The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-04-01
and our people"

Reviewing in detail the cost OF the
canal and the estimated tonnage to
be handled during 1915, Mr.. Under
wood showed that the canal would
pay about per cent on the invest
ment even If the coatswise traffic,
calculated at IL per cent Of the total,
were allowed to go through free.
This would be raised to per cent
with the growth of commerce, he
predicted, without levying any
charges on our coast TO- coast ships.
At Suez on the other hand, he
demonstrated the stock company
operates a property much less efii-
c!ent i'm the length of time required to
traverse it, with tonnage toll OF
S1.30. as against S1.2O in the United
states canal. Better service in every
way, he contcnded, would be given in
Panama than in Suez, and it had
been provided because the United
States people wished TO build up
their own commerce and to strength
en- their own naval power.
Purpose to- Build Up shipping.
THE purpose of congress-" he said
lin providing in the act Of the open
ing, maintaining protection and oper-
alton OF the canal that no tolls shall
be levied upon vessels engaged. In the
cOastwise trade of the United States
and providing further that it should
bo left discretionary with the prcsi-
dent To exempt from tolls our ships
engaged in foreign trade, was an ef-
fort On the part Of congress to dis
criminatC in favor Of American ship
ping and to re-ostablsh our mer-
chant marine. This has been a policy
of the Democratic party since the be-
ginning Of the government. The
Democratic tariff law that is now on
the statute books carries in it q dis
elimination amounting TO reduction
OF . per cent Of the duties on goods
imported in United States ships. If
We have built the canal for the bene-
III of an American merchant marine
and not for the practical exclusive
use of foreign shipping, we must
adopt a policy in favor of American
ships, OF we must i'm the end pay in
direct subsidies to enable our ships to
compete with the ships of foreign ma
lions. The subsidies and discrimina-
tions that European governments
have given their shipping interests
have practically driven United States
ships from the seas. In 1870 United
states ships carried about 80 per
cent Of the total import and export
trade of the country. Today they
carry less than per cent"
Other Nations Subsidies.
Underwood presented statistics on
thc total subsidies paid by Germany,
France. Japan and Russia to their
vessels passing through the Suez Ca
nal. the subsidies being greater than
'''' "H'Vui'' VI 'OIio l'tiu Dy lncSc
ships.
II believe that the Democratic par
~ was both wise and patriotic when
il announced in favor of the discrimi-
nation in favor of our coastwise ships
going through the Panama Canal" he
declared. and there is no reason at
jhg time why We should abandon Il
solemn promise made to the people of
tho United States in one of The most
prominent planks in our party plat
form.
We are told that we arc violating
solemn treaty made with another
nation and that in good faith we
should abandon tho Canal To foreign
rivals without contest or dispute. in
order that we may keep our stand
ins in tho family of nations. Not for
"n" m"mo"t do believe that we have
Violated II treaty right, and not for
enc moment 90 believe that the
English government would seriously
contend that We have Violated .
treaty right.
"'W whole difficulty in the matter
arises from the uu-Am ,rican snirii
OF surrender that some of our own
people have exhibited toward this inn
portnnt question from the very DO
ginning. II congress had unanimous
rs passed the canal tolls bill two
year" ago do not believe that the
question would ever have been
raised"