Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-06-09
VOTE UPON TOLLS
NEARS IN SENATE
Lawmakers Hope to Settle
Issue Before Adjourn
ment Today.
ROOT TELLS OF FIRST
HAY-PAUNCEFOTE TREATY
Says Pact, Which He Opposed, Was
Not Discussed by Nc
Kinley Cabinet.

Hopeful of reaching a vote on the
Panama canal tolls repeal bill before
adjournment this evening. the Senate
began the consideration of that meas
ure Immediately following the rap of
the Vice Presidents gavel, calling the
Senate to order today
Senator William Alden Smith of
Michigan continued the address in op-
position to the repeal bill. which he
began yesterday. While he was criti-
ctsing the first Hay-Pauncefote treaty,
which was not ratified. Senator Smith
addressed a rhetorical question to
Senator Root of New York
Il wish that the senator from New
York were here now" shouted Sena-
tor Smith. that I might ask him, were
the first Hay-Pauncefote treaty pend
ing now, would he vote for it,
Root Answers Question.
Senator Root, unseen by Senator
Smith. had quietly entered the cham
Der and now appeared almost at the
elbow of Senator Smith.
Il would like to say that was and am
opposed to the first Hay-Pauncefote
treaty said Senator Root But I
heartily favor the second. which provides
that the Panama canal must be operated
so that the ships of all the world will
be on terms of equality
have a hand in drafting the first Hay
Pauncefote treaty." asked Senator
Smith.
II knew nothing of it until the public
discussion said Senator Root
Was it not discussed by the cabinet of
which both you and Mr.. Hay were mem
bers?" persisted Senator Smith
TT was not replied Senator Root,
I'VE had confidence in Mr.. Hay
II am glad that history will record the
statement of Senator Root that little at
tention was paid by the cabinet of Presi-
dent Mckinley to this treaty." said
Senator Smith, 80 that 1t will not ap-
pear that the instrument in question
had the deliberate approval of that
cabinet"
Compromise Amendment Substituted
Senator Simmons yesterday afternoon
presented to the Senate, as substi-
tute for the committee amendment to
the repeal bill. the compromise amend
ment agreed upon by himself and Sem
ator Norris of Nebraska This amend
nent declares that the passage of the
bill shall not be construed as re-
linquishment of ANY right the United
States may have under the Hay-Paunce-
fote treaty or otherwise to exempt
American merchant vessels from the
payment of tolls.
Senator Sutherland criticised the Nor
ris-Simmons amendment and proposed
the following:
Provided. That nothing herein shall
be considered as denying or abridging
the right of the United States to dis
criminate in favor of the ships of COM
merce of it's citizens in respect of the
conditions or charges which may be i'm
posed for the use of the Panama canal
but. on the contrary, such right Is here
by reasserted."
Free tolls for both coastwise and ocean
ator MARITIME of New Jersey. He re-
GREETED differing with President Wilson
in the controversy and said:
Administration Criticised.
However honest the President may be.
he may err. and / believe that in this
instance he has committed most grie, GUS
error
The democratic administration was
taken severely to task for its foreign
policy by Senator William Allen Smith.
who declared the President has not the
far-sightedness of his predecessors
II wish l could give my full impress
sions as to what drove the President to
that desperate position" he said. re-
ferring to the demand for repeal of the
tolls exemption II think he was moved
to this measure by sudden situation
in Mexico and az a result of a visit of
officers of a Japanese battleship to
Huerta at Mexico City"