The Washington herald., 1914-03-29
TRYING TO HEAL
BREACH ON TOLLS
cuNTISUED FROM PAGE ONE.

CuNTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.
II such a proposal were made an issue
in the next Congressional campaign there
Is little doubt. The President. however.
with a legislative program only half COM
p!eted. and with the most intense desire
to perpetuate the policies he has adopt
ed. will be the last man to encourage a
serious breach IN his own party.
1t remained for n Republican, Repre-
sentative Stevens, of Minnesota, to lay
before the House the only argument for
the repeal which justly could be ad-
vanced as a match for Majority Leader
Underwood'S powerful presentation Of
the other side. Mr.. Stevens Is the rank
ing Republican member OF the Interstate
and Foreign Commerce Committee. which
reported out the Sims bill Mr.. Stevens
smoke for nearly an hour yesterday. He
received an ovation from both sides Of
tho chamber second TO none, 30 far in
the canal tolls debate.
Representative Fitzgerald, OF New
York, chairman OF the Appropriations
Committee, and one OF the big four
leaders arrayed against the President,
also spoke yesterday. His speech was
largely academic. carefully studied and
arranged. one Of the best arguments Of
the debate. Others who spoke yesterday
were Representative Gillette, Republican,
OF Massachusetts. who favors the re-
peal. but could not resist the temptation
to indulge in a partisan attack upon the
President and Representative Knowland.
of California. a Republican candidate for
the United States Senate. who is making
his campaign in, and distributing his
literature through. the Congressional
ticularly bitter.
Apology by Nr. MondeII.
Representative MondeIi. of Wyoming
one Of the most intense Republican par
tisans in the House, made the apology
that some twenty-three Republicans who
previously had voted against free tolls
have decided to make for switching. Mr..
MOndell and others. through their in
tense partlsanship, will be potent factors
in healing the breaches In the Democratic
announcing that he still believes the free
tolls subsidy to be economically unwise.
Mr. MOndell said:
THE President came to my way of
thinking in the matter Of tolls but he
did 1t on conditions not creditable to him
or to us. He proposes repeal OF tolls
exemption for reasons untenable and in
defensible. The situation thus present
ed, the issues thus Joined. makes IL the
duty OF every member who is proud OF
American achievement. insistent Of
American rights, jealous of American
honor and determined to uphold Ameri-
can dignity, to vote against the repeal"
Although the attendance on the floor
was materially less than on Friday. the
galleries again were crowded yesterday.
and the halls half filled with waiting
thronss. About six hours were con-
sumed in the debate. leaving about ten
hours vet to be run through The House
will meet again tomorrow to continue
general debate. 1t il hoped a vote may
be reached by late Tuesday afternoon.
Representative Stevens had a fair-sized
House when he commenced talking. and
the attendance increased as he proceeded.
Proper Point of View.
I'm the discussion declared Mr. Stev-
ems, first, II is important to realize the
proper point of view. The controversy
is between those on one side who con-
slider the Panama Canal as an interna-
tional waterway, subject to its rules and
regulations. with far-reaching results
upon foreign influence and commerce of
our country. and those on the other side
who consider the canal as a domestic
waterway, the same as others in our
country. and to be administered primarily
for our domestic commerce.
1T IL fiercely argued that this pending
measure interferes with the rights Of the
United States to fix free tolls for the
vessels OF its own people. II does no
such thing. Our contention Is that Con-
gress can provide any rate of tolls or no
tolls as IL may see ft, but when IL does
act it must in these respects treat other
nations equally and without dtscrimina-
tion. This is the real question TO be
understood
Mr.. Stevens subdivided the question
into the international aspect. the inter-
probation OF the treaty. and the economic
phase OF the question.
Position of senator Davis.
Decaring that from an intimate friend
ship with the late Senator c. X. Davis.
Of Minnesota, he was sure that the latter.
who was chairman Of the Foreign Rela-
tions Committee which reported on the
first Hay-Pauncefote treaty. interpreted
that pact as a guarantee of perfect COM
merciaI equality TO all nations. including
the United States, in the use of the canal,
Mr.. Stevens said:
THE language of his very able report
shows beyond possibility Of doubt that he
believed that the treaty which he pre-
scented to the Senate was intended to
provide, and did provide. equal use and
treatment without advantage to any one.
In framing this report Senator Davis
quoted at length from Secretary Clayton
TO Minister Rives relative to the Clayton
Bulwer treaty. The letter contained the
following language, which Senator Davis
himself underscored:
That the United States sought no ex-
elusive privilege or preferential right
of any kind in regard TO the proposed
communication, and their sincere wish. if
1t should be found practicable, was to
see IL dedicated to the common use of
all nations on the most liberal terms
and footing OF perfect equality for
all?
Most of the Senators who now con-
tend that II was then clearly understood