New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-03-15
KnowIand Bitterly AssaiIs
Presidents Free Tolls
Repeal Plea.
THREE MINORITY
REPORTS SENT IN
Lafferty, Doremus and O'Shau'
messy Object to Any Change In
Panama Canal Act.
From The Tribune Bureau.

Washington. March 14-Three minority
reports on the Sims bin to repeal the tolls
exemption clause Of the Panama Canal
act were filed In the House to-day by
members or the Committee on Interstate
and Foreign Commerce. Two Of them.
presented by Representatives Knowland,
California Republican. and Lafferty, an
oregon Progressive, criticise severely the
administrator course In asking for the
repeal. Representatives Doremus. OF
Michigan. and O'Shaunessy. OF Rhode
Island. Democrats. content themselves
with the statement that the situation Is
unchanged since the passage OF the Pan
anna act. and that they still think the ex-
emption of coastwise vessels IL not
against treaty provisions and is sound
economic policy.
Representative Knowland accuses the
President of advocating the cause OF
Great Britain" and declares the admin
istration's attitude is a 'peace-at-any-
price pc icy.'
"a situation unparalleled and unprece-
denied In our history now confronts TINS
nation" says the Knowland report. THE
custodian OF our rights. our agent in deal
ing with foreign affairs. advocates the
cause Of Great Britain. We are left with
out spokesman. With no attempt TO
settle through diplomatic channels, with
no suggestion looking TO the reference or
this vital question to arbitration. uncon-
ditional and complete surrender is urged
because Il shall not know how to deal
- atar lalf
cacy and consequence If you do not grant
it to me-.
In criticsing the majority report In
favor of repeating the free tolls clause,
Mr.. Knowland says
THE ma. ority re-echoes the astounding
and pusilllnimous doctrine recently pro-
mulgated. which admonishes that when
situation arises whereby a foreign ma
ton interprets treaty against this coun-
try 1t is not necessary or wise TO urge
our contention. even though fully con-
WINGED Of OR abstract right
Mr. Knowland adds that the present
doctrine is one of trucking to the Brit
ish government" and that the admins
traton's position is one of national
cowardice' rather than national honor.
Representative Lafferty is also harshly
critical of the administrations repeal
proposal ITO fatty repeal the exemption
clause of the law now" he says, would
he a complete and unconditional surren~
der to the demands Of Great Britain. 1t
would foreclose our rights for all time TO
come All nations would treat our action
in the circumstances as recognition Of
the claims of Great Britain. In fact, the
President asks the repeal on the sole
ground that the law is in plain contra
vention of the Hay-Pauncefote treaty"
Statements that government vessels
would be compelled to pay tolls if the bill
repeating, the exemption clause Of the
Panama Canal act were enacted were
characterized to-day as ''monstrous per-
versions of the truth and the most foolish
folly enunciated since fools were discoy-
cred by Representative Adamson, chair
man of the Interstate Commerce Com
mittee
such vessels are not mentioned in the
canal act nor in the Sims bill. and ought
not TO be-" Mr.. Adamson continued.
"They are owned by the same owner who
owns the canal and passes its vessels by
right of ownership according to treaty.
Owning both warships and canal, ii could
pay tolls TO nobody but itself, which
would be concentrated nonsense