The Raymer enterprise., 1914-03-12
THE PRESIDENTS
CANAL MESSAGE
WILSON SAYS TOLL EXEMPTION
is MISTAKEN ECONOMIC
POLICY.
Executive Tells Lawmakers Repeal OF
Exemption Clause Is Necessary
to Hold Respect Of For.
eign Powers.

Western Newspaper Union News Service,
Washington. March 6. For the
sixth time during his years incum-
oency OF the White House, President
Wilson personally appealed to Con-
gress, assembled In joint session, to
sustain the national honor OF the Unit
ed States. In upholding treaty obliga-
tions by repeating the Panama tolls
exception against which Great Britain
protests. He asked Congress TO do
that in support OF the foreign policy
Of the administration and added that
an exemption for American ships not
only was a mistaken economic pol
cy" but was In contravention OF the
Hay. y.Pauncefote treaty. President VIII
sons address. the shortest he has yet
delivered to Congress, exactly 40
words, was as follows:
Gentlemen Of the Congress- have
some to you on an errand which can
Je very briefly performed, but | beg
hat you gill not measure its i'm
)ortance by the number OF SEN
.ences in which | state II. No
communication have addressed to
The Congress carried with 1t grayer or
more farfeaching implications to the
Interest Of the country, and | come
now to speak upon matter with re-
gard to which | am charged in a pc
culiar degree, by the Constitution
itself, with personal responsibility
Il have come to 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 TO urge upon you the justice
the wisdom and the large policy Of
such a repeal with the utmost earnest
ness OF which | am capable,
"In my own Judgment, very fully con.
sidered and maturely formed, that ex.
emption constitutes a mistaken eco
nomc policy from every point OF view.
and Is. moreover. in plain contra
gention OF the treaty with Great Brit
ain concerning the canal. concluded on
November Is, 1901.
But have not come to you TO urge
my personal views. / have come TO
state to you fact and a situation.
Whatever may be our own differ
ences of opinion concerning this much.
debated measure. its meaning is not
debated outside the United States. Ev.
erywhere else the language of the
treaty is given but one Interpretation,
and that Interpretation precludes tho
exemption | am asking you TO repeal
We consented to the treaty; its Ian
guage We ascepted, II We did not origi-
nate ii; and We are too big. too pow
erfnl, too seli-respeeting nation to
interpret with too strained or refined
a reading the words of our promises
just because We have power enough TO
give US leave to read them as We
please.
The large thing to do is the only
thing We can afford to do. voluntary
withdrawal from a position every
where questioned and misunderstood.
We ought 10 reverse our action with
out raising the question whether We
We're right or wrong. and so once more
deserve our reputation for generosity
and the redemption of every obligation
without quinble or hesitation.
Il ask this Of you in support of the
foreign policy of the administration, |
shall not know how TO deal with other
matters of even greater delicacy and
nearer consequence ii you do not grant
it TO me in ungrudging measure