Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-03-06
GRID FOR CONTEST
ON TOLL QUESTION
Opposition in Con-
gress to Granting Wilson's
Request for Repeal.
DEMOCRATS SEVEREST
CRITICS OF PRESIDENT
English Newspapers Enthuse
Over Declaration of Wilson
and Praise Him.

WASHINGTON, March 6.-Shall
Congress reverse itself and repeal the
clause in the Panama Canal act
granting American coastwise vessels
free passage through the Panama
Canal2
This was the question which pre-
scented itself to the House and Senate
today, and upon which the undivided
attention of the members OF the two
bodies was centred in response to
President Wilson's personal appeal OF
yesterday.
Chairman Adamson, of the commit
tee on interstate and foreign com
merce upon whom the duty of re-
spending to the Presidents request
evolves in the House. lost no time to-
day in preparing for the fight con-
fronting him and his committee. The
Sims bill to repeal the exemption
clause was withdrawn from the files
where 1t was "stored" when the House
rejected it as an amendment to the
canal act and was presented to the
committee for reconsideration.
Similar action on the root bill by
the Senate committee on interoceanic
canals was promised, as that COM
mittee also had before it the Chiffon
measure, which would give the Presi-
dent authority to impose or suspend
tolls by proclamation.
In both the Senate and House it was
confidently predicted that more than
a sufficient number of votes would be
assured in favor of the repeal when
the members were brought face to
face with the issue. 1t was admitted,
however, that there would be ylgor-
Gus opposition in both houses, and
that bitterly contended fight was
certain,
LONDON, March 6.-Laudatory
comments on President Wilson's mes
sage to Congress are published in
most of the newspapers of the coun-
try today. The government organ,
the Westminster Gazette, pays tho
highest compliments to President
Wilson for his attitude in regard to
the question of Panama canal tolls.
II says:
1.-THE President of the United States
sets an example of straight dealing
which may be recommended to diplo-
mats of the old world. Other states
men in other countries are capable
of doing the thing he has done, but
most of them would fetch about for
diplomatic phrases or believe
arguments to save the faces of their
governments or to conceal from their
own public that they are proposing
change of policy"
Referring to President Wilson's
mention of ''other matters of even
greater delicacy," the Westminster
Gazette says:
1--WE understand the allusion, and
think it right to say at once that Mr..
Wilson's handling of this question
greatly facilitates quiet consideration
of the other and more delicate ques-
lions here alluded to-
The Pal Mall Gazette says: "Presi-
dent Wilson's action sweetens the at
mosphere of international relations
between us and our kin on the other
side of the Atlantic. We may ques-
ton IL we will the wisdom with which
the high moral principle guiding
President Wilson has been applied to
Mexican questions and others, but in
all matters we shall henceforth feel
confidence that. in so far as he con-
trolls affairs of state. they will be con-
Quoted as by one who, having sworn
unto his neighbor, disappointed him
not. though it were his own him
drance.
"While acceptance of the invitation
to participate in the Panama Pacific
Exposition at San Francisco would be
incompatible in magnitude with the
high-minded act of President Wilson.
the British Government has il in its
hands TO give a token of reciprocal
good WILL