The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1914-05-19
TUESDAY, MAY 10, 1914.
OUR CANAL


peal of the toll exemption law
has been pressed to the 'front.' and
the papers of the country are dis
cussing it pro and con, while
the Senate of the United States
is also wrestling with the propo-
sition. Throughout the entire
discussion as well as from the
many able editorials that we have
read upon the question, we have
seen nothing to change our opin-
ion in our belief that the law is
a just one and should not be re-
pealed. No one questions the
right of Congress to exact tolls OF
our coastWiSe vessels passing
through the canal if it is neceS-
sary for them to do so in order to
raise revenue, or if it is reason
able and just to our other inter
ests that it should be done. The
manner in which the request was
made and the reason which &C
tuated the president, have never
been given to the American peo-
pie. He has maintained the very
greatest silence on the point after
intimating and suggesting to the
public that his request was made
for the repeal of the law to en-
able him to deal with other deli
cate International propositions.
Up to date not a word has es-
capped his lips that would enlight-
en- the people, and they are still
left to the broad field of conjec-
ture. The surmise is that the
President has been actuated in
his action by some demand on
the part of England, and if this
is not true, he should relieve the
minds of the public on that point.
The startling Developments
which are now being disclosed by
the Interstate Commerce Com
mission in its investigation of
the New Haven affairs. to the
effect that the railroads have con-
tributed money to be used in lob
bying for the repeal of the eX-
emption laws, show that it is
the railroads of this country and
of Canada, that are raising the
hue and cry for repeal. That the
repeal of the law would rebound
to their interests is manifest.
They would be glad to close the
canal entirely and thus continue
their monopoly for trans-conti-
mental commerce.
The very object OF building the
canal was to have d free trans
portation for coaStWise vessels
carrying commerce from coast to
coast.
We are the sovereigns of the
canal, and as such we have the
absolute control of it, and it coulc
never have been the intention o.
either the United States or O.
Panama to include coaStWiSt
shipping in the covenant TO
terms of equality for all nations
Such a covenant would have de
stroyed the idea of sovereignty
Such a meaning was never in
tended for another reason to-Wii
No vessels can engage in coast
wise commerce except america
vessels, which was we'll known t
the contracting parties, and sure
ly it could never have been il
tended by either of them Whe
they provided for equality of a
nations, to include America
coastwise vessels, because ther
can not be competition wit
them.
This question is engaging til
attention of the ablest writer
statesmen and lawyers of tn
country and they differ in the
opinions about the meaning
the compact.
The raising of the question b
President Wilson seems to be il
opportune and without any re
son therefor. The Democrat
party, of which he was the leade
declared emphatically for the e
emptions, the Progressive par
declared also strongly for the e
emption and the Republican par
also contended for it and actual
put the law on the books. VII