Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-05-21
Senator Root Again Argues
for Repeal Of Exemption
to U. S. Vessels.
REVIEWS EVENTS LEADING
SIGNING OF TREATIES
Declares Ships of All Nations Should
Be Treated Alike-No Question
of U. S. Control Of Canal.

Senator Root Of New York. one Of tho
leading supporters Of the Panama canal
tolls repeal bill. today addressed the
Senate in support OF that measure. A
large number Of the senators listened
with close attention to the arguments of
the senior senator from New York.
Senator Root deplored the 'insolence
and rancor which i'll BELTS the considera-
ton of an important International ques-
ton by a great people. which has been
injected into the popular discussion Of
this subject in some quarters" He con-
tinued: Il am glad that this has found
little response in the Senate Of the Unit
ed States. The question has been de-
bated by the senators as legislators and
lawyers upon its merits
Discusses Treaties.
Senator Root discussed the history lead
ing up to the adoption of the Hay-Paunce-
fote treaty. and the treaty with Panama
under which the United States obtained
the right to build the Panama canal and
to maintain it. He said that the treaty
with Panama stated specifically that the
terms Of the Hay-Pauncefote treaty be-
tween the United States and Great
Britain were to be observed
Therefore" said Senator Root" the
treaty with Great Britain is carried into
our title to the Panama canal, as a lirni-
tation upon that title
There Is no question here as to the
right of the exemption of the ships of the
United States from the payment Of tolls
through the Panama canal" continued
Senator Root The question here lie
NrN fhap z1tH x~1~ II
ships owned by American citizens as a
measure of the treatment of ships owned
by citizens Of foreign nations"
Equal Rights for All.
Senator Root referred to the manner in
which the 500 canal is operated. saying
that there Is no charge to the vessels OF
citisens Of the United States on passage
through this canal, nor to vessels owned
by citisens Of Great Britain and Canada
This equality Of treatment is guarded by
solemn treaty. he said. He insisted thai
in the case Of the Panama canal, the
same treatment should be accorded the
vessels owned by the citizens Of foreign
nations as that accorded to vessels owned
by citizens Of the United States.
There is no question as to our abso-
lutte control over the Panama canal, 81
said Senator Root. Political, military
and administrative control all are ours.
The only question involved is what stand
ard we are bound to apply in making
charges on the vessels of citizens Of an
other nation. We are sovereigns in the
Canal Zone. and have all the rights at
tached to sovereignty"
He pointed out that the United States
as owner of the canal had q perfect
right to pass vessels through the canal
owned by itself. He insisted that the
United States had a perfect right to SUBJ
sidi5e the vessels owned by Its citizens
II It chose, by paying them the amount
Of tolls charged for passage through the
canal. and said that representatives of
Great Britain had acknowledged this.
Subsidies Held Lawful.
ITO substitute the vessels is lawful"
said Senator Root, however We may
differ as to the policy Of subsidy. But
we have excluded ourselves from &C
complshing that lawful end by means
Of the exemption Of American-owned YES
sells from the payment OF tolls, by q
solemn treaty"
Before Senator Root began his speech
Democratic Leader Kern announced that
he expected to demand vote on the
repeal bill at the conclusion of speeches
set for May q.
II think it is only fair to warn SEN
ators," he said, that from that time
on we expect to ask for vote whenever
there Is no senator ready to speak on
this subject"
Reminded that Senator Oliver had to-
day given notice Of his intention, to speak
May %, Senator Kern said that his pur-
pose might be modified to At.