Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1914-06-04
CONGRESSMAN BROCKSON WOULD HAVE SUPREME
COURT PASS UPON THE TOLLS EXEMPTION LAW

Iot American ships engaged in coastwise
trade passing through the Panama
Canal
Our platform is one Of principles,
which we believe to be essential to our
national welfare. Our pledges are made
TO be kept when in office as well as re-
lied upon during the campaign, and we
invite the cooperation Of All citizens.
regardless Of party, who believe in
maintaining unimpaired the institutions
and traditions Of our country
approve both Of these declarations.
and consider myself committed by them
70 the people in favor Of the Panama
tolls exemption
We are now asked to repeal this ex.
omption law by the pending bill. | be.
lieve the determination Of the question
as 70 our violating our treaty obligation
should decide whether or not the tolls.
exemption law should be repealed now.
AZ have stated am satisfied the
tolls-exemption law does not violate the
Hay -Pauncefote treaty. Therefore, | am
opposed to the passage Of the pending
repeal bill.
The repeal OF this tolls-exemption law
now would be an admission by our gov.
eminent that we do not have the right
TO control the Panama Canal What
other demands would be made upon the
United States concerning the manage
ment and control Of this canal no per-
son can say. Great Britain has already
given notice OF a protest against the
law which prohibits vessels controlled
by trusts from using the canal. In his
note, from which have quoted, Sir
Edward Grey says:
"There are other provisions of the
Panama Canal act to which the atten-
tion OF His Maiesty's Government has
been directed These arc contained in
section 2, part Of which enacts that a
railway company subject to the inter-
state commerce act Of 1887 Is prohibited
from having any interest in vessels
operated through the canal with which
such railways may compete, and an
other part provides that vessel per-
mitted to engage in the coastwise or
foreign trade Of the United States is
not allowed to use the canal If it's owner
is guilty Of violating the Sherman An
thrust Act.
Ellis Maiesty's Government do not
read this section of the act as applying
TO or affecting British ships, and they
therefore do not feel justified in making
any observations upon it. They assume
that il applies only to vessels flying the
flag OF the United States and that it Is
aimed at practices which concern only
the internal trade of the United States.
Ii this view is mistaken and the pro-
visions are intended TO apply under any
circumstances TO British ships. they
must reserve their right to examine the
matter further and to raise such con-
tcntions as may seem justified"
! Other protests and demands will fol-
low il we surrender our rights now.
4 Il IL possible that we have spent
! $500 100000 Of the peoples money in
4 the construction Of canal over which
our government will have no greater
control and will receive no greater bene-
fits than viii foreign nations2
We are told that the canal will be 3
great international waterway" to b.
operated with equal treatment to the
people and subjects Of all nations and
that we should be liberal in controlling
H. We should be liberal with the canal.
but we should be sure we are just to
the American people before we are gem
rous to foreign nations. / cannot ac-
quiesee in the surrender of a vital
right which / am fully satisfied be-
longs TO our government.
However, many of our most able
statesmen, including the President, now
believe our government has no right to
grant the tolls exemption to the coast
wise trade. Since the question as to our
rights in the canal has been raised, our
rights should be determined as soon as
possible
The Supreme Court of the United
States has Jurisdiction to determine our
rights under treaties. Let the tolls-ex-
cmption law continue in force until our
Supreme Court has finally decided the
question as to our right to grant the
tolls exemption. We will then have the
question iudicially determined in way
that win not only be satisfactory TO
the American people but satisfactory
also TO foreign nations.