Evening star., 1914-04-10
Members Forecast Effects.


There is a growing feeling among some
of the members of Congress that Presi-
dent Wilson, by insisting upon the repeal
of the provision of the Panama canal
law exempting American coastwise YES
sells from the payment Of tolls through
the canal. will lead to a national cam
paign for the granting of ship subsidies
by the United States government 1t IS
pointed out that already some of the for
eign nations have made plans for grant
ing subsidies to their vessels which will
go through the Panama canal. England
and Germany, it is said, undoubtedly will
adopt this policy Soon, 1t is suggested.
the only vessels passing through the
canal which are not subsidized will be
those Of the United States.
In other words, the maintenance OF the
Panama canal will be paid for out Of the
national treasures of foreign nations. and
out of the pockets of the American ship
pers, manufacturers. farmers and con-
sumers. In effect, the only vessels paying
tolls will be those of the United States.
Colombian Treaty Possible Factor.
The proposed Colombian treaty. by
which the United States agrees to pay to
Colombia SO ,OGo, COO as a settlement Of
Colombia's claims growing out of the
final steps by which the United States
government obtained the Canal Zone,
promises to be factor in the canal tolls
fight. notwithstanding the denials issued
by President Wilson when asked if the
treaty contained an apology to Colombia
ON the part of the United States. Al
Though the language. Of the treaty-is not
:yet +kuown, # is'feIe-by some members
.of the Senate that to pay Colombia $685.
10000 would in itself be an apology
from fhe United States. There is strong
belief that no treaty providing for the
by the Senate.
President Wilson, before leaving here
last night for West Virginia, told callers
that while he had not been informed in
detail about the new treaty with Colom-
bia, there was nothing in it expressing
any regret or apology by the United
States in connection with the partition
of the canal strip. No apology was asked
by Colombia and none was given, ac-
cording to the President.
Another Phase Suggested.
1t has also been suggested that the
new treaty will provide for the free
passage through the Panama canal of
certain goods shipped from Colombian
ports. If such is the case, senators who
are opposing the repeal bill will naturally
demand how we are enabled to make
such an arrangement with Colombia il
we are unable under the Hay-Pauncefote
treaty to exempt from tolls our own
Goa stwise vessels.
Newlands Against Repeal.
Senator Newlands of Nevada, democrat
in a statement issued last night, makes
it clear that he is strongly opposed to
the repeal bill Mr.. Newlands heretofore
has been listed in polls OF the Senate on
the repeal measure as undecided" Sem
ator Newlands said:
II have not changed my views upon
the Panama tolls question. I do not be-
lieve that the Hay-Pauncefote treaty in
volved the abandonment of our tradi-
tional policy regarding our waterways,
which has made all expenditures for the
development charge upon the national
treasury. and not upon our domestic ton
mage. l believe in an untrammeled and
untaxed domestic transportation on our
waterways.
The Panama canal is a domestic
waterway charged with an international
alike and not to put additional burdens
upon the vessels Of other nations to the
extent that we exempt our own. We have
discharged this obligation by fixing tolls
which will tax vessels of other nations.
whose tonnage amounts to nine-tenths
Of all tonnage. foreign and domestic,
passing through the canal, only one-third
Of the upkeep and interest charge.
Strained Construction Of Treaty.
I'VE are the benefactors Of the worlds
commerce, and 1t would be unconscious
BILE upon the part of England, the chief
beneficiary. to insist that we should
abandon a settled domestic policy in
order to meet q strained construction of
the treaty.
IF there is any doubt about the treaty
IL should be settled by diplomatic nego-
| tiations, and England. upon receiving as
surance that in paying tolls foreign YES
sells will not be called upon in excess Of
| their proportion of the upkeep and in
terest charge, would doubtless disclaim
any intention Of interfering with our
domestic policy
Kenyon Favors Arbitration.
| During the debate in the Senate yes
terday afternoon Senator Kenyon an
nounced that he approved the suggestion
of former President Roosevelt that the
tolls question be arbitrated-
Senator Williams of Mississippi agreed
that the question might well be arbi.
trated and that arbitration would satisfy
the nearer conseQuences' spoken of by
| President Wilson In his repeal message.
| He said, however, that canvass of the
Senate year ago showed that two
thirds of the Senate were not in favor of
i &c.