Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-03-28
REP. UNDERWOOD'S
ADDRESS AGAINST
EXEMPTION REPEAL

Rep. Underwood of Alabama, Demo-
cratic floor leader in the House of Rep
reSentatiyes today delivered his speech
against repeating the Panama tolls
exemption, as urged by President Will
son. The scene of the leader of the
House majority, who had led the sue
cessful fights for practically all the
administration measures, combating
the position of the President, attracted
wide attention. Mr.. Underwood urged
defeat of the Sims bill, which follows
President Wilson's recommendation
for the repeal of the tolls exemption.
He declared the repeal was contrary
to the platform of the Democratic
party adopted at the Baltimore con-
vention, and that an exemption fav-
oring American coastwise ships did
not violate the Hay-Pauncefote treaty.
mot for one moment do I believe
we have violated a treaty" declared
MIR. Underwood. "Our whole difficulty
arises from the un-American spirit of
surrender that some of our own peo-
pie have exhibited toward this i'm
portant question from the very begin
ming.
Can any one tell us plainly why we
surrender and what is to be accom-
plished by it? Are we to yield merely
because the sentiment of Europe is
against u.s. When has the sentiment
of Europe ever been with us about
matters of moment? When will the
tine come when We can expect to
maintain and preserve our rights, po-
liticai and commercial with the acqui-
escent sympathy of European govern
ments?"
Mr. Underwood quoted the tolls ex-
emption plank from the Baltimore
platform, and continuing said:.
There can be no contention as to
the meaning of this language. No one
can raise the issue that the Sbill now
pending before the House introduced
by the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr.
Sims) is not in direct conflict with
the declaration of the Democratic plat
form. Personally I believe that the
party pledge should be lived up to in
good faith by those who claim allegi-
! ance 70 party principles, but as there
are many here who differ with me in
reference to the binding effect of a
party platform I will not at this time
endeavor to discuss the pending bill
| from that standpoint.
LET us resolve the issue into the
| question as to whether the platform of
the Democratic party favoring exemp-
ton of tolls of American ships engag-
ed in coastwise trade passing through
the Panama Canal is best for the ma
! ton and the people of our country, or
| whether the gentleman from Tennes-
see in the bill now pending before the
House repudiating the declaration of
the Democratic party, is proposing
| legislation that will he.-most beneficial
i to, our nation and eura people ~ -
Representative Underwood quoted
| figures to show that the cost of main
| tenance of the canal and interest on
| the governments investment could be
met easily without charging American
| vessels tolls and by charging foreign
vessels a fair and reasonable" toll.
He compared the tolls charged by the
| British at the Suez canal with the pro-
posed Panama tolls.
"The purpose of Congress- said he,
"in providing in the act for the open
| ing, maintenance, protection and OPP
Grafton of the canal, that no tolls shall
| be levied upon vessels engaged in the
| coastwise trade of the United States,
| and providing further that it should be
! left discretionary with the President
of the United States to exempt from
tolls our ships engaged in foreign
trade. was an effort on the part of
| Congress to discriminate in favor Of
American shipping and to re-establish
| our merchant marine. This has been
policy of the Democratic party since
| fla irn IF ant
Democratic party has never stood for
! direct subsidies but has always favor
| ed subventions and determinations in
! favor of our shipping.
| TT was through discriminating tariff
| duties that our merchant marine was
| developed in the first three decades of
! our governments existence. The Dem
| ocratic tariff law that is now on the
statute books carries in it q discrimi-
nation amounting to a reduction of
| five per cent of the duties on goods
| imported in American ships. IF we
| have built the canal for the benefit of
an American merchant marine and not
| for the practical exclusive use Of for
eign shipping we must adopt a policy
Of discrimination in favor of American
! ships, or We must in the end pay IN
| direct subsidies to enable our ships to
compete with ships of foreign nations.
| The subsidies and determinations that
| European governments have given to
| their shipping interests have practical
| ly driven American ships from the
seas.
For the reasons given / believe that
| the Democratic party was both wise
| and patriotic when it announced a pol
| icy in favor of discriminating in favor
of our coastwise ships going through
| the Panama Canal and that there is
no reason at this time why we should
abandon a solemn promise made to
| American people in one of the most
| prominent planks in our party plat
| form.
but we are told that we are violat-
| ing a solemn treaty made with anoth-
| err nation and in good faith that we
| should abandon the canal to foreign
rivals without contest or dispute in
order that we may keep our stand
| ing in the family of nations.
Not for one moment do / believe
| that we have violated treaty right
and not for one moment do / believe
that the English government seriously