Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-06-02
SENATOR PERKINS
AGAINST REPEAL
Speech on Canal Tolls Read by
Clerk, Owing to Formers
Health.

speech against the Panama Canal
tolls repeal bill, written by Senator Per-
kins Of California, was read to the Sen
ate by the reading clerk today, at
the request of Senator Perkins, Sen
ator Perkins. who sat in the chamber
while his argument was presented. was
unable to deliver the speech in person
because of his health.
Senator Perkins argued that to repeal
the exemption of American coastwise
vessels from the payment Of tolls through
the Panama canal would be a vital mis-
take from an economic standpoint. He
declared that the United States had
been most generous to the other nations
OF the world: that at tremendous cost
OF wealth and life it has constructed the
Panama canal. which would be a benefit
to the commerce of the world.
he said that the first year 10000, 900
tons OF freight would pass through the
canal, and he predicted that 80 per cent
OF 1t would never touch the shores of the
United States, but would be for the bene-
mt OF foreign nations.
Effort to Reach Early Vote.
Senator o'Gorman. leading the fight
against the tolls exemption. announced
late yesterday that beginning Wednesday
the bill will be kept constantly before
the Senate until vote was taken. A
previous effort to reach an agreement for
vote at 4 pm. Friday failed on objec-
ton by Senator Cummins.
Senator Myers of Montana yesterday
upheld the President in his demand for
repeal bill
While 1 had decided in my own mind
tnat the exemption Of American coast
wise vessels from the payment Of tolls
through the Panama canal was wrong
and should be repealed, even had not so
decided, 1 would be willing to grant the
Presidents request said Senator Myers.
He IS at the head of our government.
He is the head of the administration. He
Is more intimately acquainted with for
elgn affairs than /. In such matters he
knows better than I what is best for the
country. l have confidence in his wis
dom. l believe he is fighting an earnest
battle for the rights of the people,
Myers Refers to Free Tolls Plank.
Senator Myers said that he did not be-
lieve that the free tolls plank in the
democratic platform had had the slight
est thing to do with the success of the
democratic party in the elections in 1912.
Il do not believe that the great ma
1ority of the voters knew that it was in
the PLATFORM" said Senator Myers.
1T is charged by some that the Presi-
dent has changed his mind on this ques-
ton. I do not know that he has, He
may possibly feel that conditions have
changed.
Regards Exemption Subsidy.
Should he have changed his mind, 1t
would not be the first time he had hon
estly changed his mind when convinced
that he had been wrong. nor is he the
only honest man who has ever changed
his mind One of the greatest marks of
an honest man Is the courage to declare
a change Of convictions
After stating that he was convinced
that under the provisions of the Hay
Pauncefote treaty the United States had
no right to exempt from the payment of
tolls her merchant vessels. coastwise or
overseas, Senator Myers said that he be-
lieved the exemption was no more nor
less than subsidy to the coastwise YES
sells. and as such a mistaken economic
policy. He declared that American coast
wise shipping already constituted mo-
nopoly.