The Detroit times., 1914-04-01
WILSON WILL
FORCE HAND
OF SENATE


senate has q right to assume. that
this bill will be reported from the
committee within reasonable time.
The senate intends to act promptly.
There Is not q member of the COM
mittee who does not have complete
realization of the exact merits OF this
case. There IL no need for any delay
for Investigation by a committee.
Friends of the administration have
been urged to postpone further action
until after the November elections. II
has been suggested that a delay OF
this kind would permit the people OF
the country to express their views
more definitely on the repeal issue
This suggestion has been rejected by
the president He believes that II
the Rubic0n Is to be crossed. II Is ABB
surd to stop In mid-stream. an object
of attack from both shores"
According to Senator owen, there
are from IS TO go sure votes In the
senate for the repeal measure, as ad-
vocated by the president. Not to ex-
ceed 30 members. In his opinion. can
be counted upon to vote against Il.
The president is very hopeful, 1t is
stated, that the members Of the sen.
ate will agree that the question at
issue is so simple that there Is no
nced Of extended debate.
The senate inter-oceanic canals com.
mittee will meet to discuss the Sims
repeal bill. Tuesday morning. Senator
OGorman, its chairman, announced
this afternoon. O'Gorman said he had
no idea how long 1t would take the
committee to make q report. A num-
Der OF other bills bearing on the tolls
situation have already been referred
to the committee and win probably be
considered.
An amendment providing that the
repeal shall not be construed as sur
render Of the rights claimed by the
United States to regulate the traffic
passing through the canal was pro-
posed On the floor this afternoon by
Senator Norris.
His amendment claimed the right by
the United States at any time to give
to coastwise vessels and other vessels
of the United States either entire or
partial exemption. II declared that
the protest heretofore fled by Eng
land against such construction or
the Hay-Pauncefote treaty is recog-
nized as presenting an international
question suitable to begin negotiations
with England for the determination
OF the question by arbitration.
Senator Poindexter, OF Washington,
introduced an amendment proposing
that all consideration by the senate OF
the tolls exemption repeal bill be de-
layed until the president informs the
senate, in confidence II he 90 desires,
what are the unnamed matters OF
nearer consequence and greater dell
cacy" referred to In his address.
The resolution pointed out that the
British embassy to the United States
had formally admitted" the United
States had right to exempt coast
wise trade from tolls. and the British
minister Of foreign affairs had In
writing declared many Of the material
provisions of the Hay-Pauncefote
treaty did not apply to the Panama
canal because that canal was con-
structed under conditions not contem-
plated by either party at the time OF
the treaty"
The particular object" OF both
treaties. the resolution states. was "the
construction ola canal at Nicaragua,
whereas the United States acquired
the Panama railway and canal wholly
from Colombia. the French company.
and the republic Of Panama. and that
Great Britain had no right or claim
whatsoever"