The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-11-16
.ST|MSON PLANS
TO REPAY TOLLS
Says Treaty Allows 1t, and
1t Would Aid American
Merchant Marine.

Kansas City. Mo. November l5,--
SECRETARY or War Stimson proposed n
way of upbuildins the American mcr-
chant maripe last night in his speech
before tho Commercial Club in this
city. He suggested that Congress nav
the tolls for American vessels using
the Panama Canal.
Russia. Austria Hungary, Germany,
France. Japan. italy and Spain. he
says. have adopted this policy AID ro-
fmburse tho vessels of their merchant
marine using the Suez Canal. When
the Panama Cana l is open. he added.
these governments will probably con.
tihue that policy and repay the tolls
imposed upon their respective vessels
which use the Panama Canal.
Unless the United States, he said.
follows the same policy, American
vessels will be at a disadvantage in
the struggle for trade which Will take
place upon the opening OF the canal.
Right to Pay the Tolls.
Touching the right of the United
states to pay tolls on American vcs-
sells using the canal. Secretary slim
son had not the shadow OF a doubt.
lie said the United States had both
legal and moral right to subsidize it's
shipping passing through the canal.
Under the treaty with Grea, Britain
the rules of the Suez Canal were to
govern. and In that case II had never
been considered Il violation of the rule
of DECENTRALIZATION for Il nation to nay
the tolls upon the vessels dying It's
nag. Substantially every European
government using the SueZ Canal pays
such subsidies. fully or partially
equivalent to the full tolls. Therefore,.
said the secretary, it was perfectly
clear that tho United States had the
right to appropriate to the vessels
paying the same, the sum paid into
It's treasury by those vessels in the
form of canal tolls.
No Provision for Operation.
Tic directed attention TO the fact
mat although there will be water
enough in the canal to noat small boats
throughout It's length by the close OF
the rainy season, which begins mex,
May, and while the canal will be fully
ready for ocean traffic. through our
own neglect no provision has been
nude for it's operation.
as soon as the canal is completes
the Presidents authority over it Will
cease. unless Congress comes to tho
rescue. y great economic loss Will be
involved in allowing the present splcn-
dldly efficient force OF employees 10
disintegrate, when so much of It will
be needed for the permanent operation
OF tho canal.
Then. he said. there is the problem
Of creating a permanent organization
or government TO operate the canal
and to control the zone.
Military Problem Considered,
The secretary declared that at tho
bottom the canal presents a military
problem. For defensive purposes IL
Will double the capacity OF our fleet.
and to have IL blockadcd at a critical
moment in our national life either by
accident or design might be quite a.
disastrous as having twenty of our
battlcships sunk at sea. The tempta-
ton which that fact imposes upon
any nation with whom tho United
States may be AT war must never be
lost sight OF.
In the operation OF the canal. he
said, the President should have given
n free hand, using such forms OF al
ministrative government as he may
devise.
Secretary stin1son expected great
benefit to the country from the canal
In It's effect upon transcontinental
rates. He was inclined to favor the
extension over the new route of tn
power OF the Interstate Commerce
Commission.
Champ Ciuris's Grievance.
Largely because American histories
ard biographies are written by men
who live In Eastern States. the deeds
OF Western pioneers and statesmen
are minlmizcd inc are gradually being
eliminated from history"
This was the pith of a speech by
Speaker Champ Clark, who eulog!zed
Thomas Hart Benton. whom he
stayled 1.-The great Missourian."
Speaker Clark declared il was "un-
fortunate that the downeasters write
nearly all our so-called histories and
Biographies"
Governor Judson Harmon, of Ohio,
spoke on the John jay treaty.
Other Governors present were Had
ley. OF Missouri; Aldrich. of Nebraska.
and Burke, Of North Dakota.