The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1914-04-10
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE
Idaho Congressman i'm Toll Debate

the Panama tolls rebate, speaking
in the house on Monday, and urging
that the free tolls policy recommended
by the president be not adopted.
= Mr.. French declared that treaty
is a contract and in the interpreta-
ton of a treaty the rules of interpre-
tation that are held to apply in in
depreciation of contracts or treaties
between governments. Mr.. French
pointed out that in this connection
the construction of similar treaties is
of highest Importance and called
specific attention to the treaty of
1915, between the United States and
Great Britain, wherein Great Britain
guaranteed to the United States the
same rights in British ports as were
granted to British vessels. Under
this guaranty Great Britain has
charged the United States from three
to more than six times the charges
made to British ships entering Brit
ish ports from other ports in the
British Isles, claiming that while not
so stated, coastwise trade was ex-
empt. Mr.. French pointed out that
by applying the British interpreted
ton of her treaty with the United
States to the language of the Hay
Pauncefote treaty, coastwise trade of
the United States should likewise be
exempt. He then presented to the
house what he called a picture show
ing the deadly parallel in which he set
forth the section of the treaty of
Great Britain of 1915 and in parallel
column the section of the Hay
Pauncefote treaty and beneath each
treaty Great Britain's contention.
Mr.. French further called attention
to the understanding of the treaty by
those who had part in it's framing and
Interpretation, including former SEN
ator Turner of Washington, Theo-
dore Roosevelt, President Taft and
others and also pointed out that the
republican progressive and democratic
parties all bound themselves to sup
port the policy of free tolls in their
last national platforms and that he
made the same promise to the people
of Idaho in his last campaign.
He pointed out that when the bill
was passed two years ago he stood
for preventing the use of the canal
by the railroads of the United States
and favored free tolls to coastwise
trade in order that there might be
the greatest competition possible in
freight rates between the northwest
and the markets of the east. Mr..
French believed then and believes
now that the Panama canal will mean
millions of dollars in profit saved
from freight rates to the people of
the northwest annually and that free
tolls would mean still further for
their advantage. 40 We
Appropriation to Maintain Assay
Office
Senator Brady has offer an amend
ment to the legislative, executive and
judicial appropriation bill appropriate
ing $500 TO continue the operation
of the Boise assay office for the year
beginning July list. The house COM
mittee on appropriations cut off all
appropriation for this office, and the
house, being in favor of economy, is
expected to pass the bill with this
item left out. If the house provision
should prevail the Boise assay office
would be closed on June Both. When
this appropriation bill has passed the
house Senator Brady will bring up
his amendment and urge it's favorable
report by the senate committee on
Sppiopl ldIiOHo. Inc amount ne re- |
includes $4,70O for sala-
ries of officials, $4,000 for wages
Of workmen and $4,000 for conting-
emit expenses, being the full amount
estimated by the treasury department. |
The total appropriation asked by Sen
ator Brady is $4,000 in excess of the
amount appropriated last year. The
house bill also proposes to close down
the assay Offices at Helena. Dead |
wood and Salt Lake City. Senator
Brady is asking the senator's from
Utah, Montana and South Dakota to
mite with them in recommending
hat the usual appropriation be made
o maintain these Offices throughout
he next fiscal year.
smith FavOrs Free Tolls for our
Vessels
Representative Addison T. Smith |
voted against the repeal of the law