Jasper County Democrat, Volume 16, Number 89, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 February 1914 — ASKS ALL PAY TOLLS [ARTICLE]

ASKS ALL PAY TOLLS

WILSON ANNOUNCES HE WILL SEEK ACTION ON CANAL. President Believes Treaty With Britain Guarantees Equality of Treatment to AH Nations. Washington, Feb. 6. —President Wilson announced that he would endeavor to have repealed at the present session of congress that provision of the Panama canal act which exempts American coastwise ships from the payment of tolls. He made his position clear to callers in unequivocal terms. The president believes the HayPauncefote treaty with Great Britain guarantees equality of treatment to all naftions, including the United States, in the matter of tolls and that the United States is in honor bound" to charge American vessels the same tolls it imposes upon those of foreign nations. The president impressed upon his callers that he would use every legitimate influence at his disposal to have the exemption clause eliminated from the Panama canal act. The president's views will be carried out in the house with little difficulty, according to Representative Adamson, chairman of the interstate and foreign commerce committee, who said congress undoubtedly would act quqickly by a “straight out repeal.” Senator O’Gorman, chairman of the inter-oceanic canals committee, which had charge of the bill, and who led the victorious fight in the senate to exempt American coastwise vessels from tolls, declared his purpose to stand byt his convictions and fight the president’s desire. m Senator Stone, who voted for the provision, has said he would vote for the repeal, taking the position that as under the treaty the United States still has the right to levy any tolls it wishes, the exemption should be stricken out in deference to international good feeling and in line with a desire to avoid any ill feeling with Great Britain.