The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1913-01-22
BY ASSOCIATED PRESS.

Washington, Jan. 21.-"The United
States should either submit the Pana-
ma free toll question to impartial arbi-
tration or retire from the position we
have taken" was the declaration of
Senator Root in the senate today in a
speech favoring repeal of the free toll
provision Of the new Panama canal
act
Senator Root took the position that
congress should not have passed a law
last summer that Disseminated against
foreign shipping and granted free tolls
to American coastwise shipping. That
action, he declared, had been a source
OF great regret to multitudes of our
fellow citizens and had created a
Painful impression throughout the
world"
Senator Root was an active opponent
OF the free toll provision when the
canal act passed last August and his
speech today opened a tight to secure
an amendment to the law before it
goes into effect. Senator Root de-
clared today that congress had been
tired out before the hill mas taken
I ever received proper consideration
"a decent regard for the opinions
Of mankind was one of the motives set
by the people of these colonies into
the great decision of their independ-
ence," said Senator Root. He outlined
the relations between the United
states and Great Britain which led to
the making Of the Hay y-Pauncefote
treaty of 1901 under which the canal
was constructed.
GAVE UP NOTHING.
'aThe United States save up nothing
It then had" said the senator. Its
obligations in that treaty were entirely
looking to the future. But Great
Britain gave up it's right to be pro-
te ctorate over the Mosquito coast
which, it was supposed, would be the
eastern terminus of the canal" From
the treaty with Great britain, Senator
Root read the declaration that the
proposed canal was to be open ION
equal terms to all"
THAT declaration is the cornerstone
OF the rights Of the United States at
the Panama canal" he said.
He read from statements made at
that time by the United States repre-
sentatives that the Unied States would
not, if it could, obain any exclusive
rights over the canal
"On that representation Great Britain
lfCA tl5ibo W 0AA NSAA "a
over the future of the Panama canal" !"
said Senator Root, "and consented TO
the abandonment Of the Clayton Bull
wer treaty"
While the United States was given
authority over the construction and
| operation of the canal said Senator
Root that authority was based directly
| en- the provision that it should be
without impairing the general 2rin-
ciple of naturalization" that had been
| contained in article s of the Clayton
! Bulwer treaty.
1--WE must construe that principle OF
naturalization as part of the later Hay
Pauncefote agreement he declared
| THAT principle of absolute equality
became the controlling principle OF the
new agreement"
| "we are not at liberty to put any
| construction on the Hay-Pauncefote
| treaty." declared Senator Boot, thai
violates that controlling principle OF
| absolute equality embodied in the
/ ether treaty.
The United States cannot afford tc
take a position at variance with the
| rule of universal equality established
/ in the Suez canal convention" said he
He quoted the assurances given tc
Great Britain that the United States
did not seek any special favors for it:
! ships in the Panama canal
1 I'VE are not at liberty to give any
i ether construction to the Hay-Paunce-
4 fcte treaty" declared he. than the
construction consistent with that dec
1 laration.'
I'm our treaty with Colombia il
! 1916; our treaty with Great Britain il
J 1850; in treaties with Nicaragua; ou1
i treaty with Great Britain in 1901; il
!, cnr treaty with Panama in 1908 W,
have presented to the world the mos
|, uI uIequivpcal guaranty of disinterestet
!, action for the common benefit of man;
; kind and not for our selfish advantage
Senator Root contended that tn
United States could claim no supper
f. ON the canal because it owned tn
canal zone. This suggestion had beel
!, made, he said, by those who elaine,
! the United States was entitled to bull
II