The Washington herald., 1914-02-23
MIR. WILSON Will
]. CONFER ON TOLLS
Difficulties in Way of Bill
Which President Himself
Must Remove.
FIGHT TO BEGIN In HOUSE
Task of Steering Canal Act Repeal
FIGHT TO BEGIN In HOUSE
Task of Steering Canal Act Repeal
Measure Through Falls Upon
4 William c. Adamson.

At conference to II held at the White
House this week ways and means VIII
be devised to pass a bill repeating the
provision in the Panama Canal act that
permit. American coast-wise vessels to
pas; through the Isthmian waterway
without payment OF tolls
Obstacles are in the way OF the repeal
bill that must be removed by the Presi-
dent himself. This proposed legislation
wi. h Initiated re House.
Representative Kitchen, Of North Caro-
lima. Who was expected at one time to
handle the repeal al In the House has
informed the President that he is against
the measure.
1t is therefore incumbent upon the Pres
ident further to burden Representative
William c. Adamson, chairman of the
House Committee on Interstate and For
eign Commerce, who already has on his
hapds a part OF the antitrust program OF
the administration. Mr.. Adamson will
handle the repeal bill In committee and
on the floor Of the House.
Many Deserters.
With Messrs. Underwood, Kitchin. and
other leaders remaining practically in
active, 1t will be no easy task to pass
in the House the bill repeating the free
tolls provision. There will be many Dem
ocratic desertions from the administra-
ton on this question, but the President
and his advisers have no fear as to the
outcome. They have been assured Of
strong Republican support
While the opponents Of the bill claim
that sentiment in the Senate on the toll
question is about evenly divided their
claims are not borne out by the situation
in that body as II is understood by the
administration leaders. They insist that
while the debates in Congress may be
prolonged the repeal bill will be passed
before this session comes to an end.
Chamberlain in Opposition.
Senator George f. Chamberlain. of
Oregon. is outspoken In his opposition to
the repeal OF that portion of the Panama
Canal act which exempts coastwise YES
sells from payment of tolls. He has
Travelled along the same road with Presi-
dent Wilson since the Inauguration, but
as TO the repeal of the free-tolis provi-
sions, which is now being championed by
the Chief Executive, the senior Senator
from Oregon enters a positive remon-
STRANGE
Senator Chamberlain said:
1T is my opinion that the demand for
the repeal OF that portion of the Panama
Canal act granting free tolls TO cOastwise
vessels is inspired, in the first instance,
by the Canadian Pacific Railroad. and
this In turn by the trans-continental
railroads OF this country. These latter
roads have always opposed the construc-
ton Of a canal. Their emissaries were
in Washington to oppose the passage Of
the Panama Canal act and. having fail
ed in that, they are now resorting 10 the
field Of diplomacy. ready. IL need be. to
plunge the country into bloody war to
accomplish their purpose.
Suppose Congress Yields to the de-
mands of Great Britain and repeats the
free-tolls clause of the act. will that sat
isfy her? Not by any means, for, yield
ing to this demand, il will be followed
by other insistent demands, and amongst
these will be the opening Of the canal to
railroad-owned ships. This is the real
secret behind which the trans-continental
lines are hiding. both those in Canada
and the United States.
VIII Lose Other Rights.
'If these demands are complied with it
will be insisted that We have no right
to fortify the canal; that We have no
right TO pass our navy through the canal
in time of war; that We cannot honor
our treaty with Panama with reference
to the passage of her vessels through
the canal; in fact that We have no right
whatsoever-except to expend about SIS
CO., 900 per annum in the maintenance and
operation of a great national highway
built by American ingenuity with Amer
lean money.
81 believe in peace, but 1t ought not to
be purchased at the expense of national
integrity and honor. A law which was
enacted at the demand of the business
interests of the whole country ought not
to be disturbed because of the protest OF
Great Britain or any other power.