New Britain herald., 1914-04-09
SEN. LODGE DEFENDS
 PRESIDENT WILSON
Maintains Exemption Clause o1
 Canal Act Should Be Repealed. :.
LARGE ISSUES ARE INVOLVED

tions Committee in Addressing Sen-
 ate Claims Other Nations Opinions
 Should Be Considered.
 Washington, April 9.---Senator lodge. ranking republican member o4 the foreign relations committee, ad dressed the senate today in suppor of President Wilson's Panama cana tolls policy. He maintained vigor ously the legal right of the United States to exempt its shipping, foreign as well as coastwise, from tolls bud declared that "a decent respect Cd the opinions of mankind' and the "dfstrust and in some cases dislike with which the United States is re- garded abroad, demanded prompt rel peal of the exemption clause of the canal act.
 Large Issues Involved.
 Whether we shall insist upon giv- ing to our ships two or three mil lions of dollars in a disputed way is in my conception, very small ques- tion compared to the larger issued which are here involved" said tho senator. It would be an obvious i'm propriety to point out the specifie conditions of our present relations with the various nations, both in tho to note the fact that we are regarded by other nations with distrust and ir2 some cases with dislike Rightly ofI xryv-< ,s,Ix la. la that we are not to be trusted tha We make our international relationA the sport of politics and treat them as if they were in no wise different from questions of. domestic legisla ton.
 Other Nations Opinions.
 T suppose that at this moment m the midst of the adroitly stimuiated passions raised against the presidents that we should repea the toll exemption it will be thought very poor spirited and even trucklinR --I believe that Is the accepted word-1 to suggest that in deciding this ques- tion. we should take into considera tion the opinions of other nations Nevertheless, I consider this a vers important element in any decisiorI which | may reach, and I am en1 ccuraged to believe that I am right in so thinking. because l have tho warrant and authority of the authof of the Declaration Of Independence When Jefferson framed that grea( instrument he declared that the i'm polling reason for making the deciera ticn was 'a decent respect to thd opinions of mankind
 Have LeguI Right.
 an, of the opinion. he said that under the terms of the treaty we have legal right to exempt ouf own vessels no matter whattraie the arc ngaged in. Tn my view, if w admit that We have not the legal righ to exempt from tolls vespcls en gagged in foreign trade we have nc right to exempt or refuse to collec tolls from vessels of the Unite States engaged in any trade. I think however. that we have the legal righ to exempt or refuse to collect toll from all vessels of the United States.
 Treaty Terms Explained.
 Tt is clear that the United State has rightfully and in accordance witt the terms of the treaty, built the ca nal through territory which is It's own for canal purposes although thu ultimate sovereignty remains with thd republic of Panama, and the treatA accords to the United States all right incident to building the canal. It i also clear that in undertaking thu canal on these terms the United States did so with the purpose of exclud ing all foreign control beyond ths to preserve the genera of naturalization and fol equality of terms to all users of thu canal.
 Those who deny the right of tn United States to exempt its own yes sells rest their case on the languagd of Article 3. which declares that
 !" The canal shall be free and opcr to the vessels of commerce and o war of all nations observing thess rules. on terms of entire equality. and more particularly upon the prop esition that the words all nations must include the United States. freely admit that this is fairly ar yuable point. but it does not seem (, me that the words all nations, J,| his connection necessarily incliifle tA( United States NfB
 JURY FACES PROBLEM.