The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1914-03-06
ASKS REPEAL OF
CANAL TOLLS ACT
President Wilson Delivers
Message to Congress.
DOCUMENT IS VERY BRIEF
Executive Speaks Only Five Minutes
but Tells His Hearers Not to Meas
ure the importance of the Subject
by the Number of His Sentences.

ure the importance of the Subject
by the Number of His Sentences.
Washington, March 6.-President
Wilson personally appealed to con-
eress, assembled in joint session, to
sustain the national honor of the Unit
ed States in upholding treaty obliga-
tions by repeating the Panama tolls
exemption against which Great Brit
ain protests.
He asked congress to do that in
support of the foreign policy of the
United States" and added that exemp-
tion for American ships not only was
a mistaken economic policy" but
was in contravention of the Hay.
Pauncefote treaty.
Mr.. Wilson's message was so brief that
he~had finished reading almost before
the surprised galleries realized he had
begun. 1t took less than five minutes
TO deliver and was as follows:
Il have come to you upon an errand
which can be very briefly performed,
but | beg that you will not measure
its Importance by the number of sen.
tences in which | state It,
No communication | have address
ed to the congress carried with ii
grayer or more farreaching implica-
tions to the interest of the country,
and ] come now to speak upon a mat.
ter with regard to which am charged
In peculiar degree, by the Constitu.
ton itself, with personal responsible
ity.
Il have come TO ask for the repeal
of that provision of the Panama canal
act Of Aug. "a, 1912, which exempts
vessels engaged in the coastwise trade
OF the United States from payment OF
tolls, and to urge upon the justice,
the wisdom and the large polio. Of
such a repeal with the utmost earnest
ness of which am capable.
Calls Policy Mistaken One.
In my own judgment, very fully
considered and maturely formed, that
exemption constitutes a mistaken eco
nomic policy from every point of view
and is, moreover, in plain contraven
tion of the treaty with Great Britain
concerning the canal concluded on
Nov. Is, 1901.
But have not come to you to urge
my personal views. | have come to
state to you a fact and situation
Whatever may be our differences oi
opinion concerning this much debated
measure its meaning is not debated
outside the United States.
Everywhere else the language oi
the treaty is given but one interpreta
tion, and that Interpretation precludes
the exemption ! am asking you to re
peal.
I'VE consented to the treaty; its
language We accepted, il we did not
originate it.
1--WE are too big, too powerful, toe
self-respecting nation to interpret
with too constrained or refined a read
ing the words of our own promises
just because we have power enough
to give us leave to read them as we
please. The large thing to do is the
only thing we can afford to do, vol
untary withdrawal from a position
everywhere questioned and misunder
stood.
I'VE ought to reverse our action
without raising the question whether
we were right or wrong, and so once
more deserve our reputation for gen
erosity and the redemption of every
obligation without bubble or hesita
ton.
II ask this of you in sport of the
foreign policy of the administration
| shall not know how to deal with
other matters of even greater deli
cacy and nearer consequence If you de
not grant 1t to me in ungrudging meas