Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-03-12
House Committee on Interstate
Commerce Initiates Action
Affirmative Report.
VOTE STANDS 10 TO 8
Senate Committee on Inter-
oceanic Canals to Meet Next
Week to Consider Pres
ident's Appeal.

Washington, March 6.--Initial steps to
repeal the toll exemption clause of the
Panama canal act as requested by Presi- |
dent Wilson were taken in Congress to-
day when the House committee on inter-
state commerce reported favorably bill
to strike out the provision. In the Senate
the committee on interoceanic canals
decided to meet next week to consider
the appeal of the President for re-
versal of policy in the controversy which
involves the TIay-Pauncefote treaty and.
in the opinion of the President the gen.
era foreign relations policy of the
administration.
While the House is debating the issue
next week, the Senate committee will
consider what course to pursue; whether
to recommend a fiat repeal bill or to urge
the compromise bill offered by Senator
Chiffon of West Virginia, a member of
the committee which would authorize the
President to regulate tolls and assess
charges at his discretion, wherever
exemption is provided in the canal act
81 believe that more senators would
vote for my amendment than will sup
port a flat repeal measure" said Sena-
tor Chiffon tonight. Though the
amendment would accomplish repeal Of
toll exemption indirectly. it would not
repudiate the democratic platform
plank endorsing toll exemption, and
senators who flatly refuse to go back
on that plank could vote for It,"
/ In the House there was quick re-
Spouse to the Presidents address, the
committee voting 10 to favorably TO
report the Sims repeal bill. Absent
] -,
vote IT to 4.
Chairman Adamson had ready draft
of the report when the committee met.
It based the approval of the Sims bill
on the same two broad grounds set
forth in the Presidents message gem
eral international comfy and the i'm
mediate foreign situation confronting
| the country.
| Representative Knowland of California,
who led the opposition in the committee,
was given three days to file a minority
report, and Chairman Adamson was au-
thorzed to urge the rules committee to
report a special rule to hasten the bill
through the House. The matter will be
pressed at once, and it is expected rule
will be brought into the House, probably
by Thursday of next week.
UNDERWOOD HOSTILE.
Representative Adamson will take
charge of the situation In the House, as
Majority Leader Underwood, for the first
time during the present administration,
finds himself on the administration
side of the question. Representative I'm
derwood has announced his intention of
not only voting against the bill, but also
LII, tee
this, however, the leaders of the repeal
forces declared to-day they We're assured
of a substantial majority to carry out the
Presidents will
; In it's report to-day. the committee
which provided for uniform tolls in the
canal act. as originally reported, reiter-
ated its position.
I'VE deem it proper now" said the
report, TO consider the international
situation and our obligations and policy
in relation thereto. True, there has been
as yet no friction nor even strained rela-
tions with foreign governments, but we
are advised that the opposite party to
the principal treaty under which the
ranal was constructed fails to approve
our action in providing for the exemption
or to concur in our construction Of the
treaty. Other maritime nations hold the
same dissenting opinion, and in the whole
family of nations we stand alone in our
> contentious. In such a situation, Il Is
not always necessary or wise to urge
our contention, even though convinced
Of our abstract right. We are not dis
turbed by the taunt made for a purpose
that repeal would be trucking and yield.
. ing to foreign demands. similar taunt
could be lodged against any man or ma.
tion honorable enough to promote friend
~ relations by according respectful con.
sideration to views of the opposlt,
party"
NATIONAL HONOR FIRST
After a discussion of the provisions o
the -Pauncefote treaty and the deca
ration that the coastwise trade of TIL
United States does not need the assist
Rnce of free tolls, the committee repor
said:
THE foreign governments Directing t
hundred points in the worlds commerc
-. to retaliate and discriminate. where w
- may bunder into using one. Our re
= sources genius and geographical position
equip us To defy the world to outstrp II
on fair and equal terms. As nation w
cannot afford to rest under the lmputa
- tion whether Just or unjust of disregard
" ing our plightcd honor nor should We hol
= a debatable position far enough to arous
- friction, resentment or retaliation. IT
> folly to refuse to do right because n for
cign nation, party to n treaty, complain
that our course is wrong. We might +
any Kind of contest with other nation
u win by sheer strength and skill. and 4
winning we might save all except honor
Far better to abolish the canal itself tina
=, even to permit our national honor to re
" main in question"