The Washington herald., 1913-02-13
SENATORS CLASH
ON CANAL TOLLS
New York Colleagues in Sen
ate Committee Have Hot
Debate on Arbitration.
BRISTOW ENTERS FRAY
"RepeaI Free Tolls or Arbitrate," Says
Root-O'Gorman Charges Rail-
road Lobby at Work.

Senator James A. O'Gorman and
Elihu Root clashed before the Senate
Committee on Interoceanic Canals to-
day at a hearing accorded to Senator
Root TO present arguments in support
of his bill to abolish the legislation
OF last session giving free tolls to
American coastwise shipping passing
through the Panama Canal. 1t was a
friendly bout characterized by the best
o. feeling but at times was earnest.
Senator Bristow of Kansas came to the
support OF Senator O'Gorman at one
point and really displayed more feeling
than either of the other combatants.
Senator O'Gorman intimated that the
influence of a Canadian railroad lobby
had been at work in Washington to bring
about the repeal of the free tolls legis-
lation. Senator Root declared that he
had never before heard Of such a lobby
and knew nothing of the existence of il
and even If there was such a lobby il
did not detract from the arguments in
opposition to free tolls. which. in Mr..
Roots judgment. amounted TO a sub
sidy and was indefensible. Senator
O'Gorman also made vigorous opposition
TO the proposal that the treaty obligations
Of the United States in the matter he
submitted to arbitration. contending that
questions of national honor and vital
interest should not be submitted to ar
btration."
Senator Root replied that the tolls
question involved neither vital inter-
est" nor national honor.
Railroads Inspired Protest.
1T is not a fact inquired Senator
O'Gorman of his colleague, that Great
Rritain's protest against free tolls was
inspired by Canadian railroad interests
Cp-puer. kP the
United States?
Il hav- not heard of the activity OF
any railroad interests in the matter" re-
piled Senator Root, ''and do not believe
there has been any
Senator Root added that he would not
permit railroad activity to sway his opin-
ion OH the tolls issue either way. Dis
cussing the proposal for arbitration
Senator Root declared that the United
States was compelled. in common jus
ticc, to submit to arbitration. To the
suggestion interposed by Senator O'Gor-
man and Bristow members of the COM
mittee that the question involved was one
of national horror or vital interest
and not arbitration. Senator Root said:
''If this is a question of vital interest.
then there is no subject that can be ar
bitrated. Is it the contention here that
il is vital matter whether We give A
subsidy 10 our coastwise shipping? That
is the sole issue"
1T is question of vital interest
whether a foreign nation can compel us
to submit to dictation in a purely do !
mestic matter" said Mr.. Bristow.
The committee took no final action to- |
day on Senator Roots bill. 1t will be |
considered further at a meeting on next |
Monday. Senator Root explained TO the |
committee that he introduced his bill to |
repeal the free toll legislation because |
u-iS n1lt nf
situation in which the United States
stands to suffer far more than it will |
gain by remitting the tolls. Free tolls |
is nothing more nor less than a subsidy |
given to the most highly protected in
dustry in the country. Some of the ad-
Yocates of free tolls try to justify their !
position on the ground that 1t will reduce |
freight rates. l believe" Mr.. Root con- |
tinued, lit to be extremely doubtful
whether any such benefits would result |
from free tolls.
Free Tolls Reduce Rates.
Senators OGorman and Bristow de- |
INJURED declaring their firm belief that
ra ilroad rates would be reduced as the |
result Of free tolls.
III is doubtful at best replied Sana- |
tor O'Gorman. too remote to justify |
the violation of a solemn national obli- |
CATION
We have given free passage through |
the canal to the republic of Panama for |
its ships of war" interjected Mr.. Bris- |
tow. what might have we TO accord |
privileges to Panama that we deny the |
United State"
Senator Root replied that Panama
owned the territory now in the Canal
Zone. at one time had a right to demand |
that certain reserv9 tiOns be made, as !
condition to passing title Concluding
Senator Root said:
THE world can appeal TO the plain !
words OF our treaty to convict us in the |
eyes of civilized nations of violating our |
national obligations
Growing more earnest. the Senator eN-
claimed: we will be falsifying every |
'..rI7 ~ ion We have made as to absolute |
equality for shipping. We will be con-
or own words solemnly writ
ten into a treaty and deliberately signed
uf msncerity and unfaithfulness to our
trust"
Admonisning the committee members.
Senator Root said:
we are doing business of $4,000 coo |
in our trade with the rest of the world
and cannot from the point of self-inter-
est if from no higher considerations take
a small business advantage of another
friendly power. We cannot afford to be
charged with thickness. 1t would recoIl
on our business men. exporters and
producers who supply the foreign
1t is essential that we keep
faith expressed in our treaties
We must either repeal free tolls at
once or consent to arbitrate. There IS
no escape from ii with honor"