Evening journal., 1913-05-16
KNOWLAND
DEFENDS The
CANAL TOLLS
Californian Says Repeal Of
Provision Would be Sur
render Of Rights
BELIEVE AMERICANS WILL
NOT COUTENANCE ACT
ey The United Press.

by Inc United Press.
MOHONK LAKE. ~ Y, May 16--
Declaring that TO repeal the toll pro-
vision of the Panama Canal bill would
be an abject surrender of American
rights. Congressman Joseph B. 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.
"No patriotic American would count
enance the violation by this country
of sacred treaty Obligation" said
knowland. who is member OF the
House committee ON interstate and
foreign commerce. "On the other
hand would not a citizen be lacking
In patriotism who would hastily and
without careful and painstaking in
Hestigation blindly accept an interest
cd foreign nations Interpretation of a
disputed treaty. construction that
would not only deprive this country
for all time of the most important
commercial advantages. but would be
a surrender of invaluable rights affect
ing the very safety Of the United
States?"
Knowlaud denied the charge that
the treaty obligations had not been
given proper consideration. and point
ed out the extended debate in Con-
gress.
In summing up the British ohjec-
tiOns. Kuowlton said;
we 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 passing through this American
waterway; We are virtually asked to
violate our treaty obligations with the
Republic of Panama; tberc is a
practical denial of the right TO fol-
low at Panama the practice of for
eign nations in remitting tolls 10
merchant ships through the Suc7
canal, thus placing this country At a
disadvantage and finally in reference
10 the excellent provisions of section
eleven, we are threatened with a pro.
test if Canadian steamships owned
by Canadian railroads, which rail.
roads have voluntarily come under
the Interstate Commerce act. anc
thus subjected Themselves to tho re-
strictions and regulations as Ameri
can railroads, arc TO be amondable {,
the same laws Wrs there ever
more striking example of inconsis
tency? Equality of> treatment dc
maDded for British ship owners il
sharing benehts; but protes
against equal treatment when the &C
imposes restrictions applying Il
American ship-owners?'
Knowland declared il was general
ly believed in Washington that thu
British protest was due to the actor
of Canadian railroad officials. He out
lined the situation in congress an,
the clause in the -Pauncefotl
treaty which it is claimed this coun
try violated He declared that foreigl
ships will derive the chief benefit o
the canal because we have PRACTICAL,
no American ships In foreign trade
"Ninety-one per cent of our foreigl
commerce is carried in foreign ships
said Knowland. "Unles we gran
some favors to our own ships in tn
coast-wise trade our benefit would b.
small
while I am a Californian It doe
not follow even in view OF recen
happenings that | am particular
belligerent A serious contention
with Great Britain over this questio
Is not probable. Even a suggestio
of war Is unthinkable While man
who hold similar views to mine ar
strongly opposed to submitting thi
question to arbitration I do not go s
far A fair arbitral tribunal sboul
be possible for the determination {
this question. The Hague would nc
be such a body In my opinion. Th
commonsense of the American an
English people should enable thes
English-speaking nations TO agree vi
on impartial arbitrators. Before sue
a body our case is so strong we hay
nothing to fear.
ITO repeal the toll provision woul
be an acknowledgement that afte
expending $400,00O,O00 in the cor
struction of an American cana
through what is practically America
territory, this nation was estoppe
forever from according a single az
vantage to an American ship. W
would be compelled to pay a toll upo
government ships. According to SON
very high authorities we would SUI
render rights that might imperii "
very existence as a nation"