South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-03-05
POINTS OUT DUTY TO
BRITAIN UNDER TREATY
Declares Discrimination in
Favor of American Coast
wise Shipping Clearly Con-
traVeneS Provisions of Our
Agreement With England.


an hour after President Wilson had
called upon congress TO act. senator
ChllJOn, OF West Virginia. this after
noon introduced "A bill 10 amend the
Panama canal act and permit the re-
peal OF the clause eXempting Ameri-
can cOastwise shipping from the pay
ment OF tolls. The text of the pro-
vision reads:
The president. Notwithstanding
| anything herein contained. is hereby
authorized and empowered by Brocla-
nation TO make, suspend. alter.
I change or abolish any tolls cOntem-
plated or provided for by this act and
may prescribe tolls To- be charged ira
any case i'm which tolls are prohibited
herein"
WASHINGTON. March 5.-DecIar-
ing that the exemption OF American
coastwise shipping from the PAYMENT
Of Panama canal tolls was based upon
mistaken economic policy and was
IN contraVentiOn OF our treaty with
Great Britain. President Wilson to-
day asked congress TO repeal the
Adamson act containing the exemption
clause.
The appeal was made I'm person hy
| the president, who appeared before
the senate and house committee iu
/ joint session. The president declared
/ that all the world powers were unan-
/ imous in judgment that the exemption
was in violation of our treaty oblfga-
tiOns. Only in the United states Was
4 the exemption clause REGARDED as de-
! batable or as open 10 question IIe
said ne had not come 10 congress fn
deliver "a personal view but that con-
siderations Of justice and wisdom led
him to believe that the prOvisO should
be repealed without delay.
Opposed TO "QuibblinS''
The president added that the United
States ought not TO bubble" in the
matter Of a treaty obligation. He
intimated that the Panama canal tolls
question was involved in all the other
foreign questions now before the
United States because he would not
know how 10 deal with them unless
the exemption is repealed. The ad-
dress follows:
Gentlemen Of the congress:
Il have come 10 you upon an err
rand which can be very briefly per-
formed, but 1 beg that you VIII not
measure its Importance by the num-
| ber of sentences in which I state 80.
No communication i have addressed
to the congress carried with il graver
! or more far-reaching i'm APPLICATIONS 20
the interest Of the country and i now
come 10 speak upon a matter with re-
gard TO which ] am charged in "A pc
culiar degree by the constitution it-
self with personal responsibility
ASKS KPpeal OF A1HuSe-
have come 10 ask for the repeal of
that provision OF the Panama canal
act of August "A. 1912, which eXempts
vessels engaged in the cOastWise trade
OF the United States from payment OF
tolls, and 20 urge upon you the justice
the wisdom. and the large policy Of
such a repeal with the utmost earn
| estness Of which I am capable.
"In my own judgment very fully
considered and maturely formed. that
exemption constitutes "a mistaken eco
nomic policy from every point Of view.
and is. moreover. in plain cOntraven-
ton OF the treaty with Great Britain
concerning the canal concluded on
Nov IS. 1901 But 7 have not come
TO you 10 urge my personal views.
have come 20 state TO YOU fact and
a situation.
Whatever may be our differences
OF opinion concerning this much de-
bated measure. its meaning is not de-
bated outside the United States. Et-
erywhere else the language Of the
treaty is given bat one Interpretation
and that Interpretation precludes the
exemption 1 am asking YOU TO repeal.
We consented 10 the treaty, its lam
guage accepted If we did not originate
IL; and we are too biz. too powerful
too self-respectin q nation to inter-
pret with too strained or refined
reading the words OF our own prom
ises Just because We nave power
enough 10 give Ass leave 10 read them
as we please.
Ought to Reverse Action.
The large thing 20 do is the ONLY
thing we car afford 90 do. "a voluntary
withdrawal from a position every
where questioned and misundcrstood-
We ought 20 reverse our action With
out raising the question whether we
were right or wrong and SO once more
deserve our reputation for cererositv
and the redemption OF every oollea-
ton without Quibble or hesitation.
IT ask this Of YOU I'm support of the
foreign policy ~ the administration
7 shall not know how 90 deal with
other things Of even greater deiicacv
and consequence if YOU grant be- to nle
in ungrudging measure.