The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-03-27
REPRESENTATIVE AVIS OPPOSED
TO REPEAL OF CANAL TOLLS

lay. In accordance with the regula-
lions In force and with only such in
PERMISSION as may result from the
necessities of the service.
No beiligerent shall embark or
disembark troops. munitions Of war
or warlike materials Ia the canal ex-
cept In case of accidental hindrance
OF the transit. rnd in such case the
transit shall be resumed with all pos
sible dispatch.
The provisions OF this article
shall apply to waters adjacent to the
canal within three marine miles Of
either end. Vessels OF war of a bel
ligerent shall not remain In such
waters longer than twenty.four hours
at any one time except In case of dis
tress, and In such case shall depart as
soon as possible; but vessel OF war
of one belligerent shall not depart
within twenty-four hours from the de-
periure of a vessel OF war OF the
other belligerent'
All Will Apply TO v. S.
Thus IL will be seen that II the
United States Is 10 be included as
among all nations observing these
rules, then every rule must apply TO
II precisely as IL applies to any for
eien nation. You cannot splR hairs
or draw lines. Therefore III this ma
ton went TO war 1t would become a
'beliigerent' and under the treaty
would be bound by these restrictions.
Il have no patience with the plea
that there Is treaty violation when
we relieve American coasting vessels
OF tolls. l believe that American bat
ueships can use the canal as they
see mt without the permission OF Eng
land; and as 'belligerents' they can
take possession and fight on the
other 'belligerents' But IL the treaty
- 10 be construed that the United
States must personally submit TO the
rules provided for all nations then
the canal than the coastwise steamer
not bit more. | believe that the
member OF congress who votes for
tolls on American coasters surrenders
a great principle at the behest OF
England.
This question Of constituting the
Hay-Pauncefote treaty is not a new
one. The ablest men i'm congress
under the Taft administration applied
their brains and patriotism to IT, A
majority of them voted for the free
tolls clause and did not experience
the feeling that they were doing
something TO compromise our national
honor. The whole thing was threshed
out, gone over carefully and decided
then. with the approval OF President
Tart and Secretary OF State Knox
Why II should have been forced upon
congress again only President Wilson
knows, and Senator Jones in the
senate has been unable yet to make
MIN tell by laying before that body
al tne data and correspondence in
VOWED. SO FAR as Is known the only
nation making this demand for repeal
is England. The transcontinental
railroads. owned In Canada and in this
country by English investors, are
SAID TO be very active and anxious
for the repeal of the clause. Andrew
Carnegie. through his Carnegie Foun-
dalton, has testified to an interest in
the repeal which takes the form OF
thousands of dollars expended in
educating the American public in
honor and patriotism. Mr. Carnegie's
dream OF an Anglo-American alliance
Is well known. The fact that Wood
row wilson once upon a time applied
10 the Carnegie Foundation for a pen-
sion. which was refused. may have
no direct bearing on the present con-
troVersy. but II Is highly interesting
as a remarkable coincidence.
A Trite Query
Inc TACT. too. that there Is OF record
IN the state Department a note from
Engiand. transmitted Just after the
passage OF the Panama canal act.
agreeing to the free tolls clause for
american coasters so long as IL was
bona fide" throws another light upon
the subject. II England had no OBJ
lection then. what is the reason for
her objection now?
The upshot of the whole issue ~
that no treaty violation has been
committed. But even n a mistake
had been made in the treaty. which
was sought TO be corrected by leeis-
lation, IL there any reason WHY the
correction should be erased and We
should go back 20 the mistake for
guidance? | think not The canal
IL ours. and we should dominate m.
treating all tother) nations with Jus
tiee and impartiality. II was that ut
Tie word other which had N been
written into the treaty as n was
doubtless Intended u should have
been. we would have been saved an
Of THE aqrfuunufr,ta So a..ta.af.- =.