Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-03-28

III
. Inocratic floor leader in the house
Representatives, yesterday deliver
his speech against repeating Pan
a tolls exemption, as urged by
Iesident Wilson. The scene OF the
der OF the house majority. who
II led the successful fights for prac-
lally all the administration meas
Is, combating the position OF the
4 issident. attracted wide attention
Ilf- Underwood urged defeat OF the
ms bill, which follows President
4 'ilson's recommendation for the re-
4 al OF the tolls exemption. He de-
red the repeal was contrary TO the
stform of the democratic party
opted at the Baltimore convention.
d that an exemption favorinE
nerican coastwise ships did not vio-
lie the Hay-Pauncefote treaty.
It.Not for one moment do ] believe
fb have violated a treaty" declared
( \. Underwood. Our whole difficulty
Uses from the un-American spirit of
Z Irrender that some OF our own peo-
le have exhibited toward this i'm
lrtant question from the very be-
I1ning
l.Can any one tell us plainly why
D surrender and what Is TO be &C
Emphasized by it? Are we TO yield
Ierely because the sentiment of
Iirope is against US? When has The
rti,nent of Europe ever been with
a5ou; matters of moment? When
II the time come when we can ex-
lct TO maintain and preserve our
i.its. political and commercial. with
e acquiescent sympathy OF European
.veraments?
Quotes Platform Plank.
MFR Underwood quoted the tolls
temption plank from the Baltimore
atform. and continuing said:
F-There can Ec no contention as TO
. HIeaLinC of this language. No
As car raise the issue that the bill
DIV pending before the house intro !!
heed by the gentleman from Ten !
sssee CNIr SIMS is not in direct I
snhict with the declaration of the !
smocratic platform. Personally l I
Sieve that the party pledge should I
j lived ND to in good faith by those
no claim allegiance to party prin-
pies. but as there are many here
no differ with me in reference to the
nding effect OF a party platform
nm not at this time endeavor TO dis
iss the pending bill from that stand
pint J.
let US resolve the issue into the
lestion as to whether the platform of
e democratic party favOrinE exemp-
on of tolls OF American ships en-
lged in cOastwise trade passing
rough the Panama canal is best for {
he nation and the people OF our
,untry, or whether the gentleman
ON Tennessee in the bill now pend
z before the house repudiating the 1
scIaration OF the democratic party. Is
legislation that will be most {
.neficial to our nation and our peo- {
e"
Representative Underwood quoted
,ures TO show that the cost of main i
nance of the canal and interest on {
g governments investment could be {
ct easily without charging American I
sseIs tolls and by charging foreign {
ssels a flair and reasonable" toll. {
2 compared the tolls charged by the {
itish at. the Suez canal with the z
opposed Panama tolls. {
To Aid Merchant Marine. 5
The purpose of congress" said he. {
providing in the act for the open I
:, maintenance. protection and oper-
on of the canal, that no tolls shall |
levied upon vessels engaged in the
astWise trade of the United States
d providing further that it should
left discretionary with the presi- !
ut of the United States to exempt
I'M tolls our ships engaged in for :
N trade, was an effort on the part
congress to discriminate in favor
American shipping and to reestab-
b our merchant marine. This Iras l
IN a policy of the democratic party n
ce the beginning of the govern
mt. The democratic party has
yer stood for direct subsidies but
5 always favored subventions and
in favor OF our ship II
e. Is
1T was through discriminating tar g
duties that our merchant marine q
s developed in the first three de- II
les of our governments existence. n
e democratic tariff law that is now
the statute books carries in II a c.
amounting to a reduc- b
n of five per cent OF the duties on o
DDS imported in American ships. o.
II We have built the canal for the p
Jefit OF an American merchant ma Ii
. and not for the practical exclu- tC
g use OF foreign shipping. we must e.
1pt a policy OF discrimination in a.
or of American ships, or we must a
the end pay indirect subsidies to
lble our ships TO compete with u
ps OF foreign nations. The sub W
les and determinations that Euro m
N governments have given to their u
piping interests have practically b,
ven American ships from the seas. 81
Sees No Violation.
For the reasons given ] believe that :.
democratic party was both wise
patriotic when IL announced a :,
Icy in favor OF discriminating in :,