The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1914-03-10
WILL HEARKEN
TO PRESIDENTS APPEAL

\ w I'LL AAA-k4AAAA-N
TO PRESIDENTS APPEAL
Washington, March 5.-President
Wilson went 10 congress today and
pleaded for repeal Of the provision of
the Panama canal act which eXempts
American coascwise shipping from
tolls. He tersely asserted that his
reason for asking the repeal was be-
cause everywhere except in the United
Sta es the tolls exemption was re-
garded as violation of the Hay
Pauncefo;e treaty and ne further
asked it IN support of the administra-
tons general foreign policy.
That the presidents request will
be granted there seemed little doubt
tonight, despite the fact that there
Will be vigorous opposition both in
the senate and the house Initiative
actioa will be taken tomorrow when
the house interstate and foreign COM
merce committee will meet to con-
slider the message. 1t was said to-
night that this committee would re-
port a bill to fatty repeal the exemp-
ton provision. In the senate today
Senator Chiffon, democratic member
CT the interoceanic canals committee,
introduced an amendment to the canal
act to give the president authority to
make or suspend tolls by proclama-
ti2n and TO prescribe tolls in cases ex-
empted. This would put it up directly
to the president to eliminate the ex-
emption.
Causes Wide Comment.
Aside from the bearing of todays
message on the Panama tolls ques-
ton, some of the phrases used by the
president attracted widespread COM
ment in congressional quarters as re-
lating to foreign relations in gen.
eral. In some quarters there was a
disposition to regard some of his state
ments in the nature of warning on
the difficulties involved in other mat
ters of even greater delicacy and
nearer ccnseque4ce.
Later in the day the president HIM
self, talking with callers. explained
that these phrases had no significance
beyo2d their fearing on the need OF
rigorous good faitn in the Panama
tolls questions, as an evidence Of un-
wavering good faith on all other ques-
tions, and that nothing critical was
pending in foreign relations. But the
language of the message continued
to be commented upon as having an
application considerably broader than
the Panama question.
Three points in particular were
noted:
Three Main Points.
First the presidents statement that
no communication ne had addressed
to congress carried 'graver or more
farreaching implications to the in
terests of the country" second, that
everywhere outside the United States
the language of the Hay-Pauncefote
treaty was given but one interpre-
tation; and, third, the concluding
statement as to "other matters Of
even greater delicacy and nearer con-
sequence
The president further told his call
ers that while he neve- had received
any formal communication on the sub
ject, he had understood that European
nations generally took the same view
as did Grea. Britiaa-that t2e Hay
Pauncefoe treaty was violated by the
Panama canal act. He pointed cut
that in dealing with foreign affairs,
nations which believed t1e United
Sta,es did not keep a promise on so
;mpor ant -reaty as tAe Hay Paunce-
70 e convention would not be likely
70 believe the nation sincere on other
delicate questions.