Evening star., 1912-07-12
Tariff Action Unlikely.


Tariff Action Unlikely.
AS soon as the Lorimer vote has been
announced. it is expected. the democrats
will move that the Senate proceed to the
consideration of one of the democratic
tariff bills AS the insurgent republicans
are not now in working coalition with the
democrats on tariff matters, it is ex-
pected the insurgents and regulars will
be united in opposition to that motion and
therefore 1t will be defeated.
That will leave the field clear for other
legislation. And just there Senator Bran
degee will come In with his motion that
the Panama canal bill be taken up.
One Of the speakers on the question Of
free tolls will be Senator Root The
New York senator will take the position,
1t is understood, that the Hay-Pauncefote
treaty would be violated II free tolls were
granted to American ships, either in the
domestic foreign trade, or in both.
Senator OGorman. Mr. Roots colleague
from New York, will take the opposition
view. it is understood. and will speak for
free tolls for American ships.
In Senator Roots position Chairman
Brandegee agrees. He will speak on that
feature OF the question. urging that all
ships passing through the canal should
pay tolls.
Free Tolls Favored.
If the action of the Senate committee
on interoceanic canals on this questions
is any indication of the majority atti
tude of the whole Senate. the provision
for free tolls for American ships will be
adopted by the Senate. A big majority
of the committee voted for the bills pro-
vision for free .olls for American ships
in both coastwise and foreign trade.
G 70 on, fnr fo1 hot ho 81 ,f
the majority votes was the belief that
no treaty with Great Britain would be
violated by the free tolls provision.
The treaty question was discussed at
length during the hearings and dur
ing the meetings of the committee, but
there was no direct vote on 1t. 1t Is
held, however, to be inconceivable that
senators would vote for the free-toll
proposition while believing that it vio-
lated a treaty.
The opponents of free tolls will raise
the treaty question as argument
against them and the question will be
before the Senate much as 1t was be-
fore the Senate committee on inter-
oceanic canals.
Knox to Mark Time.
At todays important cabinet meeting
Secretary Knox had nothing new to lay
before the President respecting the con-
visions Of the Hay-Pauncefote treaty will
be violated if the United States discrimi-
mates in favor of its own vessels goiag
through the Panama canal. The State
Department attitude is that Congress has
the whole question before 1t and that
there is nothing to do until that body
has acted. Further communications from
the British government on the subject
will be transmitted to the lawmaking
body for it's consideration and informa-
ton, when made.
That the matter was discussed at the
cabinet meeting today there was little
doubt Secretary Knox, although reti-
ceat en- the subject, appeared to think
that SO far as the State Department and
the President are concerned there Is moth
ing to be said or done ut this time.
HAY Go to The Hague.
II is entirely within the bounds of posi-
bility that the right of the United States
to favor American shipping in the use of
the Panama canal must finally be passed
upon by The Hague tribunal.
The long-expected notice from Great
Britain that she will regard discrimina-
ton in favor of American shipping as in
violation OF her treaty rights. which has
just been served upon the government OF
the United States, may be regarded as
must finally be settled by reference 70
some impartial authority.
Yesterdays note from Mitchell Innes,
who is in charge of the British embassy
during the absence in New Zealand of
Ambassador Bryce. while couched In per-
iectly courteous language, conveyed a
quiet intimation of the strength oi the
British opposition to the use OF the Pan
anna cana As a means or building up the
American merchant marine at the ex-
nf
Long Statement Expected.
Meanwhile. and in all likelihood before
the Senate can have finally acted upon
the measure, there will have arrived in
Washington what is believed to be a
long, legal and argumentative statement
by the British foreign Office of it's rea-
sons in detail for objecting to the pro-
posed legislation, and in some way this
is certain TO be read into the Senate
records.
1t is very unusual thing for any for
eign nation to undertake to influence
American legislation in formative con-
dition, and attempts to do so in the past
have elected severe rebukes. But 1t is
admitted at the State Department that
the peculiar conditions In the present
case apLear to warrant such action on
the part of Great Britain, hence Mr..
| Innes' notes have been accorded free
transmission to the Senate.
If this pending bill is passed 1t will, as
law. automatically replace any treaty
provision covered by the same subject
such was the decision of the Supreme
Court in passing upon the Chinese exc
| clusion law. Therefore. If England's pro-
| test is to be of any avail, it must be
| made now. before the bill becomes a law,
| to be OF any effect.