Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-03-29
i. S. PERIL IN.
WAR URGED
AS BAR I D
TOLL REPEAL
National Rivers and Harbors Con-
gress, Through Senator Rams
dell, President, Calls on the
Country to Voice Its Protests.
Statement Says British Demand
Is Forerunner Of Others That
Would Put the Canal at Mercy
Of Enemies Of United States.

WASHINGTON. March 2S The
National Rivers and Harbors Con-
gress, which is waging strong fight
against President Wilson's Panama
Canal surrender, has issued the fol-
lowing statements.
"A tremendous effort is now being
made to secure the repeal. at the re-
quest Of Great Britain, of that pro-
vision OF the Panama Canal act which
exempts American vessels engaged in
coastwise commerce from the pay
ment Of tolls. This effort is likely
to succeed unless those who are OPP
posed to legislation in the interest of
Great Britain and the transconti-
mental railways rather than Of the
American people shall enter prompt
and energetic protest.
Senators Against Repeal
ut is claimed by Great Britain that
tbs free tolls provision Is a violation
Of the Hay Pauncefote treaty but the
members of the Senate who voted to
ratify that treaty held different
view. Senator Lodge. who was in
London while the negotiations we're
going on, and afterward was N
charge OF the treaty in the Senate;
Senators Clapp and Perkins, former
Senator Bard. the late Senator Da-
Wis. who was chairman Of the Senate
Committee on Foreign Relations, and
Theodore Roosevelt, then President,
all believed that under that treaty we
had the right to treat our own ship
ping as we pleased: otherwise the
treaty would never have been ratified.
If free tolls through the Panama
Canal IS a subsidy to coastwise ship
ping. free tolls through the st. Mary's
Falls Canal is a subsidy to lake ship
ping: and. as it is a very poor rule
which will not work both ways, II free
tolls at the Panama Canal would not
decrease the cost TO shippers, the
cling of tolls upon. shipping using
the ST. Mary,s Falls Canal would not
increase the charges now made by
lake vessels.
THE transcontinental railways have
always opposed the building of an
Isthrnian canal, and are now using
every. effort to make the competition
Of the canal as light as possible, and
so largely destroy the main economic
advantage which the canal was ex-
pected to produce.
Attention seems to be directed al
most entirely to the subject Of tolls,
but it is worth while to see what
would necessarily follow II the Britt
ish contention Is upheld.
What Repeal Means.
IF the United States is to be in
Guided among all nations in the mat
ter Of tolls, it must necessarily be on
the same footing as to every other
point mentioned by the treaty
y "The warships Of the United States
must pay the same tolls as the war
abips Of other nations. The United
states would have no right to fortify
the canal. 1t is fortifying 1t. never
theless The United States would be
compelled to give passage to the bat
neships OF a nation with which It
vas at war. with the risk Cor, rather
the certainty that the canal would
be destroyed.
"The United States in time Of war
couId not embark or disembark
troops, munitions Of war or supplies
within the Canal Zones, nor allow one
of its battleships to remain in the
canal. or within three miles of eith,T
end OF ii. for more than "a hours at
time.
.If a fleet of an enemy's battle
ships were waiting outside the three
mile limit. a smaller fleet. or single
battleship Of the United States, must
60 forth to certain defeat to be fol-
loved possibly by the capture Of the
canal and the imperiling Of our ma
tional safety.
"The canal was built at the expense
Of the United States. This country
alone is responsible for It's mainte-
nance, its operations and its defense
The statement was signed by SEN
ator Joseph E. Ransdell, as president
Of the National Rivers and Harbors
Congress