The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1914-04-04
THE BRITISH VERSUS
AMERICAN POLICY
Washington Post" Declares Speech
of Congressman Manahan of
Minnesota the Most I'm
usual and Forceful Made
Against Repeal of
Free Tolls

One Of the most unusual and force
full speeches yet made in the House
against repeal was that of Representa-
tive James Manahan, of Minnesota, a
Republican. 1t was in the form of
questions, and there were 26 of them.
why" asked Mr.. Manahan. 'Is my
time so limited that all can do is to
put few questions to the advocates
of this bill?
'Why this unseemly haste in forcing
this measure through the House?
do the advocates of the repeal fear
full debate?
DO they fear some foreign nation?
"Or are they afraid of a protest
from the people?
Are the people yet awake to the
meaning of this contest?
do they realize that it is the last
desperate effort of the great railroads
to maintain control of transportation
and to hold the power of levying un-
reasonable freight rate taxes upon
consumers?
us 1t not clear that in demanding
the repeal of the exemption of tolls
on our coastwise shipping England 10
acting as attorney for the Canadian
Pacific Railroad?
DO not my colleagues from the
Northwest realize that In pleading
for Englands view of the treaty they
are rendering valuable service to the
royal house of Hill in Minnesota?
rs there q member in this House
or a voter in this country SO sim.
pie as to think that the railroads are
Indifferent in this matter?
Does not the elimination of water
competition mean millions in railroad
dividends?
Does not my colleague, Mr.. Ste
vens, realize that water competition
reaches to the very heart of this coun-
try-to Winona, st. Paul, Minneapolis,
and Duluth, by way of the Mississippi
and the great lakes?
"Is he in earnest when he says that
the railroad rates cannot be reduced
to any extent by free tolls because the
revenues of the railroads will not per-
NIT such reduction?
! Does, he not know that a large
part Of the railroads revenues are used
in permanent betterments and in pay
ing dividends on watered stock?
"1s it possible that he stands square
ly In favor of maintaining present ex-
cessive railroad rates in the North
west?
"Is not this the railroads fight un-
der cover of England and diplomacy?
"Why do not these great trans
portation companies fight in the open?
'Why do they raise false issue
and seek to intimidate members of
Congress to vote for this bill by charg-
ing them with dishonor if they do
otherwise? -
"1s not the decision of the Supreme
Court of the United States holding
that this treaty did not apply to do
mestic shipping complete answer to
the charge of dishonor in exempting
our coastwise trade? +,
Gas the true American policy de.
mands absolute supremacy over the
Panama Canal, is it dishonorable to
defend this American policy against
the British policy?
"Who owns the Panama Canal Zone?
"Who built the great ditch?
'Who is entitled to the protits-all
the profits-of this great enterprise?
"Do my colleagues think that the
profits of the canal to the nation will
be measured by the tolls collected?
rs it not clear that the great ad-
vantage will come in lowering the
cost Of living by developing water
transportation everywhere to compete
with the railroads and to cut down
the excessive overburden of freight
rate taxes?
"Will you vote for the British policy
against the American policy-for the
railroads against the consumers of the
country?"