The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1914-03-28
WSsISS|PPIAN
SAYS FREE TOLLS
WILL AID FARMER
REPRESENTATIVE FROM tins
DISTRICT SAYS REPEAL
WOULD be SURRENDER.
(Bv Associated Press.)

(By Associated Press.)
Washington, March 2s.-Representar
tive Harrison was one of the early
speakers when debate was resumed a.
the Canal tolls repeal. Although ad-
mitting his anxiety to follow the
President and comply with his wish
es."' Mr.. Harrison said he could not
reconcile his conscience to the Presi-
dents view, and surrender to Britain
principle of national honor.
b He said free tolls will aid the farm
ers of the Mississippi valley to ship
.heir products down the Mississippi
riy er, through the canal and to the
Pacific cheaper than by rail. 1t would
probably open another market on the
Pacific, where they are natural advan-
tages for the manufacture Of cotton"
Special TO The Neq1s.
Washington. d. c.. March 2s.-Tak-
ing direct issue with President VIII
son, but agreeing with many other
leaders of his party, Congressman =
P. Harrison of Mississippi, n q ~
haustive speech on the iloer " ~
House today, announced bic l1te4<I
to vote against the bill to rss-sl -
1 free tolls provision of the Fana1
Canal act. 1lrt|
No question has ever been present-
ed to this House since | became =
member of it," declared Mr.. Harrison.
that has given me more concern and
received a more thorough and Careful
consideration at my hands than that
involved in the pending bill. The .jm-
portance to me has arisen out of the
fact, first, that President Wilson has
come to us and requested us as the
legislative branch of this Governmen<
to vote for the bill; second, becaune 4
am so strongly convinced that our
coastwise vessels going through tn
Panama Canal should be exempt from
the payment of tolls; rslro nocHuse my
record in a previous ConarGss and my
party's platform commit me against
the bill"
So anxious was he to follow the
President. Mr.. Harrison said. that he
had allowed his consideration of the
question to be constantly influenced
by desire to comply with the wishes
of the leader of his party. But, after
the unbiased consideration have
given the question, l am thoroughly
convinced that, as an economic policy,
free toll for our coastwise vessels is
the wisest and best policy, and that
this government violates no provision
of the Hay-!Pauncefote treaty in SO
providing"
Reason For Canal.
"What was the primary cause for
constructing the canal?" he asked.
"Why, to ask the question is to an
swer it. We though we would give
quicker and cheaper transportation
facilities. not only to the people along
our Atlantic, Gulf and Pac1fI4 -
in trading with each other. 81
it would bring all the peopt>
world into closer commercial
tions.
THE most plausible and convincin1
and. might say. controlling arsu
ments advanced in the discussions Il
Congress over the construction Of tn
canal was that it would bring abou
competition between the steamship
lines and the transoontinental rni1
roads In the matter Of freight rats
and that the people n Ipld get tn
. benefit Of those rates.
Al The object Of this government fr61
! the beginning Of its policy a apprs
s priating money Tor rivers and harbor
c work has been to create waterway
: thereby giving the people facilities q
5 QUICKER and cheaper transpol ta<iol
i and Incidentally aiding our mefchan
coutinasa = no uSAe =
~ tSi tat y.