The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-03-06
Tersely Tells Congress That
Exemption Clause Is Re-
garded Abroad as Vic.
lation of Treaty.
WORDS REGARDED IN
LIGHT OF WARNING
Impression Seems to Prevail
That Presidents Wish Will
Be Granted, Although
There Is Opposition.

WASHINGTON, March 5.-President
Wilson, before congress, today pleaded
tor repeal of the provision of the Pan
| anna canal act which e1empts Ameri-
can coastwise shipping from tolls. He
tersely asserted that his reason for
asking the repeal was that everywhere
except i'll the United States the tolls
exemption was regarded as a violation
Of the Hay Pauncefote treaty, and he
further asked it In support of the ad
mlnistration general foreign policy.
That the president s request will be
granted there seemed tonight TO be lit
tie doubt, despite the fact there will
be vigorous opposition to the repeal
both IN the senate and the house. The
first action in the question will he
taken tomorrow i'll the house. when the
interstate and foreign affairs commits
sion will meet to consider the message.
1t was stated tonight that the commit
tee will present bill to repeal the ex-
emptlon provision.
In the senate today Senator Chiffon,
Democratic member of the inter-
oceanic canals committee, introduced an
act which would giEa, the, president au-
thority TO make or suspend tolls by
proclamation and to prescribe their
tolls i'll cases exempted. This would
put 1t up directly to the president to
eliminate the exemption.
Pointed Phrases.
Aside from the bearing of today's
message on the Panama tolls question
some OF the phrases used by the presi-
dent attracted widespread comment in
congressional quarters as relating TO
foreign relations in general. In some
quarters there was disposition to re.
gard some of his statements in the ma
ture of u warning on the difficulties
involved in ''other matters of even
greater delicacy and nearer conse~
quence."
Later in the day the president, in
talking with callers, explained that
these phrases had no significance be-
yOnd their bearing on the need of rig
orous good faith in the Panama tolls
question, as an evidence of unwavering
good faith on all other questions, and
that. nothing critical was pending in
the message continued TO be COM
mented upon as having an application
broader than the Panama
question.
Three points in particular were
noted: First, the presidents state.
ment that no communication he had
yet addressed to congress carried
ti0ns to the interest of the country;
second, that everywhere outside the
United States the language Of the Hay
treaty was given but one
and third, the conclud.
ng statement as to "other matters of
,ven greater delicacy and nearer con-
sequence"
Foreigners Suspicious.
The president told his callers that
While he had never received any formal
on the subject he had
nderstood that European nations gen.
rally took the same view as did Great
Britain, that the Hay Panncefote
reaty was violated by the Panama ca
aI act. He pointed out that in deal
ng with foreign affairs nations which
elieved the United States did not keep
promise on so important treaty as
he ay.Pauncefote convention would
ot be likely to expect sincerity on
ther delicate questions.
Word had come to the president of
eneral impression in Europe that the
Tnited States was "sailing as close to
he wind as possible" in interpreting
romises made on its treaties No pres
lre had been brought TO bear by any
alton to emphasize their view IN this
onnection, but the president felt CON
dent that foreign governments had
lis feeling on the subject.
In this connection Mr.. Wilson re-
ealed the fact that since his talk OF
ear ago with former ambassador Bryce,
which he gave assurance that tho
III question would be taken up at the
,gular session of congress, no COM
unication, formal or otherwise, had
lssed between Great Britain and the
nited States.
eason for Appearing.
The president said no particular thing
ID caused him to read the message
cept a doubt that had existed in some
arters in congress as TO how strongly
nvinced be was rs TO the necessity of
peal, Ho had felt that he wanted
,mbers OF congress to realize that he
rnestly sought them to reverse their
tiop Of year ago,
Senator Shively, acting chairman OF
3 foreign relations committee, said to-
CONTINUED on Page Threa)