The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1914-04-09
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Especial COrrespOndence.)

washington, April O.-l hose fe'
publicans who have been chOrtline
over the Panama canal tolls ques.
ton, nursing it along as political
issue because the democrats in the
house divided 22O to So in uphold
ing the presidents stand for repeal
have awakened to the fact that their
own party is divided on the issue
Take the Iowa delegation, for in
stance. There are three democratic
members of the house, Congressman
Connolly, kirkpatrick and Vollmer
who voted solidly to sustain the
president. There are eight republi-
can members of the house, and four
of these, Congressman Good. Haugen
Green and Prouty, also voted with
President Wilson for repeal of the
exemptions clause. In the senate,
the two Iowa members, Senators
Cummins and Kenyon, voted for ex-
emption before and they are counted
against repeal now. OF the thirteen
in the delegation, seven are for re-
peal and six against it. And then,
too, while Senator Cummins and
Senator Kenyon are opposing repeal
they are finding the Des Moines
Register and Leader and many other
Iowa republican papers supporting it,
SO it can be seen that it will be diff
cult to get very far with tolls as a
political issue.
Boiled down the position of the
repeal advocates as brought out in
the congressional debate, was that
the exemption of tolls constituted a
stain on the national honor by violat-
ing cOntractual treaty agreement
that pledged the waterway to be
available to vessels of all nations up
on exactly the same terms and condi-
lions; and in this connection Presi-
dent Wilson and Secretary Bryan
urged that it was poor way to urge
the cause of universal peace, SO
zealously fathered by both, by gain
ing the enmity and scorn of all the
other nations. Further it was urged
that the policy of exemption of the
coastwise shipping combination from
tolls was economically unsound be-
cause it would compel the people of
the United States to 60 down into
their pockets to pay million dol
lars a year for canal maintenance
through this misplaced generosity.
Advocates of tolls did not have
much success in attempting to show
the middle western congressman that
exemption of coastwise vessels from
tolls would insure lower rates on
shipments from coast to coast and
thereby would compel the railroads
to meet this competition by reducing
transcontinental rates. 1t was forci-
bly, brought out that if transcontinen-
tai rates were reduced inland rates
would be correspondence increased,
as the railroads which complain that
they are now operating at loss,
would have to increase inland rates
to make up for reductions forced in
transcontinental rates. But it was
strenuously insisted that no reduc-
ton in rates would follow the pro-
posed exemption from tolls, as there
is a we'll organized coastwise ship
ping combine that would use this
subsidy to fatten their own purses
and the net result would be that the
people would be compelled to pay
a proportionate share of the expense
of maintaining the canal without re-
Enumeration from the shipping trust
most directly benefited by 1t. 1t is
believed practically certain that the
repeal measure will carry in the SEN
ate as it did in the house, though a
reduced margin will be seen. due to
the smaller majority of the demo-
Gratis in the senate.
The railroad companies which have
sent their presidents to Washington
to argue before the interstate COM
merce commission on their applica-
ton for per cent increase in
freight rates, have served notice that
they will begin policy Of heavy re-
trenchment if they are not given the
increase they seek. AS an indication
of their ability to do this and to
make the public suffer, the. Pennsyl-
vania railroad laid off $4,000 men.
Attorneys for the commission argu-
ed that this did not prove the merits
of the railroads claims to needing
revenue, but that it simply proved
the colossal power of few men that
would throw the heads of $4,000
poor families out of work.
President Wilson continues to be
optimistic, however, that better con-
ditions are going to prevail in the
business world in the next few
months, and continuously from then
on, thus taking the ammunition from
the opposition that. would be seized
on if there was any general business
depression. There are many straws
pointing in this direction. The state
ment of the condition of the nation
al banks of the country on March 4,
the last statement taken, shows that
loans and discounts made a gain of
$182,13O,936 over January 10. the
time of the last previous call. More
over the reserve bank districts have
been outlined and the organization
work of bringing the banks into the
new currency system, for which so
much is promised has been begun.
Congressman Maurice Connolly of
the third district, who was unable to
attend the Jefferson banquet at Cen
terville, at which he was to be one
OF the speakers, sent telegram in
whic he said: Most cordial greet
ings to the democracy of Iowa. May
we ever adhere to the highest ideals
and principles of the party. Oppor-
tunity awaits us in Iowa this year.
So let harmony, unity and the unset
fish confident irresistible enthusi-
asm of fighting democracy domi-