East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1914-03-05

WASHINGTON, March 5.-The de-
mand OF President Wilson for the re-
non, ~ the clause in the Panama ca
nal law exempting American snip
Ming from tolls, promised to result TO-
day in the first serious clash between
The president and democrats IN the
house and senate.
II appeared from indications this
,oorninp that the contest would be
extremely bitter as the opponents OF
the plan to repeal the clause are re-
soIute in their insistance 10 i'sh'
every step Of the way on 'he o'her
hand. President Wilson and MS sup
porters are determined to wages a Wig
orous battle for the defeat OF the free
toll provision.
IL seemed practically certain that
The president would be successful In
the house but II Is hard to tell wnat
the vote will be in the senate. 1here
is a strong likelihood that the Nght
will prolong the present session Oh
the congress.
President Wilson's message today
on the canal toll question was the
shortest which he has yet submitted
10 a Joint meeting OF both branches
of the lawmakers.
Underwood, the democratic leader
in the house and O'Gorman In the
senate. are among those who are OPP
posed to the presidents policy.
Underwood intimated today he
would sneak against the plan to repeal
the free toll clause but would not try
10 influence others In their attitude
toward the question.
The last sentence of the message Is
considered significant and Is taken as
"A yelled reference to the president
acknowledged desire to accede to Ene-
lands wishes relative to tolls and as
:; means of inducing British support
Of the administrations course In Mex
leo.
Many diplomats were present but
English Ambassador Sir Spring Rice
was absent.
Underwood declined to comment on
the address. He said he thought
party caucus was unlikely and indi-
Gated he disagreed completely with
the executive.
Adamson. the presidents spokes-
man in the house deba0t. was en-
phatic In his approval of the admin
istration's attitude. II am pleased
with the message" he said. because
il is the square thing to do at home
and abroad. The charge that we were
surrenderng to England is a damned
lie. Well now repeal that piece OF
rascality."
Wilson'S Message.
The message of the president In
fun was as follows:
Gentlemen OF Congress: have come
TO you on an errand which can be very
briefly performed, but l beg you viii
not measure it's Importance by the
number of sentences in which l state
Il. No communication that / have
addressed to congress has carried with
1t a more grave or far reaching impli'
cation to the interests OF the country
and I come now to speak upon mat
ter with regard to which / am charg
ed to a peculiar degree. by the con
stitution itself, with personal respon
siblity.
come to ask the repeal of that pro
vision of the Panama canal act o.
AutuSt lSl-, N"Nh N<NNh'PeN' 'Ns'
sells engaged in coastwise trade o
America from the payment OF toll
and to urge upon you the justice ant
wisdom and large policy of such |
repeal with the utmost earnestness o
which am capable. In my Owl
Judgment, maturely formed afte
careful consideration, l believe tina
exemption constitutes mistaken
economic policy from every point o
view. and is. moreover in plain con
travention of the treaty with Grea
britain concerning the canal. conclud
ed Nov. IS. 1901.
But I have not come before you I
urge my personal views. I communi
cate TO you a fact and a situation
Whatever may be our own difference
OF opinion concerning this much de
bated measure. its meaning is not de
bated outside of the United State,
Everywhere else the language OF tn
treaty is given but the Interpretation
and that Interpretation precludes tn
Gentlemen of Congress: hav
We consented to the treaty; Its lar
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