The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1914-03-12
LIKELY TO GRANT
WILSON'S REQUEST
CONGRESS is EXPECTED TO RE
PEAL PANAMA TOLL ExEMP.
TlON CLAUSE.
MESSAGE CAUSES COMMENT

Three Points in Particular Are Noted
and Deeper Meanings Are Be-
'ieved Implied Than Indicated
at First Glance.
BULLETIN.
Washington.-The Sims bill to
repeal the Panama tolls exemp.
tion favorabIy was reported by the
house commerce committee by
vote Of II to q.
Washington, March 7.--That the re.
quest of President Wilson, asking
congress to repeal the exemption pro-
vision of the Panama canal act will
be granted there seems to be little
doubt. Despite the fact that there
will be vigorous opposition to the re.
peal both in the senate and the house.
there is little doubt but that the ulti.
mate outcome will be as the executive
wishes.
Initiative Action Begun.
Initiative action in the matter waA
taken when the house interstate and
foreign commerce commission met to
consider the message. 1t was stated
that this committee would report a
bill fatty to repeal the exemption pro.
vision. In the senate, Senator Chill
ton. a Democratic member of the in
teroceanic canals committee intro
duced an amendment to the canal act
which would give the president au-
thority to make or suspend tolls by
proclamation and to prescribe tolls
in cases exempted. This would put
it up directly to the president to elm.
mate the exemption.
Aside from the bearing Of the mes.
sage on the Panama tolls question
some of the phrases used by the pres.
ident attracted widespread comment
in congressional quarters as relating
to foreign relations in general. In
some quarters there was a disposi
ton to regard some of his statements
in the nature of a warning on the diff
culties involved in "other matters of
even greater delicacy and nearer con.
sequence"
No Significance, Wilson Says.
The president himself, in talking
with callers, explained that these
their bearing on the need of rigorous
good faith in the Panama tolls ques.
tion, as an evidence of unwavering
good faith on all other questions, 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:
First-the presidents statement
that no communication he had yet
sent to congress carried "graver or
more far-reaching implications to the
interest of the country"
Second That everywhere outside
the United States the language of the
Hay-Paunsefote treaty was given but
one Interpretation; and
Third-The concluding statement as
to other matters of even greater deli.
cacy and nearer consequence"
European View General.
The president further told his call.
ers that while he had never received
any formal communications ON the
subject he had understood that Euro
pean nations generally took the same
view as did Great Britain, that the
Hay-Pauncefote treaty was violated
by the Panama canal act. He pointed
out that in dealing with foreign af-
fairs nations which believed the
United States did not keep promise
on so important treaty as the Hay
Pauncefote convention would not be
likely to expect sincerity on other deli
cate questions.
Word had come to the president of
general impression in Europe that the
United States was sailing as close to
the wind as possible" in interpreting
promises made in it's treaties.
No pressure had been brought to
bear by any nation to emphasize it's
view III ILLS Col4oCIAoA, OuI Ile pTeSl-
dent felt confident that foreign gov
ernments had this feeling on the sub.
ject.
Senator Shively, acting chairman of
the foreign relations committee, COM
menting, said he was assured Presi-
dent Wilson's reference to "other
matters" meant all foreign matters
confronting the government