The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-03-28
WILSON'S TOLL POLICY DIRECTLY CONFLICTS WITH PARTY PLEDGE

Washington, D. C., March 27.-(Specialo ] Congressman Underwood's s speech against the repeal of the provision exempting lAmerican ships from canal tolls, made in the House today, is as follows.
 Since the dawn of civilization the governments of the earth have been lighting the battles of commerce. Ex- banding commerce las always been rec ognized as one of the essentials for the permanent prosperity of the people and the development of commerce has received the fostering care of all great governments the world over. Trans Hportat1on is the key that unlocks the gates of commerce. Cheap transpor tation facilitates commerce. Unreason- able charges for transportation have often destroyed commerce The policy pursued by our great government from the beginning has been in favor of cut ting down the barriers that stood in the way of cheap transportation. and the opening of the doors to a ready exchange of commodities between our several states and between this country and foreign nations. The democratic convention that met in Baltimore and named Woodrow Wilson for President and Thomas R. Marshall for vice pres ident on the 2d day of July, 1912, pro- mulgated the platform of the national democratic party and made the follow ing declaration in reference to the tolls of American ships passing through the Panama canal:
 Favor Exemption
 "a tl,- of American ships engaged in coast wise trade passing through the Pan anna canal We also favor legislation forbidding the use of the Panama canal by ships owned or controlled by railroad carriers engaged in transpor- tation competitive with the canal
 There can be no contention as to the meaning of this language. No one can raise the issue that the bill now pend- ing before the House introduced by the ,gentlcrran am from Tennessee s(Mr. Sims) is not in direct conflict with the. declaration of the democratic plat form. Personally I believe that the party pledge should be lived up to in good faith by these who claim alle- glance to party principles. but as there are many here wro differ with me in reference to the binding effect of a party platform I will not at this time endeavo- to discuss the pending bill lTon lndL
 "Let us resolve the issue into the uues- ton as to whether the platform of the democratic party favoring 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 gentle mar from Tennessee (Mr. Sims) in the bill now pending before the House repu- diating the declaration of the democratic party is proposing legislation that will be most beneficial to our nation and our people. Let me briefly call to your at- tertion some facts that you know. but which should be made a part of the rec ord in this debate.
 Cost of Canal
 First. the Panama canal when com piete, will have cost the American people in the neighborhood or $375,000,00O. We have issued bonds to the amount of S134.- 63l, 9S0: $S4,631 ,9S0 bear interest at the rate of per cent, and the balance at the rate of per cent. The expenditures above the amount of the bonds sold were paid in cash out of the treasury It is fair to estimate that 3A per cent of the entire cost of the canal no more than meets the interest and a fair sinking fund requirement.. This annual charge on the S375,000, GOO investment will be sl2.- 1S7 7,500. The cost to operate and main- tain the Suez canal for 1910 was &, ,S57 4o5 Assuming that the cost of operation and maintenance at Panama will be about the same as that at Suez, then the an