Weekly journal-miner. [volume] (Prescott, Ariz.) 1908-1929, 1914-05-20
REVERSES HIMSELF
ON TOLLS QUESTION
By Winfield tones.

! WASf1lNGlON, May l4.-l ne
Panama canal bill has been report.
ed to the Senate from the Com.
mittee on Interoceanic Canal:
without recommendation" which
is equivalent to an adverse report
The committee, which is Democrat.
ic, refused to report the bill favor
ably. The growing sentiment
throughout the country against the
surrender of American rights al
Panama has not only permeated
the Senate but apparently has
reached the White House, as evil
denced by the amendment offered
by Senator Simmons, the Admins
tration spokesman on the commit
tee, providing;
'That neither the passage of this
act, nor anything therein contain
ed, shall be construed or held as
waving, impairing, or affecting any
treaty or other right possessed by
the United States"
This amendment, which the COM
mittee adopted, is a complete re-
versai of the Presidents position.
In his message before Congress he
expressed the belief that we had
violated a treaty, although his two
predecessors, Roosevelt and Taft
expressed views directly to the con-
trary. Now he sanctions the in
sertion of an amendment which de-
clares that the passage of the act
was not to be regarded as affecting
the treaty or other rights possess
ed by the United States. The opin-
ion is becoming general among
members OF Congress that the Pres
ident is less enthusiastic for repeal
than he was originally. The cleo
items in Alabama, New Jersey and
Massachusetts, have somewhat les
sened his enthusiasm for the sur
render of American rights. When
the measure was before the House
the President insisted that no
amendment be accepted. Now, for
political effect, he sanctions an
amendment and Secretary Bryan in
a long editorial in the Commoner
makes labored argument to prove
that the acquiescence in the de-
mands OF Great Britain is not
surrender of American rights, u
most absurd position
Some very strong testimony
against repeal was given while the
bill was pending before the Senate
Committee on Intcroceanic Canals.
No hearings were allowed in the
House, but in the Senate gag rule
is not permitted. William R. Wheel
er, representing the San Francisco
Chamber of Commerce, gave testi-
mony showing the effect of the re-
peal of the free tolls provision upon
the Pacific Coast States.
Advocates of a toll charge on
domestic commerce attempt to ex-
cuse the Charge OF the ground that
it is so small when distributed ov-
er cargo tonnage-say 50 or col
cents per ton-that it won't be felt,
and will soon be absorbed by the
carrier. This estimate is based up
on the assumption that every YES
sci operating through the canal will
be loaded TO her dead weight ca
pacity at all times.
"A ship with net registered ca
pacity of 5000 tons will pay a toll
of $1,000 every time it passes
through the canal. The average
ship infrequently goes to sea load
cd to its full capacity. If half fill
ed the toll upon each ton of freight
actually carried will double as the
ship is charged according to its ca
pacity. Every practical steamship
man in fixing his rates of freight
S very likely to add more for tolls
han he actually pays out
Mr.. Joseph Teal, a prominent
Democrat of Oregon, in his testi-
nony said:
twenty-five per cent of the fruit
;rop annually is permitted to rot
because we cannot get it to the cas-
ern markets at rates that justi-
y gathering it. The fruit business
n time must collapse unless we
get rid of our enormous waste. If
We had lower rates a market for
over grades of fruit would develop
md the people would have the ad-
'antage of cheaper fruits"
Secretary Bryan's treaty with Col
'mbia has raised such I protest
hat 1t will not be taken up by the
senate. While the provisions of
his instrument had not been pub
ished in the United States, ex-
racts were cablcd from Paris. and
through these foreirn disnatrheS IL