The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1914-03-10
WON'T STRAIN CONSCIENCE
Sees No Need of Free Tolls To
Promot Water Borne Traf-
fc Between Coasts; Says
He Erred In Former Vote
Gives Reason For Support
ing Wilson's Stand

Washington. d. c., March rep
,asentative John II. Small, the only
r,ember Of the North Carolina dele
.a,ion who voted in favor of free
tolls at the final passage Of the Pana-
ma Canal Act two>years ago, will be
one # the members of the House who
will rot have to strain his conscience
IN supporting the President in repeal
inc the free tolls provision. In the
statement Mr.. Small disagrees with
tho attitude Of the National Rivers
and Harbors Congress, which is ac-
lively distributing propaganda against
the repeal.
.lr. amalrs statement is as follows:
~ essels engaged in our coastwise
trade have at present a monopoly.
Every vessel engaged in this trade
must be built in the United States
and licensed under our laws and be
an American vessel in every respect.
I am not criticiZing this policy, l am
merely presenting it as showing the
advantageous position which they Oc-
cupf.
Again the Panama Canal Act pro-
hibits ships owned by the tranS-con-
t|iuental railroads from engaging in
this traffic, thus giving an .pportu-
nifty for independent lines to engage
in this radc unhampered by railroad
influence or control. To this must be
added the provision in the same act
80 compel the railroads to prorate
with the water carriers and give
through bills Of !ading, so that pro-
duets may be shipped to or from the
interior on either for trans
shipment by water. Thus will be con
summated a profitable coordination
l.a4 r-lnn tho yai1rna1E ard ulfnr car
rierS.
Surely this monopoly Of our coast
wise vessels and these privileges as
sure to them every advantage in the
use of the canal to which they COULD
properly lay claim. 1t has been de
monStrated hat vessels engaged IL
trade between the Atlantic and Ia
cifc coast can pay the toll charge!
and Yet receive q freight rate which
would be profitable and at the same
time effect a considerable reduction
from the present all rail rates. Unde,
these circumstances it is exceedingl.
doubtful whether shippers and con
sumerS would receive the beneht Q
the toll exemption il granted.
This exemption of tells would b
IN effect a subsidy. i~nexcusable an
unjustiiable. If only vessels OF tn
United States may engage in thi
Nho'a't Nuu IL tiiNiA iiuCAtiiNtfNN -
water carriers is assured, and II thes
vessels can pay tolls and yet charg
a profitable freight rate. Substan
TALLY lower than the present raj
rates. her il would be a gross eco
noinic wrong to present them wit
the additional advantage Of eXemptlO
frorl tolls. If this exemption is a
Unnecessary subsidy, then it woul
violate one Of the basic principle
of the Democratic party.
but there is another reason &c
the repeal of this exemption suff
c!entiy controlling to be considere
separate from all other argument
President Wilson liz in his addre.
70 Congress that this exemption is >
plain c~ontravention of the reaty VIII
Great Britain concerning the cana
known as the Hay P~auncefote trea'
ThtS oppression is very high authorlt
but men who think for therlseiV'
viii insist upon having an opinion
their own. / present a few brief o
S"rvations upon his phase of the que
o / confess hat l was OF Il
opinion when this subject wa una
consideration IN 1912 that this e
tmrtinH would not violate our trea!
but have within the past feU mont
cd this treaty Of 1901 IN co
H"ction with the Clayton-BulW
treaty which is S~uperceded, togeth
WITH tGe Cgiciai correspondence /
tween the representatives of the Il
Countries, and | nov have reacn
= different conclusion. Having no G
"'re, however. to pose IS IN author
"h International law or cur treaty I
~At&t'on@, I niay add that OF t
hnnieIouS pubic nae cf L coan'
Wh" have expressed an opinion, II
d!e Great bulk CT them agree thai 7
SNeWi'tion would violate the spirit q
,.ttcr or Our Eoieinn agreement "
1'rc1t britain. But upon 4 question
a"ii"r between two rations the Pre-
o"itt Gndcr thee constitution IL charl