New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-04-10
Tolls Exemption a Right
He Argues, but Should
Not Be Exercised.
RESPECT OWED TO
OPINION OF MANKIND
Other Nations Unit Against Free
Tolls-Speech Supporting
President StirS Senate.
Hmm The 1rfhune Bureau. ]


Washington April Stalking his place
as chief supporter OF the President in the
tolls controversy on the minority side.
Senator Lodge. ranking Republican mem
Der on tho Foreign Relations Committee.
to-day fired the first big gun in the ora
torical battle which is being waged In tho
upper house.
With practically all HIS colleagues gath
cred about him on the floor OF the Senate
and the galleries filed TO overlooking,
the Senator from Massachusetts urged his
colleagues to bury political luminosity and
stand back of the President in the con-
test in which the integrity and high
position OF the United States among ma
tons. he said were at stake.
without abandoning his conviction that
this country has the right 70 exempt
coastwise vessels from the payment OF
tolls. he declared that this question was
of small consequence in the light of Its
international relations. and that the
United States was big enough and pow
erful enough TO stand by its word, in spite
of the fact that there might be honest
doubt concerning the nature Of the bar
gain II made
in the canal tolls issue. as distinguished
from the smaller problem. whether or not
the United States should assert a right
10 subsidze the coastwise shipping, was
laid before the Senate by Mr.. Lodge for
the first time since the controversy mas
been reopened. in the light of his utter
ances, the fact that Great Britain had
disputed the right OF the United States
10 exempt its vessels from the payment OF
tolls appeared as a detail.
Honest Doubt on All Sides.
With honest doubt concerning the valid
jty of the exemption under the Hay
Pauncefote treaty both at homo ana
abroad. he argued. this country cou'd
very well afford 10 repeal the tolls ex-
emption clause as evidence OF It's good
faith before all the nations of the world
and take. If IL chose. a more direct meth
cd. over the propriety OF which there
could be no question. Of granting the SUB
sldy which advocates Of the tolls exernp-
ton clause seek.
In view of his position on the Foreign
Relations Committee and the part lie
played in the consideration and ratinca-
ton of the Hay-Pauncefote treaty Sen
ators followed Senator Lodges speech
with close attention.
At its close a burst OF applause from
the galleries gave evidence that puohc
opinion was far from being all on the one
side in the tolls controversy. HIS COL
leagues. both those for and against
mroYdsd around the Senator from Massa-
F6usetts TO commend him for the FRANK
ness and the force OF his utterances
The position OF Senator Lodge on the
tolls question was indicated in his perora-
ton.
.fror these reasons which I have set
forth" he said. although 1 believe we
have the right to exempt our vessels from
tolls. l have come TO the conclusion thaI
this clause in the Canal act, which / have
opposed from the outset. ought 10 be re-
nealed. I think Il should be repealed be-
cause we can obtain the same results, II
we desire them, in an undisputed man
ner and without any greater charge upon
the Treasury OF che United States.
U. S. Good Faith at Stake.
"I think so because foreign opinion IL
united against US, while opinion IN our
own country is divided as 10 the proper
INTERPRETATION OF the language Of the
treaty. and ! am not willing 10 nave the
good faith Of the United States impugned
on account Of action taken upon such
contested ground as this l think the eX-
| enption clause should be repealed, De-
cause the understanding upon which the
treaty. was made is declared by all our
nspoti,tors 10 have been contrary to that
which 7 think a strict legal interpreta-
ton Of the terms Of the rules would war
rant.
"p,nauv. think Il should be repealed
because a decent respect for the opinions
=, mankind and the high position OF the
limited States among the nations OF the
world demand H."
senator Lodge reviewed the history OF
the negotiations leading up to the Gay
ton-Bulwer Treaty. the source 10 whic'
he traced the difficulty which has arise'
over the question OF Panama Canal Tolls
Ever since that instrument became eneo
tive. he said. the United States had peer
obliged 10 make the best OF Dao oar
gain
He also accumulated the fact that D,
the treaty with Panama, when mclude
the provisions OF the Hay-Pauncelot
treaty not TO Great Britain alone. but u
tho nations OF the world, the United state
has extended responsibility for the du
observance OF the rules laid down"
Senator Lodge referred 10 the part h
nlaved in the fight over the two Hay
Pauncefote treaties in the Senate. OF boil
OF which he had charge as a member o
the Foreign Relations Committee.
Holds View He Held in 1901.
81 took the view then" he said. "tha
under the terms OF the treaty OF Novern
Der -. 1901, the United States was at lib
erty 70 exempt It's own vessels Of com
enerce from the payment % tolls ~ II saw
ht TO do 10. The opinion which ! formet
In 1901 az 90 our rights under the treaty
have never changed. hold II now. as
Old thirteen years ago"
Nr Lodge supported the position take,
~ the opponents OF the repeal bin b,
contending that the word "neutrallza
non IN The Hay-Pauncefote treaty coul,
rot be applied 70 the question OF tolls an,
that the United States did not include II
self In the phrase "af natlong"
II might. OF course" he continued 80,
large very much the propositions which
have briefly set forth and upon which
rest my opinion that the United state
has tho right 10 exempt It's VESSELS 9ror
toIIa In uaSeluP through the canal 81. &.