PANAMA CANAL

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 35, 11 February 1914, Page 7

PANAMA CANAL

THE EXEMPTION CLAUSE "FLIMSY EXCUSE." (By Telegraph.— Press Association.— Copyright.) WASHINGTON, 10th Feb. Senator Stone has written to the chairman of the Democratic Conference stating that the Panama Canal tolls exemption clause was adopted in the Democratic platform after a full discussion. Therefore, if the drafters think the United States is unable to carry out the policy with honour and in good faith, the proper thing to do is to reverse the policy without seeking the flimsy excuse that the party adopted it unawares. [A message published on Monday last stated : "Mr, Adamson (a member of the House of Representatives), Chairman of the Foreign Commerce Committee, asserts that the free tolls provision was inserted in the Democratic platform without the knowledge of a majority of the Resolutions Committee. In consequence of this discovery, the way is now clear . for a congressional debate upon a repealing measure. The subsidy question is not a cardinal plank of the Democratic platform, therefore _ there is not likely to be any real resistance to the President's programme." The Washington correspondent to The Times wrote recently to his paper :~"There is much gratification in responsible circles over Mr. Adamson's resolution providing that there shall be no exemption of American coastwise shipping from Panama tolls Uhtil the expenses of the canal can be paid without such tolls and until all diplomatic questions arising out of the exemption have been adjusted. The passage of the resolution and its acceptance by President Wilson would defer almost to the Greek Kalends the inauguration of a preferential policy, if for no other reason than that it will be years before the canal can be selfsupporting and pay interest on its debt."