The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1913-04-22
FREE CANAL TOLLS
BY ABROGAT|ON
OF TREATIES
New Move for Solution of
Panama Controversy
RESOLUTION IN SENATE
Requires that President Terminate
HayPauncefote and Clayton
Bulwar Agreements.

Washington, April ga demand
for abrogation of two treaties with
Great Britain bearing upon isthmian
canal rights, presented to the Senate
yesterday in a resolution by Senator
Chamberlain, brought new element
into The canal controversy now in pro-
gress between this country and Great
Britain over the right Of the United
States to exempt American coastwise
ships from the payment of tolls. Sen
ator O'Gorman, chairman of the inter
oceanic canals, committee, which
must handle canal legislation in the
Senate, Endorsed last night the princi-
pie embodied in the Chamberlain res
olution. Earlier in the day state de-
partment officials had expressed ignor-
ance of Senator Chamberlain's plan to
introduce the resolution.
The Chamberlain resolution would
require the president to proceed at
once to terminate the Hay-Pauncefote
treaty of 1901 and the Clayton Bulwer
treaty of 1852, which 1t superseded. In
a statement Senator Chamberlain said
the treaties and records would show
that the United States never planned
to give Great Britain such treaty
rights as would justify the protests
that country has made. Senator O'Gor
man said: Senator Chamberlain's
resolution Is a more concrete state
ment of the position took in the last
session that If the Hay Pauncefote
treaty justifies Great Britain in max
ing the protest now before our govern
ment, then it would be well If means
could be found to abrogate the treaty"
The new angle to the situation caus-
ed much discussion in Senate circles
during the day, and brought out many
Endorsements Of the proposal. Sena-
tor O'Gorman declared at the close of
yesterdays session that he believed
the resolution would pass by a large
majority if it came to vote. A meet
ing of the interoceanic canals commit
tee had been called for today, but 1t
was postponed until next Tuesday. Sen
ator Roots bill for a repeal of the free
toll provision is now before the COM
mittee. II was apparent yesterday that
much of the support that was muster
ed in the last session to prevent the
change of the free toll provision will
now be brought TO the support OF the
plan to abrogate treaties that may be
interpreted as giving Great Britain any
ground for protest.
One result of the introduction of the
resolution probably will be to hasten
the definition OF the attitude of the
administration toward the whole ques-
ton of the exemption of American
shipping from tolls in the Panama
canal, which it is understood President
Wilson intended to keep in the back
ground until the tariff Legislation had
progressed toward conclusion in the
House.
BY tacit agreement the negotiations
begun last summer by the presenta-
ton of Great Britain's preliminary
note have been held in allegiance since
the advent of the new administration.
The last note in the series filed by
ambassador Bryce clearly indicated
it was to be followed by another from
Sir Edward Grey, secretary for for
eign affairs. But this was withheld
in view of limitations that President
Wilson would record his opposition to
the exemption of American shipping
from tools as form of subsidy. regard
less of the question as to whether or
not such exemption was in violation
of the Hay-Pauncefote treaty.