The Washington times., 1912-07-12
TAFT STANDS FIRM
ON FREE TOLLS FOR
AMERICAN VESSELS
Cabinet Supports President
In Contention Regarding
Panama Canal.

That President Taft will stand pat"
on his declaration made in a special
message to Congress on December 21,
1911, that the Panama canal belongs
to the United States and that we have
the right to charge whom we please
for the use of 1t, became known at
the conclusion of the Cabinet meeting
today.
For more than two hours Mr.. Taft
and his official advisers discussed the
proposed Legislation for the canal, and
especially dwelt on the protest by
Great Britain.
It Is understood that every member
Of the Cabinet present supports the
President in his attitude, but they
also advised him to take no official
cognizance Of the forthcoming pro-
test until after he has had time to
examine 1t and has consulted with
Secretary Knox and Senators Lodge
and Brandegee, of the two Senate
committees involved.
Rests With America.
One member of the Cabinet said, as
he was leaving, that the question Of
the alleged discrimination IN favor of
American ships is one which rests en-
tirely with the owners of the canal
II any European powers choose to
protest against the Administration's
views, their objections will be heard
and promptly answered; w,no.acn. But tut, It Is
no effect upon the present canal poll
icy which has been mapped out and
adjusted to meet possible difficulties
and complications.
One caller said, as he was leaving
the Executive Offices that the Presi-
dent, confident that he has the sup
port of the Cabinet and Congress, will
stick to his decision of last Decem-
ber, and that Great Britain or any
other power will be politely requested
to remember that the Panama Canal
is under the Stars and Stripes and
that foreign interference Is neither
invited nor desired.
Get England's Protest.
Secretary of State Knox will this af-
ternoon transmit to Senator Brandegee,
chairman of the Senate Committee on
Interoceanic Canals, the text Of Eng
lands last word in the question Of
whether American coastwise ships shall
be allowed to pass through the Panama
canal without payment of tolls.
The formal protest from Great
Britain is contained in a lengthy letter
transmitted to the State Department to-
day by Alfred Mitchell Innes, charge
d'affaires of the British EN- bassy. AT
ter being read by officials it was sent
to the Senate with a short note from
the Secretary Of State.
The department has repeatedly made
1t clear that the matter just now must
be dealt with by Congress and that 1t
will not become a diplomatic issue un-
I'll the bill fixing tolls is passed by the
legislators.
The Hague Tribunal.
Should Congress uphold the President
IN, hfa or nd 10 Cd tn n
question would then have to be taken
before the Hague for a final decision
as to whether the bill is a violation of
the Hay-Pauncefote treaty.
In the event that the Hague decides
that Congressional decision constitutes
then be confronted with the greatest
legal problem ever presented to it
whether treaty law or statute law Is
superior. There is no court in the coun-
question legal experts say, and special
tribunal would have to be appointed by
Congress.
Clash In Senate.
That a great debate is coming in the
Senate over the question of free tolls
for American ships in the coastwise
trade through the Panama canal Is pre-
dicted at the Capitol today.
It was learned this morning through
Senator Brandegee that Senator Root
will make a speech in which he will
hold the Hay-Pauncefote treaty would
be violated by free tolls. On the other
hand, Senator O'Gorman, of New York,
will take the opposite view. Other Sem
ators will enter into the discussion, and
1t will become general.
Senator Brandegee said this morning
he had not received the communication
sent to Secretary Knox by the British
charge daffaires, stating Great Britain's
ground of objection. He deemed it like
ly that a matter of this Importance
would be communicated by the Presi-
dent in special message to Congress.
If that is done, 1t may be referred to
Foreign Relations or to the Canal Com
mittee. If 1t Is referred to the Canal
Committee, Senator Brandegee said he
would at once call a meeting.
Opposed to Free Tolls.
Senator Brandegee himself is opposed
to free tolls. But he said that a large
majority of the Canals Committee had
voted in support of free tolls. The COM
mittee never made a report on the bill
as a whole, because 1t could not agree
on a report, or on the bill as a whole.
But on the vote on the free tolls part
of it, large majority took the free
tolls side.
What will be the outcome of the mat
a1Ar