. s., rec
ognized tho propriety OF this interpreta-
ton
Repeal II, Says Root.
II think that the Presidents message 10
very clear cut" said Senator Simmons
and makes the duty Of Senator'S plain.
~ the Senate and the House fall to sup
port the President in his proposition as
outlined in his message to-day II seems 10
me that this country would be LETT In an
unsupportable position. especially from
the viewpoint OF foreign nations
Senator Root said: II don't want 10