Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-05-20
New Hampshire Senator Is Ar
rayed on Side of Those Who
Advocate Repeal.
SAYS U. S. DEDICATED I
CANAL TO ALL MANKIND
Alleges That to Make Exception Of
American Coastwise Vessels Would
Be Discriminatory.

senator Hollis OF new Hampshire today
made an extended argument in the Sen.
ate in favor OF the passage Of the PAN
anna canal tolls repeal bill. He told the
Senate that in the light OF the prin-
ciples Of the common law regarding trans
portation matters in both Great Britain
and the United States at the time OF the
ratification Of the Hay-Pauncefote treaty.
it was impossible to interpret that treaty
SO as to permit the exemption Of Amer
lean coastwise vessels from the payment
Of tolls through the Panama canal
Under the common law in both coun-
tries. he said, all persons engaged in a
public calling are compelled to serve every
one who applies on equal terms. Senator
Hollis insisted that this principle must
hold in connection with the operation OF
the Panama canal.
Greatest Public Utility.
The Panama canal. built owned and
operated by the United States" said Sen
ator Hollis. constitutes the greatest pub
lie utility on earth.
THE United States has dedicated that
canal to the service of all mankind. She
boasts that she holds 1t in trust for the
peoples Of the world. She throws wide
merce OF all the nations. But by act Of
Congress she has exempted from pay
ment Of tolls vessels engaged in the
coastwise trade Of the United States.
owned by her citizens are permitted to
engage in the coastwise trade Of the
United States. she has thereby discrimi-
mated against the general public in favor
st confess to a prejudice against any
form of discrimination in matters Of
transportation. I have never ridden on
a pass in my life. therefore approach
against any special privilege in matters
Of transportation"
Discusses Party Pledges.
Senator Hollis expressed his belief in
the sacredness Of party pledges as ex-
pressed in the democratic party plat
form. but he added with reference to the
free tolls" plank of the platform
adopted in Baltimore:
Il assume that no one considers a
platform declaration more binding than
the provisions Of a valid and existing
treaty" Senator Hollis said that he was
convinced that under the Hay-Pauncefote
treaty the United States could not ex-
empt any Of Its merchant vessels from
the payment Of tolls through the canal.
Referring to the arguments made by
Senator Lodge Of Massachusetts and
former Secretary Of State Olney to the
effect that the United States has a right
to pass its ships through the canal free
of tolls because lit cannot reasonably
be- argued that in fixing terms for the
use of its canal by customers the United
States looked upon itself as one Of the
customers" Senator Hollis said:
This Is very true; the United States
does not look upon itself as one of its
own customers. It stands like railroad
company, and no one questions Its right
to pass free its government vessels-ships
Of war, revenue cutters, transports and
the Ike-just as a railroad carries free
its own freight and employees. But when
we come to the citizens of the United
States as opposed to the government Of
the United States. the railroad analogy
holds.
q. s. Citizens Customers.
Citizens Of the United States are Gus
toners just as foreign governments and
foreign citizens are customers. and just
as stockholders Of railroad are CUSTOM
ers. I still maintain that the United
States has no more right to pass free
through the canal ships belonging to its
citizens than a railroad has to carry free
the persons or property of its stock
holders"
Senator Hollis ridiculed any suggestion
that he and other supporters of the repeal
bill were any less patriotic than the OPP
ponents of the bill. or that they were
afraid of Great Britain.
New Hampshire is not afraid Of Eng
land" said Senator Hollis; the United
States is not afraid of England: but there
are things Of which my native state and
my native country are very much afraid:
They are afraid of yielding something of
that jealous honor which BELTS one Chris
tan gentleman when he deals with an
other; they are afraid to pose. in the face