The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-03-20
To
TOLLS REPEAL
GATHERS FORCE
tranquility Of Democratic
Majority Is Disturbed Over
the Prospect of Stubborn
Fight in Both Houses.

WASHINGTON, March 19,-More
stubborn than anything that has arisen
to stir the tranquility of the Democrat
ic majority since tho party camo into
control of the national government is
the opposition TO President Wilson 8
plea for repeal of the toll exemption
provision for American ships in the
Panama canal act.
With the time almost at hand when
the question is TO be decided, the uu-
yielding opposition of the Democrats
who believe it will be aD economic mis-
take to reverse the policy of the govern
ment on the tolls question becomes more
active and in senate and house the dis
cussion is certain to be the most vigor'
Gus that has been precipitated by any
issue the Democratic congress has had
before il.
While the president aud Democratic
members in both houses, who will sup
port his position, are confident that the
repeal will pass by comfortable ma
jority, few have any idea that the ma
jority will be large. Debate on the, re-
peal will begin in the house SATURDAY.
IN the senate action by the committee
on interoceanic canals in repeal bill
submitted by Senator Owen may be
taken tomorrow or Saturday,
Jones Set Right.
President Wilson today conferred
with Senator Jones of Washington, in.
forming the senator that there was 10
basis for conclusions he had referred to
in a senate speech "Wednesday, TO the
effect that the tolls repeal was the
price TO be paid as result of negotia-
tions with Great Britain for uonluter-
ference by foreign powers in MeXico
and for England S defense Of the Mon
roe doctrine
The president told the senator that
he "was skating on thin ice' in circu'
lating such conclusions after reading
them in some publication. Discussing
the question with other callers, the
president said his address to congress
on repeal of the tolls clause was writ
ten before the visit TO Washington OF
the British minister to Mexico, SIR
Lionel Garden, to whom Senator Jones
had referred in his speech, and that
the canal controversy was not mentioned
during the ministers conference at the
White house.
Recalls His Words.
Later in the day Senator Jones made
q statement to the senate asserting that
he had not wished to misrepresept any
body; that he had referred to the con-
clusions as he had read them in a news
paper, and that it was due to the presi-
dent that he express to the senate his
flat denial Of the subject.
Senator Jones s resolution caSlng up
on tho president for information as to
the position Of foreign governments on
the tolls question will come up again to.
morrow, when Senator Bristow will
make an effort to have it referred to
the canals, instead of the foreign re-
lstiops. committee. Senator Polndexter
plans to talk on his resolution, which
would ask the president FOR an exPlana-
tiop of some of the features of ms mes
sage TO congress on the tolls issue.
Assurances Given.
Representatives Sherry and Coving-
ton, who, with Representatives Adam
son and Palmer, Will lead the admins
tratiop fight in the house to repeal the
Panama tolls exemption, told President
Wilson today that the repeal bill would
be taken up with special rule limit
ing debate. They declared that large
majority would vote for it.
The congressman conferred With the
president on certain phases Of the Hay"
Pauncefote treaty and reiterated that
American battleships would be exempt
from tolls and that the United States
had complete rights to fortlfy the canal
Sseds-grass, garden and flower seeds
r. ~ 10