Omaha daily bee., 1912-07-18
FOR FREE TOLLS TO OUR SHIPS
Treaty with Great Britain No Bar
to Privileges.
RULE WOULD HOLD DURING WAR
McCumber Admits Would Make Big
Ditch Neutral.
ONLY BURDEN ON THIS NATION
Country May Remit Tolls to
ships and Objects to Ham,
pering America.

WASHINGTON. July 17.-Senator o'Gor-
man OF New York charged in the senate
today that railroad influence was behind
Great Britain's protest against the
Panama canal bill and he Joined with
Senator Lodge In declaring that the
United States possessed full rights under
the British treaty to give free passage
to ships of American register. These two
speeches marked the debate In the senate
on the Panama canal bill.
Both Mr.. Lodge and Mr.. O'Gorman de-
clared this nation was not bound by the
ay-Pauncefote treaty to give foreign
ships all the privileges granted American
ships. Mr.. Lodge favored a bill to rebate
the tolls to American ships, while Sena-
tor o'Gorman declared the United States
possessed the full right to give American
vessels free passage IL desired. Senator
Lodge conceded that 10 the case went to
The Hague court the United States prob
ably would lose.
The support today for the provision
giving free passage to American ships
against which Great Britain has protested
was more emphatic than at any time
since the senate began consideration Of
the BILL Mr.. OGorman, Mr.. Cummins
and others declared that II the United
States had to construe the treaty liter
ally In giving the ships Of all nations
equal treatment, II by other terms OF
the treaty would be prevented from de-
Tending the canal in case of war
"If Japanese Geet appeared at the
western end of the canal said Senator
Reed of Missouri, bent upon passing
through to attack the city of New York.
the United States would have no right
under such a construction OF the treaty
to take any steps against It."
Senator Burton Of Ohio. who made the
first speech Monday In support Of the
British theory that the United States can
give no special privileges to Its own
vessels. declared war would suspend the
operation Of the treaty. Senator Nc
Cumher. however. In speech today
against the free provision conceded that
II was his beitef sthS canai would have
TO remain neutral even in time of war
and that the United States would be for
bdden by the Hay -Paunoefote treaty from
taking immediate measures to block or
use the canal for Its own protection.
Senator 0'Gorman declared that railroad
Influence was behind the British protest.
~ do not think British shipping is
grealy interested" he said. II believe the
railroads OF Canada and the railroads Of
the United States have been enable to
secure the coopertion OF the British office
of foreign affairs, to embarrass this
government.
''rhe only government that has as
stunned any especial burden under the
treat yis the United States" said Sem
ator o'Gorman. England and other
countries have assumed no burdens be-
yond the payment Of the tolls and the
agreements as to the terms Of its neu-
trality.
There IL nothing to prevent England
from remitting to Its merchant ships
every dollar Of tolls paid the Panama
canal There Is onthing to prevent SIM
liar action by other countries. The only
power that is trammeled, restrained and
curtailed nthe performance of its duties
to It's own citizenship is the one that has
spent s400.O000Oo in the construction Of
this great enterprise"
He said Spain already had legislated
ito reimburse Spanish ships for the tolls
spent In going through our canal"
Senator Lodge raised the question
whether the United States would have
right to interfere II another country
should undertake to pay the tolls Of it's
ships when passing through the canal.
No foreign country. he said, could inter-
fere with any arrangement the United
States might make for the payment Of
tolls.
IF any government should undertake
to do so for one would protest" he
said