The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1913-01-23
NEWLANDS JOINS IN
URGING RETENTION
Nevada Senator Declares
Transcontinental Roads of
United States and Canada
Are Striving to Paralyze
Commerce Through Big
Ditch Across the Isthrnus
By GEORGE G. HILL

Especial Dispatch to The Call)
WASHINGTON. Jan. %. The fight
for the retention of the mo tolls pro-
vision of the Panama canal act was
taken up today by Senators O'Gorman,
Newlands and MARITIME. all of whom in
sisted that it was clearly within the
right of the United States to remit the
canal charges on coastwise shipping.
Senator OGorman, who replied to
the question was one of domestic policy
and as such not subject to any juris-
diction that might be urged by the
government of Great Britain.
QUESTION is VITAL ONE
IF our right to pursue a domestic
policy is challenged by foreign
power" he said, "our national integrity
is assailed if we yield to such an intru-
sion. can see no question more vital
to our domestic policy than the one
under consideration
Senator O'Gorman touched lightly
upon the International phase and made
little reference to the policies involved
but devoted much Of his time to the
contention that the law as passed was
"a wholesome one and would break ur
for a long time by the transcontinental
railroads. He also implied that there
were some Americans who approached
international questions from the Brit
ish point of view rather than the point
of view of their own country
"MORE BRITISH THAN BRITISH
There are those.'' he said, who are
more British than the British them
selves in their Interpretation OF
treaties
In support of this assertion he cited
certain English writer's to show that
the United States had the right to re-
nit the tolls on coastwise vessels. On
the subject of arbitration, OGorman
reminded the senate that the peace
treaties negotiated by President Taft
had been voted down. showing that
congress was not willing to submit
all questions to international courts.
I'VE would indeed create a painful
impression abroad if this mighty ma
of any foreign power It's domestic
policies and the control of It's domestic
commerce. That we can never do and
maintain the prestige, the honor and
the glory of this republic.
IF Great Britain had expended a
L. Z. II Ill
fecting her people, as the Panama
canal does ours, what would be her at
titude If the United States should make
complaint against her action?" he
asked.
Senator OGorman replied directly
to Senator Roots declaration that the
United States was bound by the SOL
emn pledges of its treaties to submit
to arbitration the Panama controversy.
He declared the latest arbitration
treaty negotiated with Great Britain
had been defeated in the senate; while
those now in force explicitly exempted
from arbitration questions involving
the national honor or vital interests
OF the United States
NEWLANDS DEFENDS RIGHTS
Senator O'Gorman was followed by
Senator Newlands, who also asserted
that the United States held domestic
rights at Panama which a foreign
power could not dispute He proposed
that the free passage provision remain
in the bill; but that the objections of
Great Britain be met by an amendment
whereby the United States government
would pay the tolls RENTED upon
American coastwise shipping.
"All that foreign nations have the
Newlands. is that the charges which
American ships are freed from, shall,
not be imposed upon foreign shipping. z
Senator Newlands declared the
American transcontinental railroads
were trying, with the aid of Canadian
roads, to .'paralyze the canal" He
said American roads first tried to pre-
vent the construction, and then to re-
strict operation. Failing in that, he
said, they had appealed to their
strong neighbor In the north. also in
tcrested in monopoIizing transcontinen-
tai transportation" This activity, lie
declared had been followed by a Cana
dian appeal to the British govern
ment.
Senator Newlands also expressed the
view that the United States IS entitled
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