The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-03-15
Claims Of Charge for
War Vessels Denied
by Adamson.
THREE MINORITY
REPORTS ON PLAN
Two Democrats Make Statement
They Can See No Reason to
Reverse Position Advocating
Exemption, and Two Re
publicans Attack Sims
Repeal Measure.

Wash!nrton, March 14-Statcments
that government vessels would be
compelled 70 pay tolls If the Sims bin
repeating the exemption clause OF tho
Panama Canal &c; were enacted. were
characterized to-day as "monstrous
perversions OF the truth and the most
FOOLISH FOLLY cnunciatcd since fools
wero discovered" by Representative
Adainson, chairman OF the House Inter
state Commerce Committee.
such vessels are not mentioned I'm
The canal act nor In the Sims btll ana
ought not TO be the statement con
unu"s. The arc owned by tho same
owner who owns the canal and Dasse.;
is vessels by right Of ownership nc
co!ninE 10 treaty. Owning both war
ShiDS aud canal, the government could
pay tolls TO nobody but itself, which
would be concentrated nonsen.c"
Three minority reports on the toll
r"ncai plan wcro presented --o,n tho
committee 10 day. Representatives.
Dor"mus, o. Michigan, and o'Shaugb.
messy. Of Rhode Island. Democrats. de-
ci2red they could sec no reason 10
reN"rs" their position advocating coast
wise shipping exemption. while Repre-
sentative l<uowlani. Of California. and
Representatives IafIerty, Of oregon.
presented separate reports attacking
the repeal plar
Dcnunci:ttion Of Sims mn.
Pronunciation OF the Sims b!ll, which
he characterized AZ notice THAI tho
United states abandoned its policy OF
an American controlled Panama canal
ana virtually SURRENDERED its power to
regulate its commerce hecause of the
new peace -at-any- price policy. !ea-
tured minority report TO the uouee
to-day by Representative l[uowland.
OF California against repeal OF tho
tolls exemption
The Interstate Commerce Committee
OF 'hich Mir knowiand Is member
mas favora ply reported the Sims Bill,
proposing fiat repeal
The knowland minority report said
in part
"A situation unparalleled and un-
precedented In history now confronts
this nation. The passage OF the bill
would give Il British Interpretation 10
the Hay Pauncefote treaty. and thus
surrender for all time rights vitality
affecting this nation, commercially.
strat"gically and politically
Must Urge Contentious.
Thousands Of patriotic american
citizens insist that we cannot main
tain our national honor in the pres
cut controversy II wc abiectlv surren-
der every American right at Panama
The history OF this country would have
been less glorious had we failed 10
~ ~ "us contentious, even when fully
convinced of our right When the
Nenezuela question stirred the nation
1t was mistake. according TO this
new pence -nt-any price policy for
president Grover Cleveland to have
declared in a message that commanded
the respect 90 the world
" To-day the United states Is prac-
ttcally sovereign upon this continent.
and its Nat Is law upon the subjects
20 which 1t confines its interpos!tion.' "
The report warned the Interstate
Commerce Committee and members OF
the House that, By the provisions of
the Sims bill, II would forever fore
close the right OF the United states 20
pass through the canal. without pay
ment or tolls. either battleships. rev
enue cutters. GOLFERS, transports or
other government owned craft
The fact that tho Supreme Court
rendered a decision which sustained
the contention that the provision OF
the Hay-Pauncefote treaty are not APP
pi!cablc to vessels in the coastw Use
trade. was cited as M additional arg,;-
ment against the repeal OF the tolls
exemption.
Representative LafTerty. OF Oregon.
In his report. said there was no doubt
but that any arbitration court would
support the American contention In the
tolls controversy