Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-28
Says National Honor and Ma
tional Policy Are Against
Free Canal.
BORAH RAISES A STIR
ON DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM
0Gorman Resents Statement That
Baltimore Convention Committee
Made q Mistake.

Rushing to the defense OF the President
In his demand for the repeal of the clause
OF the Panama canal law permitting the
free passage OF American coastwise yes
sells, Senator Robert L. Owen of Okla
homa- In the Senate, yesterday. answered
the critics of the administration.
THE President of the United States, in
requesting Congress to repeal the Stat
ute exempting coastwise vessels owned
by citizens Of tho United States from
payment Of tolls through the Panama
canal. Is justified by economic justice by
national honor and by political wisdom"
said Senator Owen. emphaticalIy.
Ninety millions OF our people have
taxed themselves to build this canal
at an expense of over $3.50. 900. 900. and
there Is no equity or economic justice
in the selfish insistence that a small
number of persons with money in
vested in steamboats, in the coast trade
should not. when they use this inter
national canal. contribute their pro
rata part Of the cost of maintenance
and interest
Built by All the People.
Ninety millions of Americans have
been exceedingly patriotic in building
this canal needed by the nation, and
now less than 5000 shipowners on the
Atlantic and Pacific coast line are de-
handing as a right the use of. this
canal without paying for the cost of
keeping 1t in order or interest on the
prime cost .f
1t is a form of special privilege which
is hatiy opposed to every principle OF
democratic teaching. 1t is taking away
money from the many and giving IL to
the few, and in this case giving the most
OF 1t to a few having a monopoly in
coastwise transportation.
IF the doctrine of giving subsidy Is
recognized by the people of the United
States as wise and economically just it
would be better for our foreign relations
to give the subsidy directly ont of our
Treasury on the theory of encouraging
shipping, and in this contingency We
should not charge foreign vessels witt,
more than their proportionate part of tho
cost of up-keep and interest.
Senator Owen insisted it was of the
greatest importance that the United
States should observe strictly its treaty
Pauncefote treaty did not permit the free
passage OF American coastwise vessels.
In support Of this he said:
when the first draft of the Hay
Pauncefote treaty was submitted to the
Senate, Mr.. Bard of California. Deem
Der Ii. 1900. moved to substitute the fol-
lowing:
1.-The United States reserves the right
IN the regulation and management OF the
canal to discriminate in respect of the
charges Of traffic in favor of vessels OF
Its own citizens engaged in the coastwfse
trade
"And the Senate Of the United States
not only did not give g. tWo-thirds vote
in favor of such discrimination. but gave
almost a two-thirds vote against it. 1t
was debated by 43 nays to % years"
Sharp Debate Follows Speech.
A sharp debate followed Senator Owens
address. Senator Borah read the last
paragraph Of the democratic platform.
which stated that its promises. in con-
tradistinction to the promises Of the re-
publican party, were made to be kept.
Senator Borah. who is a republican. took
considerable pleasure in the reading Of
this enunciation Of the democrats.
Senator Owen replied that the plank in
the democratic platform in favor of tolls
exemption was not in accordance with
democratic principles, and that if mis-
take had been made by the drafters of
the platform, it did not follow that the
entire democratic party should fall into
that mistake.
This aroused Senator O'Gormau, demo-
crat, and a leader in the fight against
the repeal of the tolls provision. He
showed that the platform had been re-
ported to the convention in Baltimore by
Senator Kern. the democratic leader OF
the Senate; that it had been adopted
unanimously, and that a humber of demo-
cratic senators, as well as William Jen-
nings Bryan, Secretary of State, had been
members of the platform committee.