Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-05-30
Senator RansdeI Raises New Point.

Senator RansdeI Raises New Point.
We are surprised at the growing in
| terest in the canal tolls question.
| Either such readers as those of the
| Kennebec Journal are taking a wider
| and stronger interest in national af-
fairs than was in evidence few years
! ago or else this great question has
taken an unusual grip upon the public.
Not since the debate on the bill re-
pealing the silver purchasing clause
of the Sherman act, has there been,
seemingly, anywhere near the COM
| prehensive grasp of the subject dis
played as has been shown in the de-
bate on the repeal of free tolls for
American coastwise shipping, now
nearing a final vote in the L. S. Sen
ate.
A decided contribution to the discus
sion of the subject was made, Tues
day, by Senator Joseph E. Ransdell
would vote against repeal because he
believed "the measure TO be unpatri-
otto and hurtful to the country, partic-
ularly to the South. / believe" he
said, the law of 1912 should stand. 1t
is right; it is wise; it is honorable. l
can never consent to repeal for con-
slider it a REIMBURSEMENT of one of
our sovereign prerogatives at the be-
hest of foreign power and that no
obligation, in law or morals, requires
me to yield
He observed that his study of the
Hay-Pauncefote treaty had brought
the conclusion that Englands eonten-
ton is in derogation of the sovereignty
of the nation, and that the term all
nations" as used in the treaty, does
not include the United States. In sup
port of this contention he quoted
from a score of men who were mem
bers of the Senate when the treaty
was ratified showing that their under
standing was the same as his.
He emphatically denied that treaty
could be made which would take away
from Congress the right, given it under
the Constitution, TO legislate regarding
eoastwise commerce. He eontended
that there was not a single word in
the Constitution which gives the Pres
ident any power whatsoever to effect,
control or regulate commerce between
the various states of the Union, either
by treaty or otherwise, that right be-
ing granted to Congress by Section
of Article II of the constitution. In
this connection he paid a splendid
tribute to the House of Representa-
tives saying: THE Panama Canal
was not built by treaty but by an Act
of Congress. The statute authorizing
it originated in the House of Repre-
sentatives, which has annually, for ten
years, originated the vast oppropria-
tions necessary to carry on the giant
work. The House of Representatives
may be justly proud of its partioipa-
ton in all canal legislation and be
Jealous of its prerogatives. And 1 am
surprised that we have had so little
protest against this attempt on the
part of the Executice and the Senate
to deprive the House of one of it's
most cherished and most important
powers, the right to participate, as it
has done since the formation of the
government, in all matters relating to
our domestic commerce"
Among other things Senator Rams
dell said that the construction of the
Canal grew out of military exigeneies,
and that the question of commerce
was but a secondary consideration.
The destruction of the canal, he said,
according to a very high military au-
thority, would he more injurious to
the Nation than the loss of twenty
battleships, representing $3.50, 100000 to
$780, 690,0 900 of actual cost.
Another bubble that he pricked was
the oft-repeated assertion that the
yearly cost of maintaining the canal,
together with the housing of troops
and care of the Notifications, would
amount, in round numbers, to twenty
five millions. This, he said, was fall
lacious. That the best information
ebtanable gave the upkeep of the
canal, including the rental of s250,000
which must be paid annually to Pana-
ma, as not to exceed s5,250,o00. This
amount would be offset by a revenue
of s1l, 100000 in 1915 if no tolls are ex-
acted on the coastwise shipping, and
S1S 100000 in 1925, according to the re-
port of Professor Emory r. Johnson,
the government expert Deducting the
cost of maintenance, defense and rent
ais to be paid, 1t was the judgment
of the junior senator from Louisiana
that the receipts from tolls on the
overseas trade would, in the near flu
ture, provide not only for all over
head charges, but a sinking fund ere
ated to pay the bonds at maturity.