Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-25
CR|T|C|SES COURSE
ON PANAMA TOLLS
Letter to Senator Jones, Read
in Senate, Says President
Skates on Thin Ice.
CHAMBERLAIN DISCUSSES
TEXT OF HIS RESOLUTION

IEAI VI HIS RESOLUTION
Big Fight on Question Begins in the
House Tomorrow-Palmer
Supports Wilson.
Suggesting that President Wilson was
skating on such thin ice in asking for
| the repeal of free Panama tolls that he
should be recalled to the classic shades
OF Princeton. William B. Larkin Of Bos-
ton has written Senator Jones on the
subject. Senator Jones today had the
letter read to the Senate, when the
Chamberlain resolution, calling for
statistics on the subject of tolls for
rivers. reopened the Panama tolls ques-
ton.
Senator Hoke Smith. sought to prevent
The completion OF the reading OF tho
letter, but the parliamentary situation did
not permit.
Does the senator know anything about
Inc writer Of this letter." inquired SEN
the center aisle
NO. presume he is just a plain. or
binary citizen. exercising his right to
crtticise public officials" responded
senator Jones He is man enough to
give his address,"
THE President should be recalled to
the classic shades of Princeton instead
of being permitted to continue to bull
doze the accredited representatives of
ed the letter.
Senator Jones was reported to have
been told by President Wilson that he
was skating on thin Ice in having read
into the Congressional Record a news
paper article picturing the President as
gress OF free Panama tolls.
Other Letters Are Read.
Senator Thomas interrupted the read
ing Of half a dozen other and similar
letters by Senator Jones to ask If the
senator's own opinion was that the Presi-
dent had been actuated by any sinister
motive in urging repeal
II believe the President to be acting
honestly and in accordance with his
best Judgment" said Senator Jones. Il
am simply reading these letters to
show the feeling and Indignation
One letter, from Josephine Smith,
Philadelphia, declared Great Britain
was seeking to place the United States
Egypt ~
Failure of Congress to provide battle
ships and war supplies might make 1t
possible for that purpose to be accom-
piished, the letter said and added: But
If we have to die, we will die fighting"
Senator Hoke Smith offered an amend
ment to the Chamberlain resolution which
called for information as to the owners
and stockholders OF American coastwise
shipping companies, and as to the amount
rf fka scyYha 1yh INI, mic
receive through toll exemption. 1t would
also seek information as to whether
Congress had not already granted
monopoly to coastwise ships in the navi-
cation laws.
Senator Thomas renewed his protest
against the reading of letters impugning
the motives of the President, declaring
1t would be more manly for senators to
make such charges directly than to read
them into the record in letters.
Dignity Of Senate Touched.
as detracting from the dignity of the Sen
ate by reading letters that almost charged
the President with treason.
Senator Jones responded that he was
not cridcising the President, but he be-
heved that his correspondents have grasp
ed the idea that the American people and
the Congress were entitled to know the
reasons why Congress should repeal free
tolls.
Should foreign relations justify the
course, I am sure Congress will support
the President irrespective OF party but
it Is entitled to know the reasons on
which 1t acts" replied Senator Jones.
Senator Thornton said that the Larkin
letter was improper and would not have
been received by the Senate had it not
been incorporated into Senator Jones re-
marks.
Senator Chamberlain asked that his res
olution go over until tomorrow without
Senator Hoke Smith objected to that.
Very well. l accept the senator's chal-
lenge and am ready to debate the ques-
ton with the senator any day." respond
ed Senator Chamberlain. with vigor.
Senator Kern whispered to Senator
Smith, who withdrew his objection. Sem
ator Brandegee objected to the resolution
going over.
Senator Jones said he did not approve
all the language in the letters. but he
did not expect parliamentary language
from plain ordinary citizens.
Acts for Welfare Of Country.
Senator Overman moved that the resolu-
ton and amendment be referred to the
foreign relations committee. Senator
Chamberlain declared the purpose of this
motion obviously was to defeat the pur-
pose for which the resolution was intro
duced.
He insisted that he did not and could
not say a word against President Will
sons motives, believing that he was q
thoroughly patriotic gentleman and that
he believes in whatever he does that he
is doing it for the best welfare of the
whole country Much had been said,
Senator Chamberlain added, as to the
possibility of many members OF Congress
changing their minds on the tolls ques-
ton. There was no evidence before the
Senate. he insisted, to warrant such
change.
Senator Chamberlain then began a dis
cussion Of the text of his resolution, say
ing the policy of the government always
had been to ease its shipping OF burdens.
II the Panama tolls exemption were re-
pea.ed, he said. Congress must now re-
store those burdens.
The senator repeated his former charge
that the ''insidious influences behind the
proposed repeal were the Canadian Pa
cific railroad and other transcontinental
lines. He added he did not mean to in
innate the President was actuated by
these influences.