New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-04-10
Predict Declaration That
Bill Is Not Waiver of
Rights of U. S.
SENATE COMMITTEE
OPENS IT'S HEARINGS
Norris Speaks for Arbitration
Thomas Favors Making
Waterway Free.
From The Tribune Bureau. ]


Washington. April 9.-Predictions were
made on both sides Of the Senate cham
Der to-day that the President will accom-
pish his purpose Of repeating the tolls
exemption clause OF the Panama Canal
act, but that ho will not succeed In fore
| ing his views on Congress.
/ II was said by Senators who support
/ the President In the tolls repeal fight that
the Sims bill will be amended by dec
/ laration that II Is not to be interpreted
as a waiver of rights by the United
States majority in favor OF tho adop-
| ton OF this amendment is not assured,
/ but IL is certain that the vote against It
will be smaller than that against the bill
itself and II is not improbable that the
amendment Will be adopted. Several Re-
publican Senators who are willing to re-
peal the tolls exemption clause because
they believe such action to be expedient
are not willing to have their action In
terprted as concurrence with the view
of the President that the clause Is Vlo-
I lation Of the Hay-Pauncefote treaty.
The question of the arbitration OF the
| tolls controversy will be propounded to
/ the Senate, to the discontinue or the
opponents of the repeal bill. This phase
of the problem may complicate the situa-
| ton For the first time the principle OF
arbitration will be put 10 the test, and II
will be difficult for Senators who have
: given their aid in the promotion OF uni
versal peace to justify opposition to
proposition to submit the tolls question TO
arbitration.
Norris Urges Arbitration.
/ The Senate Committee on Interoceanic
| Canals began its hearings to-day sen
ator Norris presented lis reasons Tor pro-
poslng the adoption OF an amendment 10
the repeal bill declaring that the United
States does not thereby waive its right
TO exempt its vessels from the payment
of tolls lie also urged the SUBMISSION OF
the disputed point to arbitration.
This IS purely question OF law ne
said. "and II ought TO be possible TO get
unanimous decision
would II not be impossible 10 secure
an unbiased tribunal suggested fiieih-
her of the committee.
81 do not think So" replied the Senator
from Kansas. "The President might
rame three members OF the Supreme
Court and Great Britain might name
three British Judges. The President OF
Switzerland. which has no vessels, might
be the seventh
THE President has already decided the
case against u.s." said Senator Bristow
"That is no obstacle TO arbitration
Some one else might make the desgna-
tons"
Senator Thomas gave the committee his
reasons for urging no toll charges for tho
passage OF vessels through inc canal
which he made the subject OF a speech
/ in the Senate.
Would Make Route Cheap One.
The advantage the United States would
derive from unrestricted traffic through
the canal. he said. in tho way of an In
crease of It's merchant marine and It's
foreign trade would moro than compen-
safe II for the cost OF maintaining and
operating the canal. Mr.. Thomas said
that steamship routes for tho Orient, ex-
cept those 10 Australia and New Zealand,
would find the Suez Canal better high
way than the Panama Canal. Coaling
stations will be established with diff
Guilty at Panama. he said, and in order to
make the route attractive to commerce 1t
must be made cheap.
1--WE pay s5OO0OO,OcO per annum," he
said, "to the owners Of foreign bottoms
for carrying our wares to market. This
is equivalent TO the cost of the canal.
| Everything tending to divert this traffic
into American bottoms must be a distinct
gain TO American commerce and TO the
American people Nothing can more
surely affect this than the free use of the
canal to the commerce of the world. II
this policy Is adopted the canal cannot
| fall under railroad control"
Senator Newlands, DemocraO, Of Ne
vada, issued n statement late to-day an
nouncing that he would oppose the repeal
bill. He said he did not believe exemp-
ton of American coastwise shipping from
canal tolls violated the Hay-Pauncefote
treaty.
Senator Kenyon announced that he ap-
proved the suggestion OF ex-Presldent
Roosevelt that the tolls question he arbi-
trated.
NEW HAVEN MAY
N-rri -rn.s& - 49,