Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1914-03-28
Toll Debate was I Victory
for Wilson :
tContlnued from age, One

(CODLlHue0 ITOU ~A8o; HOuo'I 81, =
galleries were filled to overlooking.
Only republicans Joined the ma
jority in support of the administra-
ton program, but it was conceded
tonight by leaders of both sides that
many republicans who voted against
the preliminary administration plans,
would vote eventually for the repeal.
Argument Of Underwood, III
Washington, March 27.-Represen-
tative Underwood, OF Alabama, demo.
cratic floor leader in the House Of
Representatives today delivered his
speech against repeating the Panama
tolls exemption, as urged by Presl.
dent Wilson. The scene of the leader
of the House majority, who had led
the successful fights for practically
all, the administration 81 measures,
combating the position of the Pfesi.
dent, attracted wide attentions Mr..
Underwood urged defeat of the Sims
bin which followed President Will
sons recommendation for !, the repeal
OF the tolls exemption. He ldeclarea
the repeal was contrary to the plat
form of the Democratic party adopted
at the Baltimore convention, and that
an exemption favoring American coast
wise ships did not violate the Hay
pauncefOte treaty. ~ Il
Not for one moment do ! believe
we have violated a treaty" declared
Mr.. Underwood. Our whole difficulty
arises from the un-American spirit
OF surrender that some of our own
people have exhibited toward this i'm.
portant question from the very begin.
ming.
Can any one tell us plainly who We
surrender and what Is to be accom-
,plished by it? Are we to yield mere
ly because the sentiment of Europe
is against us? When has the senti-
ment of Europe ever been with us
about matters of moment? When will
the time come when we can expect to
maintain and preserve our rights, po-
litical and commercial, with the ac-
quiescent sympathy of European gov
ernments ?"
Mr.. Underwood quoted the tolls ex-
emption plank from tile Baltimore
platform, and continuing said:
There can be no contention as to
the meaning of this language. No one
can raise the issue that the bill now
pending before the House introduced
by the gentleman from Tennessee
(Mr. Sims) is not in direct conflict
with the declaration Of the Democra.
tic platform. Personally l believe that
the party pledge should be lived up
to in good faith by those who claim
allegiance to party principles, but as
there are many here who differ with
me in reference to the binding effect
Of party platform I will not at this
lime endeavor to discuss The pending
bill from that standpoint.
LET us resolve the. issue INTO the
question as to whether the platform
If the Democratic party favoring
exemption OF tolls of American ships
engaged In cOastwise trade passing
through the Panama Canal is best for
he nation and the people OF our
or whether the gentleman
rom Tennessee in the bill now pend.
ing before the House repudiating the
declaration of the Democratic party
s proposing legislation that will be
most beneficial to our nation and our
people," @
Representative Underwood quoted
igures to show that the cost of main !
enance OF the canal and interest on
he governments investment could be
net easily without charging American
'essels tolls and by charging foreign
'essels a fair. and reasonable toll.
lie compared the tolls charged by the
British at the Suez canal with the
Panama tolls.
The, purpose Of Congress-" said
le, lin providing In the act for tie
'pening, maintenance, protection and
'peration OF the canal that no tolls
hall be levied upon vessels engaged
n the coastwise trade. of the United
States and providing further that
t should be left discretionary with
he President of the United States to
xempt from tolls our ships engaged
q foreign trade, was an effort on the
art of Congress to q discriminate In
avor Of American shipping and to re- i