The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-05-17
NO SURRENDER
{ IN TOLL FIGHT,
PLEA OF SOLON
California Would "Stand Pat
and Panama Legislation
as 1t Stands
WHY FAVOR ENGLISH OVER
U. S. BATTLESHIPS, HE ASKS
Repeats Belief Is That Canadian
Railroads Are Prompting
English Protest :.

MOHONK LAKE. n. Y. May 10
! Declaring that to repeal the toll pro-
vision Of the Panama canal bill would
| be an AFFECT surrender OF American
rights, Congressman Joseph Il. Know
land. Of California. today defended the
right of the United States TO control
the canal, in a speech before the In
ternational peace conference here.
mo patriotic American would cOun-
| tenance the violation by this country
of q sacred treaty obligation said
Knowland, who is member OF the
house committee on interstate and for
| eign commerce. ION the other hand,
would not a citizen be lacking In
patriotism who would hastily and
without careful and painstaking in
vestigation blindly accept an interest
ed foreign nations Interpretation OF
disputed treaty, construction that
would not only deprive this country
! for all time Of the most important
f, commercial advantages, but would
be a surrender OF invaluable rights
affecting the very safety OF the United
States?"
Rowland denied the charge that the
treaty obligations had not been given
proper consideration, and pointed out
the extended debate in congress.
In summing up the British objec-
! ton. Knowland said:
I'VE are denied the right TO pass
free OF toll our own battleships and
other government vessels. Ships en-
gagged In coastwise trade Of the United
States. in which the ships OF England
cannot engage, must pay toll in pass
ing through this American waterway;
We are virtually asked to violate our
treaty obligations with the republic
OF Panama; there is practical de-
NAL Of the right to follow at Panama
the practice of foreign nations In re-
hitting tolls to merchant ships
through the Suez canal, thus placing
this country at a disadvantage, and
finally in reference to the excellent
provisions OF section II. We are threat
ened with protest II Canadian steam
ships owned by Canadian railroads.
which railroads have voluntarily come
under the interstate commerce act,
and thus subjected themselves to the
same restrictions and regulations as
American railroads, are to be amen
able to the same laws. Was there ever
q more striking example OF incon-
s1stency? Equity OF treatment de-
handed for British ship owners In
| sharing benefits. but protest against
equal treatment when the act imposes
restrictions applying to American ship
owners!"
Knowland declared tit was general.
ly believed in Washington that the
British protest was due TO the action
OF Canadian railroad officials. He
outlined The situation in congress and
tho clause In the Hay-Pauncefote
treaty. which It Is claimed this coun-
try violated. He declared the foreign
ships will derive the chief benefit OF
the canal because we have practical
ly no American ships in foreign trade.
"Ninety-one per cent OF our foreign
commerce is carried in foreign ships"
said Knowland. Unless we grant
some favors to our own ships in the
coastwise trade our benefit would be
small
while ] am Californian It does