Semi-weekly herald., 1914-03-30

Tie cdhai traIllcs tnrougn a snip COM
pany which it controlled. The gov
ernment did not build the canal for
the sole benefit of the Southern Pa
cific and the Pacific Mail"
WASHINGTON, d. c., March 27.
The unusual spectacle of the leader
of the house majority leading the
fight against policy advocated by
the titular head of his party was fur
nished in the house this afternoon.
Representative Oscar w. Under
wood, of Alabama, chairman of the
ways and means committee vigorous
ly opposed repeal of the exemption
granted American ships in the Pan
anna canal act. He did not mention
the president by name, except, incl
dentally, and he steered clear of di-
rect reference to his chiefs recent
message to congress.
His address was delivered before a
jammed house and crowded galleries
and punctuated by frequent applause,
mostly from Republicans.
II believe the Democratic party was
both wise and patriotic" he said,
when it announced policy in favor
of discriminating in favor of our
coastwise ships, and l believe there is
no reason at this time why we should
abandon solemn promise made to
the American people in one of the
most prominent planks Of our party
platform.
"But we are told that we are vio-
lating a solemn treaty made with an
other nation and in good faith that
we should abandon the canal to for
eign rivals without contest or dispute
in order that we may keep our stand
ing in the family of nations.
mot for one moment do l believe
that we have violated a treaty right
or that Great Britain seriously con-
tends that we have violated treaty
right.
"Our whole difficulty in the matter
arises from the un-American spirit of
surrender that some of our own peo-
pie have exhibited toward this i'm
portant question from the very begin
ming. If congress had unanimously
passed the canal tolls bill two years
ago, l do not believe that the ques-
tion would ever have been raised"
The majority leader held that the
Panama canal toll rates are fair and
lower than the Suez rates and that
the exemption, as subvention, is the
only way in which America can build
up its marine in the coasting busi-
ness. In careful analysis of the
Hay -Paunckfote treaty he declared
emphatically that the fact, was never
intended to take from the United
States the right to grant this indirect
aid to its coastwise ships.
Underwood asserted that estimated
shipping through the canal pointed
clearly to the possibility of receiving
in the near future the cost of opera
tion and maintenance of the canal
plus a three per cent return on the
investment without levying tolls on
our coast ships.
Today" he continued, "we are ask
ed to acknowledge to the world that
We can not discriminate in favor of
our own ships without breach of
faith with foreign nations and
if this bill becomes law must aban-
don the Democratic doctrine of dis
elimination in favor of American
ships, abandon American ships and be
content to let the future commerce of
our country be carried in foreign bot
toms.
"Great Britain proposed to arbi-
trate the question, but the gentleman
from Tennessee, Mr.. Sims, proposes
to surrender without fight"
He declared the commercial con-
siderations "paled into insignificance"
when compared with the attack on
our sovereignty in the canal zone."l
He warned the house that foreign
ships might occupy the canal in war
time and render it liability instead
Of an asset"
"Are we to yield merely because
the sentiment of Europe is against
us7" he queried in conclusion. "When
i
has the sentiment of Europe ever
been with US about matters Of mo-