The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-04-15
loBsE DISCUSSES TOLLS.
No One Seems Anxious to Appear II,
Defence Of Exemption Clause.

tnc fanaHna tOilS exemption repeal
bin opened today before the senate
intsroceanic canals committee. but
interest in the repeal fight was TO-
cused on the senate itself. where SEN
ator Lodge. veteran Republican mem
Der or the foreign relations commit
tee. held the attention of virtually the
entire membership and of crowded
galleries for more than two hours
without interruption, defending the
position OF President Wilson in in
sisting upon the passage of the re-
peal bill.
The senator declared that, i'm his
opinion. the right OF the United states
to exempt any of its shipping from
tolls was unquestioned under strict
Interpretation OF the treaty. but be-
cause OF the delicate position I'm which
the country finds itself in it's foreign
relations. urged non-partisan sup
port OF the president At the con-
clusion OF Senator Lodges address the
galleries broke into applause, and the
vice presidents gavel pounded sew
erai minutes before order was re-
stored and the warning given that
senate rules prohibited any display of
approval or disapproval from the gall
lery.
TO thwart the purposes or to dis
credit the policies OF the head of a
political party" he declared, lis ie-
gitimate political warfare. To dis
credit or break down the president OF
the United states upon n question OF
foreign policy Is quito another thing.
not To be undertaken except for the
very gravest reason. In one case we
overthrow n party leader within that
arena where the American people
alone sit I'm Judgment; in the other
we break down and discrodit the rep
resentative of the whole country in
the great forum OF the nations of the
earth and paralyze his future powers
and usefulness in that field where he
alone can declare and represent the
policy. the honor and the dignity of
the United States"
Before the canals committee Sena-
tor Norris and Thomas appeared to
discuss their propositions. tho session
making the beginning of tho fifteen
day public discussion. decided upon
earlier In The week. 1t was doubtful
tonight just what the programme of
the hearings would be for the next
few days.
A delay appeared probable today
as representatives OF the commercial
organizations i'm Pacific coast cities
and New orleans. at whose request
the hearings were ordered. have not
arrived and several senator's who have
submitted substitutes for the bill
which passed the house intimated to-
day they had no desire TO defend
their proposals before the committee.
Senator Norris urged upon the com
mittee his suggestion that, while the
exemption clause be repealed, che
right OF the United states to make
such exemptions be asserted i'm the re-
peal measure and the president en-
powered TO arrange for arbitration CT
the dispute on this point.
Senator Thomas outlined his plan
tn throw open the canal to the free
passage OF all commerce. lie elabor-
ated this later In the day ir the SEN
ate. going into a detailed statement of
his view Of the economic situation
that would justify his proposal.
Debate on the repeal fight. which
has occupied the senate virtually the
entire week. although senators have
not been speaking directly TO my bill.
promises to continue at intervals at
least until the committee reports its
findings. Half dozen senators have
stated their purposes Of addressing the
senate on the subject within the next
few days. and so far no serious effort
to limit the preliminary discussion or
to bring up other matters for action
has been made.
Senator Lodge. in addressing the
senate today In support Of Presl-
dent Wilson's Panama canal tolls moi.
icy maintained vigorously the icgnl
right OF the United states To excmpt
its shipping. foreign as well "a coast
wise. from tolls. but declared that "a
decent respect To the opinions of
mankind" and the "distrust ana in
some cases dislike with which the
United states Is regarded abroad de-
nanded prompt repeal of the exemp-
ton clause Of the Canal Act.
Whether we shall insist upon Civ