East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1914-02-25
CHAMBERLAIN OPPOSES
REPEAL OF FREE TOLLS
SENATOR FROM OREGON is OUT
SPOKEN IN OPPOSITION TO
THE PLAN.
Says Demand Is Inspired by Canadian
Pacific Railroad II Congress
Yields 1t Will Be Followed BY
Other Demands, He Declares in In
terview.


WASHINGTON, Feb. 25.-(Spec-
ial.) .)-Senator George E. Chamberlain
is outspoken in his opposition to the
repeal of that portion of the Panama
canal act which exempts castwise ves-
sells from payment Of tolls. He has
travelled along the same road with
President Wilson since the Inaugural
ton but as to the repeal of the free
tolls provision. which is now being
championed by the chief executive.
the senior senator from Oregon en-
ters a positive but dignified remon-
STRANGE.
In speaking of the agitation now
going on, Senator Chamberlain said:
at is my opinion that the demand
for the repeal of that portion of the
Panama canal act granting free tolls
to coastwise vessels is inspired, in the
first instance, by the Canadian Pa
cific railroad, and this in turn by the
transcontinental railroads of this
country These latter roads have al
ways opposed the construction of a
| canal. Their emissaries were in
Washington to oppose the passage of
the Panama canal act and. having fail.
ed in that, they are now resorting to
the field of diplomacy, ready, if need
be, to plunge the country into a
bloody war to accomplish their pur-
pose.
Suppose the congress yields to the
demands of Great Britain and repeals
the free-tolls clause of the act, will
that satisfy her? Not by any means,
| for, yielding to this demand, 1t will
| be followed by other insistent de-
mands and amongst these will be the
| opening of the canal to railroad-own-
| ships. This is the real secret behind
which the trans-continental lines are
hiding. both those in Canada and
| those in the United States.
"If these demands are complied
with it Will be insisted that We have
no right to fortify the canal; that We
have no right to pass our navy
| through the canal in time of war; that
we cannot honor our treaty with Pam
anna with reference to the passage of
| her vessels through the canal; in
| fact, that we have no right whatso-
| ever-except to expend about sixteen
millions of dollars per annum in the
maintenance and operation of great
| national highway built by American
ingenuity with American money.
There is no question that there are
| international complications which
make the subject a delicate one at
this particular juncture. but a truly
American policy demands that the
Panama act should stand as it was en-
acted in spite of these complications.
and the United States ought to main
tain its position at any hazard or cost.
| It is insisted by those who would re-
peal the clause that 1t Is in violation
| of the Hay-Pauncefote treaty. but
| the question of treaty violation was
| discussed at great length before the
| law was enacted. ana It was deter
| mined by an overwhelming vote in
| both the senate and house that the
| enactment of the law was in no sense
| of the word violation of the treaty.
1t is not party question, but one Of
national import.
Il believe in peace, but it ought not
to be purchased at the expense of ma
tional integrity and honor A law
which was enacted at the demand of
the business interests of the whole
country ought not to be disturbed be-
cause of the protest Of Great Britain
or any other power"