The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1917, 1914-04-14
FINLEY EXPLAINS
STAND ON TOLLS
WHY HE OPPOSES WILSON
ON EXEMPTION REPEAL
IT'S PLEDGE
Declares That In Voting Against
Sims Bill He Is But Following
Principles of Platform

| "aSHiuBlOn, April l3.-NOthinE
pending before the congress of the
| united States now is of such absorb
ing interest as the question Of the re.
peal OF canal tolls ard every word said
on the subject by the national law
makers OK the country is eagerly read.
Today's Congressional Record con-
tanned the speech OF Representative
F1nley OF South Carolina on this sub
iect,' made while the matter was un-
| der discussion in the house. In the
speech Mr.. Finley set forth his views
in very lucid manner and makes II
plain where he stands towards the re-
peal MIR. Aiken and Mr.. Ragsdale
voted with Mr.. Finley
In addressing the house. Mr.. Finley
said in part:
"The President has asked the con-
gress to reverse its action of August
"a, 1912. exempting American coast
wise vessels from payment OF tolls at
Panama. We are asked to reverse
the policy OF this country not only as
regards the canal, but also as regards
its lopg-established policy of allowing
no foreign interference with the regu-
lation OF its internal affairs. In
matter of such great moment 1t ls
well to consider carefully the ueces-
sity for such action. The only argu-
rnent nf Importance advanced hv the
advocates of the repeal measure is
that tile President has requested Il.
His request Is embodied In his Address
to the congress on March 6, q 1914,
which is as follows:
Wilson's Appeal.
| Mr.. Speaker, Mr.. President gem
temen of the congress-. have come
to You upon an !errand which can be
very briefly performed, hut T beg that
you will not measure It's Importance
by the number OF sentences In which
! state 1t. No communication have
addressed to the congress- carried with
IL graveF. or more reaching impli-
cations as to the interest or the coun-
| try and ] come now to speak upon
matter with regard to which / am
charged in peculiar degree, by the
constitution itself, with pera.Iai re-
| sponsibiiity
! Il have come to ask you for the re-
peal OF that provision Of the Panama
canal act of August "a, 1912, which ex-
empts vessels engaged in the coast
| wise trade of the United States from
payment OF tolls, and 10 urge upon
you the justice, the wisdom and the.
large policy of such repeal with the
utmost earnestness OF which am ca
pable. 4s.a
"'In my own Judgment, very fully
considered and maturely formed. that
exemptiopAconstitutes mistaken eco.
nomic policy from every point of view
and Is, moreover, in plain contraven-
tion of the treaty with Great Britain
concerning the canal concluded on No
vember IS. 1911. But have not come
to urge upon ycu my personal views
i have come to state to you fact and
a situation. Whatever may be our
own differences OF opinion concerning
this much-debated measure, It's mean
Ing Is not debated outside the United
States. Everywhere else the lanfluage
OF the treaty Is given but one inter-
probation and that Interpretation pre-
cludes the exemption speaking
OF and asking you to repeal. We
consented to the treaty; its language
we accepted, IL we did not originate;
and we are too big, too powerful, too
self-respecting a nation to interpret
with too strained or refined reading
the words OF our own promises Just
because We have the power enough
TO give us leave to read them as we
please. The large thing to do Is tho
only thing that we can afford to do,
voluntary withdrawal from a position
everywhere questioned and misunder-
stood. We ought to reverse our ac-
| tion without raising the question
whether we were right or wrong, and
SO once more deserve our reputation
for generosity and for the redemption
of every obligation without quibble
or hesitation.
az ask this OF you In support of the
foreign policy or the administration.
/ shall not know hoR TO deal with 9TH
er matters of even greater deiicacy
and nearer consequences IL you do not
grant It to me In ungrudging meas
| ure.' r
Not Satisfied.
"rahe :::seessssassse :::;seessssasse CO the President Is
ei1ort, and in It he gives no reason
which may be considered tangible and
of sufficient Importance to outweigh
the declaration of party principles as
enunciated in the platform of 1912 by
the Democratic national convention
at baltimore. That platform contains
this provision:
| We favor the exemption from tolls
of American ships engaged In coast
wise trade passing through the Pana-
ma canal. We also favor legIslation
forbiddlng the use of the Panama can
al by ships owned or controlled by
railroad carriers engaged In transpor-
tation competitive with the canal
| Such statement Is o promise on
which the people elected ds to power.
and ], for one, consider myself bound
by IT, ] am and always have been d
platform democrat In South Caro-
lima, In offering for Office, we an
nounce no platform OF policies. but
agree to merely abide by the platform
OF the Democratic party. Particularly
do consider that promise binding
when the party has gone before The