Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-28
OPPOSES WILSON'S
POLICY ON CANAL
Democratic Leader Argues for
the Exemption of American
CoastWise Trade.
SAYS PROPOSED REPEAL
AMOUNTS TO SURRENDER
Representative Underwood Declares
Provision Favoring U. S. Vessels
Violates No Treaty.

Representative Underwood of Alabama
democratic floor leader in the House of
Representatives. yesterday delivered his
speech against repeating the Panama
tolls exemption. The scene of the leader
Of the House majority. who had led the
successful fights for practically all the
administration measures, combating 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 party adopted at the Bal
timore convention, and that an exemption
favoring American coastwise ships did
not violate the Hay-Pauncefote treaty.
Not for one moment do 1 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 ex-
hibited toward this important question
from the very beginning.
Derides Sentiment of Europe.
Can any one tell us plainly why we
surrender and what is to be accom-
plished 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 to maintain and pre-
serve our rights. political and commercial,
with the acauiescent sympathy of Euro
pean governments?'
Mr. Underwood quoted the tolls exemp-
ton 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. introduced by the gen.
tleman from Tennessee (Mr. SIMS, is
not in direct conflict with the declara-
ton Of the democratic platform. Per-
sonally I believe that the party pledge
should be lived up to in good faith by
those who claim allegiance to party
principles, but as there are many here
who differ with me in reference to the
binding effect Of party platform I will
not at this time endeavor to discuss the
pending bill from that standpoint.
Applies Another Test.
Let US resolve the issue into the ques-
ton as to whether the platform Of the
democratic artyNfavoring exemption of
tolls of American ships engaged In coast
wise trade passing through the Panama
canal is best for the nation and the peo-
pie of our country. or whether the gen.
tleman from Tennessee in the bill now
pending before the House. repudiating
the declaration of the democratic party,
is proposing legislation that will be most
beneficial to our nation and our people,"
Representative Underwood quoted fig
ures to show that the cost of main
tenance of the canal and interest on the
governments investment could be met
easily without charging American YES
sells tolls and by charging foreign ves-
sells fair and reasonable" toll. He
compared the tolls charged by the Brit
ish at the SueZ canal with the proposed
Panama tolls
THE purpose of Congress-, said he. lin
providing, in the act for the opening,
maintenance. protection and operation 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 be left discretionary
with the President of the United States
to exempt from tolls our ships engaged
in foreign trade, was an effort on the part
of Congress to discriminate in favor of
American shipping and to re-establish our
merchant marine. This has been a policy
of the democratic party since the begin
ming of the government. The democratic
party has never stood for direct sub
sides, but has always favored subven-
tons and determinations in favor of our
shipping.