The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1912-07-25
RAILROAD
Owned Steamships Should
Be Kept Out of Canal
O'Gormsn Declares.
SAYS BRITISH DEMAND
Is Backed by the Railroad
Companies of This Coun-
try and Canada.
SAYS BRITISH DEMAND


WASHINGTON, d. c., july "a
The right of the United States to
levy tolls or to exempt American
ships from the payment OF tolls while
going through the Panama canal is
inherent in our government; any
other view is wholly unwarranted by
the facts in the case" said Senator
Clarence d. Clark. of Wyoming.
chairman OF the Judiciary committee
of the Senate. in the course OF a
discussion of the aIay-Pauncefote
treaty relating to the operation and
use OF the Panama canal. His view
is most generally accepted by sena-
tors but there is in the Senate a
considerable number OF Its members
who take the position that the Hay
Pauncefote treaty, which took the
place of the Clayton-Bulwer treaty
of the early fifties, makes 1t obliga-
tory on the part of the United States
to charge tolls on American ships en-
gagged In the coastwise and foreign
trade the same as on ships OF other
nations.
'If this view should prevail"
said Senator James A. o'Gorman. Of
New York. in an interview on the
Panama canal bill, 1.-The American
people will be greatly surprised that
SO little regard for American rights
was manifested at the time of the
adoption OF the HaylPauncefote
traty, because, II the view alluded
to be the correct one, It must follow
that while the United States has ex-
pended $500, 100000 of american
money in the construction e9eae ca
nal It's citizens must be denied the
rights that are enjoyed by the sub
jects OF Great Brieain and every
other foreign power. cannot In
aglne that condition nor will l be-
lieve that the late John Hay, who
executed the treaty on the part OF
the United States, ever thought for
moment that we were estopped
from exempting American ships from
the payment o ftolls because of GER
tain clauses OF the. treaty which are
now interpreted to mean that very
thing.
cit does not seem possible that
the right possessed 10y every other
nation on earth with respect TO the
Panama canal. our canal, is denied
to our own citizens by composition
or convention called a treaty, which
is not remarkable for its precision
of expression or its respect for the
Monroe doctrine"
Senator o'Gorman then voiced
what seems to be a growing sentl-
ment, that behind the protest OF
Great Britain turks the influence OF
the railroads OF Canada and the
United States which have been en-
abled to secure the cooperation OF
the British foreign Office, thereby
embarrassing the government of the
United States in the attempt now
!being made for Wholesome legisla-
tion to keep railroad controlled
ships off the canal, so that competi-
tion may live and thrive.
THE railroad companies have
been incorporated for railroad pur-
poses" continued Mr.. o'Gorman,
"and they have destroyed competi-
tion wherever they have been per-
mitted to secure control of com
peting water transportation faclll-
ties.
III drastic legislation Is needed TO
make competition on the canal then
I stand ready to vote for that legis-
,Iation, because l have lively ap-
probation OF the possibility of the
injury which may be done the Amer
lean people II the railroads are not
kept out OF the canal.
I'VE should exempt, from the pay
ment OF tolls all American shipping
going through the canal and we
should see to It that rallroad-owned
steamships should not use the ca
nal. Such action on the part of the
American Congress in my Judgment
would not violate the language and
cannot violate the spirit Of the
treaty that has been invoked against
us"