The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-07-18
NEW YORK sOlON
Defends U.s.sAIPs
Senator 0'Gorman Declares There
Is Nothing in Treaty that I'm
poses Equal Use Of Canal.
TAKES ISSUE WITH ROOT;
QUOTES RIGHT OF OWNERSHIP
Senator Lodge Says Nation Has
Right to Remit Tolls-Know.
land Charges Conspiracy.

Senator James A. OGorman Of New
York made notable speech in the Sem
ate yesterday afternoon on the question
of Panama Canal tolls. The Panama
Canal bill was laid before the Senate
at o'clock. Senator Lodge opened the
debate, taking strong grounds in opposi-
ton to the British contentious that the
Hay-Pauncefote treaty obligated the Unit
ed States to give free passage through
the canal to the shipping Of all foreign
nations.
Following Senator Lodges speech. Sena-
tor OGorman addressed the Senate for
nearly two hours and in the course OF
his speech took the advanced ground
that there was nothing in the wording of
the HayPauncefote treaty that impos-
ed on the United States the obligation
to admit foreign ships to passage through
the Panama Canal on equal terms with
American shipping.
Il do not see room for doubt as to
the construction that should be ptacen
on article 3 of the treaty. said the
Senator from New York. IF We were to
concede that the United States was
placed on an absolute equality with the
other nations II would even then follow
that this treaty would not be violated
by the United States extending TO the
Takes Issue with Root.
The Senator from New York took issue
with Senator Root, his colleague, on the
question of tolls. Senator O'Gorman
contends that the United States exercises
all the right OF ownership and con-
troll" that its right to extend free pass
age through the canal to American ships
is an incident to such ownership. Any
other construction, he declared. would be
narrow. unfounded and unreasonable.
The only limita ton on the exercise or
the right of ownership is such special
Limitation as is reserved in the treaty.
The Senator declared that the treaty
clearly indicated a distinction between
the government that makes the rules and
the government that observes the rules.
The requirement for equality or treat
ment. he asserted. applied only to the
governments which shall observe the
rules.
Does the Senator insist that We make
these rules and enforce them against all
other nations. but that we alone are at
liberty to violate them inquired Sena-
tor Lodge.
No" replied Senator O'Gorman. but
there may be a difference between vio-
lating-we are not bound by the language
Of the treaty to observe those rules. That
duty rests upon the other nations. We
make the rules. The other nations OBJ |
serve them. Further than that. our oblI-
cations do not go. We are untram- |
meled."
Would Have Right of Blockade.
Senator Brandegee asked the Senator |
from New York IL the United States |
would have the right TO blockade the |
canal
II will be surprised to hear a Senator |
get up and say that in the face of an |
enemy the United States would be pow
erless TO shut out the war vessels OF an |
enemy bent upon doing destruction to |
Dur commerce and our people" replied |
the Senator from New York.
Senator Chamberlain Of Oregon inter
rupted to say that he had understood
Senator Lodge TO assert that when he
Senate he did not suppose that the /
United States was included in the words |
''all nations"
Senator Chamberlain expressed sur
prise that Senator Lodge now seemed
willing to abandon the rights OF the
United States or to remit her rights to
the arbitrament of The Hague.
Senator Page OF Vermont recalled that
when the matter was before the COM
mittee he had persisted in inserting the
word other" so that the treaty would
impose obligations on 'all other nations"
thus specifically exempting the United
States
Senator O'Gorman. continuing his
speech. declared that II the views ad-
sanced by Senator Burton Of Ohio were
no matter what emergency
might arise, the United States could not
'ortify the canal. and no matter how
great may be the menace from an en-
smy. we must permit the enemy to use
,ur canal to aid in working havoc upon
our coasts and upon our people"
Burton Resents Inference.
Senator Burton replied that no such in
ference could be put upon his speech.
,ut Senator o'Gorman insisted that 'if
[ be conceded that the remission OF tolls
10 our shipowners works violation of
his treaty. then It must follow that We
;annot fortify the canal"
Senator Lodge in the speech which he
made earlier in the day took strong
against the British contention
hat the United States had no right to
emit the tolls paid by American ship
ling interests or to reimburse shipown-
rs. He declared that Austrian vessels,
y shich pay tolls for passing through the
,uez Canal, are reimbursed by the Aus
ran government. and Great Britain has
iever complained Of this practice and
las done nothing to prevent 1t.
mo foreign power has the right TO
ONE in here and say to us what arrange
nents We shall make with regard to our
hipping." said Senator Lodge. The Mas
achusetts Senator insisted that the con-
truction of the Hay-Pauncefote treaty
open to doubt. He admitted that when
@ reported it to the Senate he supposed
hat It left the United States free TO fix
oils for its vessels, otherwise he would
ave sought to change the phraseology.
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