Arizona republican., 1912-07-18
England Has Been Induced, He Believes, by American and Canadian Railways to Protest Against Pending Canal Legislation
AMERICAN SHIPS
 MUST PASS FREE
That Was the Majority Sen timent as Brought Out in the Debate in the Senate; Treaty Not to Be Con strued Literally
ASSOCIATED PRESS DIsPATCH1

WASHINGTON. July 17.-Senator OGorman of New York in the debate on the Panama canal bill today charged that railroad influences were behind Great Britain's protest against the bill and he Joined with Senator Lodge in declaring that the United States pos sessed Gull rights under the British treaty to give free passage to ships of American register
 Lodge favored a bill to rebate tolls to American ships. while O'GOrman said that the United States possessed the full right to give American vessels free passage if desired. Lodge contend ed that if the case went to the Hague, the United States probably would lose.
 The support for the provision giving free passage to American ships against which Britain protested was the most emphatic since the senate be- gan the consideration of he bill. O'Gorman, Cummins and others said that if the United States had to con- strue the treaty literally in giving ships of all nations equal treatment it would be by the terms of the treaty. be pre- vented from protecting the canal in the case of ar.
 WASHINGTON. July 17-If a Jap anese fleet entered the western end of the canaf' said Senator Reed, "bentu pon passing through to attack New York, the United States would have no right under such a constriction of the treaty to take any steps against it."
 Senator Burton of Ohio said war would suspend the operation treaty. McCumber in attacking the free pro- vision. conceded that it was his belief that the canal would have to remain neutral even in time of war, and that the United States would be forbidden by the Hay -Pauncefote treaty from taking immediate measures to block or use the canal for its own protection.
 "I do not think British shipping is greatly increased" O'Gorman said. T believe that the railroads of Canada and the railroads of the United States have been enabled to secure the coop eration of the British office of foreign affairs. to embarrass this government in the attempt we are making to secure legislation to keep railroad controlled SlDlS uIRiDOILOdH,S fSOlHtI ttdOiHldOlli ships out of the Panama canal. There is nothing to prevent England from re- hitting it's merchant ships every dollar of tolls paid the Panama canal. There is nothing to prevent other nations from similar taxation. The only power that is trammelled, restricted or cur tailed in the performance of its duties to it's own citizenship. is one that has spent $400,OOO,OOO in constructing the great enterprise" He said that Spain already had 1egislated to reimburse" Spanish ships for the toll spent in go- ing through the Canal
 Lodge raised the question whether the United States would have the right to interfere if another country should undertake to the pay rolls of it's ships when passing through the canal. No foreign country he said, could inter- fere with any arrangement the United might make for the payment tolls. If any government would do so 1 for one would protest he said.