The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-12-11
QUESTION OF FREE
CANAL TOLLS HAS
BEEN REOPENEO
Attitude of British Causes
Senator'S to Feel Public
Pulse on Matter
REPRESENTATIVE SIMS
CALLS 1T SUBSIDY
Says He Will Ask Hearing to
Repeal Law Which Grants
Free Passage to Coast
wise Ships

.
OF the senate are widely divided In
their opinion as to what course this
government should follow relative TO
the British note on the Panama ca
nal question.
Those who oppose the provision Ia
the law granting free tolls to Ameri-
can vessels generally insist that Great
Britain. having suggested arbitration,
the United States cannot, in keeping
with the spirit of arbitrating inter-
national differences, refuse to accede
to England's demand, and more espe-
cialiy In view OF our arbitration agree
ment with that country.
On the other hand. the suggestion
which was made at the time the bill
was under consideration In the Sea-
ate, that IL necessary to avoid just
such a situation as has now arisen,
the United States should withdraw
from. the Hague convention. Our
present arbitration agreement with
Great Britain, which was made In
1908, to continue for five years, VIII
expire In May, and some senator's.
who are anxious TO sidestep the issue.
believe that. II possible. the nntter
should be permitted to drag along
without action until after that time
What steps might then be taken they
are not now prepared to state.
senators Feel Public Pulse.
Or course. the issue is not directly
up to the senate at the presan. time,
although II Is likely to be brought mp
in some form or another during the
present session. Nevertheless, sena-
tors are deeply interested in II. For
the most part. however. they are eau
tiousiy awaiting developments and a
capitalization OF sentiment before ex-
pressing anything more than the most
guarded opinion.
Meanwhile Secretary Knox will pre-
pare a reply to the British note. 1t
win be Of the same friendly tone as
was Minister Grey's communication.
entirely lacking any elements OF bell
iigerency.
Today was a regular cabinet meet
ing day. and the subject was up for
informal discussion by President Taft.
Secretary Knox and the rest OF the
presidents official family.
The outline of this governments
reply probably viii not be discussed
until the president and Secretary
Knox have had opportunity TO go over
the British note thoroughly. which
may be few weeks.
Some official expressions prior to
=
ground for the belief that while not
agreeing with the British contention
that the canal toll act is In violation
OF the Hay Pauncefote treaty. the AL
minis,ration Is inclined to admit that
the subject Is one over which there
might be fair difference of opinion.
Opinion Of President.
Moreover. tt .s known that the pres
ident does not regard the subject as
one affecting the vital interests Of the
United states, but rather as of purely
Iecunfary consequence. and. there
fore, not among the prohibited sub
jects mentioned In the existing sp~-
cial arbitration treaty with Great
Britain Therefore, while that result
may not be reached Immediately. it
is probable that In the end the a6-
ministration will hold that the ques-
ton at issue Is clearly an arbitrabio
one.
The next step would be to negotiate
with the British ambassador with a
view to preparing the draft of an
agreement specifying the matter to be
arbitrated. This necessarily would go
to the senate for approval.
Representative Sims. of Tennessee,
stated today he would ask an imme-
date hearing before the house inter-
state commerce commission on his
bill to repeal the section Of the Pam
anna canal law which grants free tolls
to coastwise ships.
This amounts to ship subsidy" said
Sims. "and my action has nothing to
do with the protest cf Great Britain.
The Democratic party has opposed
ship subsidy. and. therefore, win de-
mand repeal OF this free toll pro-
-
Britain may take"
Take Prompt Action.
Prompt action with reference to the
British protest against the Panama
toll bill was taken today by the exec
utive branch OF the United States gov,
ernment.
So far as the legislative branch is
concerned. where the Anal action of
the government must be framed, there
was scarcely a ripple OF interest in
Great Britain's demand. The senate,
final arbiter for this country in treaty
matters, practically regards the Pan
anna tolls question as closed Incl
dent
The president with his cabinet and
the legal authorities OF the state de-
partment today took up the consid-
GRAFTON Of these two problems:
is the question Of the exemption OF
American eoastwise ships from Pam
anna canal tolls arbitrable with Great
Britain?
Should the question In any event be
pressed to arbitration in view of the
fiatly negative action already taken
by the senate?
Sentiment Divided.
At the White House and state de-
ma rnent n ia stated authoritatively