Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1914-06-09

rur SENATE AND EXEMPTION.

-,uAT discussion in the United states Senate OF
President Wilson's Panama Canal toll exemption
repeater has given 20 the American people better I'M
derstandng Of the matters involved is the rankly-ex
pressed opinion Of the Washington Post. It says
The out and out repeal Of the tolls exemption clause,
without amendment, appears to bo impossible Demo
cratic Senator's as well as their Republican coieasues,
are icsprV ng Judgment There are several Senators
Who have not indicated how they viii vote lher
votes sufficient to pass or defeat the repeal Dill
They very properly suspondng Judgment uhul the
hour the that facts may be brought out
I'M debate which will change the aspect of the issue
Senators of independent Judgment are not TO be in
nuenced by the oldtme expedent of working up art-
sentiment in their home states expressed IN the
form of cut-and-dried toiegrama Senators are sent
to their intelligence and experience for
the benefit OF their constituents and the country mt
large. They bound TO judge for themselves what
is best TO do They cannot be mere rubber stamps for
somebody elso-not for the administration
The debate In the Senate has been most Illuminating
II brought out sharply the great fact that can
not hereafter be hiddenhe fact that the real question
at issue supremacy of the United States at the
Panama Canal; not qualified supremacy, or SUI
promacy conditioned upon the approval OF Great Brit
ain. but real, absolute supremacy
We doubt the President unaware of this real is
when, the fatofu 9Th of March. he appealed to
Congress TO submit to the British demand without
raising the question whether right or wrong.
1t Is Impossible to believe that the President thought
the supremacy OF the United States at Panama was at
stake lie believed that the whole question involved
one of tolls. and In the perpexty of state De-
partment complications he wished to yield this one
point for the sake Of mendng other matters OF nearer
consequence"
of the issue. But the Senate which shares with the
President the treaty-makng function and which NUM-
bcrs among IT'S members statesmen who familiar
with foreign relations, cut IT'S way through
the husks into the meat of the question. No one who
has kept IN touch with the Senate discussion have
failed to grasp the central fact that II the United
States acquiesoes I'm the British Interpretation OF the
Hay pauncefote treaty. IL viii yield vital right Of
absolute control the Panama Canal in time of war
II viii be compelled to treat the warships OF other
nations exactly IL treats It's own and IL Will be for
estopped from taking advantage of It's ownership
OF the canal to facilitate its military naval opera
hons
The Senate does well to ignore the clamor OF men
and newspapers for immediate vote without thrash
ing out fully the whole subject This clamor is based
partly upon insufficient information TO the import
of the subject and partly upon desire to shut
of the truth The Senate Is the place for the eucda-
ton of facts concerning our foreign relations, and now
is the time TO bring out all the facts regarding the
obligations OF the United States touching the Panama
Canal Every Senator who wishes 10 speak should
have fun time in which TO express himself
Some OF the amendments offered are entirely novel
possibly they have i'm them the germ of solution
OF the problem that confronts the administration II
there Is dignihed way out Of the embarrassing situa
ton. the administration ought to be glad TO adopt IT,
Yes; more, in debate at least the Senate has
indicated its right to be called a deliberatve body
II has rebuked the legislative Importantly President
Wilson and declined TO follow the suhserylont lead
the House OF Representatives The disposition in tn,
upper chamber IS TO consider the exemption matter
rs merits and pay attention 10 American in
terests than TO pro-Brtsh White House sentiment.