New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-02-06
WILSON WILL URGE
EQUAL CANAL TOLLS
Wants Congress to Repeal
Exemption ofU. S. Coast
wise Vessels.
WILL SEEK ACTION
AT PRESENT SESSION
His Declaration Due to OGor'
mans Statement That the
Matter Would Go Over.
IRON The tribune Buresu ]

Matter would 10 ONeI'
IRON, The Tribune Bureau
Washington. Feb. 1.-The President
declared to-day that he favored the re-
neal Of the provision Of the Panama
canal act providing for the exemption
~ American coastwise vessels from inc
naymcnt of tolls and that he Wou'u
exert his influence 10 induce Congress
% take action TO that end at the pres
cnt session.
This announcement confirms Inc
Tribune's dispatches setting forth
President Wilson's attitude toward the
controversy with Great Britain. POSI-
five announcement Of Mr.. Wilson
purpose was made in The Tribune OF
October II.
President Wilson's declaration was
ELECTED when his attention was called
20 statements attributed TO Senator
O'Gorman that the administration
would not take up the Panama Tolls
question at the present session because
the antitrust. rural credit and appro-
nriation legislation would occupy all IT'S
time Ny Wilson intimated that his
attitude was already known and that
the New York Senator did not receive
any such impression from the White
House.
Influences Behind Decision.
While the President has had his mind
made up on the subject for some time,
il is believed that one consideration
prompting him to urge immediate &C
ton is the fact that Great Britain mas
shown an inclination not to take part
in the Panama Pacific Exposition pos
sibly because of the alleged Violation
Of the -Pauncefote treaty. Inc
Mexican situation. with its tangled in
,ernational complications. has also
spurred the administration to the
necessity Of prompt action.
supporting the President in the pro-
gramme to repeal the Objectionable
provision will be Senators Lodge, Root
Williams and Hoke Smith, all OF whom
have contended that the law violates
the Hay Pauncefote treaty, but Presl-
dent Wilson may have some difficulty
in enlsting the support Of representa-
tive Underwood, Democratic leader III
the House. who takes the ground that
Great Britain's contention is merely
part of the foreign hostility TO the up
building Of the American merchant ma
,ine. 1t is known that Mr.. Underwood
has many followers in the House who
share his view.
Senator O'Gorman. who was lnstru-
mental in having clause declaring FOR
free tolls for American ships inserted
in tie Democratic national platform,
said tonight:
II have an unalterable conviction OF
the position the United States should
maintain in this controversy. Vhe
Senate's position on the tolls question
WAS emphaticaly expressed in 1917,
when the act was passed. Approval
was given exemption to American
coastwise ships by a vote of a. TO 10,
and | am of the opinion that many or
the Senators have not changed their
convictions on the subject. intend to
oppose rs vigorously an effort to repeal
the tolls provision as l championed
free tolls when the bill was before the
Senate"
May Soon Address Congress.
7. a. ,horcb, thu, President Wilson
will address Congress on the subject
in the near future. He said to-day that
he had not considered the repeal Of
any other sections Of the law, being
bent only on the elimination of the
point Of dispute between the United
states and Great Britain.
There have been no developments on
the 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 a year OF careful
study of the Hay Pauncefote treaty
and the debates in Congress for and
against the exemption. He always has
been opposed TO ship subsidies and init
nations Of his attitude began 10 come
out while he was President elect. At
the time. it was asserted, he actually
indicated TO Democratic Senator's Ills
ment providing for a repeal of the
provision.