The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1912-07-18
Senator O'Gorman Charges that
British Objection to Panama
Canal Bill is Hatched
in America
SENATOR LODGE In
FAVOR OF The BILL
And Senator Reed Speaks in Be.
half Of It Free Passage
Sentiment is Growing
Stronger

Washington, July ls.-senator
o'Gorman Of New York charged in
the senate yesterday that railroad in.
fluence was behind Great Britain'a
protest against the Panama canal bnl
and he joined with Senator Lodge in
declaring the United States possessed
full rights under the British treaty
to give free passage to ships Of Amerl-
can register These two speeches
marked the debate in the senate on the
Panama canal bill.
Both Mr.. Lodge and Mr.. O'Gorman
declared this nation was bound by the
Hay-Pauncefote treaty to give foreign
ships all privileges granted American
ships. Mr. Lodge favored a bill to re-
bate the tolls to American ships, how.
ever, while Senator O'Gorman declar.
ed the United States possessed full
right to give American vessels free
passage ii desired. Senator Lodge CON
ceded that if the case went to The
Hague court, the United States would
lose.
The support 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 investigation.
Senator 0'Gorman and others said
that If the United States had to con.
strue the treaty literally in giving tha
ships Of all nations equal treatment.
1t would, by other terms Of the treaty.
be prevented from defending the canal
in case Of war.
If a Japanese fleet 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 wouId
have no right under such construc.
tion Of the treaty, to take any steps
against it,
Senator Burton Of Ohio, who mads
his first speech in support Of the Brit
ish theory declared war would sus.
pend operation Of the treaty. senatoa
McCumber, in speech against the
free provision, conceded it was his be.
lief that the canal would have 70 70.
main neutral, even in time Of war, and
that the Unitsd States would be for
hidden by the Hay-Paunccfote treaty
from taking any measure to blockada
or use the canal for its own protee.
tion.
Senator OGorman declared railroad
influence was behind the British pro,
ieet.
q do not believe British shipping is
greatly interested" he said. q be.
lieve the railroads OF Canada and ths
railroads Of the United States have
been able to secure the cooperation Of
the British officers Of foreign airalrs.
to embarrass this government in the
attempt we are making to secure leg.
islation to keep railroad-conuolled
ships out Of the Panama canal
The only government that mas as
sumed any especial burden under the
treaty is the United States. said Sen
ator 0'Gorman. England and other
countries have assumed no burden be-
yond the payment Of tolls and tho
agreement as to the terms OF its nea.
trality.
There is nothing to prevent Eng-
land or other countries from remitllng
to its merchant ships every dollar q
tolls paid the Panama canal. The onls
power tramelled, restricted ana Cur.
tailee in the performance Of its duties
to its won citizenship, is the one that
has spent s4O00O0,Oo0 in the eoastrae-
ti0n Of this enterprise"
tie said Spain had already legislat.
ed to reimburse ships for Che soaa
spent in going through our canal
Senator Lodge raised the question
whether the United States would have
a right 70 interfere Il another country
should undertake to pay the tolls of
its ships when passing through tbs
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