The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1914-06-12
SENATOR LEA MAKES
F0RCEFUl APPEAL TO:
ENACT TOLLS REPEAL
DISTINGUISHED MEMBER CHAR.
AcTERlZEs BILL AS SUBSIDY
TO SHIPS.
THEREFORE Is UNDEMOCRATIC
And in Conflict With That Provision
Of the Baltimore Platform That In.
Weighs Against Subsidies of Any
Character.

Character.
WASHINGTON, D. c., June IL
Seantor Luke Lea addressed the SEN
ate today in support of the Sims bill
to repeal the free tolls provision of
the Panama canal act. He discussed
the question from an economic stand
point. Senator Lea said:
Mr.. President: l desire to make
a short statement giving the reasons
for the vote / intend to cast.
1.-THE discussion Of the repeal of the
act granting exemption from tolls of
American coastwise shipping has
passed beyond the limits Of a debate.
1t is now yawning invitation to all
senators to indulge in monologues,
and one which apparently will not be
Withdrawn until accepted by all the
members Of this body.
Therefore, for the purpose of
conserving time, accept the invita-
ton and VIII state briefly the reasons
which control my vote upon this ques-
ton. 4
1T is customary at the threshold of
a discussion Of this question to ana
lyze the HRy-Pauncefote treaty, to
split hairs land define the ordinary
meaning Of commonplace words to
lend by consnuing exemption as be-
ing permitted or prohibited by the
treaty, according to the conviction Of
the speakers
II am not going to discuss this
phase of the question, for even If it
were concerned that the exemption
from tolls Of our coastwise shipping
did not violate the treaty, I should,
nevertheless, vote to repeal that pro-
vision of the act of 1912, if the view
be sound--that the treaty is not vio-
lated by the exemption-then those
senators adhering to this view should
be the last to urge that by the repeal
of this provision we are surrendering
any part of our complete and absolute
sovereignty of the canal zone or re-
cognizing any right of Great Britain
or any other nation on earth to inter-
fere with our management or control
, of the canal.
"Under their view it is immaterial
; whether we merely pass the repeal
ing act as it came from the house of
: representatives or ornament it with
amendments containing trite truisms
which can neither add to or subtract
/, from the obligations Ut the treaty, for
in repeating the exemption, which,
according to their view, is not affected
by the treaty, we are not surrender
/ ing sovereignty nor trucking to Eng.
land or waving our rights to fortify
the canal and use it in times Of war
to the best advantage of American
arms. BY statute congress cannot
add or subtract one iota to or from
the obligation Of the treaty.
Irrespective Of what our relations
. with England may have been CT are
whether we are next Of kin, drawn
together by ties Of blood, or foes sus.
lpicious OF each other--neither should
blind our eyes or warp our judgment
in considering the great economic
:, question involved in exempting our
:, coastwise vessels from the payment
. of tolls.
but before answering or even con
, sidering this question, those Of US on
this side of the chamber must answer
another question, whether as demo
Gratis we are free to consider and de
termine the economic soundness OF
the tolls exemption, or are we bound
by our party platform, promulgated
7. at Baltimore in 1912. to vote against
repeating this act.
"Under the head of merchant ma
rine' there was inserted In that plat
form the following plank:
"'We favor the exemption from
toll Of American ships engaged In
!. coastwise trade passing through the
t canal
s eff that we're the only provision con
= tanned in the party procurement
o then whatever might be my convic
}. lions as to the wisdom or unwisdon
of the exemption from tolls, would
feel bound to vote against the repeal
"The same section, however. pro
vides: We believe IN fostering BY