Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1914-03-06

= w law Nlldl SNCiuPAS
American vessels engaged in the
coastwise trade from paying tolls
is a question Of great Importance
to the United States. One class
of our statesmen claims that the
law violates u treaty with Great
Britain, and another class just as
g., firmly maintains that the law vio-
lates none Of our treaty obligations
and is in strict accordance with the
right of the United States to man.
age and control the Panama canal
as it sees fit.
President Wilson believes the law
violates our treaty obligations and
has the courage to demand its re-
peal, although the platform upon
which he was elected strongly de-
clares in favor of that law. Such
courage is seldom seen in American
statesman. He knows that his &C
ton will bring upon him and his
party the criticism born in partisan
malice and that of party friends,
ont he does not hesitate to stand
for what he believes to be right.
Yesterday he met congress in
joint session and delivered the fol-
lowing message strongly urging
the repeal of the law:
Gentlemen Of the congress:
have come to beg sou On an err
rand which can be very briefly
performed, but ! beg you will not
measure its Importance by the
number of sentences in which |
state it.. No communication |
hare addressed to congress carried
with it graver or more far reach
ing implication to the interest of
the country, and ! come now to
speak on a matter with regard to
which | am charged in a peculiar
degree, by the constitution itself,
with personal responsibility.
| have come to ask for the repeal
Of that provision of the Panama
canal act of August "a, 1912, which
exempts vessels engaged in coast
wise trade of the United States
from payment of tolls and TO urge
you the justice. the wisdom and
the large policy of such a repeal,
with the ut most ]earnestness of
which am capable.
In my own judgment, very fully
considered and maturely formed. |
that exemption constitutes a mis-
taken economic policy from every
point of view and is moreove in
plain contravention of the treaty
with Great Britain concerning the
canal concluded on November IS, |
1910. But | have not yet come to
urge my personal views. ! have
come to state 10 you a fact and a
situation. Whatever may be our
own difference Of opinion, concern
ing this much debated measure, its
meaning is not debated outside the
United Slater.
Everywhere else the language of
the treaty is given but one inter
probation, and that Interpretation
precludcs the exemption | am ask
ing yOu to repeal. We consented
to the treaty; its language we ac-
copied, if we did not originate it,
and we are too big, too powerful,
foo ~sclf-resnPcti 'g a nation tn in
terpret which too strained or re-
fined a reading the words of our
own 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, a voluntarily with
drawal from a position everywhere
questioned and misunderstood. We
ought to reyersc our action without
raising the question whether VIC
are right Or wrong and so once
mere deserve IL reputation for
generosity and the redemption Of
every obligation without quihble
or hesitation.
ask this of y,u in support OF
The foreign polly of the admins.
tratio0. I shall not know how &c
deal with other uatters Of ever
greater d%elicacy and nearer consc,
quence If you do not grant it t.
me in ungrudgi & measure"
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