The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1912-07-27
Objection to no Tolls
for American Vessels AWakens
Acute Discussion.
The Right of America to Regulate
Tolls of its Ships Through
Panama Upheld.
Destruction of her Monopoly on
West India Trade Cause of
British Interference.

The British protest against free
tolls for American vessels, passing
through the Panama Canal, has
aroused a commotion among public
men in Washington of all classes and
parties. The common view is that
Great Britain has gone wide of the
sane mark in International behavior
to meddle with the internal affairs of
the United States to the extent OF
asking that Congress call halt In
the consideration Of the pending
| Canal bill until a. diplomatic parley
may be instituted with n view of de-
feating the bill and denying the righ.
| OF this country to give to it's own
shipping the benefit of the use of the
Canal as a National asset.
There is every reason to believe
that the Senate will act with more
promptness than would have been the
case had Great Britain made no ef-
fort to interfere. Senator Brandegec.
chairman Of the Senate Interoceanic
Canal Committee, said that a canvass
OF the Senate revealed the fact that
there was majority in favor Of con-
currence in the House provision. Civ
ing the President authority in his dis
cretion to establish reduced or even
free tolls for American shipping.
This provision was put in the bill ON
the floor, the House Committee on
Interstate and Foreign Commerce. Of
which Mr.. Adamson of Georgia Is
chairman. But there is a strong ma
iority in both Senate and House for
free tolls, and this majority has not
been weakened by the course taken
by Great Britain.
1t is understood that Ambassador
Bryce discussed the master of Canal
tolls with Count Bernstorff. German
Ambassador several months ago.
Neither France nor Germany contest
the plan of FREQ tolls for American
ships. British ships had Il monopoly
of the carrying trade of tropical and
subtropical fruits in the British West
Indies and Central America. Then
this transcontinental system when the
Canal is in operation will have a COM
petitor. The tropical fruits produced
in Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas,
and British Honduras brought to the
United States will be interfered with
when by lower freights through the
Canal California can reach the east
crn markets on competitive basis.
This is the milk in the cocoanut, al
though the carrying trade Of British
steamers is a part of the trouble.
Why England Protests.
When California can ship her fruit
through the Canal at freight rates
one-fifth Of those now charged by
the railroads, which would be possible
with free tolls, the British West In
dies will not have the monopoly now
enjoyed, and on this account the fight
has been begun to prevent free tolls.
Even the immense banana trade that
the British planters now enjoy will
suffer, although California produces
no bananas. Cheaper oranges and
other fruits produced in great abund-
ancc in California will in part dis
place bananas by reason of the low
price.
The Senate amendment in regard to
railroad owned ships in coastwise
, trade, which discriminates against
the ports of Canada, New Mexico and
Central and South America has pro-
voked the opposition Of Great Brit
> ain, but it was not considered nor
known when Mr.. Bryce held his con-
ference with other members of the
diplomatic corps and intimated that
the British Foreign Office would in
due time make a protest.
England Has No Right to Object.
Representative Sulzer of New York.
Chairman of the House Committee on
Foreign Affairs, said: II am surprised
that the British Government now oh
tects to the United States Govern
ment regulating the tolls of it's own
, ships through the Panama Canal
However, nothing serious will come c
the objection. The treaty is plail
, 4 f.EssU