New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-04-07
Republican Favors Repeal
of the Panama Canal
Tolls Exemption.
PRESIDENT EXPECTS
FINAL VOTE JUNE |
Joseph H. Choate, In Letter, Says
Hay-Pauncefote Treaty Gave
Equal Rights.
TFronl Tho Tribune Bureau

Washington, April Ex-senator McCum-
Der. OF North Dakota, a Republican
member OF the Foreign Relations Com
speech I'm the Senate to-day, indorsing
President Wilson's stand I'm favor of re-
pealing the exemption clause in the Pan
anna Canal tolls law.
He asserted that he was not interested
In the Baltimore platform or partisan in
his views. The question involved is one
or national honor. he said.
The Senator read letter from Joseph
II. Choate, who was Ambassador TO
Great Britain when the Hay-Pauncefote
treaty was negotiated. This letter de-
clares that the canal should DO open TO
Great Britain and tho tho United States
on equal terms.
Shall we hide behind the flag while
we burglarize the Treasury I'm behalf OF
the shipping interestsY Senator Nc
Cumber asked in his speech The repeal
controversy had brought an Avalanche
of misrepresentation" OF the Presidents
action and motives, he said. He charged
that opponents OF repeal had made every
effort TO disguise the real issues and
arouse public continent based on mig
representation
President Wilson expressed confidence
TO callers that his Panama tolls pro-
gramme will be carried out I'm the SEN
ate. He predicts vote about June l.
The belief OF the President is based IN
information received from Senators who
are making the fight for the administra-
ton. The President said that in his
opinion there will be no bareback for
members Of Congress who vote for the
repeal OF the tolls exemption clause. His
correspondence and information from
various parts OF the country indicate that
the sentiment Of the people Of the United
States favors his stand. he said
1t is believed by the President that the
tolls question will not be the paramount
issue in tho next Congressional campaign.
He said the prosperity OF the country will
overshadow any party differences which
have developed. and that there will be
more important questions at stake.
The address of Senator McCumber was
only the reverberation OF the first fire Of
the heavy artillery before the contending
forces in the Panama tolls battle are
moved into action. The first real clash
will not occur until tomorrow, when the
Senate Committee on Interocesnic Canals
meets TO take up the Housed bill. The
session OF the committee will Se open to
the public, an unusual procedure.
One Of the first questions TO be decided
by the committee will be whether the re-
quests of commercial organizations Of
New Orleans and cities of tho Pacific
Coast for an opportunity to DO ieard on
the repeal bill shall be granted. Requests
of this character have been received from
Los Angeles San Francisco. Portland and
Seattle. The first clash between the ad-
ministrauon and anti-administratlon
forces may take place over this point.
Reports to-day indicated that Repubn-
cans who favor the repeal bill are stand
Ing their ground more firmly and that
the Democrats are showing less hesitancy
in rallying around the administration
standard.
The letter from Joseph II. Choate, AM
bassador to Great Britain at the time
the Hay-Pauncefote treaty was nego-
tiated, read to the Senate by Senator Nc
Cumber, follows:
II have read, so far as possible. the ar
guments made thus far in the House OF
Representatives on the pending question,
and have observed very little discussion
Of the question Of what tho language OF
the treaty means. The whole discussion
against the proposed repeal seems to rest
upon prejudice and the proposition that
we ought not to submit TO British dlcta-
ton on the question. IL is very wide or
the mark. II is impossible. in my Judg-
ment, TO discuss the question fairly on
the Interpretation Of the treaty and come
to any other conclusion than that the re-
peal OF tho exemption clause in the act
is necessary out of due regard for our
national honor and good faith.
when We come TO the negotiations OF
this last treaty. that Of 1901, there was no
question that, as between the United
States and Great Britain, the canal should
be open 10 the citizens and subjects of