Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1914-04-21
Some time ago sharp attention was


opinion here is that the board itself
is not to blame for it Is hardly con-
ceivable that the members are work
ing overtime simply because they
like to, anu that they are working
slowly from choice, thus making the
overtime work necessary. The COM
missioners are not the only ones who
have to keep late hours, for their sec
retaries always, and the other en-
ployes occasionally, are forced to keep
going frequently we'll into the night,
OF course it is the delay in the rem
dering of the decision ON the request
of the eastern railroads for permission
to advance freight rates five per cent
that has called particular attention to
the mass of work which the board has
before It, The decision waited for so
eagerly both by the shippers and by
the railroad people OF course is certain
to come, but the hour Of its coming
is uncertain and meantime the uncer-
tainty of the nature of the decision
is said to be causing commercial trou-
bles. The president it Is said is just
as anxious as anybody else for an
early decision, but of course he can
not urge the board to hurry for fear 1t
might be construed that he is inter-
feriny with something which does not
concern him.
Objects to Treaty.
There were outlined some time ago
by President Wilson or his secretary
Of state three more or less def
mite foreign policies--one the repeal of
the. tolls exemption provision of the
Panama canal act, another the nego-
tiation of arbitration treaties with
foreign governments and another a
treaty with Colombia containing
words of apology and promise of
money payment for the action of this
government in recognizing the indie
pendence of Panama without due
time and consideration
Everybody will remember, of course.
that Panama, through which now runs
the isthmian canal, was until few
years ago, part OF the country OF
Colombia During the Roosevelt ad-
ministration Panama revolted and the
United States recognized its independ-
ence, and then at once began negotia-
tons with the new government for
the construction by Uncle Sam of the
great waterway.
Colombia ever since has been ag-
grieved and has not been at all back
ward in expressing its grievance to
this country. 1t has asked indemnity
for the act of the United States, and
limited that an apology also would be
most acceptable. There is in treaty
form today, sanctioned, It is said. by
the administration of the United
States, a proposition to apologize to
Colombia and to pay it large sum
of money. This treaty has been signed
by our minister to Colombia, and is
under consideration by the Colombian
government
Strong Opposition to Treaty.
There was trouble in the house of
representatives when the repeal of the
Panama canal tolls was under discus
sion, but tie scene then probably will
be as one of peace compared to that
in the senate when the attempt Is
made to secure the ratification of this
treaty with Colombia, containing, as it
does an apology to the South Amer
lean government and proposition to
put into it's Golfers big bag of gold
There are men in the congress of
the United States who think the rec
ognition of the independence of Pan
anna was too hasty and an act not
easily to be defended, but those who
say this seemingly are in the minor
ity, and If Mr.. Wilson shall succeed
In changing the minds of the ma
jority he can account himself victor in
a policy against which it is admitted
in Washington most OF the members
of congress seem to stand in opposi-
ton
Don't Want to Apologize.
1t will be hard work for the presi
dent of the United States to secure
the ratification of the proposed treaty
with Colombia. 1t is definitely known
that many of the Democrats in the sen
ate do not like the idea of voting for
a treaty which admits virtually that
this country did wrong in taking the
means which it did to secure the build.
ing or the Panama canal Colombia
was so eN asive while Uncle Sam was
trying to induce her to give him the
canal strip that the general belief is
it would have taken many years to
have secured permission TO build the
canal. Now the waterway is com
pleted, and most of the senators, it is
said, recognize the fact that il Pana-
mas independence had not been rec
ognized we would have no canal to-
day
The senate, Of course, ratifies treat
les, the house having nothing to do
with them. The Republican senators
do not like the ides of voting to apol-
ogize for something which was Done
under a Republican administration.
and there are so4ne Democrats who
are averse to apologizing for any act
of the United States government
which seemingly has been approved
by the country. The result of this
feeling probably will be hard fight
in the senate. If any attempt is made
to secure the ratification of this Co
lombian treaty.
always gives me, | don't know why,
an idea of the phosphorescent light