Jasper County Democrat, Volume 15, Number 40, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 August 1912 — TAFT ASKS CHANGE IN PANAMA BILL [ARTICLE]

TAFT ASKS CHANGE IN PANAMA BILL

President Sends Special Message! to Congress. URGES COURT TEST PROVISION Recommends Passage of Resolution Granting Foreigners Privilege of Contesting Validity of Measure Before U. S. Tribunals. Washington, Aug. 20.—President Taft sent to congress a special message urging the amendment of the Panama canal bill which has passed both houses for the adoption of a joint resolution designed to allow foreign nations to test the validity of the free ’ tolls provision of the bill under the Hay-Pauncefote treaty. The president indicated a desire to sign the present bill, but declared it was of utmost importance that further legislation be passed, so that the good faith of the United States would i be understood by foreign governments. Treaty Not Violated. The message says in part: “After a full examination of the Hay-Pauncefote treaty, I feel confident that the exemption of the coastwise vessels of the United States from tolls and the imposition of tolls on vessels of all nations engaged in foreign trade is not a violation of the treaty with Great Britain. But distinguished lawyers in the house and senate differ from this proposition and the secretary of state has received an informal protest from the British government that the contemplated legislation is a violation of her treaty rights. “I suggest, therefore, that before the time has elapsed in which. I am called upon to express approval or disapproval, congress consider the matter of passing a joint resolution granting foreigners or foreign corporations the privilege of contesting this measure in the courts of the United States as being opposed to the Hay-Paunce-fote treaty.” Agree on One Battleship. One battleship, to cost >15,000,000, was agreed to by the conferees on the naval appropriation bill. Size, dimensions and armament were ignored in the agreement. In every other respect the bill is as approved by the ■previous conference and is acceptable to the house and the senate. The naval bill also provides for eight submarines. This year’s building program also will include six torpedo boats, two colliers and one machine ship. The bill as agreed upon provides for a round-the-world wireless system by which the navy department can keep in touch with its ships at virtually evry part of the globe. An appropriation of >2,535,000 is to be available for beginning work on the battleship. Passes Appropriation Bill. The senate passed the new legislative, executive and judicial appropriations bill, substitute for the one vetoed by President Taft. The new measure retains the section abolishing the commerce court, but that firing a seven-year tenure for government clerks is elided. A majority of the appropriations committee reported the bill with provisions for the retention of the court, and when this was eliminated Mr Taft’s friends predicted that the bill again woud be vetoed.