The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-05-08
O'G0RMAN WARNS AGAINST
TOLL EXEMPTION REPEAL
Leader of Opposition Discusses lex
bnustivciy Every Phase
of Subject.
MAKES TIIREE-HoUR
SPEECH
Declares Surrender of Sovereignty
VIII lie Pronounced Great Diundcr
and Triumph of British Diplomacy.


man, chairman of tho 1nteroceanic Ca
mails Committee. and leader of tho forces
opposed to the repeal of tho toll OK
cmption clause OF tho Panama Canal
act gavc the Senate to-day the legal.
economic and political reasons for his
opposition.
In a thrce-hour speech. tho Senator
discussed eNhaustively every phase of
the subject He discovered no ground
in international law which would for
bio exemption of American coastwise
ships from toll payment, saw behind the
repeal movement the hand of the rail-
roads. and declared that n failure to
impose n tax could not be called sub
sidy.
The Senator warned his Democratic
colleagues that to repeal the exemption
was To violate the pledges Of the Bal
t!nore platform. ana to reverse the YER
diet of the people when they elected
President Wilson last November on
that platform.
senator O'Gorman said that mas
much as formor President Roosevelt
and Taft, and a preceding Congress
agreed that coastwiso vessels should
be exempt, another Congress should
think twice before giving It's approval
70 the repeal bill. for IL in turn might
md itself reversed by Il Congress yet
10 be elected.
ONLY INCIDENT IN GREAT
CONTEST IN INITIAL. STAGE
This question OF tolls" said the
Senator. is but an incident in n great
contest now in its initial stage. which
may determine the control of the Fan
anna Canal for all time. The construc-
tion of the canal will rank among tho
world'S wonders. but the opinion of
mankind VIII pronounce the surrender
OF our sovereignty over IL n colossal
hlunder and a triumph Of British dip;
lomucy.
Il know that thero is a vague sus-
p!c!on that diplomatic reasons require
this national abesement. but my judg-
lnent, maturely formed and based upon
such information as is available is
That the gravity OF our international
telauoNS has been grossly. though
unconseiously, exaggerated. The Amer
lean people want peace, but they fear
no power on earth. Shadows cannot
disturb brave man. They should
not alarm n brave and intrepid people.
NO senator questions tho patriot
ism and high purposes OF the Presi-
dent, but II Legislation Is to be made
dependent upon his Will alone. no ono
can predict the mischief to which such
precedent will expose this govern
1ncnt In future years. / believe that
the passage OF this bill compromises
the dignity and honor OF the coun-
try. and before the deed is consum-
mated. enter my solemn protest
against what l conceive to be n be-
travail OF the American people"
WISE ECONOMIC POLICY
CLAIMED FOR EXEMPTION
Senator O'Gorman further sought to
show that exemption of American
coastwise vessels is n wise economic
policy; that II such vessels fall with
in the terms OF the Hay-Pauncefote
treaty, exemption does not constitute
a violation thereof, and that the canal
has been constructed on territory over
which the United States is sovereign
p6 In hN
treaty WAS to he built on allen soil,
and therefore the treaty IL inappli-
cable.
"ExemptinG coastw.sc craft from the
payment of tolls" he continued. will
reduce the cost OF shipping through
the canal 10 II minimum and thereby
compel competing roads In the United
States and Canada to reduce their
rates to n competitive basis.
The more expensive YOU make wRter
transportation. the greater latitude you
extend to the railroads in tho fixing
OF their rates. Place toll on the
domestic shipping and for every dol
lar YOU collect by way OF toll. you
enable the railroads 10 make n cor
responding Increase IN their rates. II
was hoped by some that tho oxcmp-
ton TO the coasiwise trade might be
followed In tho near future by n like
exemption to the few American ships
now engaged IN the foreign trade. but
benN TINS privilege 20 mo CoaStWlSe
vessels now. and YOU make II forever
impossible TO confer IT upon tho ships
engaged IA overseas trade.
Il know 81 Is said that FREQ tolls
will simply enrich the ship owner and
confer no benefit on the produces. and
consumer. We'll, II free tolls will-not
decrease the cost TO the consumer;
imposing tolls on tho other canals OF
tho country viii not Increase the cost
10 the consumer. suppose You VIII
make your system uniform. Perhaps
this is a part of program TO Impose
tolls on tho shipping OF the other
canals OF tho country
WELL KNOWN PRINCIPLE
OF INTERNATIONAL. LAW
The Senator argued that II is n we'll
known principle OF International law
that conditions I'm any International
agreement cease to he obligatory when
Tho state Of facts on which they werc
founded has ceased 70 exist or haa
been changed. lie pointed out that
when the United states became tho
sovereign OF the Panama Canal Zone,
and I. became United States terri
tory. the -Pauncefote treaty no
lourer bound the United States
To back up this contention. the
Senator showed that England fort-
rcd the Suc1 Canal after Egypt be-
camc british territory, and that when
tho great powers which were parties
10 the convention under which that
canal was constructed raised objec-
tion, tho British government relied
upon this same principle of irternn-
,ional law. lie said that. since Great
Britain had recognized the American
right 20 rortify the canal. forbidden IN
the treaty, II had recognized n changed
condition, which makes tho entire
treaty inopcrative
THE treaty" uaid Nc, "pust stand
or fan SIS q whole Under the doctrine
recognized by the British government
the treaty It's inoperative ne TO the
newly acquired territory OF the United
States and The canal constructed on
american territory Mt Panama. is no
more affected by tho Hay Pauncefote
ireatv thnn NYnMld BE q nnnnl huili