The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1914-05-28
CONGRESSMAN SMITH
DEFENDS FREE TOLLS
IDAHO REPRESENTATIVE MAKES
STRONG PLEA FOR COAST
WISE SHIPPING.

A few weeks ago Congressman Adj
olson T. Smith made "a speech in con-
gress in opposition to the repeal of
the free tolls provision of the Panama
canal law, from which the following
extract is taken:
The Panama canal Is an American
waterway and not an international
body of water.
We have constructed the Panama
canal with our own money upon our
own land, with a view Of having 1t in
our complete control in order that we
may improve our commerce and widen
our influence in the business world.
For the same reason we have spent
hundreds Of millions Of our money in
improving the great waterways OF our
own country, notably the Mississippi
river, and while our democratic
friends express themselves an Oppos-
ed to subsidies, 1t Is to be observed
that they are constantly clamoring for
appropriations for river and harbor
improvements in their DISTRICTS. 1t
seems to me, Mr.. Speaker that there
is no more reason for requiring our
coastwise vessels to pay toll going
through the Panama canal than that
we should require them to pay tolls
in passing up or down any river OF
entering any harbor which was made
navigable or improved at the expense
Of the United States.
Suez Canal Profits Pay Subsidies.
About $13,OOO,OOO a year Is made by
Great Britain from tolls in the Sues
canal, nearly three fourths of whicf
goes to her shipping as subsidy. Is
it not probable that she may pass {
law subsidizing her shipping which
will pass through the Panama cana
to the extent Of the tolls which they
are required to pay? If this should b'
her example with reference to thei
own vessels, our coastwise vessels
would be placed at a great disadvan
tage If we did not exempt them from
tolls.
The United States insists on havin!
exclusive control of its domestic AT
fairs and its coastwise trade shout,
In no way concern England or an,
other country. The American port
and American vessels belong to Am
ercan citizens and the activities O
our cOastwise trade do not in any wa
interfere with the activities Of tn
vessels of any other nations 1t
difficult therefore to understand VIII
Great Britain should be CONCERNED i
regadr to this question and we ar
left to conjecture the reasons for he
insistence that the law providing 70
tolls for our coastwise vessels be re
pealed.
Would Rob People of Benefits Of tn
Canal.
Ever since the first proposal wa
made to unite the two oceans the ar
gument has been advanced that
would make it. possible to carry on
produce to a good market at less ex
pense. and that large proportion c
the saving would be divided betwee
the producer and the consumer.
our coastwise vessels are required t
pay tolls for going through our ow
canal, the hopes Of the people for
lowering Of prices on commoditie
will have been shattered, and the com
petition which We had expected be
tween transcontinental railroads an
the shipping by water will be a delu
sion, If the present law remains upo
the statute books, shipping and ship
building will be greatly encouraged
and reasonable transportation charge
will be assured by making possible Il
all-water transportation service fror
one side Of the continent to the othe,