The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-03-07
LSpecial to The Times-Dispatch ]

Especial to The Times-Dispatch.1
washington, March 6.-Initial steps
to repeal the toll exemption clause OF
the Panama Canal act, as requested by
President Wilson. were taken in Con-
gross to-day. when the House Commit
toe on Interstate Commerce reported
favorably bill to strike out the pro-
vision. In the Senate the Committee
on Intcroceanic Canals decided to meet
next week to consider the appeal of
the President for n reversal OF policy
In tho controversy which involves tho
Hay y-Pauncefote treaty. and, in the
opinion of the President, tho general
foreign relations policy of the admin
istration.
While ths House Is debating the Is
sue next week. the Senate committee
Will consider what course to pursue:
whether to recommend fiat repeal
bill or to urge the compromise bill
cTcred by Senator Chiffon, OF West
Virginia. member of the committee,
which would authorize the President
to regulate tolls and assess charges at
his discretion. wherever exemption Is
provided In the canal act.
Il believe that more Senators would
vote for my amendment than will sup
port fiat repeal mea sure" said Sena-
tor Chiffon tonight. Though the
amendment would accomplish repeal
OF toll exemption indirectly. 1t would
not repndiate the Democratic platform
plank indorsing toll exemption, and
Senator's who fatty refuse to go back
on that plank could vote for It."
Quick Response In House.
In tho House there was quick re-
sponso to tho Presidents address, the
committee voting l3 to 3 to favorably
report the Sims repeal bill Absent
members who were recorded made tho
vote II to 4.
Chairman Adamson had ready
draft of tho report when the commit
tee met. 1t based approval of tho
Sims bill the Same two broad
grounds set forth In the Presidents
messase-general international comfy
and the Immediate foreign situation
confronting the country.
Representative Knowland. of Cali
fornin, who led the opposition in the
committee. was given three days to file
minority report. and Chairman
Adamson was authorized to urge the
Rules Committee to report a special
rule to hasten the bill through tho
House. The matter will be pressed at
once. and 1t Is expected rule will be
brought into the House. probably by
Thursday Of next week.
Representative Adamson will tako
charge OF the situation In the House,
rs Majority Leader Underwood for the
first time during tho administration
side OF the question. Representative
Underwood has announced his inten-
ton OF not only voting against tho
bill. but also OF making speech against
1t. Despite this. however. the leaders
OF the repeal forces declared to- day
they were assured OF a substantial ma
jority to carry out the Presidents will.
In it's report to-day the committee.
which provided for uniform tolls in tho
canal act AZ originally reported, reit-
Grated its position.
Position Is Reiterated.
"We deem IT proper now said tbs
report. Ito consider the international
situation and our obligations and
policy In relation thereto. True. there
has been rs yet no friction nor even
strained relation with foreign govern
ments, but we are advised the opposite
party to the principal treaty under
which the. canal was constructed fails
TO approve our action In providing for
the exemption to concur in our
construction OF tho treaty. Other
maritime nations hold the same dis
senting opinion. and in the whole fam
lily of nations we stand alone In our
contentious. In such a situation il is
not always necessary or wise to urge
our contention. even though convinced
of our abstract right We are not dis
turbed by the taunt mado. for Il pur-
pose. that repeal would be trucking
and yielding to foreign demands. y
similar tauat could be lodged against
any man or nation honorable enough
to promote friendly relations by ac-
cOrding respectful consid deiation to
views OF tho opposite party"
After discussion OF the provisions
OF the Hay -Pauncefote treaty, and tho
declaration that the constwise trado
of tho United States does not need the
assistance of free tolls, the committee
report said:
Tho foreign governments objectins
to our construction OF the treaty can
lind hundred points In the worlds
commerce to retaliate and discriminate,
where We may blunder into using one.
Our resources, genius and geographical
position equip us to defy the world to
outstrip us on fair and equal terms,
AS 4 nation. we cannot afford to rest
under the imputntion. whether just or
unjust, OF disreGarding our plighted
honor. nor should we hold n debatablo
position far enough to arouse friction,
resentment or retaliation.
Save All Except Honor.
1T IN folly to refuse to do right
because foreign nation. party to q
treaty. complains that our course is
wrong. We might. In any kind or q
contest with other nations, win by
sheer strength and skill, and Ia win.