The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1914-03-27
Speech Of Leader Of House
Majority, Combating Po-
SitiOn Of President, Attracts
Wide Attention
SEES NO VIOLATION or TREATY
Declares Contemplated Action
Is Contrary 10 Platform Of
Democratic Party-.-FaVors
American Shipping

Washington. March 27.-Representa-
tive Underwood, of Alabama, Demo-
cratic floor leader in the House Cf
Representatives today delivered his
speech against repeating the Panama
tolls exemption. as urged by President
Wilson. The scene of the leader of the
House majority. who had led the sue
cessful fights for practically all the |
administration measures, combatti ~ |
the position Of the President, attracted |
wide attention. Mr. Underwood urged !,
defeat of the Sims bill, which follows
President Wilson's recommendation
for the repeal Of the tolls exemption.
He declared the repeal was contrary |
To the platform Of the Democratic par |
" adopted at the Baltimore conven-
tion, and that an exemption favorng
American coast-wise ships did not
violate the Hay -Pauncefote treaty.
Treaty Not Violated.
"Not for one moment do | believe we
have violated a treaty declared Mr.
Underwood. "Our whole difficulty
arises from the un-American spirit Of
surrender that some of our own people
have exhibited toward this important
question from the very beginning
Can any one tell us plainly why we
surrender and what is to he accom-
plshed by it? Are we to yield merely
because the sentiment of Europe is
against us? When has the sentiment
of Europe ever been with us about
matters Of moment When will the
time come when we can expect -
maintain and preserve our rights po-
ntical and commercial, with the ac-
uuiescent sympathy OF European gov
ernments?"
Mr. Underwood quoted the tolls e&-
empt!on plank from the baltimore
platform, and continuing, said
There can be no contention as To
the meaning Of this language No one
can raise the issue that the bill now
pending before the House introdu'' ~
by the gentleman from Tennessee
(Mr. Sms) is not in direct coniile
with the declaration of the Democrats
platform. Personally | believe tha
the party pledge should be lived up L
in good faith by those who claim a.
legiancc to party principles, but ~
there are many here who differ Wit
me in reference to the binding eue'
of party platform l will not at th'
time endeavor To discuss the pendii0
bill from that standpoint.
Let us resolve the issue into IN
question as to whether the pIa'toll
of the Democratic party faNorinE eN
emption Of tolls of american shlps c'
gagged i'm coastwse trade paSsih
through the Panama Canal is best -
the nation and the people Of our couh
try. or whether the gentleman lroi
Tennessee i'm the bill now pending d"
fore the House repudiating the decia
ration of the Democratic party, is pro
posing legislation that will be mo-
beneficial to our nation and our pee
pie"
Purpose to Aid Shipping
Reprosentativc Underwood quote
figures to show that the cost "' ma"
tcnance of the canal and interest,"
the governments investment c"u'd
met easily without charging Ameriti
vessels tolls and by charging torelt
vessels fair and reasonable 10
lie compared the tolls charged pN u
British at the Suez canaI WIN -
proposed Panama tolls.
THE purpose of congress- s''u
"in providing in the act for the ope'
ing, maintenance, protection ana -
Grafton of the canal, that no tolIs -"
he levied upon vessels ensageu !" :
coastwise trade of the United Sta'e
and providing further that II shoulu
loft discretionary with the Preslue
of The United states to exempt lr'
tolls our ships engaged III i"' '''
trade was an effort on the pa't
Congress to discriminate in iaNor
American shipping and to fe-eS'a"''
our merchant marine. Thls mas p'
policy Of the Democratic party SUI
the beginning of the government
Democratic party has never stoou
direct subsidies, but mas a'N's' -
orcd subventons and dlscrirll''a"'
in favor OF our shipping
1T was through discrimlha''"E :
in duties that our merchant h'a'
WAS developed In first three ucc'''e.
our governments eNistei'''
Democratic tariff law that Is ho"
the statute books carries III II q
elimination amounting to reuu''
of five per. cent of the duties on s''
imported i'm American SHIPS
Discrimination a Neeess'V
If we have built the cai'ai io'